Steve Jobs, former chief executive and co-founder of US technology giant Apple, has died at the age of 56 after a public battle with pancreatic cancer.
Watch Steve Jobs addressing Stanford students in a speech entitled ‘How to live before you die’, below.
“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,” Apple said.
Microsoft boss Bill Gates said Jobs’ “profound impact” would “be felt for many generations to come. For those of us lucky enough to get to work with him, it’s been an insanely great honour. I will miss Steve immensely.”
The face of Apple
In a statement Apple said, “Apple has lost a visionary and creative genius, and the world has lost an amazing human being. Steve leaves behind a company that only he could have built and his spirit will forever be the foundation of Apple.”
Jobs had built a reputation as a forthright and demanding leader who could take niche technologies, such as the mouse and the graphical window-based interface, and make them popular with the general public.
He introduced the colourful iMac computer, the iPod and the iPhone to the world. His death came just a day after Apple unveiled its latest iPhone 4S model.
In 2004, Jobs announced that he was suffering from pancreatic cancer and he had a liver transplant five years later. In January, he took medical leave, before resigning as CEO in August and handing over his duties to Tim Cook.
In his resignation letter, Jobs said, “I believe Apple’s brightest and most innovative days are ahead of it and I look forward to watching and contributing to its success in a new role.”
Despite a high profile, Jobs remained fiercely protective of his private life. He married his wife Laurene in 1991 and the couple had three children.
Jobs also leaves a daughter from a previous relationship and as an adult discovered that he had a biological sister, US novelist Mona Simpson.
Watch this haunting video, in which Steve Jobs encourages students to live life to the full.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UF8uR6Z6KLc&w=420&h=315]
RIP Steve Jobs