biography

'Steve Jobs' biography to become Aaron Sorkin movie

All rumors that "The Social Network" writer Aaron Sorkin was toying with Sony's offer to write a screenplay based on Steve Jobs' life have been substantiated. Sony announced today that the Academy Award-winning screenwriter has accepted the job.

"Steve Jobs' story is unique: he was one of the most revolutionary and influential men not just of our time but of all time," co-chairman of Sony Pictures Entertainment Amy Pascal said in a statement today. "There is no writer working in Hollywood today who is more capable of capturing such an extraordinary life for the … Read more

The 404 1,041: Where we unbox this box (podcast)

Jeff and I find ourselves in a conversation about candy in this morning's preshow that bleeds over into today's recorded episode. Why? Well, we heard a story about Steve Jobs proposing a Willy Wonka style contest to celebrate the sale of the millionth original Apple iMac.

It comes from a book coming out soon called "Insanely Simple: The Obsession That Drives Apple's Success," and it talks about how Steve wanted to put a custom gold ticket inside a single iMac box that would land the winner a trip to Cupertino, Calif., for a tour of … Read more

Steve Jobs' 'lost years' detailed by veteran reporter

Many of the details on how Apple co-founder and CEO Steve Jobs got his start and then later turned the computer company into one of the most revered tech companies in the world are readily available. But certain segments of his life haven't been written about as extensively -- most notably his hiatus from Apple between 1985 and 1996.

Reporter Brent Schlender, a veteran tech writer for The Wall Street Journal and Fortune, published an expansive article in Fast Company magazine about this part of Jobs' life. The article is based on taped interviews that Schlender had recorded with … Read more

Sculley happy Jobs' biography 'cleared up myths'

John Sculley and Steve Jobs had a "terrific relationship when things were going well," the one-time Apple CEO told the BBC in an interview published yesterday.

Although he said he hadn't read Walter Issacson's biography on the late Apple founder, Sculley seemed pleased that it "cleared up some of the myths--that I never really did fire Steve Jobs and that Apple was actually a very profitable company."

Sculley, who was recruited by Jobs to run the company in 1983, said he was brought into the company to extend the commercial lifespan of the Apple … Read more

PBS to air Steve Jobs documentary Nov. 2

PBS next week will air a one-hour special on the life and career of late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs that features interviews and footage with Jobs, along with anecdotes from those who knew him.

The special, which airs Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET, is named "One Last Thing" in honor of Jobs' trademark catch phrase, used when unveiling surprise products and software news at the end of the company's events. (He also frequently use "one more thing.")

"From the vast complexity of time and space to the genius of a man who put … Read more

How to get the Steve Jobs bio (audiobook) for free

I've always been a big fan of biographies. Recent favorites include Simon Pegg's "Nerd Do Well" and Rob Lowe's "Stories I Only Tell My Friends." My wife picked out the latter for a car trip, and while I wasn't terribly enthused at the time, it turns out Lowe's autobiography is relentlessly entertaining--especially the audiobook version, which he reads himself.

Needless to say, as a longtime technology writer and enthusiast, I'm keen to read--or hear--the new Steve Jobs biography. But I'm not so keen on spending $16.99 for the … Read more

The 404 931: Where you're tuned into the pumpkin spice channel (podcast)

The official Steve Jobs biography commissioned by The Man himself dropped online and in stores today, and apparently the guy was kind of a jerk.

Today we dive into some minibytes from the 656-page book that you may not have heard yet--details about Jobs' upbringing and relationship with his father, his obsession with Yo Yo Ma's cello, and how a Cuisinart inspired the first design of the Apple II.

We'll also cover the stories you'll find below in the first half of the show, and talk about Jeff's controversial article about the death of portable gaming consoles like the Nintendo 3DS and the Sony PlayStation Vita.… Read more

Isaacson: Jobs was 'eager to talk,' exercise 'no control' (Q&A)

interview Walter Isaacson's hotly anticipated authorized biography of Steve Jobs hits stores today, and CNET talked with him about putting the book together and his time with the late Apple co-founder.

The book chronicles Jobs' life from beginning to end, and is composed of some 40 interviews Isaacson had with Jobs, who authorized the project and had come to Isaacson, citing the author's ability to get people to talk.

When Jobs first asked Isaacson to write a book about him, the author turned him down. What he didn't know was that Jobs was sick, and had a … Read more

Steve Jobs bio: Behind the cover (roundup)

The official Steve Jobs biography is upon us. The author gives "60 Minutes" an intimate look at the work and family life of the Apple co-founder.

Jobs biographer: Apple co-founder was eager to talk (Q&A) CNET chats with author Walter Isaacson, whose authorized biography of late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs hits shelves today. (Posted in Apple Talk by Josh Lowensohn) October 24, 2011 11:53 a.m. PT

'Steve Jobs': An apt portrait of a jerk and a genius Walter Isaacson's biography is a compelling book that, like Jobs himself, doesn't sugarcoat the Apple … Read more