Apple is set to hold its first annual meeting this week without its Messiah Officer Steve Jobs for the first time in ten years since he reclaimed control of the outfit.

Steve is still on a leave of absence but Apple is still not saying why. The meeting is being held a day after his 54th birthday and is likely to see shareholders up in arms as to why no one is telling them what is wrong with the bloke.

Strangely the meeting is being held earlier in the year too. Normally we don't see it until March, April or May. Shareholders are worried that if Jobs croaks or can't do the job any more then the company will go belly up, like it did before. (You might be in need of some sensitivity training, but then again, the same goes for some Apple shareholders. sub.ed.)

Bloomberg News reported last month  that Jobs was considering a liver transplant as a result of complications after treatment for pancreatic cancer. Other rumours have had him being operated on.

Just to make sure that everyone is reassured. Apple says it will not be broadcasting the Annual Meeting or making a transcript available. This rules out word of shareholder disatisfaction leaking out.