Steve Jobs' health status in 13 words
"We look forward to Steve returning to Apple at the end of June."
How often have you heard that? A Google search for the exact phrase turns up roughly 400 instances, most of them attributed to Apple (AAPL) spokesman Steve Dowling, who is nothing if not disciplined.
The sentence is a variation on the last line of Steve Jobs' Jan. 14 memo to his staff, the one in which he announced that he was taking a six-month medical leave to deal with health-related issues. "I look forward," he wrote, "to seeing all of you this summer."
The phrase "look forward" is useful, because it gives you deniability if something goes wrong. Dowling incorporated the phrase into his stock answer and has been using the statement — without a word out of place — ever since.
Ask him or any other Apple executive about the health of their CEO and they'll invariably reply with those same 13 words: "We look forward to Steve returning to Apple at the end of June."
I mention this because as the end of June approaches, hardly a day goes by without some journalist hearing this sentence and reporting it as news.
The latest example: Mike Harvey, technology correspondent for the London Times. His 675-word story, filed Friday and widely picked up by other news outlets, begins like this:
"Steve Jobs will return to work at Apple at the end of this month, it was confirmed today…"
And how was this "confirmed"?
By a spokesman who told Harvey: "We look forward to Steve returning to Apple at the end of June."
Wish you the best, good health, happiness and God bless You in your recovery. Its through your integrity and technological vision we have such wonderful products like laptops such as the MacBook, OSX, iTunes, iMovie, iPods and now the iPhone. Without you we would only have boring flawed IT products from that self-serving modern day robber barren, you know who.
Steve is doing what is best for the many and I hope him well. I am looking forward for his visionary work that is why should he need alternative medication in terms of herbal treatment I might just know the answer to most of his question.
I don't think that market recognizes how much of apple's nice products are down to Steve's vision. He does much more then just the role of a CEO
Some of you are missing the point here. It's not that people want something bad to happen to Steve Jobs. Its that if he suddenly passes away tomorrow Apple stock will dump hard.
I don't believe Apple stock will dump if he retires and does something like what he's supposedly doing now by keeping a watchful eye on things but not running the day to day operations.
Despite what some of you think Steve Jobs is the face of Apple. Stockholders deserve to know more about Steve Jobs health. I'm not saying full disclosure. But they certainly deserve more then a digestive disorder that is causing the body to not get the nutrients it needs which is causing weight loss.
If you're a stockholder and the unthinkable happens and it costs you some amount of money, wouldn't you be rather ticked off because you were kept in the dark about his health?
just hope that steve returns asap..this time with a much freakier big bang…cheers to u steve…apple is a lot about what u r..n so is innovation n adapted technology…
hope u get perfectly well, soon!
Why can't you make this blog appear in the order of oldest to newest entries?
ex ped: I've tried to get CNNMoney to change the order of comments — or at least give readers a choice — but no go.
He must be seriously ill to be out for so long. I am not expecting any miracles for Jobs to return like he was before.
Several conferences ago Steve Jobs looked into the camera and spoke to us. He said "Trust Us". I did them and do now and as a result have some huge paper gains. I know you can't spend paper but it's a great start. I'm confident Steve has an extremely competent support group who is capable of carrying on should Steve decide to leave. My expectation is that were going to see him again in the very near future with a ————- ? We'll just have to have to stay tuned and see what coming. Best to you Steve!!! Ned
@RJ
What part of END of June don't you understand. Despite what any person from WSJ may spout there was NO point in Steve returning for WWDC. At least they can actually launch some stuff without him. That was how it SHOULD have been and how it is.
If your friend says to you "I'll probably see you tomorrow" undoubtedly you think he's lying to you. He's really concealing that fact that he going to expire overnight from a cerebral hemorrhage. But truthfully, none of us know for certain when we'll breathe our last breath due to any number of unforseen circumstances. I think people are trying to say that Apple and Steve Jobs are liars, always trying to conceal the absolute truth. I've known doctors to tell patients that they should lead a long life and yet the patient dies in a week. Why did the doctor lie, right. Because he couldn't see the future as clearly as some of you think you can.
Don't you think Steve wants to live and return as CEO. What's wrong with looking forward to that. Should he have said "Absolutely, without a doubt, I will return." Then if he slipped and fell down the stairs and badly injured himself, you'd say he was a liar if he didn't return.
And when Steve returns at the end of June, you'll just keep quiet or say that he probably only has another month to live and he's trying to fool investors, right.
After reading the WSJ article from Friday before WWDC (PR repeat of steves letter right before macworld) and watching the wwdc keynote it's obvious he's never coming back to apple.
Why?
Because he didn't make an appearence and wasn't mentioned.
Flash back to the WJS article who's author cited sources "deep within apple" stating Steve was doing great and was almost ready to come back to apple. Think about it,,, if he really was doing great why not make an appearence at wwdc? or this! What better way to show off the video capability of the iphone 3GS than to have STEVE give us a live video feed during the keynote or give us a pre-recorded video of himself on the 3gs! Such an event would send coverage through the roof and gathered apple more publicity than you could imagine!
But alas there was no steve,,, hence he's not coming back. Like at macworld where we got a 2nd letter saying he's going on medical leave there will soon be a letter saying he's leaving apple for good…..
It seems that old story written by the same author keeps repeated and repeated. Anything new? Here it comes. Who is Philip Elmer-DeWitt?
Daisy Jefferson OP/ED – In his latest article, sleazy pseudo-journalist Philip Elmer-DeWitt called our company "a nasty piece of work called Palluxo Media." The fact is that David is a nasty piece of idiot. Who hired this guy, anyways? Did they find him on the street picking up cans – he certainly doesn't seem to have any manners to write for CNNMoney. He should be fired. What a nasty idiot. We wonder does he even have any friends? Of course not.
This idiot (pardon my language) even goes as far as to suggest that our web site is some kind of a conspiracy against Apple, so he goes on to say: "British Columbia’s security commission [should] take a look." Does this idiot really think that BCSC can censor freedom of speech, freedom of press, and articles that were clearly marked as rumors? He must be bigger idiot than we thought. Before CNNMOney hired him to write blog articles, he was probably picking up cans on the street. Obviously, his level of intellect is questionable.
When it comes to Apple, we love Apple, recommend Apple, and use Apple products. Philip Elmer-DeWitt, we cannot thank you enough for giving us publicity. Please write more about Palluxo Media and continue to discredit yourself in the media.
The bottom line: Nobody can censor free speech, and the article in question was clearly marked: "Apple Rumors." Nobody provided proof that Apple CEO was kissing unindentified man. That is why such articles are titled "rumors." Philip Elmer-DeWitt, you sleazy piece of work. Shame on CNNMoney for hiring you (smile.)
Well, technically speaking… Apple never says that Steve Jobs will return *alive*.
So maybe he's been off in Haiti working with a witch doctor for the past several months and will return a zombie…and thus rule Apple forever from beyond the grave!
I know it's true because I think I saw it once in a late night movie…
reinharden
Here's the real story behind Steve Jobs (also in 13 words):
Apple does not need Steve Jobs, only pathetic, worthless "journalists" need Steve Jobs"
"I have a relative, whose spouse works in the clinic on the Peninsula in the Bay Area, the same one that Steve Jobs Oncologist works at. It is no secret to those close to Jobs that his condition continues to worsen and he has been given less than a year to live."
Really? REALLY?
I always take it for absolute truth when some moron from the internet, who supposedly has a relative who has a spouse who works near Steve Jobs's oncologist, posts something on the comments section of an Apple blog. What a complete dope.
That's because Ballmer is worthless and clueless. The world wouldn't miss him if he was gone. The only place that would is the hair restoration clinic.
If your point of the article is to imply that Job's wont be back than just say it. I'm sure your not rooting for the man to die, so that means you have other intentions by printing this crap. If those intentions are to imply that Apple will fail without Job's in controll than just say it. Stop hiding behind all these rumors and take a stand you spineless turds.
Ken Ter,
That's certainly preferable to your "brain" being over chlorinated. I have a relative, whose spouse works in the clinic on the Peninsula in the Bay Area, the same one that Steve Jobs Oncologist works at. It is no secret to those close to Jobs that his condition continues to worsen and he has been given less than a year to live. If you can't deal with the reality of that….too bad for you.
Trojanguy,
Your moronic statement appears to indicate that your "brain" may have been overwatered over there in Oregon. You don't see Mac users wishing and hoping for Steve Ballmer's demise.
One of only 3 stores in the USA with, "Pro Labs".
http://brianhancockphotography.blogspot.com/2009/06/apple-store-scottsdale-grand-opening.html
You and your ilk are pathetic LITTLE people with NOTHING to parse over other than anything Apple over and over and over and over, Etc.
Second that. You can start to moan about anything when a certain date is over. But what the hell enables you to bitch at "end of june" not being "end of may"? lol.
what is wrong with you guys. leave people alone, and do not assume that there is something wrong with the statement.
I received my liver transplant at HUP on March 7th,2006.At 62(F),now,I am astonished at how absolutely fabulous I feel.I would be happy to answer any questions that might help you.BE PATIENT…