No Show Big News

Probably the biggest news going into MacWorld San Francisco is not what insanely great new product Steve Jobs is going to seductively wave in front of everyone, The big news is Jobs won't be there. The infamous Jobs keynote that has as legend would say launched a thousand ships will not launch new products anymore.

This is an end of an era.

As much as Apple or Jobs himself want to play it down -- this is HUGE. Oh yeah, Apple is going to say they have leaders who can make Apple's case before their software developers and third-party partners as well as the loyal Apple base but no one inisder the company or outside is as important to Apple products, their design, and has the ability to articulate with such pitchman skill was Steve Jobs.

Add to that fact, Apple is saying it will not attend show like MacWorld any longer and you have a significant change in the culture of how Apple releases new products to the public.

With all the speculation about what Apple would reveal next week, a few things seem to be coming clear: there will be no Netbook (rumors are it might be unveiled in fall 2009) and the thrust of Apple announcements will be focused on updating the Mac-Mini line of computers.

An Nano-iPhone still remains uncertain, although, case manufacturers say they have orders for a new phone form factor - not an accurate indicator of Apple announcement. More than likely, we will see small changes: a 32 GB iPhone, a 64 GB iPod Touch and a upgrade to the iWorks suite of applications putting more of its functionality in the cloud.

This incrementally reflects a more conservative nature of Apple, the slowed pace of its R&D, and its increasingly reluctance to jump out and lead the industry with new category defining products.

The biggest news of the new year is Apple has chosen not to show up at the biggest Apple show of the year.

The Hour of Steve has Arrived

They've come from all over the world, waitied all night and now, ladies and gentlement, at 9:00am PST it is the hour of Steve...



Karen Swisher and iJustine and their MacWorld sleepover.

A reporter for Valleywag, Jordon Golson left the Ars Technica party early last night and decided to stop down at Moscone and see who was waiting online. To his complete surprise after 9:00pm he spotted Marissa Mayer, Vice President, Search Products & User Experience for Google. The Google VP was waiting on the sidewalk to get a ticket for Steve Job's keynote address this morning. Apple is very lucky to have the innovative support of the programmers at Google and for that they get to sit on the sidewalk.

Apparently 40 to 50 Google employees go down to Moscone and wait on line to make sure Google gets prime seats for the keynote. Golson also found Chrix Finne, Associate Product Manager for Google Reader; Nick Baum, Associate Product Manager for Android; David Murray, Associate Product Manager for Gmail; Fernando Delgado, Associate Product Manager for Search Quality dressed in fleece ready for the all-nighter.

When Golson asked why were they waiting in line so early? They answered, "The man gives a great presentation. Hopefully we can learn something."

Apple Keynotes a Look Back

In this clip from the 1990 MacWorld Keynote, former Pepsi CEO John Scully tries to rally the troops for the Apple computers. Notice how perplexed Scully seems to be about what a computer really does...



The 1990 MacWorld keynote clip is not full length (5:55 running time) however, it feels like you are watching paint dry. During demonstrations, they cannot seem to get the Mac to work as they wish for the demonstrations. NOTE: The modified mullet and triple-wide kakis worn by the Apple programmer who explains cad workstation software and totally perplexes Sculley who stands mouth-agape.

Then, in 1997 Steve Jobs returns to heading Apple and delivers the "Bondi-blue" iMac and the Jobs-style MacWorld Keynote for which there is no rival in any industry. The contrast between these two keynote addresses is hilariously high-arch. NOTE: It is not without irony that the movie chosen is Wizard of Oz and the scene where Dorothy opens to door after the turmoil of being lifted by the twister out of Kansas into the wonderful land of Oz. Although Jobs appears casual, these keynotes are highly scripted and rehearsed with great attention paid to every detail include the choice of movie clips.