Headline Feeds
Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) Expo 2004 will open its doors for the 21st time in Paris, France, from August 31 through September 4 with a broad lineup, including a special focus on corporate IT, and to an expected 70,000 visitors.
The Expo, being held at the Porte de Versailles, will sharply focus on Apple's European marketplace, even to the point of including special press displays restricted to European journalists.
The Expo will feature 125 exhibitors, many of them high-profile ones, including Adobe, Dantz, Hewlett-Packard (NYSE: HPQ) France, Oracle (Nasdaq: ORCL), Sybase (NYSE: SY) and Xerox. Particular emphasis at this year's expo is being placed on corporate information technology, including offerings for mobile, corporate and Internet service providers.
Keynote Speaker
Apple CEO Steve Jobs had been expected to be the keynote speaker for the 2004 Expo, but after the surprise announcement that he is being treated for pancreatic cancer, he was withdrawn. Unconfirmed reports now say that Apple Vice President Phil Schiller will take Jobs' place at the podium.
It also is expected that the new G5-based iMac will be released in conjunction with the conference.
The conference is organized to offer tailored strategy centers for distinct audiences with whom Apple has traditionally been popular. These include booths with interactive presentations for design and graphics, education and OS X developer professionals.
Apple is also looking to capitalize on new markets by catering to small- and medium-size businesses and the health care industry. (According to an Apple source cited on the Expo Web site, Apple is strengthening its presence in the health care industry. Statistics show that in France alone, the Mac is being used by up to 25 percent of doctors, 15 percent of dentists and 12 percent of physiotherapists and nurses.)
Customized Conference 'Trails'
The Expo is also configuring access via "trails" designed along areas of interest, specifically identifying conference sessions and exhibitors for users based on their preferences.
The Professional Solutions trail will cover topics and vendors in the creative, educational, Internet, wireless and mobility, and small/medium business sectors. The trail will guide participants to optimal content and displays in that category.
The Entertainment trail addresses gaming, Internet, wireless and mobility, music, and photography and digital video.
Special Interests
Attempting to inject some fun into the conference, several special events will occur during the Expo. They will include:
The final day of the show, Saturday, September 4, will be set aside for exclusive VIP access for selected general visitors only.
The Expo will include forums that cover a variety of topics and are chaired by well-known professionals and personalities from the worlds of music, film, photography and more.
Talkback: 
