Macworld may not have an official Apple presence anymore, but Macworld 2011 is shaping up to be one of the biggest years yet for the show when it hits January 26th in San Francisco: according to IDG General Manager Paul Kent, it’ll be over thirty percent bigger than ever before.
“The show is going to show strong growth over last year,” Kent told TUAW.
Obviously, Macworld 2010 was largely about proving there was still a place for a show, even without Apple’s involvement, but 2011 won’t be hampered with the burden of battling preconceptions.
“Last year,” says Kent, “it was a ‘prove it to me that there’s a reason to do this.'” Now, though, it’s all about the Apple ecosystem. Kent refers to it as a show about the “Now what?”
“You went out and bought an iPod, a Mac, an iPad,” says Kent, “and now what? Macworld Expo is where you discover all the now whats.”
All in all, over three hundred exhibitors should be present this year. Macworld 2011 will also be expanding the Mobile App Showcase, as well as introducing “Featured Artists” sessions, in which artists who create with Apple products will discuss their process and share tips and tricks.
If anything, Macworld seems even more relevant now that Apple has stepped away from it: it’s now an exposition in which Apple developers can actually speak for themselves. We can’t wait to hit it this year: it’s looking to be the best year yet.
