CES Quintuples Apple's Presence for 2010

When Apple announced that it would no longer be attending Macworld Expo, CES took advantage of the situation and quickly announced that at CES 2010, there would be a special area desginated as the "iLounge" that would be geared specifically toward iPhone and iPod related accessories.

While the area of the "iLounge" was originally expected to take up around 4,000 square feet, intense demand has caused CES officials to more than quintuple the "iLounge" area to a space occupying over 25,000 square feet. Talk about making an entrance! The sheer size of the "iLounge" at CES 2010 is a clear sign that overall interest in Apple's platforms continues to grow.

While there have also been rumors which have Apple delivering a keynote presentation at CES, it seems unlikely that Apple would be willing to share the stage, and the spotlight, with other companies. Besides, when Apple first announced its pullout from Macworld, it bluntly stated in a press release that "trade shows have become a very minor part" of how they reach out and interact with customers.

Macworld Expo and CES Won't Compete for Attention in 2010

When Apple first announced its pull-out from Macworld, many of the Mac faithful were concerned that Macworld '10 and CES 2010, which typically take place during the same week, would end up leaving the Mac community disjointed, with some developers and Apple related manufacturers choosing to try their hands at CES, while others would remain true to their Macworld roots. This concern was subsequently alleviated when IDG announced in late March that Macworld Expo '10 would take place from Feb. 9-13, a few weeks later than when it's usually held, and about a month after CES gets underway in Las Vegas on January 7.