Steve Jobs tributes from fans, friends and rivals

Fans, friends and rivals including Stephen Fry, Barack Obama and Bill Gates have paid tribute to Steve Jobs, the charismatic Apple founder who died today.

Fellow technology bosses and Apple fans are united in admiration for the man behind the iPod, iPhone and iPad. Here's some of the tributes being paid to Jobs, who lost his battle with pancreatic cancer today at the age of 56.

"Apple has lost a visionary and creative genius, and the world has lost an amazing human being. 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's website features a simple tribute to the man who co-founded the company

"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. 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."
- Apple's board of directors

"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 honour. I will miss Steve immensely."
- Microsoft founder Bill Gates

"While everyone else was fumbling around trying to find the formula, he had the better instincts. The way people love products he put so much into creating means he brought a lot of life to the world."
- Jobs' partner in founding Apple, Steve Wozniak

"He always seemed to be able to say in very few words what you actually should have been thinking before you thought it. His focus on the user experience above all else has always been an inspiration to me. He was very kind to reach out to me as I became CEO of Google and spend time offering his advice and knowledge even though he was not at all well. My thoughts are with his family and the whole Apple family."
- Google founder Larry Page

"From the earliest days of Google, whenever Larry and I sought inspiration for vision and leadership, we needed to look no farther than Cupertino. Steve, your passion for excellence is felt by anyone who has ever touched an Apple product (including the MacBook I am writing this on right now). And I have witnessed it in person the few times we have met. On behalf of all of us at Google and more broadly in technology, you will be missed very much"
- Google founder Sergey Brin

"Steve's passion for simplicity and elegance leaves a legacy that will endure. Thoughts of all at Nokia are with his friends and family."
- Nokia boss Stephen Elop

"He was dubbed a megalomaniac, but Steve Jobs often gambled on young, largely inexperienced talent to take Apple forward; Jony Ive and his team prove that such faith was spot on."
- British innovator Sir James Dyson

"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."
- Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg

- A poignant image from MatDolphin's iPhone

"He changed the world. I knew him a little and admired him entirely. Love to Apple and his family."
- Actor, comedian, writer and devoted Apple fan Stephen Fry

"Our parents had JFK, we had Steve Jobs. Edison gave us electricity, Jobs gave us the Jetsons in real life. We lost an icon today."
- Filmmaker Kevin Smith

"He is a one-man response to the charge that the counterculture produced no lasting positive change. Jobs' technological vision, rooted in a concern for how people use technology or could use it more intuitively, profoundly altered our world."
- Historian Juan Cole, celebrating Jobs the Arab-American, Buddhist, world-changer

"The 21st century pop culture equivalent of the Beatles. In this decade he changed pop culture in a way that no band could..."
- Music journalist and veteran punk rocker John Robb

"To be able to do all the things I can do with my iPhone 15 years ago I'd have had to be driving round with a van full of stuff."
- British comedian Mitch Benn

- A haunting take on the Apple logo from Hong Kong designer Jonathan Mak Long, entitled 'Thanks, Steve'

"Steve Jobs transformed the way we work and play; a creative genius who will be sorely missed. Our thoughts are with his family."
- Prime Minister David Cameron

"The world has lost a visionary. 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."
- President Barack Obama

"RIP Mr Jobs. Your vision brought about the end of the floppy drive, the ubiquity of USB, the popularity of the multi-touch interface, and the hockey-puck mouse (we can forgive you for the last one). As you often stated, sir -- you changed everything. Thank you."
- CNET UK reader Marc Crane on our Facebook page.

"I've never got teary over the loss of someone with celebrity status, but Steve made a great impact and all the while humble, without ever making a big deal of his health. What a guy. He changed the view that most had on traditionally 'geeky' tech stuff, making it reachable for all. Thank you Steve, RIP."
- CNET UK reader Yaser Ali on our Facebook page.

For more on the life and times of the man behind Apple, here's our obituary, our favourite Jobs quotes, his best moments on video and 35 years of great tech launches in photos. If you'd like to share your memories of Steve Jobs and Apple, drop us a line in the comments section below, or on our Facebook page.