FEATUREever go to WWDC. Sure, they’ll miss experiencing it
vicariously, but assuming Apple still announces new
versions of its operating systems and maybe some
exciting new hardware and all the media still covers it
with all their energy, we’ll muddle through.
Finally, I have to wonder: there have been rumours
that Apple will hold a media event in late March to
announce a bunch of new products. To me, the big
question is if Apple still wants to host a large group
of media on the Apple Park at all, while this virus is
spreading. Assuming the new products can even be
made in time given the disruptions to the supply chain
in China, would it be possible that Apple might pull the
plug on any media event and just quietly brief some
journalists in private and make an announcement via
press release, as they did when the 16in MacBook
Pro was announced last autumn?
The fact is, Apple can get a spotlight whenever
it wants it. It can announce via a live stream from
deep inside Apple Park without any members of
the press there. It can brief select journalists. Apple
announcements will still be breaking news, even if it
needs to adjust the way it makes its announcements.
If WWDC’s in-person event is cancelled, I will
be sad not to see my friends in San Jose. But it’s
not too great a price to pay to help slow the spread
of this virus and spare the stress on our medical
infrastructure. And Apple will still be able to get its
message out, regardless.FEATURE
evergotoWWDC.Sure,they’llmissexperiencingit
vicariously,butassumingApplestillannouncesnew
versionsofitsoperatingsystemsandmaybesome
excitingnewhardwareandallthemediastillcoversit
withalltheirenergy,we’llmuddlethrough.
Finally,Ihavetowonder:therehavebeenrumours
thatApplewillholdamediaeventinlateMarchto
announceabunchofnewproducts.Tome,thebig
questionisifApplestillwantstohostalargegroup
ofmediaontheAppleParkatall,whilethisvirusis
spreading.Assumingthenewproductscanevenbe
madeintimegiventhedisruptionstothesupplychain
inChina,woulditbepossiblethatApplemightpullthe
plugonanymediaeventandjustquietlybriefsome
journalistsinprivateandmakeanannouncementvia
pressrelease,astheydidwhenthe16inMacBook
Pro wasannouncedlastautumn?
Thefactis,Applecangetaspotlightwhenever
itwantsit.Itcanannounceviaalivestreamfrom
deepinsideAppleParkwithoutanymembersof
thepressthere.Itcanbriefselectjournalists.Apple
announcementswillstillbebreakingnews,evenifit
needstoadjustthewayitmakesitsannouncements.
IfWWDC’sin-personeventiscancelled,Iwill
besad nottoseemyfriendsinSanJose.Butit’s
nottoogreatapricetopaytohelpslowthespread
ofthisvirus andsparethestressonourmedical
infrastructure.AndApplewillstillbeabletogetits
messageout,regardless.