Apple announces final MacWorld, Steve Jobs won't deliver keynote

Watch this space folks -- it's the end of an era. Apple has just issued a press release stating that this coming MacWorld in January will be its last, and Steve Jobs won't be on hand to say goodbye. Instead, Phil Schiller will be heading up the proceedings, thus marking a quiet end to a conference that's been the launching point of some of the most important pieces of consumer tech in recent memory. In Apple's words:

Apple is reaching more people in more ways than ever before, so like many companies, trade shows have become a very minor part of how Apple reaches its customers. The increasing popularity of Apple's Retail Stores, which more than 3.5 million people visit every week, and the Apple.com website enable Apple to directly reach more than a hundred million customers around the world in innovative new ways.

Apple has been steadily scaling back on trade shows in recent years, including NAB, Macworld New York, Macworld Tokyo and Apple Expo in Paris.

Update: Oh, and just to clarify, this is merely Apple's last MacWorld, not the last MacWorld. IDG just made a statement confirming that it's on for an Apple-free MacWorld 2010 at the Moscone Center -- January 4th through 8th if you're planning ahead.

[Thanks, JBCornelius]

[Phil @ Dec 16th 2008 4:55PM]

WOW

[rock99rock @ Dec 16th 2008 5:06PM]

I'd say. Not that i'm the biggest fan, but why give up on a good thing?

"trade shows have become a very minor part of how Apple reaches its customers"

I call bullshit. It is because of the tradeshows that blogs across the land halt EVERYTHING and dedicate that hour or so for headlining everything Apple announce, and glam over it like a kid sister would over the new Britany CD. Engadget was a major player in providing the Hype that Apple has received, most in part due to the trade shows, the "secrets", the skepticism.

It wont be as fun anymore. For Jobs not to complete what he started? Kinda wish it would have ended full circle.

[Nick @ Dec 16th 2008 5:42PM]

@rock99rock:

I think they pulled out for almost the exact reason you're talking about. It can actually be extremely negative for a company to have the entire tech-o-sphere focused on them for a tradeshow if they don't actually release anything new or have anything tremendously interesting to talk about...messes with the stock some times.

[TareX @ Dec 16th 2008 6:01PM]

I don't get it. What's the rationale behind this decision?

I'm no Mac/Apple person, but I could easily see they are in the peak of their success, and rising. Why pull out of Macworld? Would it even be called Macworld without Apple on it?

Not to mention Jobs won't be there too?? Something's not right. I was SOOOO looking forward to Jobs announcing the iPhone HD with the hi-res screen, front cam, and new G-sensors this year.

[Ross @ Dec 16th 2008 6:08PM]

@rock99rock

Nothing is stopping Apple hosting their own special events, as they often do. They get the same hype, and cost a helluva lot less.

[dan @ Dec 16th 2008 6:08PM]

@nick - I'll second that; their share price flopped when they didn't announce anything particularly exciting at their last event and I lost a bunch of money!

[rock99rock @ Dec 16th 2008 7:54PM]

@Nick & Ross,

I can very much understand your counters and appreciate them.

[IndiaTech @ Dec 16th 2008 8:04PM]

@rock99rock

I agree. CES is doing great. The only issue Apple has with Macworld, IMHO, is the timing. They would definitely love to push out new products right before the holiday season rather than beginning of the year. Apple will, no doubt, be hosting couple of State of the Unionesque "events" in Jan / Feb time frame to chalk out it's plan for the year and to push it's stock prices up.

[Macca @ Dec 16th 2008 10:17PM]

Yes, it does suck. The showcases are how I initially became interested in Apple, and if it wasn't for them, then I probably wouldn't give a damn.
It's disappointing that Jobs won't at least be there and ready to take a round of applause for his efforts.

[Michael Scrip @ Dec 17th 2008 2:56PM]

@rock99rock

MacWorld is only once a year... but there's PLENTY of Apple news all over the web all year.

[Freakin Ijit @ Dec 16th 2008 4:55PM]

A Macworld without Apple?

That would be interesting!

[Pumapayam @ Dec 16th 2008 5:19PM]

It will lead to the ultimate demise of the MacWorld Expo eventually; other vendors will start pulling out, attendance will drop, and funding will be inadequate.

[Blastar @ Dec 16th 2008 5:22PM]

Keynote is a presentation software right ?
So, I guess there is no problem since the market is full of MAC software like that, right ?
Ha ha ha ha... MAC users face once more the difference between an "I am a MAC and I am a PC" !

[Alex @ Dec 16th 2008 5:24PM]

@Pumapayam: I'll have to disagree with that.. with the statement you just made, then it also means that PC companies such as HP or Dell must be doing really bad because they dont have a "Expo" to show case their product and we know that this is clearly not the case.

[Connor @ Dec 16th 2008 5:25PM]

Your random looks at the floor will be missed...

[Pumapayam @ Dec 16th 2008 5:42PM]

@Alex

You said:

"I'll have to disagree with that.. with the statement you just made, then it also means that PC companies such as HP or Dell must be doing really bad because they dont have a "Expo" to show case their product and we know that this is clearly not the case."

My response

MacWorld is NOT an official part of Apple. They are a separate entity that holds a conference to showcase Apple products. Apple simply attends or "exhibits" there.

I never said it will be the end of Apple, reread it. It WILL lead to the end of what will simply be an Apple fanboy meeting, without Apple attending.

Apple will continue to hold their own conference on their own terms.

[TVGenius @ Dec 16th 2008 5:42PM]

I can already hear the screams of fanboys jumping to their deaths.

[Jean-Michel Decombe @ Dec 16th 2008 6:06PM]

Oh, man... What about "BOOM!" and "One more thing"? :-(

[shugg @ Dec 16th 2008 6:22PM]

alas, the king is dead.,introducing the new era of cowon fanbois..,we found the iphonekiller/touchkiller....

[Shugg @ Dec 16th 2008 6:38PM]

this could only hurt apple ,.rumor that acer n the storm n archos will lease that section

[GenoMalice @ Dec 16th 2008 10:52PM]

An End of an Era... and His Holiness Steve Jobs won't be there to witness? ... BLOODY HELL!

(Speaking for the Apple Fanboy in all of us!)

[John @ Dec 16th 2008 11:07PM]

WTF is Engadget going to write about now? I predict Engadget will be traveling to DC for some bailout money by the end of 2009.

[page87 and counting @ Dec 16th 2008 11:13PM]

"In related news, Macworld 2010 will be headed up by none other than Bill Gates"

[Precurse @ Dec 17th 2008 10:34AM]

@Page

... and Steve Balmer. In place of Apple's exhibit, will be a new kind of fun! Actives will include such things as "Yelling and Screaming at the Top of Your Lungs", and "Chair Dodging"! If you can dodge a chair, you can dodge a/an Ball/Apple.

[Xerxes @ Dec 17th 2008 2:59PM]

I'm CRYING CRYING CRYING CRYING CRYING CRYING CRYING CRYING CRYING CRYING CRYING CRYING CRYING CRYING CRYING CRYING CRYING CRYING CRYING CRYING CRYING CRYING CRYING CRYING CRYING CRYING CRYING CRYING..........
This is unbelievable! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO..........

[DudeManDude @ Dec 16th 2008 4:55PM]

wow.. kinda sad actually..

[patrickcrutchley @ Dec 16th 2008 4:59PM]

Agreed. Jobs must be in bad shape.

[Jakob @ Dec 16th 2008 5:00PM]

Very!

"..trade shows have become a very minor part of how Apple reaches its customers."
No it hasn't Apple, that's actually how you generate buzz, getting Engadget to post a LOT of posts, getting a different image and let me cry as a little baby /:

What about WWDC?

[dandaman @ Dec 16th 2008 5:00PM]

Not really... that just means more "Let's Rock" and "Notebooks" events, as well as WWDC. The Stevenote won't die.

[AVG @ Dec 16th 2008 5:08PM]

This is not sad.

Thank GOD I won't have to stop reading my favorite tech blogs for weeks at a time now as they report on nothing but Apple leading up to one of these overblown commercials disguised as conferences.

ONE MORE THING - good riddance.

[CaptSaltyJack @ Dec 16th 2008 5:11PM]

@ AVG: Low ranked, for your comment and your poor choice of anti-virus software.

[bangladeshiluv @ Dec 16th 2008 5:22PM]

RIP steve jobs

[giuliop @ Dec 16th 2008 5:34PM]

I can only describe this as "A bag of hurt".

Sorry, had to.

[PiperSon @ Dec 16th 2008 5:44PM]

It IS sad - Steve Jobs is one of the few people I consider to be an excellent public speaker and someone who knows how to use Keynote slides to good effect, rather than death by PowerPoint. Bring back the Stevenote...

[chispito @ Dec 16th 2008 5:46PM]

Less hype, more incentive to focus on reality. What's to be sad about?

[loocas @ Dec 16th 2008 7:11PM]

Start buying Apple stocks NOW! They'll drop like... apples...

But, after announcing a new, revolutionary, uber product in January, they'll rocket jump and THAT'S when you start selling ;)

WOOT!

Anyways, I hope this news isn't related in any way to Steve's health state, this'd be really sad.

[Macca @ Dec 16th 2008 10:13PM]

Hm, it is a bit disappointing. Now I'm gonna have to wait for obscure events such as the "Let's Rock" event to get my hit of apple showcasing. Damn. If I have to listen to Schiller give an entire showcase, god have mercy on my soul. Nah, Schiller's alright.

[Kelmon @ Dec 17th 2008 3:01AM]

@Jakob

I absolutely agree that this is bad news since MacWorld was undoubtedly the highlight of the Mac calendar for the average Mac user (developers will still get WWDC and I don't expect that to disappear). However, I do disagree that this will have much impact on the company's abilities and it might actually be a positive thing as far as new products are concerned. One of the highlights of the event has always been the announcement of new products but these have often been criticised for not being ready for launch. Hopefully the change will mean that product announcements in the future, which will no doubt continue to generate the press that they do today, will be for products that are ready. Having to have things ready for a calendar date has never sat right with me.

I don't see the announcement having any impact on Apple or its products but I do see it having an impact on the overall community. The timing of this announcement certainly sucks in a very big way.

[Andy TGD @ Dec 17th 2008 10:27AM]

@patrickcrutchley

Apple share prices just took a tumble when you said that...

[haX0r @ Dec 17th 2008 3:29PM]

/slaps faces

Thank you Apple fanboys…that’s how we treat ya!

Love,
Steve

[Josh @ Dec 16th 2008 4:56PM]

BOOOOOOOOOOO

[Moon1234 @ Dec 16th 2008 4:56PM]

Figures. Even Microsoft still attends and holds conferences. Tradeshows spread more buzz on the internet compared to the number of people who attend. The lack of a tradeshow can sometimes signal a financial implosion or greed.

[Jim @ Dec 16th 2008 5:03PM]

Hardly...... (neither implosion or greed). Apple will keep running its product announcements through the year. These get way more buzz for the buck (and you gotta wonder sometimes what the hoopla is all about). Microsoft runs its developer conference and Apple will no doubt continue to run its WWDC event. But MacWorld is too single-company focused. At least CES has an array of companies but even that is dying. Besides, with Engadget, who needs to travel to San Francisco once a year. Blogs and podcasts provide more than enough product coverage. All that's missing are the airline pretzels and the salesgirls.

[Taylor @ Dec 16th 2008 4:56PM]

Hmm... Kinda strange though. Yes, trade shows are of less importance now, but man, they get a HELL of a lot of publicity when they announce new products at Macworld.

Though maybe that's because of the products, not the conference...
-Taylor

[BJ is Gooder @ Dec 16th 2008 6:28PM]

Taylor,
Thanks again, Taylor. I wasn't sure if your name was Taylor - but you clarified. Redundancy is only important for data backup, Taylor.

[lucas @ Dec 16th 2008 6:50PM]

they will still get the publicity but on their schedule etc.

as for the whole Phil thing, the world has this notion that Steve Jobs IS Apple and over the last few events he's been bringing out others to show the world that he's not the only guy there. this is just the natural conclusion.

[Chris @ Dec 16th 2008 6:44PM]

Hi, I'm Chris

Taylor,

You're funny.

-Chris

----------------------------
Chris
Engadget Commenter

[Atanas Boev @ Dec 16th 2008 7:21PM]

My name is Ellen Feiss, and I'm a student. Engadget is like, bleep, bleep, bleep, bleep, bleep, bleep, bleep, bleep, bleep...

Ellen Feiss, student

[Kris120890 @ Dec 16th 2008 4:57PM]

I was going to say one last day of engadget blogging about apple.
But we all know that not true.

[Kris120890 @ Dec 16th 2008 5:02PM]

One less day not one last day.