Steve Jobs returns to terrorizing Apple Employees

Apple’s Steve Jobs has returned to the office. Apple Employees have return to a status of fear and paranoia. Here’s the AP:

Apple Inc. co-founder and CEO Steve Jobs is back at work after a five-and-a-half-month medical leave, during which he received a liver transplant. Jobs, 54, is working from Apple’s Cupertino, Calif., headquarters “a few days a week” and working from home the remaining days, Apple spokesman Steve Dowling said Monday.

Techcrunch observes:

Apple’s stock has always been tied closely to Steve Jobs, but if the past six months have taught investors anything it is that the company’s fortunes are tied even closer to its products. And Apple’s products are on fire right now. Over the past six months, the stock is up 82 percent.

http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/29/apple-wants-you-to-know-steve-jobs-is-back-at-work/

Pondering Steve Jobs future with Apple

With the Apple shareholder meeting in swing – and no Steve Jobs – people are speculating as to the future of Apple and Jobs. Personally, we say cut the cord now. Keep Jobs around as a consultant, but move others into the forefront to take the lead with the company. After all, this isn’t like when Jobs was ousted from Apple in the 90s. In this scenario, Jobs can provide guidance to his successors, unlike last time. It will be his vision that continues – not someone else. Make the transition smooth and seamless, with Jobs still there to provide assistance. By doing so you remove the specter of Jobs’ health and provide the company with a solid plan for the future.

Regardless of what Apple honchos said at today’s shareholder meeting, I have come to the sad conclusion that Steve Jobs will never return to the helm at Apple. This is another of those “I hope am wrong, but . . .” posts that I hate to write. But, skipping the shareholder meeting is a more than subtle hint that Jobs won’t be back in the active role he’s enjoyed, if at all. Expanding upon the above paragraph takes me down a road I don’t want to travel. So, I will keep Steve in my prayers and hope the future proves me wrong. – From PC World

Apple executives painted a rosy picture of the company’s future at its annual shareholders’ meeting Wednesday—an event notable largely for the absence of Steve Jobs, who missed the meeting for the first time since returning to Apple as CEO more than a decade ago. With Jobs currently on medical leave until the end of June, the health of Apple’s CEO was very much on the minds of attendees at the shareholders’ meeting. In fact, it was the subject of the first thing asked when company executives opened the floor to shareholder questions. A shareholder asked whether Apple’s board of directors had kept investors in the dark about the status of Jobs’ health and inquired about a succession plan. Board member Arthur Levinson, who is also chairman and CEO of biotech firm Genentech, replied that the board disclaims information that it deems important and proper, and that it talks regularly about a succession plan. – From Mac World

U.S. technical giant Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) repeated its claim that Chief Executive Officer Steven Jobs would return to work in June after dealing with health problems. At the annual shareholder meeting Wednesday, Arthur Levinson, a co-lead director for the company, said Jobs remained “deeply involved in all strategic matters,” although he has “delegated day-to-day authority to (Chief Operating Officer) Tim Cook and his team,” The New York Times (NYSE:NYT) reported Thursday. Communication issues surrounding Jobs’ health issues have reportedly sparked an investigation by regulators and calls for more transparency on health issues for critical corporate executives. For some public companies, a top executive’s health can affect share prices. – From UPI

Jobs will skip Apple’s annual shareholder meeting

It’s time for Apple faithful to move on from Jobs. We love what he has done, but people need to take a deep breath and go on the assumption that Jobs won’t be directing the company in the future. We don’t know his health situation, but a good business prepares for the worst. But remember, this is not like the 90s, when Jobs was forced out of Apple. He’s had years to develop the Apple strategy, and while we hope he’s there to implement it, others will follow in his step. Others devoted to his outlook. Time to cut the cord – at least for now. Apple is a great company – and needs to act like it, with our without it’s top man.

Apple has confirmed that CEO Steve Jobs will miss Wednesday’s annual shareholders meeting for the first time since he returned in 1997 to the company he co-founded, Bloomberg has reported. Jobs is currently on a medical leave of absence until the end of June to deal with unspecified health issues that have caused him to lose a significant amount of weight over the last year, so his absence is not a total surprise. Chief Operating Officer Tim Cook is running the show in Jobs’ absence and will likely serve as master of ceremonies for the meeting Wednesday morning at Apple’s headquarters in Cupertino, Calif. In the past, a large part of the meeting–once the official business is done–has centered on Jobs fielding questions from shareholders on any number of topics, flanked by Cook and Phil Schiller, senior vice president of worldwide marketing. Cook will likely handle those inquiries this year. – From CNET

Jobs, who is the co-founder and chief executive of Apple, is on a leave of absence from the company due to ill health. Last month, Jobs confirmed that he would step back from his day-to-day role at the technology giant in order to seek help for ongoing digestive health issues that have left him looking frail and gaunt in recent months. It will be the first time since re-joining Apple in 1997 that Jobs has missed an annual meeting. His place will be taken by Tim Cook, Apple’s chief operating officer, who has assumed many of Jobs’ responsibilities in his absence. Jobs is scheduled to return to his role at Apple this summer. Shareholders attending the meeting are likely to question Apple’s senior executives about the circumstances surrounding Jobs’ leave of absence from the company. Apple has been criticised by some technology analysts for failing to disclose the true nature of his health complaints. – From Telegraph UK

CEO Steve Jobs reportedly won’t be there when Apple Inc. holds its annual shareholder meeting Wednesday. Bloomberg reported Monday the chief executive will miss his first annual meeting since rejoining the Cupertino, Calif-based company (NASDAQ: AAPL) 10 years ago. Jobs took a medical leave of absence last month and isn’t scheduled to return until June. – From Atlanta Journal Constitution

Apple Said to Face SEC Probe Over Jobs’ Health

Can’t do a PR spin out of this….

Apple Inc. faces a government review of its disclosures about Chief Executive Officer Steve Jobs’s health problems to ensure investors weren’t misled, a person familiar with the matter said. The Securities and Exchange Commission’s review doesn’t mean investigators have seen evidence of wrongdoing, the person said, declining to be identified because the inquiry isn’t public. Bloomberg News reported last week that Jobs is considering a liver transplant as a result of complications after treatment for cancer, citing people who are monitoring his illness. – from Bloomberg

An SEC lawyer who teaches at Wayne State Law School said securities regulators would be hard pressed to build a case against the Cupertino-based company. “It would be difficult, and certainly a new area of the law,” said Peter Henning. “You would have to pin down exactly what they knew, and with a health issue — unlike a merger or a decline in revenue — it’s not subject to definitive answers.” On January 5 Jobs disclosed that a hormone imbalance was causing him to lose weight but that he was undergoing treatment and planned to remaining as chief executive. Shares rose 4.2 percent. But just nine days later, the Apple co-founder spooked industry watchers with his decision to take medical leave through June, saying his health problems turned out to be “more complex” than he thought. Apple shares have since fallen 8.4 percent. – from Appleinsider

The Securities and Exchange Commission’s review does not mean investigators have seen evidence of wrongdoing, the person told Bloomberg. The person declined to be identified because the inquiry is not public, the news service reported. – from AP

One Shiny Apple on Wall Street

Good news from Cupertino, as Apple continues to rule during these tough economic times…

Shares of Apple Inc. jumped 9% in after-hours trading Wednesday after the computer and electronics maker said its fiscal first-quarter earnings soundly beat analysts’ estimates despite a difficult environment for tech sales. The Cupertino, Calif.-based company reported net income rose almost 2% to $1.61 billion, or $1.78 per share, in the three months ended Dec. 27, compared with $1.58 billion, or $1.76 per share, a year ago. – from CNN

Apple sold 4.36 million iPhones in the quarter, a record 22.7 million iPods and 2.52 million Macs. Analysts were anticipating 5 million iPhones, 18.6 million iPods and 2.4 million Macs, Munster said. The lower-than-expected iPhone number isn’t cause for concern, Hargreaves said. “The iPhone is still in the early stages of the product cycle, with a lot of growth left.” – from Bloomberg

Q: How is Steve? How will things be different under Tim? Would Tim remain in charge if Steve does not return?
A: Steve remains CEO and will be involved in strategic decisions going forward. Tim is COO and will be overseeing day-to-day operations. We are pleased with the depth of talent in our team, and that isn’t changing. We don’t settle for less than excellence in all departments, so regardless of who is in charge, our values will allow us to succeed.

- from Macrumors

Steve Jobs Taking a Media Leave from Apple

Apple has confirmed that CEO Steve Jobs will step down from his CEO post while recuperating from a hormone imbalance. His absence will stretch until the end of June. Tim Cook, Apple’s chief operating officer, will run the company during Jobs’ absence, according an e-mail Jobs sent to Apple employees that was released to the media.

Jobs said in the e-mail:

Apple Media Advisory

Steve

Here’s the buzz response from the blogosphere…

The letter above clearly notes that his health issues are more complex than previously thought, but his reasons for stepping down include the fact that stories about his health distract the company from doing its core work. – Gizmodo

In the short run, Apple is on a roll. It refreshed its notebook line last fall with a new technology. The iPhone has a lot of momentum, and we can assume work is well under way for a third hardware version and a stream of software updates. – from NYTimes

Text of email from Steve Jobs to all Apple employees sent earlier today, following up on an earlier public statement he made last month about his health. COO Tim Cook takes over day to day operations of Apple. – from Techcrunch

Steve Jobs hands over the company to COO Tim Cook as he announced that he is going to take a medical week of absence that could last until the end of June 2009. Jobs in his letter says he is going to be back, but his recovery is going to take a lot longer than originally thought. In a previous message, Jobs had indicated that he had some hormone-related concerns. Jobs was also treated for pancreatic cancer a few years ago. – from Gigaom

Letter from Apple CEO Steve Jobs (on missing Macworld, Death Rumors)

Dear Apple Community,

For the first time in a decade, I’m getting to spend the holiday season with my family, rather than intensely preparing for a Macworld keynote.

Unfortunately, my decision to have Phil deliver the Macworld keynote set off another flurry of rumors about my health, with some even publishing stories of me on my deathbed.

I’ve decided to share something very personal with the Apple community so that we can all relax and enjoy the show tomorrow.

As many of you know, I have been losing weight throughout 2008. The reason has been a mystery to me and my doctors. A few weeks ago, I decided that getting to the root cause of this and reversing it needed to become my #1 priority.

Fortunately, after further testing, my doctors think they have found the cause—a hormone imbalance that has been “robbing” me of the proteins my body needs to be healthy. Sophisticated blood tests have confirmed this diagnosis.

The remedy for this nutritional problem is relatively simple and straightforward, and I’ve already begun treatment. But, just like I didn’t lose this much weight and body mass in a week or a month, my doctors expect it will take me until late this Spring to regain it. I will continue as Apple’s CEO during my recovery.

I have given more than my all to Apple for the past 11 years now. I will be the first one to step up and tell our Board of Directors if I can no longer continue to fulfill my duties as Apple’s CEO. I hope the Apple community will support me in my recovery and know that I will always put what is best for Apple first.

So now I’ve said more than I wanted to say, and all that I am going to say, about this.

Steve

Reactions:

What does this mean? First and foremost, that his health is not declining rapidly as our source affirmed. Thank god for that. Like I said in our article, I hoped our source was wrong about it. Steve Jobs is saying that he is recovering. That’s good.

But we were right on something almost as important: The reason why Steve Jobs is not doing the Macworld 2009 keynote is his health. Apple PR muscle tried to mislead the public saying that the reason was the irrelevance of Macworld. They said they didn’t want to give importance to a show that Apple was pulling from.

That’s a lie.

The truth, as written by Steve Jobs himself, is that his health is the real reason. He didn’t want to put himself under the ordeal of preparing the keynote—the hardest part—and delivering it for two hours. And that’s why he decided to take time off with his family and keep recovering.

- from Gizmodo

Steve’s no dummy. I applaud him taking this time to be with his family, and I’m personally quite happy to hear his weight loss appears to stem from a rather strange but reversible affair. While the keynote will be odd without him, let’s hope this puts a little water on the doomsayers out there. Steve’s not going anywhere just yet — so everyone relax this week and enjoy the spectacle at Macworld. – from TUAW

Following the announcement about Jobs’s health, Apple’s share price jumped by 3.58 percent in pre-market trading.

Speculation about Jobs’s health had been rampant since it was announced last month that for the first time in 11 years he would not be giving the keynote speech at Macworld, the annual cult-like gathering of Apple devotees.

Marketing vice president Phil Schiller is to give the keynote at Macworld, which runs from January 6-9 and features more than 450 companies promoting gadgets, gear, software or services tailored for Apple products. – from AFP

Steve Jobs and Apple have, finally, broken their silence about Jobs’s health, after rumours that he must be seriously ill had been allowed to build up for weeks after the company announced that he would not be giving the keynote speech at MacWorld, which starts today. The timing of the announcements is fascinating: rather than putting paid to speculation, as could have been done at the time, Jobs and Apple put out their statements, blaming his weight loss on a “hormone imbalance”, just as MacWorld is getting prepared… and Steve Ballmer is practising his speech for CES on Wednesday. Effortlessly, Jobs has wrenched the spotlight away from CES and MacWorld without even going there. – from Guardian

Mr. Jobs’s keynote speech had headlined the annual MacWorld show in San Francisco every year since 1997. Apple has in the past used the conference to make major product announcements. But last month Apple said marketing chief, Philip Schiller, would make the keynote speech at the show, which kicks off Tuesday.

That news caused Apple’s stock to fall as it set off a flurry of speculation about the reasons behind the decision. At the top of the list was renewed concern by investors that Jobs, a pancreatic-cancer survivor, was sick again.

Apple shares were up 3.5% at $93.82 in premarket trading.

- from WSJ

Despite an obvious distaste for talking publicly about his health, Apple released a letter today from Jobs designed to dispel the rumors that his cancer has returned, but which reveals that a mysterious “hormone imbalance” has caused him to lose weight. It also admits that this health problem indeed was one of the reasons why Jobs won’t be giving the Macworld keynote. (Apple’s chief marketing officer Phil Schiller will be filling in for him instead). – from Techcrunch

So there we have it: Steve isn’t so sick, Apple isn’t pulling out of MacWorld because it thinks the show sucks, and we’re all morons for prying into Steve’s business.

Here’s my take:

1. Steve is really sick.
2. Apple is pulling out of MacWorld because it sees the ROI on big shows as less than nothing.
3. We’re all morons for prying into Steve’s business.

- from Crunchgear

A mere day before the big shindig at the Moscone, Steve Jobs has come clean about his much-discussed weight loss in a open letter to the Apple community, saying that a hormone imbalance is to blame. “The remedy for this nutritional problem is relatively simple and straightforward, and I’ve already begun treatment,” says Steve. Doctors expect it to take him until late Spring to regain the weight and body mass, and Steve will stay on as CEO during his recovery. Oh, and if you hadn’t guessed, Steve isn’t so big on the personal stuff: “So now I’ve said more than I wanted to say, and all that I am going to say, about this.” – from Engadget

You, I and all who were speculating have no idea how Steve must be feeling, for he had to deal with a life-threatening pancreatic cancer a couple of years ago, before being struck by this mysterious hormone imbalance. When you are unwell, you want to spend a lot of time with your family, and it is good to see Jobs do exactly that. In doing so, he is bringing home an issue that Silicon Valley has failed to come to grips with. Being a workaholic has its price — at the end of it all, you can pay with your life. Even supermen like Steve Jobs aren’t immune to it. – from Gigaom