MICROSOFT

Jobs was almost universally beloved and respected because of the devices he introduced to the world.

Steve Jobs, the co-founder and former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Apple Inc, passed away Wednesday at the age of 56, after a long battle with pancreatic cancer.

The death of Apple's inspirational leader is likely to have a deep impact on the maker of the iPod, iPhone and iPad, giving major rivals a greater chance to catch up with the technology giant.

If Steve Jobs ever had a competitor, that was Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates. Hailed as visionaries, Jobs and Gates framed the A to Z of personal computing while competing for domination of the tech world.

U.S. President Barack Obama joined an outpouring of tributes to Steve Jobs, calling the Apple co-founder a visionary and great American innovator.

Passionate, prickly, and deemed irreplaceable by many Apple fans and investors, Steve Jobs made a life defying conventions and expectations.

Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O) co-founder and chairman Bill Gates bid farewell to his long-time friend and competitor Steve Jobs on Wednesday, using the Apple (AAPL.O) co-founder's own words in his tribute.

Apple co-founder Steve Jobs died on Wednesday at the age of 56 after a years-long battle with pancreatic cancer.

Steve Jobs, who transformed the worlds of personal computing, music and mobile phones, died on Wednesday at the age of 56 after a years-long battle with pancreatic cancer.

The death of Apple co-founder and tech visionary Steve Jobs on Wednesday prompted an outpouring from public figures across the nation. Everyone from Snoop Dogg to President Barack Obama paid tribute to the man who transformed the computer and entertainment industries, and forever changed the way we consume media.

President Barack Obama joined an outpouring of tributes to Steve Jobs, calling the Apple co-founder a visionary and great American innovator.

Apple's closest rival Samsung Electronics on Wednesday released a statement after Steve Jobs' death stating that its rival was an innovative spirit.

Apple CEO Steve Jobs died on Wednesday. He was 56.

Give Steve Jobs credit: while nobody can possibly know how Apple will fare without its co-founder and Chairman, the company has a qualified CEO and management team. In Silicon Valley these days, that's a major difference.

On the night Apple chairman and founder Steve Jobs died, users took to Twitter to express their sympathies and thoughts of the late Apple head.

Microsoft is set to win EU approval for its planned $8.5 billion acquisition of online telephone service Skype, the Financial Times reported on Thursday.

Jobs leaves a proud legacy at Apple

Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O) has struck more than 40 deals with TV and entertainment companies, making it possible for owners of its Xbox gaming console who are also paying cable subscribers to watch live television through the devices.

Microsoft Corp is considering a bid for Yahoo Inc, resurfacing as a potential buyer after a bitter and unsuccessful fight to take over the Internet company in 2008, sources close to the situation said on Wednesday.

In 2008, Microsoft tried -- and spectacularly failed -- to buy Yahoo at a price of $33 per share, which valued the company at about $47.5 billion. Yahoo now has a market cap of about $20 billion and is trading at just under $16 per share.

Microsoft is getting ready to transform the Xbox gaming experience into a full- fledged multimedia venture by bringing cable television to its 360 console during the holidays.