Shoppers at the Manchester Arndale centre and the Trafford Centre joined tributes to 'visionary' Apple co-founder Steve Jobs after his death at the age of 56.
Floral tributes were left outside the Apple stores at both shopping centres shortly after the US technology company announced that its pioneering former chief executive, who gave the world the revolutionary iPhone and iPad devices, died yesterday surrounded by his family after battling pancreatic cancer.
Flowers left and Apple logo light switched off in tributes at Manchester's Apple store - video below ...
He stepped down from his post as Apple's chief executive in August, no longer able to handle the job due to his illness.
Today, tributes flooded in for the man who changed the way the world thinks about technology.
Social networking websites were swamped as fans applauded Mr Jobs, whose death was "trending" on Twitter.
The writer and comedian Stephen Fry wrote: "Woke to the news of Steve Jobs's death. He changed the world. I knew him a little and admired him entirely. Love to Apple and his family."
United star Rio Ferdinand said: "Visionary. Creator. Entrepreneur. Inventor. Revolutionary. #RIPSteveJobs ,what a man. The ipod+ipad are now items I don't leave home without"
Referring to the improved, updated versions of iPhones, comedian David Baddiel joked: "If only God was more like Apple, and could bring him back as Steve Jobs 2S."
BBC Radio 2 presenter Jeremy Vine described Mr Jobs as an "utter genius" and "officially irreplaceable".
Bill Gates, founder of rival company Microsoft and a friend of Mr Jobs, said he would miss him "immensely".
"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," he added.
US President Barack Obama also paid tribute to Mr Jobs, saying "the world has lost a visionary".
In a statement he said: "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.
"He transformed our lives, redefined entire industries, and achieved one of the rarest feats in human history: he changed the way each of us sees the world.
"The world has lost a visionary. And there may be no greater tribute to Steve's success than the fact that much of the world learned of his passing on a device he invented."
Lord Sugar remembered his Amstrad computer company competing with Mr Jobs in the 1980s.
He wrote on Twitter: "Gutted: Steve Jobs died.
"We started our computer biz at same time and were competitors thru 80's. Great visionary. Sadly missed RIP."
Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg wrote on his Facebook page: "Steve, thank you for being a mentor and a friend. Thanks for showing that what you build can change the world. I will miss you."
Apple said it was "deeply saddened" by the news.
A company spokesman said: "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.
"His greatest love was for his wife, Laurene, and his family. Our hearts go out to them and to all who were touched by his extraordinary gifts."
A statement released by Mr Jobs' family said: "Steve died peacefully surrounded by his family.
"In his public life, Steve was known as a visionary; in his private life, he cherished his family.
"We are thankful to the many people who have shared their wishes and prayers during the last year of Steve's illness.
"We know many of you will mourn with us, and we ask that you respect our privacy during our time of grief."
The father-of-four started Apple Computer with school friend Steve Wozniak in his garage in 1976 but was forced out a decade later.
He returned in the mid-1990s and transformed Apple into one of the world's most powerful companies.
Just two months ago the frail-looking businessman resigned as the company's chief executive due to his ill-health, but said he would continue to play a leadership role.
He was replaced by Apple's chief operating officer, Tim Cook, and took the role of chairman of the company's board.
In a letter addressed to Apple's board, the entrepreneur said he "always said if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple's CEO, I would be the first to let you know. Unfortunately, that day has come".
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How very sad that a man who acheived so much has died so young, but it does show that no matter how much money you have, or access to the very best medical treatment, it still will not prevent the inevitable.
Flowers left at the Arndale... was he related to the 'People's Princess'?
(Please, leave the sobriquet: 'City of Pity', to the Scousers - jeez!)
If my iMac had been as reliable as Apple had promised, I might have been tempted to lay a floral tribute myself.
Is there anyone else who also hates this 'Dianafication' of grief?...
We're becoming weird and spooky in the UK - blindly adopting the worst elements of hick American culture, why do we need public outpourings of sorrow and hero-worship like this? all we need next is a scary woman releasing doves into the air.
In my opinion this guy actually stifled technology and made it overpriced with style above substance.
I'll save my tears for the true talent... Woz.
I wish there was someone with enough vision to find a cure for cancer...now that would really change the world.
Oh pulease!!........the guy died quite young, and as sad as that is it's certainly not an occasion that warrants such an outpouring of maudlin sentimentality and grief. He was no 'visionary' or 'pioneer', he was just a bloke who was damn good at marketing and selling sometimes substandard products to his disciples, disciples who would have bought dog poo if it had a nice coloured jacket on and been called iLog!!
What a strange idea to buy and place flowers outside a shop for a man who did what he did simply to become incredibly rich.
The British nation needs to take a serious look at itself.
I shall be leaving flowers outside the Apple Store in a manner in keeping with the company & their business practices:
The stems shall be available in October 2011
The new & exciting revolution in flower technology, 'petals' will follow in 2012.
And the white one's will be more expensive for no apparent reason.
The day Princess Diana died was the day this country started to indulge in grief fest. Flowers outside the Apple shop in the Arndale is that some sort of wind up? Any death especially at an early age is tragic but if your only connection with the person who died is you bought and used his products then get a grip and stay out of it!
Surely sad for his family and friends but he was just a very rich, exploitative businessman.
Some of those tributes in the article read as if he was some great philanthropist. He wasn't.
Of course it's sad when just about anyone dies at that age, but I think some people need to get a grip.
Apple lovers are so weird with their sheeplike tendancies to just blindly follow.
Did you know when he was first diagnosed he decided to explore alternative therapies instead of having surgery but ended up having the surgery much later. There's certainly a lesson there. On another tack, I never understand these mass outpourings of grief for people we don't know personally. I wonder whether Bill Gates will get such a reaction, although, unlike Steve Jobs, he has given away a huge proportion of his vast wealth?