MacWorld Memoires 2009

Originally posted on Thursday, January 8, 2009 at 9:23pm on Facebook

Tombstone Review of MacWorld 2009

A poignant low key year at what was once one of my favorite annual events, 2009 MacWorld is and will be forever famous as the maybe last of a bygone era. There is still a bit of life to it, but the m-fields of status quo have taken over, and the charm of old has become a brand. In the Apple pie chart of this year's MacWorld annual report, there are only a few slivers of innovation, a lot of crust and glaze, but a satisfying and well made topping which I will call "nostalgia creme."

To be more specific. My pick for the "only fresh thing at the show" is the Pulse Smartpen, which I found in the South Hall in the western corner. (www.livescribe.com, also at Amazon and Target). The pen comes with built-in mics, an LED screen, replaceable ink cartridges, a USB charger/input cradle, and a 3D surround sound mic+headphones. But that doesn't reveal how cool it is. The full experience requires the use of special paper notebooks that the pen uses to record what I am calling audio hot spots. While you write your notes, you also record audio memos, and clicking on the pen notes plays back the audio notes.

They have come up with all kinds of cool things to do with this mighty pen and word relationship. For instance, the obvious thing is to jot down a numbered list with short titles, and then record your more eloquent thoughts under the numbered topics. This would also work well in taking notes at a lecture. Getting fancier, the booth folk also demoed a handwriting reader/recognition feature that spoke the word and then even translated into spanish and arabic (or any language du jour.) So, you can have a traveling translator with you on international journeys. And then there is this really uncharted feature where you can draw some vertical lines and create midi music, for the brave and adventurous.

It is a must have for old fashioned journal writers like me who are still split between blogging online or on paper, although for $179 at the show (10% off) it still seemed too pricey for an impulse splurge. I put it on the "see if I dream about it" list and delayed making a purchase, but I must say I AM jonesing for it.

To continue my review of MACWORLD 2009, I would like to note what bits of the inevitable information future sprouted into this year's mainstream for perhaps the first time (though if there IS another MacWorld, I predict these will be the bulk of the show). The buzz this year was I-phone Apps. Apple's signage claims there are already 10,000 available, and Leo LaPorte (leoville.com) reported on TWIT that I-Fart is earning $30,000 a week from the $1.99 app. My own personal favorites are musical instrument apps from SMULE, with the Ocarina you play by blowing, and the HARP by Robert McNally. It is really psi-phi to play these instruments. PlanetHear (a cool TourGuide app) had a very hip San Francisco Tour Bus party parked outside Moscone, and although I didn't take the DJ tour around town at night, I heard good things from those who did.

There were a few folks doing new internet media, and I got in front of some video camera's for once... a couple of blogsters were doing a live feed over UStream from the DYMO booth, and Lynda.com was collecting testamonials from fans at the show. Video literacy for the web is definitely on the rise among the Macsters. I also spotted the stylish BlogJockey from TechCrunch in a green mini-skirt on the big stairs by the North Hall... great spotlighting, I must say.

So, what was my favorite moment at the show? Besides running into my old friends, the loyal diehards like myself for whom the annual show is one of the few times we get to see each other any more, there was an extra special occasion which I was totally not expecting. MacHEADS the Movie premiered in Room 134 on Wednesday night, and my little family of old MacHeads was prominently featured. I now feel I have achieved my 15 seconds of fame. Sure I am biased, but I totally recommend the movie. It is a touching trip down Mac Memory Lane. It's funny and it left me feeling proud to have been a nerd for the last few decades. Thanks Kobi & Ron Shely for making this documentary, and I hope everyone buys it when it comes out next month on I-tunes and DVD.

Thanks for the memories, Apple, IDG, Moscone, and all those faces in the cloud of my MacWorld memories. And if you go the way of Seinfeld, and retire early from your habit of making a show about nothing, let me tip my hat and say you will always be part of my personal time capsule. Live long and prosper, and thanks for bringing back the Flux Capacitor this year to your hallowed halls. Without all this, time travel would not be possible.

Warmly,
SUN

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Eternal Things Last, The Rest Becomes The Past