In a shocking announcement, Apple revealed that Macworld 2009 will be their last year attending the event. And for the first time since 1997 (Steve Jobs’ return to the company), Jobs will not be delivering the keynote event starting the show. To deliver the company’s last Macworld keynote, they have enlisted familiar face Phil Schiller, senior VP of worldwide product marketing. Schiller has joined Jobs on stage during recent years to help demonstrate products, software, or even elaborate on certain.

So which fact is more important, Jobs not delivering the keynote or Apple ditching MacWorld? We’re gonna go ahead and say the real news is Jobs not delivering the keynote. So, is this the end of Steve Jobs? Doubtful, but more likely it’s the start of a transition phase. The transition from Steve Jobs the high holy God of Apple – to – Jobs, Schiller, and Cook: the executive team. Who is this Cook? Well, Tim Cook is Apple’s COO and delivered the “State of the Mac” to start off this October’s notebook event. According to many articles, Cook is the cheese to Jobs’ macaroni (yes, a Juno reference), he is more numbers based while Jobs is more “boom” and “wow” based. But back to point: this switch doesn’t represent Jobs’ retirement, just a transition. If this was his retirement there would probably be a big show with Jobs himself (not a sidekick) handing over the reigns.

But what about another theory: does Jobs just have nothing to present? Doubtful, if there was nothing, Jobs would spin it as something. Remember, we’re talking about a man who could turn water into wine.

The keynote will take place January 6 starting at 10:00 am, until then: let the rumor mill keep on spinning. But one thing is for sure: things will never be the same.

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