iSad, iWeep, for a world without Steve

What impact will Jobs’ passing have on Pakistan.

LAHORE:

Veteran musician Shahi Hasan of Vital Signs instantly changed his BlackBerry messenger profile status to ‘ispeechless’ when he heard the shattering news that Apple’s visionary founding father Steve Jobs had passed away.  “Jobs was the Newton and Boyles of our times,” says Hasan. “I was a huge Jobs fan and follower, and used many of his products that have gained an edge. He made geeks look cool.” 

People all around the world especially those in the social media, went into a feverish frenzy and began tweeting, Facebooking and uploading graphics, photographs, images and cartoons (photographer Amean J uploaded one of a black Apple who’s bite was Job’s side profile) after they heard the news of Jobs’ death. Many also criticised the fervour over Jobs demise as a foreign construct, claiming that millions die everyday in terrorist attacks.

Not to sound callous, but Jobs was an icon who revolutionised the way the modern world and its structures operate. From social networking to the creative arts, Jobs influence and the impact it had was truly phenomenal, the effect of which can be seen with how his products led to digitisation of music.

Galaxy Computer shop manager Saqib Iqbal states that Jobs introduced Apple in 1999 and in 11 years had managed to increase its market by 500 per cent. The transition to Apple occurred when OS operating system allowed for virus-free computing and after that, there was no going back to Windows.

On the other hand, Malik Nabeel, who is product specialist at Bismallah (a shop that deals in mobile phones), says that a range of Apple products available in Pakistan are popular amongst students who are both educated and technologically apt. “The general public usually has never been able to afford such products but they have been popular amongst students who have the knowledge,” says Nabeel.

Musician Shallum Xavier seconds Nabeel’s viewpoint and labels Apple products as being elitist and unaffordable, pointing out that most studios in the country still use desktop computers despite their notoriety of crashing. However, he admits that “Apple completely changed the way music works. It had emphasis on great sound and detail — just concentrate on creativity, and the machines would do the rest.” Music composer Ahsan Bari states that, “All modern day recordings world over and even in Pakistan have shifted to Apple products and the MacBook Pro in specific.”

Hasan also recalls how the pop band Vital Signs signed up with iTunes. “It was pure genius to be able to create something to counter piracy, and make music as cheap as one dollar per song so that people automatically start utilising the iTunes service,” says Hasan.

Director Zeeshan Pervaiz also  hails Apple, saying that, “As of now, I am speaking to you on an iPhone with my MacBook pro in my lap.” For Pervaiz, listening to MP3 led him towards Apple and ever since he has been hooked. “Apple has changed my whole style and manner of working,” he says. “While initially Apple products were all about style, their unwavering stability is now making it come through even in the Pakistani market.”

And it’s not just the music industry, blogging at fashion shows and real time reporting at fashion weeks world over took on a new dimension with the iPad. On the local front, one can observe fashion journalists like Aamna Haider Isani and Andaleeb Rana,  clicking away with their iPhone and iPad, tweeting images with witty captions.“Aesthetically, Apple products are smart and I feel I became a better journalist when I began working on my Macbook and became an effective social networker when I got my iPhone,” states Isani.  One can’t help but wonder would social networking be as big a business or real time reporting and blogging be as critical as it is to digital journalism had Apple not been there and will Jobs’ passing hinder what could have been?

(With additional reporting by Sher Khan)

Published in The Express Tribune, October 9^th, 2011.