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The Media Businesses Apple

Apple Nixes Live Webcast, Satellite Feed 392

Posted by CowboyNeal from the see-no-evil dept.
spamguy writes "MacInTouch reports that Steve Jobs' January 11th MacWorld Expo keynote address may not be broadcast live in any way. If you were hoping to watch Stevie present the rumoured sub-$500 Mac, the Motorola phone, the Flash iPod, and/or the office suite, you now have no choice but to buy your plane tickets to San Francisco ASAP."
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Apple Nixes Live Webcast, Satellite Feed More

Apple Nixes Live Webcast, Satellite Feed

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  • Apple: Always thinking (Score:5, Funny)

    by gonzo-wireless ( 847083 ) on Friday January 07, 2005 @07:27AM (#11286191) Homepage
    Now they can't screw it up like Gates did. Although, no one can see it, so it doesn't matter if they screw up or not...

  • why? (Score:5, Insightful)

    by fyonn ( 115426 ) <dave@fyonn.net> on Friday January 07, 2005 @07:27AM (#11286192) Homepage
    isnt it a good advert for apple when millions are tuning into live webcasts to see what's happening? it's not like it's doing them any harm is it? the news is out there.

    dave

    • Re:why? (Score:4, Funny)

      by LiquidCoooled ( 634315 ) on Friday January 07, 2005 @07:32AM (#11286209) Homepage Journal
      I can imagine Jobs seeing the Microsoft presentations this week and getting kinda nervous.
      After all, how can Apple expect to beat something like Microsoft.
      2 whole crashes in one day.
      No company could beat that record, so might as well not try.

    • Re:why? (Score:3, Informative)

      by martingunnarsson ( 590268 ) *
      Last time around they said it was just too expensive, the question is if that's true or not.
      • And flying 50 million people to SFO is not expensive? Oh, that's right, Apple wouldn't be paying for it. Let me rephrase: And failing to engage your 50 million interested consumers isn't expensive? Did Apple ever hear of SwarmStream, or BitTorrent?

        "...no choice but to [go] to San Francisco..."

        Thank you, but I would prefer a Turkish prison.
      • Last time around they said it was just too expensive, the question is if that's true or not.

        hmm.. does this apply just to the official webcasts, or can people in the audience continue to type in live feeds so that the rest of us can find out what's going on real time from our desks?

        dave

    • Re:why? (Score:5, Funny)

      by eclectro ( 227083 ) on Friday January 07, 2005 @08:44AM (#11286435)
      isnt it a good advert for apple when millions are tuning into live webcasts to see what's happening

      Probably what happened is in rehearsal the sub $500 mac prototype crumbled and all the parts fell out on the floor everywhere. Needless to say, this would not look good in a live presentation.

      You can only cut corners so far.

      Please don't sue me Apple.

    • This is the problem... (Score:4, Insightful)

      by artemis67 ( 93453 ) on Friday January 07, 2005 @11:51AM (#11287721)
      when your company is run by a charismatic visionary. When he's up, he's way up and he brings everyone with him. When he's pissed, he's way pissed and he lets even his customers feel the heat.

      That's why a lot of the older Mac users (myself included) cringed in '97 when Jobs took over full control of the company. Sure, he's got the marketing touch, but he can really be a brat at times. I mean, why did he kill the Newton division, which was a) way, way ahead of Palm and Microsoft, particularly in vertical markets, and b) out of the red and starting to make money? Could it be that he killed it because it was the brainchild and pet project of his former rival, John Sculley? Is there really any question?

      Obviously, it's not because Jobs is opposed to marketing non-Mac gadgets; the iPod is doing phenominally well. And we know that after Jobs killed Newton, he tried to buy out Palm, which was largely staffed by those former Newtonites that he axed. So, why did he give up a market leadership position and then scramble to get it back? He killed Newton out of spite. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

      Jobs is a great visionary, but he, himself, needs somebody to pull on his reigns every now and then and remind him that this isn't all about stroking his ego.

      • Re:This is the problem... (Score:4, Interesting)

        by soft_guy ( 534437 ) on Friday January 07, 2005 @04:28PM (#11290751)
        After the Newton was canceled, Apple held a conference call for Newton developers to explain their decision. I was on the call and I got to ask the first question. The argument at the time was that Apple needed to put all of its OS development resources behind the Mac (i.e. what would become OS X). Unlike the iPod, the Newton is a real platform. It required a very large R&D budget to sustain it. For example, they had to have people to document OS APIs and publish developer documentation and support developers and continually reinvest in both hardware and software technology. The fact that they slightly exceeded their burn rate in one quarter with the pent up demand for the Newton 2000 and eMate does not make up for the billions Apple spent developing the Newton.

        Also, when the Newton spin out was canceled, Palm and Microsoft raided the Newton group for employees. By the time that Jobs made the decision to kill the Newton, there was no one left at Apple who even knew where to find a copy of the source code for major pieces of the Newton OS.

        I loved the Newton, too. But, I can in retrospect understand Apple's decision. Could they have executed it better - absolutely. They might have been able to sell off Newton, Inc. without canceling the spin off.

  • Happened Before (Score:4, Insightful)

    by cyngus ( 753668 ) on Friday January 07, 2005 @07:32AM (#11286211)
    You know, there has been this concern in some previous years too and every year there has ended up being a live webcast. I suppose its possible, but I seriously doubt it. During almost every keynote, Jobs starts out with, "Welcome to MacWorld, we have XX thousand people attending, and another XXX thousand people watching this keynote throughout the world on the web."

    I certainly hope there is a webcast, otherwise what will I do at work for those two hours? Actually write code? Bahhh.

  • Well... (Score:5, Interesting)

    by JavaMoose ( 832619 ) on Friday January 07, 2005 @07:33AM (#11286214)
    Hopefully some of the more adept Apple users will figure out a way to stream this.

    I mean, shit, this is pratically begging for someone to use their Powerbook and iSight to do this.

  • Blog (Score:5, Insightful)

    by JohnGrahamCumming ( 684871 ) * <slashdot@jgc.oERDOSrg minus math_god> on Friday January 07, 2005 @07:33AM (#11286216) Homepage Journal
    Apple probably figured they didn't need to waste the money on the web cast because the audience will be filled with Apple fan boi bloggers uploading Jobs' comments in real time and streaming iSight video.

    John.
    • IIRC the wireless network in the keynote room is taken down for the duration of the keynote (at least it was on previous occasions).

      • Re:Blog (Score:2, Interesting)

        by Threni ( 635302 )
        > IIRC the wireless network in the keynote room is taken down for the duration of
        > the keynote (at least it was on previous occasions).

        How do they propose to prevent journalists/fans from simply using a digital camera to record it and them upload it shortly afterwards.

        My handy prediction - if a single thing goes wrong during his speech it'll be on the net the same day.

        • How do they propose to prevent journalists/fans from simply using a digital camera to record it and them upload it shortly afterwards.

          Maybe they borrowed the RIAA's night vision goggles.

          My handy prediction - if a single thing goes wrong during his speech it'll be on the net the same day.

          I doubt it has anything to do with Jobs being scared that something might go wrong. Not that nothing can go wrong or that it is even unlikely, but I don't see why that risk would be bigger this time than previous

      • Re:Blog (Score:2)

        by nbvb ( 32836 )
        http://www.verizonwireless.com/broadbandaccess/

        Even at 1xRTT speeds, that's still 'good enough' to get data out.

      • "IIRC the wireless network in the keynote room is taken down for the duration of the keynote (at least it was on previous occasions)."

        Uh, WHY? Doesn't Apple want that information out there at that point? It's not like it's secret anymore.
      • Comment removed based on user account deletion
  • Somebody is taking his ball in.

  • what's the big fricken deal? (Score:5, Insightful)

    by REBloomfield ( 550182 ) on Friday January 07, 2005 @07:41AM (#11286248)
    it's being posted as a file later on, you can watch it as many damn times as you like then. Is this really bl**dy news??

  • Buy Plane tickets??? (Score:4, Insightful)

    by garethwi ( 118563 ) on Friday January 07, 2005 @07:42AM (#11286251) Homepage
    you now have no choice but to buy your plane tickets to San Francisco ASAP

    Or wait until the stream is released the next day.
    • Or wait until the stream is released the next day.

      Not exactly a 'stream', now is it?

      I didn't read the article (this IS slashdot), but I suspect the feed will only be available in stores.

  • Are there any videos of this speech [whatpc.co.uk]?

  • What is the attraction? (Score:3)

    by Malc ( 1751 ) on Friday January 07, 2005 @07:45AM (#11286258)
    "If you were hoping to watch Stevie present [...], you now have no choice but to buy your plane tickets to San Francisco ASAP."

    Errr, why bother? I can think of many reasons to go to San Francisco as it's a great place, but this isn't one of them. Everything he announces will be on te internet in short measure anyway. What is the attraction?

    • Re:What is the attraction? (Score:4, Funny)

      by jamesmrankinjr ( 536093 ) on Friday January 07, 2005 @12:54PM (#11288485) Homepage

      What is the attraction?

      A Steve Jobs keynote is performance art. It's salesmanship taken to it's ultimate height. It's better rehearsed and staged than a Broadway musical. There's suspense, drama, comedy.

      If any actor on Broadway or Hollywood could perform this well, they would quit and immediately start doing what Steve does. Because there's more fame, praise, adulation, and money in it than whatever they're currently doing.

      Peace be with you,
      -jimbo

  • Motorola (Score:3, Informative)

    by vonFinkelstien ( 687265 ) on Friday January 07, 2005 @07:51AM (#11286276)
    Motorola has already debuted its new phone at CES.

  • Oh, come on... (Score:4, Insightful)

    by liangzai ( 837960 ) on Friday January 07, 2005 @07:51AM (#11286279) Homepage
    This is planted, just to get more attraction to the event. You don't know Mr. Jobs very well, do you?

    Rumors, law suits, cancellations, more rumors... it all adds up to an exciting climax.

  • Alternatively.. (Score:5, Informative)

    by Chicane-UK ( 455253 ) <chicane-uk@@@ntlworld...com> on Friday January 07, 2005 @07:52AM (#11286282) Homepage
    You can hang around on any of the Mac rumour sites, who usually have people at the shows connected via WiFi reporting on exactly whats going on - either via frequent updates to a webpage or on an IRC channel.

    Thats what i've done for the last few Mac shows where big announcements were expected :)

  • revenge (Score:2, Interesting)

    by geirtbr ( 847277 )
    this is apple's revenge over the apple fanatics, after fan sites snitched details about the new upcoming product releases

  • Get over it. (Score:3, Interesting)

    by trudyscousin ( 258684 ) on Friday January 07, 2005 @07:55AM (#11286297)
    I can only guess that the reason the keynote isn't being transmitted is because of the recent lawsuits that have been flying in both directions of late. Not so much a reason, but perhaps it's Mr. Jobs' pique instead?

    Regardless, anything important enough that's announced, I can find out at the end of the day on Macintouch. It's not that important.

    Besides that, to paraphrase H.L. Mencken (sort of), one goes to MacWorld for many of the reasons one goes to the zoo. Except that there's a much better zoo in San Diego; maybe I'll do that instead while MacWorld's going on.

  • To big an audience? (Score:5, Interesting)

    by CrackedButter ( 646746 ) on Friday January 07, 2005 @07:56AM (#11286299) Homepage Journal

    From all accounts, there is huge interest in this macworld, its being hyped up and they might fear that the webcast cannot handle any sort of predicted load. Instead they will just release it later after all the fanfare and the need to watch it dies away. Just as everyone says, it'll be out on the net anyway moments after the annoucement.
    In any case I'll stay off the mac websites until its out for streaming, I want to be equally disappointed like I was last year when GarageBand was demoed for something like 2 hours with some no name artist looking interested. :)

  • Apple Nixes Live Webcast, Satellite Feed (Score:4, Funny)

    by Anonymous Coward on Friday January 07, 2005 @07:59AM (#11286308)
    Oh fuck, the sky is falling.

  • ThinkSecret? (Score:2, Interesting)

    by fisheye1969 ( 842355 )
    I wonder if this is something to do with the ThinkSecret case? Maybe Steve is p!ssed off at everyone but those who can prove their "loyalty" by attending? Hmm, as much as I love my iBook, I think I'll just read the reports. Is Mr Jobs really that good a speaker? Am I missing on the reality distortion field here?

  • Why bother? (Score:2, Funny)

    by Laurentiu ( 830504 )
    If I want to see flawless hi-tech presentations, I watch Bill Gates.

    Oh wait [slashdot.org]... Damn!

  • Some jerk with a website will just post his speech (Score:4, Funny)

    by syntap ( 242090 ) on Friday January 07, 2005 @08:44AM (#11286436)
    the day before he makes it. Those rumor sites...
  • So you don't have to fly to SF, just wait an hour or two. No big difference from life broadcast, unless people get to ask questions over IM.

    It's more puzzling why they will not broadcast the keynote in Apple stores. Don't they want fans to come and buy some more stuff?
  • ...I've mostly given up trying to catch a stream. I just go to whichever Mac site can handle a million reloads and watch it unfold in text. Not as fun but I can actually get more work done with a browser windows open reloading every few minutes (thanks to practice with /. on the other 364 days of the year) than I can when I just sit and watch the keynote. That said, he's a good presenter, and I hope they post it after the fact. OTOH, they could have Steve Ballmer present for them, I don't care--just gimme m
  • Think Secret has let the cat out of the bag. Since Steve's the master of suspense, he probably wanted to use the 'one more thing' line. But now the whole world knows what to expect so he probably called the whole thing off (did they ever announce it on their QuickTime site?). The lawsuit against Think Secret is basically a confirmation of the low end Mac.

    He did it with ATI a couple of years ago when they had a press release slip out days in advance of MacWorld expo. Apple refused to sell the ATI cards they

  • "Article" is wrong (Score:5, Informative)

    by Alcimedes ( 398213 ) on Friday January 07, 2005 @10:03AM (#11286834)
    I was notified this morning that our University will be hosting a live satellite feed of this event, and our IT staff were all invited to attend.

    Not sure what the original piece was based on, but it wasn't fact.

    I should also note that the only other times our school has gotten a live satellite feed, they announced some pretty kick ass product.

  • This really pisses me off (Score:3, Interesting)

    by amichalo ( 132545 ) on Friday January 07, 2005 @10:09AM (#11286881)
    Obviously not everyone can be at MacWorld for teh Keynote(especailly now that Apple is only doing one a year on the West Coast).

    For a tech geek, watching Job's Keynote is a kin to watching some great sporting event live. Sure you can Tivo the Game and watch it later, but when you already read the score and heard about the surprise come back, watching it post-live is not the same.

    ATLEAST broadcast it in Apple stores - it is a freaking marketing event!!!
  • As reported yesterday [slashdot.org], Bill Gate's presentation of Windows Media Center didn't go so smoothly and included a Blue Screen of Death [infoworld.com].

    I bet Jobs is just scared the same will happen to him. Yeah Steve, you heard me. You are just CHICKEN! You know if Gate's and his 102% market share can't build a stable OS for his presentation, there is no way your piss-ant fruit company stands a chance. That's right Steve, better not stream your keynote.

    Or maybe Steve was planning to get naked [staticusers.net]

  • The keynote -will- be televised (Score:4, Informative)

    by beegle ( 9689 ) * on Friday January 07, 2005 @10:41AM (#11287108) Homepage
    I'll be attending a remote broadcast of the event, and our Apple sales rep. will be buying lunch (so it's not exactly unsanctioned).

    They -are- doing a live, remote broadcast. The only question is "how public will that broadcast be?"

    Maybe their bandwidth bills were too high after the last one, so they decided to record, encode, and blast to Akamai after the event.

  • Obvious response, and then a "maybe"... (Score:4, Insightful)

    by singularity ( 2031 ) * <nowalmart.gmail@com> on Friday January 07, 2005 @11:37AM (#11287588) Homepage Journal
    Everyone is writing in about how everything will be put up online as soon as it happens anyway by people doing transcription sitting in the audience.

    If Apple wanted to limit Internet coverage, though, for whatever reason, they could easily shut down the publicly-available WAP in the convention hall. Do not tell anyone about it and then turn it off at the start of the keynote speech.

    Sure, some people could get around that using cell phones, but the scramble would limit a lot of the "blow-by-blow" coverage on websites and IRC channels.
  • My guess is that this has to do with the fact Quicktime 7 will be coming out, and Steve wants to get it in as many people's hot little hands as fast as he can do so. Therefore, the keynote will require Quicktime 7 to play, and since nobody will have Quicktime 7 yet, it can't be broadcast live!

  • I think it makes sense....a twisted sense! (Score:3, Interesting)

    by rspress ( 623984 ) on Friday January 07, 2005 @12:56PM (#11288507) Homepage
    I have been saying for months now that Apple is going to fool everyone and announce that 10.4 tiger will ship at Macworld expo. I think they will announce that Tiger will ship by the end of January and they pre-orders start the day of the expo. If this does happen it will be one secret that Apple has kept under raps and that no one....besides me....expects.

    This maybe the reason for the blackout. Although the blackout does not make a whole lot of sense....There will be plenty of Mac news sites that broadcast up to the minute text based websites of the keynote events. So Apple will only be able to keep a lid on the keynote on the visual side of things. Even though I managed to snag some free tickets to the expo this year I don't think I will be able to attend because of my back injury. I have not been able to attend for 5 years now because of it.

  • The thing that bugs me the most (Score:3, Interesting)

    by IAmATuringMachine! ( 62994 ) on Friday January 07, 2005 @04:57PM (#11291040)
    The thing that bugs me the most is that the rumor sites like Think Secret have people who will report from within the convention center. Given that there will be no stream, the rumor sites will be the only game in town, and in fact, be rewarded for the mass inconvenience they caused for everyone else.

    I think that if Think Secret is ultimately responsible for this buy posting illegally obtained information (generally, there is a difference between protecting sources because of fear of physical retribution and protecting sources because they are obviously breaking the law), then TS should be punished. Like, advertisers should realize the kind of scum they are and pull their ads from the site. Sort of like how Bill Maher's show was cancelled at the peak of its ratings because the ads pulled out...

  • RDF: Highly Focused (Score:4, Insightful)

    by catdevnull ( 531283 ) on Friday January 07, 2005 @11:42PM (#11294247)
    Steve's magic isn't strong enough to support a reality distortion field big enough to go global on this one--must be a real hum-dinger --or-- he doesn't want the store slammed before it's updated.

    More likely, he's "punishing" the unruly rumor mongering masses for the leaked insider info. More hype. Love him. Hate him. He still wins.

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