MUMBAI: Steve Jobs, Apple co-founder, mastermind behind an empire that has revolutionized the music and the motion pictures industry, telephony and computers, died in California. Jobs, who was suffering from pancreatic cancer, was 56.

He is survived by his wife, Laurene, and four children. In a statement his family said that Jobs "died peacefully today surrounded by his family… We know many of you will mourn with us, and we ask that you respect our privacy during our time of grief."

Jobs had taken a leave of six months in 2009, for his liver transplant, before stepping down as chief executive in August. Jobs wrote in his letter of resignation, "I have always said if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple’s CEO, I would be the first to let you know. Unfortunately, that day has come."

Jobs changed the way we interact with technology. He made gadgets easy to use, gorgeous to behold and essential to own.

For anyone who knows Apple would know the genius of Steve Jobs. He would make products that we would want long before we even knew we wanted them.

“It wasn’t that important because I never did it for the money,” Jobs once said.

Bill Gates, the former chief executive of Microsoft, said in a statement that he was "truly saddened to learn of Steve Jobs’s death. The world rarely sees someone who has had the profound impact Steve has had, the effects of which will be felt for many generations to come."

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg said, "Steve, thank you for being a mentor and a friend. Thanks for showing that what you build can change the world. I will miss you."

 

Closer home, Indian film actor Akshay Kumar said, "RIP Steve Jobs. The Man, The Visionary, The Creator & The Genius that gave the world the Apple Technology. May God be with you & your family, for my family & I have enjoyed your work for many years now. You opened so many doors & gave the world so much with your expertise. Thank You Steve."