Apple has just announced that it’s leaving Macworld behind. The January edition of the technology trade show will be the last one to feature the company. Also, Apple CEO Steve Jobs and Macworld participants’ favorite showman won’t be giving one of his famous speeches.

This comes as a total and saddening surprise to many Apple product fans. The Macworld editions when the iPhone and iTunes were first unveiled have become some sort of mythical legends. In its press release, Apple contents itself with referring to this move as a simple business decision, a step that had to be taken because, these days, trade shows are no longer as vital for communicating with customers as in the past.

According to The Mercury News, experts say that Apple’s reasons for abandoning Macworld are pretty valid ones. Tim Bajarin from Creative Strategies had this to say: “Let's be clear, they get a lot of free press any time they announce new products, so I don't know if they're giving up anything.” The analyst also believes that Macworld’s timing “never made sense”. Indeed, Macworld takes place in January, when buyers need some rest from the holiday season’s bout of insane shopping. So Apple had to put on a show right when their lowest sales period was about to begin.

Besides, Apple’s past presentations created the impression that the company has some spectacular product to show each and every year. “Every Macworld can't have an iPhone,” IDC analyst Richard Shim said. “I think the pressure kind of got to them.”

As for Steve Jobs not putting up an appearance, some rumors indicated that he was not in very good health. Four years ago, he fought his way through a bout of pancreatic cancer and he did appear somewhat gaunt at a conference in June. Let us hope that this is not the reason why he won’t be showing up at next month’s Macworld.