US President Barack Obama and giants of technology from Microsoft's Bill Gates to Facebook inventor Mark Zuckerberg led tributes to Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, who died of cancer at 56.
Jobs 'transformed our lives'
"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," Obama said, shortly after Jobs passed away.
"He transformed our lives, redefined entire industries, and achieved one of the rarest feats in human history: he changed the way each of us sees the world," Obama said.
"Steve was among the greatest of American innovators -- brave enough to think differently, bold enough to believe he could change the world, and talented enough to do it," Obama said in a written statement.
"By making computers personal and putting the Internet in our pockets, he made the information revolution not only accessible, but intuitive and fun".
Jobs' impact 'to last for generations'
Microsoft's Bill Gates says Steve Jobs had an impact on the world which will last for generations.
"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," Gates said in a written statement.
"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."
Fellow Internet-age trailblazer and Facebook founder/CEO Mark Zuckerberg wrote on a Facebook posting: "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."
Jobs was even credited with raising the standard for animated films by bringing his vision to Pixar, a movie studio he founded while exiled for a time from Apple due to an internal conflict.
"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," said Walt Disney Company president and CEO Robert A. Iger.
Media and technology commentator Jeff Jarvis tweeted of Jobs: "We have lost our Gutenberg, Edison, Picasso, Carnegie.... "
Jobs 'changed the world we live in'
New York mayor Michael Bloomberg, a billionaire who built his personal empire on business and technology, said Jobs had changed the world by helping put information and power in countless millions of hands.
"Tonight, America lost a genius who will be remembered with Edison and Einstein, and whose ideas will shape the world for generations to come," Bloomberg said.
"Steve's passionate belief in the power of technology to transform the way we live brought us more than smart phones and iPads: it brought knowledge and power that is reshaping the face of civilization."
Jobs a genius: Gillard
Among tributes pouring in from around the globe, Australia's Prime Minister Julia Gillard hailed Jobs as a "genius" and global innovator who changed the world.
"All of us would be touched every day by products that he was the creative genius behind, so this is very sad news and my condolences go to his family and friends," Gillard told reporters in Canberra.
"It's not too much to say he literally changed our world," she said, describing him as "an incredible global innovator."
Apple's new CEO Tim Cook called Jobs a "creative genius" and "inspiring mentor."
"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," said Cook, who took the company helm in August.
"Steve leaves behind a company that only he could have built, and his spirit will forever be the foundation of Apple."
Cook said the company was planning "a celebration of Steve's extraordinary life for Apple employees that will take place soon," and urged readers to share their memories of Jobs via e-mail at rememberingsteve@apple.com.
Jobs died after a long fight against cancer. He was 56.
Online tributes
Tech websites paid tribute to the man by changing their homepages in his honour.
Notable examples included Wired.com, which went for an all-black page featuring Jobs's profile, while Boing Boing changed its entire site to resemble the old desktop design of the Apple Mac.
