Breaking News!

Steve Job is taking a leave of abscence from Apple after being plagued by rumors of his serious health issues. To date pundits, blogs, and news agencies have speculated over the mysterious weight loss Steve has suffered over the past two years. His abscence from many of Apple’s major events, and this official stance on pulling out of MacWorld futher fueled the idea that Steve Jobs was on his death bed.

While that is not the case based on the official statement, there is no doubt that Apple stock will take a serious hit due to this announcement, and speculation will continue on regarding the validity of this statement.

I personally wish him well. As fan of Apple Inc., their computers, their consumer product, and their innovation in the market. I truly hope we see this amazing man come back before 2009 closes.

Here is the official word from Steve Jobs himself which can be found HERE on Apple’s website:

Letter from Apple CEO Steve Jobs

Dear Apple Community,

For the first time in a decade, I’m getting to spend the holiday season with my family, rather than intensely preparing for a Macworld keynote.

Unfortunately, my decision to have Phil deliver the Macworld keynote set off another flurry of rumors about my health, with some even publishing stories of me on my deathbed.

I’ve decided to share something very personal with the Apple community so that we can all relax and 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 remedy for this nutritional problem is relatively simple and straightforward, and I’ve already begun treatment. 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. I will continue as Apple’s CEO during my recovery.

I have given more than my all to Apple for the past 11 years now. I will be the first one to step up and tell our Board of Directors if I can no longer continue to fulfill my duties as Apple’s CEO. I hope the Apple community will support me in my recovery and know that I will always put what is best for Apple first.

So now I’ve said more than I wanted to say, and all that I am going to say, about this.

Steve

• BREAKING NEWS: Apple Not Part of MacWorld Expo – December 17, 2008
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• Official Steve Jobs Biography is Out – October 24, 2011

Steve Jobs Steps Down from Apple originally appeared on: Crenk
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My writings, my podcasts, and basically my predictions have come true. Today it was announced that Apple will no longer be a part of MacWorld Expo, the very event that was almost defined by the very company.

“Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing, will deliver the opening keynote for this year’s Macworld Conference & Expo, and it will be Apple’s last keynote at the show.”

This is monumental ladies and gentleman, MacWorld was defined as the definitive spot where Steve Jobs, Apple, black turtle necks, and Mac fanboys. Whether it’s the economy, or the reason they state in the press release, it’s not surprising that Apple would make this move.

For those of us that have been around long enough to look fondly on this Expo, this is indeed an end of an era. Without the draw of Apple, what will become of this once dominant conference?

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BREAKING NEWS: Apple Not Part of MacWorld Expo originally appeared on: Crenk
Join our Community: Twitter, Facebook

Sometimes the dead just won’t stay dead. Not a zombie flick I’m afraid, but rather a sordid tale of a piece of technology that appeared to have fallen off the face of the earth, now rumored to possibly be making a comeback, the Mac Mini.

This rumor comes after a long history of Apple products failing to meet their market niche and fading away. Some continue on in obscurity not truly finding the foothold it needs, but hangs on by a tiny thread of life. Recent memory brings to mind the Apple Cube, the toaster sized computer that was a perfectly symmetrical square. Unique in design, but faulty in execution. Apple released this product as an attempt to shrink the standard sized desktop computer by utilizing and compact streamlined design with slot loading CD/DVD slot on the sides, almost like a toaster. The design was noted as overheating, troublesome, and experienced problems with the hardware. Without any major announcement support for the product slowly faded away, and without notice came off the market.

Fast forward several years later with the release of the Mac Mini, an apparently 2nd attempt at the idea of a reduced desktop unit to save space and minimize clutter. The Mac Mini entered as an affordable computer, sans a monitor, but capable of producing quality output despite its diminutive build. I personally favored this new design, and felt that the 2nd attempt was a much more successful outing, but once again, lack of support curiously left it in the shadows and little was said or mentioned about the product leaving many to think that it was falling off the line.

Then, more recently, comes the Apple TV. Another amazing product looking at integrating users online experience and integrating into their living room lifestyle in the way of set top box. Using the ability to stream content from the computer to the unit, fans were able to watch their content on a regular TV from their computer or their iPod. The idea was innovative, and attached itself to the increasing popularity of the iTunes store. With little more than firmware upgrades, many thought that Apple was going to pull their support of the Apple TV after only a few years. This idea was quickly re-evaluated when an announcement was made that massive upgrades to the Apple TV would be made.

Still that left the Mac Mini in the long forgotten shadows until now. According to AppleInsider and MacRumors, Apple is rumored to be making massive upgrades to its mini units much to the glee of all the mini owners. Coming from a trusted Apple employee, the source shares that the mac mini is going to receive an upgrade into the 21st century, with three significant changes:

• The inclusion of a Mini DisplayPort, which is becoming standard across all of Apple’s products
• Ability for mainboard chipset to recognize more than 3 GB of RAM
• Allowing users to replace the optical drive with a larger hard drive of their choice, a rather aggressive move for Apple with it’s known control of their proprietary hardware

Any or all of these could come to pass, but for now they are strictly rumors. Looking over the list above, the first is almost a for sure due to the fact that Apple has made the promise of this transition for all of it’s Mac lineup, both latop and desktop systems. The second would be easy to fix simply because it’s been just over 2 years since the last Mac Mini upgrade, and replace the 2 year old equipment would make room for advances in board technology that would allow it to surpass it’s previous limitations.

Finally, the last option allowing users to make their own personal adjustments to hardware would be a huge surprise. In the past Apple has maintained strict control over its hardware and software markets. This control has limited users, professionals and enthusiasts alike, from making their own adjustments and upgrades, and depending on Apple to provide replacements. Those of us more savvy with replacements are able to make our own changes, but by allowing anyone to make these changes flies in the face of everything Apple has done in the past. Are they ready to take that step?

I’m curious to see if the Mac Mini does indeed receive any press at the upcoming MacWorld Expo. I would consider making a purchase if the price was right and the appropriate upgrades were made. Suffice to say, right now anything can happen. Any or none of the above could happen, but then again, items not rumored could also be shared at the Expo. I’m sure all of us Apple supporters will be anxious to see what Steve Jobs will announce at this highly anticipated yearly event.

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• BREAKING NEWS: Apple Not Part of MacWorld Expo – December 17, 2008
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Mac Mini Making A Comeback At MacWorld Expo? originally appeared on: Crenk
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