Steve Jobs, the Apple co-founder and former-CEO, who invented and marketed some of the most popular technological gadgets the world has ever seen, from the personal computer to the iPhone, has died Wednesday. He was 56.

"We are deeply saddened to announce that Steve Jobs passed away today," the company said in a brief statement.

"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"

Jobs had a difficult battle with cancer in 2004 and later underwent a liver transplant in 2009.

He took another leave of absence in January 2011, which was his third since his health problems began. With his health deteriorating further he resigned as CEO of Apple six weeks ago.

Jobs became Apple's chairman, leaving his chosen successor Tim Cook to take over as CEO.

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The news Apple shareholders had been dreading came the day after Apple unveiled its new iPhone 4S.

On the internet thousands have been commenting on Jobs’ death, and even President Obama released a statement within hours of news breaking. Hundreds of others have been asking whether Jobs was a Christian.

Jobs was in fact a Buddhist. Reports describe how in the 1970s, prior to founding Apple, Jobs traveled to India in search of spiritual enlightenment. He came back to the United States a Buddhist.

In 2005, Steve Jobs gave a graduation speech at Stanford University, discussing "How to live life before you die."