[pscates2.0]

I just watched the WWDC keynote and I couldn't help but notice how thin/frail Steve looked...his arms were quite skinny, and his frame (shoulders, torso, etc.) just looked so thin and drawn-in. And he had quite a sunken face, with hollows in his face above his beard.

The first moment I saw him, it jumped out at me. As I watched the presentation, it just really seemed obvious...from all angles and all lighting.



Combine that with him turning so much of the show over to others (Phil, that French guy and that younger, rockabilly looking guy who seemed to be on stage longer than everyone combined).

I'm not trying to pry or be inflammatory, or bring up a touchy subject (if this is a lock-worthy thread, I'll understand). But it just jumped out at me, having just watched this. I just hope he's okay, that's all. We all know he had a serious scare a couple of years ago.

Perhaps he's exercising vigorously and sweating off a lot of weight in this summer heat, and maybe he just had a sore throat and didn't feel like talking 90 minutes straight this morning.

[Jerman]

I was wondering some of the same stuff myself... Sure hope he is okay.

[washington mac user]

I noticed that too

[jdcfsu]

Durring the iChat with Phil he seemed to be coughing and drinking water. Prob just has the flu or something. I know when I'm sick I don't want to get off the couch let alone get in front of thousands of people talking about sweet new stuff.

[pscates2.0]

In the past, Phil usually trots out to briefly demo something, or provide comic relief (intentional or otherwise) to various iChat hookups (he did that today too, I know). But what purpose was served, turning over the entire meat of the hardware stuff to him? Especially since he was stuttering and stumbling his way through the entire thing. Steve always unveils the new goodies.

It struck me as very "last minute" and "Phil, I need you to take over the Mac Pro and Xserve part of the presentation this morning, buddy".



Schiller seemed nervous and a bit off in a way that I've not seen him, as though he had little-to-no practice. Usually he's quite smooth and flowing. A bit goofy, but smooth and natural during his moments on stage.

Hopefully he's just temporarily under the weather...happens to the best of them.

[shatteringglass]

Steve did seem quite a bit more mellow today. He kept walking on and off the stage, which was a little different. Something seemed off. I hope nothing is wrong.

Phil Schiller was also sweating quite profusely in the beginning, I noticed.

[pscates2.0]

Yeah. I've just never seen him turn that much of the show totally over to others, that's all. He always has folks come up and demo things for a bit, but not for such long segments, and certainly not to unveil brand new hardware. That's always a Steve thing.



That, combined with his appearance, really made me take notice and wonder. Everyone seemed a bit off, frankly, and serious. Not one of the snappiest, "upbeat" keynotes, I'll say that.

[shatteringglass]

I sincerely hope they were all just jet-lagged (I know Cupertino is right next to SF, so just humor me, guys!) or were tired from hanging out too late last night or whatever.

I like to think they all went to Starbucks afterwards to grab some overpriced coffee for a pick-me-up.

"Phil, you're paying this time."

[alcimedes]

Hopefully it's not a cancer relapse.

[BlueRabbit]

I noticed that too. Maybe Steve is just training the younger-guy to start taking his place. I don't recall having seen him in a keynote before.

[Is it 1981?]

I don't necessarily think there's anything wrong with Steve - he's the CEO of two high-profile, successful and much-loved companies with very much a hands-on approach to work, who's in his fifties and has overcome a cancer scare.

He's bound to want to slow the pace a little soon, and judging by his presentation today (I haven't watched it yet, so I could be wrong), I think he could be slowly weaning us off our 'dependance' (for want of a better word) on him, to make sure Apple continues to be successful when he finally steps down. It's a scary thought.

Edit - I think that Scott fella's been seen during a 3-way iChat demo before?

[colivigan]

Time Machine. No worries.

[MBHockey]

I was thinking the same exact stuff. I can't help but think he is starting to groom that guy who did the Time Machine demo. Schiller did look nervous, and i don't know why Steve didn't intro it himself.

He looked very thing on stage, it jumped out at me first and i couldn't get it off my mind the whole presentation. Also, he wasn't wearing a turtleneck...just a black shirt.

[BuonRotto]

I'm betting he's sick, indeed. Not to be obnoxious, but Steve can get good treatment for whatever it is. I would assume a flu bug or something. He's looked frail before too IMO. That boy needs some protein!

[MBHockey]

He's a vegan, i'm sure he has to take supplements.

[Messiahtosh]

Perhaps Steve is on a hunger strike with Al Gore on the global warming issue....

Okay, I did notice it too. He does look thin and it may be because he's sick, but he seemed his usual coughing self. He always has that cough and drinks a lot of water during keynotes. It is also possible that he has changed his diet for some reason or is exercising now that he's healthy - and he could just be taking it too far? I don't know...and I doubt he'd have much time for exercise with his life. Maybe he's been working A LOT?

I think Steve is more hands-on with the consumer/iPod stuff and afterall, Schiller and others do have high exec positions at Apple so they should be visible too.

And I think everything Steve lost went straight to Phil...

I hope Steve's okay, though.

[miniuser]

I'm not sure he looks any thinner than is has in the past. However, for like the past 2-3-4 keynotes he's done, he's been coughing or sounding like he has a cold. The coughing today was MUCH better than his Hi-Fi stint. That was not stop coughing and he sounded just plain HORRIBLE.

[scratt]

I have noticed a general decline in his overall health in the last few keynotes.. The coughing and drinking water on stage seems to have increased.. Also this keynote (although I have not seen it all yet) he did seem to be going on and off stage a lot... That was wierd..

If nothing else, I think he is giving more presentation time away progressively, as he realises he won't be doing the whole keynote thing in the same way, or with the same intensity, in the future..

Shame.

[jdcfsu]

Yeah, cause in the future they'll all be done through iChat via that new feature they showed off today.

[Satchmo]

Originally Posted by BlueRabbit Maybe Steve is just training the younger-guy to start taking his place. I don't recall having seen him in a keynote before.

Whoever he is, he did a very good job. Not quite his Steveness, but with similar flair and timing. One wonders if he's movin' on up.
But yes, Steve did look rather thin and frail.

[Messiahtosh]

Originally Posted by Satchmo Whoever he is, he did a very good job. Not quite his Steveness, but with similar flair and timing. One wonders if he's movin' on up. But yes, Steve did look rather thin and frail.

Agreed. There are great people at Apple. Afterall, Steve may be steering the wheel but there are some brilliant minds that make it all happen. I have no doubt that Apple has created a culture of innovation which also fosters great minds, people, and personalities. Apple will be fine for a long, long time.

[washington mac user]

im rewatching it. ya he does look really skinny.

[Windowsrookie]

Well, he looks better than Phil. I just thing the goatee made him look ALOT older.

[blakbyrd]

Originally Posted by MBHockey He's a vegan, i'm sure he has to take supplements.

Not fully, I think he eats fish. It says something like that on Wikipedia.org.

I hope he's okay.

[Fahrenheit]

Heres hoping for no Tommy Cooper moments.

Originally Posted by Leander Kahney @ Wired.com Worse, Jobs dispensed with his "one more thing" surprise finale. Jobs usually saves his biggest announcement for last. As he appears to be wrapping up, he says, 'oh, I nearly forgot' and ploughs into the big news of the day. It's a well-worn routine, but it builds excitement and suspense. But he tossed off the day's big news -- the new Mac Pro desktop -- early in the show. Yeah, everyone knew it was coming, but why dispense with it early on? It's weird and puzzling. I wondered if Jobs, who was treated for cancer last year, was sick. Was he sharing presentation duties to save energy? When I saw Jobs introducing the iPod Hi-Fi at Apple's headquarters in late February, about five months ago, it looked to me like he was tiring quickly and was glad to get it over. But a couple of people I canvassed after Monday's keynote thought he looked fine. I also wondered if he were testing -- or grooming -- possible successors if he should decide take a back seat, or step down, or worse. Apple's head of marketing, Phil Schiller, is the most relaxed of the bunch and has his own cuddly charm. He has taken the reins before in Paris, where he got good reviews. But one thing's for sure -- he's not Steve Jobs.

[MagSafe]

Yep, before even looking at any forums etc. etc. I started thinking the exact same thing, he definetly looks frail and a lot thinner than usual.

I never thought of why he might have been handing over to other people throughout the show, but the thread starter could be onto something?

Here's hoping hes fit and healthy

[scratt]

What a chump asshole Leander is.
Jesus that guys sinks lower and lower in my estimations every time I make the mistake of reading one of his articles..

I enjoyed the Cult of Mac book.. But I am all for binning him as an Apple commentator in the future.

Paul, I think you managed to bring the subject up in a thoughtful and caring manner.. Perhaps you should apply for Leander's job.. You helped him on his book anyway, didn't you..

[chucker]

Originally Posted by scratt What a chump asshole Leander is.

QFT.

[GladToBeHere]

Steve is demonstrating wisdom by removing himself as the central focus of these events. Currently sick or not, he has a tendency to outshine the products, or at the very least, people equate him with being Apple. He is a good leader, but that also means that he has reworked Apple into a structure that can work on its own, even if he's not present. They've hopefully "internalized" Steve in their processes, and their own vision.

I certainly hope he's not ill either, but passing the torch to a younger generation is necessary, sooner or later. Sooner is better, so that the transition can be made smoothly. If he passed away in a some sort of accident, it would be just like when he was ousted in the 80s-- the place could be taken over by suits again. So, passing the torch in a controlled manner is Apple executing another major transition, albeit largely behind the scenes.

[Barto]

Leander Kahney's comments seemed entirely reasonable to me.