Brian Nakamoto's Macworld Expo Report--Day 1 [Tuesday]

Steve is really big on flat panel displays as demonstrated by the OpenGL photo screen saver in OS X.

Steve really loves the dock and the improvements in the latest build of OS X are even getting me warmed up to it.

If I were to improve any subtle detail about Steve's presentation, I would not make the OS X software release schedule a bell curve because it makes it look like OS X software release tapers off in the Fall.

I don't know when it started but the G4 pictures no longer have Motorola's logo on them.

Steve emphasized channel partners and authorized resellers instead of the AppleStore.

Pioneer did a great job of keeping the Super Drives a secret by stating that Compaq would probably be the first to ship systems with it this Summer. iTunes is Sound Jam although I'm trying to get a second source to confirm that Apple bought Sound Jam; C&G was not commenting today.

"The digital hub" idea is eerily similar to what Bill Gates' keynote at last week's CES was about although Steve had much better delivery and slides.

It's somewhat ironic that Steve mentioned Real, MS and Music Match charge $30 to enable advanced features in a free product. Read: QuickTime -> QuickTime Pro.

The B-52's "Love Shack" was cranking bass like at a concert in the ballroom.

iTuner works best with Mac OS 9.1 -- but no mention of it [9.1] being released. An Apple rep did not know after the keynote.

Apple is going to have a serious supply & demand problem with the 733 G4's.

I'm 99% sure that the new G4 and PowerBooks are UMA 2.

Talked to Creative and asked if they planned to update the Sound Blaster Live drivers to support Dolby Digital 5.1 and was told that OS 9 can't elegantly handle it and no comment on possibilities for OS X. Creative is working closely with Apple on audio (e.g. BTO option) and we could potentially see them powering the next generation iMacs.

Connectix introduced a competitor to Dave called DoubleTalk that looks to pick up where Dave falls short (e.g. printing). I'll try to get more info on VGS tomorrow.