MacDailyNews - Where Mac news comes first

Jun 03, 09 - 10:42 am Comment from: Predrag

I guess Apple is focusing on what currently brings the bacon. There is no doubt, iPhone has been the focus of Apple's development and marketing attention, especially since the emergence of a few prominent wannabes. The good thing about this is the fact that Apple continues to make sure none of the competitors are anything more than just wannabes. However, the bad thing about it is the fact that Snow Leopard, arguably less of a feature-set upgrade of the OS than previous versions were, seems to be sliding down the priority list. I'm sure it will be fine if the official release comes in the fall (exactly two years after Leopard). Having seen first sneak peek almost a year ago, a lot of people have expected to see the final product sooner.

As long as Apple continues to generate excitement, and the Mac platform continues to nibble at the market share of its competitor(s), all is good.

Jun 03, 09 - 10:47 am Comment from: disposableidentity

While I'm still on a correct-use-of-language rant (see educational market share article), a "year" is a measure of time, and a "light year" is a measure of distance.

The real question is: How many parsecs ahead is Apple's iPhone?

Jun 03, 09 - 10:55 am Comment from: Sir Real B. Czar

@dis
It could possible mean that the iPhone has come a long way in one year.

I am more amazed that a major country music star is sending in pics of a Mac event than anything else.

Who knew?

Jun 03, 09 - 10:57 am Comment from: Sir Real B. Czar

yes, I meant 'possibly'.

Jun 03, 09 - 11:04 am Comment from: Macintosher

Definitely another knock to Palm and RIM and possibly brighter, cleverer, more scientific (gaming, OLED, magnetometer) iPhone enhancements.

Does "One year later" suggest a new software roadmap?

"Light-years ahead." is a big and bold statement...the only
way I see to back that statement up is at least three-way video phone calls, a mini-pico-projector for the display, plus a way to share/mirror/run future Android apps built into the SDK...those kind of things that no other could touch is what I define as light years ahead.
The Pre's iPhone killer runs web apps...really killer.

here comes the endless whining of "you're ignoring the mac waaaaaaaah".

In case some of you haven't noticed, Mac sales are way up over the last few years.

@disposableidentity

umm.... "ahead" is commonly used for distance as in: Dale Earnhart Jr is ahead of Jeff Gordon.

So "Light-years ahead" would be proper.

I want to see Mac OSX Snow Leopard in WWDC 2009 instead of iPhone.

And I, for one, want to see Steve Jobs in WWDC 2009, as well as the new iPhone(s), Snow Leopard, iPod(s), etc.

Jun 03, 09 - 12:27 pm Comment from: Lilochris

I can't wait ti finally get Snow Leopard on My iMac. I want to get it bundled with iWork and iLife.

Just wish they firmly let everyone know what the System Requirements will be for Snow Leopard final release ahead of time.

WWDC Predictions

iPhone:
- 8GB ($99 pay as you go, exclusive to Walmart and Target)
- 16GB ($199 + 2yr contract) HD, HDMI dock, iChat AV over 3G
- 32GB ($299 + 2yr contract) HD, HDMI dock, iChat AV over 3G

iPod Touch:
- 8GB ($149 exclusive to Walmart and Target)
- 16GB ($229) HD, HDMI dock, iChat AV over WiFi
- 32GB ($299) HD, HDMI dock, iChat AV over WiFi
- 64GB ($399) HD, HDMI dock, iChat AV over WiFi

Apple TV Home Server:
- Combines Time Capsule, Apple TV and Blu-Ray Player/Recorder. Looks a little larger than a Mac mini.
- Backup all your Macs and PCs using Time Machine (now for PC as well) and also archive to Blu-Ray disks (25GB or 50GB each)
- Includes one or 1TB or 2TB drives.
- $399 and $499

Snow Leopard:
- Shipping in September, Developers get latest RC build

*Buy a new iPhone (16GB or higher), iPod Touch (16GB or higher), Apple TV Home Server or a new Mac and get a discount on a 1yr MobleMe account. $39.00 for 10GB of cloud storage and $49.00 for 20GB of cloud storage.

Jun 03, 09 - 01:32 pm Comment from: Predrag

IOnlyUseOSX:

Your stuff sounds plausible, albeit a bit far out for the Apple TV.

Also, there is absolutely no way a pay-as-you-go (pre-paid) iPhone can cost less than $600. The usual AT&T subsidy is around $450. Who would make up for that (and even more, if the retail price were to be $99)??

I also have a feeling there may be a $0 8GB iPhone (possibly Target/Walmart), also with a two-year contract. You can already get an 8GB iPhone 3G for $99 (refurb), so I can't imagine they'd continue selling a new one for as little, if they refresh the line-up with larger capacity.

Few more days, folks...

What about a iPhone with Edge only, no 3g. Could ATT have a cheaper data plan that way?

Well, it is not macworld. They won't introduce new hardware. Maybe iPhone is excepted. It is developer conference. Not consumer expo.

@Predrag

I believe AT&T;would be happy with the revenue generated by providing an entry level iPhone pay as you go solution. It is a large untapped market for the iPhone. The person pays up front before they use services including data. It's as simple as that. Maybe make it a 4GB version if that makes everyone happy.

@Rike

The first gen iPhone is the Edge only version you are looking for. Pick one up on eBay. $10 less a month for data. At least for now.

Jun 03, 09 - 05:50 pm Comment from: Predrag

IonlyuseOSX:

Pay-as-you-go means no fixed monthly amount; if you "go" slow, you end up paying only $15 in a month; if you use it heavily, you may pay $80 or more. The point is, AT&T cannot possibly estimate how much you'd be using that pay-as-you-go (especially in today's economy). Furthermore, Pay-as-you-go (in AT&T's parlance, the "Go Phone" plan) have no contract commitment. This means, you buy that Go-Phone iPhone for $99, you go with AT&T for a few months, then you stop using it with AT&T. So, in order to sell it to you for $99, AT&T paid Apple the $450 subsidy and has barely recovered $50-60 of it from you; now, they are almost $400 in the hole for your iPhone, with no chance of ever seeing that money, let alone ever making any profit from you.

I'm sure AT&T would be happy with Go-Phone revenue from iPhones. However, they simply won't be able to sell that iPhone for less than $600 upfront. At that price, very few people would bother.

Jun 03, 09 - 07:28 pm Comment from: twilightmoon

Predrag: they simply won't be able to sell that iPhone for less than $600 upfront.

There absolutely will be a baseline model sold this year (in 2009) for under 500 up front. Probably under 400. But it may not end up in the US. Apple has said they are looking at ways of increasing their share of developing markets, and the 600 price point is too high for that.

I could see a baseline stripped down 4GB version sold for 400 or even less. If they do make this and sell it this year as I predict I would not be surprised if they sell it everywhere that iPhones are sold, possibly targeted at Pay as you Go, and "free with plan" iPhones.

The original iPhone was sold 2 years ago at 600, the cost of technology constantly goes down, and the world economy is in the dumps, allowing Apple to buy parts at very aggressive prices. There's no way that they can't make one significantly cheaper than the original in these circumstances.

There absolutely won't be any models sold for under 100 unsubsidized that's just crazy talk, but under 400 and even under 300 is a definite possibility.

On the flip side I expect the larger versions 16 and 32 GB versions to add significant new hardware feature. More internal memory, faster processor, compass chip, new camera, etc. The cheapest base line version will likely keep most if not all of the original parts.

disposableidentity: "While I'm still on a correct-use-of-language rant (see educational market share article), a "year" is a measure of time, and a "light year" is a measure of distance."

Time: One year. Distance: Light years (plural)
Average speed = Distance/Time = multiple light speed

Call Einstein. Apple just proved the existence of a wormhole.

Jun 03, 09 - 10:14 pm Comment from: TheMacAdvocate

@IONLYUSEOSX
Not trying to be a dick, but don't quit your day job.

Even if a $99 price point was possible, you're not going to see a pay-as-you-go partnership with Big Box.

HDMI dock? So you can use the iPhone as the basis for your media center? iChatAV? Wut?

You will not see AppleTV with BluRay. Ever.

Archive to BluRay disks?

/head explodes

Apple's tour de force, OS X, is behind us now. So although Apple may introduce existing technology in new enclosures, I'm not expecting major new innovations. In fact, after years of being let down with MacWorld and WWDC keynotes as a consequence of Apple's secretive nature, I'm going to be wearing my Apple hard hat for next week's keynote.

@TheMacAdvocate

At least I have a job

I believe we will see a pay as you go iPhone soon. Hopefully before Palm or some other company running Android does.

The iPhone needs HD output. We don't want the Zune to be the leader here do we? http://www.zune.net:80/en-us/mp3players/zunehd/default.htm

iChat AV=Video phone call

Why not Blu-Ray for storage? Folks use DVD now? Why not have 50GB available on a disk rather than 4.7GB? Has your Time Machine backups exceeded your disk space yet like many other Mac users out there? What do you do then? You buy another hard disk or you start deleting your backups. Not a great solution. What would you do if you lost all your iTunes music/movies with a hard disk failure? I rest my case. Apple will not add Blu-Ray to anything because they want you to buy movies from the iTunes store.

You can put your head back together now.

@Predrag

AT&T;has automatic monthly billing for the pay as you go service. There is just no contract. Cell phone companies will soon no longer be able to charge penalties for early termination anyway.

I'd buy an AppleTV with blu-ray. Until then, no.

Oh, and I am NOT buying movies from iTunes store. Too expensive, low-quality, too limiting.