Anyone Else Over Apple's Keynote Culture?

[ghanwani]

Nothing wrong with Apple doing it. It will end if people stop attending. Until then, it’s great PR. Have you seen the number of comments during the live stream for the event here on MR?

 

[LiveM]

Honestly they've been getting better since they did them virtual, condensed and to the point without Jony Ive telling us about the Aluminum used in making of the product.

I can never get over the disconnection between the video and the audio. It’s so wrong it’s quite jarring. If you want to pretend you’re in a room with all hard surfaces, make it sound like you’re in a goddam room with all hard surfaces.

 

[LiveM]

I would like to watch a classic keynote again in front of an audience rather than these pre-recorded ones. The latter bore me as well and they creep me out a litte because everything is so super perfectly planned leaving no room for improvisation.

Yes - and let them hear the gasps, too. Remember the $999 monitor stand?

 

[P-Wunder]

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.

So don't watch it. If you ignore the event, check here for when you can preorder, and then go to Apple's site on preorder day. Problem solved.

 

[211]

I prefer the virtual keynotes. Less time wasted from incessant clapping from the seals in the room. The keynotes are shorter and more to the point than before. I find them useful as they do mention a lot of features that you wouldn't normally know. It also gives them a platform to mention other initiatives Apple is involved in. Making them virtual does give them more flexibility in making the presentation more entertaining, whether it be moving from one presenter to another or adding some humor.

As for the presenters, they transition from one presenter to another in a matter of seconds. the same dialog would still be said if it was just one person saying it all.

I do agree that "this is the best iPhone we have ever made" and comments like that are pointless. Of course it is the most advanced, etc. otherwise nobody would buy it. They can also skip the game demos and talking heads on how using the latest Apple device or OS is the best thing ever in what they can do with them.

 

[I7guy]

I really love the keynotes. Looking forward to this years...provided I'm not time constrained.

 

[Karllake]

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.

Could not disagree more.

 

[ZivaD]

Could not disagree more.

As annoying as it is for people just wanting stuff, the very existence of the thing is making threads and conversation about Apple, it’s great advertising, I just want a new phone but I also really like the event, keep them coming but maybe let me preorder? 😂

 

[krfr]

Maybe also continuously update iOS/iPadOS/macOS throughout the year so we get new updates and features all year instead of mediocre yearly updates. I feel like progress would be much faster that way.

 

[DesertDrummer]

Maybe also continuously update iOS/iPadOS/macOS throughout the year so we get new updates and features all year instead of mediocre yearly updates. I feel like progress would be much faster that way.

Well, to be fair, they essentially do that with the dot releases. There are around 6 minor releases on each major release, and sometimes some patch releases on top of those minor releases.

The major-number releases are what's yearly, and that seems somewhat appropriate for an annual timescale.

 

[Karllake]

As annoying as it is for people just wanting stuff, the very existence of the thing is making threads and conversation about Apple, it’s great advertising, I just want a new phone but I also really like the event, keep them coming but maybe let me preorder? 😂

I genuinely don’t get the hate from some on this thread (not aimed at you), This has been the Apple formula for decades now, the format has change due to COVID but saying they should just release products by press release like other companies would make them just another company, it’s insane to me people even think this let alone feel the need to post about it, how about JUST DON’T WATCH, let the rest of us enjoy the hype and hyperbolics.

 

[mashinhead]

I genuinely don’t get the hate from some on this thread (not aimed at you), This has been the Apple formula for decades now, the format has change due to COVID but saying they should just release products by press release like other companies would make them just another company, it’s insane to me people even think this let alone feel the need to post about it, how about JUST DON’T WATCH, let the rest of us enjoy the hype and hyperbolics.

I'm not sure how anything in this thread is 'hate.' That's fairly hyperbolic. I don't know how someone just saying something that you might disagree with or offering an alternative POV for discussion—in a discussion forum— constitutes 'hate'. The fact that this has been their formula for years is the entire point. In the course of years the need and the conversation changes. Culture changes too. What made sense 10 or 15 years ago, doesn't necessarily make sense now. Furthermore that philosophy is part of their brand. It's how we got the iPhone. I get this is for the media but do honestly think that if they just dropped the product those YT videos wouldn't exist? Those YouTubers get the product right after the event. When Apple started these keynotes, there was no YT. The media landscape was entirely different than it is today. And the point is, that these keynotes are starting to make less and less sense for everyone —the consumer, the press, & Apple—because they aren't really adding anything of value to the conversation anymore.

 

[5105973]

Nope. Not tired. I try to watch the Samsung and Google ones, too, but don’t always manage it and don’t bother seeking them out on YT, because they can be a bit dry or even more painfully awkward. But I never miss the Apple ones, where painful awkwardness is part of the charm

The live ones with the glitches made for some amusement. Craig F vs a persnickety Face ID was pretty funny.

And then there was that one time where they ended with some weird scary musical performance by Sia and some dancers, if I remember correctly it was a tribute to the victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting. I somehow missed that it was a tribute and didn’t know what I was looking at and was a bit taken aback. But it was pretty cool that they got Sia to perform and if they ever go back to doing live presentations I hope they bring back musical performances.

 

[breather]

Nah, I like it. Popcorn and beverage.

 

[Mescagnus]

I like the new format; as impacts of covid go, it's a positive one. The new keynotes are like well-edited news hours. They definitely beat a mere press release.

 

[Krizoitz]

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.

You could, and I know this is crazy, just not watch. They always post the info on the site as soon as the keynote is finished, so exactly what you are asking for.

There are some parts about them that for me are rather boring, but for others, they might be the most interesting parts. I get who the target audience is - the media - to get that free and widespread advertisement. I also rather enjoy the production of them, whether live in-person, or pre-recorded. I think they typically do a great job. Like others have said, they ain't goin anywhere soon because of the publicity they generate.

It’s rare when someone gets that just because something isn’t for them that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have value.

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.

Yup, it’s clear most of these people complaining haven’t actually watched the older keynotes in a long time and are only remembering the highlights. The old ones were not much different, multiple presenters, long demos and presentations, not every year had some groundbreaking, world shaking new product, a lot were incremental upgrades too.

Plus fewer pre-keynote leaks and sites like this one so there was more surprise. Boggles the mind when people who regularly visit a rumors forum complain about not being shocked or amazed by Apples presentations. Can’t have it both ways.

Yes, loads of corporate jargon, almost as if the product marketing team was running the show and creating the scripts.

Given that these are media/marketing events why does that surprise you?

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!

And exactly how does doing the keynotes prevent that from happening? It doesn’t. The products still get released, keynote or no keynote. One has literally no effect on the other.

 

[Deliro]

These overproduced glorified commercials are repetitive. The presenters all use the same lexicon it seems. Since leaks are usually dead on there is rarely a surprise.

I end up watching the summarized highlights.

 

[Drisin]

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.

I 💯 percent agree! There has been little innovation, too much stagnation, and it’s too much about squelching new start ups to just sit on technology! Why did Apple never put Siri in Apple TV? Why can Siri ask me about tidying up my photos when I walk into the house from vacation? Why hasn’t Apple tried a dual screen when Samsung is in the 3rd iteration? Why is a new color such a damn big deal? And why God why do they punish us with minimal adapters on every computer and tablet???? Frankly as a long time Mac owner (128k Mac!) They stopped innovation when Steve died and now it’s just how much money can we squeeze from developers and from loyal customers! Sad 😔….

 

[LonestarOne]

They could make watching the keynote optional. Would that solve the problem?

 

[Darth Tulhu]

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.

Haha. Nice.

I’m not an Apple noob; I was on their dealer’s junkie list since 2001, although I was able to stay clean with no purchases between 2012 and last year.

That was mainly due to the changes in formula; I just didn’t get the high I used to.

But I always kept taste-testing, until the iPhone finally got big enough, iOS got competent enough, the iPad finally got keyboard and mouse support and USB-C, and external drive support, and finally the iCloud ecosystem got really frictionless.

Now I’m back on the horse, but those clean years in the Android wilderness built up my tolerance to where I no longer need the latest and greatest.

My highs last much, much longer.

 

[Drisin]

They wouldn't spend all that time and money on them if they weren't effective.

Umm yeah they would. It’s just hype with little substance. Last innovation was the Apple Watch ⌚️. Pencil….zzzz, colors zzz, faster M1 yep but have you seen how small the screens are? No touch screen macs no innovation with iOS. Siri is poorly integrated to the overall system. And how about Apple Mail. Searching for subjects never provides the right results no matter what you do???

 

[Lioness~]

You can very easily solve this for yourself. Just wait two hours longer until the keynote is over, and read up on everything released here on Macrumors.

There, solved. Next problem of magnitude please. 😇

Sometimes I do that….

I like the new format; as impacts of covid go, it's a positive one. The new keynotes are like well-edited news hours. They definitely beat a mere press release.

Sometimes I keep the keynote running on the Mac while I am occupied with something else at times.
I don’t sit like a kid at Christmas Eve anymore as in the Jobs and Ive days.

Apple is a different company today. I wouldn’t miss the presentations if they stopped them and just released the products.
I would however prefer that maybe they just had them about the real big releases, not these several hours tiresome presentations. But as I said, I keep them running in the background these days, so no problem with it either. I just don’t give it much attention.

I mean really, most stuff are leaked before anyway.
Ah well, sometime there is something still surprising….that is fun 🤩

 

[@Brett]

I personally love the keynotes and very much look forward to them. Even with them be digital only events they extend some normalcy to the last year plus. Also Apple’s production value is still amazing and has even lifted. Other companies wish they could come close.

 

[Saladin12]

They wouldn't spend all that time and money on them if they weren't effective.

This is 100% true.

Umm yeah they would. It’s just hype with little substance. Last innovation was the Apple Watch ⌚️. Pencil….zzzz, colors zzz, faster M1 yep but have you seen how small the screens are? No touch screen macs no innovation with iOS. Siri is poorly integrated to the overall system. And how about Apple Mail. Searching for subjects never provides the right results no matter what you do???

Let’s say you’re right - there’s little substance anymore in Apple products. We know they still sell like hotcakes and that they break sales records all the time etc.

Wouldn’t that then argue Apple’s keynotes (and other marketing) is highly effective, as @usagora stated? And if they weren’t hitting outrageous numbers then Apple would reevaluate their marketing and launch strategies?

 

[usagora]

Umm yeah they would. It’s just hype with little substance. Last innovation was the Apple Watch ⌚️. Pencil….zzzz, colors zzz, faster M1 yep but have you seen how small the screens are? No touch screen macs no innovation with iOS. Siri is poorly integrated to the overall system. And how about Apple Mail. Searching for subjects never provides the right results no matter what you do???

You're just 1 opinion in a seal of hundreds of millions and many disagree with your assesment. You're not as important as you think you are. Sorry to have to tell you that, but it's true. Same goes for me and everyone else here. Trust me, Apple isn't stupid. They're not going to spend millions of dollars if they don't see results from it.