It was doomed the minute Apple pulled out and started hosting its own events.
Sad to see it go but the writing was on the wall.
Indeed.
Apple will pick and choose industrial trade shows from here on out when the enter major markets, but they are a) large enough, and b) retail enough, to control their message to the industry with their own Dev Conference.
That 2nd point is key. You don't see Trade Magazines have a 'Target World' or 'Walmart Week' and expect the namesake to show up (for free) and provide content.
If anything, Apple will buy a print/online media brand, and co-opt it into it's own marketing arm. As Apple gets more into consumer wearables, You'll start to see Apple produced inserts into major retail chains (Look as some of the catalogs Macy's sends out to their high value customers, I can see a 4 page AppleWatch [and/or shirt or whatever] insert in the plastic mailer coproducer by Apple.)
Arendts will bring that level of marketing to Apple.
Sad... I mean I attended MacWorld in Boston and SF, met Jobs personally at both events over the years. While the Apple launches today are only for the press, MacWorld provided an interface between Apple fans and Apple executives and engineers - there is no other venue like this for fans.
MacWorld events also introduced me to a lot of really novel and interesting Apple compatible products (both software and hardware). I never left a MacWorld event without an armload of goodies.
I'll miss MacWorld magazine also - although I'm told my subscription will continue digitally.
I understand the reasons for doing this - but in the end it is really a missed opportunity for Apple and fans to connect on a non-digital level. It is that non-digital connection that always drew me towards Apple products - it made Apple special and unique.
First GT Advanced, and now this. More evidence that Apple is doomed. Just waiting on them to cancel their Oct 16th event, and all future events before winding things down and calling it a day.
Can't say I'm surprised, in light of recent events at IDG.
With Apple pulling out in 2010, and other vendors reducing their presence, it's probably not making as much money as it did.
The problem is that the people who are big enough to draw a crowd don't need to attend MacWorld, people will pay attention to them, anyway. The people who need MacWorld are the people trying to get attention - mostly small software developers. They're the ones who will suffer from this.
Maybe someone will start a new show, not even necessarily platform specific, more oriented towards the consumer than the industry, and providing a platform for smaller developers and vendors to show their wares. Or maybe San Diego Comic Con will start a tech stream. Or maybe tech shows are dead.
Can't say I'm surprised, in light of recent events at IDG.
With Apple pulling out in 2010, and other vendors reducing their presence, it's probably not making as much money as it did.
The problem is that the people who are big enough to draw a crowd don't need to attend MacWorld, people will pay attention to them, anyway. The people who need MacWorld are the people trying to get attention - mostly small software developers. They're the ones who will suffer from this.
Maybe someone will start a new show, not even necessarily platform specific, more oriented towards the consumer than the industry, and providing a platform for smaller developers and vendors to show their wares. Or maybe San Diego Comic Con will start a tech stream. Or maybe tech shows are dead.
Expos are a massive waste of time and money. We have a thing called the Internet that is far more efficient about informing people of new products.
Expos are a massive waste of time and money. We have a thing called the Internet that is far more efficient about informing people of new products.
Yes...especially for Apple. They can do an Apple Event when their products are ready to be released and stream it to millions of people on their website, and invite the press for the keynote. This not only is probably cheaper for Apple, but also they can do things on their time and not be forced to release something that isn't ready just because they're the opening keynote address.
So many happy memories going back decades. They were the best of times, both San Francisco and Boston, I worked at and visited them both for many, many years. Alas I am guilty of forgoing them as the internet matured and made so much they offered obsolete. That said nothing could ever replace the people I met, the friends I made and the business contacts I cemented at those shows.
I will raise my whiskey glass tonight and say adieu. I will think of all those I met there including the man himself once in the early 80s. I truly hope those involved in losing their work because of this find or have found good alternatives.
IMO... the only thing worth reading of late at Macworld was [S]John Gruber's[/S]... uh... the Macalope's column. However even that became old due to the relentless click-bait articles regarding Apple. After 5 years (longer even) of replying to that crap no matter how clever or humorous the retort... it gets stale eventually. The rest of the articles, reviews or news was very light reading and I must say, very often incomplete and lacking meat to go with the potatoes. The forums and reader engagement was even worse than_________(!?)
It leaves you wondering what the priorities and core focus at Macworld (the publication) were... which should've been nothing other than trying to be the first and foremost place for in-depth news surrounding all aspects of Apple's products, software and ecosystem for it's fans and followers.***
Telling examples: why are the best critical reviews about the Mac and OSX being written by John Siracusa for ArsTechnica; DED is here, when he very well might have benefited from an editor; Philip Elmer-DeWitt at Forbes; Anand Lal Shimpi.... and many other top writers and Apple "technologists" that didn't write for Macworld. Why was that?
The downward spiral started years ago, and I don't think the online publication or site will be around much longer either, sadly to say.
***Because as disparaging as I am above, they "used to be" THE Mac resource, even if MacUser also used to have some really good issues... you HAD to have Macworld, if only because the above statement rung true "once upon a time:.
I know some may find this hard to believe but I actually went to the last 2 in NYC. 2002& 2003.
2003 was rather sad as Apple was barely present. 2002 was amazing- the energy, etc. So glad I made it there. Saw the man too.
And so things keep changing. When I was in the grocery store today I noticed that the magazine section was removed. It was replaced with toilet paper (literally) that was on sale. The last few times I browsed the magazine rack nobody else showed up. As a kid that used to be the hangout. I would go to the store with my parents and hang out at the magazine rack until they left. More often than not I would buy a magazine. Those days are gone.
Comments
It was doomed the minute Apple pulled out and started hosting its own events.
Sad to see it go but the writing was on the wall.
Indeed.
Apple will pick and choose industrial trade shows from here on out when the enter major markets, but they are a) large enough, and b) retail enough, to control their message to the industry with their own Dev Conference.
That 2nd point is key. You don't see Trade Magazines have a 'Target World' or 'Walmart Week' and expect the namesake to show up (for free) and provide content.
If anything, Apple will buy a print/online media brand, and co-opt it into it's own marketing arm. As Apple gets more into consumer wearables, You'll start to see Apple produced inserts into major retail chains (Look as some of the catalogs Macy's sends out to their high value customers, I can see a 4 page AppleWatch [and/or shirt or whatever] insert in the plastic mailer coproducer by Apple.)
Arendts will bring that level of marketing to Apple.
MacWorld events also introduced me to a lot of really novel and interesting Apple compatible products (both software and hardware). I never left a MacWorld event without an armload of goodies.
I'll miss MacWorld magazine also - although I'm told my subscription will continue digitally.
I understand the reasons for doing this - but in the end it is really a missed opportunity for Apple and fans to connect on a non-digital level. It is that non-digital connection that always drew me towards Apple products - it made Apple special and unique.
First GT Advanced, and now this. More evidence that Apple is doomed. Just waiting on them to cancel their Oct 16th event, and all future events before winding things down and calling it a day.
If Steve were alive this wouldn't be happening...
If Steve were alive this wouldn't be happening...
He is alive... and living in Las Vegas.
With Apple pulling out in 2010, and other vendors reducing their presence, it's probably not making as much money as it did.
The problem is that the people who are big enough to draw a crowd don't need to attend MacWorld, people will pay attention to them, anyway. The people who need MacWorld are the people trying to get attention - mostly small software developers. They're the ones who will suffer from this.
Maybe someone will start a new show, not even necessarily platform specific, more oriented towards the consumer than the industry, and providing a platform for smaller developers and vendors to show their wares. Or maybe San Diego Comic Con will start a tech stream. Or maybe tech shows are dead.
Can't say I'm surprised, in light of recent events at IDG.
With Apple pulling out in 2010, and other vendors reducing their presence, it's probably not making as much money as it did.
The problem is that the people who are big enough to draw a crowd don't need to attend MacWorld, people will pay attention to them, anyway. The people who need MacWorld are the people trying to get attention - mostly small software developers. They're the ones who will suffer from this.
Maybe someone will start a new show, not even necessarily platform specific, more oriented towards the consumer than the industry, and providing a platform for smaller developers and vendors to show their wares. Or maybe San Diego Comic Con will start a tech stream. Or maybe tech shows are dead.
Expos are a massive waste of time and money. We have a thing called the Internet that is far more efficient about informing people of new products.
Expos are a massive waste of time and money. We have a thing called the Internet that is far more efficient about informing people of new products.
Yes...especially for Apple. They can do an Apple Event when their products are ready to be released and stream it to millions of people on their website, and invite the press for the keynote. This not only is probably cheaper for Apple, but also they can do things on their time and not be forced to release something that isn't ready just because they're the opening keynote address.
I will raise my whiskey glass tonight and say adieu. I will think of all those I met there including the man himself once in the early 80s. I truly hope those involved in losing their work because of this find or have found good alternatives.
Nice thought ... lol
It leaves you wondering what the priorities and core focus at Macworld (the publication) were... which should've been nothing other than trying to be the first and foremost place for in-depth news surrounding all aspects of Apple's products, software and ecosystem for it's fans and followers.***
Telling examples: why are the best critical reviews about the Mac and OSX being written by John Siracusa for ArsTechnica; DED is here, when he very well might have benefited from an editor; Philip Elmer-DeWitt at Forbes; Anand Lal Shimpi.... and many other top writers and Apple "technologists" that didn't write for Macworld. Why was that?
The downward spiral started years ago, and I don't think the online publication or site will be around much longer either, sadly to say.
***Because as disparaging as I am above, they "used to be" THE Mac resource, even if MacUser also used to have some really good issues... you HAD to have Macworld, if only because the above statement rung true "once upon a time:.
Steve deserted MacWorld eons ago.
Steve deserted MacWorld eons ago.
I know...it was a joke.
I really miss Comdex.
I know some may find this hard to believe but I actually went to the last 2 in NYC. 2002& 2003.
2003 was rather sad as Apple was barely present. 2002 was amazing- the energy, etc. So glad I made it there. Saw the man too.
I know some may find this hard to believe but I actually went to the last 2 in NYC. 2002& 2003.
2003 was rather sad as Apple was barely present. 2002 was amazing- the energy, etc. So glad I made it there. Saw the man too.
Phil Schiller?
And so things keep changing. When I was in the grocery store today I noticed that the magazine section was removed. It was replaced with toilet paper (literally) that was on sale. The last few times I browsed the magazine rack nobody else showed up. As a kid that used to be the hangout. I would go to the store with my parents and hang out at the magazine rack until they left. More often than not I would buy a magazine. Those days are gone.