MacWorld Keynote Product Rumors Here!

[ultimatebob]

Please post your MacWorld keynote product release rumors here!

I think that we should offer "points" for each rumor that comes true, and the winner gets bragging rights until 2010

Rumor submissions are allowed until January 4th, so post early and post often!

That said, here are rumors that I expectED to come true:

* A new smaller 3G iPhone, named "iPhone Nano" or something equally catchy.
* $50 price cuts for the existing iPhone models, along with the release of a 32 GB 3G iPhone.
* The release of a snazzy new iPhone software update, which will finally include some highly requested feature like Flash or Cut and Paste.

* A redesigned Mac Mini with HDMI output and Apple TV like features.
* Core i7 processors for the iMac, and faster (6 core?) Xeon processors for the Mac Pro.
* The release of a smaller MacBook with an 11" screen
* Some minor speed bumps and price cuts for other Mac models

* Some Mac OS 10.6 release news... it's coming soon!
* Oh, and a "surprise" appearance by Steve Jobs, just to prove that he's not dying.

Wow... I sure got those wrong!

 

[sjwaste]

Meh, one of them better be an iPhone SDK for Windows.

I'm abandoning the Hackintosh route for writing apps. Every one of their EULAs expressly rejects running their software on a non-Apple branded machine, including the SDK. Fine, so be it. The platform will suffer, because the bottom line is that the vast majority of good developers don't develop on a Mac. They can either loosen that restriction for development purposes or have a million more to-do list apps and nothing more innovative.

It's a shame, it'd be a great platform if they'd open it up a little.

 

[mugs]

Probably a pipe dream, but if they released a Mac Mini that could drive two monitors I'd buy it in a second.

 

[sjwaste]

Originally posted by: mugs
Probably a pipe dream, but if they released a Mac Mini that could drive two monitors I'd buy it in a second.

If they released a mac mini commensurate in price with the level of hardware in it, I'd grab one. As it stands now, $700 for a Core2Duo 2 GHz without much memory or storage is kind of a ripoff.

 

[Kaido]

My wishlist & predictions

-$499 Mini with 9400 graphics
-32gb iPhone
-64gb iPod Touch
-Quad iMacs
-17" Quad Macbook Pro (unibody w/ that new Intel Quad CPU for Notebooks)
-6-core Mac Pros
-iHome Server

For some reason I think we'll see, at least announced, a large-format iPod. I don't know why.

 

[slugg]

Quick Note: My interests lie with the Mini. Everything else, meh, whatever.

My wishlist:

- $499 Mac Mini with dual monitor display and user upgradable memory.
- Windows iPhone SDK (yea right).
- Some type of headless Mac that isn't the Mini or Pro?
- Apple releases OS X for PC! LOL!!!


My predictions:

Mac Mini Related:
- Mac Mini will be an aluminum block, just like the current MacBook/pro.
- Mac Mini will start at $599, "realistic" models at $699.
- Mac Mini will drive 1 (one) monitor, period.
- Mac Mini will have an NVIDIA chipset with NVIDIA graphics.
- Mac Mini will have a Penryn CPU.
- Mac Mini will not have user upgradable ANYTHING.

iTunes/iPhone/iPod:
- New/upcoming iPhone firmware
- New iPhone SDK update

Other:
- OS X 10.6 info, possibly opening it to developers?
- Cult of Mac getting disappointed that Steve isn't preaching this time
- Apple stock going down.

 

[QueBert]

iPod Touch/iPhone with A2DP - I'd think this is a good possibility
DiVX support for Touch/iPhone - a huge dream of mine. My 1G Touch is more than powerful enough to play DiVX already if they just added support

 

[TheStu]

Originally posted by: QueBert
iPod Touch/iPhone with A2DP - I'd think this is a good possibility
DiVX support for Touch/iPhone - a huge dream of mine. My 1G Touch is more than powerful enough to play DiVX already if they just added support

Actually, if I recall an article I read correctly, the iPhone 1G (and all other TouchOS based devices from Apple) can actually play back 720p or better h.264 encoded video. They don't have the screen res for it of course, but they can handle the play back.

 

[bearxor]

If anything happens with the SDK, it will happen at WWDC.

I expect a complete refresh of the Mac line with Core i7 in iMacs. Don't know about the Mini. Could still use C2D because of heat concerns. That would leave the Intel X58 chipset in the iMacs with a discreet graphics card and the GF9400 chipset in the MacMini. The updated MacMini is a certainty. Also, remember the new MacMini will almost certainly have MiniDP, not HDMI.

Other than that, I expect a lot of talk about sales numbers and penetration. A new 'I'm a Mac' ad. Some talk about 10.6 including a release date. Also, an updated iWork and iLife suite which will be ready to go at 10.6's release. Some talk about MobileMe and it's integration in to the OS. That's all I'm expecting.

I don't buy the iPhone nano rumors. At best, I think we could be looking at an iPod Touch Nano. A memory boost for iPhones isn't out of the realm of possibility, though.

I kind of suspect the MacPro will not see an upgrade at MW and they'll announce that an a more appropriate event. Either something they hold on their own or WWDC or NAB. I'm thinking NAB. It's close, but not so far away as WWDC (April), the market for MacPros will be there (professional video), and Apple will likely be releasing Final Cut Studio 3 along-side it. I think they'll show of FCS3 and bring the MacPro's out at the end, but not spend a lot of time talking about them.

So in other words, I am expecting Apple to attend NAB this year, as long as FCS3 is ready.

 

[Panzer Tiger]

Originally posted by: Kaido

-17" Quad Macbook Pro (unibody w/ that new Intel Quad CPU for Notebooks)

As long as it's a wishlist I hope they give the option of a matte screen. If so I will definitely buy one for editing.

 

[sourceninja]

I'm fairly certain they will upgrade the iPhone. Why do you ask? because I just bought an iPhone.

 

[bearxor]

Originally posted by: sourceninja
I'm fairly certain they will upgrade the iPhone. Why do you ask? because I just bought an iPhone.

That's typically a pretty good indicator.

 

[randomlinh]

The Wishlist:
a Mac. smaller tower than a mac pro, just the one removable dvd drive, 3x hdd bays, non-server grade stuff, c2d quad (intro i7 into the mac pro for now)
refresh imac, leave out i7 till later (along w/ the i7 "Mac" above)
ipod touch w/ a really good GPS and camera. Or, alternatively, the larger format "ipod touch" with those things... WITH a user removable battery.
drop the cost of the mac mini and give it a bump/design refresh.
while we're at it, throw in the giant surprise of a CDMA iPhone for verizon =)

WWDC
open up the ipod touch/iphone more.
allow for multiple/background running processes.
release snow leopard.

 

[jdogg707]

You won't see i7 in the iMac or the Mac Pro. The iMac uses a notebook chipset and notebook processors. The Mac Pro uses a server/pro workstation chipset and server/pro workstation processor. Intel's regular line of desktop processors have never found it's way into Apple's product lines. That being said, here are my guesses:

Mac Mini:

New Aluminum/Black Construction, thinner than before and most likely unibody.
$599 - 2GHz Core 2 Duo/2GB DDR3-1066/G9400M/160GB/AEX/BT/Superdrive/Display Port
$799 - 2.4GHz Core 2 Duo/2GB DDR3-1066/G9400M/320GB/AEX/BT/Superdrive/Display Port

iMac:

Same body style you can buy now. Remote will no longer be included. LED Backlight displays and more environmentally friendly.
$1099 - 2.26GHz Intel Core 2 Duo/20"/G9400M/2GB DDR3-1066/320GB/AEX/BT/Superdrive
$1399 - 2.53GHz Intel Core 2 Duo/20"/G9400M/2GB DDR3-1066/500GB/AEX/BT/Superdrive
$1699 - 2.8GHz Intel Core 2 Duo/24"/9800GS/4GB DDR3-1066/500GB/AEX/BT/Superdrive
$2099 - 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Quad/24"/9800GS/4GB DDR3-1066/750GB/AEX/BT/Superdrive

Mac Pro:
No change. Mac Pro's will be updated either at WWDC or in a Town Hall event between Macworld and WWDC.

New Time Capsule Pro:
Support for multiple drives, RAID, Time Machine backups across multiple macs on the network. Major feature will be iTunes support to Mac/Windows machines and to Apple TV.

Apple TV:
Upgrade to firmware for support for new Time Capsule Pro.

iPhone:
Colors? No iPhone Nano. 32GB Model.

iPod Touch:
Colors and Larger sizes.

OS X:
I think we'll see a full feature preview of Snow Leopard.

 

[umrigar]

don't forget FireWire gone from the new Mac Minis.

 

[ultimatebob]

Man... I was hoping that someone would predict something totally off the wall, like a 42" LCD TV with an Apple TV built into it.

We should give bonus points if someone predicts something like that and it actually happens

 

[slugg]

Originally posted by: ultimatebob
Man... I was hoping that someone would predict something totally off the wall, like a 42" LCD TV with an Apple TV built into it.

We should give bonus points if someone predicts something like that and it actually happens

Okay, here's one...

Microsoft announces their acquisition of Apple.

 

[freegeeks]

I'm hoping for a new mac mini for my HTPC project

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: umrigar
don't forget FireWire gone from the new Mac Minis.

Yet another reason to build a Hackintosh. I have all kinds of Firewire stuff. Lots of people do - Firewire sound cards, audio decks and DJ equipment, scanners, camcorders - all stuff that Apple pushed because of their so-called Firewire compatibility. Way to slap a tiny 4-pin Firewire 400 port on there, Jobs!

 

[randomlinh]

Originally posted by: jdogg707
You won't see i7 in the iMac or the Mac Pro. The iMac uses a notebook chipset and notebook processors. The Mac Pro uses a server/pro workstation chipset and server/pro workstation processor. Intel's regular line of desktop processors have never found it's way into Apple's product lines. That being said, here are my guesses:

Aren't the Nehalem Xeon's slated for a Q1 release though? It's not unheard of Apple pre-announcing something.

I forgot one... the refresh of the damn 17" Macbook Pro to the new design.

 

[jdogg707]

Originally posted by: randomlinh

Originally posted by: jdogg707
You won't see i7 in the iMac or the Mac Pro. The iMac uses a notebook chipset and notebook processors. The Mac Pro uses a server/pro workstation chipset and server/pro workstation processor. Intel's regular line of desktop processors have never found it's way into Apple's product lines. That being said, here are my guesses:

Aren't the Nehalem Xeon's slated for a Q1 release though? It's not unheard of Apple pre-announcing something.

I forgot one... the refresh of the damn 17" Macbook Pro to the new design.

Agreed on the 17" MacBook Pro!

 

[ultimatebob]

Originally posted by: slugg

Originally posted by: ultimatebob
Man... I was hoping that someone would predict something totally off the wall, like a 42" LCD TV with an Apple TV built into it.

We should give bonus points if someone predicts something like that and it actually happens

Okay, here's one...

Microsoft announces their acquisition of Apple.

Better yet... have them buy their rival Dell just to liquidate it out of spite

Remember... today is the last day for predictions! No "points" for any lucky or educated guesses tomorrow morning.

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: jdogg707

Originally posted by: randomlinh

Originally posted by: jdogg707
You won't see i7 in the iMac or the Mac Pro. The iMac uses a notebook chipset and notebook processors. The Mac Pro uses a server/pro workstation chipset and server/pro workstation processor. Intel's regular line of desktop processors have never found it's way into Apple's product lines. That being said, here are my guesses:

Aren't the Nehalem Xeon's slated for a Q1 release though? It's not unheard of Apple pre-announcing something.

I forgot one... the refresh of the 17" Macbook Pro to the new design.

Agreed on the 17" MacBook Pro!

Well the latest rumor just looks stupid:

http://gizmodo.com/5123000/rum...-update-better-battery

No removable battery for a 17" $2,500 professional laptop? Now that just sounds idiotic...I can understand the iPhone and iPods having a sealed battery because of the thin design and latches and whatnot, but for a tool of that caliber not to have a removable battery is just ludicrous. Next please!

 

[Kaido]

LOL @ the Gizmodo Macworld banner:

http://gizmodo.com/5123052/mac...blog-here-this-tuesday

:laugh:

 

[Dacalo]

Originally posted by: Kaido

Well the latest rumor just looks stupid:

http://gizmodo.com/5123000/rum...-update-better-battery

No removable battery for a 17" $2,500 professional laptop? Now that just sounds idiotic...I can understand the iPhone and iPods having a sealed battery because of the thin design and latches and whatnot, but for a tool of that caliber not to have a removable battery is just ludicrous. Next please!

Did a little research on this rumor here

Silver-Zinc isn't a new, untested technology either. It has been used by NASA and Aircraft industries for years.

It was the power source in all of the Apollo spacecraft: the Saturn launch vehicles, command module re-entry batteries, the lunar module and the lunar rover. (The Apollo Service Module used fuel cells as a primary power source.)

Also, to have an entirely internal battery, they'd need to be able to take many more charges than the current Lithium batteries which putter out in one to three years. I've had to replace my MacBook Pro Battery after two years of use because the charge would only last a few minutes. Luckily, Silver-Zinc only starts to degrade in charge only after five years of use. Nice!

They also charge faster - at least in the area that matters most:

A laptop computer battery using ZPower cells can charge in 5 hours. The ZPower battery charges at a constant rate throughout the complete charge cycle. In contrast, lithium-ion batteries decelerate to a slower rate towards the last 20-30% of a charge cycle. As a result, ZPower batteries charge faster than lithium-ion batteries from 70% to 100% --which is where most consumers focus their charging activity.