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A visit to the Macworld 2012 floor (photos)

I had the chance to walk the floor at Macworld 2012 and visit with some old software developer friends and make some new ones. Though it wasn't as big as previous years, both the presenters and guests seemed excited to check out the latest products associated with Apple.

Jason Parker
Jason Parker has been at CNET for nearly 15 years. He is the senior editor in charge of iOS software and has become an expert reviewer of the software that runs on each new Apple device. He now spends most of his time covering Apple iOS releases and third-party apps.
Jason Parker
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1 of 17 Jason Parker/CNET

Macworld 2012 outside

Macworld 2012 took place this year at Moscone West, a smaller venue than both Moscone North and South (the location of several previous Macworlds), but plenty of people were on hand for big discounts and to see the latest wares.
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Moscone North--lobby

Just outside the show floor, people lined up to register, schedule talks with industry leaders, and take a break to talk about what they had seen inside.
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Macworld--on the show floor

Though the smaller venue probably exaggerated the crowds, there were plenty of excited vendors and show visitors checking out all the latest gear.
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Not as many big names

Gone are the days of giant Apple displays (Apple's last Macworld was in 2009) and there weren't very many of the big-name vendors either, but some companies like HP and the New York Times came to greet potential new customers.
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Third-party vendors out in force

Though the big kiosks were not on display, plenty of third-party vendors made the trip to Macworld. Bang and Olufsen--a company that makes unique-looking sound systems and other hardware--showed off a 360-degree sound system. Just dock your iPad and the whole room gets the full sound experience.
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All about audio

AllJack was also in attendance, showing off probably the most interesting sound system at the show. Though I'm not sure I would want these garish speakers in my living room, I'm sure there's an audience for AllJack's wares.
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Cases, cases, and more cases

Whether you want to protect your iPad or call attention to your iPhone, just about every case imaginable was on display. These particularly fancy cases from Hub Innovations were "embellished with Swarovski crystals," according to the Web site. I think it's required you carry a toy poodle with you at all times to have a case like this.
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Case or wallet?

This particular case from iLid was both thin and sturdy and you could open a door to access your credit cards, an extra key, and other items. The guys who invented the item are currently on Kickstarter trying to raise money, and I think they've got a great chance at success with this concept.
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Also? Cases

The folks from SlickWraps had some great-looking cases on display, as well as designer adhesive "wraps" you can attach to your iPhone and other iOS devices for a unique look.
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Did I mention cases?

Snaptotes was showing off laptop and iPad bags that had actual photos superimposed on them.
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iPhone app developers, but not too many

In one corner of the show floor, a big circle of kiosks were operated by various iPhone app vendors. I talked to those both new to the app business and seasoned veterans of the iTunes App Store. All were excited about their latest products.
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Mac software vendors

In the Mac software vendor aisle were several big names I recognized, and just about everyone had a special discount to tout.
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Almost famous

I ran into Paul Levine from Rage Software. After some talking about his products we realized that I had promoted his software at Download.com when he created it at the age of 14 (2002), which led him to pursue a life as a software developer. I take no credit for his success (his products are very good), but it was still good to hear. He even had someone take a picture of us together!
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What are you selling again?

In the middle of the show floor was a trampoline with scantily clad people showing off their acrobatic skills. Crowds gathered to watch them pull off amazing tricks, but it took me a second to look up and realize it was Polk Audio selling headphones for sports and exercise.
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OmniGroup shows off OmniFocus

The folks at OmniGroup, a small group of developers with well-polished software I have promoted many times on Download.com for its style and functionality, were showing off their latest version of OmniFocus for Mac and iPhone.
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ZeoBit and I sit down

ZeoBit, maker of MacKeeper, an all-in-one maintenance suite to keep your Mac fast and secure was at the show as well. I sat down with Jeremiah Fowler, PR director, and discussed the software at length. Check back for a review in the near future once I get a good look.
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Pulling out all the stops

The folks from TuneUp Media came to the show with this sweet 1979 Volkswagen van. The company's software helps you clean up dupes, find cover art, and accomplish other useful tasks in iTunes. Last I checked, TuneUp was pretty good as an iTunes add-on, but the manager pointed out that it's even better with the most recent update. I'll have a look, but it was hard to stop looking at that van.

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