It’s almost that time of the year again for us people interested in the world of digital media. The IBC event is scheduled to be held at the Amsterdam RAI starting the 11th of September and will end the 16th of September. Last year I and two colleagues went there to do research. Last week I discussed this year’s event with one of them telling him how much I would like to go again and how I realized that it most likely wasn’t going to happen. So we started all fantasizing about how great it would be if we could go to the other event in Las Vegas – of which I just now realize they don’t organize anymore – just for the heck of it.

But then suddenly a sound came out of my speakers at the office. A new e-mail had found its way to my mailbox. A message from my boss: “Please register for the IBC2008.” My heart stopped for a second, then I clicked the link in the e-mail and got myself signed up. Or at least I tried…

My colleague and I started filling out the form completing all the steps. Meanwhile, I did some research on other e-mails I’d received from IBC in which free registration links (Exhibition only) were posted. Just that day I received an e-mail stating that the period in which free registration was accepted had been extended. But somehow clicking that link overrides your current session with IBC.org and I could start all over again. So I completed the forms again to the last step, when I was asked how I would like to pay. What? No, wait! This isn’t right. So I broke the session once more with the previous link and got in. That was close!

The list of exhibitors is miles long, but to give an impression, here’s a small snippet of the ones I’m looking forward to:

• Adobe Systems
• Avid Technology Inc.
• Motorola
• Sennheiser Electronic GmbH & Co.KG
• Sony

If you’re wondering why Apple isn’t in the above list and are attending IBC2008 as well, then I have to disappoint you. Apple won’t be there this year. It could be the money spent on last year’s stand scared the management since they had some quite impressing stuff there – not to mention one of the largest areas. Or it could be that they just don’t see a good reason why they should be there, since Final Cut Pro – the software they promoted last year – has increased its market share and has lost its underdog position.

Fortunately there is enough to look forward to. Depending on the reason you’re there you might want to take a look at Adobe’s stand. I expect a lot from them, since they introduced the Adobe Media Player last year. After that I attended a couple of seminars organized by Adobe Systems Benelux talking about Actionscript 3.0 and AIR. One of the applications Serge Jespers “accidentally” let us notice was the TMF Player, which has been released just recently. I’m curious to what they have in store for us now.

Since I’m kind of a gadget freak, I think Motorola has some nice things to show to the world. They have really worked their way up the gadget ladder the last couple of years and have a lot to offer on the IPTV and streaming media market as well.

And Sennheiser, well, I don’t really need to explain that, do I?

Last but not least, Sony. Since I went to the IBC for the first time in 2002, Sony has always showed neat TV’s, camera’s and software. Not that I do anything with any of those products at the moment, but their representatives are always up for a nice chat and explain stuff in a way it’s understandable even if you’re not an expert.

I will probably increase the list of exhibitors, but truth is that the list is just too long to inspect entirely. I’ll have to get back to it.