MacWorld 2009 is done and over with. Well, not really, but for me MacWorld was all about Apple's keynote, everything else was just gravy. This time around the gravy may be more substantive than anything else. Even though Phil Schiller did an excellent job, the keynote was still seen as a deep disappointment for many.
Of course, it's that disappointment that is one of the main reasons why Apple is pulling out of MacWorld in the future, assuming that is, that it even has a future without Apple. That's because every year Apple is expected to produce some mind-blowing new thing, a tall order indeed for them or any other company to do. By freeing itself from the shackles of MacWorld's time schedules, Apple can now concentrate on developing and releasing it's future products on it's terms and schedules rather than that of someone else, in this case MacWorld's expo promoters.
Even though we knew all along that this year's MacWorld would be somewhat of a subdued event, we were still all wishing and hoping that Apple would go out with much more of a bang rather than what it did - a whimper! Many people, of which I am one, were disappointed that many of those rumors, like that of a 28 inch iMac, new Mac Mini's and more news on Apple's forth coming OS X version of Snow Leopard didn't materialize. Also, there was that hope, even if it was ever so fleeting, that Jobs himself might make a cameo disappearance that also turned out to be somewhat of a bummer and disappointing many in the process.
Some are even saying that this MacWorld is a sign of what will happen to Apple itself - that it too may just die off! Don't believe it, however, for one moment. If anything, this MacWorld and Phil Schiller's performance proves to the world that Apple is indeed a lot more than just Steve Jobs. It proves that Apple can and will survive without it's present iconic leader, if and when that day may arrive. We may not have seen much in the way of Snow Leopard, or any new iMac's, Mac Pro's, Apple TV, Mac Mini, or what have you, but rest assured they are coming and coming soon. Apple is just waiting for the right time, and when they are good and ready, they will do so! Not before, not after. Expecting Apple to work around some body's schedule or agenda, not Apple's, such as the promoters of MacWorld, is just ridiculous!
In other words, even though we will never see another MacWorld keynote by Steve or anyone else from Apple, we can still expect, however, to see a lot more cool and innovative things coming out of Apple in both the near and long term. I'm counting on it.
After all, the whole tech world, from Microsoft, HP, Dell, Asus, Linux and even older industries such as the movie, record and TV companies - well they all need Apple more than anyone - or who else are they going have left to copy and inspire them if not from Apple? Nobody, that's who?
Just look at how, for instant, everybody in the 90's copied or borrowed from the original translucent iMac. Suddenly, everybody and everything seemed to be coming out in bright, colorful translucent form factors! From computers, hard drives, watches, radios and even toasters, everybody it seemed bent over backwards to copy Apple. Look around, these days, and see all of the new all-in-one computers from the likes of Dell, Avertec, Gateway, Lenovo and others - they are all inspired from Apple's sleek and sexy iMac! How about legal download services such as iTunes, how many have copied and borrowed from it? A lot! And now, another Apple innovation, the Apple App store is now being copied by Google's Android, Palm, Microsoft and many others.
Even Apple's marketing methods, like sending out press teasers and what not, are being copied wholesale these days! And last, but not least, have you not noticed how everybody and their dog have been copying not only the iPhone, but are now copying Apple's use of multi-touch in just about anything and everything they can, and all an attempt to beat Apple at it's own game - innovation!
Yes, Apple indeed may not need MacWorld, but the world definitely needs Apple! Where ever you look these days, you can see Apple's influence, be it in high-tech or low-tech, Apple has indeed changed the world around us and how we all interact with it. Without Apple, who would there be left to inspire the rest of the world -Microsoft?
There you go, I didn't think so either!
And that's my 2 cents 4 this Wednesday, January 07 , 2009
MacWorld Photo: MacWorld.com
2 comments:
You're right in saying the Stevenote is the star of every Macworld, even if this year was a Schillernote.
I thought it was also a disappointment, I guess we're used to seeing the industry defining annoucements we usually get.
I'm gonna miss the keynotes at Macworld
Dear Rebelmaker, many thanks for you input. Yes, like you I too will really miss those keynotes - they were more like Christmas than Christmas itself, it seemed! It's the one good thing that I had to look forward in the new year.
I just hope Apple will have something up their sleeves to replace the excitement of having them to look forward to?
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