Steve Jobs is back...

While all eyes are on Apple's annual developers conference as a likely forum for new iPhone hardware announcements, one Wall Street analyst is advising clients that better bets may be placed on an event a few weeks later that may also mark the return of Steve Jobs.

In a note to clients, Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster said he believes a press release from Apple on Wednesday regarding its WWDC keynote plans suggests the event will largely focus around software and may have even been drafted as such to reset expectations for the conference.

"As indicated in today's press release, we believe Apple will focus on the new version of Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard at WWDC," he wrote. "While some investors may be expecting Apple to launch redesigned iPhones at WWDC, we do not anticipate the launch in early June."

Instead, Munster is placing his money on a surprise media event that would take place sometime in late June or early July following Jobs' return. He believes the event will be used to usher in a new "family" of iPhones, including a cheaper model that he sees playing into Apple's strategy for the Chinese cell phone market which could materialize by September.

"We continue to expect multiple models, possibly a high-end iPhone with improved specs from the current version and a low-end version with lower capacity and fewer features along with a reduced pricing plan," the analyst wrote.

With Phil Schiller announced as the keynote speaker for this year's WWDC, some investors may have renewed concern that Jobs may never return to the company, according to Munster, who maintains his belief that co-founder is on track to return later in the month, per comments from other members of the company's leadership.

"This is consistent with our expectations as well as Apple's indications that Steve Jobs is still planning on returning to the company 'at the end of June' (emphasis added)," he wrote. "In order for Jobs to deliver the keynote on June 8th, he would likely begin preparations well before his intended return date."

Munster's presumptions may carry some weight given that new iPhone hardware will require advancements present in iPhone Software 3.0, which is unlikely to be ready for public consumption as early as WWDC. Only last week did Apple issue a mandate requiring all developers to certify that new and updated app submissions are compatible with the upcoming software update.

- http://www.appleinsider.com/article...urning_post_wwdc_brandishing_new_iphones.html

Apple Insider.

Thought I'd share, since others were posting Apple news as well.

 

Great news!!!!but it was already announced a while back.

 

Nice! Steve is back! Good to see that he has recovered, and back in business! Thanks for the find, chyidean!

 

Not quite yet... Article mentions a WWDC comeback

 

I think Steve might show up for WWDC, as a "Special Guest Introduction" of some new product .

 

i hear he was behind the scene during all this time.

 

Snow Leopard?...

That's what I was thinking...

 

I dunno, they say he planned out everything for like 6 months.

 

What happened to Steve Jobs? What is he recoverying from?

 

He had cancer, he had surgery, people saw him at a key note and went "ZOMG Steve Jobs is dieing because he lost weight!!111!!110121!!", So he "took" 6 months off to make every one feel better, And drink peanut peanut coladas on a nice beach some where.

 

He had pancreatic cancer.

 

He said that he fully recovered after surgery.

 

I believe that's peña colada.
It's good to know Steve has recovered.

 

piña colada

 

HAHA, close enough.