The Time Has Come
So tomorrow is the big day. Yes, that’s right, it’s Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday! Oh yeah, and some keynote thing. If you want to get live coverage for the Steve Jobs keynote, there are multiple ways to get it. I recommend MacRumorsLive.com, which provides automatically streaming updates without the need to refresh. Apple has already updated their homepage to reflect the new “There’s something in the air” slogan for the keynote.
There is a very good chance that I won’t be able to post much tomorrow. If I can manage to find a wireless connection while waiting in line for the keynote, I’ll post. Either way, I’m not going to be posting during the keynote, as I will be much too distracted by the Reality Distortion Field™. At the earliest, I’ll post right after the keynote at around 11:00 am (2:00 pm on the east coast), or at least when I get back to the hotel at around 6:30 pm (9:30 pm on the east coast). By the way, don’t forget to print out some Keynote Bingo cards. I have mine ready.
I’ll be waking up at 3:00 am tomorrow morning, and I’ll hopefully be in line by 3:30 am. If I don’t post again until after the keynote, I hope you enjoy the keynote and all the product announcements it will bring. I know I sure will…
I Got My Badge!
Okay, time to shift gears and get into Macworld-mode. I walked down a couple blocks to Moscone West (which was very easy to find), and got to see the building in person for the first time. It was really cool seeing the building I’ve only seen in pictures so far.
Picking up my conference pass for Macworld was a relatively simple process.
I got a bunch of other things to go along with my badge. They gave me a black and blue bag, a 1 GB jump drive, and a notebook and pen. All of these had the Macworld logo on them.
Microsoft also gave out these little M&M bags, customized for Microsoft Office 2008. Each M&M color represents a different Office application, and they had the logo for that application printed on it accordingly.
Of course, the most important is still the badge itself.
I figured, while I was there, I might as well visit my first Apple Retail Store. I visited their flagship San Francisco store, which is only a couple blocks away from Moscone West. It looked very luxurious, as I expected.
There isn’t really much to say about the store, but it was very busy with Apple fans because of the expo.
Alcatraz and the Aquarium
Today has been so non-stop that I haven’t had a chance to sit down and just relax. The day started officially at 6:30 am, but I woke up on my own at around 4:30 am because my mind is still on the east coast. I’m planning on using jet lag to my advantage tomorrow morning, when I have to wait in line starting at 3:00 am.
So, I guess there was a snow day in Maine today, lucky for your guys. Just make sure you don’t have another one tomorrow, because Mr. Chovanes is having a little party during the keynote.
The first thing I noticed when I went outside at 7:00 am was that they actually wash the sidewalks every night. This is partly to clean up the bird droppings, but it really keeps the image of the city clean. The first visit of the day is Alcatraz Island, or “the rock.” Since the cable cars run from 5 in the morning to midnight, we took one of those to the piers.
After the cable car ride, it was just a quick walk to Pier 33, where the boats leave for the island. We were actually there a little early, so I got to head over to check out Pier 31, famed for “Pier 31 Imports.”
I also encountered a shark.
I managed to get a great picture of the city.
Unfortunately it was on the side of a truck.
The ride to Alcatraz Island was fairly quick; maybe ten minutes long.
Thank god they had “ADULT IFE ACKETS.”
On the island, they have very comprehensive tours, and they have opened up almost every corner of the former prison. They let you in places such as the dining hall…
the outdoor exercise area…
and the prison cells themselves.
There was something very eerie about being in a place where so many of the worst criminals used to accept their fate.
It was even weirder when you walked into the cells, especially the highly isolated D-Block cells.
One of the ironic features of the island is that it is full of beautiful vegetation and wildlife. Many of the plants are unique to the island.
We headed back to the mainland after a couple hours. After grabbing some food from the local IHOP, we headed over to the Aquarium of the Bay.
From there, you take an elevator to the underwater level. You can walk though underwater tunnels and look at the various fish at eye level.
They have many different kinds of underwater life, such as starfish, stingrays, jellyfish, and sharks.
After that, they bring you back to ground level, where you are invited to touch some of the fish. My mom was somewhat hesitant about this, but I found it fun.
Cable Cars and Fisherman’s Wharf
It didn’t take us long to get started with our San Francisco activities. Since we’ll be visiting Alcatraz and the aquarium tomorrow, we figured we’d head out to the Fisherman’s Wharf area and maybe grab some lunch while we’re there. Of course, what better way to travel in San Francisco than on the historic cable cars.
The fee is only $5 per person to get on, and people 16 and under (including myself) can ride free. The ride is somewhat rickety, but it is a lot of fun. It is something everyone should have the chance to do at some point in their lives.
After the ride, it was just a short walk to the piers. You can tell just by the smell of the seafood that you are in the right place. The pinnacle of the Fisherman’s Wharf area is Pier 39. It has a sort of carnival atmosphere, with street performers everywhere, gift shops, and just about every kind of restaurant imaginable. We stopped for some great chicken sandwiches. My dad actually got pulled over by the “fun police,” who are officially designated by the San Francisco Police Department to ensure people are happy and smiling. My dad was immediately issued an I LOVE SAN FRANCISCO sticker, and got fined with a donation to the local soup kitchen.
Pier 39 also has a lot of sailboats and sea lions, and there are great views of the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz. I’ll be seeing Alcatraz up close tomorrow. I should mention that the temperature was in the 60s, and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky.
Another thing I kept noticing is that the whole city is full of Macworld-related advertising. Apple has really done a thorough job here, and it helps remind me of what I’m really here for.
I also have to mention that the hotel I’m staying at, the Handlery Union Square Hotel, has a heated pool! The water is 78˚.
The hotel is pretty great for other reasons as well. The beds are comfortable, the people are friendly, and the internet is fast. I’ve heard horror stories about internet connections slowing to a crawl during Macworld as Mac geeks pour into hotels. I guess I got lucky, and that’s all that matters.
Just Arrived in San Francisco
What a day it has been so far. I’ve been trying to get onto the internet at the airports, but all of them wanted you to pay, so I haven’t been able to post anything until now. It was kind of scary putting my laptop through the x-ray machine.
From Portland to Detroit, there was this really wacky group of biker dudes from Colorado. They called themselves the “Sons of Silence,” and they were really immature. So, yeah. Cabin pressure wasn’t too bad on either flight, because I’ve had some bad experiences in the past with bleeding ears when I was younger. Here are some shots from the first flight…
It’s a good thing we weren’t late, because we only had 10 minutes to spare in Detroit before we boarded our next plane. They had really fun “moving walks” in Detroit, which are basically flat escalators on the floor which move you forward faster. They also have a really cool tunnel under the runway, connecting two halves of the airport. It’s all lit up with flashy colors and techno music, and it resembled some sort of brainwashing facility. It sort of reminded me of when we stopped at Detroit during the much longer trip to the Philippines. After enduring a full 24 hours of flying during that trip, I could take anything.The next flight to San Francisco was 5 hours long, and the seats had a lot of room. Here are some pictures from that flight…
Some of the views from the window were spectacular as we passed over the Rocky Mountains. Check it out…
The SuperShuttle ride from the airport to our hotel was interesting. First of all, there was a funny guy that drove us, and he would drive about 75 mph in a 50 mph zone. He would actually seem irritated when someone was only going 10 over. There was also a middle aged guy sitting in front of me with a black mock turtleneck and jeans. Looks like I found the “Steve Jobs Wannabe” from the celebrity checklist. We finally arrived at hotel, which is very nice.
I’ll be writing about that, as well as more of today’s activities, later on. I was lucky enough to get free internet in this hotel, thanks to the good folks at IDG World Expo. It usually costs $10 per day.
Also, remember that I am in a different time zone now. I am 3 hours behind Eastern Time, and the times listed for when posts were published are kept in Eastern Time for your convenience. For instance, this post is listed as being posted at 4:55, but it was 1:55 here when I posted it.
Just Woke Up
Wow…it’s 3 in the morning and I’m awake. Usually it’s because I’m still up doing homework. At least I have a better reason to be up right now. Breakfast is an astounding Special K Bar and grape juice. Gotta go…
Interesting Insight about iPhone SDK
It’s been a while since I’ve posted something Apple-related, so I thought I’d transition with this.
Andy Ihnatko, a Chicago Sun-Times technology and computer columnist, wrote about what why he thinks Apple will release another multi-touch device at Macworld. He offers this interesting thought…
Curious, isn’t it, that in October Steve Jobs announced that Apple wouldn’t be taking the wrapper off the iPhone developers’ kit until February? It’s almost as if the resources that are plainly available in the SDK would have spilled the beans on the device Steve intends to unveil during his Macworld Expo keynote in January.
Packing and Polishing
I’m just about finished packing, which is pretty difficult for a technology person. There are a lot of cables and devices that need to be squeezed into a small bag, in addition to the necessities. I’m also polishing my computer (not kidding) so it won’t have any smudge marks or smears for at least the beginning of the week.
And it has to look nice, just in case it gets to meet Steve.
I’ve printed off every document imaginable, from hotel reservations to registration confirmations. I printed off a copy of the Keynote Bingo card on some really nice photo paper. I’ll use it during the keynote as I hope to scream BINGO, and on the back I’ll jot down some of my thoughts and reactions as Steve makes product announcements. It should give me a little nostalgia later on, without taking away from my enjoyment of the Reality Distortion Field™.
My flight leaves Portland, ME at 6:00 am, which means I need to wake up at around 3:00 am. Weather is going to be a non-issue, with perfectly clear skies for most of the morning in Portland. I’ll be landing in Detroit at around 8:25 am, and there should only be a few rain showers at most. I’ll leave from there at around 9:29 am and land in San Francisco at 11:36 am PST. Again, clear skies.
I’ll be starting off my week with some fun at Pier 39, where they have a lot going on. Maybe we’ll go to the aquarium if we have time. I’ll let you know when I get there. For now, it’s time to sleep…
Macworld Expo Celebrity Checklist
One of the great things about Macworld is the chance of meeting celebrities from the geek world. The Joy of Tech has simplified this pursuit into a witty checklist of people you might encounter, along with a depiction of what they would look like. You have to look at some of these pictures, especially the one of the “Reality Distorted Geek.” The descriptions are equally great.
Macworld (Not) Cancelled
Just a little humor from the good folks at the Crazy Apple Rumors Site…
This is just coming off the wire and has forced us to shelve a detailed exposé on Chris Breen’s hair, but the staff Crazy Apple Rumors Site wanted to get it out as soon as possible so everyone would know that…
MACWORLD HAS BEEN CANCELED.
That’s right. Canceled. We know it’s disappointing but…
There it is.
Let’s all try to be grownups about it.
The reason, according to Apple, is that the announcement of the new Mac Pro and the new Xserve was a mistake.
“Yeah, Larry did that,” said an apologetic chief operating officer Tim Cook. “I told him about fifty times that it was next Tuesday but Larry is, well, Larry. Juice Box Larry we call him.
“Anyway, the Mac Pro and the Xserve are all we had, so… no Macworld. Sorry!”
But Apple is not, apparently, the only reason Macworld has been canceled. A quick check of recent press releases reveals the following:
- San Francisco hookers announced they were raising their hourly rates for the whole week because “the damn Mac geeks just want to talk and won’t get down to brass tacks”.
- The highly popular “Shower with Adam Engst at the Mosser” event has been canceled as Adam has come down with a bad case of athlete’s foot. Our best wishes to Adam for a speedy recovery.
- Someone saw Rob Enderle in the vicinity of the Moscone Center.
Cook said that Steve Jobs would make it up to us by taking us all out for ice cream later in the year.
They also have a hilarious post about how to stay safe during Macworld.