Apple Announces That This Will Be Their Last Year At Macworld

Apple has just announced that it will not longer be returning to Macworld. In addition to that, Steve Jobs will not be giving his annual keynote at Macworld 2009, instead it will be Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing.

Apple is reaching more people in more ways than ever before, so like many companies, trade shows have become a very minor part of how Apple reaches its customers. The increasing popularity of Apple’s Retail Stores, which more than 3.5 million people visit every week, and the Apple.com website enable Apple to directly reach more than a hundred million customers around the world in innovative new ways.

UPDATE 1: According to CNBC, Jobs is not doing the Macworld 2009 keynote because of politics, not his health. Regarding Apple not returning, they will be focusing on their own “special events” rather than being part of a larger conference.

UPDATE 2: Oh man, Apple is also canceling Christmas [via Violet Blue].

Apple today announced that this is the last year for Christmas. Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing, spoke at a joint press conference held with Santa Claus at the North Pole this morning. He announced: “Apple has been honored to work with the North Pole the last several years to make Christmas possible, however, we have decided together that this is the last year for Christmas.”

photo by Scott Beale