“Based on the chatter I’m seeing it appears very likely that Apple is preparing a little surprise for Microsoft at MacWorld which happens at the same time as the Consumer Electronics Show in January. While Microsoft and partners will be talking about Vista in advance of the launch of that product at CES, Apple, along with Intel, will be launching Apple’s version of the Media Center with iTV and Leopard. That’s right — Leopard. It looks like this puppy is nearly ready if I’m reading the signs right — and Apple is clearly setting up for something big,” Rob Enderle writes for TechNewsWorld.
It appears that Apple and Intel are “collaborating to do the Media Center right, and if they hit the target as well as they did with the iPod, which is likely, they could actually have a second massive success on their hands,” Enderle writes. “Intel’s part goes beyond the chip and appears to contain elements of Viiv, if not all of that platform.”
Enderle writes, “So, if you are into technology, particularly if you are into Apple, you’ll want to hang around MacWorld in January for the Apple pre-Vista surprise party!”
Full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “norm e.” for the heads up.]
MacDailyNews Take: Enderle seems to have picked up on some recent rumblings of an Apple January Surprise. We still think that Apple would get the most PR bang by releasing Leopard after Vista, not before. Let the media compare Mac OS X Tiger to Windows Vista first, Apple has nothing to fear there. After Tiger gets its last round of well-deserved kudos, drop Leopard and let the media do their head-to-head articles all over again. By doing the Leopard launch that way, Apple would win twice instead of just once.
Related MacDailyNews articles:
Yager: New Apple MacBook Pro is ‘mobile landing pad for Leopard in plenty of time for Macworld Expo’ – October 24, 2006
Apple confirms ‘resolution independence’ and more coming in Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard – October 23, 2006
Will Apple’s Mac OS X Leopard get buried by Microsoft’s Windows Vista buzz? – October 16, 2006
Pirillo: Microsoft’s Windows Vista will double Apple’s market share – October 13, 2006
What if Microsoft held a Windows Vista party and nobody came? – October 13, 2006
CNET: Microsoft’s Windows Vista still not ready for prime time – October 12, 2006
Thurrott: ‘You don’t need Windows Vista’ – October 11, 2006
Microsoft’s Windows Vista spyware may prompt users to upgrade to Apple Mac – October 09, 2006
Windows Vista gaming will be 10-15 percent slower than XP – October 09, 2006
Analyst: Microsoft’s new activation scheme will give users another reason not to upgrade to Vista – October 05, 2006
IT Managers: Do you need Windows Vista or should you ‘Get a Mac?” – September 11, 2006
Infoworld: Microsoft’s WIndows Vista not so revolutionary after all – September 11, 2006
Pirillo: Windows Vista RC1 disappointing, schizophrenic, disordered, inconsistent, and sad – September 07, 2006
Key Microsoft exec exits as clock ticks down on oft-delayed, much pared-down Windows Vista release – September 06, 2006
$399 for Windows Vista Ultimate?! (Hint: Get a Mac) – August 29, 2006
Development approaches of Mac OS X Leopard vs. Windows Vista yield very different results – August 15, 2006
Analyst: Apple’s new Mac OS X Leopard sets new bar, leaves Microsoft’s Vista in the dust – August 08, 2006
Symantec researcher: At this time, there are no file-infecting viruses that can infect Mac OS X – July 13, 2006
Sophos: Apple Mac OS X’s security record unscathed; Windows Vista malware just a matter of time – July 07, 2006
Computerworld: Microsoft Windows Vista a distant second-best to Apple Mac OS X – June 02, 2006
Computerworld: Apple’s Mac OS X Leopard’s ‘Time Machine’ is truly remarkable – October 05, 2006
InfoWorld’s Yager: Apple will take computing to the next level with Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard – September 06, 2006
Apple’s Mac OS X Leopard is 64-bit done right, unlike Microsoft’s Windows Vista kludge – August 14, 2006
Mac OS X Leopard sneak peek highlights – August 09, 2006
Analyst: Apple’s new Mac OS X Leopard sets new bar, leaves Microsoft’s Vista in the dust – August 08, 2006
Inside Apple Mac OS X Leopard’s ‘Spaces’ – August 07, 2006
Take a ride in Apple Mac OS X Leopard’s ‘Time Machine’ – August 07, 2006
Apple previews Mac OS X Leopard featuring Time Machine, Spaces, enhanced Mail & iChat, and more – August 07, 2006
Apple previews Mac OS X Server Leopard; to ship in spring 2007 – August 07, 2006
quite true.
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and very non-abrasive commentary, which is nice
i’d bet they’ll go your route, as it just seems sensible, PR wise.
Actually, the media seems to be obsessed with setting it up as a Vista vs. Leopard competition, so I’m worried that the public will think Apple was late to the party, rather than 3-4 years ahead of MS.
Even if they would somehow benefit from coming out earlier, I don’t see that the benefit could ever be so great that it would be worth rushing (for want of a better word) it out like that as opposed to giving themselves a few months more testing/development time.
iTV, mobile phone and alot more video content are more than enough at January. Too many accouncements dilutes the effect.
I agree totally… wait ’til AFTER Vista.. .that is unless it’s delayed and delayed and delayed…
It WOULD be nice for Apple to release whatever Media Center Software they may have store in January(only because I want it NOW!) …. but not Leoapard
Unless Apple knows that Vista will end up being delayed another year and half in which case they can unviel their next OS update right after Vista.
Enderle babbles: “…if I’m reading the signs right”. Heh. I guess there’s a first time for everything.
Enderle (aka Fudmeister) makes Apple prediction = not true, not ever
If apple waits for vista, who knows when Leopard will be released.
REAL ARTISTS SHIP!
Did anyone debunk his thing about the Firmware update making the processor of new MacBooks/MacBook Pros slower? I’d love to see him proved wrong, again.
It’s kind of like seeing the Oakland Raiders lose. Since they won this weekend, I need something to go “ha ha ha” at.
I disagree. Releasing Leopard after VISTA would not be a good thing. First of all, that would mean Leopard would never be released because who the heck knows when Microsoft will release Vista. Second, tech writers are NOT going to know the difference between Tiger and Leopard and Vista. They can’t even write about the Mac intelligently, what makes you think they’ll be able to handle a three-way comparison? Nah. Release it now cause I want it now. I don’t give a hoot about Vista and Microsoft is going to publicize the heck out of it. It won’t matter. The general population will fall all over themselves to get Vista.
release Leopard before. If you have any idea how this country’s attention span works, then your going to want to get the first word. Yes, WE know Tiger is better but it isn’t new. Vista and Leopard are new. The two need to go head to head. There are no round twos when it comes to this stuff. Release Leopard so it gets the first media hype and than everything that Vista provides will have already been done and than some. I say Apple releases Leopard in January, no question.
Seriously what is viiv? Seems to be like it’s an entire platform based on a core 2 duo with some extra features?
I’m pretty sure I said the same thing in this forum maybe a month ago. Oh, and include the MDN Take in that. Not that I’m “in the know” or anything … but Leopard looked “close to done” at the Developers’ Conference. Add in that Apple started distributing developer copies last week and we’re looking at “it’s close” and “now it’s a business decision”.
As for the MDN Take … chances are good that Apple will announce ahead of Vista delivery – the delivery date set after the Vista delivery. Just as posited … to get double the bang out of it. The first round of comparisons would be against Tiger, with mention of “promised Leopard features”, and the second round (the following magazine cycle) would be against Leopard itself. The first would be pretty much a wash – remember these are Windows types and both favor MS and don’t much trust pre-launch hype from anywhere but Redmond – while the second round will include a month of familiarity with Vista (breeding contempt) and proof of the actual Leopard feature set.
It’s all just a bunch of guessing and speculation. I love Apple tech and can’t wait for the next release but thimble brains like this writer put me to sleep….uh oh…. ZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzz…..
No company should wait on another’s product for a release. If the object is to sell Macs and OS X upgrades why not release early. If Apple does they get to scoop Microsoft on the fact that a major upgrade for OS X has been released early, not delayed yet again. It also makes Apple look responsible in the eyes of current users and people on the bubble about buying a Mac by saying “Hey we care about you the consumer and not what some other company is doing.”
Classic FUD tactic. Build anticipation for an early release, then when that doesn’t happen, bash Apple for not meeting the early release.
FWIW, I think an early release would be better, if Leopard is rock solid in time.
I want Leopard to ship when its ready and not at MacWorld just to be first, does everyone here want Apple to release a mediocre Leopard??
Its going to be released in Spring like Apple said, give or take a few days.
PS I have never seen so many selfish fan boys, get over it people Apple wants to release a GREAT Leopard (atleast I hope they do) not Vista.
Of course they will. That’s certainly to be expected.
However, they’d better get Time Machine working right before they do (unlike the crash at the last public presentation)
Just my 2 cents, though.
:~)
Rob Endefacts says “Based on the chatter I’m seeing…”. OK, that’s just funny to me.
Vista ships in Novenber 2006 or lots of heads will roll.
That goes for you too David / Will
(save this posting and verify my word)
I think Leopard will be released in spring. Remember that Apple is a public company, and when they say things during shareholder conference calls (like the recent earnings report) they can’t lie without getting in trouble. They said it will be released in spring–not “by” spring or anything vague like that.
When Apple talked about the Intel transition, they always used phrases like “by this time next year,” so they would have been correct/truthful even if they had announced all Intel machines the next day.
I think that regardless of how amazing Leopard is, Vista will still garner more press and media exposure. I think the best bet for Apple is to release Leopard at the same time that Vista is, so that when the press reviews Vista they also review the new product from Apple. The press will be less likely to give as much press coverage to lepard if it’s released after Vista.
Compare Vista to Tiger? I think a more far comparison would be Vista to OS 9.1. OS X is just too advanced for anything MS can copy.
Apple is too busy altering the planet to have to wait and let Vista be pushed back yet again and have to also postpone a Leopard launch. Although MDN has a good point, There are just too many strengths in releasing early that outweigh being last to release Leopard. I personally believe that iTV, a true video iPod, and especially the iPhone are going to depend on what is built in under the hood in Leopard, even to the point that some of the holdbacks are going to be arm-twisted into upgrading to Leopard in order to access the new features. System-app-wide VOIP first comes to mind. Home on iPod secondly, involving Time Machine. I personally imaging VOIP becoming VVOIP to include video.
The best way to me would be to release Leopard in January and
include the unthinkable…to VISUALLY ADVERTISE THE OS!!!