Cell phone interference derails Adobe CS3 launch
- Shankland covered the tech industry for more than 25 years and was a science writer for five years before that. He has deep expertise in microprocessors, digital photography, computer hardware and software, internet standards, web technology, and more.
Ranking high on the list of a demo guy's worst nightmares, Adobe Systems' Tuesday announcement of its Creative Suite 3 software was derailed for more than 20 minutes by a technology glitch.
The display showing the company's demonstrations was garbled by static, and Adobe's Johnny Loiacono, who led the presentation, resorted to audience Q&A, chatting about the weather, and eventually calling an intermission while technicians tackled the problem. During the problem, audience members milled at the New York event and Webcast watchers were treated to groovy music.
When they presentation resumed, Loiacono blamed the problem on interference from somebody's mobile phone. "Someone in the room had their cell phone on. That's what caused the problem," he said.