Steve Jobs asked to keynote CES 2010 in January [Updated]

[AppleInsider]

Apple Chief Executive Steve Jobs, who was photographed leaving the company's Cupertino, Calif. headquarters Wednesday, has been asked to keynote next year's Consumer Electronics Show. But will Apple even attend?

As revealed by The Wall Street Journal, Jobs was asked by Gary Shapiro to give the centerpiece talk at CES 2010 in January. The Apple executive has not yet responded to Shapiro's request.

But the report did suggest once again that Apple will be attending CES next year -- something that was first revealed by AppleInsider. Sources said the move has as much to do about the electronics giant competing toe-to-toe with rivals for publicity as it does the freedom of announcing products on an independent schedule. That attempt to shift the spotlight has gained some unintentional outside support as a third-party group has secured a large Apple-focused booth area dedicated to third-party iPhone, iPod and Mac accessories.

After the Journal story broke, former Engadget editor Ryan Block -- who was at the dinner with Shapiro -- said the article's claims are "specious and flatly wrong."

"Bottom line, though is that if Gary had even gotten remotely close to implying Apple would be at CES, this shoddily sourced piece by Charny wouldn't have been the earliest story with the scoop nearly 24 hours after the fact -- laptops would been immediately out for reports filed from the dinner table," Block wrote.

Apple has usually avoided attending CES, considered the world's definitive home electronics event, as Macworld Expo has often been running at or near the same timeframe and given the firm little reason to attend two events while promoting the same message. With Apple pulling out of Macworld Expo 2010, though, the company is no longer tied to that specific show and would only feel compelled to attend events when they serve Apple interests.

Shapiro, at dinner with a group of journalists, was relieved to find out he's not the only one who can't get a phone call from Jobs.

"This isn’t the first time he’s contacted Jobs," the Journal writes, "and not gotten a response, he said. The journalists at the table took note of a fellow traveler in their midst — Jobs provides very few interviews. 'I’m glad to hear I’m not the only one in that position,' Shapiro then said."

Block acknowledged that part of the conversation, but emphasized that Shapiro never even suggested Apple would attend CES.

"Shapiro went on to mention that Apple was a great and long-standing supporter of the efforts of the CEA," Block wrote, "but that their only direct involvement was sending a check each year to pay their membership dues."

Just how much of a presence Apple could have at CES is difficult to gauge: even for Macworld or its own special events, the company has rarely telegraphed its intentions very far in advance, including whether or not Jobs or another major Apple executive will deliver a keynote. The uncertainty leaves any possible product unveilings up in the air. However, any new Apple products are more likely to be available soon afterwards -- in contrast to the typical firms attending CES, many of which often reveal products that they don't intend to ship for several months.

Meanwhile, Jobs was photographed leaving Apple's Cupertino headquarters Wednesday afternoon by celebrity news Web site TMZ.com. It is the first time that the Apple founder has been photographed in public since January. Conveniently, the photograph was allegedly taken with an iPhone.

Jobs was photographed Wednesday around 3 p.m. Credit: TMZ.com

[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

[alectheking]

that would be a nice treat.

[bmar29]

well at least he managed to pick up a new outfit...

[sflocal]

I keep my fingers crossed. I think I recalled hearing that SJ is a vegetarian. But even yet, please.. please... go to a Steakhouse a couple times per week and just chow down will ya?!

[MattRebs]

Looks like he was about to fall.

Also, are there many CEOs being tracked by the likes of TMZ.com???

[OC4Theo]

Leave the man alone. TMZ is a trashy outfit. I care not for their stalking.

[cygnusrk727]

He actually looks better. Not great, but better.

[amac4me]

Originally Posted by cygnusrk727

He actually looks better. Not great, but better.

Agreed, here's hoping to a rapid return to good health.

[John.B]

Posting TMZ photos is at least five different shades of fail. Lame, AI. Really lame.

[MJ Web]

Ed: *** No spamming ***

[Animaniac]

That looks suspiciously like the Abbey Road cover. Ha.

[Damn_Its_Hot]

Originally Posted by cygnusrk727

He actually looks better. Not great, but better.

He actually looks great out walking on his own - for a man that had a liver transplant such a short period ago. It will be many years before he fills out his body after that - remember he is now taking anti-rejection drugs and all kinds of other stuff that can make you feel pretty crappy plus most liver transplants are only partial livers. One liver can go to two or even three people, it then will grow to fill out the needs of its host (generally speaking we can survive with a liver that is only about 20% functional if you give your body what it needs - it can re-gen the other 80%). Good for Steve - I say cheers to him and I hope his quality of life is what he has hoped for.

Cheers all!

[wobegon]

Better than preaching to the choir at Macworld.

As for the spy shot of Jobs, I agree with others. How many CEOs have attained that kind of a draw to warrant TMZ stalking them?

[MacTel]

I don't believe Jobs would want to be the key speaker at CES. He'd have to give his opion on the future of the industry which may tip Apple's hand. Microsoft isn't inventive so they could care less about what they reveal. Just look at Microsoft's copycat stores that they'll open right next to Apple stores (they'll fail).

[grlym]

looks like Jonathan Ive

[bbwi]

Originally Posted by MacTel

I don't believe Jobs would want to be the key speaker at CES. He'd have to give his opion on the future of the industry which may tip Apple's hand.

I agree. I think its a long shot that he Keynotes. He wants to talk about Apple and not the industry. I really don't think he gives a rats @$$ about the industry but rather just cares that Apple continues to innovate and build the kind of products he can't find elsewhere.

[Virgil-TB2]

Originally Posted by sflocal

I keep my fingers crossed. I think I recalled hearing that SJ is a vegetarian. But even yet, please.. please... go to a Steakhouse a couple times per week and just chow down will ya?!

I know you mean well, but fish is better than steak protein-wise and a steak would actually make him very very ill with the condition he has. The man can't process fats, steak is the very worst thing he could eat.

[Marvin]

It would be interesting if he opted to do a keynote presentation because Ballmer will share that stage:

http://www.cesweb.org/sessions/keynotes.asp

They likely won't keynote on the same day but you can bet audience members from both groups will be present at the keynotes.

If they don't do a keynote, it will mean they have nothing new to show, which isn't a bad thing and it means they don't get locked into the same cycle of having to deliver products based on a 3rd party event.

Snow Leopard will be out in September or something like that, so a tablet is really all they'd have to show that would be new. It could be a great demo of course and if it has the same impact as the iphone, it will be a good event to introduce it.

[MacWhore]

Originally Posted by Marvin

Snow Leopard will be out in September or something like that, so a tablet is really all they'd have to show that would be new.

How can you make this assumption?

[Feynman]

Originally Posted by grlym

looks like Jonathan Ive

I was thinking the same! I'm surprised no one else caught that!

[SpamSandwich]

Who are you guys kidding? Jobs looks terrible. Like he's disappearing before our very eyes. Man...

[Multimedia]

Apple attended CES in January 1986 & 1987. They had a big booth there both years. I know because I was there. So the line about never attending before is inaccurate.

[Chintan100]

Originally Posted by grlym

looks like Jonathan Ive

Yeah.... Thats him... The "Unibody" guy...

[paxman]

Originally Posted by Feynman

I was thinking the same! I'm surprised no one else caught that!

I assumed everyone caught it though I was surprised it wasn't mentioned in the original article.

[AjitMD]

He is looking good for somebody who underwent a liver transplant and getting all the immune suppressant drugs. The whole metabolism is affected and hopefully he is under the care of an endocrinologist and dietician... getting the right supplements. It would help in a steady recovery. He is probably going to work because he likes what he does.

I just know from my line of work that there is nothing sure in life, and it is important to enjoy every day.

[zunx]

So, the TABLET will be here BEFORE Christmas!!!

[brucep]

Originally Posted by OC4Theo

Leave the man alone. TMZ is a trashy outfit. I care not for their stalking.

agreed

[Marvin]

Originally Posted by MacWhore

How can you make this assumption?

Which one? That they won't having anything new besides a tablet or that SL will be out around September?

The first one is that Apple are an electronics manufacturer and so they will make something in that category. They don't make devices that cannibalize other products they have so anything new will be a market they don't yet cover and this would be the netbook market where only a touch tablet would offer something worthwhile. When I say new, I don't mean refresh btw, they could refresh some of their existing products but a spec bump is not keynote-worthy.

The second thing about SL comes from Apple - their projected shipping date is around September/October.

[John.B]

.....

[pmoeser]

Maybe AppleTV will get upgraded to stream to the tablet?
That's a consumer product...

And yes that is Jon Ive.

I'm surprised they are allowed to cross the same street together!!!

[ascii]

Yes, he doesn't look too bad all things considered. If those paparazzi were after some kind of shock value they were foiled.

[sandau]

this may seem like fanboy praise, but for all his a-holeness, I think he's done more for technology advancement than anyone. I wish he'd (visibly, as he does anonymously), do more for mankind like Gates does with his foundation. If you think SJ is sitting on his billions, you're nuts, he does his work quietly. If we only knew what he really does....

I think we are very lucky to live during the time of 2 great men such as SJ and Gates.

I wish him a fast recovery and back to his former kick ass self. yes, geeks need to be put in line so they produce greatness.

imho, out.

[Tut]

According to Engadget this rumor is false.

http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/30/w...-reality-nope/

[hiimamac]

Originally Posted by amac4me

Agreed, here's hoping to a rapid return to good health.

Amen bro, Amen. In fact, I wish everyone, ourselves included, perfect health. It's something my wife, myself and kitties take/pray seriously, big time. You can have billions of dollars but no health and would rather have the health, love, peace and Joy.

Took me a long time to realize this. For anyone under 20, trust me when I say, take it slow, relax, enjoy life, you don't need that new toy to feel loved or have self worth, your youth is worth a lot more than anything money can buy and your "time" and interactions, kindness, chillin and not worrying about silly things, while guarding your heart and more importantly, others hearts, is priceless.

Try it a few times. Guard someone eles heart, see some mocking, or defending someone outside of your social circle feels great, pays rich dividends and cost you nothing.

Just my thoughts on the day.

[ascii]

Originally Posted by Tut

According to Engadget this rumor is false.

http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/30/w...-reality-nope/

I think the Wall Street Journal is a bit more reliable than Engadget. WSJ have had a number of Apple scoops if I recall.

[gsteeno]

For crying out loud, Shapiro, he's still recovering from a liver transplant! Hell, did you ask him as he was coming out of the ICU?! Let him heal before asking him to do something taxing like presenting to the masses for an hour or so.

[Ireland]

I going to call it now; he won't do it.

[Ireland]

Originally Posted by Tut

According to Engadget this rumor is false.

http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/30/w...-reality-nope/

Ryan Block? Pish..

[Quadra 610]

If Apple goes to CES, they're stealing the show. Count on it.

When Apple sneezes, the industry runs to grab kleenex.

[steviet02]

he looks no different than he did a year or so ago at the MW. It's wishful thinking on anyones part who sees him having more weight than before.