Topic: Are Apple and others' tech launches a better watch because of Covid?

Are Apple and others' tech launches a better watch because of Covid?


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"Developers, developers, developers, developers, developers."

In 2000, footage of สล็อตออนไลน์ a sweaty, high energy Steve Ballmer, the then chief executive of Microsoft, became a viral hit after he walked on stage and shouted the same word over and over again.

It was one of many moments over the last 30 years of a live tech event throwing up a must-see moment.

But recently, tech fans have been starved of live launches because of the Covid pandemic.

The keynote speeches, the long demos popularised by Apple's Steve Jobs, among other tech luminaries, have all but disappeared.

Instead, almost all tech companies have turned to virtual events. In most cases, this involves extremely glossy pre-edited videos.

"We all watch them together, quote unquote, 'live' but they're not live. They're pre-recorded and just playing out live. It's like a YouTube premiere," reflects tech commentator Jason Snell.

And some believe this format is here to stay.


No space
This Tuesday, Apple is expected to launch several new iPads and other products this way, having previously revealed new iPhones and even given the keynote presentation at its annual WWDC developers conference by such means.

Many who would have attended in person love the change.

"Last year was one of the best conferences that they've had… very few people did not appreciate that format," says Ish Shabazz, an independent iOS developer, who has taken part in WWDC every year since 2015.


On-stage slips
There are other reasons too that tech companies might like a pre-recorded format.

For one, it eliminates those awkward occasions when something goes wrong.

Over the years there have been many such moments. Looked back on fondly now, at the time they weren't quite as funny for the people involved.

Like the windows of Tesla's unsmashable Cybertruck, that errrr…. smashed instantly when hit with a metal ball.