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Macworld 2009: My iPhone dilemma revisited

Jan. 7, 2009 Paul Thurrott | Paul Thurrott's Supersite for Windows

So, yesterday I posted about my hopes and dream for Apple's last Macworld keynote. Consider those dreams crushed. :)

That's OK. But I guess it's at least partially worth examining what did and did not happen, based on what I commented on before the show.

MobileMe/data sync/iPhone improvements

None of this was mentioned. My MobileMe subscription runs out on January 11, in just four days. But since I have Gmail Contacts and Google Calendar syncing over the air to the iPhone now, I guess that doesn't much matter. I think I'm going to bail. (And I've been using this service since Apple first announced .Mac, the MobileMe predecessor.)

iLife on the Web

Contrary to the rumors, Apple did not announce an iLife cloud computing service.

iWork on the Web

Here, the rumors were only partially right. Instead of a full-fledged Google Docs competitor, Apple announced a paid service that will only work for people who actually use iWork on the Mac. Interesting? No.

Apple home media center

Contrary to the rumors, Apple did not announce a home media server, nor did it announce any upgrades to the Apple TV.

Mac mini

Contrary to the rumors, Apple did not announce a long-overdue and long-awaited Mac mini update at the show.

17-inch Macbook with integrated battery

Here, finally, the rumormongers got it right: Apple did announce this product in the keynote.

Market share claims

Apple mentioned that it sold 9.7 million Macs during its last fiscal year. However, FY 2008, for Apple, does not mean calendar year 2008 (the company's fiscal year runs from October to September, so we'll still have to do some math when the final PC sales numbers come out for 2008). What this means is that Apple has not yet revealed how well the holiday sales period went. The company did mention, of course, that it grew at over twice the rate of the industry during that time period (37.7 percent vs. 15.2 percent). As I've explained time and time again, that doesn't help much when your market share is small. I expect Apple's market share in 2008 to be around 4 percent. Regardless, without Jobs on stage, the claims weren't as boastful as usual. Interesting.

Regarding the keynote in general, it was a snooze-a-thon. Apple just didn't have anything interesting to announce. I wrote more about this recently in a WinInfo news article, so I won't beat that to death here.

Discuss this Article 48

Waethorn
on Jan 7, 2009
So how the mighty have fallen. Again. *snicker* I can't wait for the next shareholders meeting. ;)
tayme
on Jan 7, 2009
So Paul, why no mention of this here - http://blogs.zdnet.com/microsoft/?p=1795 --tayme
robertsjoe
on Jan 7, 2009
@waethorn: "So how the mighty have fallen. Again." Fallen? You're like the tabloid equivalent of "IT commentators". Apple is still mighty. Microsoft is the new IBM, big and boring. Apple is cool. Microsoft has never and never will be cool. All is still the same.
robertsjoe
on Jan 7, 2009
So even after Microsoft tell you to cut out the Apple posts and concentrate more on what this blog is supposed to be about "Supersite for Windows" - you continue to flood with the Apple posts? Your masters will not be pleased. I can't wait for the boredom that is Ballmer and his equally boring keynote, jam packed with his Neanderthal antics. And wait for you to be as even-handed with the coverage as you were with Apple (then hell will freeze over). NOT!
johnbaxter
on Jan 7, 2009
I think you're right to dump MobileMe in your situation. The parts you might use do not work well on Windows anyhow. I did renew mine (just before year end) which also goes back to the original (which I signed up for mostly to snag my usual username--hint: same as my live.com username, which no one here knows). As to Mac Mini, I was disappointed--I wanted to see whether the new model would be suitable as a mostly-Windows machine which could also serve as a standby Mac in the event of problems with my iMac. But, in terms of Mac Mini, Apple TV, and hypothetical home server (which I don't think Apple should do), and Time Capsule: just how many of those should survive. They could well crunch together (there was a hint of that in the rumors of a two drive Mini with Firewire 800): if so that was NOT a topic for Macworld Expo, being both not ready and not Macintosh. Likewise, I thought from the beginning that expectations of iPhone announcements were silly, as it isn't iPhone time and that's not Macintosh. Another announcement for later. The 17in MacBook Pro looks attractive, but not to me. As of now, I believe I will wind up with zero laptops when my oldish Sony (running Vista, and soon Win 7 beta) and oldish original MacBook die. Neither shows immediate signs of death (although the Sony was low end and remains slow). My need for laptops is tiny. So with the Mini sometime in the future, I'm probably back to shopping HP and Dell for some sort of mid-range desktop machine, to use for much of my personal stuff (aside from financial, which will remain on Mac). Work will continue on Mac, as "driving" a fleet of Linux servers is easier there than on Windows, and that *is* my work.
johnbaxter
on Jan 7, 2009
Tayme, look on the winsupersite home page for the reference to the CES keynote live blog with Paul, et al. (Complete with the Friendfeed error message, still for me.) No real need for it here in the blog too.
Dipsh t Admin
on Jan 7, 2009
robertsjoe, you're a little late. I guess you had a lot of homework that your mother wanted you to finish before you could go out and play with your "friends". So care to comment on Greenpeace being upset about the environmental friendliness of the so-called "greenest" laptops? Or the fact that had said you would not post anymore?
tayme
on Jan 7, 2009
Thanks, johnbaxter. I always bypass the front page unless I am looking for one of Paul's reviews or guides. I hate the roadblock pages!!! --tayme
DRWAM
on Jan 7, 2009
Dump MobileMe. Try Saisuke Free from the app store. It does not use Exchange as Neuvosync, so you can use both while you're trying it. It has it's own icon, but the preferences are in "Settings". This years keynote = mortuary. It was just way beyond boring. I took down the outside XMAS decorations instead of continuing to watch, then got highlights from Engadget.
BrightrevCarl
on Jan 7, 2009
* I don't see any reason for you to keep MobileMe, since you are getting sync and web access to your stuff via other means. It seems like $100 down the drain. An interesting MobileMe note - as far as I know, buying a MobileMe sub is the only way to use an Exchange account AND separately sync your personal mail, contacts and calendar to the iPhone. Which is ridiculous. * The keynote was a snoozer, with nothing interesting being announced. They could LITERALLY have announced copy and paste for the iPhone and people would have loved it. It seems curious that they chose not do this even when they clearly have nothing else going. * I still say your market share numbers are skewed. You keep counting the worldwide computing market share numbers for a company that markets computers almost exclusively to the consumer market in the US. I've heard the arguments a hundred times and it still doesn't make any sense.
chuckb84
on Jan 7, 2009
Paul, "The company did mention, of course, that it grew at over twice the rate of the industry during that time period (37.7 percent vs. 15.2 percent). As I've explained time and time again, that doesn't help much when your market share is small." Oh, yah, growing twice as fast as the industry doesn't help. Doubling your revenue and profits is a bad thing. Every other company in the industry will kill for growth numbers like that, not just doubling marketshare (which Apple has done), but for the revenue and the profit growth. Ask Michael Dell how much he wishes his company had Apples numbers. Only on bizarro world---or Paul's blog----do we get asinine statements like this. I agree it was the dullest Keynote ever. But Apple is selling an innovative line of products as fast as they can push them out the door, while Dell struggles for relevance and other PC makers are going broke. And the repetition of the phrase "Contrary to the rumors" is the ultimate lame strawman setup. Contrary to the rumors, nothing Paul posts about Apple is sensible or objective.
Waethorn
on Jan 7, 2009
"Apple is still mighty." Yeah, they have a 17" 3Kg brick to throw around now. "I can't wait for the....equally boring keynote" So you concede that the MacWorld keynote was a joke. I accept your apology. "Apple is cool." If cool is not underwhelming expectations by not releasing anything new except a $3000(CDN) 17" brick that nobody wants, then that might be an accurate assessment. "Neanderthal antics" At least he doesn't look like a balding anorexic schoolgirl in a tacky black turtleneck that doesn't wax her upper lip. Steve Jobs = iSkeletor
robertsjoe
on Jan 7, 2009
@dipshitadmin: "So care to comment on Greenpeace being upset about the environmental friendliness of the so-called "greenest" laptops?" Environmental groups, like Greenpeace, are obnoxious to the extreme with their demands. Almost as bad as the worst of the bunch of these do-gooder groups, PETA. 99.9% of the time they should be ignored. Doing their stunts for publicity for their own personal agendas. In other words, annoying hippies.
robertsjoe
on Jan 7, 2009
Anyone see the news of Verizon choosing a second rate search engine? Amazing how people settle for second best. Like all the MS fanboys, I guess.
robertsjoe
on Jan 7, 2009
And still no coverage of Microsoft's deceitful "Vosta Ready" campaign that got them $1.5bn? Where the hell is the Microsoft coverage on the Supersite for Windows? Is this the Apple Blog?
truffoo0
on Jan 7, 2009
Sorry, I just couldn't resist ... @robertsjoe: "obnoxious to the extreme" "they should be ignored" "their own personal agendas" "In other words, annoying" Looked in a mirror lately? Even if you may (accidentally) make a valid point some time, it is impossible to take you seriously at any time because of your childish posts.
Waethorn
on Jan 7, 2009
"This years keynote = mortuary" I think you mean eulogy (or perhaps, "last rites"). The correct way to say that is that the hall was a mortuary because the audience was bored to death. "You keep counting the worldwide computing market share numbers for a company that markets computers almost exclusively to the consumer market in the US." http://store.apple.com/Catalog/US/Images/intlstoreroutingpage.html?cid=A... Seems to make sense to me. I guess people outside of the US just have more sense. ;)
Waethorn
on Jan 7, 2009
"Anyone see the news of Verizon choosing a second rate search engine?" Apple has an online version of Spotlight now?
robertsjoe
on Jan 7, 2009
@truffoo0: "Even if you may (accidentally) make a valid point some time, it is impossible to take you seriously at any time because of your childish posts." I am not wanting to be taken seriously. As I'm sure neither are the blog posts or the people commenting. Just look at the content.
robertsjoe
on Jan 7, 2009
@waethorn: " I guess people outside of the US just have more sense" First correct thing you've ever said. ;)
truffoo0
on Jan 7, 2009
@BrightrevCarl: "markets computers almost exclusively to the consumer market in the US." Got to disagree with this. I am in the southern hemisphere and Apple markets here in the consumer, education and business markets. In the past, it may have been primarily North America focused, but I don't think that is the case now.
robertsjoe
on Jan 7, 2009
@waethorn: ""Anyone see the news of Verizon choosing a second rate search engine?" Apple has an online version of Spotlight now?" No, something much worse. Windows Live Search.
Waethorn
on Jan 7, 2009
"First correct thing you've ever said." I'm glad you agree. Just look at those Mac figures outside of the US - that's what I meant.
truffoo0
on Jan 7, 2009
@robertsjoe: "I am not wanting to be taken seriously" The don't bother posting. All you are doing is wasting your own time and mine by making me trawl through all your rubbish posts and other's responses. You obviously take it seriously because you are taking your time to comment multiple times on almost every blog entry.
robertsjoe
on Jan 7, 2009
@truffoo0: "@robertsjoe: "I am not wanting to be taken seriously" The don't bother posting. All you are doing is wasting your own time and mine by making me trawl through all your rubbish posts and other's responses." Then why not ask Paul to stop posting and the other people commenting? Be fair about it. None of it is to be taken seriously. Just read for a bit and you'll see.
Waethorn
on Jan 7, 2009
"No, something much worse. Windows Live Search." You need to work on your inverse fractions there.
robertsjoe
on Jan 7, 2009
@waethorn; ""No, something much worse. Windows Live Search." You need to work on your inverse fractions there." You need to get yourself a sense of humour. I think that's much worse.
Waethorn
on Jan 7, 2009
"You need to get yourself a sense of humour. I think that's much worse." You need to get off of Uncie Stevie's lap before you suffer permanent brain damage.
robertsjoe
on Jan 7, 2009
@waethorn: Oh God! This could go on all day. Like me feeding bananas to a monkey at the zoo.
daveinla
on Jan 7, 2009
Is it me or I missed the part 2 of the iPhone dilemma right here ? It talks about everything but the iPhone.
tayme
on Jan 7, 2009
@robertsjoe - How do you get through your day at school with such a raging h@rdon to get back on Paul's site and try to hijack it? Paul's site is as relevant to Windows as Apple's advertising is to OS X. http://www.apple.com/getamac/ads/ You really are fun to poke...you respond just like I would have expected my daughter to...about 6 years ago. She graduated highschool last year. Thanks for keeping me entertained! --tayme
Waethorn
on Jan 7, 2009
"Like me feeding bananas to a monkey at the zoo." Say hello to your Mom while you're there.
Waethorn
on Jan 7, 2009
@robertsjoe: http://www.tgdaily.com/content/view/40894/128/
robertsjoe
on Jan 7, 2009
@tayme: "Paul's site is as relevant to Windows as Apple's advertising is to OS X." I'm glad you're finally seeing that this site is irrelevant when it comes to things Microsoft.
tayme
on Jan 7, 2009
I can't wait to get on Paul's live coverage tonight and watch robertsjoe make a complete fool of himself. Hopefully Mary Jo and Tom don't get mad and give him the boot. It will be classic...similar to mikegalos during the MacWorld keynote yesterday...only more childish! --tayme
robertsjoe
on Jan 7, 2009
Another reason to upgrade to Vista 2 (also known as Windows 6.1): http://stackoverflow.com/questions/418612/what-calculator-is-an-aid-to-y... Now with a programmer's mode?! Wow, copied from OS X too. Amazing stuff, Redmond. Keep up the dodgy work.
tayme
on Jan 7, 2009
@robertsjoe - You are a hoot...I see that you agree that Apple's advertising has nothing to do with their own product!!! Gawd...you kill me. Thanks, pal!!! --tayme
robertsjoe
on Jan 7, 2009
@tayme: You just agreed that this blog has nothing to do with Microsoft.
robertsjoe
on Jan 7, 2009
@tayme: Apple's advertising has to do with showing people that there is a much better alternative when it comes to operating systems, general software and hardware than what Microsoft and other vendors have to offer. Also to show people how Vista is a rip-off os OS X. How Vista is riddled with viruses, trojans and spyware. And even to show how Microsoft spends so much money to cover up a bad OS and a tarnished brand like Vista. And it's all true.
Lindy
on Jan 7, 2009
The going rumor now is that Apple wanted out of Macworld so they can have full control of their press events, which sounds just like Apple. What they showed at Macword was what they agreed to nothing more, from what I read. Also (and I did not know this until today) January 24th is the 25th anniversary of the Mac so the rumors now are that Apple is saving the new Mini and other Mac updates for that celebration totally controlled by them. Which sounds plausible.
mikegalos@msn.com
on Jan 7, 2009
"Also (and I did not know this until today) January 24th is the 25th anniversary of the Mac so the rumors now are that Apple is saving the new Mini and other Mac updates for that celebration totally controlled by them. Which sounds plausible." Maybe they'll introduce the Mac Tablet then, too. And the iPhone Nano, and the Mac mid-size tower, and give all their users a pony! A child's or MacFan's hope springs eternal...
simongoldring
on Jan 8, 2009
@robertsjoe "Vista is riddled with viruses, trojans and spyware" It's crazy that you can say things like that without smacking yourself in the face. I have used XP and Vista a lot (arguably too much :p) for years and years. I have never come across a virus, trojan or any spywhere when using Vista on our library's computer, nor on XP on my 2 year old laptop. I installed XP SP2 on boot camp on my parent's iMac a while ago in order to play games and surf the net. I installed AVG free about 2 weeks later "just in case". That's not exactly what I would call "riddled with viruses, trojans and spyware", but I suppose you'll just tell me that I should count my lucky stars it was a Mac. For god's sake, just grow up. Apple *is* cool. Likewise, Microsoft *is* cool, especially if you're interested in technology in the slightest - just look at http://www.microsoft.com/surface/index.html .
lotsamystuff
on Jan 8, 2009
""Also (and I did not know this until today) January 24th is the 25th anniversary of the Mac so the rumors now are that Apple is saving the new Mini and other Mac updates for that celebration totally controlled by them. Which sounds plausible."" No. Jobs doesn't look back, and neither does Apple. There may be a passing mention of the "anniversary", but nothing major on that date. "At least he doesn't look like a balding anorexic schoolgirl in a tacky black turtleneck that doesn't wax her upper lip." Wae, leave your Mom out of this discussion.
lotsamystuff
on Jan 8, 2009
"how Vista is riddled with viruses, trojans and spyware. " If you had said, "The Microsoft ecosystem" instead of "Vista", you might have said something that made sense.
DarrenRichie
on Jan 8, 2009
@robertsjoe "How Vista is riddled with viruses, trojans and spyware." Is it? That's funny because in the 18 months I have been using it I haven't had 1 of any of these things. What you need to do is grow up, go away and let people who have valid points to make and who are actually interested in the articles/blogs on here, enjoy them without seeing your trolling.
mikegalos@msn.com
on Jan 8, 2009
"Jobs doesn't look back, and neither does Apple" At least Apple claims not to look back in this current version of Apple history. I seem to recall a 20th Anniversary Mac in 1997 celebrating the 20 years since Apple decided that they'd "invented the personal computer"...
mikegalos@msn.com
on Jan 8, 2009
And speaking of iPhone, it looks like Palm is announcing their attempt to regain relevance with a new touch screen based device complete with slide out keyboard.
boyreinvented
on Jan 8, 2009
For someone who is all about Windows, you do spend a lot of time looking over the fence at the orchard.

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