Macworld Expo keynote coverage recap (New PowerBooks, New Web Browser!)

MacCentral's coverage of Steve Jobs' keynote address from Macworld Expo has concluded. Please visit our home page for more news from the show. The coverage below is presented in reverse chronological order, with the oldest content at the bottom of the page.

Jobs says that 2003 is "the year of the notebook for Apple." Displayed video and TV ads showing off new PowerBooks.

12 inch PowerBook G4 will sell for $1799. "Most affordable PowerBook ever, and we will be shipping them in about two weeks." Can be built to order with a SuperDrive for $1999. (15 inch PowerBook remains in the matrix, by the way.)

"There is one more small thing:" A new 12 inch PowerBook. 1.2 inches thick. 4.6 pounds -- smaller than Duos. Full sized keyboard. Smaller than the iBook in every dimension. 1024 x 768 display. 867MHz G4 processor. Nvidia GeForce4 420 Go, 40GB. Slot Load Combo drive. Wireless and bluetooth. Airport Extreme ready (module costs $99). 5 hours of battery life -- "same as iBook even though it has a G4." Also bundled with QuickBooks.

Claims 4.5 hours of battery life using new battery technology, regardless of screen. Also bundling QuickBooks.

Airport Extreme Base Station: Support for up to 50 users. Support for wireless bridging -- buy another base station and you will automatically be bridged between them. USB printing support (USB port on the base station). Priced at $199.

Introduced "Airport Extreme:" 54Mbps 802.11g wireless networking. Said the other 54Mbps 802.11a standard is "doomed to failure" because of lack of compatibility with 802.11b hotspots. New card is built in to the 17 inch PowerBook. "Antennas where they belong," on the left and right edges of the screen. Said that the range is equal to the iBook.

Bluetooth is built-in. AirPort is built-in. "Most wirelessly capable notebook in the industry."

Specs: 1GHz G4 1MB L3 cache, SuperDrive, GeForce 440 Go Nvidia chipset, 64MB graphics memory, 60GB hard disk. First system to use "FireWire 800." Interface: USB, FireWire 400, FireWire 800 (can also use older FireWire devices on 800 port with adapter), Gigabit Ethernet, S-Video output, DVI output, security, power, modem, second USB port, PC card slot, audio in, headphones.

17 inch PowerBook G4. Uses the same display on the 17 inch iMac with thinner backlight. 1 inch thick. Thinnest PowerBook ever. 1440 x 900 display. Fiber optic backlighting system in keyboard. Ambient light sensors automatically detect low light conditions to light the keyboard. 6.8 lbs. First 17 inch notebook in the world, said Jobs. Made out of aircraft-grade aluminum alloy -- hard anodized, not painted.

"Put on your shoulder harness." Two years ago Apple introduced the PowerBook G4. (Showed the Jeff Goldblum-voiced PowerBook ad spot.) Calls it "the number one lust object ... and you know what? No one has caught up with it in two years." Apple believes notebooks will eventually overtake desktop sales all together. Apple expects 35 percent of unit sales to be laptops.

Keynote imports and exports PowerPoint format. It can also export to PDF and QuickTime. Open file format; XML based. Apple wants third parties to be able to support the technology. Runs on Mac OS X 10.2. To be sold for $99. Available today. (Keynote attendees get a free copy.)

Expansion and contraction of slides not dissimilar from iPhoto. Fully anti aliased text. Alignment guide. Supports full alpha-channel graphics. Rotational capabilities. Flash support. Compositing capabilities. Built-in tables and charts. Theme support -- 12 custom themes, create your own too. Built in transitions -- wipes, crosses, peels, pivots, drops, twirls. All effects are going through OpenGL and Quartz -- 3D mosaics, cubes, tile flips and more.

Keynote: "A presentation app for when your presentation really counts ... Keynote was built for me." Ostensibly, a replacement for PowerPoint and other similar applications. Jobs has used Keynote throughout 2002. "I can assure you it's a great app," after adding that he was "a low-paid beta tester."

Safari is based on standards. Based on an HTML rendering engine that is open source. Dramatically improved performance as work begun a work ago. "Some people have a problem with open source, we think it's great." Apple will post all the improvements to the engine today. Code base started with was KHTML -- "very popular in the Linux world." Runs on Jaguar. Beta release, free download. Today.

i-Bench Tests compared IE, Netscape, Chimera, on 800MHz G4. 53.7, 33.6, 21.8, 16.6 seconds to load pages respectively. JavaScript test and load and launch times are faster as well. Integrated Google in tool bar. "Minimal" interface. New way of looking at bookmarks -- bookmarks bar and bookmarks library. Library looks like iTunes and iPhoto catalogs. Bug button reports issues to Apple if you find Web sites that don't work for some reason.

"So, buckle up." Safari: A "turbo browser for OS X." First major new browser in five years, said Jobs. Why make one? Speed -- fastest browser on the Mac. Also "Most innovative." Google right on the toolbar. "Snapback" to top level of Web sites.

"Today we're bringing it all together:" The integrates suite of applications is called iLife. iLife is being made available on Saturday, January 25th. Bundled with all new Macs. Free download of iTunes still. Free download of iPhoto 2. Free download of iPhoto 3. iDVD 3's massive size requires it to be sold rather than downloaded, but all iLife apps will be sold on store shelves for $49.

iDVD: 680,000 copies distributed. iDVD 3 announced. Again, fully integrated with other iApps. 24 new "amazing" professionally built themes that you can add your own iTunes music to and much more. iDVD also builds automatic scene selection menus based on chapter indices in iMovie projects. Apple lowering price of DVD-Rs to $3. Jobs expects them to hit $1 a piece within 24 months. "We are so far ahead of anybody, it's not funny."

iMovie 3: Over 12 million copies of original. Integrated with iPhoto, iDVD and iTunes. Added Chapters features -- number one request. Added "Ken Burns effect" and precise audio editing, you can edit within clips. New user interface. Sound effects by Skywalker Sound. "Ken Burns effect" is pan and zoom on still images. New titles, transitions and effects. iDVD is integrated -- export no longer required.

iPhoto: 6 million copies, iPhoto 2 introduced. iTunes music library visible in iPhoto now. Retouch brush and one click enhance. Retouch brush preserves color and texture, one click enhance improves white balance and more. Archive to CD and DVD. iDVD button now causes iDVD to launch. Slides will automatically transfer over.

iTunes: 18 million copies distributed. iTunes 3 was first of new generation of integrated apps.

Digital hub: "Delivered" on digital hub strategy announced two years ago: iPhoto, iTunes, iDVD, iMovie. "No one else has delivered the solutions, and we have." Talks about integration between iApps, and need to rebuild apps for improved integration.

5,000 native Mac OS X apps today. Gives Apple the confidence to announce today that all new products starting today, including speed bumps, will no longer boot in 9. Classic will still work.

Final Cut Express demo given by Apple's Phil Schiller. The interface looks very similar to Final Cut Pro. It works the same way, too, according to Schiller. Over 200 effects and transitions included. Also includes color correction tools. Retails for $299. Available today.

Final Cut Pro is number one pro video app in the world as measured by units sold. Mentioned price as an issue. Solution: New product called Final Cut Express. "Lets you edit like a pro," similar to FCP but minus some pro features.

Dave Lebolt, Digidesign gave demonstration. "Everything you need to make your recordings." Can work with DSP plugins. Anything you need to finish an audio project. Used in television, broadcasting, film, music. Whole systems start at $495. Mentioned Apple's CoreAudio and CoreMIDI support as important. Demonstrated technology by remixing Smash Mouth music.

Microsoft is extending $199 deal on Office to April 7. Jobs also noted Intuit's release of QuickBooks 5.0 for Mac. Mentioned NASCAR Racing 2002 Season as "first force feedback app." Macromedia Director MX mentioned. Digidesign Pro Tools for OS X mentioned -- will ship this month.

Mac OS X: "Came of age" with Jaguar. Hit goal: 5 million active users of Mac OS X. 3.8 million added in 2002. "Confident" 9 - 10 million by 2003's end. "A few laggard apps ... we all know which one we're talking about."

iPod: "Walkman of the digital age." 14 months shipping. Apple has sold more than 600,000 iPods since launch, or 1 every minute since shipping. Number one MP3 player in US and Japan, 42 percent market share in Japan. Burton will introduce a snowboarding/skiing jacket with pouch and integrated controls on the sleeve. $499, Apple online store exclusive for this season. "Very limited edition." Also on display at Apple retail stores.

.Mac: Talked about features and capabilities of Apple's subscription-based online service. iCal, Homepage, virus protection, etc. Admits to "a bit of noise" about subscription model. 250,000 paying subscribers today, growing every month.

iCal and iSync: 1.1 million downloads of iCal since release. Has spawned third-party calendar download sites. iSync "really important strategic application" because it synchronizes calendar to PDAs, cell phones, etc. "You'll be hearing a lot more ... in the coming year."

X for Teachers: Calls them best advocates. 290,000 copies of Mac OS X have been sent out (for free) to teachers. The program has been extended to the end of March (originally to expire in December.

Apple Store Revenues: First 100 million dollar quarter. Last month quarter ended with $148 million in revenue from retail stores -- right on target. 50 percent of the computers are sold to Windows Switchers. 1.4 million visited Apple stores in December, or the equivalent to 20 Macworld Expos.

Apple Stores: 20 months ago was first opening, more than 50 across the country. 85 million people live within 15 miles of Apple store. Showed images Soho store in New York City. "One of the best buying experiences in the world." Also showed The Grove in LA -- most popular LA store.

Switcher campaign: Started last summer. Ellen Feiss gets a big yell from the crowd. Noted Switch site on Apple's site: 7.8 million unique visitors to the site since launch. 68 percent running Windows browser. Over 5 million Windows users checking out why they ought to switch. "One of the best ad campaigns we've ever run.

Largest MPEG-4 streaming event ever. Over 130 countries streaming live, including the Vatican.

"Boy are we gonna start the year at Macworld. We have two Macworlds worth of stuff for you today."

The show begins with Louis Armstrong's "What a Wonderful World." Steve Jobs enters with his customary black turtleneck and jeans.

You come in here and piss all over the thread about a machine you have ZERO experience with and know nothing about because you don't like the commercials?

I do not have to own and experience a horse and buggy to know it is a bad choice for my transportation needs.

I wish the airlines would embrace the power receptacles so we can just plug in our laptops (I even have an airplane adapter - but I don't usually fly first class).

On American Airline's big birds, the jacks are now in all of First and Business class, plus every 3rd or 4th row in coach. Go to their web site and they have graphics showing what seats are available.

I wonder how your seat mates will like it when that 17" Powerbook slops over into their chicken and pasta.

You are Mac fanatic that will insult anybody that does not agree with you – this is not a debate about a technology – this is crap. If you ever what to debate the reasons why the Mac has pretty much zero presence in the business world, let us know.

Who is "us"? You drafting an army?

How are you going to argue technology when you've not clue one what the technology does? When you've never used OS X? When you know nearly zero about Unix?

Step aside, dilettante, and let the real technologists go to work. I work for a company a hell of a lot bigger than the one you work for and have walked over the bodies of computerists of your ilk plenty of times on my way to the top of the heap.

That is all, Dilbert.

Where did you get the idea that anybody wants to hear you spew more insults? You are big on insults but deficient on supporting evidence for your silly points (and you lie with reckless abandon - hint: you know nothing about me so stop pretending like you do).

I never said what company I work for nor have I said how big it is – why do you make such a fool out of yourself is your silly attempts to insult me just because I don’t agree with your fanatic opinion of the Mac?

Please tell my why you entered into discussion on at least three different Mac threads, and engaged in no other activity beside insulting the users of a computer system you don't like?

What kind of adult enjoys the practice of malice?

I enjoy my "digital lifestyle" but make it a point to respect the sensibilities of "rednecks" no matter their level of accomplishment. Please extend the same courtesy.

"the real Technologists" "I have walked over the bodies of computerists" OH BROTHER!

Does anybody believe a computer professional with 27 years of experience that is somewhere around 46-52 years old would make sure a childish statement?

Please tell my why you entered into discussion on at least three different Mac threads, and engaged in no other activity beside insulting the users of a computer system you don't like?

Who are you claiming I insulted? While I have returned fire, I was never the one to hurl the first insults.

What kind of adult enjoys the practice of malice?

You might want to ask yourself that quesiton. You popped onto this thread not to add anything related to the thread but to attack me. OH THE IRONY!

I wonder how your seat mates will like it when that 17" Powerbook slops over into their chicken and pasta

LOL. Yeah, that seems a bit extreme. But my church recently hired a professional photographer to take the directory pictures and used a Mac laptop with a 17" display for viewing the pics. It sure looked slick.

Does anybody believe a computer professional with 27 years of experience that is somewhere around 46-52 years old would make sure a childish statement?

I have a difficult time believing you are so self-absorbed as to not notice how demeaning you've been since your first post. You've pissed in the well, and now have the audacity to b!tch about the taste of the coffee.

This coming from the person that just said:

What kind of adult enjoys the practice of malice?

Please take your malice elsewhere unless you are trying to look like a hypocrite

LOL. Yeah, that seems a bit extreme. But my church recently hired a professional photographer to take the directory pictures and used a Mac laptop with a 17" display for viewing the pics. It sure looked slick.

I hate to bring this point up (but all these Mac-Yorkies nipping at my heels has got me riled up). Didn’t I read the 17” Mac laptop is going to be released in February (meaning it is not out yet)?

Who are you claiming I insulted? While I have returned fire, I was never the one to hurl the first insults.

Try reviewing your posts. I have kept up witht the threads you posted on, and you should be ashamed not only of your attitude, but your myopia.

You popped onto this thread not to add anything related to the thread but to attack me.

As someone else already told you, just because you didn't "get it" doesn't mean it wasn't there. I popped on with the specific purpose of letting you know others are watching your petulant sneering, and see it as such.

Please take your malice elsewhere unless you are trying to look like a hypocrite

You need a refresher on the meaning of the word "malice." I made an "analogy" ...or can't you distinquish between the two?

Try reviewing your posts. I have kept up witht the threads you posted on, and you should be ashamed not only of your attitude, but your myopia.

You are full of it. The only person I have insulted is our little buddy glenn.

It was not somebody else, it was you. What is your point? You have nothing to add to the thread you just want to personally insult me? Do you consider that fun?

Maybe you should contemplate your own actions before you pass judgment on the actions of others. You have already made some very hypocritical statements, maybe you need to quite while you are ahead.

You need a refresher on the meaning of the word "malice." I made an "analogy" ...or can't you distinquish between the two?

There is no analogy in your statement! You people are amazing!

You are showing malice toward me - maybe I need to help you out:

Malice: ill will

I visit a number of businesses, large and small, and guess what? Many are using MACS. Doctors and dentists are big Mac users around town. Why is that, I asked? They like the simplicity and ease of use, and it's an easy computer to teach new employees to use They all use business software too and are impressed with the reliability and problem-free aspect of their MACs. As for financial use, my own accounting company is standardized on MACS too. Is this perhaps an anomaly?

The local Staples store sells only PCs and my buddy who works there said that PCs are rotting on the shelves. No one wants to buy Compacs and HPs in this city--they are losers even with their frequently lowered prices!

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[Read from the bottom up; each paragraph was posted in reverse order as Jobs spoke.]