This news item is taken directly from the BBC London Tech section.
Mr. Jobs is credited with turning around the fortunes of the company
Apple boss Steve Jobs has announced that he is to take "medical leave" from the company.
In an e-mail to employees he said he was taking the break to focus on his health.
He said he would continue as chief executive of Apple and be involved in any major decisions. Day-to-day running of the company will pass to Tim Cook.
In late 2008 to mid-2009 Mr Jobs was absent from Apple for six months to have a liver transplant.
It was part of the series of treatments he has undergone for pancreatic cancer. He was first diagnosed as suffering from the cancer in 2004 and underwent surgery later that year to remove a tumor from his pancreas.
In his e-mail Mr. Jobs said he would be back at work as soon as he can.
"At my request, the board of directors has granted me a medical leave of absence so I can focus on my health. I will continue as CEO and be involved in major strategic decisions for the company," he said in an e-mail.
"I have asked Tim Cook to be responsible for all of Apple's day to day operations."
Mr. Cook is currently the firm's chief operating officer. He has run the company day-to-day before now during previous times when Mr. Jobs has been dealing with his health problems.
The announcement was made on a public holiday in the US when there is no trading in company stocks and shares. However, Apple shares traded in Frankfurt are down 7% on the news.
It comes ahead of Apple's first quarter results, due on 18 January.
Mr Jobs is an iconic presence at Apple and is widely credited as the architect of its current run of success based around products such as the iPad and iPhone.
The absence comes as Apple is rumored to be preparing to launch the second version of its iPad - the successor to the tablet computer it launched in 2010.
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-12205173
I certainly wish him well through this ordeal. This kind of thing goes way beyond Windows/Apple preferences. His life could be in jeopardy, and that human vulnerability unites all.
"Get well soon, Mr. Jobs."
Poor guy, hope the best for him and his family.
Indeed. Whatever one might say about Apple vs MS, those ruminations have no place when someone's life is at stake, and his is.
I hate Mac Zealots, but I love Apple and Steve Jobs! Apple has done more to push the PC (and other aspects of technology) into so many great areas. Yet they were a failing company until Jobs came back. He has had a rough road of it, and I sure hope he pulls through better than before.
i wish steve jobs well and hope he recovers soon. On a side note expect apple to claim that they invented medical leave within the next 6 months and try and whack a patent on it
So... time to short sell apple stock?
C'mon, guys.... the man had Cancer, a liver transplant and now who knows what.... let's be kind.
Every living person alive today will die. He's getting the attention because of his position in Apple's evolution. I don't think it's unfair to discuss Apple based on his events. I also don't think it's fair to pity him or his family any more than the millions of people dying right now.
He had a good run. If you must, remember the good things he's done, but his sickness should not cause you to forget the bad.
Sorry but it's just not nice to speak ill of the dead or dying. There's always time to critique or criticize later. I think soliciting well wishes for a well known luminary of the computing world is a decent thing to do.
Oh Dear. Boy did I just jump to conclusions with that statement.
so if hitler or idi amin or pol pot were still alive but very ill and dying it would be bad form to comment on the evil things they did just because it's 'bad form"?. i think not. Nothing that has been said in this thread could be considered bad form and for you to think so means that you are too sensitive. So Steve Jobs is ill. i hope the man recovers and doesn't have to suffer a lot but life goes on, but suddenly forgetting everything he has done out of some uninformed sense of decency is quite naive in my opinion. Not that i am in any way what so ever comparing Jobs to the afore mentioned people but the situation is exactly the same. Besides no where in his statement did he refer to himself as "dying" so aint you being a little bit dramatic hmmmm?
Indeed - other than being a liberal, I have no problems with Jobs and only the utmost respect! Even if you hate Macs, why hate the innovator?
If you feel the need to make 'light' of the misfortunes of others kindly do so elsewhere.
If you cannot find the 'door' you can be shown it.
Lets not forget that between Steve Jobs and Bill Gates most of what we have today as far as PC's and software wouldn't be. Both men should be applauded for their efforts. My 2 cents.
Thanks, Jafo.
In the past I may have said Steve Jobs was smug when it came to Apple and its products, but this kind of illness could befall any one of us and I'd not wish it on my worst enemy. A former neighbour of mine died of pancreatic cancer and I can attest to the misery and pain sufferers must endure, so I wish Steve Jobs all the best and hope that the treatments alleviate all that for him.
On a PC/computer note, I have to agree with Dr Guy, here. Steve Jobs has contributed much and his efforts have benefited us all, either directly or indirectly. Whether or not we use a Mac, iPod, iPhone or iPad, Apple technology has helped advance the entire electronics industry. So in that regard, let's all hope he recovers well and gets back soon to what he does best.
I just read this on Yahoo 7. According to the story Steve Jobs has but weeks to live, and looking at the photo he doesn't look at all well.
If true, let's hope it's as painless as it possibly could be and he suffers little.
Agreed.
Best regards,Steven.
As do we all, if it proves to be true. I hope it isn't.
Mr Jobs...I wonder if he risks losing his job because of his health issues???
Well??
How many "regular Joe" types lost their job after taking some medical leave? FMLA-trap? Anyone? I know a few... Err.. I know A LOT of people who have been terminated because of some health issue.
Will Mr Jobs be unfairly terminated (re: high costs to company)?
A company has "a right" to deny an employ a return if it deems such an action would create a loss [to their bottom line]...
This is VERY interesting. And I would love to see how this all unfolds.
-.-
I work for the state at a mental health hospital, and people get beaten up and injured by the patients and then get FMLA trapped and fired. It's so shitty. Its a dangerous field, and if you ever get hurt, they treat you like a fucking criminal.
In any field, this is true.
But this isn't true for every level within a company.
Still. It would be nice to see Jobs get fired and lose his millions and risk losing his home.
I've never experienced this loss personally, but I have worked with many patients who have. It really is a twisted system.
[quote who="Jafo" reply="13" id="2870938"]If you feel the need to make 'light' of the misfortunes of others kindly do so elsewhere.If you cannot find the 'door' you can be shown it.
I fail to see why any human's misfortune and ultimate mortality would engender such a response, aeligos. I believe that response came from anger/resentment and envy. Besides the fact he has worked and earned his fortune and bettered others' computing experience as well as lives by his work, he is a human being and entitled to a far more humane response than yours.
This is the question you should ask yourself:
If faced with your own mortality (which you will be, have no doubt) would you appreciate such a response to your suffering from a total stranger to whom you've done no wrong?
I think not.
Not anger/resentment nor envy. Don't be silly.
Not think.... (I doubt you did anyway).
You simply assume way too much. Job's situation is not uncommon, his fate should therefore be accepted to meet the status quo, since he is a regular Joe.
A human's misfortune and 'convenient' morbidity fuels the medical industry.
This is fact.
No, that would be human emotion.
Everyone faces illness and death. That makes it no less significant, rather more so. It is one of the few things that are common to all.
Since you hold the "medical industry" in so little regard, I suggest you not visit us. Ever. You'll no doubt benefit that way, as will we.
I still find your response inhumane, and suggest you think about the situation of you being in Mr. Jobs' shoes.
I wonder if you'd have 1/100 of his style and grace.
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