"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," Apple said in a statement.

Microsoft chairman Bill Gates said: "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."

U.S. President Barack Obama also paid tribute: "Michelle and I are saddened to learn of the passing of Steve Jobs. 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."

And New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said that "America lost a genius who will be remembered with Edison and Einstein, and whose ideas will shape the world for generations to come".

The only authorized biography of Steve Jobs, "Steve Jobs: A Biography" by Walter Isaacson, is released globally on Oct. 24, 2011. Isaacson, once chief editor of Time magazine and chairman and CEO of CNN, is famous for his bestselling biographies of celebrities including Albert Einstein and Benjamin Franklin.

(China.org.cn January 4, 2012)

苹果公司在一份声明中说：“他的才华、激情和充沛的精力是丰富和改善了我们所有人生活的无数创新的源泉。世界也因史蒂夫而无限美好。”

微软总裁比尔•盖茨说：“世界上很少有人拥有像乔布斯这样深远的影响力，他的影响力将会被今后许多代人所感受。”盖茨还说：“对于我们来说，有幸和他一起工作是一份极大的荣耀。我深深地怀念史蒂夫。”

美国总统巴拉克•奥巴马也发表了追悼声明：“我和米歇尔听到史蒂夫•乔布斯去世的消息很悲伤。乔布斯是美国最伟大的创新者之一，思考敢于不同，大胆得足以相信自己可以改变世界，而且聪明得可以做到这一点。”

纽约市长迈克尔•彭博说：“美国失去了一位天才，乔布斯将与爱迪生、爱因斯坦一同被铭记，他的理念将改变世界，影响数代人。”

史蒂夫•乔布斯的唯一授权传记《史蒂夫•乔布斯传》于2011年10月24日全球同步上市。传记作者沃尔特•艾萨克森，曾任《时代周刊》主编、美国有线电视新闻网董事长兼首席执行官，他因撰写过一系列畅销名人传记而闻名，包括阿尔伯特•爱因斯坦和本杰明•富兰克林的传记。