Fans and followers of visionary Apple co-founder Steve Jobs were devastated to learn that the 56-year-old had lost his battle with cancer and died yesterday — only months after handing over the reins of his company to longtime operations chief Tim Cook.

Tributes have been pouring in from around the world where mourners have visited Apple stores to lay flowers and pay their respects. On a bench outside Apple’s headquarters in Cupertino, California, an iPad with the picture of Jobs have allowed people to leave flowers in honor of a man who has been praised as the greatest CEO in history.

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates was quotes by The New York Times for saying that Steve Jobs’ death was ‘truly saddening’ and that “the world rarely sees someone who has the profound impact Stave 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.” He added, “I will miss Steve immensely.”

President Obama also issued a statement: “Michelle and I are saddened to learn of the passing of Steve Jobs,” it read. “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.”

There has also been several online tributes since Apple announced the passing. On Apple.com, a full-page tribute is available in memory of the leader. A short letter is also available:

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

On Twitter, fans have been sharing their own favorite Steve Jobs quotes; the best of which have been collected in a tribute via Mashable.com.

The legacy of Jobs work cannot be overseen; with Macintosh computers, Apple redefined the way computer users around the world would approach technology. He brought style, simplicity and above all, creativity, into the equation — thinking about customer needs and delivering them before consumers even knew what they wanted.

Foxnews.com described the digital messiah as “that rare combination, a visionary who could see something better in the future, but who could then get down into the nitty-gritty to push through to triumphant completion.”

When he co-founded the Apple company back in 1976 with Steve Wozniak, no one could have imagined how the college drop-out would dazzle the world with his work — not just once, but twice. After a near-fatal run under CEO John Sculley, it was Jobs who resurrected the drowning company and through radical transformation, shaped it into the empire it has become today.

Some criticize the Machintosh for simply adding crowd-pleasing design to existing technology but as The Daily Telegraph explains “many people – in the tech world and beyond – believe his impact on society and culture was monumental. He prompted millions to embrace digital technology, online media and mobile communications in ways they never did before.”

Bloomberg could report that the Apple Inc. shares fell after the news of the former CEO’s death. Jobs was diagnosed with a neuroendocrine tumor in 2003 which is a rare form of pancreatic cancer. Andreas Lipkow, an equity trader at MWB Fairtrade Wertpapierhandelsbank AG in Frankfurt commented to Businessweek.com on the drop as a ‘shock reaction’ to the news. “In his position as a visionary I think he organized things and I think the new CEO will run things really well.”

You can send your thoughts and condolences to Apple as they have set up an email for the collection of words from fans: remembersteve@apple.com

Finally, one of the most beloved speeches from Jobs were at the 2005 Stanford Commencement Speech. Watch below – RIP Steve Jobs.

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