The death of 56-year old Steve Jobs, the founder of iconic company Apple, who had been for years fighting pancreatic cancer, has triggered reactions on all levels across the globe, from the US president, Apple fans, business partners, competitors, journalists. Websites have been slowed down as readers flocked online to read about the tragic news. News of Jobs’s death slowed the mobile websites of CNN and the Washington Post, according to Keynote Systems Inc., which tracks website performance, according to Bloomberg.

People from all over the world mourn the passing of the man who was perceived as the heart and soul of Apple, the man known for his vision and for having gained public sympathy for his charismatic and inspiring product presentations. He introduced all of Apple's revolutionary products: the iPod, the iPhone, the iPad.

US president Barack Obama issued a statement of sympathy:

“Michelle and I are saddened to learn of the passing of Steve Jobs,” Obama said in a statement. “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.”

Bill Gates, the founder of rival company Microsoft, wrote on his blog: “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. For those of us lucky enough to get to work with him, it’s been an insanely great honor. I will miss Steve immensely.”

Rupert Murdoch, the founder and chairman of News Corp, who earlier this year shared the stage with Steve Jobs when News Corp launched its iPad newspaper The Daily, said in a statement: “Today, we lost one of the most influential thinkers, creators and entrepreneurs of all time. Steve Jobs was simply the greatest CEO of his generation.”

Publications from all over the world dedicated special articles to Steve Jobs. “Passionate, prickly, and deemed irreplaceable by many Apple fans and investors, Steve Jobs made a life defying conventions and expectations. His death prompted a global gasp as people remembered how much he had done to transform the worlds of computing, music and mobile phones,” Reuters wrote in one of its articles. You can read it here.

Bloomberg published an article with reactions of Apple fans – you can read it here.

CNN created a visual timeline remembering Steve Jobs and you can also watch it below.

Corina Saceanu, corina@romania-insider.com

(photo source: Apple)