Macworld 2011 Focuses on Third-party Companies

31 Jan 2011 | News | Ria Absin-Viente on Google+

With the awareness that the popularity of the Apple devices like the iPhone and iPad, Macworld 2011 is no longer focused on the promotion of iDevices. Instead, this year’s expo was focused on developers that sell software for them.

The expo was expected to host 250 developers who were showing off their apps to attendees that were expected to be higher in number this year compared to last year’s 21,000 people.

According to Paul Kent, the general manager of Macworld 2011, they found out that the participants were pleased with Macworld, and they were expecting the same success that the expo got last year even without Apple’s participation.

While outside analysts were expecting Macworld 2011 to be less exciting because of Apple’s absence and announcement of new Apple gadget, Kent was optimistic that people would still attend it since they had created a new lure for the audience: audience could share pictures about the expo through Macworld 2011 Flickr group.

Ben Bajarin, director of Creative Strategies, a tech-consulting firm said the absence of the new Apple device (either second generation iPad 2 or iPhone 5) could bring negative impact to Macworld. Still he thought that it could also work the other way around. According to him, Macworld 2011 is already known for having many supporters and members.

Apple originally brings popularity to Macworld, giving iOS developers the chance to be in the spotlight.

Despite of the absence of the new iPad 2 or other Apple’s devices experts were expecting the showcase of cool products in the expo.

Technology Business Research analyst, Ezra Gottheil, said they were expecting to see a lot of iPad cases and keyboards in the expo.

Kent said, One of the interesting dynamics of the show is that you get to come and get a demonstration of the software product. In the Mac market, great programmers are rock stars.

Attendees also had the chance to witness app demonstrations of great devices like the iPad, and buy great accessories for their tablet.

Macworld 2011 started on January 26, but was open to the public on January 27, and ended on January 29 at the Moscone West convention center.