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Breaking: Apple to pull out of Macworld Expo after January

By | December 16, 2008, 4:24pm PST

Summary: Apple tonight issued a press release announcing that this January will be the company’s last year participating in Macworld Conference & Expo in San Francisco. The other surprise in the release is that Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing – not Steve Jobs – will deliver the keynote address for this year’s [...]

Breaking: Apple to pull out of Macworld Expo after JanuaryApple tonight issued a press release announcing that this January will be the company’s last year participating in Macworld Conference & Expo in San Francisco.

The other surprise in the release is that Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing – not Steve Jobs – will deliver the keynote address for this year’s Macworld Expo, and it will be Apple’s last keynote at the show.

Apple is reaching more people in more ways than ever before, so like many companies, trade shows have become a very minor part of how Apple reaches its customers. The increasing popularity of Apple’s Retail Stores, which more than 3.5 million people visit every week, and the Apple.com website enable Apple to directly reach more than a hundred million customers around the world in innovative new ways.

Apple has been steadily scaling back on trade shows in recent years, including NAB, Macworld New York, Macworld Tokyo and Apple Expo in Paris.

Apple has not publicly stated why Steve Jobs won’t be giving his traditional keynote address, but I’m sure that speculation will abound.

Is Jobs preparing to pass the torch to Schiller? Sound off in the TalkBack.

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Apple Inc., Retail, Web Site Development, Web Technology, Internet, Jason D. O\'Grady

Jason O'Grady is a journalist and author specializing in mobile technology. He has published six books on Apple and mobile gadgets and his PowerPage blog has been publishing for over 15 years.

Disclosure

Jason D. O'Grady

Jason D. O'Grady is the creator and editor of O'Grady's PowerPage, which has been publishing mobile technology news since 1995. He maintains an advertising relationship with the following legacy advertisers on the PowerPage:

  • Amazon Associates
  • Google Adsense
  • Tekserve

    • Advertising on the PowerPage is brokered by a third-party agency (BackBeat Media) and he recuses himself from these negotiations.

Biography

Jason D. O'Grady

Jason D. O'Grady developed an affinity for Apple computers after using the original Lisa, and this affinity turned into a bona-fide obsession when he got the original 128 KB Macintosh in 1984.

He started writing one of the first Web sites about Apple (O'Grady's PowerPage) in 1995 and is considered to be one of the fathers of blogging. He has been a frequent speaker at the Macworld Expo conference and a member of the conference faculty. He also co-founded the first dedicated PowerBook User Group (PPUG) in the United States.

After winning a major legal battle with Apple in 2006, he set the precedent that independent journalists are entitled to the same protections under the First Amendment as members of the mainstream media.

O'Grady is the author of The Nexus One Pocket Guide, The Droid Pocket Guide, The Google Phone Pocket Guide, and The Garmin nuvi Pocket Guide (Peachpit Press), the author of Corporations That Changed the World: Apple Inc. (Greenwood Press), and a contributor to The Mac Bible (Peachpit Press). In addition, he has contributed to numerous Mac publications over the years, including MacWEEK, Macworld, and MacPower (Japan).

When he's not writing about Apple for ZDNet at The Apple Core, he enjoys spending time with his family in New Jersey.

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RE: Breaking: Apple to pull out of Macworld Expo after January
jackson1984-24316069205748857739440257893812 11th Oct
I are china nfl jerseys usually not capable of indication up on your own RSS feed. Be sure that you allow?
View in thread
0 Votes
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Breaking news: Apple invents the brick-n-mortar store and the website!!!
NonZealot 16th Dec 2008
The increasing popularity of Apple?s Retail Stores, which more than 3.5 million people visit every week, and the Apple.com website enable Apple to directly reach more than a hundred million customers around the world in innovative new ways.

Wow, I didn't realize that it was innovative to open a store that sells your products (too bad Sony never thought of that... oh wait...) and I certainly didn't realize it was innovative to have a website that promoted your products!! Fantastic! I can hardly wait for Microsoft to copy them and create a Microsoft.com website. wink
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Just in: NonZealot is a troll!
Fred Fredrickson 16th Dec 2008
Innovative? not.
0 Votes
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If Apple didn't publish such stupid comments...
NonZealot 16th Dec 2008
I wouldn't have any material to play with! It is well within Apple's power to stop saying that every single little thing they do is innovative. Until that day, I'm going to make fun of them. Sorry if that hurts your feelings. happy
0 Votes
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That's OK.
msalzberg 16th Dec 2008
We have a great time making fun of you.
0 Votes
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Hi stalker!!
NonZealot 17th Dec 2008
I feel so honored to have someone as cool as you stalking me. happy
0 Votes
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My what a big ego you have...
msalzberg Updated - 17th Dec 2008
Why should I waste my time 'stalking' a troll who makes
himself so very accessible (to ridicule)?

The thing is, I read posts about Apple because I actually
use some Apple products. You don't use any, and have
stated so quite often, which means that you're here solely
to write anti-Apple screeds; in other words, you're the very
definition of a troll. So, it appears that you are the
stalker. No one can have a rational discussion about
anything to do with Apple without your inserting your
insulting and ignorant opinions.

By the way, I also read about both Windows and Linux.
Not being a user of Linux, I just read and assimilate
information. Unlike you, I don't like to comment on things
about which I don't know enough to make intelligent
comments.

Now, the fact that I respond to your brain droppings is
really my fault; after all, one of the reasons you troll is to
get reactions. But let's face it; if we could take a poll here I
think we both know that an overwhelming majority of the
people to frequent ZDNet would agree that your moniker
"NonZealot" is a false one, and that you are what you
admitted to being - an anti-Apple zealot.
0 Votes
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Okay stalker!
NonZealot Updated - 17th Dec 2008
You are the one going around and responding every time I post and displaying your lack of reading comprehension regarding a post I made many months ago. You should get help. On the other hand, maybe you shouldn't. I couldn't care less either way.

Just curious, don't you ever get bored of repeating the same lie? Even if it doesn't bore you, aren't you at all embarrassed by it? happy
0 Votes
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Zealot..
msalzberg Updated - 17th Dec 2008
I don't know which is funnier - the fact that you're trying to
backtrack from your own words, or the fact that you're trying
to pretend you're not an anti-Apple zealot. The more you try
to deny the obvious, the bigger a joke you become.
0 Votes
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LOL
AllKnowingAllSeeing 16th Dec 2008
happy
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Actually that was quite funny...
Sleeper Service 17th Dec 2008
NZ may be over the top at times but it's true - what's so innovative about having retail stores, third party channels and on-line sales?
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If you read Apples' statement..
msalzberg Updated - 17th Dec 2008
they never claimed that the store or the website were
innovative. They stated that the store and website allowed
them to reach customers in innovative ways.

Certainly in terms of the brick-and-mortar stores, they've
changed the game for computer stores. Look at the
previous computer stores - Computer City, CompUSA, the
Gateway stores, the Dell kiosks - and you'll see that Apple
must be doing something right.

Apple's small number of SKUs means that, unlike the Dell
or Gateway models, you can go to a store, try out the
computer, and walk out with one. Unlike the 'support' of
Computer City or CompUSA, you can make an appointment
to get help. While neither of these things may be
innovative on their own, in the context of computer stores,
they've changed the game.

Check out this link: http://www.apple.com/retail/
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Ah! The USUAL Gang of Bush Nazi Micro$haft Bigots Trolling Apple Blogs!
drprodny Updated - 17th Dec 2008
and Linux Blogs....

...and any blog NOT getting on their knees, in the most vulgar sense of the word, for His Lordliness Darth Ballmer....
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I'll Miss MacWorld
Marcos El Malo 17th Dec 2008
I was still considering wether to go or not, but with no
Steve, there' no point.

And after this year, with no Apple, MacWorld is dead.

I'll miss it. It was a bit like making a haj, and it was great
fun meeting up with fellow Mac fanatics. Some really great
parties, if you knew the right people. I suppose with
Apple's widespread acceptance there isn't quite the same
need to keep the ******** faithful sipping the koolaid.
0 Votes
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RE: Breaking: Apple to pull out of Macworld Expo after January
Marcos El Malo 17th Dec 2008
Apparently, you've been in neither an Apple store, nor a Sony
store. This does not surprise me in the least, as it's quite
clear you don't get out much.

You're the type who polishes his shoes with shyte, being
unable to tell the difference between it and Shinola. Your
argument that they're both brown doesn't stop your footwear
from stinking.
0 Votes
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RE: Breaking: Apple to pull out of Macworld Expo after January
ILuvARose1954@... 17th Dec 2008
Apple is right!! They don't need to promote their
products. Apple is known as the best computer
and OS in the world. I found that out from many
people who I asked what their experiences with
Apple were. I bought my first MacBook Pro 3
years ago and I have not regretted taking the dive
into this high tech company. Thanks Apple!!!
0 Votes
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In sync with the times
bettb 17th Dec 2008
I have been a faithful attendee of SF MacWorld Expos for
decades. However, after last year's ho hum event and my
inability to get into the keynote address despite standing
in line for hours, I decided I would only put in an
appearance at the floor exhibits this year. And, based on
the amount of email I am getting from IDG begging me to
upgrade, I am assuming I am not the only attendee to
make this decision.

If I want to know something about all things Mac, I visit the
web, or the Genius Bar at my local Apple Store. I love the
Stores and have felt for several years that the Expos just
are not as exciting or as informative as they were back in
the day. Time to move on.

I think the need for trade shows has come and gone. And,
I believe that Apple's retail stores are a far better
communication avenue for the customer: open all year and
not just in New York, Boston or San Francisco. As for
innovation: compare shopping for a computer at Sears, or
any PC outlet, with the Apple Store shopping experience.
Apple did not invent retail stores, but they did invent
HELPFUL computer stores. Big Difference.
0 Votes
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RE: Breaking: Apple to pull out of Macworld Expo after January
dketchum9 17th Dec 2008
Maybe there is just nothing new. After the last few seemed
to be chatter about disappointment. The only exception
being the iPhone.

Honestly, I tire of the schtick about how many songs have
been downloaded from ITMS or how the iPod dominates
the mp3 player market, etc. It's only made worse by the
crappy classic rock or John Mayer that accompanies it. The
commercials tend to have pseudo-edgy music on them,
but the keynotes rarely echo them. Steve needs a new
template.
0 Votes
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Jobs do not live forever.
rhon@... 18th Dec 2008
Jobs might be sick. Newspapers and organisations with
standing seldom make mistakes. If they write an Obituary
there might have been very good reasons for watchers to
make them really believe that this is not a sick joke.
The problem with Apple is that they never communicate in a
"chique" manner to their customers and shareholders. I bet
that the revised obituary will be out soon.
0 Votes
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RE: Breaking: Apple to pull out of Macworld Expo after January
jackson1984-24316069205748857739440257893812 11th Oct
I are china nfl jerseys usually not capable of indication up on your own RSS feed. Be sure that you allow?

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