“New Apple product announcements at next week’s Macworld Expo in San Francisco could include iTV, a new iPod, and the iPhone, according to a Macworld Rumor Roundup issued by research and investment firm PiperJaffray on Thursday,” Prince McLean reports for AppleInsider.
“‘Despite all of the talk regarding new product announcements, or lack thereof, at Macworld, we continue to believe that the announcement of an iPhone would be positive for Apple shares and no sign of this product would be a negative,’ analyst Gene Munster told clients in the report,” McLean reports.
McLean reports, “Munster also offered his take on several Apple product rumors, including a ranking of certainty and some expected release dates.”
Almost Certain (in the next 2-6 months):
1. iPhone entering production phase of 12m units (Certainty rank: 9 out of 10)
2. iTV ($299) release at Macworld with some improvements from September debut (10 out of 10)
Likely (in the next 6-12 months):
3. iPhone with candy-bar form factor (9 out of 10)
4. Widescreen iPod with touch-sensitivity and wireless features (7 out of 10)
5. Second smartphone iPhone model with integrated keyboard (7 out of 10)
6. iSight camera, 4GB or 8GB storage on the iPhone (7 out of 10)
7. Multiple carriers as iPhone providers (vs. Cingular only or MVNO (6 out of 10)
A Stretch (possibly in the next 12-18 months):
8. Ultra-portable 12″ MacBook Pro (4 out of 10)
9. Radio-transparent material used for iPhone casing (3 out of 10)
10. iPhone to feature ‘iChat Mobile’ video and instant messaging (2 out of 10)
11. OSX 10.5 Leopard release at Macworld (3 out of 10)
Full article with Munster’s analysis on each of the rumors above here.
Related articles:
Merrill analyst on Macworld Expo: Windows virtualization in Leopard, iTV, Mac Pros, Displays, more – January 03, 2007
O’Grady’s Macworld Expo 2007 predictions – January 02, 2007
Steve Jobs to deliver keynote address at Macworld Expo San Francisco 2007 on January 9th – October 03, 2006
Weren´t these the same things predicted for last year’s Macworld?
Anybody else think Apple is real slow in bringing out new product….?
I predict: It’ll be on damn interesting keynote!
So, ENOUGH with the prognosticating!
Just wait until next week!
Leopard’s release date may be announced, but it surely won’t be released at MacWorld. if you’ve read any of the reports of current Leopard builds, it’s NOT ready to be released into the wild. This IS Apple, not Microsoft,after all!
I predict: AAPL will be up 2 dollars by… NOW!
I predict that most predictors will miss at least one thing that is released, and that they will predict at least one thing that isn’t released.
Why does Munster predict that OS X 10.5 Leopard’s release at Macworld is only a 3 out of 10 possibility? Are the most recently seeded builds not close enough to release quality?
Almost Certain (in the next 2-6 months):
1. Apple will scrap the misguided and wholly unsuccessful iPod and iTunes Music store and announce an alliance with Microsoft to sell the magnificent Zune as well as licensing the awesome WMA format for all audio functions on OS X. This will be the rare case where Apple knows when they’re beat, admits defeat, and goes with a winner: Zune. If only the iPod lemmings could figure this out as well. (9 out of 10)
Your potential. Our passion.
Apparently he’s never heard of Apple’s desktop computers.
I am worried about all the MacWorld predictions I have read…..
Will Apple still make computers after January 9th, 2007?
“So, ENOUGH with the prognosticating!
Just wait until next week!”
Are you kidding? This is the fun part!
MDN Word: Days, as in, “the days leading up to a Stevenote are often more fun than the Stevenote itself.
iPhone with candy-bar form factor
Now, there’s an awesome idea. An edible iPhone! Not only is it a technological marvel, but it’s also a high-energy treat. Plus, once you eat it, you’ll have to buy another from Apple, so it’s a win-win. I hope they have chocolate crunch. That’s my favorite.
Apple buys Microsoft and burn it 😀
Won’t an iPhone with a few gigs of memory eventually make iPods like the Nano obsolete? Why buy an iPod Nano when you can buy a Nano with the capabilities to make phone calls as well?
Yes, just like the 10gb iPod made the 5gb iPod obsolete. But, er, since the same company makes them all, I don’t really see the problem. o.O
Zune Tang, that was a good one.
You were getting stale, but your recent posts have been very nice.
Keep up the good work.
Just keep your hammer ready.
@ informercials
I suspect you lead a dull life.
Oh what, you’re a rockstar? Chillin’ here on MDN?
;P
Chrissy,
I guess my thought is…if the iPhone will eventually make the Nano obsolete, you’ll have this weird gap in the iPod lineup. Right?
It will look something like: Video iPod, iPhone, iPod Shuffle.
Where’s the middle guy? Where’s the most popular choice?
Unless of course all iPods will one day have the capability to make phone calls…
Hmmm…..
The iPod Phone won’t make the iPod obsolete because not everybody will want or need the iPod Phone, and many may not be able to use it. Consider all of those users who are locked into multi-year plans with a current carrier, who are not willing to eat the money it will cost to get out of their contracts and move to a new provider.
In addition, other countries have different mobile phone situations – for example, in Canada, even an unlocked-SIM-based phone could only be used by customers of Rogers right now (according to my Telus provider), so people like me who are locked into a long-term Telus contract may not want to switch. Not only that, again, in Canada, Rogers coverage of remote areas sucks big-time, so many users may not want to switch for that reason. Sure, it may put a fire under the other carriers to start a SIM-style service, but that will take time to implement.
Then there are users such as me who have no desire to use my cell phone for anything else but phone calls. I prefer my devices to be good at what they are supposed to be. My current Ist Gen Nano is a great music player, that’s what I use it for. My current el-cheapo cell phone cost me nothing and makes good phone calls. I’m not particularly interested in a “converged” unit that will cost me several hundred dollars in addition to the charges I would have to eat to move my service to another provider.
European customers look like they will have the easiest time with an iPod Phone.
But who’s to say that the darned thing is even going to be released (initially) outside of the USA?
I’m still betting that His Steveness will introduce more countries to the iTunes Store’s video content.
Keep your video camera or digital camera with video recording capability ready. No out of focus stuff, either. You can borrow my tripod which, by the way, happens to be Buster’s pet name for me.
Zune Tang aka “Tripod”
Your potential. Our passion.
Almost Certain:
Steve wears a mock turtle neck!
OK, what did I win???
They are as usual, totally fucked up!
Why shouldn’t it have 3G video conferencing? We’ve had that feature for YEARS in other phones!
Miceosoft:
Your potential (to eat crap and smile).
Our passion ( to supply said crap, in ever increasing piles)
Hey, Emil:
Have you tried USING the 3G video conferencing on those other phones? It su*ks!
Apple will do it when it can be done well, and they’ll also probably be the first ones to do it well!
They haven’t a clue.