Macworld Expo 2008 Keynote (Live Coverage)

Welcome to our live coverage of the Macworld Expo 2008 keynote. Stay tuned throughout the morning for constantly-updated keynote coverage.

Click read more below (if it appears) to view the coverage.

Note: You do need to manually reload this page every couple of minutes for updates. We’d like to take a moment to thank our sponsors and advertisers for giving us the power to provide you with some of the best expo coverage on the web.

6:10 AM: In the press line… at least there is a formal press line this year. Last year we were left to cut to the front and fend for ourselves until about 7 AM.

As usual, it’s cold outside… 44 degrees.

6:40: Gemeral attendees are being loaded into the first floor. Platinum SuperPass people are up next on the second floor. Finally press goes up to third floor.

But, in a rare Apple-being-friendly-to-the-media-moment… We’re promised coffee and pastries while everyone sits beneath us.

7:10: Woz just came riding by on his Segway… Moving too fast to grab a photo. We’ll be headed inside in about a half hour.

7:30: Because everyone else has entered, the media has resorted to taking photos… Of the media.

7:40: We’re inside, photos to follow shortly.

7:50: And, here are the photos. We also have video, but we’ll be running that later today (if the quality is high enough).

Click to enlarge…

(Mac fanatics should note, the water is not Evian)

8:55: We’re in. It’s doubtful that the show will start in five minutes, but we’re all set to cover it when it does.

9:10: Still waiting for the cue that the show will begin soon… hasn’t come in yet. 1234 (Feist) has started playing though.

9:13: Lights dimmed. Mac and PC are celebrating the new year.

9:14: Steve is on stage. Reviewing 2007. Steve says Thank You to customers.

9:15: Leopard has shipped 5 million copies. Most successful release of Mac OS X ever. 20% of install base has already upgraded.

9:17: Office 2008 Mac officially launched today. Last big app to go native on Intel. Steve thanks Adobe, Microsoft.

9:18: Apple announces Time Machine companion. Time Capsule. Back-up appliance. Includes AirPort Extreme 802.11n base station and hard drive. Server-grade hard drive. Back up all the Macs in your house wirelessly to Time Capsule.

9:19: Two version, one with 500 GB hard drive, and 1 TB version. $299 and $499 respectively.

9:20: Plays new Time Machine ad.

9:21: iPhone. 200th day since launch. Sold 4 million to date. 20,000 a day on average.

9:22: Market share analysis. Apple gains 19.5% market share, only beaten by RIM at 39%. Almost beats Palm, Motorola, and Nokia combined.

9:23: SDK in February. But new update for iPhone available today. Adds Maps with location… firmware 1.1.3 basically. Webclips on home screen, customized home screens. SMS multiple people. Chapters, subtitles, and languages on video. Lyrics display on iPod.

9:26: Demoing Google Maps with My Location support.

9:28: Demoing Webclips (bookmarks on the home screen). Webclips support position and zoom (so your place on the page is stored, just like Dashboard Webclips on a Mac).

9:31: Explains My Location technology, how it works. Skyhook wireless enables My Location to work over Wi-Fi as well as cell location via Google.

9:33: 1.1.3 Available today. iPod touch to get all the iPhone apps (Mail, Maps, Stocks, Notes, and Weather).

9:35: But, have to pay $20 to get the iPhone’s apps on iPod touch apps via iTunes.

9:36: iTunes. 4 Billion songs sold. 20 Million songs sold on Christmas Day. 125 Million TV Shows sold. 7 Million movies sold. More than anyone else put together, but missed Apple’s expectations on movies. Apple thinks there’s a better way.

9:37: iTunes Movie Rentals. Touchstone, Miramax, MGM, Lions Gate, New Line all signed up. Oh, and WB, Fox, Disney, Paramont, Universal, and Sony too.

9:39: New releases and library titles as well available today.

9:40: Over 1000 films by February. Rentals will lag DVD releases by 30 days. Supports Mac, PC, iPod and iPhone. Rules: 30 days to start watching, and 24 hours to finish watching (as many times as you want).

9:41: Film can be moved around during rental period. $2.99 for library tiles, $3.99 for new titles.

9:42: Rentals can’t be in two places at once. iTunes moves them on and off of a device rather than copying. They only exist in one file location. Launches today with updates to iTunes, iPod, and iPhone.

9:43: Only current generation iPods supported by rentals.

But what about TV? Lots of companies have tried. “We’ve all missed. No one has succeeded yet.” Apple TV failed, “not what people wanted”.

9:44: Apple TV Take 2. No computer required (but you still can). Rent movies directly on widescreen TV. Rent in DVD and HD (with Dolby 5.1)!

9:45: Internet photo support, Flickr and .Mac as well as networked computers. YouTube expanded to over 50 million videos. Buy TV shows and music, syncs with iTunes on Mac and PC (if you have one paired).

9:46: Completely new user interface. One menu pops up in the center. “Couldn’t be simpler”.

9:47: Demoing Apple TV Take 2.

9:50: Rentals buffer and can start playing within a minute or two (with DVD quality).

9:51: Demoed HD download (Live Free or Die Hard). Apple TV Take 2 has store search functionality. Keyboard on screen works with remote. Search auto completes like on iTunes.

9:55: Demoing internet photo support on Apple TV Take 2. Movies stored on .Mac also play.

9:57: Demoing Flickr live on Apple TV Take 2. The demo hanged. The servers appear to be internal since the user names they are running of photos aren’t appearing on Flickr.com.

9:59: Demo confirms HD movie rentals are $1.00 extra.

10:00: Apple TV Take 2 is a free software upgrade. No new hardware. Price drop, $229 for standard version.

10:01: Apple TV Take 2 will be available for download and updating in two weeks.

10:02: “Great working relationship with Fox.” Introduces 20th Century Fox’s CEO, Jim Gianopulos. Talks business models, how Apple fits into it… two parts “make great movies” and “give it to as many people as we possibly can”. Basic enough “even a studio guy can understand it.” Homer Simpson in iPod dancer form, iPod replaced with doughnut.

10:06: Jim intros DVD. Preparing to talk about DVD integration into iTunes. Digital copy feature for iPod, iPhone, and Apple TV. Family Guy as previously leaked is first release.

10:07: 3rd of four things out of the way. Steve’s back on stage.

10:08: “There’s something in the air.” MacBook Air. World’s thinnest notebook ever.

10:10: “Other thin notebooks compromise. Small screens, miniature keyboard, slow processors, poor thermal envelopes.”

10:11: MacBook air size. .76-inches thick at the highest point, .16-inches thick at thinnest point. Thickest point still thinner than thinnest point on the Sony TZ series. Fits in document envelope…. like the one stilling on the stage the whole time.

10:12: Magnetic latch. full 13.3-inch widescreen display. LED backlit display, instant-on. iSight camera built-in. Full keyboard with black keys (system is all-aluminum otherwise). And yes, it’s backlit.

10:13: Generous trackpad with enhanced multi-touch features. New features available in System Preferences with video demos. Most gestures similar to iPhone gestures (pinch to zoom, flick to change photos).

10:16: Hard drive. Uses 1.8-inch same as iPod. 80 GB standard, optional 64 GB SSD. Battery integrated (not removable). Main logic board the size of a #2 pencil.

10:17: 1.6 GHz Core 2 Duo with optional 1.8 GHz upgrade. Smaller nanometer process (not specific, appears to be 45 nm).

10:18: Paul Otellini appears on stage. Re-announces 45nm Core 2 Duo.

10:19: Other features on MacBook Air. MagSafe charger, flip door to reveal USB 2.0 and Micro-DVI with headphone jack. 802.11n and Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR “Latest and greatest in wireless technology”. No CD-DVD drive. SuperDrive accessory available, USB powered at $99.

10:20: Explains most people won’t want an external disc drive. Wireless software install completes need. Remote Disc support will show optical drives on other Macs, allow you to use another system’s optical drive. Windows PCs too (with driver included with MacBook Air, even supports Mac discs on a PC).

10:23: Five hours of battery life on MacBook Air without external battery.

10:24: Price (1.6 GHz/80 GB HD)? $1799. Shipping in two weeks.

10:27: Apple battles back against eco-frauds. Will tout environmentally-sound features in each new product offering. Goes through all the chemicals MacBook Air doesn’t have. Smaller packaging, etc.

10:28: Four of four things so far. One more thing? Not yet, review of new Mac Pro, today’s announcements.

10:30: “Special treat”, Randy Newman plays… bashes President (something we’re used to at Macworld with show-end performers).

10:37: Yes, Randy Newman is still talking about current events with his world view. And playing more music. At least we’re back to Toy Story.

10:41: Steve returns to stage. That’s it. Show’s done… we’re off to the floor.