Apple Says Jobs On Track To Return In June

The message from Apple executives, in a nutshell, was: Jobs' stated plan to return to Apple in June hasn't changed, we regularly talk about succession plans and we haven't broken any laws in our communications about Jobs' health issues.

According to Jim Goldman of CNBC, the very first question in the shareholder Q&A session was about Jobs' health and when Apple became aware of the issues. Art Levinson, CEO of Genentech and co-lead director of Apple's board, declined to comment beyond what Jobs outlined in his Jan. 14 letter to employees, and said Apple regularly considers leadership-succession plans.

In that letter, Jobs revealed that his health issues were more complex than he'd thought. Just over a week earlier, however, Jobs publicly attributed his weight loss and gaunt appearance to an easily treatable hormone imbalance. Apple is reportedly facing an SEC investigation into its disclosure of information about Jobs' health.

Apple COO and acting CEO Tim Cook told shareholders the company has met all of its information-disclosure obligations, and will communicate any future details it deems "important," according to Goldman.

The meeting took a somewhat bizarre turn when one shareholder suggested that attendees rise and sing "Happy Birthday" in honor of Jobs, who turned 54 yesterday, Goldman reported.

In other non-Jobs related developments, former U.S. Vice President Al Gore, who sits on Apple's board, was taken to task by one attendee for Apple's ill-defined stance on global warming, but didn't respond to the criticism, according to a Mercurynews.com report.

Apple has improved its environmental image since last October, when Greenpeace issued a scathing report that claimed the iPhone contains hazardous chemicals in both its external and internal components.