Steve Jobs, Apple’s chief executive, made his first public appearance since going on medical leave six weeks ago, taking the stage at a San Francisco media event to introduce the iPad 2, the second generation of the company’s tablet computer.
Gaunt but energetic, Mr Jobs showed off a thinner iPad with two core processors and a claimed ninefold increase in graphics performance. “We’ve been working on this product for a while and I just didn’t want to miss this day,” he said.
His absence has concerned investors, especially since the group has given no details of his condition or prognosis. He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2004 and had a liver transplant during almost six months of medical leave in 2009. People close to him said last month his health had been fluctuating.