Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard was the first national leader in the Asia and Pacific region to pay tribute to Apple co-founder Steve Jobs.
SOUNDBITE: Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard saying (English):
"He literally changed our world. All of us would be touched every day, in our daily lives, by the products that he was the creative genius behind to this is very sad news and my condolences go to his family and friends."
In Sydney Apple fans spoke of their sadness over Jobs' death at the age of 56 after a long battle against cancer and other health problems.
SOUNDBITE: Michael O'Connor, lawyer, saying (English):
"It's not entirely unexpected but, you know, when it happens it's still sad."
SOUNDBITE: Ben Cantrell, teacher, saying (English):
"It's a massive loss and I think he was an amazing guy and he created an amazing company and he was very inspirational."
In the Japanese capital some customers at the Apple store on Ginza Street said he'd be remembered as a controversial figure.
SOUNDBITE: Kouji Ono, visual artist, saying (Japanese):
"Though there were rumours about him and poeple had many different ideas of him, some thought he was autocratic or selfish. I think he was a very talented man. It's rare to find someone who can recover from failures as perfectly as he did."
Fans at Apple's storein Shanghai said they'd come to pay their respects.
SOUNDBITE: Jin Yi, Shanghai resident, saying (Mandarin):
"I came here to see how they would operate on the first day after losing Steve Jobs. I also came here to mourn his death in my own way."
South Koreans in Seoul were shocked at the news of Jobs' death.
SOUNDBITE: Lee Joo-young saying (Korean):
"I didn't know him personally but I feel like we've lost a hero or something."
As the shock waves of Jobs' demise ripple around the globe his legacy, a lifetime of innovation, lives on.
Paul Chapman, Reuters
