Minimalist Google 'doodle' honors Steve Jobs

Search giant Google paid a fittingly minimalist tribute to the late Apple co-founder and former CEO Steve Jobs with just one line of text. On Thursday (Manila time), visitors to Google's homepage would see the link "Steve Jobs, 1955-2011" under the search box. Clicking on the "Steve Jobs" link would take the visitor to Apple's homepage (www.apple.com), which featured a black-and-white image of Jobs to mark his passing. Steve Jobs was well-known for his minimalist aesthetics, with former colleague John Sculley having said that the Apple co-founder "always believed the most important decisions you make are not the things you do – but the things that you decide not to do." Google founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page both said they were saddened to learn of Jobs' death. "From the earliest days of Google, whenever Larry and I sought inspiration for vision and leadership, we needed to look no farther than Cupertino. Steve, your passion for excellence is felt by anyone who has ever touched an Apple product (including the macbook I am writing this on right now). And I have witnessed it in person the few times we have met," said Brin in his Google+ account. "On behalf of all of us at Google and more broadly in technology, you will be missed very much. My condolences to family, friends, and colleagues at Apple," he added. Page, in his own Google+ account, described Jobs as a "great man with incredible achievements and amazing brilliance." "He was very kind to reach out to me as I became CEO of Google and spend time offering his advice and knowledge even though he was not at all well. My thoughts and Google's are with his family and the whole Apple family," he said. Both Google and Apple have been known for adopting a "less is more" minimalist to their products. On the other hand, the two firms have been fierce rivals on the mobile front, with Google's Android going up against Apple's iOS. Jobs was credited for leading Apple to prominence in personal computing and music, with devices like the Apple II, Macintosh, iPod, iPhone, and iPad. He died peacefully surrounded by his family, according to a statement issued by his family. For its part, Apple is planning a "celebration" of Job's "extraordinary life," according to Tim Cook, Jobs' successor as Apple CEO. — TJD, GMA News