• Apple 'genius' Steve Jobs dies from cancer

NEW YORK, October 6, 2011 (AFP) - Steve Jobs' death robbed the United States of a "genius" on a par with Einstein, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who made billions of dollars with his own high-tech media company, said Wednesday.

Speaking after the Apple co-founder died at age 56, Bloomberg said: "Tonight, America lost a genius who will be remembered with Edison and Einstein, and whose ideas will shape the world for generations to come."

Bloomberg said Jobs was able to see the future and "brought it to life long before most people could even see the horizon."

Before becoming mayor, Bloomberg became a billionaire through the financial data and news company bearing his name.

He said that New York's government, ranging from police to construction inspectors, "harnessed Apple's products to do their jobs more efficiently and intuitively."