Apple Executives Won't Be Appearing at This Year's WWDC Episode of The Talk Show Live

[MacRumors]

Since 2015, Daring Fireball's John Gruber has hosted a special live episode of his The Talk Show podcast from WWDC each year, with senior executives from Apple routinely participating as guests for the episodes. While the executives typically do not break major news during these appearances, the lively conversations have offered some interesting insights and perspectives on various topics surrounding Apple's WWDC announcements.

In announcing ticket sales for this year's live episode going live today, Gruber has revealed that Apple declined his invitation for executives to appear on this year's episode, for the first time in the decade of this tradition.

Gruber did not share a reason for Apple declining this year's invitation, and Apple likely did not provide one to him, but it's easy to surmise that it was probably due to Gruber's recent comments sharing his belief that "Something Is Rotten in the State of Cupertino" in the wake of Apple Intelligence Siri delays.

In his March blog post, Gruber faulted himself for not seeing the "red flags" that were appearing as early as last year's WWDC, with Apple apparently showing off planned Apple Intelligence features that were not actually functional at the time and some of which may not even yet be functional.

He faulted Apple for showing off what amounted to vaporware at last year's WWDC, a significant departure from Apple's history over the past several decades of almost always shipping features close to their suggested timelines even when they have been pre-announced before they are fully ready.

Gruber's comments were notable given his status as one of the most well-known Apple pundits, not to mention the fact that Apple had chosen him to be the one to share the news days earlier that the Apple Intelligence-powered Siri revamp had been delayed.

It's hard not to view Apple's move as a form of retribution for Gruber's criticism, and also potentially an acknowledgement that Gruber would be liable to ask Apple executives some difficult questions about what occurred to force the Siri delay and where things go from here.

Article Link: Apple Executives Won't Be Appearing at This Year's WWDC Episode of The Talk Show Live

 

[bLackjackj]

Gruber did not share a reason for Apple declining this year's invitation, and Apple likely did not provide one to him, but it's easy to surmise that it was probably due to Gruber's recent comments sharing his belief that "Something Is Rotten in the State of Cupertino" in the wake of Apple Intelligence Siri delays.

No kidding 😂..he would have known when he published that article that the relationship was over.

 

[Macbookey]

No big deal. Gruber never asks the tough questions anyways, and makes it easy for canned responses and self congratulatory behaviour. I would take them to task for such poor and inconsistent software quality as well as poor leadership in several departments. Cash success aside, it is hard not to draw parallels to 80’s Xerox and the RIM of 2007.

Put John Siracusa on. Far more interesting and entertaining than any modern  exec, or just play a busy signal from a landline and it would be the same as having Tim Cook or Jeff Williams on.

 

[AusMness]

wooow who could’ve seen that coming 🤦‍♂️
Lying about what Apple is doing is a fast track to souring a relationship..

 

[iObama]

Wowwwwww. Lame.

 

[f1vespeed]

This year has been great for Gruber, I'm enjoying reading him again now that he's not toeing the line.

 

[UltimateSyn]

Aww, they couldn’t take a little constructive criticism.

 

[cateye]

But now where can I go to watch softball questions sandwiched between obsequious platitudes? Truly my WWDC media experience has been diminished.

 

[macmac30]

It's amazing how people's attitudes (even my attitude) has trended negative towards Apple over the least year. I poured my life savings into Apple in 2006 so I have every reason to love apple, but man, they are pissing me off lately. And it doesn't help that Siri (HomePod) asks me who I am several times per week, pauses music periodically, and is generally dumber than a brick!!! The fact that I have to say "Hello, you there?" half a dozen times when answering phone calls on my iPhone 16 Pro with my AirPods Pro 2 is pathetic (come on Apple, figure it out!)!

 

[System603]

Courage.

And this wasn’t even one of the tough-question interviews.

Really gives me confidence in the current state of things... 😅

OK, optimistic take: maybe they actually got something done this time and just don’t want to be dragged into the history of the past few years. Gotta hope 🤞

 

[baconcat_8964]

I guess they can't face those harsh questions about Apple Intelligence.

 

[rp2011]

John has been speaking a little critically about Apple lately. Sounding a little betrayed, even. I was wondering how this would play out come WWDC. Wonder no more.

John, to be a true apple-polisher, you gotta smooch that apple.

You gotta make love to it.

Otherwise, you sleep on the couch.

 

[TruthAboveAllElse]

It's amazing how people's attitudes (even my attitude) has trended negative towards Apple over the least year. I poured my life savings into Apple in 2006 so I have every reason to love apple, but man, they are pissing me off lately. And it doesn't help that Siri (HomePod) asks me who I am several times per week, pauses music periodically, and is generally dumber than a brick!!! The fact that I have to say "Hello, you there?" half a dozen times when answering phone calls on my iPhone 16 Pro with my AirPods (come on Apple, figure it out!).

I think they call that disillusionment.

The reality distortion field has finally dissipated, and there is a real lack of passion behind that curtain now. Whereas before it was supported by real care and heart.

 

[MrMaxwell]

Apple declining to participate in what is a basically an hour-long infomercial about how good their announcements were at WWDC and how great it is to dominate world tech is the biggest red flag of them all...

"Sorry John we just don't think our millions of customers who throw money at us deserve to be told what went wrong"

 

[delsoul]

If I was Apple execs, I wouldn’t show either. What really can you say? The software side of things has been an absolute disaster, they are trying to mitigate any further public embarrassment to the company. Tim Cook should really step down, as well as the others who have put the company into the downwards direction it’s currently heading. Nothing will change until the failed leadership changes.

 

[Boeingfan]

There’s no point, Gorman’s spoilt the surprises they’d say anyway.

 

[DiSTURBED-oNE]

If I was Apple execs, I wouldn’t show either. What really can you say?

Admit they dropped the ball.
Explain to their customers what they are going to do about it?

Remember antennagate?
Steve came out, addressed everyone's concerns and offered roapmap to make it better and was available to answer any questions that were asked.

 

[delsoul]

[/QUOTE]

Admit they dropped the ball.
Explain to their customers what they are going to do about it?

Remember antennagate?
Steve came out, addressed everyone's concerns and offered roapmap to make it better and was available to answer any questions that were asked.

Exactly my point! Apple execs probably think they’re so cool and “that’ll teach em’!” By not showing…the reality is is that it’s just further proving the point that there’s some major issues going on at Apple and the cats out of the bag. They won’t admit the issues and won’t fix them. Steve did exactly what you stated. It was embarrassing as can be but he addressed it asap, he didn’t let it go and pretend nothing happened. I honestly think Tim Cook and especially the software department truly don’t even have an idea how to fix their issues. They’re up the creek without a paddle.

 

[The_Martini_Cat]

I've never spectated on this live show, but I do read daring fireball. Every day. I know Gruber will keep on writing the way he does.🍸🐈

 

[grammatica]

LMAO. Bring back live presentations!

 

[ThatGuyInLa]

I don't think Apple will do any events that aren't scripted and edited. The era of anything truly live is gone. They were stumbling the last few events before the COVID change over era as is. With all else going on over at Apple, they don't want to risk that kind of exposure from truly live, seat of their pants productions any longer. They want to control the narrative 150%. Even when they have people in the room it's simply ,"ROLL THE VIDEO!" Then later everyone meets in the hall to look at what they chose to put on display at the level of comfort they allow for your interaction.

 

[FasterQuieter]

When I used to listen to The Talk Show I’d always skip these episodes. The execs rarely said anything interesting and I found the whole thing a bit stressful.

 

[bozzykid]

But now where can I go to watch softball questions sandwiched between obsequious platitudes? Truly my WWDC media experience has been diminished.

They will probably do some “interviews” with YouTubers like last year that are completely void of any actual information.

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

Admit they dropped the ball.
Explain to their customers what they are going to do about it?

Remember antennagate?
Steve came out, addressed everyone's concerns and offered roapmap to make it better and was available to answer any questions that were asked.

You are leaving a pretty big part of that story out…
Steve only held a press conference… Because his first response was to tell a customer “you’re holding it wrong” in a passive aggressive email first, and he had to do damage control.
Also, antenna gate was an actual hardware issue, the Apple Intelligence delays are the same delays that Microsoft, Amazon and Google have all faced.
Microsoft had to delay recall for an entire year, Amazon announced Alexa+ months ago and it’s still nowhere to be seen at least full featured.
All of these AI companies are delaying their pie in the sky voice assistants, there’s really nothing Apple can say.
They just get the most press coverage, because they are Apple.

 

[klasma]

Maybe they'll send Siri as a substitute.