Macrumors and many others are reporting that there may be an investigation by the SEC into how Apple has handled the disclosures behind Steve Job’s health.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is planning to review Apple’s disclosures about Apple CEO Steve Jobs’s health problems, according to Bloomberg.

People familiar with the matter are quick to note a review does not necessarily indicate the SEC has seen evidence of wrongdoing. However, many Apple investors have been frustrated with Apple’s limited and contradictory disclosures regarding the issue, specifically regarding statements made on January 5th and January 14th. The SEC will likely be looking into those statements’ effect of causing fluctuations in the company’s stock price:

To bring any case, the SEC would probably have to show the company tried to benefit by withholding information about an unambiguous diagnosis, said Peter Henning, a former federal prosecutor and SEC lawyer who now teaches at Wayne State University Law School in Detroit.

“It would be difficult, and certainly a new area of the law,” Henning said. “You would have to pin down exactly what they knew, and with a health issue — unlike a merger or a decline in revenue — it’s not subject to definitive answers.”

So let me get this straight.  The SEC has time and energy to go after this situation but hey, someone warns you about a ponzi scam and well…we got better things to do…right?

We welcome your thoughts.

PC vs. Mac support, Steve’s Health, and some props to Mobile Me…for once.  We talk about all of this and more as we welcome Brian Hertziger back to the show.

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Episode #75

Three words…’nuf freakin’ said:

Thoughts?

cal

It was announced today from Apple that Steve Jobs will be taking a medical leave of absence from Apple until June:

“Team,

I am sure all of you saw my letter last week sharing something very personal with the Apple community. Unfortunately, the curiosity over my personal health continues to be a distraction not only for me and my family, but everyone else at Apple as well. In addition, during the past week I have learned that my health-related issues are more complex than I originally thought.

In order to take myself out of the limelight and focus on my health, and to allow everyone at Apple to focus on delivering extraordinary products, I have decided to take a medical leave of absence until the end of June.

I have asked Tim Cook to be responsible for Apple’s day to day operations, and I know he and the rest of the executive management team will do a great job. As CEO, I plan to remain involved in major strategic decisions while I am out. Our board of directors fully supports this plan.

I look forward to seeing all of you this summer.

Steve”

Link to the press release is HERE.

Let the panicing now begin.  But really, if he is still maintaining power of decisions made at the company, is there really any reason to panic?

Your thoughts and comments are welcome.

A few posts back I made a statement expressing my policy of not discussing Steve Job’s health on our show unless it was publicly appropriate to do so. Now, with Steve’s open letter about his health now seems like as good a time as any to say something.

First, and most importantly, let us wish Steve a speedy recovery as he rests with his family.

More to the point, however, is something I want us all to ponder. Taking the business of Apple, investors, Macworld etc. out of the equation, if you were Steve and were sick like this, would you want everyone to know? Would you want people to know the intimate details of your medical condition if it really did not effect your ability to lead your company?

I will pause as you ponder that….

I know that the speculation before hand has built up to a frenzy and that there is an obligation to shareholders. But people, let’s get a grip on reality.

Steve is a human being.

And if he can still perform as CEO of Apple then you, me, and all the “analysts” out there need to put the duct tape over our collective mouths and leave him alone.

Nuff said?

Cal

Well, well.  If it isn’t another shocker to come out of the land of Cupertino this week.  Apple announced Tuesday that this years presence at Macworld expo would be it’s last.  Moreover, this year’s keynote address will be given by Phill Schiller and not Steve Jobs.
Apple states:

“Apple is reaching more people in more ways than ever before, so like many companies, trade shows have become a very minor part of how Apple reaches its customers. The increasing popularity of Apple’s Retail Stores, which more than 3.5 million people visit every week, and the Apple.com website enable Apple to directly reach more than a hundred million customers around the world in innovative new ways.”

Allbeit, surprising, I can’t say that I blame them.  If you look at some comments from Apple representitives as given to CNET reporters…

“Phil is giving the keynote because this will be Apple’s last year at the show,” Dowling said. “It doesn’t make sense for us to make a major investment in a trade show we will no longer be attending.”

Plus the fact that other sources are saying that Apple is more fond of their own “special events” because they can control the message, I think you may start to see this web unfold.

As always, we welcome your comments.

Cal

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