Gizmodo is flirting with a law suit if they print stuff like this and then mask the source. This is just a rumor and could well be false. Even if the rumor is true there are lots of shades of grey here - between 'Steve is weak and doesn't feel up for it' and 'Steve is dying'. We've seen several stories like this already this fall, the new twist is the connection to Macworld. For Gizmodo, the main motivation to print a thin but provocative story is to drive tons of eyeballs to their site of course.

The other thing is that unfortunately for Apple, if the story gets wide circulation, their investor relations will be called upon to issue a statement and they HATE to do that. But they should, one way or the other, deflate the rumor or substantiate it ...

Posts like these can and do get investigated by the FCC for stock manipulation (like the last one did) .... dangerous game to play

Note to Apple rumor community: get some new material. I'm so tired of all the BS Steve health rumors. I'll believe them after he's dead.

To solve the problem, I suggest "Live Web Cam" of Steve Job's office space. That'll solve everyone's rumors and speculations.

It's the Castro Complex.

I guess there could be a chance hat Steve's health is declining and he will start staying out of the spotlight all the timebut that doesn't mean all the hype is gone. Steve will remain at apple even if only a consultor. Either way there are plenty of people there, like shiller, who want the company to stay the same way it has been. There can still be hype about things like an apple tablet, no jobs keynote will be missed, but we will still get new and amazing products. People freaking out about jobs' health is very dangerous we must remember that while he is a good part of apple there are others behind him. Everyone just calm down it had to happen sometime. Apple store employees won't be deserting their stores if Steve leaves and we must continue to support apple

Just look at Steve Jobs video from October when they released the new MacBooks. He looked much better than in January. If had had a turn for the worse and had metastatic cancer, he would not have looked great in October and then have a precipitous drop that quicly.

While I hope his health is fine, what is with all the disclaimers about how we shouldn't discuss health or how it's not our business. Steve Jobs is a man who has CHOSEN to establish himself as the face and soul of Apple. IF he is sick or unable to perform his duties then the stock-holders, employees and public have the right to discuss it without being blasted for being "insensitive".

IF anything happens to Jobs then it WILL affect the people and the product so it would be foolish to pretend a prominent figure shouldn't have discussions based on what is happening to him.

(That said, I hope he's okay and just retires. At some point you have to quit working and enjoy living. Plus, with Jobs gone then maybe the whole "cult" thing will go with him.)

Everyone's health is declining --- it ends with death! Usually, thou, it takes a long time. Gizmodo, get a grip!

Steve Jobs leaving Apple for whatever reason is disaster for Apple. The company just can't seem to do right without him. When Steve Jobs left Apple in 1985 the company held a similar market share to what it has now. Unfortunately, there were more players besides the current Microsoft monopoly. John Sculley had a couple good ideas but when he used those up he had nothing. Gil Amelio on the other hand should have realized he was better off doing the opposite of whatever he thought was a good idea.

The point is no CEO has had the vision, or just the plain guts, to steer Apple in the right direction. In my opinion I would panic, and sell any shares of Apple...

S.J. over time has focused on introducing financial numbers (amazing!) Sold iTunes over x billion (impressive!) x number of macs sold (how about that?) script is repetitive, he introduces 3rd party software and hardware developers they have a quick 2 minute speech and move on. Then apple developers and engineers take turns introducing new technologies while S.J. introduces new products and navigates iLife(when available)

Hence the new Apple MC. Same routine as S.J. kill hoopla with a big bang by introducing S.J. (eliminates his name from keynote speech, drops stocks, adds value to new product) So in this event pay more attention to "there's more" that they haven't used in a while. (isn't it wonderful?) so when the chit chat is all over we may all say (unbelievable!)
Focus on making a better today for a brighter tomorrow.

CNBC is contradicting this report:

"I spoke to Apple after these headlines crossed and the company, which officially doesn't comment on rumors, reiterated the reasons it offered two weeks ago: Apple was pulling out of Macworld because the company didn't see the need to continue its investment in the expo, which included Steve Jobs' keynote.

I was told this morning (Tuesday) that nothing has changed since then. The same reasons apply today that applied two weeks ago.

I was told two weeks ago by sources inside Apple that the decision had nothing to do with Jobs' health. I got the same message today. Period."

In the past 30 years the mantra was "Apple is dying". I remember hearing that around 1983 until perhaps 2002. Now that the people pulling that lever have been shut down, their new story is "Jobs is dying". I'm not sure what will be next. All I know is that most all 50 year old people will die or retire within the next 15 to 30 years.

Fan boys, get a grip... Steve is dying. Within a year he is dead.

I wonder why no one has done even the minimal investigation required to figure out that Apple laid off most of their event staff many, many months ago. I have a friend who worked there for years and this is what happened.