CNet reports that Apple's announcement that Steve Jobs would not be hosting the keynote for Macworld San Francisco 2009 came as a complete surprise to IDG, the organizers of the show.
The announcement "completely blindsided" IDG, according to a source familiar with the negotiations, coming just weeks before the event was scheduled to take place. IDG World Expo, a division of tech publishing giant IDG, had no reason not to expect Jobs would make his customary appearance at Macworld. Then came the word from Cupertino.
