Remembering Steve Jobs, Apple Founder Dead at 56

Steve Jobs, the founder and visionary behind one of the most important technology companies in the modern world, has died after a lengthy battle with pancreatic cancer, Apple said Wednesday.

Jobs grew Apple from a California garage 35 years ago into one of the most valuable companies in the world, designing an array of innovative consumer gadgets for the computing, phone and music markets.

He resigned from the company he founded in late August as his health worsened.

"Apple has lost a visionary and creative genius, and the world has lost an amazing human being," Apple said. "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."

Apple has set up an email address for condolences and remembrances at rememberingsteve@apple.com.

Jobs "died peacefully today surrounded by his family," his survivors said in a statement released by Apple. "We know many of you will mourn with us, and we ask that you respect our privacy during our time of grief."

The Washington Post remembers Jobs as a an original thinker and astute businessman. Wired magazine writes that "it would be impossible to overstate Steve Jobs’ impact on technology and how we use it."

Jobs was fired in 1985 from the company he founded in California in 1976. He returned in 1996 andwholly reshaped the face of computing, music and mobile communication with products such as the iPod, iPhone, MacBook and iPad.

Jobs rejoined Apple when it bought the computing firm he'd started after his ouster, the Wall Street Jounal writes in a piece looking at the deals Jobs made as CEO.

Microsoft founder and rival Bill Gates issued a statement late Wednesday saying that he will "miss Steve immensely."

"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," Gates said. "For those of us lucky enough to get to work with him, it's been an insanely great honor. I will miss Steve immensely."

President Obama's campaign staff tweeted, "Rest in peace, Steve Jobs. From all of us at #Obama2012, thank you for the work you make possible every day - including ours."

Obama said Jobs "achieved one of the rarest feats in human history: he changed the way each of us sees the world."

"The world has lost a visionary," the president said. "And there may be no greater tribute to Steve’s success than the fact that much of the world learned of his passing on a device he invented."

Calling Jobs' death the "end of an era," Politico examines the impact Jobs made on Washington and the President.

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