The visionary behind revolutionary devices such as the iPod, the iPhone and the iPad has died after a five-year battle against pancreatic cancer.
His death comes only two days after the Cupertino-based technology company launched the 4S, the latest version of the iconic smartphone.
He was born in 1955 and lived in Silicone Valley with his family. In August he stepped down as CEO after his health condition no longer allowed him to perform his duties.
Commenting on the news, a company spokesman said: “Steve’s 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 started Apple with a friend from high school, Steve Wozniak, in his garage in 1976.
He left in 1985, and co-founded Pixar Animation Studios, which produced successful animated films like Toy Story and Finding Nemo.
Five years ago Pixar was sold to the The Walt Disney Company.
In 1996, Jobs went back to Apple as an advisor, and the release in 1998 of the iMac represented the beginning of a new era for the company, which by then was overshadowed by another technology giant, Microsoft.
In a statement, President Barack Obama said Jobs was “brave enough to think differently, bold enough to believe he could change the world, and talented enough to do it”.
He added: “By making computers personal and putting the internet in our pockets, he made the information revolution not only accessible, but intuitive and fun.”
Photo courtesy of segagman, from Flickr
