Anyone Else Over Apple's Keynote Culture?

[the future]

I don‘t get threads like this, at all. If you don‘t care for the keynotes / events, just don‘t watch them. If you think they were better in the early days, you‘re very wrong. Of course there was Jobs, and he was/is irreplaceable, but there were also a lot of long, boring parts where some random none-Apple dude would demo a piece of third party software you‘d never use. And most product intros would be incremental, just like today, because that is just the nature of tech. Btw nothing is more cringe than using words like „cringe“; if you really want to feel the „cringe“, please try to sit through a complete keynote by Samsung or Microsoft or Xiaomi or whoever … compared to that crap, Apple presentations are extremely succint and to the point. I really dig the new pre-recorded format, it‘s very slick (in a good way) and actually cuts the remaining bloat that the live presentations still had. The only thing worse about them is that we don’t get hands-on reports from the demo area.

 

[thejadedmonkey]

I'd be happier if they had a 60 minute keynote that went over all of the updates, and at the end of the keynote the store would update and you could buy, with delivery for the next Friday.

It's nice seeing what's been updated, but drawing it out for 2 weeks, and getting "excited" by being able to add a timer to siri, just not my thing anymore.

In the before times, it was a necessity because Apple was the only company making PPC computers, and every megahertz was noteworthy, even if it was just a spec bump. Since that's not the case anymore, I don't see the need unless they're releasing a new product.

 

[Howard2k]

I usually choose not to watch them. They're not mandatory in order to buy the product. You can just get on with your day and then go to the website afterwards. Problem solved.

 

[Darth Tulhu]

I'm not over Apple's Keynote culture.

I've been disappointed a lot, but I've also been elated a lot.

I never fail to get excited for it, because (for me) it's like Christmas: seeing the wrapped presents under the tree, wondering if I'm going to like what I get.

I even enjoy that feeling of 'maybe next year', which now that these events are spread out throughout the year is more like 'maybe next quarter'.

I also prefer the newer prerecorded versions; I think they're far more entertaining.

So I hope Apple keeps them coming.

 

[bluecoast]

Yes & no!

Yes in that I don’t miss the live pre Covid keynotes much.

As a Brit, I found the cheering, clapping and whooping to be cringeworthy.

Apple aren’t giving away billions to charity or producing a vaccine. They’re just announcing a slightly better camera, or something.

Also, it must be insanely tough to present to so many, knowing that millions are watching you from afar & something that so few can do - which is why you always got the big guns doing the bulk of the presentations - Schiller, Federighi etc.

But I prefer the Covid (EDIT) era (END) events seeing a far wider selection of presenters.

And this final ‘yes’ point isn’t keynote specific, but I find the WWDC keynotes to be increasingly ridiculous.

Hardly anything that’s promised in June ships in September. Or if it does, it’s a smoking buggy wreck or ‘in beta’.

And all seemingly for the free consumer marketing (ie this isn’t aimed at devs that much anymore) that the WWDC keynote gives Apple.

I’d much prefer Apple to announce at WWDC ‘these features are coming over the next 6 months starting from Fall this year’.

Finally, I much prefer the Covid era pre-recorded keynotes. They’re tighter, more focused and shorter. And as I said above, I like seeing a wider selection of presenters.

No doubt I’ll be watching the keynotes still when they go live again. But I’ll be missing the pre-recorded ones. And cringing at the cheers to minor product features.

 

[turbineseaplane]

I agree with the OP completely.

Honestly, I just think Apple is out of innovative ideas on stuff like this.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Steve was the founder, he instinctively took ownership of everything at Apple and that involvement and inclusion reflected in his keynotes and talks. That is what is missing today.

You are right on the money.

Steve is very much missed on the presentation side (among many other areas and missteps and the lack of accountability at times by the company)

 

[840quadra]

Me personally. No.

I doubt dropping the keynote would get products to anyone faster than we currently experience. One could always skip watching the keynotes, wait for word on when a preorder is available on any given item.

They are just marketing events, though I believe Apple uses them to help judge interest on products, and alongside pre-orders, they ensure production ramps according to demand.

 

[TonyC28]

I somewhat agree with this. It's especially bad in my opinion now that the iPhone and iOS yearly updates are much more incremental. So much hype yet not as much room for innovation as there used to be.

 

[matt_and_187_like_this]

I somewhat agree with this. It's especially bad in my opinion now that the iPhone and iOS yearly updates are much more incremental. So much hype yet not as much room for innovation as there used to be.

This makes keynotes even more important. They need to sell you these tiny updates.

 

[Bluetoot-]

Keynotes were always boring to a non-tech audience. But that's who these keynotes were commonly presented to: journalists, bloggers, and techies.

I'm not really sure who the audience for these are anymore. They've turned more into polished informercials rather than the "unpolished" allure of a live demo (although it was very polished). I don't watch them any longer.

 

[dcp10]

What company is worth 2 trillion again?….no one has to watch, perhaps those 2 hours would be spent in a marketing 101 class?

 

[antiprotest]

They should lose the tiresome "our best xyz ever" part, unless they are in the habit of making the newest product worse than previous ones. It actually gives off the sense that they have no stronger statement to make about the new products.

 

[LeeW]

I actually quite like them, look forward to them in fact. Nothing wrong with a bit of fanfare.

 

[Joniz]

They need to up the ante.

I’d like to see them do one keynote where everyone must keep their feet together and their hands unmoving at their sides.

 

[allan.nyholm]

I'm not over Apple's Keynote culture.

I've been disappointed a lot, but I've also been elated a lot.

I never fail to get excited for it, because (for me) it's like Christmas: seeing the wrapped presents under the tree, wondering if I'm going to like what I get.

I even enjoy that feeling of 'maybe next year', which now that these events are spread out throughout the year is more like 'maybe next quarter'.

I also prefer the newer prerecorded versions; I think they're far more entertaining.

So I hope Apple keeps them coming.

You'll lose that excitement soon enough

I too was like you... sitting in my jammies with a cup of hot cocoa and curled up under a blanket waiting for the Keynotes to begin..

Now? Well, I have a suit of armor + sword on and two bottles of vodka at the ready for drinking, a liter of bleach to pour over my body(before putting on the suit of armor) , a lighter to set my ears on fire and then the suit of armor with sword for smashing all my inventory. It's quite expensive for me when Apple's Keynotes come on and I don't think Tim Cook and Craig Federighi(sp?) acknowledges that at all in their Keynotes. Also, might I add - it's tiresome having to spend time in the hospital after all that.

 

[allan.nyholm]

They need to up the ante.

I’d like to see them do one keynote where everyone must keep their feet together and their hands unmoving at their sides.

And then do the boogie-woogie. Tim Cook was probably also a goal keeper in soccer during his younger days. Not often have I seen such bent legs. Perhaps he just rides horses all day

 

[BuddyTronic]

Sorry for posting this here, but we don't really have an overall forum for just general Mac/Apple at least not that I saw.

I was wondering if anyone else was over Apple's Keynote culture. I kinda wish they would just drop the product instead of 2 hours of intro, a week of waiting for pre-orders, a week of delivery. Apple used to sometimes just, update the store with a surprise new spec bump or something. But the keynote's are always the exact same format, and the exact same language. They seem to be actually getting longer, and they don't have much to add that's interesting or necessary. Most of that stuff could just be a paragraph of copy on a website.

I'm not saying they should get rid of them all together, but rather use them when they make sense. When they have totally new product or product category that requires more education and explanation, like the M1 transition, intro of Apple TV+, Apple Glass or an Apple Car.

But to just say hey, we put an A15 chip in it, it faster than the last one, and here's a new color, and new watch bands. You can order them now and get them in October... I'm kinda like, just update the website and store and ship 'em already, we got it.

Well, I think everyone has an opinion, but should Apple take your advice? I’m thinking they know what they are doing.

if you need an explanation then call it “marketing” and realize this is the largest company in the world kind of thing and if they change it maybe it will be because of what you say here or maybe they will change it because of other reasons but hey. they got to the top - they have their own style and it seems to be working really well.

One time some guy that Coca-Cola needed or wanted to change the recipe - the secret formula, they called it “new Coke” they said it tasted better but nobody wanted it - they all wanted the original Coca-Cola. So they shook their collective heads and released Coke classic to appease the billions of Coca-Cola fans. Maybe you are too young to remember the 1980s?

Are you trying to invent a “New Coke” for Apple?

how about meatless Kentucky fried chicken? With a new improved recipe .
I want them to do that

 

[allan.nyholm]

@BuddyTronic Kentucky Died Frickin' - now with the taste of empty promises and meatballs ground from the best quality fresh air. Ooohhh yeah.. Best served with a 10Liter bucket of Sprite.

 

[macbookm1airlover]

The keynotes since Covid started have been significantly shorter (and higher quality, in my opinion) than the in-person events held before Covid.

Fully agree.

 

[macbookm1airlover]

The keynotes have always been my favorite...both in person and virtual. It's always exciting seeing what they have to release, and what products will see the light of day even if there are leaks, and even if we have an idea what is going to be released. Goodness, I even buy apple pie for keynote days!

It's the small things in life.

 

[MadeTheSwitch]

I like the Keynotes myself. But what I do not like is the way they pump up everything to “the greatest”, “amazing”, and many other assorted words to describe things. They are overused and Apple seems to use them as a crutch. And Apple comes off seeming very impressed with Apple as a result. And I am not really a fan of people impressed with themselves. I wish they would just show the products, what’s new, and let everyone else decide and judge what they are.

 

[rmoliv]

I don’t wanna hear Tim Cook and Apple execs bragging for one hour, I just want the damn products released and in my hands… So yes, Apple’s keynote culture needs to stop!

 

[Oohara]

I like em. Always liked a good ritual.

 

[BigDO]

I still have some interest in the product, so I will read the summaries of what was announced, but ain’t nobody got time to listen to the marketing waffle, that’s just silly.