Macworldeditors spend the retiring week comb the show floor at Macworld Expo , looking for word big and small . We ’ve already portion out our thought on Apple ’s proclamation , commented on offer from third - company developers , and report from the show floor in our Expo notes blog . Now we ’re quick to look back on a hectic exposition week , with some of the yearly craft show ’s more memorable second .
Hardware happening
cool announcement that get the least ink : With all the brouhaha over the iPhone and Apple TV , Apple ’s announcement of new , quicker AirPort Extreme wireless networking gear wheel did n’t get the attention it merit . And one feature in especial was slighted : AirPort Disk , which allows you to plug an outside hard driving force into the new AirPort computer hardware ’s USB interface and instantly apportion it with anyone on your connection.—DAN Glenn Miller
Your first Apple TV add - on : Apple ’s set - top box seat for present multimedia system cognitive content from your electronic computer to your TV wo n’t ship until February , but when it does , XtremeMac will be quick . The company’sXtremeHD cablesare astonishingly affordable ( $ 20 each ) , sell in Apple retail shop , and propose everything you ’ll need to get your Apple TV work in HD.—SCOTT SILVERMAN
Next it ’ll farm legs : Griffin Technology’sEvolve speaker systemis one of many speaker scheme for the iPod , but it feature a cunning design that let you break up up the two cube speakers and take them wherever you care . When they need to reload , just flump them back down on the substructure . The Evolve will lam $ 349 when it ’s released by and by this year.—DAN MOREN
good combining of over - done gadgets : iPod - accouterment makerMophieheld a competition where theyasked attendees , on the first day of the show , to submit idea for new iPod accessories ; by Thursday , the caller had already pick three and produced early prototypes . The best was Teresa Rivera’sMontage(1.2 MB PDF radio link ) , a “ digital - picture frame ” with a built - in iPod dock that lets you apply any photo - equal to iPod as the chassis ’s origin of images . you’re able to also watch videos on the Montage ’s screen , hear to medicine via its speakers , and use its alarm clock to waken up in the morning . Although the world does n’t really need another digital - picture frame or another iPod dock , the practical mating of the two results in cunning offspring.—DAN FRAKES
Disappearing actsAs Macworld Lab Director , I focus on Mac hardware and peripherals . So my Expo week tend to be a blur of meeting with every exhibitor who makes scanners , presentation , storage devices , and whatever other hardware you’re able to name — a pretty time - consuming goal . This year , however , with Expo vets like WiebeTech , ATI , Kano Technologies , Granite Digital and Seagate all deciding to pass on the show , I was able-bodied to walk ( and not run ) through Moscone between coming together .
After the show , I called up a twosome of the missing companies and call for why they decided to waive a booth at Expo this year . The pair I talked to matte up that the focus of the show has , over the line of the last brace of yr , twist by from work out and toward consumer entertainment gimmick — and it ’s difficult to argue with that judgement . Apple announced no new Macs at the show and dropped the news “ data processor ” from the companionship name , and as I walked the floor , it did seem that intimately every other booth was pitching either iPod - touch gear or laptop bags . Even some of the companies in my beat that did exhibit at the show , likeProsoft Engineering , FastMac , andSonnet Technologies , were showcasing unexampled production geared toward the white earbud - wear crowd .
Of naturally there were some new ship’s company at the show , and it was dandy to see both the North and South halls open again , but if this shift of focus from computer flake to iPod freaks carry on , I might need to figure out a way to benchmark iPods or happen another trade show to attend.—JAMES John Galbraith
Best non - Mac Mac : Although Apple did n’t introduce any unexampled computer hardware , therewasone new Mac on the show level : the ModBook . OWCandAxiotronteamed up to exchange a MacBook into a true tablet Mac . They withdraw the keyboard , establish a new screen back by a analog-digital converter display board to recognize stylus presses , flipped that concealment around ( include mounting the iSight camera at a useable angle ) so it ’s facing up , and discover a spot for the needed stylus . Using a standard reading of OS X and its includedInkwellhandwriting realization software system , the ModBook is an impressive part of engineering science . While it wo n’t be mistaken for a factory project , the image was very well built , and seemed upstanding and very functional during my special time with it . If I had a need for a pad computer , I ’d in spades choose a ModBook over hale myself to learn to use some version of Windows Mobile on a PC tablet.—ROB GRIFFITHS
produce production suspense : Give credit to Steve Jobs , who must have known what he was doing when Apple had only two iPhones on display on the show floor . Between the small identification number of machine , the looking glass podiums holding them , and the guards unforced to grab anyone getting within inches of those cages , spectator pump felt like they were in the middle of an Indiana Jones moving-picture show staring at the treasure protected by boob - traps.—DERIK DELONG
software system sighting
Put others to work : The $ 45 MemoryMiner byGroupSmartslets you fill in the story around your photos by affiliate people , topographic point , and background info with individual snapshots . But what about those photos that you do n’t make love the history of ? The new Web Annotation Service let you transmit those picture to friend and family unit with the request for more information . Recipients get an e - mail with a data link to a unassailable Web page containing notation pecker . When they ’re done , MemoryMiner downloads those annotations and revise your pic collection . The Web Annotation service is presently available as a free beta.—KELLY TURNER
Most impressive slideshow template : Pulp Motion , Aquafadas ’ $ 25 multimedia pecker , let you drop photos and movies into originative , and in some case downright gorgeous templates . Some templates even have you use your iSight to record an even news distribute about your photos and videos.—KT
Best cause to rewrite the copy on those ‘ Get a Mac ’ ads : One affair that drives me up a tree about Apple ’s current goggle box ads — besides the fact that the Mac look like an unkempt sloven — is when the actor diddle the Mac read that the PC may be good at handling byplay chore , but the Mac is better at “ living ” stuff — suggest that serious job apps on the Mac are in short provision .
Just a quick promenade from one remainder of the Moscone Center ’s South Hall to the other would reveal that financial statement to be a bunch of baloney . set forth east and heading due west , you ’d first happen onXsilva Systems , on deal to show off its forthcoming LightSpeed 2 detail - of - sale software package . Just a few aisles away , you ’d see theE.E.S. companionship booth , where the next version of the POS / OE 4 business operation software was available for preview . After contain by the FileMaker Pavilion to count at the FileMaker - base point - of - sales event offerings fromPayGoandKi Business Systems , you ’d finally come to the Ensign Systems booth for a look atPOS - IM .
No , I ’m not deluded enough to think that compass point - of - cut-rate sale software should be the centerpiece of Apple ’s next 30 - arcsecond spot . But the next time Justin Long tries to sell the business concern side of the Mac short , I hope someone say him to englut it in his hoodie.—PHILIP MICHAELS
Damnit , Jim , I ’m a doctoranda software maker : While I ’m tallying up the issue of business - friendly exhibitors at Expo , I should mention that I counted at least three developers who make recitation - management app propose at aesculapian professionals — MacPractice , AltaPoint , and Dr. Ron Smith ’s FileMaker - basedPaperCut Pro.—PM
Art for art ’s sake : I could n’t barricade going back to theAmbient Designbooth to ascertain artist make stunningly life - like oil house painting withArtRage 2 . Some very complicated painting app are geared toward okay artists , but none of them have ever attract to me . ArtRage ’s gorgeous interface definitely enamour my middle .
To say I ’m a casual artist would give me too much credit , but I do like to occasionallyget my paint on . ( Some of my good work come up out of a fecund period when I was introduced toMacPaint . ) If , like me , you miss the playfulness of pushing color around on a canvas , hold back out ArtRage . It sells for the unexplainably low toll of $ 20 . If you ’re a starving artist , Ambient Design offers a free , strip - down version.—ERIC SUESZ
Something to calculate frontwards to at future exposition : The folks atOmni Groupwere interfering enough at this show , demo their brand newOmniPlan labor management software . But that did n’t diminish the excitement over Omni Group’snextproject , a productiveness app the troupe has dubbedOmniFocus . It will be base onKinkless GTD , a liberal solidification of AppleScripts that work on with OmniOutliner Pro to implementDavid Allen ’s get Things Done task - management organization . How much sake is there in this course of study ? So much that Omni Group hostedan informal presentation on OmniFocusat the San Francisco Apple Store on the Monday of Expo week . Not bad for a product that ’s still on the drawing board.—PM
Two tickets to dreamland : Stressed - out Mac users unremarkably must turn to Expo ’s on - site masseuses and masseur to unwind . But this twelvemonth , two booths promised relaxation for those not satisfied with old - fashioned recordings ofsurfandsongbirds at sunrise .
Released at the show , Flying Chao’s$100 Headspace Explorer and $ 50 Headspace Explorer PE ( personal variation ) produce impost recording for your iPod that usebinaural round , which some think trigger off different part of the mind . take from session gear to aid you relax , learn , focus , mediate , energize , and more . The full edition lets you completely customize sessions , while the personal version is more geared toward presets . Download free sample recordingshere
Brainwave ’s $ 50Pzizz 2.1lets you create recording geared to help you sleep or get energise . Scale the transcription to the amount of clip you have , adapt the volume of the voice that guide you and the euphony that go with it . Then export as many recordings as you care based on these preferences — each will be slightly different to assure your subconscious does n’t “ get blase . ” Pzizz uses a binaural cadence as well asNeuro Linguistic Programming techniques . find out two short model sessionshere.—SCHOLLE SAWYER MCFARLAND
The other virtualizer : Parallelsis still capturing most of the virtualization spotlight , butVMware’spresence with both a booth and detached standard candle containing its in vogue genus Beta of optical fusion sent a clear content that there is competition in this more and more challenging area.—DD
The way to a geek ’s centre : Kudos toCircus Poniesfor tapping into the senses of smell and taste with some smart popped popcorn . Once passersby lay off to scarf down the free Zea mays everta , Circus Ponies could entice them with a demonstration of its NoteBook 2.1 outlining and organizational software.—DD
The rest of the show
Best John Rock star mo : At the at the same time jubilant and deplorable industry testimonial to the tardy Bruce Fraser , held last Wednesday , host Graham Nash made certain that affair did n’t get too bathetic by telling one speaker early on on “ not to go all Crosby on me . ” Bruce would have prize it.—RICK LEPAGE
King of profanityKevin Smithhas create a vast sports fan floor with plastic film such asClerks , Mall Rats , andChasing Amy . Most people know what they were get into when they entered the auditorium to see him speak about filmmaking . The older gentleman that get up and left after Smith allow promiscuous his hundredth four - letter parole clearly did not . For those able to withstand the onslaught , Smith ’s insights were a existent treat.—DD
Most disquiet schwag : One exhibitor — I think it wasSpeck Products , although I ’m not positive — was giving away large , orange clitoris with a ring of wink , scroll visible light running around the out edge . Effective advertising , but as someone who give a good number of talk and demonstration over the form of the week , I often found myself hypnotized by a release worn by a penis of my audience , losing racecourse of what it was I was hypothesise to be talk about and … I ’m dingy . Where was I?—DF
dumbfound schwag , part one : When I visitedRicoh ’s booth , an exhibitioner handed me a miniature rectangular plastic accessary displaying the company ’s logotype . “ If you’re able to guess what it is , you ’ll get a 2nd one , ” she said . Sadly , I could n’t figure out what it was — a cell earpiece dry cleaner . I felt like I had fallen down on the job for a moment , until I remembered that Ricoh ’s chief Mac offerings involve office equipment and cameras , not cubicle phones . ( Maybe Ricoh ’s excited about the iPhone , too . ) The shower handed me a second knickknackery anyway.—BRIAN CHEN
Perplexing schwag , part two : Weird handouts continued when I dropped by to seeCodeWeavers . They gave me a pocket-sized charge card cylinder with the company ’s name on the side — it was a wine plug , the exhibitor told me , which , on the control surface , would have very small to do with software system that lets you guide Windows programs on Intel - based Macs . On the surface , anyway — CodeWeavers ’ CrossOver Mac oblation is based onWine , an open - beginning implementation of the Windows API . Wine … wine-colored stopper … get it?—BC
Speaking of CodeWeavers … : We ’d be remiss if we did n’t talk a little for Mac 6.0 , which have you run Windows apps on your Intel Mac without cause to set up Windows . Think of all the hard driving force space you ’ll save by skipping out on a plaguy Windows divider or practical machine . There are dozens of apps support , though not all consort completely bug - free . crosswalk cost just $ 60 , and you do n’t have to vanquish out for a Windows license either.—DMO
Most effective promotional stunt : Maxtor ’s displays scattered around both halls pull a lot of attention . How often do you see gigantic spate of candela fount ( except for in a college student residence room of course ) or a immense pitcher of picture ? lay that storage blank space into terms of an factual use of goods and services that passersby can touch really sells it.—DD
Most uneffective promotional stunt : I have already of spoken of my baby - like delectation at run into a marching dance orchestra playing outdoors of Moscone Center on my agency onto the show floor one morning . I figured that the fine melodious stylings of the Australian Southern Stars were a glad convergence of events — that the band bump to be in town at the same time as Expo so why not regale the crowd with a few jaunty tunes .
As is so often the case , I am on the face of it misinformed . In itsTechnology Chronicles blog , theSan Francisco Chroniclereports that the march dance band was there at the behest of some shower . “ We asked what they were promoting , ” the Chronicle write , “ but unluckily we have since forgotten the name of the troupe , except that it has to do with iPod font . ” If truthful — and the absence of any promotional material hem in the band seems to advise that it might be — that would be the very definition of a wasted P.R. effort .
The runner - up for this dubious differentiation : the poor psyche who dressed up asa cactus / cucumber / okra / indeterminate green objectand frolicked outside the convention core . If Mean Green was on mitt to promote some gadget or fallal , then a sign might have help make things more clear . And if not … well , I choose not to reflect the implications of people dress up as flora randomly showing up at events.—PM
Much more than a mobile home:$2,000 a day gets youConfidence Bay’sMobile High - Definition Edit Suite , an RV complete with two Final Cut Pro - based edit place . Confidence Bay park its RV in the North Hall — also home to the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus , which look like its braggy vehicular crony .
Confidence Bay ’s HD redaction semi on wheels includes 300 foot of berth blank , an on - board 5.5 kilowatt author , individual lav , line conditioning , heat , and custom wooden decor and leather seats — portable opulence for producers and managing director looking for the best way to edit or review content during remote position shoots . Be nice to the technical school and you might see some beer in the fridge , too.—PETER COHEN
Surest house that attending was up : exposition organizers have n’t announced attending human body , but I ’m willing to wager that more the great unwashed tromped people through the Moscone Center than in late geezerhood . surely , the floor were crowded and the exhibitioner I talked to were intimately unanimous in shout this one of the best expo they could remember , but I found the more tell indicator to be the routine of people attending the Users Conference . Even though the monetary value of a Users Conference pass was either $ 215 or $ 315 , depending on when you registered — in other words , not the sort of price that draw in the casual attendant — there were so many group discussion attendees that many speakers , myself include , had to give their talkstwice.—DF
Worst timing : We exit about selecting victor for the Best of Show awards fairly differently this yr . or else of waiting until the show begin to skitter about the show story looking for noteworthy mathematical product , we call for exhibitioner to submit their offerings early , mail several reminder . We received many , many entries , and while we ’ll keep to improve the process , we were somewhat pleased with how things went .
We foretell the winner Wednesday good afternoon , and that dark , I hit the hay to my hotel room for a drawn-out evening of writing newsworthiness Jockey shorts and blog entry , when the following e - ring armour from a P.R. professional person arrived , several hours after the last Best of Show accolade had been dispense .
Do n’t think of it as too recently ; think of it as getting a drumhead start on 2008.—PM
