Apple’s last Macworld Keynote
The last Macworld Keynote has come and gone, and will probably be remembered as on of the dullest: instead of the rumored Mac Mini and iPhone upgrades or new juicy details on the upcoming Mac OS 10.6 (codenamed “Snow Leopard”), Apple announced “but” a new MacBook Pro (a new 17” model sporting the new UniBody aluminum enclosure), upgrades to its software suites and (surprise!) DRM-free music on the iTunes Store.
Some commenters have argued that the lack of substantial new product announcements this soon after Christmas is due to the fact that hundreds of thousands of new iPod owners wouldn’t cope with the fact that their new player was suddenly “last year’s model”, as new gadgets are announced at the MacWorld Expo, which is traditionally held in January.
The last Macworld Keynote was given by Apple’s vice-president Phil Schiller, who replaced CEO Steve Jobs on stage. Rumors on Jobs’ failing health are increasingly affecting the company. As Josh Quittener put it, “It’s difficult to find a company of Apple’s caliber whose fortunes are so closely tied to the health of its CEO. Apple is Jobs and Jobs is Apple.”
A recent trend from Apple has been to present most new hardware during PR announcements, held in-house and under strict control, rather than at public Apple gatherings such as Macworld. We will probably have to wait for the next such event to see how Apple will react to Jobs’ rumored failing health and the continuos pressure to release new technological bliss.
