“Piper Jaffray’s Gene Munster seems pretty certain that Steve Jobs himself will introduce a new line of iPods next week,” Philip Elmer-DeWitt reports for Fortune.
“Investors, Munster says, are not likely to be impressed with new iPod nanos, iPod classic and iPod touches re-designed with cameras because ‘as iPod growth slows … the segment becomes less of an investable theme,'” Elmer-DeWitt reports.
MacDailyNews Take: Poor iPod touch, now even the analysts are forgetting about you! As Elmer-DeWitt rightly points out parenthetically, “That may be true of the classic and the nanos, but sales of iPod touches grew 130% last quarter year over year.”
Elmer-DeWitt continues, “Jobs’ return, however, is likely to be greeted by the Street as ‘a slight positive’ for Apple’s shares — ‘the first public confirmation of Jobs’ health since his return to the company,’ according to Munster. Jobs last appearance at an Apple event was on Oct. 14, 2008.”
Full article here.
On the other hand, Katie Marsal reports for AppleInsider, “Analyst Shaw Wu with Kaufman Bros. released a note to investors Tuesday morning in which he predicted that Jobs will not personally unveil new iPods.”
“Wu, however, believes the keynote will be delivered by Phil Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing.”
Full article here.
Long live Jobs, and may he be able to wow us once again!
“Investors, Munster says, are not likely to be impressed …”
Since when has Apple cared or been dictated by what “investors” think?
This idiot is just writing this, so when Steve doesn’t show that stock can tank…
I think Jobs should come on out on stage in a fat suit.
Imagine the reaction.
Kidding, by the way on that last post. Which you should know. And which at least one person won’t realize.
Anyone who has followed Gene Munster over the last several years can confirm that he has been an Apple champion throughout, and most often right on the money. Here and there, he may have failed in his predictions, but generally, you could never say that he was deliberately trying to push AAPL down for any sinister reason.
Analysts have (well-paying) jobs because nobody knows, or understands, how Wall Street works and which way stocks will go next. They pay people who claim to have some insight. Some of those deliver just plain bullshit and are, by sheer luck, accurate more often than not, using that track record to attract more clients. Others, like Munster, actually do legwork and count devices leaving Apple stores to predict sales numbers, etc. All of them are engaged in essentially predicting the future which is, without a properly functioning time machine, inherently a crapshoot.
I hope that if we don’t see SJ on stage that we see him on the screen, either in a live chat with Phil or a recorded segment.
My family now owns three iPod touches with another one due in November (daughter’s birthday). They get an insane amount of use. As a result, the Nintendo Wii and DS lites have seen a lot less use over the past year.
The small iPods are great for exercising. But the iPod touch is great as an all-around device (including entertainment during a car trip) and will continue to sell well, particularly with the addition of a decent camera (one less device to carry on vacation).
My dream iPod touch is basically an iPhone without the phone – just a wireless data plan at a reasonable price. I would like to see it in two form factors, the current pocketable 3.5″ screen and something in the range of 5″ to 7″ in widescreen HD720.
I expect Steve waits for a January keynote and has a “plumping up” regimen at this moment.
original ipod touch, best $300 bucks i ever spent
I think Steve Jobs should only Introduce the Apple Events, and let other people show off the products. This will be good for Apple stock in the long run.
Come out in a fat suit! Do you think that’s funny?
I’ve been wearing a fat suit for the last 15 or so years and let me tell you, a fat suit is not funny.
<sarcasm>
Other iPods may be waning in popularity, but the Touch is not. Look for it to replace the DS as the must-have handheld gaming device.
Hahahahaha! Brilliant, if you ask me.
@ KingMel,
You used wireless data plan and reasonable price in the same sentence.
I am pretty sure that’s the first time that’s ever happened in recorded history. I could be wrong. It may be the second.
And if the rumored “tablet” were marketed as an iPod Maxi instead of a computer?????
Hey Gene, I’ll be at Apple Store Edina after work on the 9th to get my updated iPod touch. Maybe the SL pack as well; Tiger is great but it’s time to move on. Look for the old guy with glasses, you’ll see me.
If the iPod touch does gain a camera with video recording capability, look for sales to jump significantly. There is a huge market for small portable video devices like the Flip Mino. The iPod touch, especially for travelers, would take the place of your video camera, gaming device (if you carry one), MacBook, point and shoot still camera (not a professional camera), and your iPod. The iPhone 3G S does all of this now, but for those that do not want to pay the $80 monthly AT&T;bill, the iPod touch is brilliant. Analysts continue to underestimate the iPod touch.
SJ has to appear if he is going to have the Rolling Stones and surviving Beatles on stage as his “one more thing”.
Steve should walk out arm-in-arm with Tori Spelling and Nicole Richie… the investors will freak that “he’s gotten so fat!”
No suit necessary.
And I’m gonna buy one of those new iPod Touches…
I am absolutely certain that Steve Jobs may or may not show up at the Apple event.
On a serious note, I was visiting and having lunch with my brother-in-law at Apple’s HQ cafeteria a couple of months ago and Steve appeared with Jonathan Ives out in the patio with their lunch trays. He was still skinny, but appeared fine (he was carrying his own tray around), they both found a table, sat, had lunch and had an engaging conversation with each other (I sooo wish I had a bionic ear). So, by now, I’d assume he’d be healthy enough to make a real public appearance and I do hope that he shows up at the event. [Steve, if you do show up, don’t let the standing ovation go to your head.
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To my opinion, Steeve will never present any other event.
He’s sick of the rumors about his health and perfectly understood the job can be done by his team.
He loves Apple & his familly too much to expose them to his health again.
The only real question… will he elect to present in person the next Apple revolutionary product ? He could do so if the idiots understant that he will NOT present anything that would change the life of the planet with a new concept.
I would expect him to present a new type of computer. Certainly not new ipods or new iMac linup.
Jobs will host the 09 September event of not?
Well, I guess I’ll just have to wait till then to find out, huh?
IMHO, Steve will not be present at this event because he knows that the media coverage of his health will overshadow the product introduction. That is not good for either himself, the company, or the product that is being introduced.
Instead, he will wait until something big (like the “tablet” intro, if it ever occurs) before he steps into the spotlight again. That way, the product itself will overshadow his appearance. That makes more sense for himself and for the shareholders. They will want everyone to say “Look at that new iProduct!!! WOW!! And, oh yeah, Steve looks great too.”
–mAc
Plouf1er,
“He loves Apple & his familly too much to expose them to his health again.”
Pray tell, how does one avoid or escape one’s present physical condition?