The Skinny on Steve Jobs' Health

While new applications such as EmergenKey and My Life Record will allow iPhone users more manageability over their health, Apple CEO's own health is at the center of much speculation and concern. During an Apple conference last month the gasps among the audience said it all when Steve Jobs came out on stage. It was his sunken face, the loose fit of his signature turtleneck and sagging jeans that did it. His physical appearance left many, especially those with an invested interest in Apple, to wonder about the state of his health. For a brief moment with the launch of Apple's new iPhone his health concerns were temporarily put aside.

But, the chatter about his health started soon again as Wall Street analysts became overwhelmed with inquiries from investors. Clearly unconvinced by an Apple spokesperson that cited Jobs' apparent loss of weight as being the result of "a common bug" investors are still pushing to know what the deal is with his health. Even during Apple's third-quarter conference call the question loomed over the communication lines and when Ben Reitzes, an analyst for the Lehman Brothers, inquired about the CEO's health he undoubtedly asked what most of the participants on the call wanted to know. And Apple's CFO Peter Oppenheimer was ready for the question stating, "Steve loves Apple. He serves as the C.E.O. at the pleasure of Apple's board and has no plans to leave Apple. Steve's health is a private matter." With that said the issue was a closed cased for now.

The mounting concern and frenzy over Jobs' health is put best by Charles R. Wolf, an analyst from Needham & Company who stated, "Apple is Steve Jobs and Steve Jobs is Apple." Add that to the fact that the CEO was diagnosed with a rare, yet less aggressive form of pancreatic cancer in October 2003. He only decided to get surgery nine months later after a special diet proved ineffective. It was only after he had surgery did Jobs tell his employees and shareholders via email that he was sick and that the procedure had cured him.

With continued rumors of him being sick again, forecasts of stock plummeting 25% or more if he were to unexpectedly leave Apple and talks of his accountability to shareholders to disclose information about his health, Steve Jobs called New York Times, business columnist Joe Nocera on Saturday. The Apple founder, usually a secretive person when it comes to the company's product development and his personal life, has come forward to comment on his health - well, sort of.

The conversation began, "This is Steve Jobs. You think I'm an arrogant [expletive] who thinks he's above the law, and I think you're a slime bucket who gets most of his facts wrong." With that introduction, Nocera was keenly aware of Jobs' thoughts about him as he gave him an off-the-record account of his health problems.

It seems that Jobs' family, physicians and now Nocera are the select few bound by secrecy to the privileged information of Jobs' health something shareholders would love to get their hands on. And because of the nature of the conversation Nocera was only able to say that while Steve Jobs' emaciated appearance mount to more than just "a common bug," his health issues are neither due to a revisited bout of cancer nor are they life-threatening.

It's not specific information but it's far from dismal. For the consumers, it means looking forward to the exciting gadgets and technology this phenomenal innovator has up his sleeves. Hopefully, the news will keep investors somewhat satisfied, at least for now.

Sources: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/26/business/26nocera.html?_r=1&sq=steve%20jobs&st=cse&scp=2&pagewanted=print, http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_10012798, http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/881355/going_bananas_for_apples.html?cat=15