Steve Jobs Memorial Held

Hundreds of Silicon Valley's elite streamed into Stanford University's Memorial Church on Sunday evening for a service commemorating Apple Inc.'s late co-founder Steve Jobs.

Guests, many of whom were wearing black, arrived amid intense security with guards stationed near the main gate of the university's campus.

The event, which comes ahead of a company memorial scheduled for Wednesday, is shrouded in the secrecy that has come to be associated with both Jobs and Apple. Passersby who inquired about the service were told simply that the area would be closed for six to eight hours for a private event.

Executives from throughout the technology and media industries were expected to attend.

A walkway in front of the church, which sits near a sculpture garden, was illuminated with small white lights. The weather was crisp and cool, and guests were served hors d'oeuvres in a clearing adjacent to the church.

The memorial comes a little more than a week after a small private funeral was held for family and close friends. Mr. Jobs died on Oct 5.

Mr. Jobs, who struggled for years with pancreatic cancer, is credited as a visionary who ushered a string of successful products, including the iMac, the iPod, the iPhone and Apple's iTunes music store. He masterminded Apple's turnaround from near bankruptcy in 1996, turning it into the world's most highly valued technology company.

The memorial also comes two days after Apple released its latest iPhone, the 4S, which appears to have been a hit with consumers despite initial disappointment among industry analysts and bloggers. Apple said preorders were the best ever, while AT&T Inc. and Sprint Nextel Corp. said initial sales were also their best yet.

One security guard, who appeared to be greeting guests and directing traffic, said that he had been asked to hold an iPad, but didn't know what the contents of the device were.

A helicoptor circled overhead. An Apple spokesman said it was dispatched by local media.