Steve Jobs,icon of the digital age,dies at 56

His death after a long battle with pancreatic cancer sparked an outpouring of tributes as world leaders,business rivals and fans alike lamented his premature passing and celebrated his monumental achievements.

The world has lost a visionary. And there may be no greater tribute to Steves success than the fact that much of the world learned of his passing on a device he invented, US President Barack Obama said in a statement.

Fans paid homage to Jobs outside Apple stores around the world,from Los Angeles to Sydney. Outside one store in New York City,mourners laid candles,bouquets of flowers,an apple and an iPod Touch in a makeshift memorial.

In San Francisco,they held up black-and-white portraits of Jobs on their iPads. Some mourners in Tokyo held a sunset vigil,using apps on their iPads to show flickering candles on the screen. Many websites,including Apples own,were transformed into online memorials,a testament to the digital creativity that Jobs inspired.

For those of us lucky enough to get to work with him,its been an insanely great honor, said Microsofts Bill Gates.

Jobs was surrounded by his wife and immediate family when he died in Palo Alto,California,Apple said late on Wednesday.

Other details were not immediately available.

Jobs stepped down as CEO in August and handed the reins to long-time operations chief Tim Cook. With a passion for minimalist design and a genius for marketing,Jobs laid the groundwork for the company to continue to flourish after his death,most analysts and investors say.

But Apple still faces challenges in the absence of the man who was its chief product designer,marketing guru and salesman nonpareil. Phones running Googles Android software are gaining share in the smartphone market,and there are questions over what the next big thing is in Apples product line.

Jobs death came just one day after Cook presented a new iPhone at the kind of gala event that became Jobs trademark. Perhaps coincidentally,the new device got lukewarm reviews,with many saying it wasnt a big enough improvement over the existing version of one of the most successful consumer products in history.

The flags outside Apples headquarters at 1 Infinite Loop flew at half mast. Employees left flowers on a bench and a mourner played music on bagpipes in an impromptu tribute. Cook said in a statement that Apple planned to hold a celebration of Jobs life for employees soon.

Steves 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 in a statement. Forbes estimates Jobs net worth at $7 billion. It was not immediately known how his estate would be handled.

Jobs,a Buddhist,was born in San Francisco. He started Apple Computer with friend Steve Wozniak in his parents garage in 1976. Six years ago,Jobs had talked about how a sense of his mortality was a major driver behind that vision.

Remembering that Ill be dead soon is the most important tool Ive ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life, Jobs said during a Stanford commencement ceremony in 2005.

Because almost everything all external expectations,all pride,all fear of embarrassment or failure these things just fall away in the face of death,leaving only what is truly important… Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart, he said.Poornima Gupta &

Edwin Chan