Leading article: Techno-chic

Steve Jobs is a very American hero – an individualist in a world of corporate conformity. He steps down as chief executive of Apple – the company he founded, left, then rescued – leaving it the world's most successful technology company. That's not all.

He bequeaths a business model of a company stamped through with its founder's DNA of vision, innovation, quality, perfectionism and marketing genius. The huge consumer allure of its products has allowed Apple to break every business rule. The downside is a proprietary, closed and arrogant attitude that spurns compatibility with other brands.

But Mr Jobs has been a charismatic genius and the business world will be poorer without him.