John Gapper's blog: Sadly, Apple is now stuck with a question that many people are asking, even if they feel awkward and guilty about doing so. Is Steve Jobs ill again? The question has been around since Mr Jobs appeared at the iPhone 3G launch event in June looking pale and gaunt. It was put to Apple executives during Monday's results conference call, and the reply did not help. "Steve loves Apple, he serves as CEO at the pleasure of Apple's board and has no plans to leave. Steve's health is a private matter," Peter Oppenheimer, Apple's chief financial officer, said. That, combined with a downbeat earnings forecast, sent the company's shares sharply lower.

Henry Blodget has retorted that Apple shareholders have a right to know whether Mr Jobs' pancreatic cancer, for which he had surgery four years ago and from which he seemed to have recovered, has recurred. Others retort it is a private matter.