Apple’s (NASDAQ: AAPL) stock nose-dived right at the conclusion of the Phil Schiller’s keynote at this year’s Macworld. Why? Maybe it was the missing Apple desktop (iMac, Mac mini, and Mac Pro) upgrades which are so desperately needed. Or maybe it was a lack of updating the community about Snow Leopard’s status. Oh, and to top it off, what about all those OTHER rumors (netbook, tablet, larger capacity iPhone/iPod Touch, Verizon iPhone, etc.) Maybe a Steve Jobs cameo would have saved the stock today. 😉
So what did Apple release? Well, the most probable rumors – iLife 2009, iWork 2009, 17 inch unibody Macbook and handful of other features like downloading music to your iPhone using the 3G network, iWork’s online web interface, iTunes dumping DRM policies, etc. Overall, these updates may have been even more necessary than new hardware. After all, what good is hardware without a rock solid platforms of software? Still, there was a sense of disappointment knowing that this will be Apple’s last appearance at Macworld. So much for “going out with a bang!”
One thing which I hoped Apple would get over this Macworld is something which didn’t come true… their references to Microsoft. Sure, those Redmond “innovators” (used in the loosest sense) still hold the largest market share, by far, but Apple is truly in a league of its own. They need to stop caring what MS does, and let the consumers decide which brand is better/cooler/etc. As far as I’m concerned, the only way for Apple to redeem itself in 2009 is to have some sort of revolutionary WWDC this summer where Steve Jobs presents the world with the meaning of life or, more realistically, fulfills most of the pending rumors at once. Okay, maybe that’s not realistic either.
I still find it amusing how the stock just plummeted at the end of the keynote around 1:30 PM Eastern Time. Take a look for yourself:
Some of us shareholders anticipated it, while others prayed that Steve Jobs would make an unexpected appearance and capture the hearts of millions of Apple fanatics as only he can. Ehhh… that’s kind of the problem, isn’t it? If Steve Jobs sneezes, Apple’s stock drops five points. Apple needs to start showing shareholders that though Steve Jobs has undoubtedly been a vital part to the company’s success, the other executives, developers, and most importantly the loyal consumers are what make Apple a tech company unlike any other.
Watch the keynote speech.
