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Macworld/iWorld Goes on Hiatus, No 2015 Event Planned

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Apr 12, 2001
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IDG today announced plans to put its annual Macworld/iWorld Expo on hiatus, which means the San Francisco event planned for 2015 will no longer take place. Macworld/iWorld, held annually, has long been one of the major Mac-based trade shows, dating back to 1985.

macworldiworldhiatus.jpg
Macworld/iWorld will not take place in 2015 and the show is going on hiatus. The show saw a remarkable 30 year run that changed the technology industry, provided an important forum for Apple developers to bring new companies and products to market, delivered world class professional development to Apple product enthusiasts, and fostered the development of one of the most dynamic professional communities in the tech marketplace.
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Though the shuttering of Macworld/iWorld comes as a surprise, the expo's popularity has been on the decline in recent years. Prior to 2009, Apple attended the event and used it to unveil new products, drawing thousands of attendees, but the company pulled out of the conference after 2009 and instead began hosting all of its own events.

Along with the Macworld/iWorld hiatus, Macworld also recently laid off several of its editorial staff members and shut down its print magazine. IDG's wording "hiatus" in the statement suggests that Macworld/iWorld could potentially return in the future, and the company still plans to hold its enterprise-focused MacIT event in 2015.

Article Link: Macworld/iWorld Goes on Hiatus, No 2015 Event Planned
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2014/10/14/macworldiworld-goes-on-hiatus/
Not surprising, these shows are so expensive and if attendance is low, it doesn't make sense.
 
Cue the "Steve would have never pulled out of MacWorld"... when in fact it was him who decided.
 
Sadly, the writing has been on the wall since Apple pulled out. Unfortunately, 10 booths with different iphone cases wasn't going to cut it long term. It was fun while it lasted. :(
 
The end of an era. This could be the beginning of the expo gone forever.
 
Almost as if they're a victim of their own success. Once upon a time, this was the only place to really see what was up-and-coming for Apple devices (mostly Macs). But it's all gone mainstream: want to see the latest games for Mac? Go to E3.
 
I stopped going 2 years ago. I've been to every Macworld since 2003. I live only 15 minutes away from the city. It was always an amazing show of products. Better than CES. After Apple left it was just "Okay" but then the big vendors stopped showing up and the venue got smaller and smaller and very boring. This news article is funny because I am not at all surprised it's ended. The only thing I am surprised about is it didn't close down over 2 years ago.

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arian19 said:
Cue the "Steve would have never pulled out of MacWorld"... when in fact it was him who decided.
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Then you've defeated your own argument. :p
 
I attended many of these in San Francisco over the years, it was fun while it lasted. Yet I'm surprised it lasted this long.

Amongst the most significant changes occurred as Steve Jobs began to decline. Much like a Circus, Barnum and Bailey if you will, Macworld SF revolved around Steve Jobs as the Ringmaster, introducing new products, and the halls of the Expo being filled with aftermarket products and accessories.

Fast forward to 2014, the greater majority of Apple products are not upgradeable, much like throw away appliances. Steve's dead taking the hype with him, therefore it's only logical that Macworld dies off as well. It's the passing of an era, such is life.
 
Solomani said:
How was it a surprise? It was never a surprise. We know a few years ago that it would eventually disappear.
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Likely though it might have been, it shouldn't be called a certainty. The interest in Apple is far greater now than it was when the expo was going strong (and was held twice a year). The problem was finding new footing for the event after Apple bowed out, and the pullback in spending by tech companies on expos. That started with the dot-com shakeout in the early 2000s and never recovered to those levels.
 
That's because the event was centered on the west coast.

The IAS has success because they bring it to Detroit, NYC, Kansas City, LA, etc.. Everyone has a chance to see the cars.

If the Mac Expo wanted to be big, they'd at least do SF and NYC.

Vendors like Drobo, Synology, WD, Seagate, etc need to all attend to display their latest hardware. Then software companies should demo their software. And actually sell products at a DISCOUNT while there to promote in-person sales. Heck, even through in an extra 30 day or 1 year warranty for those that appeared.

The problem with expos is they get boring after a while. Especially when big vendors that help support it leave. I either expect to gain knowledge of a product i'm interested in or I expect to buy something there slightly cheaper.
 
iososx said:
I attended many of these in San Francisco over the years, it was fun while it lasted. Yet I'm surprised it lasted this long.

Amongst the most significant changes occurred as Steve Jobs began to decline. Much like a Circus, Barnum and Bailey if you will, Macworld SF revolved around Steve Jobs as the Ringmaster, introducing new products, and the halls of the Expo being filled with aftermarket products and accessories.

Fast forward to 2014, the greater majority of Apple products are not upgradeable, much like throw away appliances. Steve's dead taking the hype with him, therefore it's only logical that Macworld dies off as well. It's the passing of an era, such is life.
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Apple and Steve were huge attractions obviously, but prior to 2000-01, the event was carnival that continued for days after Steve had left the building. The money was flowing from all those IPOs and everyone went home with huge booty bags, especially if you wore a media badge. The spigot on the freebies shut off around 2001 and right away it was less fun, with little to see or do after the first day.
 
Apple pulling out along with the rise in popularity of CES, especially considering the growth of mobile made this inevitable.
 
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