After nearly a year of speculation, Apple (AAPL) seems poised to announce its much-speculated movie store as a part of iTunes. Apple Insider has learned that the co-founder of Apple Computer, Steve Jobs, plans this September 12th to "summon the worldwide media to a special event next week in which he'll usher in a new chapter in the company's digital media strategy."

Along with the likely push towards a bigger screen, Jobs is also rumored to likely announce new iMacs and a much-anticipated update to the iPod nano. The question is: will Jobs' introduce a new player for the movies so users don't have to get a crick in their neck watching the tiny screen? AppleInsider reports that Apple has quietly developed a video streaming device that will interface with an updated version of its iTunes Jukebox software.

Whatever Jobs' does announce, look for him to go after the competition (Microsoft, Sandisk, and now Samsung) with a new iPod nano and surprise everyone, as only he can, with the company's movie plans.

Earlier this month, the influential Wired magazine published a piece titled "Has Steve Jobs Lost his Magic?" In it, reporter Leander Kahney pointed out that Steve Jobs usually gives his keynote speeches solo, but at Apple's annual developers' conference in California, "he shared presenting duties with three of his lieutenants, leaving the stage whenever they took turns to get up and talk."

Just recently, it was announced that Mr. Jobs will not be giving a keynote at the Apple Expo Conference in Paris next month. Seb Janacek, who writes for Silicon.com, pointed out in a MacDailyNews article today that, "keynote speeches are traditionally a Steve Jobs affair, so much so that some sections of the Mac community and press call them 'Stevenotes.'" Janacek also went on to point out that news reporters and bloggers were "alarmed by the appearance of the listless Mr. Jobs, claiming he appeared gaunt and exhausted."

Is Mr. Jobs slowing down? Should AAPL shareholders and evangelists be worried? My take is that with the addition of Google CEO Dr. Eric Schmidt to Apple's Board of Directors, along with the new executive talents like marketing chief Phil Schiller, the company will remain in good shape even if Mr. Jobs were to reduce his role.