Macworld site rife with concealed banners (photos)

[AppleInsider]

Despite lessened expectations for next week's Macworld Expo, the Moscone Center venue for the trade show already sports roughly a dozen sprawling, cloth-concealed banners that hint at several product announcements.

Five banners shrouded by white cloth, approximately 60 feet in length, can be seen immediately upon entering the Moscone South Hall. Three hang just above eye level on the ground level while the other two sit just above the entrance to the south hall exhibits.

Inside, contractors have recently begun to piece together Apple's booth, where another half dozen or so banners can be seen concealed by black cloth. At least one narrow banner spans the width of the booth while a few others run the height of the hall, from the ceiling to the floor. (The banner setup looks similar to last year's).

Meanwhile, a Mira Mobile production crew was in full swing outside the Moscone West, apparently partaking in a dry run of next Tuesday's inaugural keynote address, to be hosted by Apple marketing chief Phil Schiller.

We snapped a photo of the rehearsal live feed through the open door of Mira's mobile unit. The individual on stage wasn't Schiller, and actually looked more like Al Gore or Intel chief Paul Otellini. Probably just a random tech guy...

































A bird's eye view of the Moscone South.

[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

[bloggerblog]

oooh.. ooh.. I know.. I know! The banners will read "There's something else in the Air" and Schiller will introduce the all new MacBook Air!

[IQatEdo]

Dear Phil

May the force be with you.

[Bergermeister]

I stand by my feeling that, due to it's being their last appearance at MWSF and the absence of The Steve, Apple needs to put to a good show and thus we can expect quite a few goodies.

Many of the picts, though, show one wide banner, suggesting to me that lots of things are linked: the expanding cloud (iLife, iWork) comes to mind.

iLife and iWork will become '09's, and some hardware goodies (iMac, mini) and even a slight touch on Snow Leopard.

Don't forget the new iPods and iPhone.

Dunno.

Temporary Insanity!

[nofear1az]

Originally Posted by Bergermeister

I stand by my feeling that, due to it's being their last appearance at MWSF and the absence of The Steve, Apple needs to put to a good show and thus we can expect quite a few goodies.

Many of the picts, though, show one wide banner, suggesting to me that lots of things are linked: the expanding cloud (iLife, iWork) comes to mind.

iLife and iWork will become '09's, and some hardware goodies (iMac, mini) and even a slight touch on Snow Leopard.

Don't forget the new iPods and iPhone.

Dunno.

Temporary Insanity!

We already got new iPods so you can count that one out..... I don't plan to see anything overwhelming but hey, that's just me. What do I know.

As for the picture labeled as "who is this?" dunno, probably just the guy that sets up the stage, tests the audio/video....why does it seem so significant anyway?

[Bergermeister]

It does if it's Paul from Intel as it would signal something large; Al Gore, well, he is big.

"Random Tech Guy" is great.

"Hi, nice to meet you. I'm an RTG."

[wobegon]

Originally Posted by nofear1az

As for the picture labeled as "who is this?" dunno, probably just the guy that sets up the stage, tests the audio/video....why does it seem so significant anyway?

Haha, AppleInsider was being playful (for lack of a better word). Read the text at the top.

Agreed AppleInsider, your first guess was right: Al Gore!!

[yama]

Originally Posted by AppleInsider

Who is this?

This is the reason I come to AI for news - you guys ask the only questions that matter!

[charlituna]

hey AI, was there a reason why you had someone spend time telling us NOTHING

I mean really. talk about a non article. we could guess that IDG is getting the Center ready, we could guess that they would do tech setup and rehearsal for the Apple Keynote.

but wasting time posting a bunch of photos of nothing.

[wobegon]

Originally Posted by charlituna

hey AI, was there a reason why you had someone spend time telling us NOTHING

Because it feeds our insatiable anticipation!

[desarc]

the only thing worse than an article about insignificant news is bothering to post just to complain about it. i'm hoping "one more thing" on tuesday involves steve getting on stage as a surprise...
with a tablet computing device, and lots of home media integration hardware.

[charlituna]

Originally Posted by Bergermeister

I stand by my feeling that, due to it's being their last appearance at MWSF and the absence of The Steve, Apple needs to put to a good show and thus we can expect quite a few goodies.

I disagree. Your statement implies that leaving MacWorld is some indication that Apple is going on so this is their chance to go out with a bang.

It is not. It is just them changing how they announce items to the world. And it's about time. Trade shows are old school and came about when there wasn't the Web, streaming video, etc to handle such things. Companies needed Trade Shows to gather the press for them to allow for big flashy announcements.

These days, Trade Shows need Companies more than the other way around. Apple, Adobe and a handful of others have figured this out and are moving to saving time and money by not attending, not to mention that they can release and announce on their own schedule and won't have to save the big stuff for the next X show.

[Bergermeister]

Originally Posted by charlituna

hey AI, was there a reason why you had someone spend time telling us NOTHING

I mean really. talk about a non article. we could guess that IDG is getting the Center ready, we could guess that they would do tech setup and rehearsal for the Apple Keynote.

but wasting time posting a bunch of photos of nothing.

Have a bad day or something?

[Larz2112]

Originally Posted by charlituna

...Trade shows are old school and came about when there wasn't the Web, streaming video, etc to handle such things. Companies needed Trade Shows to gather the press for them to allow for big flashy announcements.

These days, Trade Shows need Companies more than the other way around. Apple, Adobe and a handful of others have figured this out and are moving to saving time and money by not attending, not to mention that they can release and announce on their own schedule and won't have to save the big stuff for the next X show.

But if trade shows go the way of the dinosaur, how will employees justify vaca... ahem, I mean business trips to Las Vegas, or Orlando, or a number of other popular "business" destinations???

[Johnny Mozzarella]

Originally Posted by charlituna

I disagree. Your statement implies that leaving MacWorld is some indication that Apple is going on so this is their chance to go out with a bang.

It is not. It is just them changing how they announce items to the world. And it's about time. Trade shows are old school and came about when there wasn't the Web, streaming video, etc to handle such things. Companies needed Trade Shows to gather the press for them to allow for big flashy announcements.

These days, Trade Shows need Companies more than the other way around. Apple, Adobe and a handful of others have figured this out and are moving to saving time and money by not attending, not to mention that they can release and announce on their own schedule and won't have to save the big stuff for the next X show.

In the case of Adobe they have plenty of Adobe-focused shows to choose from. Also, while still one of the larger Mac developers, they don't need to waste marketing dollars when they already have a virtual monopoly in their primary markets.

[Johnny Mozzarella]

Originally Posted by Larz2112

But if trade shows go the way of the dinosaur, how will employees justify vaca... ahem, I mean business trips to Las Vegas, or Orlando, or a number of other popular "business" destinations???

I think MacWorld should focus on smaller regional shows and smaller developers and companies.
Keep it cost effective for vendors/exhibitors and attendees.

[VL-Tone]

Why don't you guys try to photograph or film these banner with some kind of X-Ray or Infra-red filter? That would be interesting!

[hillstones]

"Who is this?"

Hey AppleInsider...those are called ROADIES! Get out and go to a concert once in awhile!

The banners read, "Thanks for spending money on Macworld. All we have is a boring update to the Mac Mini and we are still working on Snow Leopard."

Or, the banners are from other vendors that say, "Thank God we finally get attention now."

Macworld is more for the independent vendors, not Apple.

[NasserAE]

I already know what we will read here on Jan 5th afternoon. No matter what Apple does the same people will post the following every time after every Apple event.

-"That's it?!"
-"This is the worst Apple event ever!"
-"Disappointing!"
-"You don't need an event for that?!"
-etc..

I think they already started typing their posts

[Ireland]

Wow, concealed posters, it's "rife" with them. Thank God I have an actual life. All these posters could be for the iDildo. Means nothing. It's like looking into the drum that contains the lottery balls and saying; "imagine, the winning combination is in that drum". I hate the week leading up to Apple events, so many stories about "nothing".

Who is this?

Wow, moving on.

[Bergermeister]

Some people will always try to spoil it for everyone.

[Bergermeister]

Originally Posted by NasserAE

I already know what we will read here on Jan 5th afternoon. No matter what Apple does the same people will post the following every time after every Apple event.

-"That's it?!"
-"This is the worst Apple event ever!"
-"Disappointing!"
-"You don't need an event for that?!"
-etc..

I think they already started typing their posts

They just repost the same messages from last year.

[teckstud]

Al Gore will tell us that thanks to him Apple is now "greener" with all Macs sporting FU'GLY GLOSSY SCREENS.

[gwarf420]

With more speculation this time around than the multiply confirmed updates of the last couple events, I think the show will be pretty exciting. Also, while anticipation still seems to be present, there doesn't seem to be as many ridiculous expectations (but rather low expectations). Maybe they have a decent chance of not underwhelming this event and hopefully the stock won't take a down-turn for once.

[macxpress]

Originally Posted by NasserAE

I already know what we will read here on Jan 5th afternoon. No matter what Apple does the same people will post the following every time after every Apple event.

-"That's it?!"
-"This is the worst Apple event ever!"
-"Disappointing!"
-"You don't need an event for that?!"
-etc..

I think they already started typing their posts

You're absolutely right! IMO, rumor and news sites are partially to blame for it as well because they get everyone's hopes up for something and if Apple doesn't release it then its automatically a boring dumb keynote. Just wait and see if Apple doesn't release a MacMini...you will see bitching and complaining likes it Apple's fault when Apple had nothing to do with any fault. The fault was of the rumor and news sites getting misinformation and reporting on it. And you can't get away from it either. Everywhere you go and read Apple news there is some type of speculation about something. So you can't say well you choose to visit rumor sites.

[matthawaii]

If I was trying to institute a transition I would have Steve Jobs no where in sight and announce some products that just knock everyone's socks off. i.e.:
AppleTV with an HD capture card/TIVO like
30 inch iMac
All new Displays
32GB iPhone
Quad Core, dual display Mac
Updated Mac Mini
Updated MacPro
64GB iPod Touch
Firewire BTO option for the MacBook
etc.

Apple needs to decouple the concept that SJ is the root of all things good.

-Matt

[John French]

What I suspect is going to happen, is Phil is gonna do his presentation, and then it's gonna transition with Steve walking onstage with "But there is, One More Thing."

[Foo2]

What might an IR or UV camera do to those drapes?

[Celco]

or just your apple masturbation.This year MACWORLD is gonna suck. Actually why am I here... Off to TAUW (...no not really)

[Bergermeister]

Originally Posted by Celco

or just your apple masturbation.This year MACWORLD is gonna suck. Actually why am I here... Off to TAUW (...no not really)

Wow. Had a bad day?

[GregAlexander]

Originally Posted by matthawaii

Apple needs to decouple the concept that SJ is the root of all things good.

Yep, agreed.

In fact, I think it wouldn't hurt at all for Steve to focus entirely on innovation and R&D, and let others take over the running of Apple.

Perhaps he already does that in effect?... but it'd be good to make sure that updates and other less-exciting aspects were given more attention (by others).

[Alicepire]

The more relevant banner, which for some stupid reason doesn't seem to be here, would surely be the one that says 'even our small talk is big'. There's a photo of it on the MacRumors site. I thought Apple was usually subtle about these things? Pointless iPhone Nano, here we come!

[PXT]

Originally Posted by matthawaii

I

[...]

Apple needs to decouple the concept that SJ is the root of all things good.

-Matt

Apple also need to decouple themselves from product announcements one week AFTER the biggest selling season of the year.

[PXT]

The banners are giant portraits of Phil Schiller

[Walter Slocombe]

Originally Posted by Ireland

Wow, concealed posters, it's "rife" with them. Thank God I have an actual life. All these posters could be for the iDildo. Means nothing. It's like looking into the drum that contains the lottery balls and saying; "imagine, the winning combination is in that drum". I hate the week leading up to Apple events, so many stories about "nothing".



Wow, moving on.

but not such a happy and filled life that you can avoid posting bile.. CLASSY

anyway, I thought the REALLY "no news" post was the one about the iGloves.. BOOM

[Walter Slocombe]

Originally Posted by PXT

The banners are giant portraits of Phil Schiller

ALL HAIL lord Phil, at least he has "i" in his name, so the re-brand should go SMOOTH

[Dzign]

"I'll still tune in with great anticipation, and while people are already predicting there will be no major announcements, I'm not so sure. Instead, I think this is the first step in proving to the Apple community (and investors) that while Steve's vision is important to Apple, Apple is not Steve, and Apple will not disappear when Steve retires from the company – which he is going to do, sooner or later."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology...world-lookback

[macxpress]

I'm glad there's no real good rumors out there. It makes the keynote more exciting because you don't know what they're gonna come out with next. This is how it should be!

[Bergermeister]

Originally Posted by macxpress

I'm glad there's no real good rumors out there. It makes the keynote more exciting because you don't know what they're gonna come out with next. This is how it should be!

Special jamming systems must have been installed in all relevant elevators to prevent photos from being taken.

It does add a sense of mystery that is exciting. No more news items titled: "As expected, Apple releases.."

Still, hoards of people will be posting moments after the conclusion of the keynote that it was the worst ever, that they are very displeased that Apple didn't give them everything they wanted, etc.

Wish there was a filter we could apply that would weed out those posts.

[aaarrrgggh]

Originally Posted by matthawaii

If I was trying to institute a transition I would have Steve Jobs no where in sight and announce some products that just knock everyone's socks off. i.e.:
AppleTV with an HD capture card/TIVO like
30 inch iMac
All new Displays
32GB iPhone
Quad Core, dual display Mac
Updated Mac Mini
Updated MacPro
64GB iPod Touch
Firewire BTO option for the MacBook
etc.

Apple needs to decouple the concept that SJ is the root of all things good.

-Matt

The problem with a gang-buster MWSF Blowout is that the reasons the show are a problem are only half about SJ: They don't want to have to put major new announcements at a single event in a single quarter. They want to be able to release products frequently enough to maintain buzz (even without as charismatic a presenter as SJ).

So, it comes down to what problem they want to focus on now. SJ Health or Product Cycles. As for the specific products... well, some of them might be nice to have...