Submitted by Last week, Gizmodo rumoured that that Apple CEO Steve Jobs’ health was in a very bad condition, so bad in fact that the “inevitable news” would arrive coming Spring. Then, Apple characteristically declined to comment on the rumour, meaning Gizmodo’s story couldn’t be verified. As it turns out, Gizmodo’s story does have a hint of truth, but luckily, Jobs’ health isn’t even remotely in as bad a condition as they made it out to be.
In an open letter to everyone, Steve Jobs clarified the situation around his health, and while he is indeed ill, it’s nothing to get too worried about. He notes that “his decision” to let Phil Shiller hold deliver the keynote ignited a flurry of rumours regarding Jobs’ health; he wants to reassure the Apple community that he is okay, so that everyone can “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 treatment is relatively simple, according to Jobs’ doctors. “The remedy for this nutritional problem is relatively simple and straightforward, and I’ve already begun treatment,” Jobs writes, “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.” He added: “I will continue as Apple’s CEO during my recovery.”
He also notes that he will be the first to tell the board of directors if he is no longer capable of fulfilling his duties as CEO of Apple. He hopes that the Apple community will support him in his recovery. “So now I’ve said more than I wanted to say, and all that I am going to say, about this,” he closes his letter.
Let’s hope Jobs has a speedy and fluent recovery.
I’m glad he is well but it shows how intense the media speculation must have been for him to feel he had to reveal such personal details
To good health and a swift recovery
Agreed, though I suspect a great deal of ‘community speculation’ would have added to the decision.
In the end, as long as he is in good health that is all that matters. The fact that he remains CEO of Apple during his recovery is a brave, but unncessary move.
I couldn’t imagine any decent person who’d want to put his role at Apple above his health.
to many people steve jobs = apple
his ill health hit the stock
http://finance.google.co.uk/finance?chdnp=1&chdd=1&chds=1&chdv=1&ch…
he had to make it clear he was doing well and in charge
Even so, there are some things in life that are more valuable than money.
In my view (which I am sure is shared by many people, Mr Jobs included), a person’s health is worth a lot more than money, shares or a company’s financial position.
oh, I agree entirely with you
a life must and should be worth more than money
Seriously, given Jobs’ obligations to Apple as CEO what else could they do but dispell the “rumors” and downplay them, regardless of whether they were true or false?
We’ve already seen the consequence to Apple’s stock when the a fraudulent announcement of his death was reported on a major tech’s blogging site, we already know what kind of impact allegations of Jobs’ health provoke.
If Jobs didn’t dispute these “rumors” now he’d be sued by all kinds of Apple stockholders!!!
–bornagainpenguin
Last time they did this, they said Jobs had a “common bug” and flat out lied out about his health. We all know now what was really going on.
Can we believe them this time?
They’ve never lied about it, its been the same ‘common bug’ since he’s had surgery, his doctors haven’t known what the real issue is until now, he was just slowly losing weight.
First it was never speculated one bit he had cancer until he made the announcement that he was having/just had surgery (since the cancer wasn’t terminal or required any treatment that would make him or feel sick).
What he’s had for the last few years is apparently a hormone issue which hasn’t been properly diagnosed by anyone until recently and he is now starting his treatment. Had he or his doctors known it was imply a hormone issue the treatment would of started then.
Edited 2009-01-06 19:45 UTC
And in other news, the SEC is looking into allegations that the author of the Gizmodo article snapped up $25k worth of apple stock after its value dropped 12% from jittery investors worried about the impact of Jobs’ health, only to dump it for a nice profit after the prices rebounded from the news that the rum rumour was unfounded.
Dispel has one l, not two.
Yes, it does seem that Thom disspelled that word in the story heading. 😉
Edited 2009-01-06 04:21 UTC