“On the heels of announcing its plans to bail on Macworld Expo next year, Apple will be instead attending the more generic Consumer Electronics Show in 2010, according to sources familiar with the matter,” Prince McLean reports for AppleInsider.
“Sources close to the company have indicated to AppleInsider that the move is a done deal, a remarkable turn of events given that CES has long been dominated by Microsoft’s product announcements issued in keynotes delivered by Bill Gates and now by CEO Steve Ballmer,” McLean reports.
“Over the last few years, Apple’s announcements at Macworld Expo have overshadowed Microsoft’s at CES, as the Cupertino powerhouse released blockbuster products such as the iPhone and climbed to dominate the digital media future of online music, video, and now mobile software sales in iTunes,” McLean reports. “In contrast, Microsoft has announced a string of products that either never materialized, were grossly impractical, or have sold poorly and received bad reviews, from Spot watches to Mira terminals to Windows Vista to Windows Home Server to the Surface to Zune.”
“CES officials were said to have informed some exhibitors about the matter before the start of this year’s show, indicating that next year’s CES will have a section reserved for Mac-oriented exhibitors,” McLean reports.
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: It’s only natural that one of the leading CE innovators would want to have a major presence at a show where its products can be contrasted directly against what’s increasingly become a sea of knockoffs from imitators. A major Apple presence, to say nothing of a Steve Jobs keynote, would transform CES.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “James W.” for the heads up.]
CES 2010… the new Macworld.
So will Jobs displace Ballmer in giving the Keynote?
Apple vs. Microsoft – Jobs vs. Bulmer – head-to-sweaty head.
Bring. It. On.
“Spot watches”-isn’t that what high school girls go on when they think they are pregnant?
So will Jobs displace Ballmer in giving the Keynote?
How about the two of them on stage together making predictions on what the next great innovation will be?
You boneheads. There isn’t going to be a keynote from Apple at CES. They’re just giving their stuff some presences. There won’t be new product announcements–that’s why they got out of Macworld, so they wouldn’t have to be on an announcement timetable.
I think everyone here (perhaps not you) realizes that in FACT Steve Jobs won’t be really making the keynote, they are just having some fun.
good god.
I don’t see the big deal.
Macworld is a trade show. And I agree MW did limit their production introduction schedules.
But CES is different.
Yes, apple go to CES. Make a stand. But for gods sake start updating your products more often.
I have been waiting too long for an updated mac mini!!!!
I would like to see all apple products tweaked 2 or 3 times a year. You don’t need a big show to update products.
Megame, “I would like to see all apple products tweaked 2 or 3 times a year. You don’t need a big show to update products.”
That’s typical teeny-bopper thinking these days.
BWWAAHHAAAA I want, I want something new every day or I’m bored!!!
I have NEVER used the word ‘bored’ to to explain my feelings – EVER. Get a grip. And it’s God’s BTW. With a capital G.
Oh My god!! Steve and Steve giving a keynote together? Jobs will really look skinny then.
“Spot watches”- isn’t that what dogs do to ankles?
@Ron
Good God, that comment bored me.
The mini really does need a make-over, though. Macworld/CES or not.
Maybe Apple won’t use CES to intro new stuff like they did at MacWorld.
But Apple does have to make a Significant Preview, Announcement, or Intro of something this way Microsoft doesn’t take the spotlight. I don’t believe Apple will let Microsoft dominate the show as they’ve had for years. Apple doesn’t want to look like a minority.
CES will be much easier on Apple as they don’t really have to rush anything to intro. Heck, Microsoft steels the spot light there just to give heads up on Windows 7, have Ballmer say a thing or 2 about Zune & their Mobile Software.
I think Apple can do the same thing just to show off their next O.S., and a new or updated device. They would steel Microsoft spotlight with that only. Plus apple won’t have to invest large cash for their CES presentation & still have similar benefits like they’ve had at Macworld for displaying their stuff.
The CES keynote will likely stay with the MS designated speaker. Apple may be one of the Top Five companies there, but MS is part of the other four in that Top Five. Segregating the Apple-related gear would make it easier to find the items you want, but what will platform-independent companies do? Rent a second, minimal, space in the Apple Zone? “See our Apple-friendly HDs at Booth #195 vin the PC Zone”. “Get the latest cross-platform games from Blizzard at Booth #666 in the PC Zone”.
As for an “Apple keynote”, don’t you think that Apple can include their own press conference (no Jobs, maybe Phil) among their thread of “conferences”? They will need at least half a dozen meetings to highlight as many New, ImPROved products new-to or soon-to the market. An Intro by Phil would be of interest.
Thanks ron for the tip on how to spell your god.
Tell me ron, you don’t think tweaks to specs more than once a year is too often?
Wow, that sounds like a trade show trojan if I ever heard one. And I can bet it will be easy to find the “section reserved for Mac-oriented exhibitors.”…right under the “Any Microsoft employees found in this section will be sent to Getyourammo Bay”.
The carnage will be spectacular. I am sure Apple will have something small to announce.
Geez, ron, who cares whether non-existent entities are written capitalized or not.
Back to you Ron…
Go ahead- quote something from that bible thing.
Sorry, have to watch ‘football’, the one that’s played with the feet.
lets wait and see if this is confirmed….
It is clear that Apple feels it’s technological breadth and width can be fully addressed at a show like CES, and not have it’s stock battered after every Macworld by the inane herd of “disssappointed’ industry pundits.
It is also notable that Apple feels it has enough market share and potential to be a credible adversary to Microsoft.
Bring it on baby!
So now “it’s only natural” that Apple would want to schlepp their dog and pony show to CES? Just yesterday, everyone was confidently explaining that trade shows are dinosaurs and Apple is tired of the pressure to time product releases according to trade show schedules. Duh…
Disagree with MDN take. Apple doesn’t need any trade show to get the press to pay attention to their product announcements.
This rumour makes zero sense.
This is a sure sign that Apple will move deeper into the consumer electronics market in 2009 with exciting new products. Among other objects of desire, I predict big-screen Apple-branded HDTV iMacs, the iPhone video and Cinema Displays with iSight cameras built right into the screen. This will make iChat and the video phone the next ubiquitous, must-have mainstream technology and further differentiate Apple’s communications products from all others.