Apple has just announced that this January’s MacWorld event will be the company’s last, and that Steve Jobs won’t be giving the event’s much-anticipated keynote (Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing, will be taking his place). Stocks are sure to tumble on the news as rumors of Jobs’s health are rekindled, but in reality this move has probably been a long time coming.
MacWorld’s timing as a January event has always been questionable - many consumers have long since learned not to purchase Apple products in the weeks leading up to the event, which likely resulted in lost sales during the holiday shopping season. When Apple has had something major to announce it has managed to totally overshadow the competing Consumer Electronics Show (as they did with the iPhone), but Apple just can’t produce such blockbuster products at regular intervals.
As John Gruber pointed out back in 2002:
“That means every January, and every July, Jobs delivers a keynote, and at each of these keynotes, the Mac community expects to hear about Great New Things. This is doubly troublesome for Apple. For one thing, people have learned not to buy new Macs during the month before each Expo, because there’s a decent chance that something brand new is going to be announced at the upcoming keynote. Obviously, that’s not good for sales.
Worse, however, is that the schedule for keynotes is set in stone: January and July. The schedule for new products, however, is unpredictable. It would be much better for Apple if they could simply announce new products — especially major new product lines — when they’re ready to sell them.”
The move to pull Jobs from the keynote may simply be a way to lower expectations. Apple probably isn’t keen on releasing a big new product in the current economy (assuming it has something ready in the first place), and it would look silly to have Steve Jobs to present a keynote whose highlights were limited to an iTunes Plus update and maybe a Mac Mini (I don’t buy the netbook theory).
So keep your cool. Apple is still on track and Jobs is probably doing just fine. At least I hope he is.
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The move feels like Apple is turning it’s back on all the smaller companies that support the “iPod economy” with accessories and add-ons. Furthermore, Apple leaving MacWorld basically tells developers on the platform and their most avid fans that they are no longer interested in having them gather once a year in a big celebration of all things Apple.
Thanks you apple http://www.jugargame.com/
looking forward to the macworld, ope they bring out new products
Definitely will lower expectations for the upcoming MacWorld keynote.
On the other hand, after the iPod, then the MacBook Air, then the iPhone, frankly, is there anything left to invent
iaqua…an underwater scuba camera that isn’t huge and hard to use when you swim in currents.
How about just a Apple Camera and set of lenses that somehow magically turn you into a photography wizard.
Bummer. Was hoping to see Steve in January…
I think this is a good move for Apple. They’ve always been one to be unpredictable, so the predictability to have a conference every January always seemed weird.
I will be sad though to not be able to attend the keynote speeches any longer. I think cult followers like myself, will be saddened to not be able to go any longer. Macworld’s were and are very fun for that reason.
I’m glad they decided. it leaves them more time to work on the products rather than the hype or whatever.
I want to something like Zune Pass for iTunes…definitely.
No more Apple at MacWorld, that’s a very strange thought! These tech conferences may be heading for extinction with the bad economy.
I heard speculation that Apple wants to control the agenda more, and that they were not happy with the MacWorld people. To me, this implied Apple may organize a competing event. Is there any speculation on that? And if something like that happened, how would it be received in the community?
Stupid. Just make big product announcements BEFORE macworld. Maybe in OCTOBER in time for christmas? Apple pulling out of MacWorld is a really dumb and a bit snobby.
I’ve heard through the grapvine that Apple will probably be hosting their own event in 2010.
And by ‘grapvine’ I meant ‘grapevine.’
WWDC
I think this is a good move. As Bill Gates moved on, Steve Jobs will as well in due course. I hope Mr. Jobs’ health is good and I wish him the best. Objectively, it looks like they are executing a transition plan. That is not only very good for Apple, but for the ecosystem around its products.
omg. you talked me down good! lol.
I want my web tablet. BTW what happened to the TC web tablet project - haven’t heard in a long time?
The TC web tablet has entered the Deadpool!
****
What’s the big deal? There’s still WWDC in June and the multiple Apple press conferences throughout the year.
At Macworld, Schiller will go up, announce how well the iPhone and the new MB and MBPs are selling, announce refreshes for the Mac Mini, iMac, and Mac Pro, maybe in time for June, and then thank IDG for running Macworld. You don’t need Steve for that.
Apple is definitely headed for a low key MacWorld this year with the economy as it is. I’m looking forward for a Mac Mini, netbooks are huge in my part of the world, Asia. Its a huge market for anyone.
Yasser
http://www.jobstaxi.com
So is there any reason I should wait until after MacWorld to buy an iPhone?
I’d wait. Wouldn’t be surprised if they bump it to 32 gigs.
Good move for Apple. So now this means its anyone’s guess when the new apple product is coming out
Hope that Steve is doing fine. Anyway, i can hardly wait for the new mac mini!
I would like to see Apple try to make a gaming system again. I know the pippin failed, but I believe that if they used the Intel processors to power the device, and had enough developers with good games, they would be able to make it happen.
WTF cares
Apple is close to death as a company anyway. Soon we’ll be rid of all there worthless products and the posers who use them….
Your obvious ignorance must be a result of living outside of society. I suggest you get help.
I’ve bought a ton of Apple products because I need them for work (I compose music for film) but their quality is starting to dwindle. My Powerbook G4 has these lines of different colors coming down the screen, and more keep appearing every week. I called Apple and they said I should just upgrade to a new laptop. Here’s to a company that was once great, let’s see what happens in 2009.
It’s probably a good thing. It was uncomfortable watching Jobs doing the dog and pony show while looking sickly and emaciated. I’d imagine Apple also got that vibe.
He should look after his health now.
If Jobs doesn’t want to do the keynote, that’s one thing, but Apple seems to be deserting MacWorld and that’s a blow to a lot of hardcore users who consider MacWorld their primary fan event.
It also helped that fanbase not fixate so much on the fact that their hardware design is awesome but those computers just aren’t as reliable as they used to be.
What fanbase? 1% of the computer marketshare hardly equates to a fanbase. More like a cult.
I remember when my Dad took me to this back in 1987. I was just a little 12 y/o in the closest thing to heaven!
Nowhere on Macworld’s site will you find its name typed in WikiWording.
It’s Macworld. Not MacWorld.
David Chartier said: “Nowhere on Macworld’s site will you find its name typed in WikiWording.
It’s Macworld. Not MacWorld.”
—————
whatever dork….
I think that apple has done very well for itself. I believe that Steve Jobs has put Apple on a great course which will stand the test of time. Who would lake the iPhone if they were gone? Steve is truly a visionary that has inspired me through out the time I have been in college. Apple and the products that they make become a part f your life that is important in your everyday being. There is not a company around that I would rather spend my money on. I wish Mr. Jobs the best and maybe it is time that he passes on the torch; after all he has been doing this for a long time. As far as Apple going under you need a good competitor to take them out who will that be? Definitely not the idiots at Microsoft!