US News

Apple confirms former CEO Steve Jobs has died

CUPERTINO, Calif. — Steve Jobs, the iconic leader of Apple Inc. who transformed the habits of generations of consumers by creating a slew of innovative products, has died at the age of 56, the tech giant said Wednesday.

“We are deeply saddened to announce that Steve Jobs passed away today,” the company said in a statement.

“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.

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“His greatest love was for his wife, Laurene, and his family. Our hearts go out to them and to all who were touched by his extraordinary gifts.”

His family, in a separate statement, said 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 is survived by his wife, Laurene, and four children.

He battled serious illness in recent years, and in August stepped down as chief executive of Apple having taken three medical leaves of absence since 2004.

The first came when he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, a usually fatal form, but he managed to recover with treatment.

He also underwent a liver transplant in 2009, and earlier this year, he was granted another leave for an undisclosed illness.

Apple, the company Jobs co-founded with Steve Wozniak in 1976, also posted a tribute message on its website and called on fans to share their “thoughts, memories, and condolences” by emailing them at rememberingsteve@apple.com.

“Apple has lost a visionary and creative genius, and the world has lost an amazing human being,” the statement read.

“Those of us who have been fortunate enough to know and work with Steve have lost a dear friend and an inspiring mentor.

“Steve leaves behind a company that only he could have built, and his spirit will forever be the foundation of Apple.”

Wozniak also told the Associated Press that he’ll miss Jobs “as much as everyone.”

“We’ve lost something we won’t get back,” he said in an interview with the AP following Jobs’ death.

“The way I see it, though, the way people love products (that) he put so much into creating means he brought a lot of life to the world.”

Wozniak, a high school friend of Jobs’, last saw him about three months ago, shortly after Jobs emerged from a medical leave to unveil Apple Inc.’s iCloud content syncing service and the latest version of its iOS mobile software. At the time, Wozniak said, Jobs looked ill and sounded weak.

Wozniak, 61, said Jobs was a good husband and father and a great businessman who had an eye for details. He said Jobs was a good marketer and understood the benefits of technology. His string of hits includes the Apple II and Macintosh computers, iPod music players, the iPhone and the iPad tablet computer.

When it came to Apple’s products, “while everyone else was fumbling around trying to find the formula, he had the better instincts,” he said.

According to Wozniak, Jobs told him around the time he left Apple in 1985 that he had a feeling he would die before the age of 40. Because of that, “a lot of his life was focused on trying to get things done quickly,” Wozniak said.

“I think what made Apple products special was very much one person, but he left a legacy,” he said. Because of this, Wozniak hopes the company can continue to be successful despite Jobs’ death.

Jobs, who was ousted from Apple in 1985, returned in the late 1990s when Apple was near bankruptcy. He ultimately restored the polish to the company, forging into new industries from music to smartphones.

His death comes the day after Apple unveiled the new iPhone 4S at its headquarters in Cupertino, Calif.

Apple unveiled the new smartphone without Jobs, and with the company’s new chief executive, Tim Cook, taking the reins for the announcement.

Cook paid tribute to Jobs in an email to staff Wednesday, announcing his predecessor’s death.

“No words can adequately express our sadness at Steve’s death or our gratitude for the opportunity to work with him,” Cook wrote.

“We will honor his memory by dedicating ourselves to continuing the work he loved so much.”

Microsoft Corp. co-founder Bill Gates also expressed his condolences, saying that it had “been an insanely great honor” to work with his long-time rival.

“I’m truly saddened to learn of Steve Jobs’ death. Melinda and I extend our sincere condolences to his family and friends, and to everyone Steve has touched through his work,” Gates said in a statement, referring to his wife Melinda.

“Steve and I first met nearly 30 years ago, and have been colleagues, competitors and friends over the course of more than half our lives.

“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.

“For those of us lucky enough to get to work with him, it’s been an insanely great honor. I will miss Steve immensely.”

Jobs became a member of the board of directors of The Walt Disney Company in 2006, following the acquisition of Pixar by Disney.

Disney’s president and CEO Bob Iger called Jobs a “great friend as well as a trusted adviser” in a statement Wednesday.

“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,” Iger wrote.

“Steve was such an ‘original,’ with a thoroughly creative, imaginative mind that defined an era. Despite all he accomplished, it feels like he was just getting started.

“With his passing the world has lost a rare original, Disney has lost a member of our family, and I have lost a great friend. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Laurene and his children during this difficult time.”

“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.

With AP