Internet Mourns Steve Jobs' Death

Apple founder and former CEO Steve Jobs. CREDIT: Apple View full size image

The news of Steve Job’s death caught the social media world by storm late Wednesday, with an outpour of people thanking the tech visionary for changing the way they live their lives.

Apple announced in a statement posted to its company site that its founder and former CEO died after his long battle with pancreatic cancer. In 2004, Jobs received a liver transplant and took several medical leaves of absences in recent years before finally resigning as CEO of Apple this summer.

“You inspired millions and changed the way we look at technology,” Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg wrote on his Facebook page. “No yardstick of quality could measure your actions.”

At press time, nearly 65,000 people “liked” Zuckerberg’s status, with many adding their own condolences to the message.

Facebook members also flocked to Job’s profile page to share their condolences. Many also took to the wall of Steve Wozniak, Job’s long-time business partner and Apple co-founder. [Read: Steve Jobs and Apple Through The Years (Infographic)]

“My condolences, Steve, on the passing of your business partner and friend,” wrote Bruce Ansley from Baltimore, Maryland. “Together you helped usher in a new era and countless lives have been enhanced because of your efforts and that of Steve Jobs, may he rest in peace.”

Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates wrote a message on Facebook to address the news:

“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. 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,” Gates wrote."I will miss Steve immensely."
 

President Barack Obama also released a statement on WhiteHouse.gov: “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,” Obama said.

“By building one of the planet’s most successful companies from his garage, he exemplified the spirit of American ingenuity,” Obama said. “By making computers personal and putting the internet in our pockets, he made the information revolution not only accessible, but intuitive and fun.”

Meanwhile, phrases such as “ThankYouSteve,” “RIP Steve Jobs” and “iSad” immediately began to trend on Twitter following the news. “Pixar” also shot up to the top of the trending list, as many remembered Jobs’s role as former Pixar chief and Disney executive. 

Those in the tech industry weren’t the only ones to share words of sympathy on social networking sites: “Steve lived the California Dream every day of his life and he changed the world and inspired all of us,” Arnold Swarzenegger wrote on Twitter.

News of Jobs’ death comes one day after the company unveiled the fifth generation of the iPhone, theiPhone 4S, which Jobs played in integral role in developing.

“I have always said that if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple’s CEO, I would be the first to let you know,” Jobs wrote in a letter released by the company when he left. “Unfortunately, that day has come.”

This story was provided by TechNewsDaily , sister site to SPACE.com. Reach TechNewsDaily senior writer Samantha Murphy at smurphy@techmedianetwork.com. Follow her on Twitter @SamMurphy_TMN