SAN FRANCISCO, Oct 6: Apple founder and visionary Steve Jobs died on Wednesday from cancer aged just 56, a premature end for a man who revolutionised modern culture and changed forever the world’s relationship to technology through inventions such as the iPad and iPhone.

“We are deeply saddened to announce that Steve Jobs passed away today,” the California-based gadget-maker said in a statement from its board of directors. “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.”

Tribute flowed in from around the world for Jobs, while Apple fans flooded the Twitter and Facebook to voice their sorrow at the passing of the man who helped put mini-computers in the shape of phones in millions of pockets.

Jobs was just 21 when he founded Apple Computer in 1976 with Steve Wozniak, his 26-year-old friend, in his family garage.

From such humble beginnings the company grew to eventually become one of the world’s most valuable companies.—AFP