Apple's co-founder and former CEO, Steve Jobs, has died aged just 56. Jobs was revered as a visionary by IT professionals around the world and almost singled-handedly revitalised the flagging Apple brand with his iPod, iPhone and the seminal iPad.

His death was not wholly unexpected however. Jobs announced that he was suffering from pancreatic cancer in 2004 and resigned his post as CEO of Apple a month ago, saying he had come to the point where he could no longer carry out his duties as the company's chief.

Apple said of their former leader: "His 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."

American president, Barack O'Bama, said the world had lost a visionary.

Flags are being flown at half mast outside the Apple headquarters in Cupertino, California, while fans of company have held vigils and left tributes outside Apple shops around the world.

Jobs had built a reputation as a forthright and demanding leader who could take niche technologies - such as the mouse and the graphical window-based interface - and make them popular with the general public.

He introduced the colourful iMac computer, the iPod, iPhone and the iPad to the world. His death came just a day after Apple unveiled its latest iPhone 4S model.

He was also well known for his blunt emails in response to customer queries and complaints. Read the best ones here: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/apple/7503635/The-top-five-terse-Steve-Jobs-email-replies.html

In 2004, Jobs announced that he was suffering from pancreatic cancer and he had a liver transplant five years later. In January, he took medical leave, before resigning as CEO in August and handing over his duties to Tim Cook, however Jobs stayed on as chairman.

He co-founded the company - now worth £227 billion - in 1970, later becoming more than just a CEO, but actually part of the Apple brand.

Jobs leaves behind his wife Laurene, who he married in 1991, and their three children. He also has a daughter from a previous relationship, and as an adult he discovered that he had a biological sister, US novelist Mona Simpson.

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