Steve Jobs: Tribute round-up

It's a sad day for the tech industry and world at large. Inspirational leader and tech visionary Steve Jobs has passed away, following a long battle with ill health.

He was only 56 but packed so much into his years, during his time at Apple and before. Tributes have poured in from around the world, with colleagues, peers and even competitors looking back on his career and honoring him.

He is a man who will be remembered by many for years to come and whose ideas will live on in those he worked with and the products he helped bring to fruition.

Here is a roundup of some of those tributes.

"No words can adequately express our sadness at Steve's death or our gratitude for the opportunity to work with him. We will honor his memory by dedicating ourselves to continuing the work he loved so much."

Tim Cook, Apple CEO

"May Steve rest in peace...He changed the worldmy world, your world, the entire world. His words to live by: "There must be a better way." You changed our lives, Steve, and you showed us that there is a better waywe will miss you."

Former chief Apple evangelist Guy Kawasaki

"I want to express my deepest condolences at the passing of Steve Jobs, one of the founders of our industry and a true visionary. My heart goes out to his family, everyone at Apple and everyone who has been touched by his work."

Steve Ballmer, CEO of Microsoft

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

Bill Gates

"Once in a rare while, somebody comes along who doesnt just raise the bar, they create an entirely new standard of measurement."

Dick Costello, CEO of Twitter

"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."

Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Facebook

"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.

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."

US president Barack Obama

"Tonight, America lost a genius who will be remembered with Edison and Einstein, and whose ideas will shape the world for generations to come. Again and again over the last four decades, Steve Jobs saw the future and brought it to life long before most people could even see the horizon."

Mayor of New York, Michael Bloomberg