Apple Missed the Boat

Were the Apple Faithful Left At the Altar?

From MacRumors:

Today is April 1, 2006 and represents April Fool's Day -- so readers should be wary of hoaxes and claims at both news and rumor sites today.

Today, however, also represents the 30th anniversary of Apple Computer. Steve Jobs commented on this particular anniversary during his Macworld San Francisco keynote speech, and suggested there would be some recognition of the day.

Last Saturday, Apple celebrated its thirtieth anniversary as a company. Actually, celebrated is too strong of a term. Well, maybe marked is still too strong. Probably the best description would be ignored.

At MacWorld over the winter, Steve Jobs himself intimated that there would be some special recognition of the date. Apple has grown quite a lot over the last three decades from a company that started in a garage out of a home built computer club.

I've been monitoring the various Apple forums trying to glean what was going to be released, and when. Speculation had been rampant on what new product might make a debut. Folks were divided between the long anticipated true video iPod, an updated Newton style of tablet pc, a wireless iPod, and various Apple computer upgrades. Of course it hasn't helped on the iPod front that the only recent Apple intro was the overpriced HiFi. At the very least, a "30th Anniversary iPod" could have been sold for a collector's premium.

Well, in the ultimate April Fool's, there was nothing. Some hypothesized that it wouldn't happen on a Saturday, and to wait for Monday. After all, maybe the PR staff wanted the weekend off. However, a week later, I can declare that Apple did absolutely nothing to celebrate their landmark anniversary. In a married couple, if the wife didn't get her pearls for her 30th, I'm sure she would not forget it too soon. Geez, Apple didn't even put an aniversary logo on their home page.

So, what's up over at Apple? Why did Jobs even mention it at the MacWorld conference? Now, instead of a PR triumph, he now needs to play the husband that forgot his wife's anniversary. The Apple faithful should make him sleep on the couch for the next month!

--Jonas