Jobs passes on Apple Expo keynote

In a statement provided to Macworld UK, Reed Expositions spokeswoman Clementine Tisserand confirmed the lack of keynote address at the annual Apple trade show — the largest of its kind in Europe.

"There will be no keynote at this year's show," she said, adding only that the decision not to offer a keynote was not made by the company she represents.

In the weeks and months leading up to previous Apple Expos, hopes and expectations of an appearance by the charismatic Jobs have often run high amongst the company's faithful. However, the Apple co-founder, for one reason or another, has failed to deliver a keynote address in Paris since 2003

In 2004, Jobs' scheduled keynote presentation was conducted by Apple vice president Phil Schiller after Jobs took leave from his duties at Apple in order to recuperate from pancreatic cancer surgery.

Jobs was also expected to present the opening keynote at last year's Apple Expo, but later changed his plans when several product launches failed to fall into alignment. Instead, Jobs used special media events in September and October to introduce new iPods and the company's fall Mac computer line.

This year's Apple expo is slated to run from September 12 - 16 at Porte De Versailles in Paris, France.