WSJ: Steve Jobs "on track" to return to Apple

Fri Jun 5, 2009 9:19AM EDT

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Nearly six months after stepping down as Apple's CEO for an extended medical leave, Steve Jobs—who was "one real sick guy" during his absence, according to a source—is on the mend, and looks set to return to work this month, the Wall Street Journal reports.

Citing a series of anonymous sources, the Journal says that Jobs "appears on track to return from medical leave this month." Some are even speculating that he might take the stage during Monday's WWDC keynote, possibly with a new iPhone in hand.

Sightings of Jobs, who announced he was stepping down in January due to a "hormone imbalance," have been few and far between. Last month, Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak said he'd spoken to Jobs and that he sounded "healthy" and "energetic," but added that he didn't ask Jobs specifically about his condition.

One source who'd been regularly briefed on Jobs' health told the Journal that Jobs was "fundamentally ... starving to death over a nine-month period" because he "couldn't digest protein." However, while Jobs was "one real sick guy" at one point, he "took corrective action" and "is coming along," the source said in the Journal story.

So, will we see Jobs—hopefully no longer as gaunt as he looked last year—at the Apple keynote Monday? Industry observers seem divided on that question, although another Journal source claims that Apple is "trying to coordinate Mr. Jobs' return with a product launch of public event."

Personally, I think that the launch of a new iPhone—arguably Jobs' crowning achievement at Apple, at least since his triumphant return to Cupertino in 1997—would be the ideal time for the iconic, black-turtleneck-and-jeans-wearing CEO to return to the spotlight.

Then again, Apple might want to show that it can launch a splashy new iPhone without Jobs.

Indeed, after all the concern about whether Apple could thrive without its famous founder, the company has actually done just fine, successfully launching a refreshed line of iMacs, along with a tiny, headline-grabbing iPod Shuffle. Meanwhile, the unveiling of iPhone Software 3.0 went off without a hitch, and as the Journal notes, Apple's stock is up 68 percent since Jobs went on leave.

So, what do you think: Will the "One More Thing" on Monday be Mr. Steve Jobs himself?

Related:
Jobs Ready to Return to Apple Helm [Wall Street Journal]

Comments on WSJ: Steve Jobs "on track" to return to Apple

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  • 6 Posted by arcaengel on Fri Jun 5, 2009 4:13PM EDT Report Abuse

    Oh why can't he just kick the bucket already

  • 7 Posted by aibayroff on Fri Jun 5, 2009 4:13PM EDT Report Abuse

    @alexgannis, what? Even IF Microsoft found a way to create an OS that doesn't crash or come pre-bundled with bugs, Apple could release an update to its headphones and it would "out reach", as you say, anything MS has to offer. I say this in good humor, but seriously, Palm Pre will out do Windoze 7.

  • 8 Posted by peter987b on Fri Jun 5, 2009 4:19PM EDT Report Abuse

    All I know is that apple products are the biggest peice of trash, and am sick and tireed of their ovebearing snotty customer service people. So with SJ coming back, can we expect more new products that with efatures that the average human who has a life outside of the etch worlds doesnt want or need?

  • 9 Posted by millertim08 on Fri Jun 5, 2009 4:20PM EDT Report Abuse

    If you only knew !!! But hey you will on Monday !!!

  • 10 Posted by thaheavy on Fri Jun 5, 2009 4:26PM EDT Report Abuse

    My first puter was OSX 10.3, upgraded to 10.4. It was a steaming pile of crap from the day I bought it, with bugs and it crashed all the time. It recently died, and I don't miss it. For the last three years it was sitting on the sidelines while I was using a laptop with Win XP SP3, and this thing only crashed once in three years, and never had any bugs. APPLE=HYPE

  • 11 Posted by m_dm on Fri Jun 5, 2009 4:28PM EDT Report Abuse

    arcaengel, what's up with that comment? Even if Bill Gates is your uncle that's a pretty rude thing to say. Go try to fix your unstable OS.

  • 12 Posted by sashakoko on Fri Jun 5, 2009 4:38PM EDT Report Abuse

    Congratulations to Steve Job on his health recovery and returning to Apple soon. The new iPhone is not the issue here. His return to health is.

  • 16 Posted by rmegna54 on Fri Jun 5, 2009 5:03PM EDT Report Abuse

    Steve Jobs' contributions to the digital technology revolution of the last 30 years are incalculable. Here is hoping that he will return soon to his role as visionary of our age. As for the Windows 7 vs. MacOSX debate, let me say as a hard-core Mac user, I am actually and pleasantly surprised by Win7 (which I have running in a VM on my MacBook Pro). It is an ok operating system. HOWEVER, the best comparison I can make is that it is roughly equal to OSX Tiger, which was replaced by Leopard in 2007. In other words, Win7 is equivalent to an OS Apple released about four years ago. Not exactly ground-breaking...

  • 17 Posted by manuelbarrancos on Fri Jun 5, 2009 5:03PM EDT Report Abuse

    These guys dont need to die ever. The world is a better place because such kind of persons.

  • 18 Posted by anngarmisch on Fri Jun 5, 2009 5:04PM EDT Report Abuse

    All the best to Steve Jobs! I am thrilled that he is back. I am working with Macs for 18 years now on a daily basis, in multiple languages and at least 8hrs a day! Love the machine, love the concept, love Apple. I couldn't do my work without my Mac: fast, fun and precise!

  • 19 Posted by gleohuyck on Fri Jun 5, 2009 5:07PM EDT Report Abuse

    Welcome back, Mr. Jobs. You are the best and keep giving us the best computers in the world. I have used PCs but have gone to Apples for the last 30 years. I will never go back to the unstable world of Microsoft. They have always turned out junk and the computers that run them were not any better. My lady friend had a PC built just for her a few years ago. I was called over to her place 2-3 times a week to fix it's problems. YUK I finally bought her a mini mac and she has never had to call me over to fix anything computer wise in 5 years. Just the most wonderful computers made. Oh yes, I also use an iphone and love it. I can hardly wait for the new one.

  • 20 Posted by pointyhatlady on Fri Jun 5, 2009 5:08PM EDT Report Abuse

    I'd be very happy to see Steve Jobs make an appearance on Monday - great for Apple, yes, but more importantly it will great to see him healthy again and back where he belongs - running Apple.

  • 22 Posted by arcaengel on Fri Jun 5, 2009 5:21PM EDT Report Abuse

    Because Apple people think this guy is the messiah and would pay rediculous prices for a tool that isn't worth it. I figure if he goes in the hole all you nutty people would jump in with him and then no one would argue needlessly about who has the most expensive toy that you bought to go surf the web and pick up email... oh and Photoshop... because we all know this can't be done on something that is picked up at a garage sale we absolutely have to forgo the mortgage and car payment to throw 3 grand plus at the snake oil salesman.

  • 23 Posted by s_thomas1 on Fri Jun 5, 2009 5:21PM EDT Report Abuse

    Apple did ok without Jobs for awile in the past too, but an extended leave will most likely result in Apple's decline once again. This article makes it seem ok that Jobs is gone, but it is missing the big picture.

  • 24 Posted by s_thomas1 on Fri Jun 5, 2009 5:22PM EDT Report Abuse

    What is with the "hormonal imbalance"? Is that code for cancer?

  • 25 Posted by aineljafari on Fri Jun 5, 2009 5:25PM EDT Report Abuse

    Come on folks, have a heart! Steve Jobs is a GENIUS! What he litirally spitted out after chewing,has become Windows!! How can one forget the MOUSE, the ROLL-DOWN-MENUS, Integrated CPU & Monitor, the Voice Commands...(the list goes on), developed by Apple during ninteen eighties! Its only that Apple started making 'dents' in computer markets of heavy weights like IBM, that Apple was put under multi-dimensional pressure, which always happen when you stir the hornets nest in the corporate world! Welcome back SJ!

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