The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday that, as expected, Jobs has stayed "closely involved in the company's strategic decisions and product development" during a medical leave to focus on his health, according to people familiar with the matter.
Sources say Jobs has been holding business meetings at his home and on the phone. He has also been seen at the company's Cupertino, Calif., campus and around Palo Alto, Calif., with a company executive.
Apple announced in January that Jobs would take a medical leave of absence for the second time in two years. At the time, Jobs wrote in a press release that he would "continue as CEO and be involved in major strategic decisions for the company."
According to the Journal's sources, Jobs continues to work on "the next version of the iPad tablet computer, expected out in the next couple of months, and a new iPhone, expected to be released this summer."
Sources also reported that day-to-day operations remain "nearly unchanged" under COO Tim Cook, although some said there is a "sense of sadness" because of concerns about Jobs' health. Cook also managed operations for the company while Jobs took his previous leave, earning $59 million in the process.
Though pundits have speculated about Jobs' reasons for his leave of absence, the exact nature of his condition remains unclear. People who have seen Jobs in recent months have said that he "continues to look thin." Sources also told the Journal that Apple and Jobs "appear to be going about things in much the same way as they did during his previous medical leave, at the time of his transplant."
Jobs had reportedly been on a "down cycle" in the weeks prior to the announcement of his medical leave. An anonymous source told The New York Times that he suffers from "immune system issues common with people who have received liver transplants" and had only been coming into the office two days a week.
According to the Journal's report, some developers are holding out for the annual Worldwide Developers Conference in early June, possibly June 5 to June 9, to assess the situation. "App developers are waiting to see if Steve will come back to give the keynote at WWDC," said Vishal Gurbuxani, a co-founder of mobile-ad company Mobclix Inc.
Analysts have spoken out to reassure investors over the leave of absence. Jobs' time away "is a concern because people view [Jobs] as the head innovator, but...I feel Apple can continue down its path with or without Steve," said Mike Binger, fund manager at Thrivent Asset Management.
Shares of Apple stock fell shortly after news of Jobs' leave, but have since recovered as investors remained bullish at the prospect of continued sales growth of the iPhone and iPad.
30 Comments
I don't think he will be at WWDC this year, but I hope he gets well soon! Go Steve!
If I were in Steve's situation I would never be heard from again.
He should build his house and enjoy it. He totally needs to retire. His job is done.
Write some memoirs... or not. Long life Steve.
Exactly, how many would love to see a movie about Steve's life (now, while he can enjoy it)? It would be infinitely more interesting and factual than "Social Network", and would be about a true visionary who started the PC revolution that continues to this day, not about a lucky nerd who stole an idea about a better myspace, was in the right place at the right time, who has less than a decade of experience, and who has such limited social appeal that he makes people uncomfortable being around him.
I vote for memoirs and a movie - sooner than later, so Steve can be at the Oscars to accept his statuette. Best wishes Steve, get a good publisher and screenwriter, and please let us in on a remarkable life that continues to astonish everyone!
agree with mstone.. eat plenty of coconut oil and enjoy your new digs!
p.s. i think most apple fans know steve will have made sure apple will remain a juggernaut long after he retires (anyone remember the internal education program?)
Please, Steve, take up on the medical cannabis if you haven't already!