It's hard to gauge the impact when Intel hasn't outlined its replacements. However, it'll definitely change how and when you hear big news from the chip giant. Instead of getting a slew of announcements all at once, you may see them scattered more evenly throughout the year. And for developers, this could prove to be a headache. If you're writing apps to take advantage of the latest Intel processors, do you have to go to multiple events to get the knowledge you'd normally find at one? That's assuming you get an event in the first place, of course.

Those concerns aside, Intel's decision to axe IDF isn't shocking. It's really part of a larger, years-long trend. Apple, Microsoft and other big names have gradually moved away from unveiling everything at a handful of major events (such as Macworld and CES) toward smaller gigs that help them draw more attention to the product du jour. The big difference is that Intel has always been in control of the Developer Forum while other companies were frequently beholden to outsiders. It just wasn't in a rush to shake up its event strategy until now.