“It’s that time of year again, time to dust off the crystal ball and prognosticate about what Apple has in store for us at the big January love-in at Moscone. Macworld Expo opens in San Francisco in less than two weeks and predicting Expo announcements has become nothing short of a sport. So before you lay your money down for that shiny new computer, here are Jason the Greek’s Vegas odds on Steve Jobs announcements for The Big Dance,” Jason D. O’Grady writes for ZDNet.
O’Grady’s list:
10. Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard
9. Intel PowerBook
8. iWork ’06
7. iLife ’06
6. Bluetooth remote control
5. Price Increases for iTunes
4. AirPort Ultra (featuring video) + AirTV application (stream video to your TV – in High Definition)
3. 1GB iPod nano
2. Intel Mac mini
1. Widescreen Intel iBook (Don’t be surprised if this IBook is the first to ship without a FireWire port)
Full article here.
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Related articles:
RUMOR: Apple’s Intel-based Macs to get additional USB 2.0 ports, keep at least one FireWire port – January 02, 2006
Five things that will happen with Apple in 2006 – and five others that won’t – December 29, 2005
2006 predictions abound for Apple Computer – December 27, 2005
Can somebody say iTunes 7?
Can I get an AMEN?
no mention of the iBook Shuffle – the first laptop without a screen – that is more likely than some of those predictions
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“14. Combat ready PowerBooks with self-destruct mode and edible CDs for sustenance and security.”…
I like the Combat-Ready part, my 12-inch PowerBook takes quite a hit just from my own “regular-use”, I would LOVE to see an Apple version to something like the Panasonic ToughBook. Water-(coffee, beer, whiskey?)-PROOF, shock PROOF (the “resistance” word just don’t cut it in some people’s real-world). Opens up another segment of the market aside from a klutz like myself, field-work, military and law-enforcement.
Edible CDs huh? Hmmm…
10. Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard
– demo , maybe
9. Intel PowerBook
– doubt it
8. iWork ’06
7. iLife ’06
– both probable
6. Bluetooth remote control
5. Price Increases for iTunes
– both no way
4. AirPort Ultra (featuring video) + AirTV application (stream video to your TV – in High Definition)
3. 1GB iPod nano
2. Intel Mac mini
– probable
1. Widescreen Intel iBook (Don’t be surprised if this IBook is the first to ship without a FireWire port)
– NO WAY: if that intel proc is half as good as reports say, this ibook would leave all PB G4 in the dust – that´s not gonna happen – otoh, if they indeed introduce intel PBs, then there also a good chance of new ibooks…
There is no way they would be dumb enough to render my Firewire interface to my video cameras useless, no freakin way.
First, let’s start with the obvious issue.
We’re going to see an IBook (his spelling, not mine) with a 13.3 high-definition wide-screen display and a dual-core Yonah (hot off the production line) for $1299? And the way Apple will meet this price-point? They’re gonna drop FireWire (a technology that Apple owns and, therefore, pays nothing for).
I don’t think so.
Similarly with the Mac mini–what CPU is powering this thing at $499 and $599? The single-core Yonah’s won’t be out until next quarter.
And then he puts the Intel PowerBook–the high-end high-margin notebook–at 50-1?! You’re going to see the dual-core Yonah in the PowerBook before you’ll see it in the iBook!
Second, he has iWork and iLife ’06 at 25-1 and 10-1? I’d put iWork and iLife at 3-1 at worst! I’d put iWork at even money and iLife at 2-1. iLife may contain PhotoBooth and FrontRow (remote sold separately).
These linux guys are so cute when they try to make predictions, you just have to laugh at them.
Fascinated to see that Hypercard wishes are still alive. Interesting that among a handful of remaining OS 9 programs is an excellent and irreplaceable Hypercard application – and I was just talking to someone about this a few days ago!
I’ve heard that AirPort Ultra will also include a gigabit ethernet switch/router
Look, I can see a stripped iBook, really an eBook for potential education sales, without a firewire port. You only need 1 FW port per camcorder, after all, not a whole classroom full of FW ports.
It could very easily come out without FW.
Hypercard is one of the things that made me smitten with the Mac when I first bought one eons ago. But realistically, it has as much of a chance of coming back as does eWorld or Pippin. I know these aren’t related. But I do wish a modernized eMate would emerge.
I heard Apple was going to release the Apocalypse this year.
Apocalypse?
No, you misheard. They’re releasing Paco’s Lips, a chain of Apple Stores combined with Mexican saloons as well as dancing, all-night music and Tequila shots. This approach was confirmed by recent market studies and by Phil Schiller.
Isn’t this the same tool that started the stupid “no firewire” issue.
Paco’s Lips?
No, you misheard. They’re releasing A Pocket LISP, a reference guide for the about-to-become-resurgent programming language.
It’s a poorly kept secret that, along with an x86 version of OS X, the programming team at Apple has also been maintaining a portable version of OS X written entirely in LISP.
Prepare to be astounded.
From a network administrator’s point of view, what makes FireWire especially valuable is its ability to be used as a lifeline to other hard drives. It’s called “Target Disk Mode,” and unless Apple has figure out a way to make Taregt Disk Mode work through USB (currently it doesn’t) then a lot of people will be seriously P-O’d if FireWire is dropped.
Also, FireWire can supplies more than double the amperage (and voltage) of USB to power a peripheral device. Some external hard drives need to be plugged in to wall current when they’re in USB mode, but with FireWire the system is self-powered, and that’s the reason.
FireWire is also faster than USB. The published raw data rates are misleading in this respect, just like the megahertz myth. See http://www.usb-ware.com/firewire-vs-usb.htm for one explanation.
Can you tell I’m a FireWire fan?
My prediction? This is an easy one…
Steve will introduce something that no one else can possibly imagine, let alone be able to predict.
He sees Microsoft beginning its futile struggles against an obvious and slow, self-induced, death. For Steve to kick them clearly off of a cliff isn’t his style, but he is known for creating innovations that tend to speed up Microsoft’s downhill slide. Totally smashing the competition can back-fire and make Steve look like the villain, so instead he climbs the mountain faster. Microsoft can just sit there in one spot, but their inaction makes them much closer to the bottom of the heap than Apple.
I have no doubts that the MS leadership, staff, and shareholders are praying for no new, shock & awe, strap-yourself-in-and-pull-your-harness-into-position, “One More Thing” announcement from Steve. Small incremental steps such as iLife ’06 will not bring an onslaught of “Why can’t you do that?” questions to Microsoft. But an Airport Express AV that can stream live HDTV on-demand movies from internet-to-TV via Blockbuster’s new iTMS page for streaming ($2.99) or downloading ($5.99, send to iPod, burn DVD, etc.) at full res H.264 movies will no doubt make the MS staff quietly sob in their cubicles. Imagine the gnashing of MS teeth if Apple added gaming innovations to their Airport Express AV abilities? Just as you can now stream any iTunes to any amplifier via Airport Express, you will be able send any AV signal to any TV, and use BlueTooth controllers because the Airport Express AV will have a built-in BlueTooth receiver. This will also be handy for controlling the computer’s playing of AV remotely. Your PowerMac in the spare bedroom can be controlled in the family room. Now THAT is a game machine! No need to making separate versions of games for computers and game boxes, because there will no longer be a need for game boxes. Talk about scaring the crap out of Microsoft. Apple will have destroyed Microsoft’s and Sony’s last hopes (game box profits) with a simple Airport/Wi-Fi device.
MS can’t even steal and copy at a reasonable rate to keep up with Apple, what hope do they have of ever surpassing them with anything innovative?
Steve already knows that Apple’s choice of utilizing Intel chips will make PC users wonder “If Apple can do that with an Intel chip, why can’t Microsoft do that, too?” Just another li’l kick down that mountain.
re: “A Pocket LISP”
Nice! But that sure sounds like my portable elf with a speech impediment.
“Fascinated to see that Hypercard wishes are still alive.”
I was kidding. But, like Ampar, I loved Hypercard once, long ago on my SE/30.
effwerd:
I bought an SE with 1 mb of RAM and a 20 mb HD. It had the original SuperDrive! I even upgraded it to 4 mb of RAM. So expensive back then.
Hypercard, Pathways into Darkness, Sim City – so much fun. Later, armed with a Quadra 650, I became a Marathon addict. Good times.
I envied the SE/30 owners when that model came out. Some things will never change.
P.S. If memory serves me correctly, I paid $2100 for that Mac SE.
0. Absolutely nothing from MS.
Apple, 2006 is yours to take. Go kick some ass!
Apple can anticipate somethings of significance in 2006 following a glorious 2005.
Microsoft fans can only reflect on the wouldas, couldas, shouldas, mighthavebeens, and neverweres in 2005.
http://www.microsoft-watch.com/article2/0,2180,1906026,00.asp
If these widescreen iBooks are ultra-thin then it is possible iPod-like hard drives will be used in them. If that is the case you can forget about editing DV video on the new iBook; that hard drive cannot write and read that fast. FireWire could be taken out.
Of course new PowerBooks will come out. Apple would not let iBooks take any of the PowerBooks’ glory.
I do not think OS X 10.5 will be demonstrated. If Intel Macs do come out this month then Apple will have to talk about the new version of OS X 10.4 and how it will be compatible with the existing Mac software. 10.5 will have to wait until the Developer’s Conference later in the year.
iLife ’06 is certainly due for an announcement. I am not sure that iWork is on anyone’s radar since Pages flopped so spectacularly.
Could a new black & white screen iPod replace the 1GB shuffle? It is possible but so is a shorter screenless version of the Shuffle.
Next-generation Airport is over-due. Apple must be waiting for the release of the new Intel Macs to introduce faster wireless technology. I doubt HD video will be possible but SD for sure. My guess is it will be called Airport TV.
Increases in iTunes will not happen in audio tracks. The current system is profitable for both Apple and the content suppliers. More money will be made by increasing the number of iPods sold, not by milking the current customers.
Bluetooth remote control? I think normal wireless remote controls are cheaper and perform better, eg Griffin’s Airlink. Bluetooth Mighty Mouse would be a good thing.
What will be the ‘One More Thing?’ Why the Mac Mini 2.0 of course.
i think #10 is a given. Doesn’t a switch to a new/different chip merit an upgrade in the OS? If intel is the big news, shouldn’t Apple release a “new” OS along with it?
intel, OS 10.5, new Mac Minis, and AirPort Ultra. Maybe Front Row 2.0, and save the 1GB ipod (Nano?) for a seperate “Event” in early February. My 2 cents!!
MW: Actually. As in “My guess might actually be right” …or not
“Doesn’t a switch to a new/different chip merit an upgrade in the OS?”
Whether or not it merits one is up for debate, but it isn’t necessary. They’ve secretly built every version of OS X for Intel since the beginning, so it’s not really something new as far as Apple is concerned.
Phil Schiller said that the point updates were going to be fewer and farther between from now on. Tiger came out last April so I think the earliest we’d see Leopard is the end of 2006, but probably not till 2007. That’s OK though because MS is saying Vista will be out in the end of ’06, but that’s doubtful. I bet it’ll be ’07 before it sees the light of day, probably right around the time Leopard is ready.