Apple: Jobs Will Not Present at Apple's Final Macworld Keynote

[Sky Blue]

bombshell!

No Jobs in 09, last year for Apple.


http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2008/12/16macworld.html

CUPERTINO, California—December 16, 2008—Apple® today announced that this year is the last year the company will exhibit at Macworld Expo. Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing, will deliver the opening keynote for this year’s Macworld Conference & Expo, and it will be Apple’s last keynote at the show. The keynote address will be held at Moscone West on Tuesday, January 6, 2009 at 9:00 a.m. Macworld will be held at San Francisco’s Moscone Center January 5-9, 2009.

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.


No more Keynotes at MacWorld!

[fleshman03]

From Apple's website:
CUPERTINO, California—December 16, 2008—Apple® today announced that this year is the last year the company will exhibit at Macworld Expo. Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing, will deliver the opening keynote for this year’s Macworld Conference & Expo, and it will be Apple’s last keynote at the show. The keynote address will be held at Moscone West on Tuesday, January 6, 2009 at 9:00 a.m. Macworld will be held at San Francisco’s Moscone Center January 5-9, 2009.

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 ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple II and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh. Today, Apple continues to lead the industry in innovation with its award-winning computers, OS X operating system and iLife and professional applications. Apple is also spearheading the digital media revolution with its iPod portable music and video players and iTunes online store, and has entered the mobile phone market with its revolutionary iPhone.

Source (Apple's Webpage)
(http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2008/12/16macworld.html)
Few main points:
Philip Schiller is giving the keynote
Last year for Apple @ MacWorld. Can there be a MacWorld without Apple?

[GimmeSlack12]

Wow. The plot thickens.

[bbarnhart]

Last MacWorld.... No Jobs

http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2008/12/16macworld.html

[Sky Blue]

I know people will spin this about Jobs' health, but it really didn't seem that Apple had the products for a big keynote this year.

[Unspeaked]

You could see this one coming - after the East Coast show, it was only a matter of time before the abandoned the West Coast one.

[swiftaw]

CNET is saying that Apple is pulling out of MacWorld:

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-10124713-37.html?part=rss&subj=news&tag=2547-1_3-0-5

[iMacmatician]

Philip Schiller is giving the keynoteDoes no Jobs mean no new products? Does this mean a Snow Leopard-dominated keynote?

Last year for Apple @ MacWorld. Can there be a MacWorld without Apple?Can there be an Apple without Macworld?

[sgibson]

Uh oh, there goes the stock price amid more rumours of Steve's impending or recent death.

[Unspeaked]

Already posted. (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?p=6771748#post6771748)

[MacsRgr8]

Last MacWorld.... No Jobs

http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2008/12/16macworld.html

:confused:

Incredible!! :eek:
No way!! :(

Most important part so everyone can cry with me...:

CUPERTINO, California—December 16, 2008—Apple® today announced that this year is the last year the company will exhibit at Macworld Expo. Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing, will deliver the opening keynote for this year’s Macworld Conference & Expo, and it will be Apple’s last keynote at the show

[iMacmatician]

I know people will spin this about Jobs' health, but it really didn't seem that Apple had the products for a big keynote this year.Yep. Neither the tablet nor the mini-tablet has been rumored for MWSF, and the list of rumored products (displays, Mac mini, Snow Leopard) aren't that big.

[abijnk]

And Teh Steve retires in 3... 2...

[fleshman03]

Can there be an Apple without Macworld?


I see what you did there.

these are all good questions. I personally think either Jobs will step down or go into a lesser role.

Now do products get announced without Jobs? What happens to the stock if he is a complete no-show?

[Unspeaked]

CNET is saying that Apple is pulling out of MacWorld:

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-10124713-37.html?part=rss&subj=news&tag=2547-1_3-0-5

Yeah, just like the OP said...

[Galley]

Yeah, I never saw that coming. I can understand cutting out some trade shows, but freaking Macworld? :confused:

[fleshman03]

CNET is saying that Apple is pulling out of MacWorld:

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-10124713-37.html?part=rss&subj=news&tag=2547-1_3-0-5

If it's on the Apple PR page, it's real.

[swiftaw]

Yeah, just like the OP said...

I know, was just giving another source to validate the OP.

[iMacmatician]

I personally think either Jobs will step down or go into a lesser role.Maybe it will be revealed at the keynote what will/has happen(ed) to Jobs.

[mlemonds]

wow no jobs?

i thought they would have had Ive as the next keynote presenter

[Unspeaked]

I know, was just giving another source to validate the OP.

Ok - I just figure the OP's quote is word for word from an Apple Press Release, so I didn't think there was much dispute about it being legit.

[MacsRgr8]

And Teh Steve retires in 3... 2...

I was thinking the same...

I don't want to start it all over... but I do expect it has to do with his health, I'm afraid. :(

Awww.. man, this is such bad news.... I still can't believe it.
En era gone. The hype of MacWorlds...

[kinless]

*sigh*

Sad day.

That means I actually have to *work* at the office the first Tuesday of the year from now on.

[fleshman03]

Maybe it will be revealed at the keynote what will/has happen(ed) to Jobs.

I really don't want to be the one to say something bad about his health, but I think the question needs to be asked. On a personal level, I hope he's alright.

[Unspeaked]

In related news, Apple's stock is taking a small hit after hours (presumably on speculation about Steve)...

[Chundles]

Yay! No more 3am wakeups!

Actually that sucks big time - so now we're down to just WWDC (maybe) and the yearly iPod Special Event (maybe)...

Damnit, bring back the Steve-note!

[jackjason]

http://gizmodo.com/5111773/apple-announces-last-year-at-macworld-no-steve-jobs-keynote

Apple will not be the same staring 2009

[fleshman03]

Well I started a thread like 3 seconds after this one. Maybe a Mod can merge the two? Anyways, this is from the Offical Apple Website:
Apple Announces Its Last Year at Macworld

CUPERTINO, California—December 16, 2008—Apple® today announced that this year is the last year the company will exhibit at Macworld Expo. Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing, will deliver the opening keynote for this year’s Macworld Conference & Expo, and it will be Apple’s last keynote at the show. The keynote address will be held at Moscone West on Tuesday, January 6, 2009 at 9:00 a.m. Macworld will be held at San Francisco’s Moscone Center January 5-9, 2009.

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 ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple II and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh. Today, Apple continues to lead the industry in innovation with its award-winning computers, OS X operating system and iLife and professional applications. Apple is also spearheading the digital media revolution with its iPod portable music and video players and iTunes online store, and has entered the mobile phone market with its revolutionary iPhone.



Apple URL (http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2008/12/16macworld.html)

[MacsRgr8]

Hey guys, why not give this guy a hammering:

Press Contacts:
Steve Dowling
Apple
dowling@apple.com
(408) 974-1896

:p

Wouldn't like to be in his shoes...

[Sky Blue]

Well I started a thread like 3 seconds after this one. Maybe a Mod can merge the two? Anyways, this is from the Offical Apple Website:


Apple URL (http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2008/12/16macworld.html)

Isn't that the same thing I posted?

[rick3000]

I don't even want to imagine what this will do to my Apple stock. Last year when there where only rumors of no Jobs, the stock plunged. Now they have officially said he won't be their and their canceling all future MacWorlds.
This isn't good.

I should have gone to MW last year. Who knows how will it turn out this year with Phil.

[Tilpots]

Will a message delivered by Jobs be the only "one more thing..." possibly coming?

[sananda]

Hey guys, why not give this guy a hammering:

Press Contacts:
Steve Dowling
Apple
dowling@apple.com
(408) 974-1896

:p

Wouldn't like to be in his shoes...

don't be silly.

[fleshman03]

Isn't that the same thing I posted?

Apparently it is. I thought you posted something from Macenstein. They had the story first and left off the last paragraph. I posted the whole thing from Apple's site and posted the Apple URL. My apologizes.

[mogzieee]

Here's the MacWorld article: http://www.macworld.com/article/137587/2008/12/macworldexpo.html?lsrc=rss_main

[mlemonds]

Isn't that the same thing I posted?


http://macenstein.com/default/archives/1860

you posted that first and then changed it

[MacsRgr8]

don't be silly.

Was kidding of course. :rolleyes:

Nothing about the WWDC's though. We can still hope for that. :)

[fleshman03]

http://macenstein.com/default/archives/1860

you posted that first and then changed it

Glad I'm not going crazy.

I'd say this is the link to watch for now:
AAPL After Hours Trading (http://money.cnn.com/quote/quote.html?symb=AAPL)

[ipedro]

He'll continue to do keynotes I'd imagine, just not at Macworld.

The amazing thing is that things went from a record attendance last year to Macworld dying a quick death at the hands of Steve Jobs.

I've always wondered how long Macworld could go on now that Apple is alot more than just the Mac.

We'll see more specific media events from now on.

I saw it coming. I said this yesterday:

Could this be the reason why almost every system was released before Macworld and now we're hearing no rumors whatsoever?

The term "Macworld" has grown to be unrepresentative of the majority of Apple's business. Apple does Mac, but they also do iPod+iTunes, iPhone, tv...

Maybe we'll begin hearing from Steve at Apple scheduled special events from now on.

Nonetheless, I'm still ambiguous about this and I think that if Apple were to drop out of this longstanding tradition of having a keynote address at MWSF, they'd put out a press release explaining their direction to avoid sparking rumors of the company's or its CEO's decline.

[mlemonds]

wonder how the investors will respond to the news.

Edit: haha beaten to it

[Sky Blue]

http://macenstein.com/default/archives/1860

you posted that first and then changed it

Right but I changed it to the Apple PR site shortly after.

Give me a 10.6 release date Schillip.

[notjustjay]

We'll see more specific media events from now on.


Bring on iPhoneWorld! :D


... well, I guess I won't be hammering MacRumorsLive for updates, then.

[Unspeaked]

Ok, now AAPL's taking more than just a slight hit:

Close: $95.43 After Hours: $90 -5.69%

[Yebot]

****balls. Nobody wants to look at Phil Schiller's manboobs for 90 minutes.

[fleshman03]

Ok, now AAPL's taking more than just a slight hit:

Close: $95.43 After Hours: $90 -5.69%

I hate to say this, but I think opening $25 less than the close is what we're looking at.

[queshy]

http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/16/apple-announces-final-macworld-steve-jobs-wont-deliver-keynote/
:(:(:(:(:(:(:(

Pretty much the biggest Apple event of the year...will be no more? Why not have steve give the last one? WTF?

[Unspeaked]

Glad I'm not going crazy.

I'd say this is the link to watch for now:
AAPL After Hours Trading (http://money.cnn.com/quote/quote.html?symb=AAPL)

FYI, CNN's quotes are super delayed...

[sethypoo]

I don't know exactly why buy I feel really, really saddened by this. For years I have looked forward to the rumors and the anticipation at Macworld, and have always tuned in to MacRumors as well as the Apple stream of the keynote for the results.

This truly is the end of an era.

:(

[Unspeaked]

I hate to say this, but I think opening $25 less than the close is what we're looking at.

That'd be a new 52 week low.

I don't think it'll be that bad... maybe $85 in the morning...

[iMacmatician]

Ok, now AAPL's taking more than just a slight hit:

Close: $95.43 After Hours: $90 -5.69% A very slight hit indeed.

I hope this upcoming Macworld will go out with a bang! Maybe Apple is hiding a secret product for the keynote…oh well no sense in being optimistic.

[MacsRgr8]

BTW, why isn't the bad news on Page 1 by now?
All other Mac-related rumour/news sites have made it •breaking news•

[sharp65]

BTW, why isn't the bad news on Page 1 by now?
All other Mac-related rumour/news sites have made it •breaking news•

I'm sure it will be soon, this is pretty major news.

[Unspeaked]

I don't know exactly why buy I feel really, really saddened by this. For years I have looked forward to the rumors and the anticipation at Macworld, and have always tuned in to MacRumors as well as the Apple stream of the keynote for the results.

This truly is the end of an era.

:(

I don't know, I was personally sadder when they pulled out of the East Coast show.

That was really a shock and left everyone wondering "Can there be a MacWorld without Apple?" (Which we found out the answer to - no.)

As I'd said in an earlier post, to me, today's announcement seemed inevitable.

[dongmin]

wow, no Stevenote. Possibilities:

1. No new products worthy of his Steveness
2. Apple is shifting attention away from Steve in a succession effort.
3. Steve is sick and unable to make the keynote.

My bet is on a combination of 1 and 2.

[dizastor]

This seems like awful news. I like Phil Schiller, but he doesn't deliver the same level of showmanship... or RDF.

I'm guessing this must mean Steve isn't well... or there's nothing great to show.

[sgibson]

It's a ploy to make new product announcements even *more* of a surprise.

[adamvk]

http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/16/apple-announces-final-macworld-steve-jobs-wont-deliver-keynote/
:(:(:(:(:(:(:(

Pretty much the biggest Apple event of the year...will be no more? Why not have steve give the last one? WTF?

I know, its so depressing....But will there still be normal keynotes with Steve Jobs doing them? Thats what I wanna know.

[queshy]

Damn, this is terrible news. I've always looked forward to MWSF and now Phil is doing it...Phil is lame compared to jobs and lacks charisma. Stevenotes were one of my favourite parts of the company, actually. :mad::mad:

[Sky Blue]

It's a ploy to make new product announcements even *more* of a surprise.

yup, they want to surprise everyone with copy+paste.

[jaw04005]

I guess Arn is busy buying Christmas presents today. :) Otherwise, you would think this would be the lead story on the front page. :p

[rick3000]

Apple really needs to fix this. It is fine if they no longer want to do MacWorld, and Steve is going to retire (or something?). But they need to stop giving us BS and give us some confidence.

People need to hear what Apple is going to do next, and they need to be reassured that an Apple without MacWorld and Jobs can work.
I think that if they introduce a qualitified and creative person as Jobs replacement, then then they can get back some confidence, and not have the stock plummet, my guess is $65 tomorrow.

(I think it is safe to assume that this is signal Jobs is going to take on a lesser role.)

[abijnk]

I don't want to start it all over... but I do expect it has to do with his health, I'm afraid. :(


Oh seriously, don't start this BS again. Why can't it be that he is almost 59 and has more than enough money to live on? People do retire for other reasons, you know...

[EricNau]

Guess we shouldn't expect much this year.

Possibly a sign of some major restructuring at Apple? Or perhaps, after the announcements from Adobe, Belkin, and Seagate, Apple is deciding to abandon the ship before it sinks, so to speak.

[queshy]

What a lame presentation it will be. This sucks.

[archipellago]

This seems like awful news. I like Phil Schiller, but he doesn't deliver the same level of showmanship... or RDF.

I'm guessing this must mean Steve isn't well... or there's nothing great to show.

cool, less ************* this year!

[Compile 'em all]

+1 for this sucks. I don't know what to look forward to now!

[EricNau]

What a lame presentation it will be. This sucks.
Well, maybe not. Since this is the last MacWorld, Phil will be handling the keynote, presumably to begin the transition away from Jobs. If that's the case, you'd think Apple would want Phil to announce some pretty awesome products in order to secure confidence in their company.

[JG271]

Wow, big news. I suppose they're slowly toning down things so it won't be such a surprise when he announces his retirement.
I can't see it being anything big this year then...

Am I right in thinking Phil has already done a keynote of some kind, when the iMac G5 was introduced?

[queshy]

Well, maybe not. Since this is the last MacWorld, Phil will be handling the keynote, presumably to begin the transition away from Jobs. If that's the case, you'd think Apple would want Phil to announce some pretty awesome products in order to secure confidence in their company.

It's not really the products that I'm disappointed about. It's steve - his presentations were just incredible each and every time, and it just won't be the same without him giving the talk.

[Sky Blue]

What a lame presentation it will be. This sucks.

I figured iTunes Plus news, maybe a demo of some upcoming iPhone apps/games, an iLife/iWork update, an update iMac and maybe the rest of the display line. I don't really see how no Steve would make it any better/worse.

[GimmeSlack12]

Will a message delivered by Jobs be the only "one more thing..." possibly coming?

Hate to say it, but I think those days are over.

[Unspeaked]

I think that if they introduce a qualitified and creative person as Jobs replacement, then then they can get back some confidence, and not have the stock plummet, my guess is $65 tomorrow.

I think you're really overestimating by a lot...

The news hit the street over an hour ago and it's barely broken below $90. Even with the added volume tomorrow, I don't think it'll dip below my earlier prediction of $85.

(But hey, with stocks, who the heck knows??)

[rdowns]

Oh well. Looks like a speed bump or two and new Apple socks.

I think whatever Apple was planning on introducing is either not ready or being held back due to the economy.



****balls. Nobody wants to look at Phil Schiller's manboobs for 90 minutes.

I peg the stock going down on that. :rolleyes:

[Grasbak]

I'm hoping it's a case of nothing good enough to warrant Jobs presenting, give someone else a go - hopefully Phil annonces new mini and iMac.

Apple moving to more special events. Changing the way they do things - they stay ahead of the game and usually in hindsight you make more sense of it!

[zelmo]

I know everyone is going to speculate about Steve's health being the cause, but I think it's more likely a result of (in no specific order):

[1] Apple no longer focusing solely on the Mac platform. Let's face it - most of the news these days is about the iPhone or iPod anyway.

[2] Intel platform means there can't really be too many bombshell hardware announcements, as the roadmap is clear and competitors are quick with similarly spec'd kit.

[3] Apple is a fan of special events, and dropping out of MacWorld frees them from having to have something spectacular to unveil every January, and frees us of the disappointment when what is shown is less than we want or predict.


All in all, a sad day, but perhaps not the end of the world.:)

[aafuss1]

Oh well-now this keynote won't have anything major.

Perhaps Apple will do its own event-like they do for iPods from now on.

[christall109]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 2_2 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/525.18.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.1.1 Mobile/5G77 Safari/525.20)

Wake up arn your missing some big news!

[PinkyMacGodess]

From what I heard generally about the ca that Steve has, he is likely to be on a slow decline for years and then it will get rapidly worse before 'the end'.

But you also have to wonder how Apple is going to deal with the huge speed bumps in their future. One being the eventual demise/retirement of their saviour Steve Jobs and two being the souring global economy. To a lesser extent is their competition who are slowly getting better at coming up with products that either compete with or offer a somewhat viable alternative to Apple products.

In the short term, not unlike Magrathea, Apple could find themselves priced out of the reach of many people, especially schools and students. Many people don't realize that the average student discount was (and may still be) $100.00 on an iMac. It's out of reach for many students. Yes, the iMac is worth more in what it can potentially do but it is actually lagging behind the PC market in the ability to support second internal hard drives for desktop RAID and is sorely lacking in USB ports. My iMac has three, a PC sitting on the next desk has eight AND I can add more too. Flexibility, or more accurately the lack, will bite into the iMac's sales harder than ever.

Apple needs to morph the Mac Mini into a Micro-ATX slot based minitower and quick or at least provide for 2 drives and a lot more USB ports in an iMac update. Flexibility and adaptability can save Apple. They have the most unique and powerful operating system (in spite of Leopard's rough birth) and now need the flexibility in their hardware to help carry them through. I hope they don't release an open version of Leopard because I see that as a tactical mistake at this time. Apple will lose all leverage and will be like Sega who dumped their hardware and shifted to software only. (Are they still around?)

2009 is likely to be a tough year for Apple and the rest of the country and probably the world...

[numediaman]

Absolutely worthless post.

Let me fill everyone in on a little secret: Steve Jobs will give the keynote no matter what. Period.

This story isn't even worth Page 2.

Nothing like being absolutely sure of one's self.

[JackSYi]

Good thing I spent the time and effort the last 2 years to see him.

[mdntcallr]

If: Steve Jobs=Alive//://Then: No notebook under 13.3" Ever.

if you want that get a time machine

If: Steve Jobs=Alive//://Then: no blu-ray Ever.

I have a feeling they will start weeding out optical drives period in the next yr or two

If: Steve Jobs=Alive//://Then: no larger iPhone/TouchEver.

It has already been proven possible that you can display something other then video and photos on an external screen with the touch/iphone. As soon as it is made official there will be 3rd party attachments like the RedFly

well, i hope in january you will be eating your words about the blu-ray part.

also, you ought to haveb said

steve jobs = no mid sized mac tower

[fleshman03]

I guess Arn is busy buying Christmas presents today. :) Otherwise, you would think this would be the lead story on the front page. :p

I submitted the story for the front page about an hour ago. Maybe he's busy?


Guess we shouldn't expect much this year.

Possibly a sign of some major restructuring at Apple? Or perhaps, after the announcements from Adobe, Belkin, and Seagate, Apple is deciding to abandon the ship before it sinks, so to speak.

Or Apple told them before hand and they jumped ship.

We're below $90/share already.

[puffnstuff]

I saw this coming the notebook event confirmed it. Good riddance bring on Ives.

[elppa]

****balls. Nobody wants to look at Phil Schiller's manboobs for 90 minutes.
Ah. You people can be soo cruel sometimes.

And Funny all at the same time. :D

[MacRumors]

http://www.macrumors.com/images/macrumorsthreadlogo.gif (http://www.macrumors.com/2008/12/16/apple-jobs-will-not-present-at-apples-final-macworld-keynote/)

Apple has announced (http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2008/12/16macworld.html) that Steve Jobs will not deliver the opening keynote presentation at the upcoming Macworld Expo in San Francisco on January 6th, 2009. Phil Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing, will take the stage in Jobs' place. In addition, Apple announced that this is the final year in which Apple will exhibit at the Macworld Expo, pointing to the decreasing relevance of trade shows as Apple has expanded its direct contact with customers via retail stores and the company's website.

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's decision comes on the heels of news that Adobe would not be exhibiting (http://www.macrumors.com/2008/12/03/adobe-not-exhibiting-at-macworld-expo-san-francisco/) at Macworld San Francisco. Several other vendors (http://www.macrumors.com/2008/12/04/more-vendors-downsizing-or-withdrawing-from-macworld-sf-2009/), including Belkin, Seagate, and Google, have also withdrawn from the expo or downsized their presence.

Article Link: Apple: Jobs Will Not Present at Apple's Final Macworld Keynote (http://www.macrumors.com/2008/12/16/apple-jobs-will-not-present-at-apples-final-macworld-keynote/)

[iSee]

Ugh!
Is Macworld dead? I'm mean they might keep going (for a while), but it would be much, much smaller. Like a hobbist's conference. Ha ha... <cries a little>

I did always wonder about the timing of the conference though. Who wants to announce products right *after* Christmas season?

Oh well. The Apple ecosystem--even the third-party ecosystem--probably really does not need big conferences to be healthy. And Apple can announce products any time they want--they don't need a conference keynote to get the press' attention.

[nick9191]

Am I the only one who likes Phil? He's a warm and bubbly character, Steve is so up his own ass.

[PinkyMacGodess]

On the health note: Who knows...

I doubt that Apple is just going to lay down and roll over for nothing. Macworld can be a distraction for Apple. They may be thinking of another re-org and focusing on a different market or direction.

Plus, Steve is eventually going to either retire or die. More likely the former than the latter but he's only human after all...

I imagine that this is like the death of Comdex. I had gone to a few of them but they changed over the years... They got to be too big and too expensive. Perhaps the age of the huge single market rah-rah fest is over? I heard from folks that did the last consumer electronics show that it was a drag... Too big and chaotic.

[Luke1robb]

I'm speechless and have been for about 30 minutes......

[The Tuck]

It's happening right before our eyes. Let's hope this doesn't spell bad news for Apple Inc. or Steve Jobs's health.

-The Tuck

[jawzzy]

I feel empty. Lifeless.

My fanboyism is in withdrawal already, I'm sweating and can't see straight.

Steevie: Come back...sniff...I loveded you...

[Yankees 4 Life]

wow this blows

[LloydBraun89]

Whhaaa????

[wx4svr]

This is the worst thing that could possibly happen. =( I'm VERY VERY sad, and VERY speechless. Long live :apple:

[feakbeak]

I know everyone is going to speculate about Steve's health being the cause, but I think it's more likely a result of (in no specific order):

[1] Apple no longer focusing solely on the Mac platform. Let's face it - most of the news these days is about the iPhone or iPod anyway.

[2] Intel platform means there can't really be too many bombshell hardware announcements, as the roadmap is clear and competitors are quick with similarly spec'd kit.

[3] Apple is a fan of special events, and dropping out of MacWorld frees them from having to have something spectacular to unveil every January, and frees us of the disappointment when what is shown is less than we want or predict.


All in all, a sad day, but perhaps not the end of the world.:)
I agree it's not so much about Steve's health. A lot of your points are big factors but I think this is also part of a process to transition Apple to not being Steve's company.

It is interesting and somewhat fun to have a CEO like Steve Jobs who very much the figure head and in charge of vision and creative direction for the company. However, from a business perspective it is a very, very risky proposition to have your company so tightly bound to one individual where if anything where to happen to that individual people's perceived value of Apple is significantly damaged.

I think we will continue to see other executives in more of a PR role and in general we'll see less of Steve Jobs as a public figurehead. We've already started to see this happen. Currently if Steve were to leave Apple it would hurt the perceived value of the company a lot - not as bad as a year or two ago though. Steve will be leaving Apple - maybe in six months, maybe in 3 years but it is to the point that Apple needs to start transitioning.

[Luke1robb]

So what does this mean??? Will Apple just release products via website now or private events on Apple campus (example: SDK launch)?

[puffnstuff]

Ugh!
Is Macworld dead? I'm mean they might keep going (for a while), but it would be much, much smaller. Like a hobbist's conference. Ha ha... <cries a little>

I did always wonder about the timing of the conference though. Who wants to announce products right *after* Christmas season?

Oh well. The Apple ecosystem--even the third-party ecosystem--probably really does not need big conferences to be healthy. And Apple can announce products any time they want--they don't need a conference keynote to get the press' attention.

Yes it is dead. Dead as what's his face. I hope they do not hand the keys to Schiller.:(

[VaatiKaiba]

I really hope this isn't because of Steve Job's health - although I believe the shares are plummeting now because of this anouncement. Would Apple let their share slide for something like this? I think something might be up ... or Steve wants a longer Christmas holiday :P

[iSee]

I guess this is the end of Macworld.

[levitynyc]

Wow, Im selling my Apple stock!

Nothing new this year....this sucks

[xwing1971]

Man, I sure hate it. End of an era. I guess all things must pass. Thanks for the memories, Steve!

[GeekLawyer]

<sigh>

I guess this means more Apple PR events at Cupertino.

[illegallydead]

haha say goodbye to stock prices...

and a general sense of doom and pessimism from within the immense following of the religion of apple...

[TexasPancake]

Steve has amazing charisma -- something so rare. And it's so consistent in his presentations.

At least we'll be able to watch Obama speaking :)

[Tallest Skil]

In the short term, not unlike Magrathea, Apple could find themselves priced out of the reach of many people, especially schools and students. Many people don't realize that the average student discount was (and may still be) $100.00 on an iMac. It's out of reach for many students. Yes, the iMac is worth more in what it can potentially do but it is actually lagging behind the PC market in the ability to support second internal hard drives for desktop RAID and is sorely lacking in USB ports. My iMac has three, a PC sitting on the next desk has eight AND I can add more too. Flexibility, or more accurately the lack, will bite into the iMac's sales harder than ever.

You saw my Magrathea analogy and decided to steal it, didn't you?! :mad:

Ah, well, kudos. It was a good analogy. :D

[jaydub]

I'm really surprised at this, but I hope that Apple continues to prosper and innovate even if Phil isn't the familiar face we're used to seeing.

[JeffTL]

It's happening right before our eyes. Let's hope this doesn't spell bad news for Apple Inc. or Steve Jobs's health.

-The Tuck

It looks more like bad news for IDG to me. Magazines and trade shows just are not as relevant today. I take Macworld, but it's largely the same stuff I read here.

[VaatiKaiba]

9to5mac points out something interesting - the last time Schiller filled in for Steve was when he was having his cancer operation...

[fleshman03]

I feel empty. Lifeless.

My fanboyism is in withdrawal already, I'm sweating and can't see straight.

Steevie: Come back...sniff...I loveded you...

Sounds like someone needs a fresh injection of iLife.

[Small White Car]

Come on people. This has nothing to do with Steve or Apple.

The internet is killing trade shows, just like it's killing newspapers and magazines.

Why should Apple spend millions of dollars to entertain thousands of journalists when they can just bring 150 bloggers into HQ and show them the same thing?

Used to be, that would mean no news coverage. Now? It will get you the exact same exposure for a LOT less money.

[4God]

Wow, just........wow......It'll never be the same. :(

[key714]

all i can say is... WOW...

[theMaccer]

This is even worse than the glossy screens.

[thegoldenmackid]

there goes my stock

[queshy]

Am I the only one who likes Phil? He's a warm and bubbly character, Steve is so up his own ass.

Hes a nice guy, but he doesn't represent what Apple is all about IMO. Steve can't be replaced at a keynote. I'm curious to see what the phil-note will bring

[mattwolfmatt]

Good bye, Steve! Thanks for saving the company!

Really, no surprise. Like everything else - like it says in the press release - even product releases can be done or will be done online.

[SleepyHead157]

Wow, this comes as a surprise. I definitely thought Jobs would be there. What's more surprising is Apple is no longer doing Macworld presentations. I used to look forward to these things for new product releases. very surprised.

[con2mac]

Is this the beginning of the end ?

[fleshman03]

Front page now

Forum Link (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=617977)

[slapppy]

Its a sign that Steve Jobs is winding down and leaving. Too bad.

Since this is the last Apple attendance at a major MacWorld expo, you would think Steve himself would be there for the sendoff. Why bow out and give it to Schiller of all people.

Microsoft is at its most vulnerable, and Steve Jobs can't stick around and give it the finishing touch to knock MS a peg or two down. I guess he won't be sticking around Apple for long.

[yoyo5280]

haha say goodbye to stock prices...


WEEEEEEEEPS UNCONTROLLABLY!

[rick3000]

I don't understand all this concern over Apple halting everything because of this announcement. Apple can still do new things.

Steve is not the one who designed the new MacBooks, it was Ive. Steve definitely influences the companies direction, but I don't think Apple will stop moving forward just because of him.
I still think we will see a Snow Leopard preview, and they will announce the release date. Plus MacPro, iMac, and Mini speed bumps, maybe a new Mini. Plus, iPod memory bumps.

Maybe Steve will make a cameo though.

[iSee]

So what does this mean??? Will Apple just release products via website now or private events on Apple campus (example: SDK launch)?

This *is* how they've been announcing a lot of products lately.

A lot of companies like to announce products at trade shows and especially keynotes because that's when they can get more than the normal half-hearted press coverage.

Needless to say, Apple does not have this problem. One little "Special Event" and the press can't line up fast enough to report every little detail.

And the conference is a bad time to announce products anyway--right *after* the Christmas shopping season.

[johnsingh06]

Noooooooooooo Im gona miss Steven!!!!:(:(:(:(:(...

and his 'BOOMs'...'One More things'...'gorgeous' and many more!:(:(

Long Live Apple!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Powerbook G4 1.67Ghz
iPhone 8GB 1G
Airport Express
Dead iPod Photo

[cash4chaos]

I hope Steve is ok he is the Walt Disney of Tech. :(:apple:

[holden15]

No!!!!!!!!! :(:(:(:(

[jackjason]

sooo many years have gone ,,good years.
it comes to an end.

[CarlHeanerd]

Lets hope this is a bit better than Schiller's introduction of the G5 iMac. I hope Steve is OK though, I mean WHY is he not going to present...?

At any rate, here's to the good times and all Macworld keynotes!

[Bubba Satori]

The end of an era. Thanks Steve, for all that you have done. :apple:

[w00master]

Come on people. This has nothing to do with Steve or Apple.

The internet is killing trade shows, just like it's killing newspapers and magazines.

Why should Apple spend millions of dollars to entertain thousands of journalists when they can just bring 150 bloggers into HQ and show them the same thing?

Used to be, that would mean no news coverage. Now? It will get you the exact same exposure for a LOT less money.

Well said. This news is definitely a shock, but these trade shows across the industry has been a huge money suck. Additionally, Apple doesn't need these huge trade shows in order to make a splash.

I think in 2010, we'll just see more "special events"/etc. things won't change that much in terms of "unveilings."

[fleshman03]

People, calm down. No one said Steve is leaving the company or anything is wrong with him. Just that they are not doing the MacWorld thing and that he will not be giving the keynote. (Not that he won't be there.) Don't spread fear... yet.

[PowerMike G5]

This is even worse than the glossy screens.

My sentiment exactly!

[IJ Reilly]

Yikes, that is news. But I suppose the writing was on the wall when they pulled out of the East Coast show.

[Raveny]

I can't understand the panic!

Probably Apple doesn't want the hype every year in January. Since Apple's growth, more and more people are following the MacWorld keynotes. The biggest problem is: Apple can't always introduce an iPhone like device every year.
And for this January Apple has nothing huge, so everyone would be disappointed when Steve introduces a new Mac mini...

[PlaceofDis]

certainly not surprising, considering that Apple has pulled out of quite a few trade shows and some big names have pulled out of MacWorld even. all this means is that private press conferences will be held to launch new products. and maybe even more frequently as there won't be a need to 'wait for MW' perhaps.

Steve has to let go of the keynotes and start dropping into the background at some point, and this is one of the best times to slowly start that. it was going to happen sooner or later.

i wonder what this means for WWDC though.

[Small White Car]

I hope Steve is OK though, I mean WHY is he not going to present...?

My guess? They don't have any new products until Feb/March.

Meaning, keynote will be dull. If Steve is there everyone says "that sucks!"

Now, everyone will say "Well, what did you expect?"

They're lowering expectations. (Which, if I'm right, is the right thing to be doing now!)

[hokullani]

Ok let's all calm down and take a deep breath. i was reading the responses over on appleinsider.com and people were freaking out spelling disaster for Apple.

But when you look at it this is really smart. Why should Apple spend all that money on a trade show when they have better ways of reaching their audience. In no way does this mean the keynotes will go away. Apple has always held special events without a trade show and they will continue to do so.

Having separate events through the year will actually be more exciting and means that Apple can bring out amazing products just about any time they want, so let's all just take a deep breath and remember that Apple will be ok.

[iSee]

... so everyone would be disappointed when Steve introduces a new Mac mini...

I would be happy with that :)

[BVGuitarPlayer]

More breaking news:

"Apple will now announce new products through MacRumors."

[wx4svr]

I really hope this isn't because of Steve Job's health - although I believe the shares are plummeting now because of this anouncement. Would Apple let their share slide for something like this? I think something might be up ... or Steve wants a longer Christmas holiday :P

I'll confess.. I sold out my shares. I had almost 200 shares... had them a LONG time. Still, very sad. :(

[ArtOfWarfare]

Of course,

Steve Jobs has been losing his magic recently.

I'm not sure about you, but the thing I've been quoting by him recently hasn't been "boom"...

it's been:

"Come on! You guys in the back! Move it along! You can see it later!"

LOL

[Tallest Skil]

More breaking news:

"Apple will now announce new products through MacRumors."

Win. :D I'll be the courier for specifications. I've only been off on one spec per release on the last three releases, so what I say is good already.

[iSee]

I hope Steve is ok he is the Walt Disney of Tech. :(:apple:

They are probably preparing him for cyrogentic sleep at this moment.

[jcb10]

The end of a decade-old January tradition for me -- and no doubt this will raise the health rumors again.

[dizzy13]

http://applecanceledchristmas.com/

http://digg.com/apple/Apple_Announces_Last_Year_of_Christmas

:eek::eek:

[yoyo5280]

They Should Get PC to do it, not Phil

[slapppy]

Wow, some of you guys are in real denial here. You can see that he was already passing off the torch to others, and they were not MacWorld events either. The last few events he has mostly his lieutenants doing the presentations. The writing is on the wall, we're just afraid to read it. At least Apple almost made 10% share.... Its too bad, MS will gain it right back and Ballmer will be bouncing around even more like a maniac.

[fleshman03]

But when you look at it this is really smart. Why should Apple spend all that money on a trade show....

While I agree with claiming down, does Apple really spend that much on trade shows? Wouldn't they make money for the price of those tickets? I mean what does it take to have the show? Renting a space, putting SJ on a bus with a box of new products and maybe a ride from the bus station to the conference.

It costs others money to have the show...

[mklos]

Before everyone gets their panties in a bunch (which most above already have). I think this is a good thing. Now Apple isn't forced to come up with something new every January and doesn't have to spend money on a trade show when it can spend it better elsewhere. They can release things when they're ready to be released, not when they're forced to announce it and then rush through the ramp-up of the product.

Does this mean the end of Apple? Absolutely not! Apple can do what very few companies can do, which is make the media shine the spotlight on them whenever Apple feels like it. Apple can call a conference on the Apple Campus and introduce a new product whenever it feels like it now.

Apple can more than survive without Steve Jobs. If you think Steve Jobs comes up with all of these cool products you're thinking 100% wrong. From what I read, most things are brought up internally (or sometimes externally) and then decided on from there.

This isn't the end of Apple at all. This is the start of a new era with new ways to get its ideas and products out to people.

Does it suck? Absolutely! It was cool to see Steve on stage sitting on the edge of your seat wondering what they have up their sleeve next. Over the years however this has dwindled to where it wasn't as exciting for many different reasons (rumor sites being one of them which Apple had no control over). We have to realize Apple can only do so much and you can't expect them to wow a crowd every single time it takes stage. It just begins to be not possible at some point.

Just because Steve isn't on stage doesn't mean this will be a crappy keynote. For all we know this could be one of the best MacWorld Keynotes in a long time with new products and updates to other products. Just because Steve isn't there to talk you through a slide show means they keynote is automatically a failure? Thats silly thinking. It should be about the products delivered, not who delivers the products.

[Small White Car]

Now Apple isn't forced to come up with something new every January. They can release things when they're ready to be released, not when they're forced to announce it and then rush through the ramp-up of the product.

Wow, what a concept! :p

[network23]

Wow! A suprise, but at the same time, it makes sense.

It has nothing to do with Steve's health or Apple having products to announce. MacWorld is not an Apple event. It's a show put on by a publishing company. MacWorld made sense when Apple had a much smaller market share and it was hard for them to get in the public/media eye.

That's all changed with the iPod/iPhone and the huge advances Apple has made over the past few years.

What other major company has their CEO announce new products at a trade show like this? None that I can think of. Are products announced like this by Sony, Microsoft, Adobe, Ford, Toyota, Whirlpool, etc? No.

Apple is just growing up. They're a big company now.

It's likely we'll still see Steve at the WWDC, but yes, this is the end of an era.

I've been to his keynotes many times. I haven't been able to make it out for the past couple. They are always amazing, and I am certainly going to miss having that opportunity again.:(

[tiiim]

Guys this is Apple re-inventing itself...

Steve has always been the centre stage, Apple need to show they are a company as a whole and not a "one man army". I think Apple are changing in the way they announce thing.. we are seeing a change. Sure Steve will be around in the future but slowly but surely Apple needs to take our eyes of Steve and focus on the company as a whole. Sure the shares are taken a kicking now but it has to happen sometime...:cool:

The days of the Stevenote are fading.. Welcome to Stevenote+friends... then one day it will be a mixture of people.

[fleshman03]

http://applecanceledchristmas.com/

http://digg.com/apple/Apple_Announces_Last_Year_of_Christmas

:eek::eek:

We all feel that way.

[econoline06]

****balls. Nobody wants to look at Phil Schiller's manboobs for 90 minutes.

Agreed. I think he looks like a greasy car salesman. Not much better than Ballmer...okay still better than Ballmer...

[Chaszmyr]

The end of an era :(

[elppa]

People, calm down. No one said Steve is leaving the company or anything is wrong with him.

The problem is, no one has said the opposite either. That is sufficient.

[Tallest Skil]

Agreed. I think he looks like a greasy car salesman. Not much better than Ballmer...okay still better than Ballmer...

iMacs, iMacs, iMacs, iMacs... Come on! Say it with me! iMacs, iMacs, iMacs, iMacs! :p

[DeaconGraves]

The absolute "sky is falling" panic that is happening is downright priceless.

Macworld was already slowly dying without this announcement as Belkin and Adobe were also not attending. Not to mention that Apple has clearly showcased that they don't need large expos to draw the huge press crowds. WWDC, plus the Ipod Events have proven this.

The one question mark for me is Phil giving the presentation instead of Steve. Hopefully this just means its going to be a keynote with not many big surprises. I'd expect a few hardware refreshes (iMac, Mac Mini, maybe MacPro) with maybe a iWork and iLife update as well. If that's the case, maybe its better to have Phil out there so expectations for big news are set low. :p

[MacTheSpoon]

Wow, this really, really, really sucks. This was a big part of Apple culture.

I don't think it means Steve is ill or retiring, though. When Steve thinks something has outlived its usefulness, he jettisons it, no matter what anyone else says; whether it's Macworld keynotes or Firewire ports.

[MIDI_EVIL]

Epic.

[the vj]

Jobs is sick and he is the Walt Disney. He looks thin and Apple takes too much energy.

[iZac]

Something is terribly wrong in the Apple campus. The only other time in recent memory that Steve did not attend a keynote, was the introduction of the G5 iMac, and he was recovering from his pancreatic cancer operation during that time. incidentally, Phil took the reigns at the event and did an awful job.

I will be wearing a black apple logo, to commiserate this devastating event.

Behind the sarcasm, im genuinely worried for our glorious leader right now.

[zap2]

Bummer, MacWorld is one of my earliest memories of being a Mac users(only from MWSF' 05)


It was quite fun, Mac Mini and iPod shuffle we cool new things to the line up. And the year Apple announced the iPhone,god was that a fun one!!

[clancemasterj]

In retrospect, these last few years apple has only announced 2 or 3 new products at this event. leaving most underwhelmed after the keynote.

[jackjason]

Wow, this really, really, really sucks. This was a big part of Apple culture.

I don't think it means Steve is ill or retiring, though. When Steve thinks something has outlived its usefulness, he jettisons it, no matter what anyone else says; whether it's Macworld keynotes or Firewire ports.


so does the POWER thinks of him..

[TechnoLawyer]

wow, no Stevenote. Possibilities:

1. No new products worthy of his Steveness
2. Apple is shifting attention away from Steve in a succession effort.
3. Steve is sick and unable to make the keynote.

My bet is on a combination of 1 and 2.

There's a simpler explanation. Apple doesn't want to release its big bang products in January. So Phil will introduce a new Mac mini and a new iLife and a new iWork and call it a day. Jobs will unveil more important products at some later date and from this point forward Apple will schedule keynotes for WWDC and when it wants to schedule keynotes. Introducing major products right after Christmas never made sense anyway.

[IJ Reilly]

I sense a rift between Apple and IDG, which we got a glimpse of several years ago when Apple pulled out of the New York/Boston expo. The fact that this announcement came so close to the show itself, when IDG was telling us to expect Steve to be announced as the keynote speaker at any moment, suggests that something needed be resolved between the companies but wasn't.

[theMaccer]

Apple better introduce some really kickass products this time otherwise i will be really pissed.

[Mr. Giver '94]

If this is the case, I doubt Apple will be doing anything huge at this show considering that Jobs has made all of the announcements about new products and big upgrades as far as I can remember. I could be wrong, but I'm doubting a new Mac Mini and no netbook as rumored before will be released.

[mklos]

While I agree with claiming down, does Apple really spend that much on trade shows? Wouldn't they make money for the price of those tickets? I mean what does it take to have the show? Renting a space, putting SJ on a bus with a box of new products and maybe a ride from the bus station to the conference.

It costs others money to have the show...

Why would Apple get money off the expo tickets? The show is ran by IDG MacWorld (the Magazine), not Apple. Apple just CHOOSE to be the main display vendor there.

I would think it would cost Apple lots of money to be a vendor there. You have all of the displays it sets up. You have to set it up. You have to PAY for the vendor space which probably isn't cheap for the price IDG is renting a very large portion of convention center for. You have to get your products ready to be released, possibly working your people massive overtime to get everything ready. Getting the actual keynote address ready with the Keynote program (which I believe is started way in advance...like a month in advance). You may have to pay your Apple reps to be there, possibly feed them. So its a hell of a lot more than just show, deliver a keynote, have a display and leave. I'd be willing to bet it costs Apple hundreds of thousands of dollars, if not millions (if you count getting your products ready on time) to be the main vendor and deliver the opening keynote address at a MacWorld.

[t0mat0]

Mmm, WWDC going to be epic then?
Edit - though to be honest, if they refresh the Mac line up, esp the iMini, that'd be decent enough. If Apple can get media and a storm whipped up just for iPod nano's that were known beforehand, they'll be ok doing other events.
Check out techmeme.com - APple is getting press all the time, the drip feed system of spacing things out works. They only get some coverage from MWSF. You never know, they might just start putting video messages from JObs relayed via projector in Apple stores ala Simpsons ;)

[EricNau]

Jobs is sick and he is the Walt Disney. He looks thin and Apple takes too much energy.

Something is terribly wrong in the Apple campus. The only other time in recent memory that Steve did not attend a keynote, was the introduction of the G5 iMac, and he was recovering from his pancreatic cancer operation during that time. incidentally, Phil took the reigns at the event and did an awful job.
There is no evidence to support the claims that Jobs is ill, nor is there any reason to relate these circumstances with the last time Schiller substituted for Jobs.

[Moriarty]

Perhaps it is time for change.... perhaps the Steve Jobs days are over.

Sure, they can't fit Firewire into the new Macbooks because of the design. But because of the design, there is no more firewire... no more matte screens... perhaps the Apple camp needs a new leader who can give us what we want.

Trade shows suck anyway. Apple will still hold keynote events for major product announcements, like iPods and the new Macbooks.

[rick3000]

This is even worse than the glossy screens.

Best Comment of the thread! :D

[El Carbonite]

It bugs me that everyone immediately thinks Steve is ill and not up to the job. Maybe he just feels that Macworld isn't as important to Apple anymore and smaller press events work better.

Chill out!

[kryszrich]

Wow. If you guys think Apple stock is going to tank over this, you are delusional on how the stock market works. There are not enough fanboys who own company stock to make it drop below 85$ (And some of them will never part with their Apple stock), and some of you went as low as $65. lol.

I don't own stock but would love to see it hit $65 so I can buy. Sadly this stock won't dip below $90 tomorrow. Wall street does not care about the expo. They do care November sales were flat compared to a year ago. It's a recession out there and Apple's are priced for luxury. They need to fix that or they will have a bad year in 2009.

[DsurioN]

Damn, well that's a shock.

[scunky]

It's quite funny that earlier today all the steve jobs fanboys were saying
"Oh don''t worry he'll be there"....WRONG!!!!
I'm still thinking we will be seeing a change at the top of apple very soon.

[Mr. Giver '94]

There's a simpler explanation. Apple doesn't want to release its big bang products in January. So Phil will introduce a new Mac mini and a new iLife and a new iWork and call it a day. Jobs will unveil more important products at some later date and from this point forward Apple will schedule keynotes for WWDC and when it wants to schedule keynotes. Introducing major products right after Christmas never made sense anyway.

I'm agreeing with you about what will be released software wise, but there probably won't be a new Mini. Like you said, they'll probably further delay it and release it a WWDC. Just my opinion because they've held it off for so long, a few more months won't make that much of a difference.

[OllyW]

I sense a rift between Apple and IDG, which we got a glimpse of several years ago when Apple pulled out of the New York/Boston expo. The fact that this announcement came so close to the show itself, when IDG was telling us to expect Steve to be announced as the keynote speaker at any moment, suggests that something needed be resolved between the companies but wasn't.

That's just typical of you, suggesting an entirely reasonable explanation for Apple pulling out. ;)

[fleshman03]

Why would Apple get money off the expo tickets? The show is ran by IDG MacWorld (the Magazine), not Apple. Apple just CHOOSE to be the main display vendor there.

For some reason, I thought Apple owned the event, rented space and sold tickets. Thanks for the correction.

[rick3000]

kryszrich, In the past everytime their is rumor that Steve is ill or that something maybe wrong Apple stock tanks. Look at the stock prices from last years keynote, they were out of control. Or the heart attack rumor.
Investors are really out there these days.

[Quillz]

I really don't think anyone other than the diehard Apple fan ever watched or cared about the MacWorld keynotes. While trade shows are nice, I would agree that they are completely unnecessary in this day and age. With the Internet, products now get leaked months before they are unveiled. It's not like we still won't be able to partake in Apple rumors and it's not like we'll never know about new Apple products. They will just be announced in other forms now, instead of the keynote. I really don't see what the big deal is.

[Mr. Giver '94]

Best Comment of the thread! :D

AGREED!!:D

[gugy]

This is sad.
We will miss all the excitement of the keynote pre-days. Anyway. two things to take into consideration.

With the hard economy and the outrageous rates of the unions charge on Moscone Center, is probably a better deal to utilize the internet and have journalists coming to Cupertino.

Secondly, Apple will leave WWDC for developers training and create special events anytime they feel ready to introduce a product. So the pressure of having stuff ready for MWSF will end.

Finally, I don't think this is relate to Steve jobs health at all.

Times are changing.

[mklos]

I sense a rift between Apple and IDG, which we got a glimpse of several years ago when Apple pulled out of the New York/Boston expo. The fact that this announcement came so close to the show itself, when IDG was telling us to expect Steve to be announced as the keynote speaker at any moment, suggests that something needed be resolved between the companies but wasn't.

Or it could be that IDG was just hoping they'd get the call from Apple saying Steve would be there. Or, they knew all along, but were holding off so they could sell more tickets and were just going to let Apple make the announcement instead of themselves.

I can't see what Apple did 9yrs ago effecting what they announced today. They would have backed out many years ago if this was true.

[IJ Reilly]

That's just typical of you, suggesting an entirely reasonable explanation for Apple pulling out. ;)

Then you don't want to hear my alternate explanation. Gigantic rubber tweezers are involved.

[smartalic34]

as others have said, this is all likely due to Apple wanting to get away from the constraints of having to get new products ready by either january or june. now they are free to have a "special event" whenever they please. and why have steve present when nothing big will be introduced? thats what I think Apple's thinking is on this one...

[wakka092]

This is sad, but being 100% honest, I was not impressed with Steve's keynotes as of late. His energy level was near 0. Go on YouTube and look at keynotes from around 2000-2004. They were high energy and exciting. But recently, not the case. I think Apple needs someone who can back up the excitement of the products Apple produces. :apple:

I think Phil will do fine. At least he'll be more energetic than Steve.

[Bevz]

The argument about these type of events no longer being relevent is a perfectly good one and probably true. Apple simply doesn't need events like macworld AND everyone has come to expect new product releases at these events, every time! That's just not possible and apple it seems to me clearly want to get away from that, and have to as it's took much pressure for a business like theirs... Better to just have randomly timed press releases when the need arises... However, considering the history with macworld you would have thought Steve jobs would want to give the keynote on the final one! I don't think it's anything to do with health (but I may be wrong), I think it's probably more to do with the heckling he's likely to receive from the macworld faithful if he turns up! Also mr jobs doesn't seem the sentimental type! ;) even after saying all that, they must be aware that the press will now go bananas speculating on steve jobs's health (again!)... Not a suprising decision to stop exhibiting at macworld but I think a bad one to not have mr jobs doing the final keynote!!

[t0mat0]

If Jobs was ever to bow out to a less prominent role, wouldn't potentially MWSF be one? Or maybe WWDC?
Just wondering, due to the number of Macs they could unleash at MWSF. Would he wait till a Snow Leopard 10.6 launch at WWDC?
Let Schiller take one keynote, then do the last one in the summer, ushering in 10.6?
*(if it is schiller to take the spot, there are more notable people that could take the spot)

[Kwill]

If Phil Schiller releases a new Mac Pro, will it still be the "fastest computer on the planet"?

[Cinch]

Okay, Okay I get now

so there won't be a PowerBook G5 in the card for MacWorld 2009

my apology for being a bit slow:D

Cinch

[El Carbonite]

This is sad.
We will miss all the excitement of the keynote pre-days. Anyway. two things to take into consideration.

With the hard economy and the outrageous rates of the unions charge on Moscone Center, is probably a better deal to utilize the internet and have journalists coming to Cupertino.

Secondly, Apple will leave WWDC for developers training and create special events anytime they feel ready to introduce a product. So the pressure of having stuff ready for MWSF will end.

Finally, I don't think this is relate to Steve jobs health at all.

Times are changing.

Exactly, we're moving from a trade show-era of announcements to a smaller, intimate special event-style. I think it's for the better, and I don't think it means that Steve is resigning anytime soon.

[nick9191]

I think Apple got pissed off at their shares plummeting based on Steve Jobs appearance.

News Flash: Steve Jobs', brothers, wifes, cousins, friends, mother, said Jobs took two asprin today. AAPL plummets.

[Carniphage]

There is a bit of over-reaction going on here. People are acting like the Beatles just split up.

Apple never waste money on products or ideas that were not strong enough to make sense (or a profit). Such ideas were dumped without ceremony. And I am guessing MacWorld fell into that category.

Apple does not want to hold-back announcments or rush products to launch to fit-in with someone else's calendar. MacWorld has its own timing.
The smart thing to do is launch products precisely when they are ready. Not a week too early or a week too late.

Bye MacWorld, its time for something better.

C.

[MvdM]

Not at the IBC. Not at MacWorld after 2009. No more xraid. Dropping firewire.
No more pro machines in 2009? Glossy screens, glossy notebooks, iPods and iPhones, that's what's left of a company that was once in the pro business.

[adamvk]

Can someone please clarify for me...

Steve Jobs is staying? or leaving completely?

[OllyW]

Can someone please clarify for me...

Steve Jobs is staying? or leaving completely?

Yes he is.

:p

[madmaxmedia]

Not at the IBC. Not at MacWorld after 2009. No more xraid. Dropping firewire.
No more pro machines in 2009? Glossy screens, glossy notebooks, iPods and iPhones, that's what's left of a company that was once in the pro business.

Yeah, but did you know you can 'shake to shuffle' the new iPod Nano??? OR that it comes in NINE colors???

[gctwnl]

Well, this ranks high on my list of lost entertainment. Around the same level as the stealth demise of AtAT.

But the RDF-stevenotes were only very good entertainment. If they keep producing great products and if they (again) will go for "innovating yourself out of a recession", then, given the depth of the recession, great things will still come from Apple, if they can again put someone with such strong visions at the helm.

[scunky]

Yes he is.

:p

lol

[IJ Reilly]

Or it could be that IDG was just hoping they'd get the call from Apple saying Steve would be there. Or, they knew all along, but were holding off so they could sell more tickets and were just going to let Apple make the announcement instead of themselves.

I can't see what Apple did 9yrs ago effecting what they announced today. They would have backed out many years ago if this was true.

Well, it was some time ago, but when this did happen, at least some of the drama between the companies played out in public. Apple wanted to show to be in New York, but IDG wanted to move it back to Boston. When IDG refused to keep it in New York, a stare-down ensued. Steve essentially took his ball and went home, effectively ending the East Coast expo -- which I'm sure ticked off IDG royally. I suspect that it hasn't been all peaches and cream between the companies since then. Reading between lines of this abrupt announcement so close to the opening date, it seems to me that whatever issues remained between the companies hadn't been resolved, or Apple would have handled this more gracefully.

[adamvk]

Yes he is.

:p

Yes he is leaving, or yes he is staying?

[corywoolf]

Well this is bad news for MR, I bet a lot of traffic will be lost in the coming years. MR attracted a lot of new folks through the live coverage. If Apple simply releases products through a press release, there would be little reason to go to sites like MR for coverage. But the growing market-share of Apple should make up for this and hopefully keep this site strong.

[jgbhardy]

I loved watching the keynotes, was like a movie with lots of cliffhangers and suspense with some comedy thrown in.
my stock shows apple up 0.72%, its still higher then it was yesterday.
I doubt this is anything to do with Steve's Health and it seems quite unfair to start speculating about someone's health and if you keep doing so then off course investors might worry, so if you care about apple stop being so irrational!!! Think Different! Think !

[t0mat0]

Not at the IBC. Not at MacWorld after 2009. No more xraid. Dropping firewire.
No more pro machines in 2009? Glossy screens, glossy notebooks, iPods and iPhones, that's what's left of a company that was once in the pro business.

http://www.macdailynews.com/index.php/weblog/comments/18841/

Take a longer look. xraid, FW are transient. Pro machines will be back in a big way. Glossy screens? Buy your own and get a Mac Pro. iPhones? A big earner, as iPod is for Apple.

[mklos]

Well, it was some time ago, but when this did happen, at least some of the drama between the companies played out in public. Apple wanted to show to be in New York, but IDG wanted to move it back to Boston. When IDG refused to keep it in New York, a stare-down ensued. Steve essentially took his ball and went home, effectively ending the East Coast expo -- which I'm sure ticked off IDG royally. I suspect that it hasn't been all peaches and cream between the companies since then. Reading between lines of this abrupt announcement so close to the opening date, it seems to me that whatever issues remained between the companies hadn't been resolved, or Apple would have handled this more gracefully.

I bet Apple knew all along they were going to do this. You could almost see it coming between how they can just pull the media in whenever they want and how Phil Schiller and other key members of Apple gave the majority of the keynotes.

[mklos]

Yes he is leaving, or yes he is staying?

The answer is YES!

[Matthew Yohe]

Not a health issue.

If it made business sense to stay at Macworld, they would certainly wouldn't be canceling all future annual expos solely based on Jobs leaving, or being ill.

Also, read this: http://daringfireball.net/linked/2008/12/16/exposed

[iDAG]

NO!!!! I feel so lost and confused!!!! No more looking forward to new products in January, no more New Year Stevenote, and no more "second Christmas"!!! Today is a sad day for everyone... :(

[adamvk]

The answer is YES!

So no one knows? What do you mean the answer is yes?

[Watabou]

Aww man. This really sucks.

I always liked watching Steve Jobs give the keynote. I will really miss this.

[OllyW]

Yes he is leaving, or yes he is staying?

There's probably only Steve Jobs and the Apple board who know the answer to that question and I very much doubt that they will be posting on here.

[Marvy]

Of course,

Steve Jobs has been losing his magic recently.

I'm not sure about you, but the thing I've been quoting by him recently hasn't been "boom"...

it's been:

"Come on! You guys in the back! Move it along! You can see it later!"

LOL

Haha, so true. In recent keynotes Steve is beginning to sound more and more like an old grumpy man, isn't he? ;)

[Bevz]

There is a bit of over-reaction going on here. People are acting like the Beatles just split up.

Apple never waste money on products or ideas that were not strong enough to make sense (or a profit). Such ideas were dumped without ceremony. And I am guessing MacWorld fell into that category.

Apple does not want to hold-back announcments or rush products to launch to fit-in with someone else's calendar. MacWorld has its own timing.
The smart thing to do is launch products precisely when they are ready. Not a week too early or a week too late.

Bye MacWorld, its time for something better.

C.

I totally agree... Look at what's happened lately with the iPhone, app store and MobileMe releases... I think apple has felt a huge pressure to release at fixed date events when really they would have preferred to choose their own dates... Although everything did turn out ok with all of those products it has to be said many had the feeling of being "rushed" which isn't like apple at all... This news is almost certainly a good thing for new products... Just can't get over why Steve isn't doing the last keynote... Sending a message perhaps? Dunno....

[Doc69]

Great post! Apple has always been a control freak. Now they can decide for themselves when they want to have their product announcements and special events. This could actually be a good thing. And Steve may still do the special events when they have something spectacular to announce. That said, he will be missed at MacWorld. For me and many other Mac fans, that was the tech highlight of the year...

At 3:32 PM PST, the stock is now $93, down -2.43%.

I know everyone is going to speculate about Steve's health being the cause, but I think it's more likely a result of (in no specific order):

[1] Apple no longer focusing solely on the Mac platform. Let's face it - most of the news these days is about the iPhone or iPod anyway.

[2] Intel platform means there can't really be too many bombshell hardware announcements, as the roadmap is clear and competitors are quick with similarly spec'd kit.

[3] Apple is a fan of special events, and dropping out of MacWorld frees them from having to have something spectacular to unveil every January, and frees us of the disappointment when what is shown is less than we want or predict.


All in all, a sad day, but perhaps not the end of the world.:)

[MacTheSpoon]

Oh, by the way, for those who think this is because Jobs is ill or starting to relinquish his duties; that doesn't make sense to me, because if that was the reason, they wouldn't have also announced that this was the last Macworld for Apple. They would have merely announced that Steve was not going to present at this Macworld, and left it at that.

Also I believe Jobs would not be coy if his health prevented him from doing his job, he would announce it, as required by law. He did not announce his surgeries because they were not material to the company; his form of cancer was curable with the operation he chose, and the complication he had treated later was also not life-threatening in any way.

[jdylan]

In related news, Apple's stock is taking a small hit after hours (presumably on speculation about Steve)...

I'm glad I sold my Apple stock at 97.00, watch it tank tomorrow, probably hit the 70s. Good time to buy it back!

[adamvk]

There's probably only Steve Jobs and the Apple board who know the answer to that question and I very much doubt that they will be posting on here.

Ok Thanks

Haha, so true. In recent keynotes Steve is beginning to sound more and more like an old grumpy man, isn't he? ;)

Very true

[iMacmatician]

i wonder what this means for WWDC though.Here today, gone tomorrow?

Although I don't know what Apple would replace it with.

[Luke1robb]

Well this is bad news for MR, I bet a lot of traffic will be lost in the coming years. MR attracted a lot of new folks through the live coverage. If Apple simply releases products through a press release, there would be little reason to go to sites like MR for coverage. But the growing market-share of Apple should make up for this and hopefully keep this site strong.

I don't think they're going to direct launches, more of Apple special events at the Apple campus (example: Apple SDK launch).

[wx4svr]

wow no jobs?

i thought they would have had Ive as the next keynote presenter

Me too. I'd MUCH rather see Ive as the next Keynote speaker. He is much more entertaining and I also just like the way he says "Al-LU-min-E-um" aka.. aluminum. :P

[macfan881]

Come on people. This has nothing to do with Steve or Apple.

The internet is killing trade shows, just like it's killing newspapers and magazines.

Why should Apple spend millions of dollars to entertain thousands of journalists when they can just bring 150 bloggers into HQ and show them the same thing?

Used to be, that would mean no news coverage. Now? It will get you the exact same exposure for a LOT less money.

you got a point the last Apple event was really a letdown due to the fact that the blogers etc leaked out everything before this happen and now with these events i think its somthing apple can pull together quicker with out perhaps geting the leaks websites produce

[G4DP]

So they are trying to save money. Nothing wrong with that. Well the Mac Pro will now wait until WWDC. Anything else will probably get minor updates as per usual.

[nick9191]

So no one knows? What do you mean the answer is yes?
We're just mucking around with you.

Yes he's staying at Apple. He will not be attending Macworld, and neither will Apple after January. Macworld is where a bunch of fanboys congregate to be hypnotized by a charismatic anal retentive.

[wx4svr]

Here today, gone tomorrow?

Although I don't know what Apple would replace it with.

WWDC is an Apple owned and Apple put on event. Where as MacWorld isn't actually "ran" by Apple, though they tend to take over. WWDC is Apple's baby.

[TJunkers]

But... But... *Takes off his black Turtleneck*

This is horrible news. I honestly look forward to this day every year. People in my office even know it! Then again I do have a sign that says MacWorld on the door hahaha.

[mklos]

So no one knows? What do you mean the answer is yes?

Well if we all knew the answer to that question, we would be talking in this thread, but the more important one (Steve leaves Apple). But nobody here knows. We'll all know if Apple makes the announcement.

[OllyW]

Me too. I'd MUCH rather see Ive as the next Keynote speaker. He is much more entertaining and I also just like the way he says "Al-LU-min-E-um" aka.. aluminum. :P

That's the proper (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aluminium#Present-day_spelling) way of saying it. :p

[jonnyb]

Me too. I'd MUCH rather see Ive as the next Keynote speaker. He is much more entertaining and I also just like the way he says "Al-LU-min-E-um" aka.. aluminum. :P

What? He's just pronouncing the word correctly! ;)

I think he'd make a pretty good keynote speaker too

[IJ Reilly]

I bet Apple knew all along they were going to do this. You could almost see it coming between how they can just pull the media in whenever they want and how Phil Schiller and other key members of Apple gave the majority of the keynotes.

I suspect Apple has been looking for the exit for some time, but I don't think they'd have handled it this way if something else wasn't involved. At the very least Steve would have done the keynote (or shared it with Phil) and announced after the show that this would be their last appearance. Or had Steve make the announcement from the stage and explain Apple's reasons. Dropping the bomb with a terse press releases just three weeks before the doors open feels like a deliberate swipe at IDG.

[sushi]

wow no jobs?

i thought they would have had Ive as the next keynote presenter
Ive would not make a good presenter.

*sigh*

Sad day.

That means I actually have to *work* at the office the first Tuesday of the year from now on.
I imagine this is true for many. :)

Yay! No more 3am wakeups!

Actually that sucks big time - so now we're down to just WWDC (maybe) and the yearly iPod Special Event (maybe)...

Damnit, bring back the Steve-note!
So true about the 3am wakeups. I will miss those.

****balls. Nobody wants to look at Phil Schiller's manboobs for 90 minutes.
Snort!

It's a ploy to make new product announcements even *more* of a surprise.
Could be.

yup, they want to surprise everyone with copy+paste.
Wow, what a neat concept. ;)

It's not really the products that I'm disappointed about. It's steve - his presentations were just incredible each and every time, and it just won't be the same without him giving the talk.
True.

I know everyone is going to speculate about Steve's health being the cause, but I think it's more likely a result of (in no specific order):

[1] Apple no longer focusing solely on the Mac platform. Let's face it - most of the news these days is about the iPhone or iPod anyway.

[2] Intel platform means there can't really be too many bombshell hardware announcements, as the roadmap is clear and competitors are quick with similarly spec'd kit.

[3] Apple is a fan of special events, and dropping out of MacWorld frees them from having to have something spectacular to unveil every January, and frees us of the disappointment when what is shown is less than we want or predict.

All in all, a sad day, but perhaps not the end of the world.:)
Agree. Good summary.

When Apple moved from the PPC architecture to Intel, we knew things would change. And now we see it.

Am I the only one who likes Phil? He's a warm and bubbly character, Steve is so up his own ass.
Personally, I like Phil. He's fun to watch.

Sure he's not the same as SJ, but he's good.

Steve has amazing charisma -- something so rare. And it's so consistent in his presentations.
Agree.

Come on people. This has nothing to do with Steve or Apple.

The internet is killing trade shows, just like it's killing newspapers and magazines.

Why should Apple spend millions of dollars to entertain thousands of journalists when they can just bring 150 bloggers into HQ and show them the same thing?

Used to be, that would mean no news coverage. Now? It will get you the exact same exposure for a LOT less money.
Good point.

ROI is important. Trade shows just don't do it like they did before.

Is this the beginning of the end ?
No!

The end of an era. Thanks Steve, for all that you have done. :apple:
Yes, thank you Steve.

People, calm down. No one said Steve is leaving the company or anything is wrong with him. Just that they are not doing the MacWorld thing and that he will not be giving the keynote. (Not that he won't be there.) Don't spread fear... yet.
:)

Yikes, that is news. But I suppose the writing was on the wall when they pulled out of the East Coast show.
It would seem.

For Apple, this is a good move. No longer are they tied to any schedule when it comes to releasing new products which is good.

More breaking news:

"Apple will now announce new products through MacRumors."
:)

Guys this is Apple re-inventing itself...
Good point.

Eventually, Steve will leave the company. So it is good to start the transition.

The end of an era :(
Yep.

Exactly, we're moving from a trade show-era of announcements to a smaller, intimate special event-style. I think it's for the better, and I don't think it means that Steve is resigning anytime soon.
Agree.

Yes he is.

:p
Snort!

So no one knows?
On this board, probably not.

[nick9191]

Me too. I'd MUCH rather see Ive as the next Keynote speaker. He is much more entertaining and I also just like the way he says "Al-LU-min-E-um" aka.. aluminum. :P

Sorry... Who invented the language again :D

Okay not us, but who's it named after.

Aluminium is correct.

[iLLucionist]

Who cares about the financial crisis anyway if Steve doesn't show up at MSWF from now on?

No, seriously. The real mac fans all want to see the 'second coming of christmas' right? The new products, the 'Just one more thing'-moment.

I truly can't follow Apple's lead on this one. For sure, they don't have enough psychologists walking around there. I think it is of great importance for Steve to show up and to 'boom' the audience.

Now THIS is a black day in history. Apple's changed.

2009 is never gonna be like 1984. Full stop.

[jgbhardy]

Me too. I'd MUCH rather see Ive as the next Keynote speaker. He is much more entertaining and I also just like the way he says "Al-LU-min-E-um" aka.. aluminum. :P

Its because he is British and so pronounces words properly the way they should be :p:D

[Bubba Satori]

Is this the beginning of the end ?

No. A changing of the guard and a new, digital approach to distributing information.

http://www.kimwilliamgordon.com/DontPanic.jpg

[CyberBob859]

I suspect Apple has been looking for the exit for some time, but I don't think they'd have handled it this way if something else wasn't involved. At the very least Steve would have done the keynote (or shared it with Phil) and announced after the show that this would be their last appearance. Or had Steve make the announcement from the stage and explain Apple's reasons. Dropping the bomb with a terse press releases just three weeks before the doors open feels like a deliberate swipe at IDG.

Agreed. There is more here than meets the eye.

[DeLoMan]

I always liked watching Steve Jobs give the keynote. I will really miss this.

Agreed. In all seriousness, seeing Steve give the keynotes made owning a Mac that much cooler!

[shanshor]

This is kind of like what happened in Stephenie Meyers book "New Moon". 80 pages in. I think you can guess, if you have read it, who is who. (as in us and jobs versus the book)

[alphaod]

Good thing I didn't buy any passes to the expo this year. Would have been such a waste.

[mklos]

Who cares about the financial crisis anyway if Steve doesn't show up at MSWF from now on?

No, seriously. The real mac fans all want to see the 'second coming of christmas' right? The new products, the 'Just one more thing'-moment.

I truly can't follow Apple's lead on this one. For sure, they don't have enough psychologists walking around there. I think it is of great importance for Steve to show up and to 'boom' the audience.

Now THIS is a black day in history. Apple's changed.

2009 is never gonna be like 1984. Full stop.

Easy dude...this isn't by any means the end of Apple as we know it!

[OllyW]

Good thing I didn't buy any passes to the expo this year. Would have been such a waste.

There's going to be some pissed off people who already have.

[meagain]

I might cry. Not cuz macworld is going away.

This is disturbing. :(

[blubox]

Will we still see Jobs at other events? I'm guessing they will still have random events like the notebook one?

[aresinferno]

Woah, i came across this and almost cried. It just won't be the same anymore.
But i know the real reason why Steve will not be present. They are unveiling something very special. Phil will just be there to turn it on. The iHologram. Steve will be on holiday to the moon in his iShuttle wearing his iStronaut suit and show off this awesome piece of kit by communicating with a hologram from the other side of the moon. It will be a real proper hologram from the movies! Then Apple will have their own AppleWorld Expo solely for apple items and to destroy PCs for fun.

Anyway, id prefer Ives rather than Phil. I guess it may be something to do with coming from England :D

[fleshman03]

I suspect Apple has been looking for the exit for some time, but I don't think they'd have handled it this way if something else wasn't involved. At the very least Steve would have done the keynote (or shared it with Phil) and announced after the show that this would be their last appearance. Or had Steve make the announcement from the stage and explain Apple's reasons. Dropping the bomb with a terse press releases just three weeks before the doors open feels like a deliberate swipe at IDG.

IDG- the company that owns MacWorld? Why would Apple want to take a swipe at them?

[fastbite]

It was to be. SJ may or may not be ill but the entire company rests on his shoulders and that is ultimately great for us but bad for the market. Maybe it's time for us to realize that we're no longer 'that little bit more special' AHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!

[archipellago]

whatever people think, 2 points.

1/ Apple is sitting on $25bn...this aint about money.

2/ Apple knows what any SJ related rumour does to the share price. They have done nothing to quell the growing tide of rumours with this announcement. Why would you deliberately make your own share price tank without good reason.?

[Dmac77]

WTF!??!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

How could they do this? Macworld is a huge thing for many Apple loyalists. This isn't right. I honestly think that this has to do with Steve's health.

The better question, is if Apple will have a yearly press event to release new products.

Don