Apple will unveil its latest software next week at a developers’ conference, headlined by Apple Inc. Chief Executive Steve Jobs, according to media reports.

Jobs, who has spent months on medical leave, is expected to emerge at an annual developers’ conference showcasing the iPad maker’s latest computer software and a new cloud computing service, Reuters reported.

Apple confirmed that it will unveil iCloud, which it described as its “cloud services” offering, according to a Guardian Web report. Given that Apple already offers some of those services through its MobileMe paid subscription product – including calendars, email, web hosting and file storage – there will be intense interest around iCloud, the report said.

However, it is unclear whether the CEO is returning from medical leave.

An appearance by Jobs, a survivor of a rare form of pancreatic cancer, would mark one of the few occasions he has showed up in public on the company’s behalf since going on medical leave for an undisclosed condition in January.

In March, Jobs unveiled the iPad 2, drawing a standing ovation after months of media and investor speculation about his health, reports said.

But this is the first time in recent years that Apple has said Jobs will be joined by his executive team during the keynote speech, according to Reuters. “Jobs typically takes the stage alone at most new product or service launches,” the report said.

Apple will unveil a new cloud-based service called iCloud, which will “offer remote computing and data over the Internet, and a slew of software upgrades at the conference including Lion, its Mac OS X computer operating system, and iOS 5, the next version of its mobile operating system,” Reuters said.

Apple has routinely unveiled its new iPhone this time of year but sources told Reuters they did not expect the new model to appear until the fall.

Apple shares were up 1.9 percent at $343.93 in afternoon trading on Nasdaq, Reuters said.

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