自苹果宣布不再继续参加Macworld|iWorld展出至今已经4年了，但这个没有苹果的全球果迷盛会依然吸引着大量关注，每一届都办得满堂彩。 美国太平洋时间2012年1月26－28日，来自世界各地的2万余名苹果忠实用户和超过300家展商聚集在旧金山的莫斯康会展中心(Moscone Center)，宣传并分享着他们对苹果的热情和创新产品。以媒体人的身份出席的我发现展会上涌现出大量新面孔，其中不乏亚洲创业公司。现在让我来分享一下这三天在展会上的所见所闻。
展会主体在一楼大厅，分为电脑软件为主的Mac OS区，移动设备为主的iOS apps区以及配件相关产品区；在展厅的中央和后方设有餐厅，讲座和表演区域。早上十点展会开始前，莫斯康中心外厅就已经聚集了不少等待登记的果迷。
跨进大厅最先吸引眼球的是设在展厅正中央的蹦床表演：Polkaudio是一家专业生产运动耳机的公司，为了证明产品优良的音质和防脱落性能，公司请到了两位来自美国知名极限运动节目American Ninja Challenge的选手，轮流在蹦床上展示高难度动作，赚足了曝光度，惊叹声和掌声。
在配件区还有一样小东西引起了我的注意：最近的当红产品iKeyboard。产品本身再简单不过了： 一张带有弧度的防压防变形塑料薄片，配以带有iPad键盘轮廓的硬塑料。这是做什么用的呢？原来，发明者在购买iPad后发现自己对于直接屏幕键盘上打字的触感相当不适应，经调查发现，人脑对于在实物键盘上打字的触感已经形成固定记忆，因此容易对不同的打字方式产生不适感。而iKeyboard设计虽然简单，但为iPad用户提供了在实体键盘上打字的触感，也算是创新了吧，这项发明对于年纪稍长的用户已经不愿意携带蓝牙键盘的用户来说着实是一个轻便又经济的小产品。
接下来的app为摄像爱好者/业余电影制作人带来一丝新鲜气息：通过无线网，这个app可以链接多达4台不同iOS设备的相机，以满足制作人用多角度拍摄视频的需求。app还内置了迷你视频编辑系统，让你一次性完成拍摄，整合，剪切，效果转换等步骤，制作出变化多段的视频短片。
亚洲展商对于Macworld也是不惜重金。Alljack是一家来自台湾的音响公司，下图的立体音响4件套在前不久拉斯维加斯的CES组装完成，设计师受到莲花的启发，将iPod/iPhone置于组合中央，而四张花瓣镶满钻石，价值竟然高达6万8000美元，不知谁敢买回家听音乐用。
“功夫画家”Rick Alonzo在武术表演的同时绘画，精湛的技艺吸引了不少人驻足观看。作为苹果的忠实用户，Rick也以前排的这幅画表达了对乔布斯的哀思。
接下来这个小玩意反而会吸引大量用户购买，用途不言而喻：
展会的最后当然少不了现场表演。在莫斯康中心附近的小剧场里，连着3夜上演了精彩绝伦的现场音乐演出。
顺便一提，第二届Macworld Asia今年9月即将在北京国家会议中心举行，亚洲的展商和app开发商们将会带来怎样的惊喜呢？让我们拭目以待。
No, this is not a sneak peek of the new season of The Walking Dead, a massive rebellion, or political revolution. This is a picture taken by Jesus Diaz on Jan 12, when Apple was about to release the new iPhone 4S in China. The specific demographic of this photo? Most likely designers and people between the ages of 18 and 35. It seems that Apple products are no longer a “niche” necessity, but rather a signature of chic and urban culture.
Despite Apple’s back out in 2009, Macworld|iWorld 2012 still attracted over 20,000 visitors and 300+ exhibitors worldwide to the Moscone Center in San Francisco. I went to this 3-day event as a media reporter, and it was quite interesting to see many new faces(new companies) emerging – some of them came all the way from Asia. Here are some products that caught my eye.
All Jack Speakers. Here’s only one of the jaw-dropping examples:
This 4-speaker set is designed and made by Alljack, a Taiwanese company. Inspired by a wine bottle and a flower, this speaker set places your iPod/iPhone in the center and is decorated by the with Russian diamonds, bullion plating, unnatural timber pellet and other music inspired metal. The cost? $68,000!
Adventure Bar Story
The exhibition not only welcomed big companies and manufacturers, but also many startups and app developers. I was intrigued by this small iPad game booth in the app section:
Adventure Bar Story is a 16-Bit iPad/iPhone game that blended full-on restaurant management gameplay with turn-based RPG battling/exploration. 16-Bit! This game debuted in Japan’s PlayStation Store last summer and attracted a lot of attention because of the nostalgic graphics. The developer of this game – RideonJapan – is a small Japanese startup with a team of 7.
Given the fact that Apple products are gaining popularity in China and Asia in general, we see more companies and developers from Asia coming out of their region and aiming worldwide. These innovators in Asia are worth a closer look.
Following the success of SF Macworld|iWorld, IDG announced its 2nd Macworld exhibition in Asia this September at the China National Convention Center, Beijing. It will feature partners like China Unicom, Youku, Sina, Yesky. Let’s wait in anticipation to see what the next six months of innovative products/apps are going to appear at this event.
Related post: China Innovators
Sundai