Analysts from Needham & Co. and Kaufman Bros. say there is no reason for investors to worry about Apple's decisions to replace Steve Jobs with Phil Schiller at this years Macworld keynote. Reps from Kaufman Bros. says this is sure to resurface the rumors of Jobs' health, especially after the decision to shared stage appearances in recent month. Although the rumor of Jobs' cancer returning refuse to go away, Needham & Co.'s sources assure them that is is nothing but a rumor, and Steve Jobs is cancer-free.
As for the full on abandonment of Macworld 2010, the decision is purely business related. Both analyst firms state that it is no longer in Apple's best interest to pursue something that is no longer worth Apple's time or investment. Apple sponsors a number of its own events, like WWDC, and no longer relies on trade-shows for marketing.
Another possible reason for the switch in keynote speakers from Steve to Phil is that there just may not be anything new and cutting edge for Apple to reveal. We're sure that Apple is always hard at work to bring us the next big iThing, but maybe this keynote just doesn't have the next big thing. It'll be good practice for Phil.
