Apple has just put out a press release announcing this year is the last year the company will exhibit at Macworld. Moreover, there will not be a final "one more thing" from Steve Jobs, who will not be delivering the keynote. In his stead, Phil Schiller will take over keynote duties.

Apple is reaching more people in more ways than ever before, so like many companies, trade shows have become a very minor part of how Apple reaches its customers. The increasing popularity of Apple’s Retail Stores, which more than 3.5 million people visit every week, and the Apple.com website enable Apple to directly reach more than a hundred million customers around the world in innovative new ways.