There is much tension among executives and shareholders at Apple, as Steve Jobs will not participate at the annual meeting of the investors at the company. Questions and rumors are floating around the computer giant, as this is the first time when Jobs is missing, since his comeback at the company in 1997.

The meeting has traditionally been the perfect context for the shareholders to question the big executives at Apple about the company’s condition and further development plans. However, this issue has always been solved by Jobs’ charisma and ability to cope with the most delicate issues pointed out by the investors.

In addition, there is another reason to worry about both Jobs’ and Apple’s condition, as the meeting is scheduled much earlier than ever. Analysts wonder why the company’s executives hurried to organize the gathering in February, as the annual meeting has always been scheduled in April or May.

It is clear for everyone that Apple largely depends on Steve Jobs, at least regarding the company’s public image. The last year’s worsening condition of the Apple CEO led to a similar deterioration of Apple’s shares, which lost about 27 percent during 2008. Moreover, after the announcement of Jobs’ absence at the meeting, the shares fell by another 4.7 percent.

To make matters even more mysterious, the meeting will be recorded on neither audio nor video, meaning that only selected journalists will have access in the building, in a separate room. Asked about Steve Jobs not coming to the meeting, a representative at Apple decided only to say that the company’s CEO is taking a break until June, due to his health condition.