Steve Jobs Influenced Disney — and the World

I got an iPad less than a week ago. As I walked into the Apple store, I got a tingling feeling. There’s something special about the Apple store. The minute you step foot through the door, you know that with a single purchase your life is about to change. (Your bank account may take a temporary ding, but that never really matters.) I don’t get that tingling feeling at my preferred department store, or even my favorite shoe or handbag boutique. And trust me, I love shoes and handbags. I’m not a techie, and I could’ve stayed there for hours soaking up wisdom from the helpful, smiling Apple “geniuses.” Thank you, Steve Jobs. You gave me my first computer, the Apple II, the iPod, and now the iPad, which I’ve only just begun to explore. It’s only a matter of time before I trade up my mobile device to an iPhone. Jobs changed the world through technological and business model innovation. He was one of the most charismatic and dynamic CEOs of our time. His death on Oct. 5, at age 56, has created a loss felt around the world. There’s an ironclad tie between the Apple empire Jobs built and the Valley’s own iconic brand — The Walt Disney Co. — that has spanned at least a decade. The relationship between the companies kicked into high gear in 2005, after Robert Iger took over as President and CEO from Michael Eisner. Within weeks, fans of popular ABC shows like “Lost” and “Desperate Housewives” could view episodes through iTunes. In 2006, Disney acquired Pixar Animation Studios. The move made Jobs, who was Pixar’s CEO, the largest Disney shareholder and a member of the company’s board. In the years that followed, more and more Disney content became available through iTunes as Apple made improved versions of its iPod and then developed the iPhone and the iPad. With Apple making the devices and Disney the content, the companies have helped fuel and respond to the anytime, anywhere media climate of the 21st century. Iger called Jobs “a great friend as well as a trusted advisor,” in a written statement. “His legacy will extend far beyond the products he created or the businesses he built. It will be the millions of people he inspired, the lives he changed, and the culture he defined,” he said. We could not have said it better. Here’s a brief timeline that shows a few major milestones in the Apple-Disney relationship: 2000 – Trailer for film “Dinosaur” made available at Apple website 2004 – Walt Disney Records catalogue made available on iTunes 2005 – ABC News, Disney Online and ESPN.com podcasts at iTunes 2005 – Robert Iger becomes CEO and President of Disney and immediately makes ABC programs available through iTunes 2006 – Disney buys Pixar Animation, making its CEO Steve Jobs the largest shareholder in Disney and giving him a seat on the Disney board. 2006 – Walt Disney Pictures, Pixar, Touchstone Pictures and Miramax Films made available on iTunes 2008 – “Disney’s All Stars Cards” game available for the iPhone and iPod Touch 2010 – The ABC Player app makes television shows available on the iPad 2010 – Disney Interactive acquires Tapulous, maker of mobile games for Apple devices.