By Frank Cioffi, founder and editor of Apple Investor News
Given the massive 2008-2009 press coverage of the Steve Jobs illness story, it’s interesting that very few journalists or bloggers noticed that Apple’s CEO appeared much healthier at last week’s iPad announcement.
It was clear, at least to me, that he’s gained some weight. Not a lot, but noticeable.
Take a look at Steve from a still frame shot of last Wednesday’s iPad event compared to a similarly-framed still shot from the September, 2009 iPod event (both frames were pulled from Apple’s own Quicktime videos). It certainly appears he’s put on some pounds.
He had previously mentioned he needed to gain some weight and it seems that he’s succeeding. He also appears to have a more robust skin tone, though that’s hard to trust given variations in stage lighting between the two events.
This is really a testament to Steve’s ability to engage an audience. We were all so fixated on the iPad that we didn’t look very closely at him.
Did anyone attending the iPad event notice Steve’s weight gain?
This article was written by Frank Cioffi, editor of Apple Investor News part of the Tech Investor News network. Full disclosure: Frank Cioffi is long AAPL stock.
Right ON!!!
I think he looks slightly better, but then I didn’t think he looked bad last time. I really hate all this attention to his health that distracts from what is really going on. Obviously we all care that he is healthy and recovering, but sheesh…
Steve is getting fat on the tears of Apple’s competitors!
And he still has the three reality distortion field emitters on his forehead.
That’s iPadding.
I, too, noticed a lack of “Steve looks great” news. Just goes to show, bad news gets reported (and travels) more.
No – just a different filter.
He looked and sounded much more robust than last year, more like his old self
“Frank Cioffi”? My MST3K-trained eyes initially misread that as “Frank Conniff”, which left me wondering when TV’s Frank began investing in Apple…
ron:
You really are a sour puss aren’t you?
It was actually the first thing I noticed when he walked out on stage. Last time he was in public, he looked positively skeletal. Now, he looks thin, but not frighteningly so. His doctors will probably tell him he needs to add another 15-20 pounds.
I noticed he was looking better. I even wrote about it!
http://letterstopeople.tumblr.com/post/356643082/apple-giveth-and-apple-taketh-away-your-money
MATTR,
In addition to writing that Jobs looked much better, you also wrote, “So you ever have dreams of your new pancreas’s original landlord? I heard that can happen. If so, are they about eating sugar?”
Steve Jobs got a new liver, not a new pancreas.
He seemed about the same to me! He needs to can that veg diet and pound some calories! No way he’s over 120 lbs! Long live the King!
@Fred
I give you credit for even clicking through and reading it. Bet you regret that.
Was talking with my business partner last night, told him it is still not too late to buy Apple at a good price. Told him that a healthy Steve Jobs is worth half of Apple’s current price.
Bullcrap…Steve’s appearance was the FIRST thing I noticed. I am sure a lot of others did too (i.e. Mac fans who aren’t technical writers or analysts).
I also don’t think the 2 MDN pictures truly show the difference.
Journalists don’t care about positive news regarding his health.
Now if he looked even thinner than he did before, they would’ve been allll over it.
@Fred Mertz,
Technically, you are correct as that is what was reported in the press. However, my source (my pre-med wife) tells me its possible he got both organs as a result of the transplant.
Of course, I really don’t know. Perhaps only Steve and his doctor know for sure.
My reaction was that Steve Jobs’ “puffiness” is from his body’s reaction to the anti-rejection meds he is on for his transplant (no matter the organ).
I do believe he “looks” healthier. I also HOPE that he stays healthy for a long time. I like the shift the company is making. More team less ego (at least on stage).
Cheers.
He may look healthier, but I think all the medicine he’s taking is affecting his brain given the debacle he’s caused in the ebook market.
If Apple can supply Jobs with a private jet, why can’t it afford to give him a disposable razor?
Healthier, not healthy
Steve Jobs is happy that the focus was on the product and not on him…
Didn’t anyone notice his HAIR is DARKER?
If you look closely it’s not the lighting or the relative color difference.
I think they purposely darkened his hair. It makes him look younger and conveys a sense of vibrancy and health. It’s likely subtle in real life but under bright lights you can clearly see his hair (what’s left of it) is darker. To be certain we’d need to see more photos and match the color profiles of the images but it’s pretty plain.