During Apple’s thrid quarter 2008 conference call today, Apple Chief Financial Officer, Peter Oppenheimer repeatedly mentioned a “future product transition” which he couldn’t discuss that affects this quarter’s guidance and will impact this quarter’s gross margins.
We are working to develop new products that contains technologies that our competition will not be able to match. I cannot discuss these new products, but we are very confident in our product pipeline. – Apple CFO Peter Oppenheimer
During the Apple’s Q308 Conference Call today, Oppenheimer stated a variation of the above quote at least seven different times.
So, what do you think? Larger format iPod touch (“Newton 2.0,” “iTablet,” or whatever you want to call it), the return of legitimate Mac clones, or something else entirely?
Given the recent spate of Apple patent applications and the growth of Second Life (and the recent article in the Wall Street Journal http://tinyurl.com/2e49u4 about business and another one the other day about virtual worlds growing at an astounding rate), I’d hazard a guess that Apple will again revolutionize the computer interface by letting you navigate INTO your screen in a virtual world with your music on one wall, your documents on another, your system controls behind a panel…in a room you (or anyone) can construct or modify to your own preference. These rooms can be shared spaces across a network where your avatar interacts with others. Where the hell is
Microsoft going to go with that?
Don’t doubt the power of this technology. It’s coming and is much cooler than you think. With improved processing speed and faster broadband the rendering of animated characters is only going to get more and more real and thus more and more compelling. This is happening people… count on it.
1. MultiTouch Flatscreen TVs with built in Mac/Apple TVs.
2. A multitouch pad that replaces the entire keyboard (can visually become an audio mixing board, a mixer, a music keyboard, etc.).
it’s the Snapperwocky!
Jetpacks. (iRocket?)
It’s good that AAPL CFO Peter Oppenheimer stressed the “future product transition” so many times during the Q3 earnings conference call.
As a result, the chatter (at least on the Apple rumor and news websites) is turning toward uncovering that mystery, rather than focusing on the lack of a published CEO succession plan for Steve Jobs.
@phooey,
Microsoft already did that – ultimately there touch table computer was bricked into an expensive but useless BIG ASS Table. I’m sure apple won’t go down the same road that MS has gone into producing furniture…
Poor, sad little zV nmx b?
In case you’re too stupid to realize it, hanging out and trolling a website you obviously don’t like is the very definition of “childish, insane, or incredibly asinine”.
Seriously, pathetic little zV nmx b?
You’re a prime example of someone with an OCD-like disorder, and you should seek out a mental health professional.
It has to be the iPod line..
The entire line will transition into touch versions.
The iPod classic will completely transition into the iPod touch (with larger capacity.)
And the iPod nano will transition into a smaller “iPod nano touch.”
It makes perfect sense, especially with the app store being used on ALL iPods.
Remember, he said a product transition, not an entirely new product. All iPods becoming touch is a transition that will definitely cut into profit margin, but the competition simply could not touch this (no pun intended.)
would everyone stop with the multi touch iMacs. Apple will/is develop/developing a touch screen keyboard/mouse contraption. They will not be developing touch screens larger than 13″. What purpose would that serve? We all laugh at Microsoft’s surface but we want Apple to build something like it? Not going to happen.
A year or so and you can and will get an actuall Apple TV, with built in Apple TV, and a touch controller.
“It’s good that AAPL CFO Peter Oppenheimer stressed the ‘future product transition’ so many times during the Q3 earnings conference call.”
Only because he was asked about it so many times… I guess they keep hoping he’ll slip up.
“So, Pete, what are these new products that Steve alluded to?”
“I cannot discuss new products.”
“What about the new products can’t you discuss?”
“Well, I can’t tell you about the new iTablet, for exam–Oops! Excuse me, everybody, I have to commit hara-kiri now, before Steve does it for me.”
@Alasdair,
Yeah, you’re probably right. I think about the only thing we can rule out is a return to PowerPC chips anytime soon (if ever!).
We are working to develop new products that contains technologies that our competition will not be able to match. I cannot discuss these new products, but we are very confident in our product pipeline.
This is Apple’s story since it was founded in that fateful garage. It’s what people expect from Apple.
Then again, if MS or GM made that exact same announcement, we’d be howling with laughter at their “FUD”, “vaporware”, “grasps at straws”, etc. Yet Oppie says it and somehow we’re all in awe.
Guess it’s not what you say or how you say it. It’s WHO says it…
MW: better
So — do you think people selling today will feel good tomorrow when this sinks in?
iChat and iSight for Apple TV — video chatting with Grandma on your HDTV. (I got this idea from Cringely circa 2007.)
Wow. Lack of serious thoughts around here. Here’s my top ten list:
10. 3-D Simulated Desktop (They have a POV patent which explains how each pixel shows different things depending on the angle of sight into it, allowing a simulated 3-D screen without goggles, etc.)
9. The iSight Screen (Each pixel has a camera, screen can scan — They have a patent)
8. Up and Down Laptop (both surfaces multitouch 200+ patents)
7. Wireless Power (You’ve read about this)
6. iWork / iLife Go into the Cloud
5. iPod Touch Phase into MultiTouch Netbook
4. Apple@Home (A central hub and wifi outlet extenders. Control every electrical appliance from your iPhone, Touch, or Mac)
3. MacLive (AppleTV takes on the capacity of a full-fledged multi-touch game and entertainment system. A new multi-touch multi-sight SDK blows developers’ minds)
2. MacVivant (An actual 3-D interface. Not simulated. Matter is moved around and colors affected. It really is a three dimensional space that displays and allows interaction)
1. AI (A software butler that responds to real speech, interacts almost humanly, runs off to scour the web for you or explain appointment schedules.)
These would be awesome, so why low guidance? Because transition lag between products means nothing sold or little, and because of high start-up costs for the new product/technology.
My thoughts. Yours?
What about OSX for intel machines.
iChat and iChat only device…oh, he said transition.
On the Mac side, it’s probably nothing more than the transition to whatever elements of Montevina that Apple chooses to deploy; Nehalem is a stretch for calendar 2008 and really should be the headline act for MWSF 2009.
However, the iPod side could see a massive change with the death of the so-called iPod Classic and the completion of the move to a completely solid-state product line. My personal view is that we’ll see the 16GB iPod touch die and the upper end of that line expand to 64GB, I’d also bet that the touch will receive the GPS functionality from the iPhone.
The only ‘wildcard’ is whether Apple intends to produce a “Mobile Internet Device” based on Intel’s Atom: under those circumstances, a transition to Nehalem for the Mac Pro in 2008 may well be a possibility (let’s face it, the MWSF keynote has been unashamedly consumer-focussed for several years) as it will clear the stage for a Mac Nano in January ’09 alongside the Nehalem iMac followed by Nehalem-based pro laptops being announced at NAB.
People shouldn’t get all strung out about any contributions from PA Semi in the short-term: if Apple’s new toy delivers anything to the mothership before the product launches for the 2009 holiday season, I’ll be amazed and I’d probably still be surprised even then.
Magnetic RAM. Instant off and instant on to where you left everything. No more booting up or down.
I know what it is! It’s the iTele. I’ve been waiting for this for years. I’ll be able to transport myself anywhere in the world. I just hope they fix the degradation problem. I’d hate to degrade over heavy use of the iTele.
Makeover of the Apple Cinema Display line…
Safari browser and wireless keyboard support for Apple TV (hobby or no hobby)…
Midsize 64bit tower…
Makeover of the Apple Cinema Display line…
Safari browser and wireless keyboard support for Apple TV (hobby or no hobby)…
Midsize 64bit tower…
I know I know! Blu-ray super drives across the product line, including the Apple TV, and multi touch iMacs and Cinema displays.
“We are working to develop new products that contains technologies that our competition will not be able to match.”
“that our competition will not be able to match” is a pretty big statement. “Will not be able” suggests will not EVER be able.
That indicates some important patented or controlled by Apple technology that advances Apple products but competitors won’t be able to duplicate without stepping on Apple patents.
My guess is that this has to do with the hinted-at Snow Leopard use of the GPU to enhance performance. Turning the GPU into an Altivec like CPU enhancement for improved performance with Media files, especially HD and AVCHD. Could possibly be an Altivec-like chip made by Apple-owned PA Semi. Video performance on Macs and PC’s really needs some kind of quantum increase in performance.
If this is the case, It seems like competitors in the short term would answer with more cores but getting software to efficiently support them is difficult. Maybe multiple GPU’s and software support would work.
I told you. They are developing that WiFi Zune Detector and will send a KILL program once detected.
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”grin” style=”border:0;” />