As Macworld closes for another year, here are my reflections on a show of surprises and omissions.

iPhone

The star of the show has to be the iPhone, yet it's the first Expo I can remember where a product has been announced before it's available. Not only is it frustrating for consumers but it also gives a long lead time for competitors to line up their iPhone alternatives - and you can bet that they're doing just that.

Some are calling the iPhone 'vapourware' because the product can't be bought. In fact, you'd be lucky to just touch one.

Apple TV

Apple TV had been announced last year, and whilst it got its share of limelight in Jobs' keynote, as soon as the iPhone was announced, it's fair to say that most people forgot about it.

That's not to say that it's an unimpressive piece of kit, though I have my doubts about how it will fare in a UK market.

Yes the iPhone does exist and it is not a collective hallucination of the people who attended MacWorld last week and the thousands who watched the launch on the web.

The proof is here courtesy of CBS News who secured a demo from Apple. First thoughts are it looks pretty impressive but I can’t remember the last time I used a phone two-handed. So can you operate it with one hand? Does it matter? Guess we’ll have to wait until we get our own to play with before that question can be answered.

It is amazing though that it seems to be the only legit vid of the iPhone on YouTube. Apple is certainly keeping the handset very close to its chest for the time being.

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Tursiogear used Macworld to show off their new Portago case that allows 5th generation video iPods to connect to a broad range of output devices, whilst serving as a protective case, charger, and dock.

It comes with a remote for controlling the iPod at a distance. It offers various output ports, including S-Video, AV line out, and a 30-pin dock connector.

The click-wheel is accessible through a window in the case door, whilst a clear cover protects the screen. It also features a retractable power outlet plug, plus an adaptor insert to accommodate the thinner 30GB video iPod.

Tune Belt's products aren't new but they have evolved with the iPod range, allowing you to wear pretty much any of them in full view on your wrist. Ideal for workouts, and for mugging invitations.

They offer a wristband carrier and a belt case for the iPod nano, plus an armband for the shuffle.

Kensington have introduced their latest Bluetooth-compatible wireless notebook mouse, the Si670m. It is designed for the growing number of notebook computers with built-in Bluetooth, so doesn't come with a USB receiver of its own.

Fujitsu have been showing off an enhanced model of its award-winning ScanSnap scanning solution for Mac, the S500M.

It boasts 20% faster scanning speeds - up to 18ppm for single-sided documents and 36 images per minute for double-sided ones - improved automatic paper size detection, and a new design that complements modern Mac computers. It can also handle optical character recognition (OCR) and business card reading with a free mail-in offer to receive ReadIris Pro v11 and CardIris 3.5. Hopefully this offer will extend to the UK.

ezGear has announced the ezWake Alarm Clock specifically designed for the iPod. Not surprisingly, it's another speaker dock with clock.

This one features a bright blue LED display with dimmer, easy to use controls, and a wireless remote control.

It works with all models of iPod, has a built-in battery for time backup, and the LCD displays time, mode, alarm, radio station, and iPod and sleep icons. The alarm can be set to iPod, radio, buzzer, or an external audio source.

ezGear unveiled their latest model of their ezVision "Video iWear" which offers four times the resolution of their standard ezVision glasses. Additionally, they also now simulate a 62 inch screen viewed from 8.5 foot away.

They can display 922,000 pixels, are ultra light in weight (60g), and have built-in stereo audio delivered through high quality earphones. It's ready to connect to your video iPod via the supplied interconnect cable.

The "Best of Show" winners for Macworld 2007 have been announced and featured in a live presentation this afternoon. Hosted by Macworld VP/Editor in Chief Jason Snell and Macworld.com News Director Jim Dalrymple, the 11 winners were announced through short video clips created by the editors discussing the award-winning attributes of honorees interspersed with live demos on stage.

Without further ado, the 11 winners were:

Truly a gadget for the super (anally) organised, the IntelliScanner is a "Mini Home Organisation Scanner" which means it will happily scan and then help organise your home collections - not just the more obvious things like CDs, DVDs and books, but wine, groceries and comics.

The IntelliScanner Corporation say that they're the worldwide leader in smart organisation scanners for home and business. Good to know...

This offering is about the size of a car keyfob, and uses barcode technology and AutoFill item identification. Ahh, so you probably won't be able to categorise any collection without barcodes on - drawing them on yourself with a rolling-ruler and a biro probably won't cut it.

G-Technology have unveiled their G-MINI hard drive and hub, styled to stack underneath the Mac mini.

G-MINI features up to a 750GB 7200RPM hard drive, plus a 3-port FireWire 400 repeater and a 3-port USB 2.0 hub.

Now that the Apple TV is very much on its way, expect to see a wave of products to complement it.

First up is XtremeMac's range of audio and video cables, plus a four-port HDMI switcher, at prices they say are far below industry average.

Parallels have announced that an update to their Parallels Desktop software has been named "Best in Show" at Macworld Expo, an award that is presented to the most elite of the several thousand products and services being exhibited.

This update to the software that allows Windows and Linux to run on an Intel-based Mac with Mac OS X without needing to reboot the machine has some improved features:

Blackmagic Design have announced the release of their DeckLink HD Studio, a product that they're claiming is the world's first post-production grade HDMI and analogue component capture card.

In other words, it will allow your PC or Mac to capture the raw output from both HDMI and analogue camcorders, decks, and set top boxes, as well as being able to playback edited footage on any digital or analogue monitor with HDMI or analogue inputs.

I'm sure there are plenty of Mac users who've wished that Apple would create a tablet version of their notebook computers, but so far it hasn't happened.

Axiotron to the rescue, who seem to have done a fantastic job at converting the latest MacBook machines into ModBooks - Mac OS X based tablet computers.

The ModBook is an 'after-market hardware modification solution' - in other words they buy 'em in as MacBooks and do the modifications, giving the new creations pen input, 13.3" wide screen LCD, and optional GPS, in a tough, satin chrome-plated magnesium top shell. Everything else that makes the MacBook what it is remains.

VMWare took the opportunity at Macworld to demonstrate a beta version of its Fusion software, which gives Intel-based Macs using OS X the ability to run Windows, Linux or Solaris virtual machines.

As reported by Dr Dobb's Portal, the virtualisation engine won't be available until the summer, but it is available for free download from the VMWare site.

CodeWeavers have announced that their CrossOver Mac software is available, allowing users of Mac OS X to run Windows applications natively without having to buy and install the expensive Windows OS, or fiddle around with dual-booting.

Once loaded, the utility integrates seamlessly within Mac OS X, and users simply load in Windows-based application CDs/DVDs, then launched as any other Mac application would be.

3Dconnexion (part of Logitech) announced today that beta software is available for the Mac that allows use of the SpaceNavigator 3D navigation device.

The SpaceNavigator offers 3D designers intuitive and powerful 3D navigational control, and so it seems like a perfect fit to make software available for the Mac, an important graphics design platform.

Belkin have introduced their new uniquely designed laptop cooling stand.

It's powered by a spare USB port on your computer, and its wave design creates a channel between the laptop and the stand to assist in natural airflow. The Cooling Stand takes advantage of the fact that heat rises, by pushing hot air upwards through the channel.

Belkin have introduced a product specifically for when the lights go out and the power's down. The Battery Backup with Flashlight is designed to protect your valuable equipment and data, plus ensure that you don't trip over it because you can't see anything.

The detachable flashlight turns on immediately when the power goes off, providing you with a convenient, portable light source, whilst the Battery Backup keeps your connected equipment on, giving you ample time to shut down and prevent any data loss or hardware damage.