So, exactly what is Apple releasing tomorrow at MWSF?
By Ryan Block 
posted Jan 9th 2006 9:02AM
posted Jan 9th 2006 9:02AM
We've
been following the Apple rumors for months and weeks
leading up to tomorrow's Macworld SF Jobs keynote, and now that CES is over, everybody and their mama's weighing in on
what they think Jobs has got up his sleeve. Even the biggies had something to say like Reuters, who today vaguely
pontificated that it could be updated laptop, mini, and/or Xserve lines, according to analysts. We've heard it all at
this point -- color iPod shuffles, Intel iBooks,
widescreen iBooks, a DVR /
home-entertainment centric Mac mini, even Apple plasma HDTVs --
but we have a feeling the rumor mill isn't about to stop churning between now and when His Steveness gets up on stage, so
we'll put it to you guys: what do you think Job's is going to launch tomorrow? Let the (conspiracy) theories begin.
A few software updates and that is it.
Apple will have to say something about laptops with most PC makers going to Dual-core, but i wanna see an iSight in the laptops, which might come to the ibooks and Powerbooks
One word that anyone seems to be forgotten: Leopard
an apple smartphone running mac os X smartphone edition, to run on cingular's HSDPA network, with qvga resolution.
Intel Laptops! *crosses fingers* I've been in need of a n apple laptop.
I'm hoping it'll be the new Intel based mini mac. Because I want one!!
Well..
either there is something fricking hot nobody thought of or there is nothing that cool at all.
what about intel ibook tablet PC? half height dual head mac mini? new apple 30 inch with better specs than dells 3007? boiled-down shuffle? scratch-resistent ipod nano?
Well, nothing of that is going to happen very likely but I think Apple should better put out some real killer stuff instead of just doing the same things over and over again
Mac tablet platform (to enchance on-the-go video beyond the small screen of the video iPod)
New .Mac updates
Steve Jobs: candidate for US presidency
and
another new iPod. With a camera. And a wireless signal.
Well..
either there is something fricking hot nobody thought of or there is nothing that cool at all.
what about intel ibook tablet PC? half height dual head mac mini? new apple 30 inch with better specs than dells 3007? boiled-down shuffle? scratch-resistent ipod nano?
Well, nothing of that is going to happen very likely but I think Apple should better put out some real killer stuff instead of just doing the same things over and over again
Home media box / DVR
The video deal with ABC & CBS may have paved the way for Apple to be the leader in on-demand distribution.
An apple phone with itunes and some media center tech like a new front row with hardware features
An Apple game console to blow xbox 360 and ps3 out of the water!
Intel Mac Mini and possibly some Intel laptops. I don't believe that Apple has had enough time to play with Intel's processors (including ViiV or whatever) to come out with anything radically new. Of course, I could be wrong and they could come up with something radically new to launch the new processor line...
They are dropping everything apart from a new Windows version of iWork
A Newton PDA with
2 Gigabytes of internal Nand Flash Memory
Wifi
Blue tooth 1.2
640x480 screen
1.3 mega pixel camera
voice recorder
vibrating alarm
voice to text
User replacable battery
All in a package the size of the new ipods:)
everything my Palm is and wish it would be
They'll show off some hardware like an Intel iBook, but it won't ship until mid-year. No DVR, no FrontRow 2, no Apple Plasma. Maybe a peek at 10.5, but since that is more a developer thing, I can't imagine Apple spoiling it before WWDC. I'd imagine a new iLife and iWork update, but all told, this one is going to be kind of boring.
The one more thing ... how about an Airport express-like device that allows video streaming? Jobs has said repeatedly that he doesn't believe in the "computer in the living room" type of media center. That would fulfill his vision of content being stored on the computer while being enjoyed in the living room...
I gotta say, this is one MacWorld that I really haven't heard anything about, nor am I particularly interested in it. I'll still keep up with the announcements and stuff, but... meh.
iphone
I hope we will se:
An Apple made mobile phone...
New Cinema LCD Displays
this would be cool if it included video and stills: http://ipodcamera.com
There will definately be an update to the .mac service. It's going to be down durring his keynote so it'll probably come back up with better features.
iLife 06, iPod speaker system, Shuffle w/ some small display, Intel-iBook (with iSight integrated) and Intel Mini w/ Front Row for the TV/living room with streaming connection to the Mac.
id love to see something to rival windows media centre edition...i.e. frontrow with TV function
all i want is a friggin BLUETOOTH MIGHTY MOUSE.......
I wrote a suggestion to apple when the news of MTV and Microsoft broke;
The Suggestion was:
An all apple TV/Cable network channel that caters to all type of music and not one genre of music over the other; like the old MTV used to be (lots of Rock, Pop Hip hop; a fair blend of each etc...)
Apple commercials with all of the apple products. Live broadcast Keynotes, Apple TV where they'll do in depth instruction on each of the applications.
In the end I felt they'd save more money doing that than spending so much money on advertising.
Tie all that together with a download service right to your television (ipod docked in for the music and video) and Hard drive built in to television set to Dload your Final Cut pro and Logic and get to work on a massive screen.
Hey; nobody said I couldn't be a mad scientist with my feedback suggestions........
Hey' I'd sign up for the channel in a heartbeat and sell the house and the car for the magic TV with the Ipod Dock and Hard drive!
The Imac G5 wasn't so far off (just make the screen 50 - 60 inches and you have one hell of a PC)
Until tomorrow............
(Shameless plug below)
Check out my new insane Audio Edit Mayhem Cut up of System of a downs hypnotize.
www.cluburbandance.com (streaming music player)
Music for the open minded
A black Ibook... to go with my Black ipod
I expect they'll show the first x86-based Macs. If it's true that they've had OS X running on x86 for years, then they don't have a lot of engineering to do here; the only trick is locking it down so that we can't put OS X on a whitebox.
At least one of the x86 boxen will be dual-core, maybe even with two CPUs.
Even if they aren't ready to ship Mac86, I'm sure they'll have a demo, with applications compiled for x86 to show off how much of a speed boost they're getting. They'll probably cherry-pick an application or two that actually outperforms the corresponding app on Windows.
#12 - you're such a buzz killer. :(
how soon we forget the ipod nano... it's very possible that Apple could have something up it's sleves... then again, they may not. :)
I'm hoping for an update for my powerbook that will make it run faster on its 1ghz processor, but holding my breath is out of the question! :)
In keeping with the spirit of many other reasonable and likely predictions, I foresee Apple CEO Steve Jobs taking the stage and announcing the release of their latest consumer gadget: the iTime. Though it will be Apple's first foray into this market, the iTime will run a custom build of Mac OS X 10.4 and sport the newest in Intel technology. Using the iTime, users will be able to accelerate their Macs to 88 miles per hour (approx. 142 km/h), frying its PRAM and sending the Mac user back to January 1, 1970. A new compatibility layer, TARDIS, allows the Mac user to defy Chronology Protection Agencies and otherwise engage in wacky hijinks. The iTime is expected to ship starting in early March and at a price of $199.
i don't care anymore, let's sleep until tomorrow and it will finally be over... until june.
A new line of notebooks, to replace both the iBook and Powerbook ranges, that'll come in both black and white, have moderatly good intel chips and have the same feel as the iPod nano along with some revolutionary feature, like flash boot drives.
Either that or you'll see a new iLife suite, that will have a new unified or iTunes appearance.
Apple really, and I mean REALLY, needs to breath new life into their laptop line. They've created a sleeker iMac, a nuclear powered Quad G5, a reworked mac mini. They need to do something with the laptops. Whether they're Intel powered or not, they have to do it.
A UFO! Or something similar thats gonna max out everyones Credit Cards :)
I'm guessing an apple pda.
The Intel Mac mini with multimedia capabilities (not so sure of the DVR)
Intel iBook, slimmer and different screen sizes
minor updates to iPod shuffle (maybe color)
not more 1Gb shuffle, instead 1 Gb nano
iWork'06 and iLive'06 (with iWeb)
AirPort Express with video and IR (for apple's remote)
TV with integrated digital multimedia functions (like HP's) and connectivity to the new media features to be revealed
Movie downloads, and probably PPV (or something like IPTV)
"iPod companion" consumer electronics like a boom box or other stuff
Apple will buy Reality Distortion Fields Inc. (from Jobs himself) and new apple products will include a Portable RDF.
Some features will be revealed about Mac OS 10.5, and 10.4.4 will be released
.mac is 100% getting an upgrade...I will bet anything on it!
2 reasons:
1) .mac is going to be down during the keynote
2) Amazon.com is selling .mac 3.5 already(new version!)
1. Plasma Inteligent HDTV
*************************
A large Plasma HDTV set with the ability to play and burn DVDs, import and play audio CDs, import and display digital photos and movies, analogue and digital TV tuner all from a Front Row-esque interface.
OS X will not be installed on this unit, just the media elements, although media will be available wirelessly on OS X or Windows XP machines.
Big new feature will be the ability to stream real-time DVD-quality movies directly to the screen via the upgraded .Mac service. Various movies will be avalialbe straight away, inc. all of Pixars!
Will be priced roughly the same as an average Plasma HDTV and will be sold with a catch line, something like, "Same price as an HDTV, but with all this extra lovely stuff"
Will be US only, initially
Price - ~$3,500
2. Intelligent HDTV Set-top Box
*******************************
Will sport the same features as above, but will be in a set-top box, for pluggin in to HDTVs or standard TVs.
Will not have full OS X on it either.
US only initially.
Price - ~$499
3. iBook Intel
**************
Will sport a new form-factor that will mimick the current generation iPods and the iMac. Its top will be set in a layer of see-through plastic and a lower layer of white plastic and the lower halve will be set in stainless steel and white plastic.
Will be capable of using the new video .Mac services via its built-in wireless networking.
There will be some virtualisation software which allows Windows to run natively in OS X.
Will sport much nicer screens than current iBooks. Widescreen.
Price - New low price for base model: $799, then $1,299 for the top-end model.
4. iLife '06
************
Garageband 3.0
iPhoto 6.0
iTunes 6.0 (already released)
iMovie HD 2.0
iDVD 6.0
iWeb (?) - A new easy to use web-design application with lovely looking templates.
Will support blogging, various standard php-based forms and some kind of database functionality.
Will tie into an upgraded .Mac service that will offer mySQL and PHP, although this will be invisible to the user from iWeb. It will just work.
Price - Free with Macs or $79 to buy separately, .Mac price will be reduced ~20%
5. iWork '06
************
Pages 2.0
Keynote 3.0
Calc (?) 1.0 - A new speadsheet program with a nice selection of good-looking templates, useful for home-users / small businesses
Price - $79
That's all folks! Here's hoping this comes true!
I think most people are going to be a bit underwhelmed:
Software updates,
bigger Nano,
Shuffle gone or reworked,
maybe a bigger screen "VideoPod",
promise of low-end Mactel powerbooks and macmini that wont be available until spring time (All the hype of the new Yonah chips is already been chewed up from CES last week.),
tweaking of processor speed on PowerMacs & iMacs,
new pricing on monitors,
the big emphasis will be on better video-on-demand; but that is old news, too, now with Google, Yahoo and Microsoft throwing a new "whos knows whats going to happen" wrench in there.
Its going to be a ho-hum event with the biggest news regarding hardware months away before anyone can own it.
---------
I would like to see an iPod that has iTunes built (and wi-fi) in and hooks directly to the internet so one would not even need a computer to download things.
iBrator...use your imagination. It's the one area Apple hasn't yet proprietaopolized, and with the safe 'round corners' look to everything it'll be inviting too!
But honestly, probably a spank-nasty, newer, smaller, faster, iPod in a phone.
Downloadable content to the Mac Mini DVR.
http://www.macrumors.com/pages/2006/01/20060105114200.shtml
#27 - Something that will max out everyone's credits cards is the only dead-on accurate prediction that I have seen on this feedback. LOL indeed.
Is there a webcast or at least some guy with a crappy videocamera, so that we can see this "Oscar of the product presentation" at least after the show?
new wifi remote iSight, a new bluetooth watch phone, bluetooth ipod, a new movie download service called iVideo, intel macs, pirates of silicon valley part 2, New Blue-Ray update, Stock split, apple free internet service around the world! and the retirement of Mr. Jobs.
what about a real 16:9 aspect ratio video ipod seeing as video downloads have been through the roof and that is exactly what sir steevie wanted to see. this kind of goes along with the dvr/media center mac mini. An intel powerbook would be fantastic though
If Apple doesn't have a major out of the park a announcement will their be negative fall-out? CES set the stage for numerous companies to be basically in line with where Apple is now -- what is apple going to do to retain the lead?
New intel laptops? So last year. *Yawn*
iPod ready boom-box? How 80's. *Yawn*
iPod Shuffle replacement? Does the world need another same-old iPod? *Yawn*
More content providers? Yes, please, I want to watch Golden Girls on my iPod video while I'm at work. *Yawn*
To retain the lead in terms of vision, Apple needs to just overwhelm the industry, especially coming on the heals of CES.
I have this sinking feeling that Apple is going to underwhelm -- I hope I'm wrong. Real convergence of TV's and computers is getting oh so close and Apple has the ability to bring it together. Not just let me hook my computer up to the TV, but make it the content hub. Give me a real reason to buy a computer for the sole purpose of sitting it next to the computer.
Will they? Depends on what kind of company they are going to be? Are they really going to be a media company? Then lets see some real audio and video convergence products -- not just a AirPort Express Video.
While they can ride the iPod / iTMS craze for a few more years, it just can't last without another big inovation (in the area of video) -- to many other companies are trying to bring them down.
the only thing we can be sure of is some intel macs. whether portable or desktop - there will be intel macs there, and there may even be announcements as to launch dates...
I think personally they're going to play with the Nano....remember the memory for the nano is on a card. hehe. I'm thinking that the Shuffle is gone. Poof, dead. Only shuffle available will be the 512. And the Nano...i know its new..i know i know! will be available as 1 gig, 4 gig and 8 gig. Or some form of memory configuration that makes more sense..... but no more 2 and 4. I'm thinking MORE.
The mini will be demo'd as the intel mini....available in "spring"
and the 1 more thing? intel powerbook....shipping same day as the new mini.
.Mac will be refreshed and the iTablet will arrive. ;)
Easiest prediction and I'm surprised nobody's made it:
iTunes Music Store changes name to iTunes Store or iStore, given that it's no longer just music.
Hoping for:
Apple TV with upgradable Mac mini "pod," so that we're not locked into 2006 computer on a TV that'll look good for 7-10 years.
Apple phone, so I can win a $50 bet that's coming due in February.
Aperture Express, at $99, or better cataloging inside iPhoto for the cost of the upgrade.
Completely new iBook range:
- widescreen
- intel-powered
- frontrow
- tv tuner intergration
- new black colour
iPod shuffle with a screen (pretty much the same form factor)
MUCH MUCH more "international" iTunes video content
... an iPhone would completely take the light off the iPod Video - unless it was a scaled down version. which, as you all know, is already available in the flop - the Rokr.
My 3g iPod never gave more than 2.5 hours battery life (quoted 8) now - after two years - the screen has just given up the ghost. But as I don't live in the good old US of A - Steve and his lawyer buddies couldn't care less.
My buddy's iPod Photo just broke after 17 months - and the customer service line at Apple Ireland basically told her to go jump off a cliff.
My brother's iMac G5 has started crashing all the time after 1 year - once again Apple say 'Not my problem'.
I don't want a plasma screen Mac Mini or a video-playing Nano - I just want my 2003 $400 original iPod to do what it was supposed to. My 2001 Nokia mobile is still working, so is my 1992 Panasonic Walkman, so is my 1984 Toshiba MSX computer, so is my 1978 Sony reel-to-reel. I bet that the 1984 Apple Macintosh I learned to type on at school still works somewhere so why not my freakin two-year-old iPod?
I hope that Steve's keynote offers to transform Apple into a company that stops screwing its biggest fans ie its customers.
Guys, I actually got the script of Steve's keynote right here on my desk (we're good friends, or something)
>
Steve: Welcome to the Macworld Expo. I'd like to talk to you about iTunes. We've currently got 8 billion songs available and like 400 million videos. Thanks to all of you, I now have enough money to purchase the solar system. You've purchased almost 10 trajillion songs on iTunes. As a result, we're going to have some sort of wicked cool contest. The winner gets to live in my house for a month.
Steve: Well, that's it. We actually have NOTHING new to offer. If we did, it'd already be leaked. See you in six months.
*drum roll*
All new macs will use the Windows Vista O/S.
just kidding (i hope)
Apple are going to let the world down tomorrow I'm afraid - it'll just be a minor run of the mill update to some software - iLife '06 is a given, and maybe a small change to OSX.
Of course I hope I'm completely incorrect :)
I have a feeling Apple knew everybody would be hungry for HD after this CES.... and TiVo was surprisingly quiet in spite of introducing the series 3 machines, complete with cable card and HD... wild prediction: cable card slots and TiVo on MacIntel-- total HD solution available now.
Steve will say: "Sorry, my bad, I meant THIS year is the year of HD"
Apple go subscription with music and video with content stored on .mac and streamed through iWeb?
I'll bet at the very least we'll see some sort of recording device for the new iPod - the specs, after all, state that it can do voice recording at 44.1 KHz, stereo.
An Apple MVNO
A few phones and plans to get the company in a better position in the mobile world.
maybe iTalk?
Maybe during the coincidental down time of .Mac tomorrow, users will finally get that all important feature back which they PAID for, Virex. Or, more likely, Jobs is just shutting down the system for a few hours so he can demonstrate an updated iDisk with more than 1kbps transfer speed.
I mean really how many Ipods can there be? They need to release soemthing totally new and hot
I predict a new iPod with built-in Sirius connectivity...
An apple TV / tablet / big iPod / half laptop type thing to play the downloaded TV shows.
iBook shuffle. An intel based iBook, with no display.
WiFi/WiMax iPhone. Apple got so burned with the ROKR that they have a incentive to come up with a disruptive device.
Based on Video iPod. Skype compatible.
The iBook Nano? All flash based, no HD; Built in iSight; scratchable to the point of stupidity and running on Intel.
i agree with Scott regarding the flash boot drives. the new apple laptops will have an easy 10 hours of continuous use and have an instant-on features. YESSS, if that happens i will have my first apple product ever!! it gotta be tiny though.
the ipod peque?
j(and what's with the two "add your comments" forms)
Humm...
What I want: Apple PDA or micro-laptop
What we'll likely see: Apple Media iProducts (mini's or HDTV/Plasma), iLife '06.
What we'll not likely see: Laptops (though I wish).
iChrist.
Only 1 person seems to have mentioned the obvious - updates to the Nano line. They've not available on the Apple UK online store for 3 days, coincidence? I think 4gb and 8gb versions will replace the current 2gb and 4gb, with maybe smaller spec updates too. Ebuyer have been frantically selling off the current Nanos, so I guess they're old tech needing cleared out
Topics like this must be a gold mine of ideas for Apple.
software stuff, movies on itunes, mac mini like media center for ultimate home theatre experience (i'm guessing a mac mini with front row), new ipod shuffle, and possible widescreen notebook and hd dvd player.
Shouldn't Engadget already know what is up the Jobs man sleeve.
Most likely it will be something that we don't need, 1/2 or the world will love it and the other 1/2 will think its too expensive.
I think it might be a laptop, as of late those devices haven't seen much change and need some attention.
iCowbell...
A new Steve Jobs with built in BlueTooth(tm) and longer running battery. Now everyone can have a Steve Jobs without the mess of cables. Also a smaller Steve Jobs without a screen that fits inside your pocket will be announced.
I WANT MY FRACKING DUAL CORE POWERBOOK DAMN IT!!
I am hoping for a 6 GB and 8 GB Nano. 4 just doesn't cut it for me.
Oh gawd ... please don't remind me ... so anxious to find out ... darn it Engadget!!
All in all tho, I really just want to see Steve Jobs healthy on stage, I don't even care what stuff they have in store anymore ...
(*Great CES coverage BTW!!!)
Announce that they will stop re-vamping their products! Main reason why i don't want to buy a Mac is because if you buy one a new product will be announced 3 months later, then you have to buy a whole new computer just to get a better system. I think they will do something with the Mac mini or ibook. Maybe even a mac with next-gen optical format support?
Steve's retirement.
True gapless playback in iTunes and on the iPod. Enough said.
I predict there will be no new portables.
HardWare announced will be the Intel Mac Mini and a updated Airport Express (maybe a 1GB Nano...like we need another iPod already). Pretty pathetic if you ask me.
Software will be iLife 06 and a new cheaper .Mac (& possibly iWorks 06 though doubtful). Be prepared to sit through lots of software demos. Bummer, I really wanted a new Intel Apple portable badly.
A new Mac Mini, iPod Shuffle, or BA DA DA DA!
A new eMac. (notice it has been removed from the apple website for some time now...)
Invisibile iPods? Holdable holo-ipods? Directed energy podcasts? Mach 10+ Airport expresses? Ooh, how aboutan alien RENDEZVOUS?
1) new powerbooks. there's no way apple would come out with ibooks that crush the current powerbooks into the ground. they know their laptops are their weakest point, and this is a large reason why they made the switch to intel--at least, when they made the switch. why would they announce their switch and then NOT come out with the product they switched for? the last year of virtually no powerbook updates confirms that laptops are their next move.
they will come out with something for i pod cause they are the newest thing. but seeing christmas just passed and everyone just bought an ipod they will be probably going to the computer area for updates. i like the tablet idea.
He will walk up on stage, the audience will rise, silence... "One more thing." Heart beats w/ hope for new goodies. "You all suck, have fun with those scratches!" then walks off stage.
I want MAC Media Center.
And that Apple Cam patent rumor.
I don't think Jobs will dissapoint us. Apple has always been on the cutting edge; maybe not in clock cycles, but certainly in style. They are going to up the ante. Its important to them and their reputation.
I am hoping for a 17" Intel laptop, widescreen, Yonah processor, and at least one cool new innovation. If that drops tomoro, my money will be flying out.
I think they will release a toxic mind-altering gas, rendering everyone at MWSF into mindless iZombies to use for their new campaign to annex the western half of the U.S. for their own nefarious purposes.
isn't it time for Hyena?
Mac OSX.4.4. Just kiddin. Colour shuffles, Intel widescreen iBooks, and a new Mac mini. It could be three new products in one show like they did with the iPod video, Aperture, and new iMac.
I'm hoping that they will upgrade iTunes to have a "LARGER" Selection, and bring in some artists AC/DC, Led Zepplin, Metallica, and Linkin Park. Also, I hope that they will come out with all new versions of GarageBand, aswell, as making deals with large software companies. The cell phone thing I think is a little out of porpotion. However, I think that a PDA will be very predictable. Ever since Microsoft started mass producing, Apple has been having a tough time fighting their way back up. I hope that Apple will come out with some other funky invention (iPod for example) that will crush a lot of Microsoft's business. GO APPLE!
iLife '06 with the usual updates plus FrontRow fer sure!
I know cause I dragged the frontrow app over to a powerbook thru my shuffle and it launched no problem with an iSight but when I tried to launch it with no iSight hooked up, it said that it couldn't open because no "webcam" was hooked up.
Apple remote to be included with more models?
intel fer sure! It's just expected at this point.
new iBook in widescreen and lower price. plus macmini updated to intel.
Might see a preview of Leopard but I don't think it's a go fer launch yet. Prolly wait for the intel switch to be complete.
Shuffle to be redesigned although I doubt a gain in capacity unless they bump the nano as well.
iDunno
Well it could be a iphone that is a phone and a ipod at the same time it could be pretty cool.
A Steve Jobs action figure who'll kick Evil Dr. Gates and his little Minionsofts Mobile asses (Podcast enabled)... And a marvel comics version of that (downloadable at iTunes Music Store).
#24. Oh, and I really would like a black iBook.
Greetings guys.
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