Taiwan's tech CEOs hail Steve Jobs' life, legacy

Heads of several Taiwanese tech firms - both partners and rivals - on Thursday joined the world in paying tribute to the late Apple co-founder and former CEO Steve Jobs. Terry Gou, chairman and founder of Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., remembered Jobs as a true hero and a friend whose genius has touched everyone in the world. "The world has lost a true hero and I have lost a friend whose dedication to his company, his customers and our industry is reflected in the fact that he continued to work while dealing with such a devastating illness," Gou said in a statement, according to Taiwan's Central News Agency. (http://focustaiwan.tw/ShowNews/WebNews_Detail.aspx?Type=aECO&ID=201110060036). Hon Hai Precision Industry Co.'s China-based subsidiary Foxconn Technology Group makes Apple Inc.'s popular iPhone and iPad devices. In his statement, Gou added true business leaders grow their companies by committing their innovation, creativity and passion, "and, while Steve exemplified all of these qualities, he also committed his heart to building a company and products that enriched people's lives." "Steve's spirit will live on forever with those who, like me, had the honor to know and work with him. However, everyone has been touched by his genius and, because of this, he has left the world a better place. He will be missed, but never forgotten," he added. Louis Woo, the Shanghai-based chairman of Foxconn Group's retail unit and an assistant to Gou, said Jobs has changed the way that people use technology and defined the way technology can be better used and applied to everyday life. Woo worked for Apple for 12 years before moving to Foxconn. "He's more than a trailblazer. He defined what technology is supposed to be. We'll all miss him, and there won't be another Steve Jobs, that's for sure," Woo said. Morris Chang, chairman of contract chip foundry Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., remembered Jobs as a true visionary who has "created an unparallelled example of what innovation can do." "It saddens me to think of how much more he had to offer the world. He will be missed deeply," Chang said. Rivals Even rivals - such as Peter Chou, CEO of Taiwan's top smartphone maker HTC Corp. - paid tribute to Jobs. HTC and Apple have exchanged lawsuits over patent disputes related to smartphones and tablet computers. "I am saddened by the loss of a great man," Chou said in an e-mailed statement. Stan Shih, founder and a former CEO of Acer, said Jobs has led Apple to build a platform that helps create value for related ICT players and consumers. "That's why Apple is king of the world," Shih said. He added Jobs has contributed a lot to the popularity of information products, such as the Apple II computer (microprocessors) and Macintosh (graphical interface). Shih also cited the change brought by the iPod, iPhone and iPad. — ELR, GMA News