Wednesday September 5

Keynote

Normally on the morning of a big Apple product launch event I wake up early, stumble out of bed to my computer and attempt to open my eyes wide enough to read Engadget and MacRumors as they relay Steve Jobs' words to my screen. This morning's keynote was a little different.

This morning I woke up, showered, put on some nice clothes, got in my car, drove to San Francisco, and next thing you know I'm sitting in the fifth row of the Moscone Center waiting for Steve to walk on stage.

I have to admit I'm pretty jaded by most things that I experience in the tech industry these days, but this was one of the few times that I've felt like a little kid going to his first baseball game.

Apple was kind enough to invite myself and Dave Morin from Facebook to the event, telling us only that Steve would be browsing the Facebook iPhone site at some point in the presentation. Of course, I had no idea that Steve would actually be browsing Facebook on an iPod instead of an iPhone. That was the surreal part - there is Steve Jobs demoing Apple's flagship product, an amazing new iPod, and he chooses to show the NY Times, Bob Dylan, and my baby, the Facebook iPhone site! Is there a higher compliment you can receive in this industry?

After the keynote I had a chance to talk to Steve briefly, which was the equivalent of meeting Derek Jeter in the parking lot after a Yankees game. I don't exactly remember what I said, but what I would liked to have said is, "Thank you for making the mobile web kick ass!" Seriously, if people take anything away from seeing Facebook on stage at this event, it is that the mobile web isn't just about old websites like the NY Times, it's about social websites designed to fit in your hand and keep you connected at a glance. The iPhone and now the iPod Touch make it so much fun to create these kinds of websites, and I can't wait to see what we come up with next. Thanks, Apple, and thanks, Steve!