The struggling economy took a tangible toll on the local convention industry this week when Ziff Davis Media canceled its annual consumer technology fest DigitalLife Expo in New York.
A lack of interest in this year's show, which had been scheduled for September 25 to 28 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, prompted organizers to take more time to rethink the 2009 incarnation. In years past, DigitalLife served as a platform for the holiday push, where tech enthusiasts and consumer press could check out the industry’s latest offerings. The last two years, in particular, had seen an increased focus on gaming.
"The poor economic conditions have created a very different and difficult dynamic for us this year, and we weren't confident that we could present a show experience that was consistent with the successes of prior years," DigitalLife vice president Paul O'Reilly said in an emailed statement first published by CNET News.
DigitalLife maintains that the move is merely a postponement and not an actual cancellation, but there aren't any plans or dates for a 2009 expo yet.
