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A Macworld/iWorld Lament
I can't say I was surprised when IDG World Expo's Paul Kent broke the news to us at TUAW that Macworld/iWorld 2015 was canceled and that the longtime Mac lovefest was on hiatus. It's kind of like having a good friend who has been ill for a long time, getting thinner every time you see him – you aren't surprised when the friend passes away, but you're saddened just the same. Now, we don't honestly know if Macworld/iWorld will be back in the future or not. The word "hiatus" is defined as "a break or interruption in the continuity of a work, series, action, etc.", so we can hold out hope that at some future point, the expo will be resurrected. But to be honest with you, I don't think that's going to happen. The world has changed a lot since the first Macworld Expo in 1985. My first trips to Macworld were in the late 1980s. At the time, I was working for a gas pipeline company as a "special projects supervisor," which I turned into an IT director position as the PC revolution exploded. We were an all-Mac shop thanks to my insistence on staying away from DOS, and about the only place to go to get a hands-on look at the latest in Mac peripherals and accessories was Macworld Expo. Local Apple dealers at that time carried just a hint of the many products that were available, so between Macworld magazine, (which also passed away within the last month), MacUser magazine (which died a long time ago), and the annual Expos, that was how we got our product info. That era was also pre-Internet, so there was no way to "get online" and get detailed product descriptions from vendors. Local bulletin board systems (BBSs) were good for keeping in touch with local Mac users and swapping freeware, but that was about it. Macworld Expo in the late 1980s was impressive: the show usually covered the full floor at Moscone Center, and it took serious planning and effort over Irish Coffees at the Buena Vista for someone from our team to visit each booth. Of course, Apple had a large presence at the show, and we would talk with Apple reps about enterprise-related gizmos like NuBus Ethernet cards and 3270 terminal emulation software, or try to negotiate a bigger discount on large purchases (Guess what? We never could...). There were conference sessions, back room meetings with software vendors, and of course the occasional keynotes with such notables as John Sculley and Jean-Louis Gasseé. Macworld was more than just San Francisco, too. Shows in Boston and New York made the Expo more accessible to those on the East Coast, and it was at the 1993 Macworld in Boston that the Newton MessagePad was introduced -- one of my employees was at the show that year and FedEx'd an original Newton MessagePad to me, probably the first one in Denver. Unfortunately, shortly after that time Apple's executive presence at shows and conferences was taken over by Michael Spindler, who was about as exciting and charismatic as a pile of mud. Spindler was followed in 1996 by Gil Amelio, who surprisingly had even less charisma than Spindler. Things got exciting again when Steve Jobs came back in 1997, giving the first of his patented "Stevenotes" at the Boston show. Although I wasn't in attendance at Macworld for quite a few years in the late 90s and early 00's, I remember avidly following the news of Jobs' talks, simply because every time he talked, the news got better, the products became more exciting, and it looked like Apple was coming back from the grave. After a hiatus (there's that word again) from Macworld during a stint with IBM, I began attending Macworld San Francisco in 2006. This time, I was looking at the show with the eyes of a consultant and blogger. The Apple Consultant Network had a presence at the show – we'd actually volunteer to answer questions on the show floor – and it was a blast. Apple was still in attendance at the show, and if I recall correctly the show floor covered not only the main hall at Moscone Center, but also Moscone North. One thing I remember vividly from the 2006 or 2007 show (my memory's not that good) was a large iPod game display that was run by Apple in Moscone North. Remember, iOS wasn't yet in existence, but this was for the games that ran on the iPod! Macworld always had a big focus on music, and during those years, Moscone North seemed to be the location for the band stage and talks on using Macs in music. There was no iPad, there were no iPhones, so music – if you wanted to make it – was being performed with the assistance of Macs. My most vivid memory of Macworld Expo was being in the keynote for the iPhone in 2007. I think I got into the line at 4 AM... which put me towards the back of the keynote venue. The Stevenote was probably one of the most electric events I've ever been to. You knew when Steve announced the iPhone and described its functionality – even in those early days – that we were seeing something that would literally change the company that invented it and change the world. After the keynote, thousands of us gathered around the single iPhone prototype rotating in a Lexan cylinder, knowing that we wouldn't actually get our hands on the device for quite a few months. The iPhone really marked a big change in the focus of the show, which turned from being truly Mac-oriented to what a lot of us old-timers referred to as "iPhone Case World". At the 2008 show, many of us wondered if all we'd see at future Macworlds would be iPhone accessories. 2009 was the last year that Apple had a presence at Macworld, and that was also the year that there was a lot of discussion about whether or not the show would even continue into the future. Without Apple, was Macworld relevant? I think 2009 was the year that IDG World Expo had an attendee forum at which people could speak out about what they thought should happen with the show in the future. Some of us felt that the expo was no longer relevant in the Internet age, that all of the presentations and vendor demos could be better done online. Others thought that it was time to move Macworld Expo out of San Francisco and into a smaller show that roamed the world. The discussion was for naught... In 2012, Macworld became Macworld/iWorld, reflecting how iOS devices – both iPhone and the iPad released in 2010 – had changed Apple's focus away from the Mac and towards the touch-interface mobile devices we're all using. During a few of these years, TUAW had a presence at the show in the form of a booth – we did a lot of live broadcasting from our booth, including interviews with a number of notables in the Apple world as well as vendors of hardware and software. A regular event for TUAW fans was the annual TUAW Meetup. Probably the best one was in 2012, when a large number of TUAW readers gathered at Jillian's across the street from Moscone North to have fun and have a chance to win prizes donated by sponsors. That year, one of the three founders of Apple –- Ron Wayne –- attended the event. That was definitely a fascinating thing to experience, especially when Ron was the winner of one of the big giveaway items! One of the things that was a constant throughout the latter years of Macworld and Macworld/iWorld was the camaraderie of the attendees. Whether it was going to the loud and boisterous Cirque du Mac party sponsored by The Mac Observer every year, or just going out with a group of friends to get great Indian food at Mehfil, eating with other tech bloggers and PR folks at Appency's annual event, or joining the ranks of the bloggers and writers at the "Ink-Stained Wretches Dinner" sponsored by TidBITS, sharing food and talk during the show was a major tradition. I recall hosting a Newton Meetup one year at Chili's, attended by a number of people who brought their working Newton MessagePads to the event. It was always fun to meet TUAW readers and (when we actually were allowed to do podcasts) listeners and viewers of our various podcasts. There's something great about meeting people in the flesh rather than just knowing them by an email address or Twitter handle. Finally getting to meet Patrice Brend'amour at this year's Macworld/iWorld was wonderful, and my hope was that the show would go on so I could meet our other buddies like Hal Sherman and Ben Roethig. The past few years seemed to be an indication that the show was changing, not necessarily for the better. While Macworld had filled large venues in the past, this last year it seemed that it was struggle just to fill the small Moscone North hall -- a venue that previously had been an "overflow" area from the main floor. The conference talks were just as good as usual, but the number of vendors making the investment in a booth had dwindled. Some vendors came to the show, but only for meetings off the Expo floor. So, will Macworld/iWorld return from its "hiatus" in future years? I honestly don't know. For many out-of-town visitors, the show was a large expense when we toted up airfare, hotel expenses, meals, and ground transportation. For companies exhibiting at the show, the cost was even more onerous –- although tax deductible. San Francisco's deep union ties made it impossible for any company to set up a small booth without the paid assistance of union helpers. I recall two run-ins with union workers; one who threatened to have me arrested for actually plugging in an Ethernet hub without his help, the other when I was shooting some video before the show actually opened. In both cases, a combination of laughing at them and using obscene gestures seemed to defuse the situation... My personal wish is that the show comes back as a one- or two-day event in a number of cities, not just San Francisco. Get a much smaller venue in six or seven cities in the US, Europe, and Asia, have a one-day event that captures both the heart of Macworld/iWorld, provides an opportunity for the parties and meetups that make the event so fun, and gives vendors a chance to show off their latest software or accessories. Or how about creating a virtual event that EVERYONE could attend? Streaming conference talks, virtual booth visits, and even online meetups could be a way to get the feel of the event without having to hop on a plane, fly to San Francisco, and then pick up the flu after being around a large crowd of sneezing attendees. It's almost 2015, folks – there should be a way to do a virtual event for 100,000 people. If there isn't, perhaps IDG World Expo could lead the way in developing a method of creating virtual conferences, reinventing itself for the 21st Century. If not IDG World Expo, maybe TUAW's corporate overlord AOL could look at footing the bill... are you listening, Tim Armstrong? I truly do hope that the loss of 2015 Macworld/iWorld is just a hiatus and not the announcement of the end of the show. If IDG World Expo has the opportunity, will and financial backing to keep the show going in a new format, I think Macworld/iWorld could survive and even prosper. What are your most vivid memories of Macworld or Macworld/iWorld? We'd all like to know, and you can relive those memories in the comments below.
R.I.P. Macworld/iWorld
Macworld/iWorld, which has been the premiere event for Apple fans since 1985, is officially "going on hiatus" according to IDG World Expo. The show will not take place in 2015, although the MacIT event for enterprise professionals will continue. Here's the official statement from Paul Kent of IDG World Expo, who led the event for many years: "We are announcing today that Macworld/iWorld is going on hiatus, and will not be taking place as planned in 2015. Our MacIT event, the world's premiere event for deploying Apple in the enterprise, will continue next year with details to be announced in the coming weeks. Since 1985, Macworld events have brought together a community to celebrate the incredible innovations that Apple has brought into the world, shining a spotlight on the developers who add value to the user's experience in infinite ways. As Apple products and the related ecosystem have changed, so has the marketplace, and we are proud to have played a part in that evolution. Literally thousands of companies and hundreds of products have come to market at Macworld, and countless professional relationships have been forged. We'd like to take this opportunity to thank the Apple community for allowing us to host these events and be a part of the incredible story that is the Apple market. We are committed via our MacIT event to bringing together the product developers innovating with enterprise iOS and OS X based solutions, and the growing legion of professionals empowering their organizations through these tools. We are exploring exciting new partnerships, venues and delivery opportunities through which MacIT can continue to serve this market, and we look forward to announcing our plans for this event within the next few months."
Macworld 2013: Ashton Kutcher and Josh Gad talk about playing Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak
Actors Ashton Kutcher and Josh Gad, who are playing Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak in the upcoming movie jOBS, helped kick off Macworld | iWorld 2013 today, in a panel moderated by expo general manager Paul Kent. The two chatted with Kent about how they approached their roles in the film, what it was like visiting and recreating all of the locations and events from Apple's history, and how telling the story of the two Steves affected the actors. Gad and Kutcher first walked through their past experiences with Apple before the film. Gad said he was a Mac newbie until recently: His wife first brought an Apple computer home and he says it "completely changed my entire view of what technology could mean." Gad mostly experienced Apple, however, through post-Mac products like the iPod and the iMac, and says he was fascinated with learning the story of how that company came about as the movie went along. His entire knowledge of Wozniak, he said, "was Dancing with the Stars" before he jumped in and really researched what Woz was all about. Kutcher knew much more about Steve Jobs: He said he started out as a child with an Apple IIgs, went to school to study biochemical engineering with a Mac, and later in life has worked as an angel investor with technology companies. Kutcher said that Jobs is an "iconic hero" for him, and that when he first heard about the movie's screenplay and decided he wanted to get involved, he concluded that "if this story's going to get told, I want it to get told in a way that honors my hero." Gad said Kutcher's familiarity with Apple and technology was readily apparent during shooting: At one point, while the pair were filming in the actual garage where the Apple I was built, Kutcher saw a prop in the background dressing, and told the crew to remove it from the shot. "This wouldn't have been built for another year," Gad remembered Kutcher saying. "Get rid of that." Kent showed a short clip of the movie that had previously been seen online, and asked the actors how they approached accuracy in the film. Wozniak, in particular, has seen the clip and called out the film for some "totally wrong" storytelling. But Gad and Kutcher admitted that while the clothing or the dialogue may not have been exactly right, what they tried to do was recapture the feel of what was happening back then. "It's not a documentary," said Gad. "It's an interpretation of events." Kutcher said he talked to many people he'd met through his investing who lived and worked alongside Jobs, and that he tried, as best he could, to capture the feel of what Steve Jobs' early Apple days were like. "You have to ride the arc of the entertainment of the film," said Kutcher, as Gad added that "we went to great lengths to capture of the essence of his journey." Finally, Kent asked the duo what they'd gained from exploring and playing these two real-life characters. Gad said he found a lot of interest in Woz' playful side, and remembered a story from Woz' biography that talked about him working hard and then being distracted by whales outside his window. "It can't all about about work," Gad said he learned. "You can't lose the passion in the work." Kutcher talked emotionally about the three things he'd learned from portraying Steve Jobs. Focus was one: Kutcher said that he'd heard Jobs say that "there's no virtue in saying no to things that are easy to say 'No' to," and that statement has resonated with him a lot in his own daily life. He said he also was inspired by Jobs's "compassion for the consumer." Jobs, Kutcher said, realized that rather than tempting or ripping off customers, "care is the thing that will produce the profit margins and the successful company." Lastly, Kutcher teared up a bit as he said that "Steve believed it was possible to do something impossible." He said that studying Jobs and his life told him that we didn't have to just "settle for what life gives you. Make life better," entreated Kutcher, channeling what he'd learned from Steve Jobs. Gad joked that his whale answer wasn't quite as brilliant in comparison to Kutcher's impassioned speech. But Kent got the last laugh: He asked Kutcher, as an investor, if he were confronted by a younger Steve Jobs, "barefoot and maybe not smelling so great," if he would have invested in Jobs' ideas. That question threw Kutcher for a loop, as he shrugged noncommittally, and the audience gave a knowing laugh. But Kutcher said that in his investing, he's always looking for ideas that solve problems, and that he hoped "I'd be wise enough" to support Jobs' vision back in the day. Follow all our Macworld | iWorld coverage here.
TUAW TV Live: Sande and Schramm talk CES, Macworld/iWorld
CES 2013 is a memory now, but for those in the Apple world we have a big event coming up in just two weeks -- Macworld/iWorld 2013 in San Francisco. The event is part conference, part expo, part three-ring circus, and it's also the place where TUAW readers can join up with the staff to talk about all things Apple. For those of you who won't be able to make it to San Francisco's Moscone Center West this year to join us, we'll have plenty of coverage. Today on the show, my guest and fellow TUAW blogger Mike Schramm will join me to talk about what he saw at CES and what we should expect at Macworld/iWorld. Below, you'll find a Ustream livestream viewer and a chat tool. The chat tool allows you to participate by asking questions or making comments. You'll be watching the show in glorious HD! Fans of IRC can pop into the chat on server chat1.ustream.tv, chat room #tuaw-tv. If you're driving somewhere and would like to watch TUAW TV Live while you're stuck in traffic, please don't -- keep your eyes on the road! However, if someone else is doing the driving, you can watch the show on your iPhone and join the chat by downloading the free Ustream App. It's a universal app and is wonderful on an iPad, both for viewing and participating in the chat. In addition, the live stream and chat will be available through our Facebook page. Just point your browser here to watch the show and chat with other viewers while you're on Facebook. We'll start at about 5 PM ET, so if you're seeing a prerecorded show, be sure to refresh your browser until you see the live stream. For those of you who are not able to join us for the live edition, you'll be able to view it later this evening on our TUAW Video YouTube channel and as part of the TUAW TV Live podcast viewable in iTunes or on any of your Apple devices.
TUAW TV Live: Victor Agreda live from CES 2013
Today we've got a bit of a surprise in store for you -- TUAW editor-in-chief Victor Agreda, Jr. is in Las Vegas this week covering CES, and he'll be joining us for part of the show to talk about what's new, exciting, and different for Apple fans. I'll also have a free Macworld/iWorld iFan pass valued at US$100 to give away to one viewer. You'll just need to be able to make it to San Francisco on your own dime; we're just providing the pass. Still, this is a great opportunity for someone to meet with the TUAW team at Macworld/iWorld, which will take place January 31 - February 2, 2013 at the Moscone Center West in San Francisco, CA. Below, you'll find a Ustream livestream viewer and a chat tool. The chat tool allows you to participate by asking questions or making comments. You'll be watching the show in glorious HD! Prefer using IRC? We're on IRC server chat1.ustream.tv, chat room #tuaw-tv. If you're driving somewhere and would like to watch TUAW TV Live while you're stuck in traffic, please don't -- keep your eyes on the road! However, if someone else is doing the driving, you can watch the show on your iPhone and join the chat by downloading the free Ustream App. It's a universal app and is wonderful on an iPad, both for viewing and participating in the chat. In addition, the live stream and chat will be available through our Facebook page. Just point your browser here to watch the show and chat with other viewers while you're on Facebook. We'll start at about 5 PM ET, so if you're seeing a prerecorded show, be sure to refresh your browser until you see the live stream. For those of you who are not able to join us for the live edition, you'll be able to view it later this evening on our TUAW Video YouTube channel and as part of the TUAW TV Live podcast viewable in iTunes or on any of your Apple devices.
Macworld | iWorld Asia event begins in Beijing
The second annual Macworld | iWorld Asia event has begun in Beijing this week. IDG has hosted the conference twice now to serve the growing number of Mac, iPhone, and iPad users in China. It sounds a lot like San Francisco's version of Macworld | iWorld, with dev conferences, a big keynote event, and an open exhibition floor, with exhibitors like LaCie, Macally, and Logitech showing their wares. One thing San Francisco doesn't have that Macworld | iWorld Asia does is a "Macworld Girl" beauty contest, which apparently is a common happening at conferences in China and that area. But other than that, the event sounds just about as popular as the one in San Francisco, with about the same stuff to see. Macworld | iWorld Asia, in case you're there or want to go over there (good luck with that), continues through August 5. [via TNW]
Western Digital MyBook Thunderbolt Duo eyes-on at Macworld 2012 (video)
Here at Macworld 2012, Western Digital demoed a preview of their essentially finished, yet not final, MyBook Thunderbolt Duo. Scheduled to ship in Q1 for an "aggressive price," the unit plays host to two 3.5-inch drives, which'll come stuffed from the factory in either 4TB (2x 2TB) or 6TB (2x 3TB) configurations. On the outside, you're looking at the MyBook aesthetic you either love or loathe, but around back you'll find all connectivity has been gutted, save for power and two Thunderbolt ports. The latter means that up to six can be daisy-chained off one interconnect, which when setup in RAID 0 equates to rather speedy transfers, like 700MB/sec reads and 500MB/sec writes in the four-unit demonstration configuration we toyed with. And it's future proof too, as there's a door up-top which enables plebes to swap drives should the need arise. We'll keep an ear out for pricing, but until that day arrives, peep them in the gallery below, or in video form after the break.
Pocket Informant planning public beta for cloud service
The team from Pocket Informant is at Macworld|iWorld this week to show off the app and announce a new cloud-based service that will share information across all of the company's mobile apps and new web interface. Pocket Informant is a GTD/calendar/tasks app that combines all sorts of functionality in one place, and during Macworld|iWorld, both it and the HD version are on sale for just US$9.99. The app is great (and we've spotlighted it here before), but the online service should make things much easier for many users. You can sign up on the website now for the public beta of the web app. WebIS, the company behind Pocket Informant, told us that it wanted to start the beta as soon as this week, but it's instead waiting to see what the response is like before launch. The web app will be a fairly open beta, and the company will widen it as time goes on. The iOS beta, on the other hand, is a little harder to roll out. WebIS will do a closed beta using Apple's Enterprise distribution, so the public won't have much chance to try that cloud service before it's ready to go. But once the code is all set, Pocket Informant users will get a free update that will sync their information across all devices. And while iOS is first, the app will eventually sync info to Android apps as well, so if you use multiple devices, this should really come in handy. Check back with us all week as our team at Macworld | iWorld is providing complete coverage of all the goodies on the expo floor.
Take a tour of the Macworld | iWorld 2012 show floor
Just as soon as the show floor opened at this year's Macworld | iWorld 2012 in San Francisco, we grabbed a camera and did a run through the exhibitions on display. You can see all of the various booths and their vendors and showcases in the gallery below (everything from Mac and iOS accessories to app developers and even content producers), as well as shots from the "Macworld Midway" displays and the registration area. Things are hopping on the first day of the conference. There are some big names missing from the show floor; Apple obviously isn't officially here, and some of the big vendors from previous years aren't around. But as you can see below, there are plenty of exhibitors here, both big and small. We'll have lots more coverage from Macworld | iWorld all this week, from most of the exhibitors in the gallery below and even more. Stay tuned! %Gallery-145729%
Talkcast tonight, 7pm PT/10pm ET: Education/Macworld edition!
We're in between big events for the Mac types, we just had the education event last week, and this coming week we have Macworld|iWorld, or as I like to call it, It's So Nice To Finally Meet You In Person World. We'll be chatting specifically about how Apple's latest foray into education will impact both teachers and students, and we have a couple of educators scheduled to appear. If you are an educator or can talk one into joining us this evening, please do! Same goes for those who are attending MacWorld|iWorld, we want to know what you are looking forward to and any tips you have for others. As always, Kelly hosting the show means there will be aftershow. Which could mean anything really, the aftershow has a tendency to wander. Since it's really all about you, the community, join me won't you? To participate, you can use the browser-only Talkshoe client, the embedded Facebook app, or download the classic TalkShoe Pro Java client; however, for +5 Interactivity, you should call in. For the web UI, just click the Talkshoe Web button on our profile page at 4 HI/7 PDT/10 pm EDT Sunday. To call in on regular phone or VoIP lines (Viva free weekend minutes!): dial (724) 444-7444 and enter our talkcast ID, 45077 -- during the call, you can request to talk by keying in *8. If you've got a headset or microphone handy on your Mac, you can connect via the free X-Lite or other SIP clients (aside from Skype or Google Voice), basic instructions are here. (If you prefer Blink, the pro version is available in the Mac App Store.) Talk to you tonight!
TUAW TV Live: Paul Kent interview, a few cool Mac apps
Welcome to another episode of TUAW TV Live! On today's show, I have a prerecorded interview with Paul Kent of IDG World Expo, the man behind next January's Macworld | iWorld: The Ultimate Fan Event. In the interview, Paul gives TUAW TV Live viewers the word on what is going to make Macworld | iWorld so different from all those many years of Macworld Expo. I'll also be demonstrating a few new Mac apps for viewers today. It seems like there has been a sudden surge in rollouts of innovative new Mac apps, so there are a few I wanted to demonstrate on TUAW TV Live today. Below, you'll find a Ustream livestream viewer and a chat tool. The chat tool allows you to participate by asking questions or making comments. If you're driving somewhere and would like to watch TUAW TV Live while you're stuck in traffic, please don't -- keep your eyes on the road! However, if someone else is doing the driving, you can watch the show on your iPhone and join the chat by downloading the free Ustream App. It's a universal app and is wonderful on an iPad, both for viewing and participating in the chat. We'll start at about 5 PM ET, so if you're seeing a prerecorded show, be sure to refresh your browser until you see the live stream. For those of you who are not able to join us for the live edition, you'll be able to view it later this evening on our TUAW Video YouTube channel and as part of the TUAW TV Live podcast viewable in iTunes or on any of your Apple devices.
TUAW TV Live at 5 PM ET: Macworld | iWorld 2012 preview, Mac apps
Please join me on TUAW TV Live this afternoon for a pre-recorded segment with Paul Kent, the man from IDG World Expo who is the mastermind behind Macworld | iWorld: The Ultimate iFan Event and also a guitarist/vocalist for the critically acclaimed Houserockers. Macworld | iWorld is the event formerly known as Macworld Expo, and it takes place January 26-28, 2012 at the Moscone West facility in San Francisco. As you'll find out during my conversation with Paul, the show is definitely not your Dad's Macworld Expo. The name change finally takes the proliferation of iPhone/iPod touch/iPad products into account, but that's not the only change you're going to see for the 2012 event. Of course, if you want to hear more about how Macworld | iWorld is going to rock your world, you'll need to watch TUAW TV Live this afternoon. As usual, I'll be starting the show at 5 PM EDT (2 PM PDT / 10 PM BST) sharp, and we'll take a few minutes to chat before the demos start. To join in on the chat and watch the live streaming video, drop by TUAW about five minutes before the start time to get your instructions on how to participate. If you're unable to join us for the show, remember that you can always subscribe to the video podcast and watch the show at your leisure in iTunes or any other favorite podcatching app. The past shows are also available on the TUAW YouTube channel. The chat is now available as well on IRC: join us on server chat1.ustream.tv, chat room #tuaw-tv.
Modest Mouse headlining Macworld | iWorld Opening Night BLAST
Last week, I interviewed IDG World Expo's Paul Kent about the upcoming Macworld | iWorld 2012. After discussing all of the exciting changes to this year's event (the video will be part of this Wednesday's TUAW TV Live), Paul said he had an announcement that he'd spring on us on Monday. That announcement was just sent out -- Macworld | iWorld starts off with a bang the night of January 25, 2012 with a concert headlined by Grammy-nominated indie rockers Modest Mouse. The concert, known officially as the Macworld | iWorld Opening Night BLAST, is at The Warfield, a 2300-seat venue on Market Street not far away from the home of the expo at Moscone West. Doors for the concert open at 7 PM, and tickets are available now as part of a US$110 (today only) package that also includes the $75 iFan pass for attending all events that are part of Macworld | iWorld. It's definitely not too early to start thinking about getting your iFan pass for Macworld | iWorld; the price with the concert jumps up to $135 tomorrow, and seats are limited.
Daily Update for October 25, 2011
It's the TUAW Daily Update, your source for Apple news in a convenient audio format. You'll get all the top Apple stories of the day in three to five minutes for a quick review of what's happening in the Apple world. You can listen to today's Apple stories by clicking the inline player (requires Flash) or the non-Flash link below. To subscribe to the podcast for daily listening through iTunes, click here. No Flash? Click here to listen.
Macworld Expo rebranding as Macworld | iWorld for 2012
In line with the ever-expanding impact of iOS devices and mobile technology on the userbase-formerly-known-as-the-Macintosh-market, the premiere tradeshow for all things Apple will have a new name in 2012. The 27-year-old Macworld Expo event will now be known as Macworld|iWorld: The Ultimate iFanEvent. The branding change acknowledges the reality that iOS is a huge and growing part of the Apple product ecosystem; registration for the January show/conference is open now. Paul Kent, IDG's maven for all things Macworld Expo -- sorry, Macworld|iWorld -- discussed the branding change with the expo's corporate cousins at Macworld magazine. "We want a heavy influence of OS X developers on the show floor this year," Kent said, but the show will be balancing the iOS impact as well as moving outward to re-emphasize the cultural connections to Apple products. Music will play a major role this year, with showcase performances at the Music Experience and expanded evening events outside the core Moscone venue. Film and other creative pursuits will take their turn on center stage as well. IDG is projecting about a 20% growth in total exhibitor count, which is a healthy step up from last year; the 2010 and 2011 shows represented a major downscaling from 2009, which was the last time Apple exhibited at the show. TUAW has been pleased to participate in Macworld Expo over the years, including our live video streaming interviews in 2010 and 2011. We don't know yet if we'll be back with a booth on the show floor for 2012 at MW|iW, but we'll certainly have some sort of presence -- and we look forward to seeing you there. [Any similarity to the name of Apple's short-lived online service, eWorld, is almost certainly unintentional.]
