Steve Jobs, co-founder and former chief executive of US technology giant Apple, has died at the age of 56.
Apple said his "brilliance, passion and energy were the source of countless innovations that enrich and improve all of our lives. The world is immeasurably better because of Steve".
Jobs announced he was suffering from pancreatic cancer in 2004.US President Barack Obama said that with his death, the world had "lost a visionary".
"Steve was among the greatest of American innovators - brave enough to think differently, bold enough to believe he could change the world, and talented enough to do it," said Mr Obama.
Microsoft boss Bill Gates said Jobs' "profound impact" on the world of technology would "be felt for many generations to come".
Mr Gates added: "For those of us lucky enough to get to work with him, it's been an insanely great honour. I will miss Steve immensely."And New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said that "America lost a genius who will be remembered with Edison and Einstein, and whose ideas will shape the world for generations to come".
Life of Steve Jobs
- Born in San Francisco in Feb 1955 to university students Joanne Schieble and Syrian-born Abdulfattah Jandali
- Adopted as a baby by a Californian working class couple
- Had a summer job at Hewlett-Packard while at school - later worked at Atari
- Dropped out of college after six months and went travelling in India, where he became a Buddhist
- Launched Apple with school friend Steve Wozniak in 1976 and the first Apple computer the same year
- Left Apple amid disputes in 1985 but returned in 1996 and became CEO in 1997
- Bought Pixar animation company in 1986 for $10m
- Married in a Buddhist ceremony in 1991 - has three children with his wife and a daughter from a previous relationship
- Had a personal wealth estimated at $8.3bn (£5.4bn) in 2010
- Diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2003, and after three periods of sickness leave, resigns as Apple CEO in August 2011
