Jobs stepped down from his longtime role as Apple CEO in August, after years of suffering from complications related to pancreatic cancer. His death comes one day after Apple unveiled the latest version of one of his many game-changing technology products, the iPhone.

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Apple’s board of directors announced his death in a statement:

We are deeply saddened to announce that Steve Jobs passed away today. 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.

The company took the iPhone 4S off its home page following the announcement of Jobs’ death and replaced it with his official Apple portrait.

Upon clicking on Jobs’s image, Apple displayed this statement and invited visitors to submit their memories to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address):

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 inspiring mentor. Steve leaves behind a company that only he could have built, and his spirit will forever be the foundation of Apple.

Under Jobs, Apple changed the technology industry more than once over his two separate terms in office, most recently from 1997, when he re-assumed command of the company he founded with Steve Wozniak. That stretch in Apple’s history produced the iMac, iPod, iTunes, Macbook Air, iPhone, iPad, and billions of dollars in profits.

Jobs’ health problems began in 2004, when he underwent surgery to treat pancreatic cancer. He appeared to regain his health but started to appear thinner and thinner throughout 2008 and into 2009, in what was believed to be an inability to properly digest food. He took a six-month medical leave from Apple in 2009, and underwent a liver transplant during that time. After returning to Apple in the summer of 2009, the company introduced the iPad in 2010 in order to jump-start a whole new category of mobile computing that was largely defined by Apple’s (and Jobs’) taste and skills.

He took an indefinite medical leave earlier this year, and stepped down as CEO in August, giving way to longtime understudy Tim Cook.

Cook sent an e-mail to Apple employees following the announcement, which Apple distributed. “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,” he wrote.

Jobs is survived by his wife Laurene and their three children: Reed, Erin, and Eve. Jobs was also the father of Lisa Brennan-Jobs.

Jobs’ family issued this statement:

Steve died peacefully today surrounded by his family. In his public life, Steve was known as a visionary; in his private life, he cherished his family. We are thankful to the many people who have shared their wishes and prayers during the last year of Steve’s illness; a website will be provided for those who wish to offer tributes and memories. We are grateful for the support and kindness of those who share our feelings for Steve. We know many of you will mourn with us, and we ask that you respect our privacy during our time of grief.

A spectrum of individual reactions from around the tech, business, media, and even political worlds poured out Wednesday evening.

More on Steve Jobs in our archives.