I finally got around to posting the video I took while I was in line for the Macworld 2008 keynote in San Francisco.
Just when I thought the experience of Macworld 2008 was well behind me, I get a package from IDG in the mail. Inside were complete DVDs of almost every conference, even more that what is available online. I guess it’s just another one of the perks of winning a platinum pass, and one that I will enjoy looking through for the next few days.
For the first time ever, Apple is releasing streaming video of the Macworld 2008 Keynote Address in HD.
Watch the keynote in either HD or standard resolution from Apple’s website, or download it for free in iTunes.
Let look back at a couple posts that were made before the Macworld 2008 Keynote. There were my official keynote predictions, followed by Mr. Chovanes’ official predictions. For those of you who are unaware, we made a bet that the less accurate person would have to buy a sandwich for the winner. I’ve gone through the predictions and determined the winner in the fairest possible way, with a point distribution system. Let’s go ahead and look at my predictions first…
FINAL TALLY: +1 Points
So, how did Mr. Chovanes do? Let’s take a look…
FINAL TALLY: -2 Points
Looks like I’ll be enjoying a sandwich.
Here are some of the references to my keynote predictions that I found on the web:
On http://twitter.com/siracusa/statuses/566989552…
Thanks to Leopard and Time Machine, I can watch the MWSF keynote right now! (Good job, Neil)
On http://chucker.mystfans.com/2008/01/06/its-almost-like-the-real-keynote.entry…
It’s almost like the real keynote. Not sure which is more fascinating: that people go through this much trouble to fake a keynote in such meticulous detail, or that Neil actually came up with a result that is reasonably believable.
It’s almost like the real keynote.
Not sure which is more fascinating: that people go through this much trouble to fake a keynote in such meticulous detail, or that Neil actually came up with a result that is reasonably believable.
On http://www.martingordon.org/blog/2008/01/05/leopard-time-machine-mwsf-08-keynote/…
Leopard + Time Machine = MWSF 08 Keynote Neil Pomerleau does a great job of predicting the MWSF 08 keynote that takes place a week from this Tuesday. Instead of a bulleted list of predictions, he wrote what Steve will say and how he’ll probably say it, complete with photos from the event. His predictions are pretty sound, and while I’m not entirely convinced we’ll see a subnotebook or tablet, the level and credibility of the rumor is at about the same as iPhone rumors were last year the weeks prior to the keynote.
Leopard + Time Machine = MWSF 08 Keynote
Neil Pomerleau does a great job of predicting the MWSF 08 keynote that takes place a week from this Tuesday. Instead of a bulleted list of predictions, he wrote what Steve will say and how he’ll probably say it, complete with photos from the event. His predictions are pretty sound, and while I’m not entirely convinced we’ll see a subnotebook or tablet, the level and credibility of the rumor is at about the same as iPhone rumors were last year the weeks prior to the keynote.
On http://www.austinheller.com/links/…
Keynote Predictions From Neil Pomerleau Pretty good predictions. The doctored keynote screenshots are well done, too.
Keynote Predictions From Neil Pomerleau
Pretty good predictions. The doctored keynote screenshots are well done, too.
I also got some presence on the web by being in the keynote line. I’ve spotted myself on the galleries of two major Apple websites, Mac Rumors and TUAW.
On Mac Rumors, there was a post explaining that the keynote was about to start, and there were three pictures. In the middle picture of the keynote line, I can be seen with my friends Edwin and Ryan. Ryan, who let me borrow his wireless 3G card, is in the cowboy hay. Click here to see the original picture on Mac Rumors, and the version below shows where we are…
On TUAW, you could see me in one of their galleries, although I wasn’t facing the camera. Click here to see the original picture on TUAW, and the version below shows me. I’m the one wearing the orange backpack…
Now that Macworld is over, it’s time for me to see how I did with the Celebrity Checklist I mentioned earlier. Let’s go over the list of celebrities I saw/met:
I even took the time to check off the original checklist.
I had been curious about how visitor statistics would be during Macworld, and if the keynote would bring any increase in traffic. Low and behold, it did. Here is the chart to prove it.
As you can see, page loads and unique visitors increased leading up to the keynote, and they peaked at around 110 page loads and around 70 visitors on Tuesday, the day of the keynote. Not bad. After the keynote, I got fewer and fewer visitors as expected.
What an amazing city. So much to do in one place, and everything is either a walk or a cable car ride away. With few exceptions, the people are entirely friendly. This is much different than my experiences in other big cities, where people are either rude or are in too much of a hurry to help you with anything. Here, everything is slowed down, and almost anyone will help you get where you need to go.
Overall, it is less industrial than Boston and less corporate than New York. It is now my new favorite big city, and it is the experience of a lifetime. I will miss it.
Right before my flight on Friday from San Francisco to Detroit, I saw the best Steve Jobs wannabe ever. Without a doubt, this guy was trying to look like Steve, and he did such a great job that I had to snap a picture when he wasn’t looking.
Compare it to this actual side view of Steve that I took.
It was hilarious. I even had to look at him for a few minutes and assure myself he wasn’t actually Steve.
One of the things I haven’t really mentioned so far is how great some of the food is in San Francisco. On Tuesday, I went to the Jollibee, which didn’t have particularly great food, but it wasn’t too bad either. I’m mentioning it only because it originated in the Philippines as a McDonald’s alternative, and I was extremely surprised to see it right next to Moscone West in the United States.
The best food I’ve ever had in my life was at the Cheesecake Factory, on the top of the Macy’s building. I went there on Wednesday night, and although the food was rather expensive, it was very good. Not much more I could say about it, but I seriously recommend it to anyone visiting San Francisco.
Our hotel also has a restaurant next to it called the Daily Grill. I went there on Thursday night, and although this food didn’t quite surpass the food from the Cheesecake Factory and was equally expensive, it was still good and I would also recommend it.
