Cupertino,California,United States

As the much-anticipated Macworld Conference & Expo begins, Apple CEO Steve Jobs is putting rumors of his health to rest. In a letter addressed to the Apple community, Jobs said he is still in charge and will be the first to inform Apple's board if his health should get in the way of running the Cupertino, Calif.-based company.

Jobs posted the letter after speculation about his health ran rampant following a December announcement that he would not keynote Apple's last appearance at Macworld. Vice President Philip Schiller will deliver this year's keynote on Tuesday.

Features galore are included in Apple's new 2.2 software update for the iPhone, which became available a day earlier than expected. Apple released the new software one day before Verizon Wireless and Research In Motion's BlackBerry Storm hit store shelves, but analysts say it was just a coincidence.

One of the major features of Apple's iPhone update includes the ability to download the millions of free podcasts available on the iTunes Store over both a Wi-Fi connection and a cellular network connection, according to Apple.

Call it upgrade fatigue, or perhaps Apple's fondness for teasing its die-hard fans, but the Cupertino, Calif.-based computer manufacturer has announced it will not introduce new Mac computers this year.

In a statement first published by Macworld, Apple spokesperson Bill Evans said, "Our holiday lineup is set." The stark statement (the Apple press office offered no elaboration) puts to rest persistent rumors on Mac-related blogs that the company planned an event in November to announce upgrades to the Mac Mini and its iMac desktops.

A Busy Year