Macworld Expo 2012

The expo was quite a disappointment this year. After having gone for 4 years in a row, I’ve just realized it’s getting less and less exciting. Ever since Apple stopped using this as a venue to share their newest releases, it’s all gone downhill. There is definitely still good products out there for iphone/​ipad/​mac users, but the «hype» isn’t there. There isn’t as many raffles and there isn’t many giveaway as they used to. Even the vendors aren’t really offering much of a deal (usually it’s $ 10/​10%). luckily, I’ve never had to paid to go but if I had to pay, I wouldn’t do it; unless you’re a person who needs tons of accessories for your apple products.

I can’t do this anymore — it’s over.
WE HAD A GOOD THING
Every year, my dad and I used to go to this convention, and discuss the gaps between our generations. We would wait patiently for our MacExpo invitations, set a day, clear half a day, then spend months predicting the future of technology. What would the new reveal be this year: a radio that drives me to work? Walk my dog? Make me breakfast in bed? Refresh my Portuguese in my sleep? Do my laundry? How about just turn my lights on and off or auto-​charge my iphone?
MAGIC
Might sound wild, but if you owned an 8-​Track or Pocket Rocker in the 80’s, used a DOS Computer, or were forced to clean the pool with a fork, you would know how far Apple has brought us. It has inspired software that will even let you control your hot tubs and pools from your iphone or ipad. Not surprising because after the release of the first ipod — anything seemed possible. MY Love: I named him Jerome and dressed him in [playa] pink — he was very special to me. More than music, I hid a journal in him as an external drive. We traveled the world together — connecting people to our culture. Unlike my friend who left hers out for the roommie to wash with the dirty dishes, I kept J close — I was faithful til his death (RIP baby).
LEARNING
LOVE
I got over Jerome with a mini but I really fell in love with the whole Apple family during the Macbook Pro (MBP) reveal — OCD technology — hyper visual organization at its best: photos, music, video — next level baby. While we had an Apple and PC computer lab in high school, I wouldn’t have described Mac as «user friendly» — until this point. I chucked a chunk of my savings and went balls-​out during pre-​orders — fully loaded like a fool. I couldn’t imagine it would become faster, cheaper, lighter, better and unable to withstand a protein shake in it’s tiny little keys — vulnerable against accidents caused by clumsy olé me. Apple Protection– haha yeah right. I’d learn about «wrapping it up» the following year: sleeves — cases — custom keys and sleeves. All of these were revealed to me at the Macworld Expo — but that’s not why I went.
COMMITTED
My MBP and I stuck together, even though his left shift button and command keys were stuck (and unfix-​able). I took him to the Genius Bar where they gave him 3months before rusting to his death — recommending that I move on, but I just couldn’t. 3 years later he was still kicking and I wasn’t bitter, but I might of left him at LAS subconsciously on purpose. He found his way back to me; like a cougar, I’d already replaced him in Portland, OR — tax free. Not a problem because at the convention, I’d learned that we could all work together very happily.
MOVING FWD W/​APPLE
I can’t tell you what it felt like to hold that iPhone for the very first time — screw a Jones I was a f-​ing Jetson. You could only really feel this at this Bay Area convention — because it was coming but it hadn’t come yet– love me some anticipation. The price wasn’t right at the time, but I waited 6 months until I couldn’t take it anymore; after hopping a plane back to PDX, I picked up my new playmate [tax-​free is always the excuse]. I thought I would never be lost again [thanks to the find me feature], and I even wised up and bought some ugly plastic film and some eco friendly casing at this cutie’s suggestion. My new gadget didn’t come with a manual, so you could imagine how happy I was to remember all I’d learned during the MacWorld Expo demo.
NOW: APPLE HAS LEFT THE BUILDING
The Expo today is no longer special to me — it’s… anti-​climactic. Simply put: accessories, software, and more accessories. I’m the geek that gets off on big hardware and Apple no longer shows up which makes me slightly bitter. I think my favorite item was the SmartPen and the interactive teaching technology, but I wouldn’t skip work for these.
BOTTOM LINE
its not what it used to be, but if you want some fancy headphones, speakers, software, printers, games, ipad stands, cases and chargers — go. If you want a hit some new hot hardware you gotta hall your butt to Apple with the rest of the masses– Apple pulled out of this Expo last year and it will never be the same. My dad still enjoys going — bought some headphones — thought they were «neat.» I looked at some software but did not buy anything. I won’t go next year — moving on in 2013.

I know… I know… it’s been a long hiatus for a Walter P Unilocal Review. Now that I found more time to sit down and Unilocal,let’s kick things off with MacWorld 2012.
Two stars. Yes, I missed all the best years in the past when Steve Jobs was making his new product announcements. And now that I had some free time to attend, this year’s event wasn’t all that spectacular. The Exhibit Hall reminded me of an indoor flea market with tons of iPhone and iPad accessories. Most of these items are considered after market brands and you can always find better quality accessories online. As for the apps booths, there was nothing that caught my eye or grabbed my attention. I do have a few honorable mentions like the new Western Digital Thunderbolt Duo external hard drive (scheduled to be released later this year) and the Monster Beats Pro Series headphones ($ 249 show special price for the white ones). And for eye candy… a few hired hand models that stood out from the booths.
As for the seminars, I had the opportunity to attend one of the music studio presentations including the Future Frequency presented by Hank Shocklee (
) I really wished more music software companies would participate. I came here as music fan and found nothing significant to the music industry. This year’s poster made it appear there would be a great venue to meet music hobbyists, song writers, and artists. Instead, it busted… hence the two Unilocal stars.
I’m still having mixed feelings about the event. So I’ll keep this in mind when next year’s event is posted (scheduled now for January 31^st through February 2^nd, 2013). Oh… the new name of the event will now be called, «iWorld».
Notes:
Parking: Take BART or CalTrain. There’s no point in paying $ 30 for parking or wasting time looking for street parking at Moscone West .
Admission: $ 45 for Exhibit Hall; $ 125 for Exhibit Hall and Tech Talks (seminars). Since Apple is no longer at this event, I would ask around for free tickets online or wait until people leave and kindly ask for their pass.
Best Days to Go: Check the event calendar for 2013. I chose Friday because I want to avoid the crowds.
Free Stuff: Nothing inside the Exhibit Hall. However, 5 Hour Energy Drinks was passing out free bottles at the lobby. You didn’t have to pay to get in the front lobby.
Will You Return in 2013: No. Totally not worth it unless there’s an awesome seminar that you might want to attend.

I had a good time at the 2012 Macworld convention. it was much smaller than in past years. Half the booths were i-​pad and i-​phone accessories. There were a few jewel in the mix such as the i4software, selling for $ 7.99. It links devises to create a liked software that linked pc to mac computers. The plastic keyboard overlays with keyboard shortcuts were fun. There were multiple internet security systems, a few food apps but mostly devise stands, covers and speakers.
if you’re a fan of mac devises I would say visit the show. There are a plenty of avenues for free tickets and I say go for it. it would have been nice to see Apple’s attendance or even some sign of a memorial for Steve J. I would have enjoyed more creative software such as Adobe.
Most of the lectures didn’t interest me but I spoke to people who enjoyed the break-​outs.