Apple Co-Founder Steve Jobs Dies At 56

First Published: October 5, 2011 8:30 PM EDT Credit: Getty Images Caption Apple Inc. CEO Steve Jobs holds up the new iPad as he speaks during an Apple Special Event at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts January 27, 2010 in San Francisco, Calif.CUPERTINO, Calif. -- Steve Jobs, the Apple founder and former CEO who invented and masterfully marketed ever-sleeker gadgets that transformed everyday technology, has died. He was 56. Apple announced his death Wednesday without giving a specific cause. The company says, Steves 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 battled cancer in 2004 and underwent a liver transplant in 2009 after taking a leave of absence for unspecified health problems. He took another leave of absence in January his third since his health problems began before resigning as CEO six weeks ago. The news Apple fans and shareholders had been dreading came the day after Apple unveiled its latest version of the iPhone. Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.