Updates Next Week?

[MacRumors]

We've received more reports that Apple is expecting its employees to be on hand next week as well as extended hours... presumably in preparation for new product releases.

Software (Shake, FCP?) updates seem especially likely... but hardware announcements are still possible.

[Blackheart]

Yet another disappointing tuesday...

[aswitcher]

We've received more reports that Apple is expecting its employees to be on hand next week as well as extended hours... presumably in preparation for new product releases.

Software (Shake, FCP?) updates seem especially likely... but hardware announcements are still possible.

Ok, guess the Thaw to Summer has started! :p

[lind0834]

I think the release of the updated eMacs was really food for thought. Shows us all that no matter how much rumor mongering we go through Apple will keep us on our toes. There was one person who said eMacs tomorrow but wasn't 100% on everything.. and again they only knew one day before.

[Tomaz]

I think the release of the updated eMacs was really food for thought. Shows us all that no matter how much rumor mongering we go through Apple will keep us on our toes. There was one person who said eMacs tomorrow but wasn't 100% on everything.. and again they only knew one day before.


So, lets talk about new PM G5s, new iMacs and iBooks, as well and new ipods and iSights, software updates and so on
--> then they will update PBs !!! ;)

[aswitcher]

So, lets talk about new PM G5s, new iMacs and iBooks, as well and new ipods and iSights, software updates and so on
--> then they will update PBs !!! ;)

PBs WWDC...its a big deal, Steve will want to present it.
PMG5...anytime, but WWDC looks likely given the current premotions.
iMacs...if G5 then WWDC because its a BIG deal
iPods...anytime, but if colour then a song and dance presentation would seem likely.
iSights...not sure, new software to allow multi-conferencing would be very nice, as well as basic videoing options...

[Tomaz]

PBs WWDC...its a big deal, Steve will want to present it.
PMG5...anytime, but WWDC looks likely given the current premotions.
iMacs...if G5 then WWDC because its a BIG deal
iPods...anytime, but if colour then a song and dance presentation would seem likely.
iSights...not sure, new software to allow multi-conferencing would be very nice, as well as basic videoing options...

I agree with everything except the PBs at WWDC. I don't think they will release a G5 PB yet, maybe towards the end of the year or early 2005. G4 PBs at WWDC? No way! Maybe Dual-G4 PBs?

(G5 PBs at WWDC would be great, but from what we know, should it be possible to put a G5 into a PB yet?)

[aswitcher]

I agree with everything except the PBs at WWDC. I don't think they will release a G5 PB yet, maybe towards the end of the year or early 2005. G4 PBs at WWDC? No way! Maybe Dual-G4 PBs?

(G5 PBs at WWDC would be great, but from what we know, should it be possible to put a G5 into a PB yet?)

A dual G4, no I think dual cores are destined for the G5 in 2005/2006.

G5 in PB? Who knows. Lots of RUMORS that heat and wattage are a problem. I dont know. Everything about the G5 chips is fuzzy from all the rumoring going on... But I do want my G5PB and I expect Steve to at least give us a shipping date at WWDC...the G4PB just looks so lame now that the eMac has caught up to it. iMac and PB need serious attention soon.

[Kurt]

Is this in their retail stores which would indicate new hardware with immediate delivery?

If it is software I don't see how many employees would be needed for extra hours. People are going to be walking into the store to buy tens of thousands of copies of Shake or FCP.

Maybe they are each going to be given a soldering iron and instructions on how to fix mini iPods. :D

[Tomaz]

...I do want my G5PB and I expect Steve to at least give us a shipping date at WWDC...the G4PB just looks so lame now that the eMac has caught up to it. iMac and PB need serious attention soon.

Amen to that!

[rwbean]

We've received more reports that Apple is expecting its employees to be on hand next week as well as extended hours...


Except for those Elk Grove (http://sacramento.bizjournals.com/sacramento/stories/2004/04/12/daily22.html) employees... :(

http://www.unitedmedia.com/comics/dilbert/news_and_history/images/dt921207.gif

[mvc]

Maybe they are each going to be given a soldering iron and instructions on how to fix mini iPods. :D

4 am Tuesday Night…

"No you idiots, + is positive, - is negative, oh wait, let me do it!"

Hope not :p

[Stella]

New hardware tuesday.

So What? Rumour sites predict this every tuesday.. eventually one of you will be correct.

[wrldwzrd89]

Is this in their retail stores which would indicate new hardware with immediate delivery?

If it is software I don't see how many employees would be needed for extra hours. People are going to be walking into the store to buy tens of thousands of copies of Shake or FCP.

Maybe they are each going to be given a soldering iron and instructions on how to fix mini iPods. :D
I agree on the point you made about the update. If it's a software update, then what exactly are the called employees doing? The only thing I could think of is demoing the new software at Apple's retail stores, and the extra hours are for training. If, however, the update is to hardware, then the call makes much more sense because customers coming to their Apple retail store will have questions about the hardware introduction/update, which the employees need to be trained to answer. In my mind, calling the employees makes the most sense when both scenarios occur at once - i.e. a combined hardware/software update. Therefore, I'm expecting both hardware and software updates next Tuesday.

[Zaty]

I agree on the point you made about the update. If it's a software update, then what exactly are the called employees doing? The only thing I could think of is demoing the new software at Apple's retail stores, and the extra hours are for training. If, however, the update is to hardware, then the call makes much more sense because customers coming to their Apple retail store will have questions about the hardware introduction/update, which the employees need to be trained to answer. In my mind, calling the employees makes the most sense when both scenarios occur at once - i.e. a combined hardware/software update. Therefore, I'm expecting both hardware and software updates next Tuesday.

I totally agree with you. Programs such as FCP won't create enough attention among the majority of people interested in Macs as they are pro programs. So I can't see stuff working extra hours just for demoing FCP. A PB update seems very likely as does a new iMac release and, bit less likely but still possible, new iBooks. Next Tuedsay could turn to out to be Super Tuesday (if Apple doesn't announce new hardware at NAB) :)

[dukemeiser]

I'm expecting a completely new product. Why else would the employees need to be trained and on hand? For Shake? I can't imagine much of a mad rush for a new version of Shake.

[liketom]

Super Tuesday April 20th 2004

Like it .... let it rip steve !whole new product line ,Knock my socks off with something amazing

ta


tom

[Nny]

PBs WWDC...its a big deal, Steve will want to present it.
PMG5...anytime, but WWDC looks likely given the current premotions.
iMacs...if G5 then WWDC because its a BIG deal
iPods...anytime, but if colour then a song and dance presentation would seem likely.
iSights...not sure, new software to allow multi-conferencing would be very nice, as well as basic videoing options...

I'm going to guess that the new PM G5s and new Apple displays will be announced at WWDC, but probably won't ship until around Expo Paris. iMac G5 should be announced at Paris then and start shipping a month behind the PM. PB will be WWDC, but it will be a G4 and it won't be a dual processor. Possible iBook speed bump too. Don't expect an iPod update until MWSF 2005... rev b mini with more storage. If there is a set top box on the horizon it could be NAB, but might be WWDC too. The fact that new hardware got launched a week before NAB (eMac) leads me to believe that we won't see any new hardware at NAB (else they would have held the eMac to launch then). "But that's just my opinion; I could be wrong."

[nsb3000]

PBs WWDC...its a big deal, Steve will want to present it.
PMG5...anytime, but WWDC looks likely given the current premotions.
iMacs...if G5 then WWDC because its a BIG deal
iPods...anytime, but if colour then a song and dance presentation would seem likely.
iSights...not sure, new software to allow multi-conferencing would be very nice, as well as basic videoing options...

Here are my predictions:
PMG5: Update to rev B before WWDC
iMac: WWDC
Powerbooks: WWDC
iBooks: Post WWDC

Apple does not normally want more than one really big headliner at an expo. If the rumors we have been reading are correct, than the Powermac G5s have been delayed, but they are still on the docket, which lead me to think they will be released anytime now. Steve my very well force us to a accept a loose interpretation of his 3 gigahertz thing, and the rev c update may not be released until late summer (IE October or something)

Meanwhile, I think G5 iMacs, and G5 Powerbooks will be the big news at the WWDC along with 10.4 and the other normal assortment of stuff.

There you have it folks. Is someboday willing to send me a two litter of coke if I am right?

[tangenjm@mcmast]

Notice that the eMacs didn't headline the main Apple page. Rather - the G5 ad remains. It won't likely stay as the headline for much longer. I'm betting on whatever is announced at NAB.

[Sped]

Certainly Apple is going to introduce some piece of hardware at NAB, right?!? If Shake is all they pop out, waiting till WWDC is going to kill me.

[machan]

my guess goes like this:

april 18th at NAB - Shake 3.5, with an outside chance at Quicktime 7 announcement in prep for WWDC

april 20th - Powerbook update (slightly faster G4s)

april 28th - ITMS update event, iPod capacity bump


after this month, i don't have any guesses beyond Powermac G5 updates at WWDC.

what's all this based on? just the same rumors we all read day in and day out.

[Tomaz]

The french site "Croquer dans la pomme " just released this:

- 2004-04-14 - Nouveaux portables dimanche
- Encore, je vous annonce la sortie de nouveaux portables.
- Ce sera dimanche - pendant le NAB

--> New portables, next Sunday during NAB (PBs, ibooks ?) :)

No idea about their source, though...

[fishlord]

"rev b mini with more storage. "

does flash get bigger than they have in there now? And if so then how much would it cost, I have read that they are already loosing money on the minis (cheaper to buy a mini and take out the flash then to buy the flash itself).

[CmdrLaForge]

PBs WWDC...its a big deal, Steve will want to present it.
PMG5...anytime, but WWDC looks likely given the current premotions.
iMacs...if G5 then WWDC because its a BIG deal
iPods...anytime, but if colour then a song and dance presentation would seem likely.
iSights...not sure, new software to allow multi-conferencing would be very nice, as well as basic videoing options...

Sorry, but I cannot follow your thoughts. Apple is a company aiming to make money as much as possible, and Steve understands this perfectly, believe me. Otherwise he wouldn't have built one of the largest computer companys in the world.

If products are ready for release today there is no way that Steve waits with the release because he wants to show them first. Thats bull-****.

Procuct releases must be executed very well in terms of ramp-down and ramp-up scenarios. If possible and the schedule fits Steve presents them. If they are ready for shipment month later then Steve presents them as well. Like G5s or XServers. But there is no way that new products are sitting in the warehouse ready for shipment but hold back several month because of those reasons. No way.

[Zaty]

I'm expecting a completely new product. Why else would the employees need to be trained and on hand? For Shake? I can't imagine much of a mad rush for a new version of Shake.

Are you thinking of hardware or software?

[IndyGopher]

does flash get bigger than they have in there now? And if so then how much would it cost, I have read that they are already loosing money on the minis (cheaper to buy a mini and take out the flash then to buy the flash itself).
Flash gets WAY bigger than what is in there now.. since there's no flash in it at all. The mini uses a hard drive, not flash. Whoever told you to buy a mini and take out the flash must have done so immediately after sending his scouts on a snipe hunt.
Edit: To clarify, no matter how much Hitachi (and IBM before them) push the notion that the microdrive is flash memory, it isn't. It's a hard drive. It has moving parts. Flash memory is solid state... no moving parts. You can plug a microdrive into a CF slot (I use one in my camera) but it has none of the advantages of solid state... smack it around enough and it will die.

[Zaty]

my guess goes like this:

april 18th at NAB - Shake 3.5, with an outside chance at Quicktime 7 announcement in prep for WWDC

april 20th - Powerbook update (slightly faster G4s)

april 28th - ITMS update event, iPod capacity bump


after this month, i don't have any guesses beyond Powermac G5 updates at WWDC.

what's all this based on? just the same rumors we all read day in and day out.

iPod capacitiy update? I don't think so. The 40 giger is big enough. (That's the same size as my PB's hard disk).Not many people have that many songs and even if they do, Why would you need 15,000 or 20,000 songs on your iPod. The only thing I could see would be a 20/30/40 line up but only if they released 4G iPods.

[numediaman]

http://croquer.free.fr/

The French site predicts today that new portables will be announced at NAB on Sunday. I'm still waiting for this site to be right about something -- but there you have it.

[Tomaz]

http://croquer.free.fr/

The French site predicts today that new portables will be announced at NAB on Sunday. I'm still waiting for this site to be right about something -- but there you have it.

They announced the last Osx security update 2 days before it's actual release... (April 3rd 2004).

I couldn't find a false announcement of theirs in the last few months...

[ElderBrE]

They announced the last Osx security update 2 days before it's actual release... (April 3rd 2004).

I couldn't find a false announcement of theirs in the last few months...

You didn't look too far then.

They are the guys who announced RevB G5's, iMacs and AppleInsider Aluminium screens for the anniversary:

2004-01-22 - Samedi 24 Janvier: les 20 ans du Mac et les nouveautés

Apple serait sur le point de sortir Samedi les produits suivants:

G5
Les PPC 970fx qu'équiperont les nouveaux G5 chauffant moins, les radiateurs seront plus petit et il y aura un gain de place. Grâce à ça, on trouvera 4 emplacements de disques durs dans cette nouvelle version. Ils tourneront jusqu'à 2.6 GHz.

iMac G5
La forme changera un peu, la base sera carrée. Finition aluminium. Le 17' tournerait à 1.6 GHz et le 20' à 1.8 GHz.

Ecrans
Nouvelle finition aluminium pour les écrans.

[Zaty]

They announced the last Osx security update 2 days before it's actual release... (April 3rd 2004).

I couldn't find a false announcement of theirs in the last few months...

It's probably much easier to find out when a securitiy update will be released than to get inside info on hardware releases. :)

[numediaman]

You didn't look too far then.

They are the guys who announced RevB G5's, iMacs and AppleInsider Aluminium screens for the anniversary.

Thanks for saving me from having to post in rebuttal. Having said that, I certainly hope they are right about their specs for the G5 (assuming it gets updates fairly soon.)

[Tomaz]

You didn't look too far then.

They are the guys who announced RevB G5's, iMacs and AppleInsider Aluminium screens for the anniversary:

Croquer dans la pomme wrote: "Apple serait sur le point de sortir Samedi les produits suivants"

If I remember right (haven't used French in a LONG time) this means: Apple could be at the point of releasing new products...

Anyway, they didn't have a significant "hit" yet, maybe that will change this Sunday?? PLEEEAASEE ;)

[Tomaz]

It's probably much easier to find out when a securitiy update will released than to get inside info on hardware releases. :)

Totally true !!

[Zaty]

Croquer dans la pomme wrote: "Apple serait sur le point de sortir Samedi les produits suivants"

If I remember right (haven't used French in a LONG time) this means: Apple could be at the point of releasing new products...

Anyway, they didn't have a significant "hit" yet, maybe that will change this Sunday?? PLEEEAASEE ;)

I can back you up on your French translation (although I don't use our second national language much :) ). Even if they're right they could only have guessed and this a likely prediction so I wouldn't call it a "hit" as I'm predicting new PBs either on NAB or next Tuesday as well. Apple could use NAB to announce new PBs while iBooks would be released quietly on Tuesday, April 20 (along with new iMacs).

Edit: I guess Apple would only release new iBooks at the same time as the PBs if stocks (especially of the 12" PB) are cleared. Does anyone have any idea what stocks of Apple's laptops look like at the moment?

[fishlord]

Flash gets WAY bigger than what is in there now.. since there's no flash in it at all. The mini uses a hard drive, not flash. Whoever told you to buy a mini and take out the flash must have done so immediately after sending his scouts on a snipe hunt.
Edit: To clarify, no matter how much Hitachi (and IBM before them) push the notion that the microdrive is flash memory, it isn't. It's a hard drive. It has moving parts. Flash memory is solid state... no moving parts. You can plug a microdrive into a CF slot (I use one in my camera) but it has none of the advantages of solid state... smack it around enough and it will die.


ah.. thanks for clarifying. So then is the Xthousand writes and then the drive is no good I was told also not true?

[cubist]

Like it .... let it rip steve !whole new product line ,Knock my socks off with something amazing ...

Apple tablet! :D

No, more likely, it'll be the 1.33GHz G4 iMac. :rolleyes:

[dieselg4]

I'd put more value in the French prediction except its on a Sunday. Does or has Apple ever had a product release on a Sunday?

I'm guessing updated Powerbooks on the 20th, if anything on that date. A G4 speed bump and modest upgrade doesn't seem like a Jobs-worthy update for WWDC. I would think SJ wouldn't make an annoucement himself about PB's untill they take a magical leap forward in preformance.

One thing is certain - if they bump the PB's on the 20th, there won't be a g5 PB for quite awhile.

(Personally I'm hopeful for iBook bumps on the 20th too. Plastic or not, I'm inclined to keep some cash for other more immoral purposes!)

[machan]

iPod capacitiy update? I don't think so. The 40 giger is big enough. (That's the same size as my PB's hard disk).Not many people have that many songs and even if they do, Why would you need 15,000 or 20,000 songs on your iPod. The only thing I could see would be a 20/30/40 line up but only if they released 4G iPods.


well, you might be right in one sense, but a lot of people use the ipod for things beyond listening to music. the hard drive capability alone is a strong selling point and a bump to a lineup of 15/30/60 wouldn't really be out of the question i think.

[Tomaz]

I'd put more value in the French prediction except its on a Sunday. Does or has Apple ever had a product release on a Sunday?
I'm guessing updated Powerbooks on the 20th, if anything on that date.

Announcement of the G4 PB update on Sunday at NAB, available in the Mac stores at Tuesday the 20th. Sounds good to me !
And then no PB G5 update for a looong time so I don't feel bad about having finally bought the last (and perfectly optimized) revision of the PB G4!

:) In 10 days I could be working on a cool computer and sell my crappy Dell!! :)

[invaLPsion]

New hardware tuesday.

So What? Rumour sites predict this every tuesday.. eventually one of you will be correct.

But this isn't "just any" rumor site...

It's MacRumors. :)

[wdlove]

my guess goes like this:

april 18th at NAB - Shake 3.5, with an outside chance at Quicktime 7 announcement in prep for WWDC

april 20th - Powerbook update (slightly faster G4s)

april 28th - ITMS update event, iPod capacity bump


after this month, i don't have any guesses beyond Powermac G5 updates at WWDC.

what's all this based on? just the same rumors we all read day in and day out.

I wonder if the current Pro key number for 6 will still work on 7?

On April 20th I'm attending an Apple sponsored seminar here in Boston. Maybe there will be a connection to something new.

It just doesn't seem likely that there would be any update to the G5 prior to G5. They have that great promotion running till then.

[Ensoniq]

Apple's previous update schedule (as well as simple common sense) would dictate that they are overdue for a PowerMac G5 update. They said 3 GHz by June 30th of 2004, so it makes sense that about halfway between 06/2003 and 06/2004 they had PLANNED to release G5 updates but something kept them from doing it.

Some say the plan was December...others say it was March. Either way, they missed the dates. We've seen plenty of issues (from rumor sites of course) indicating issues with cooling problems, non-delivery of chips by IBM, low-yields on higher-speed processors, etc. We'll never know what the problem(s) were/are until a long time from now.

But Apple is NOT stupid, so I think we can all agree that there WAS a PLANNED PowerMac G5 revision that slipped past it's due date due to SOME currently unknown (for certain) problems. So what if Apple now HAS fixed the problems? What should they do?

Knowing they promised 3 GHz at the end of June, which is less than 3 months away, and assuming IBM can still meet the 3 GHz deadline, do they:

1 - Release new PM G5 systems NOW, knowing that they will be updated again in 3 months, causing a ton of customers to complain that the 3 GHz update was way too quick?

2 - Hold back new PM G5 systems NOW, saving the expense of that whole product cycle and go right to 3 GHz, causing a ton of customers to complain that the wait was way too long?

Apple's in a crappy spot - Move forward, and meeting the 3 GHz deadline means two completely different product and inventory cycles in a 3 month period. Very difficult, and possibly very expensive. Hold back, and we hear another 3 months of whining from people about where the PM G5 upgrades are even though we'll be jumping from 2 to 3 GHz, which will certainly have been worth the wait.

Either way...I'm starting to think that a lot of these rumor sites that predicted earlier G5 updates were NOT "wrong"...Apple simply had to change the original plans from what the rumor sites reported. Maybe it's just a technicality, but it doesn't mean we can't trust ANY of this reporting. It simply means that the reporters are only human, and Apple can change it's mind. :)

[Zaty]

I wonder if the current Pro key number for 6 will still work on 7?



I hope so as I bought QT pro only last week.

[Zaty]

Apple's previous update schedule (as well as simple common sense) would dictate that they are overdue for a PowerMac G5 update. They said 3 GHz by June 30th of 2004, so it makes sense that about halfway between 06/2003 and 06/2004 they had PLANNED to release G5 updates but something kept them from doing it.

Some say the plan was December...others say it was March. Either way, they missed the dates. We've seen plenty of issues (from rumor sites of course) indicating issues with cooling problems, non-delivery of chips by IBM, low-yields on higher-speed processors, etc. We'll never know what the problem(s) were/are until a long time from now.

But Apple is NOT stupid, so I think we can all agree that there WAS a PLANNED PowerMac G5 revision that slipped past it's due date due to SOME currently unknown (for certain) problems. So what if Apple now HAS fixed the problems? What should they do?

Knowing they promised 3 GHz at the end of June, which is less than 3 months away, and assuming IBM can still meet the 3 GHz deadline, do they:

1 - Release new PM G5 systems NOW, knowing that they will be updated again in 3 months, causing a ton of customers to complain that the 3 GHz update was way too quick?

2 - Hold back new PM G5 systems NOW, saving the expense of that whole product cycle and go right to 3 GHz, causing a ton of customers to complain that the wait was way too long?

Apple's in a crappy spot - Move forward, and meeting the 3 GHz deadline means two completely different product and inventory cycles in a 3 month period. Very difficult, and possibly very expensive. Hold back, and we hear another 3 months of whining from people about where the PM G5 upgrades are even though we'll be jumping from 2 to 3 GHz, which will certainly have been worth the wait.

Either way...I'm starting to think that a lot of these rumor sites that predicted earlier G5 updates were NOT "wrong"...Apple simply had to change the original plans from what the rumor sites reported. Maybe it's just a technicality, but it doesn't mean we can't trust ANY of this reporting. It simply means that the reporters are only human, and Apple can change it's mind. :)

I'm pretty sure Apple originally planned an update sometime in the Dec-March timeframe (MWSF would have been an obvious choice). Now it appears that something made them change their plans. In order to make a guess what the next revision will bring, it would be helpful to know what caused the delay. We've heard many possibilities, some seemed more likely than others, but obviously Apple could keep this crucial piece of information secret. A jump from 2 to 3 GHz is still possible but I doubt it. IMO they didn't skip one revision, they just could deliver it any sooner.

[CrackedButter]

This may sound a little weird but i know a guy in Tokyo who knows a guy in Taiwan where they churn out the PB's, from all accounts, nothing about a G5 PowerBook is there ready to go into production, not yet, this guy would of known if there was one.

This might change however a month from now, but at the moment it is still a G4.

[billwest9999]

This may sound a little weird but i know a guy in Tokyo who knows a guy in Taiwan where they churn out the PB's, from all accounts, nothing about a G5 PowerBook is there ready to go into production, not yet, this guy would of known if there was one.

This might change however a month from now, but at the moment it is still a G4.

A friend of a friend of a friend of mine works at Apple, and he's pretty high up so he actually gets to meet with Jobs sometimes. He told the friend of my friend which told my friend and in turn told me that the powerbooks will be ready by September.

[CrackedButter]

A friend of a friend of a friend of mine works at Apple, and he's pretty high up so he actually gets to meet with Jobs sometimes. He told the friend of my friend which told my friend and in turn told me that the powerbooks will be ready by September.

I told you it would sound weird, i don't expect anybody to believe me, but that is the situation i am in, however, i am hoping for September as well since thats when i'm looking for a laptop from apple.

[sedarby]

Here are my predictions:
PMG5: Update to rev B before WWDC
iMac: WWDC
Powerbooks: WWDC
iBooks: Post WWDC

Apple does not normally want more than one really big headliner at an expo. If the rumors we have been reading are correct, than the Powermac G5s have been delayed, but they are still on the docket, which lead me to think they will be released anytime now. Steve my very well force us to a accept a loose interpretation of his 3 gigahertz thing, and the rev c update may not be released until late summer (IE October or something)

Meanwhile, I think G5 iMacs, and G5 Powerbooks will be the big news at the WWDC along with 10.4 and the other normal assortment of stuff.

There you have it folks. Is someboday willing to send me a two litter of coke if I am right?

I really don't think sending 2 liter bottles of coke through the mail is a good idea. :eek:

[CrackedButter]

I really don't think sending 2 liter bottles of coke through the mail is a good idea. :eek:

*Decides which angle he thinks this joke is going*

Why not try powdered milk instead?

[Wonder Boy]

[QUOTE=CmdrLaForge]If products are ready for release today there is no way that Steve waits with the release because he wants to show them first. Thats bull-****.

no, that's steve. he has a flair for showmanship to say the least. he wants the stage, he wants the glory.ego-maniac? a little, but i can see steve holding things back a little for just the right moment. he likes making us squirm.

[SiliconAddict]

iPod capacitiy update? I don't think so. The 40 giger is big enough. (That's the same size as my PB's hard disk).Not many people have that many songs and even if they do, Why would you need 15,000 or 20,000 songs on your iPod. The only thing I could see would be a 20/30/40 line up but only if they released 4G iPods.

Wrong. I'm waiting for a 50GB (Pref a 60GB drive.) iPod simply because if I purchased a top of the line 40GB iPod my 34.8GB of music would be hitting the roof before the end of the year and never mind the fact that some of us would use the iPod as a removable storage device.

[iAtom]

The fact that new hardware got launched a week before NAB (eMac) leads me to believe that we won't see any new hardware at NAB (else they would have held the eMac to launch then). "But that's just my opinion; I could be wrong."

Well you must remember that NAB is a pro event, and the eMac is a consumor/education product. So they would not have announced the eMac there.

[iAtom]

iPod capacitiy update? I don't think so. The 40 giger is big enough.

Well maybe they will add a 8-10 GB iPod mini. That would be perfect for my needs, even if it costs as much as or more than the 15 GB iPod.

[Mr Maui]

A friend of a friend of a friend of mine works at Apple, and he's pretty high up so he actually gets to meet with Jobs sometimes. He told the friend of my friend which told my friend and in turn told me that the powerbooks will be ready by September.

Now, if only I had a friend of a friend of a friend of an aquaintance of some higher up at Apple or someplace else, for that matter, in Tokyo, in Taiwan, or anywhere else in this world, we could clear this whole thing up, once and for all. :D

[603]

Wrong. I'm waiting for a 50GB (Pref a 60GB drive.) iPod simply because if I purchased a top of the line 40GB iPod my 34.8GB of music would be hitting the roof before the end of the year and never mind the fact that some of us would use the iPod as a removable storage device.

me too. i bought a 40 GB iPod with the "Buy A Bundle" promotion last fall. i was hoping to replace my 20 GB since it was never even enough to hold my whole music collection, much less serve as a FireWire backup drive. once i put all my music on the 40 GB, i realized that it was still too close... i needed something bigger to fit all my music AND a backup of my most important work. so i sold the 40 GB iPod on eBay for a nice profit. i never liked the "row of buttons" interface anyway... the older models have a near-perfect UI.

Toshiba's tiny hard drives are up to 60 and 80 GB now. ( Product Index : http://sdd.toshiba.com/cda/main.aspx?Path=/818200000007000000010000659800000001/81820000011d000000010000659c000003fd ) some of the drives listed in that URL are the exact drives used in the current iPods. the 60 and 80 GB drives are slightly thicker... but i for one wouldn't mind a small increase in they physical thickness of the iPod in exchange for TWICE the storage capacity. the existence of the iPod Mini can help to offset any criticism that a bigger iPod is a step backward.

an iPod with 80 GB of storage, a color screen, video output, and the option to download photos in the field (as some rumors have suggested - http://www.appleinsider.com/article.php?id=393) would be incredible. with such advances, the iPod would transcend its status as an accessory - evolving from from "pretty cool" to "truly useful."

[billwest9999]

Now, if only I had a friend of a friend of a friend of an aquaintance of some higher up at Apple or someplace else, for that matter, in Tokyo, in Taiwan, or anywhere else in this world, we could clear this whole thing up, once and for all. :D

Better yet, just be a major shareholder. They HAVE to tell you then because you are the boss.

Who says money can't solve problems?

[Gurugrrrl]

Announcement of the G4 PB update on Sunday at NAB, available in the Mac stores at Tuesday the 20th. Sounds good to me !
And then no PB G5 update for a looong time so I don't feel bad about having finally bought the last (and perfectly optimized) revision of the PB G4!

:) In 10 days I could be working on a cool computer and sell my crappy Dell!! :)

Have they ever done an announcement like that on a Sunday...in the middle of the day? That just seems weird. I'm still crossing my fingers with my credit card in my pocket.

[DrGruv1]

A Tivo but better... AND a Video VPOD to go.. watch it at home or just pick up the VPOD take it with you and just keep watching.. No stoppage No loading.. It's just there.

Rev. b macs now

imacs, who cares? :p

updates to FCP and shook :D er shake 'em :rolleyes:

ibooks with superdrives

and no new powerbook for 10 years...... :D

-mike

[aswitcher]

Sorry, but I cannot follow your thoughts. Apple is a company aiming to make money as much as possible, and Steve understands this perfectly, believe me. Otherwise he wouldn't have built one of the largest computer companys in the world.

If products are ready for release today there is no way that Steve waits with the release because he wants to show them first. Thats bull-****.

Procuct releases must be executed very well in terms of ramp-down and ramp-up scenarios. If possible and the schedule fits Steve presents them. If they are ready for shipment month later then Steve presents them as well. Like G5s or XServers. But there is no way that new products are sitting in the warehouse ready for shipment but hold back several month because of those reasons. No way.

Apple this year has had singificant supply issues for xserves and ipod minis. Last year the G5s were the same, big delays. Although I take your point about announcements in the last few years, it really wouldn't surprise me if they do stockpile for a number of weeks whilst working closely with their high profile business buyers like Virginia tech to get early machines to them prior to releasing to the public, so that they have enough in the USA and on boats to Europe and Asia to meet initial demand.

Another argument I guess others will have to help me with is what is Apple's history with releasing new form factor machines without doing it at one of their main shows (January, WWDC, Paris Expo...)? Would they really release a new form factor iMac G5 or display at anything but such an event for maximuim spin?

[billwest9999]

A quick check at the Apple Store:

http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/70502/wo/hT1iiPPww0wn2Tpk8ol1tSDgCUg/16.0.7.1.0.5.3

all pbs and ibooks ship in 1-3 business days now. We're getting closer!

[ThomasJefferson]

Please Steve, no eMac Second Edition with flowers or neon.

Think Different.

[Steven1621]

there is going to be one more g4 update to the PB before it goes to the g5 and that isn't worth talking about at WWDC. i would expect 3 Ghz PM's there...

[aswitcher]

there is going to be one more g4 update to the PB before it goes to the g5 and that isn't worth talking about at WWDC. i would expect 3 Ghz PM's there...


I keep wondering what they can do to make the PowerBook G4 Rev C attractive.

Cheaper...well maybe here in Australia with the exchange rate.

Faster...what 1.42? Whoopy doo.

Could they bump the bus &/or cache up? Probably not.

An option for a 128 VRAM or better 64 VRAM...maybe...12" to 64...maybe

Better screen...now that would be attractive, better resolution and maybe even faster refresh would be tempting

Better battery life...would be nice

Bundled OEM Office X...again attractive

Can anyone think of anything else?

[173080]

Well maybe they will add a 8-10 GB iPod mini. That would be perfect for my needs, even if it costs as much as or more than the 15 GB iPod.

I dont think they will update the mini anytime soon. They are having trouble shipping mini's to people that bought them several weeks ago. If they updated them right now most people could cancel their order, and that is not good for Apple. Besides, the current iPod mini is selling very well.

[aswitcher]

I dont think they will update the mini anytime soon. They are having trouble shipping mini's to people that bought them several weeks ago. If they updated them right now most people could cancel their order, and that is not good for Apple. Besides, the current iPod mini is selling very well.

A new standard iPod could easily appear. Harddisk sizes are always growing and its been sometime since the last update. Better batteries wouldn't go amiss. Plus other features are being requested. Also how well do you think the standard ipods would sell in a limited release of the 5 ipod mini colours. I think that would be an attractive move (and take some of the pressure off the ipod minis which are in poor supply - not even selling yet overseas (3 months!))

So maybe ipods in mini colours/metal

[iAtom]

I dont think they will update the mini anytime soon. They are having trouble shipping mini's to people that bought them several weeks ago. If they updated them right now most people could cancel their order, and that is not good for Apple. Besides, the current iPod mini is selling very well.

Well actually what I meant is that they could make a mini with a bigger capacity in addition to the current one. And then maybe they could drop the price of the current one. This is how I would like to see it:

4 GB - $199
8 GB - $249

[iAtom]

A new standard iPod could easily appear. Harddisk sizes are always growing and its been sometime since the last update. Better batteries wouldn't go amiss. Plus other features are being requested. Also how well do you think the standard ipods would sell in a limited release of the 5 ipod mini colours. I think that would be an attractive move (and take some of the pressure off the ipod minis which are in poor supply - not even selling yet overseas (3 months!))

So maybe ipods in mini colours/metal

Yeah I would love to see iPods in colors. Another feature I would love to see is bluetooth. That way when I'm near my computer it would automatically syncronize without even plugging it in. I also would prefer the mini type buttons on all of the iPods.

[jade]

Yeah I would love to see iPods in colors. Another feature I would love to see is bluetooth. That way when I'm near my computer it would automatically syncronize without even plugging it in. I also would prefer the mini type buttons on all of the iPods.

Or even better you could use bluetooth speakers. They are almost here...and that would be really cool. Or a bluetooth remote or headset. (bluetooth is far to slow for syncing more than a handful of music files.

[powerofthekiwi]

does flash get bigger than they have in there now? And if so then how much would it cost, I have read that they are already loosing money on the minis (cheaper to buy a mini and take out the flash then to buy the flash itself).

dude, minis don't use flash - they run off an internal hard drive

[wdlove]

Something interesting that I read, anyone aware of this?

On Apr 14, 2004, at 6:39 PM, David Schell wrote:

> From the notes on the conference call I read (macminute and
> Macrumors), xServe shipment was delayed due to 970fx chip shortage.
> Likely that is the reason new PMs are delayed as well (wouldn't want 2
> systems held up because they are fighting for the same limited
> component).
>
> The Est Ship date on dual xServes is now about 5-6 weeks (6-8 for
> Edu). That puts them at the end of May or early June before Apple
> catches up. Seems unlikely we will see new PMs (or G5 PB) before
> WWDC.
>
> David

[ClimbingTheLog]

Some say the plan was December...others say it was March.

Yeah, December sounds right. Back at WWDC when Steve was off-stage but with his mic still on he was talking to an investor and told them they'd be at 90nm by November. I posted something here about it last summer.

So, we're we're talking almost 6 months of slippage. Now maybe IBM has another team working on the speed issue in parallel (we must assume) but that's still alot of slippage to make up for by WWDC.

[ClimbingTheLog]

Well you must remember that NAB is a pro event, and the eMac is a consumor/education product. So they would not have announced the eMac there.

That's a good point. Ditto for the iBook. So maybe Sunday Shake, Quicktime 7, Video iPod, PowerMac G5 2.6, and then Monday Powerbooks as others have said and Tuesday iBooks, back to the normal day.

I hope it's true because it means the iBooks would have given something very nice away about the PowerBooks, so they couldn't do iBook when the did eMac. That we're deep in school budget season only serves to reinforce this suspicion - they want the SKU's out ASAP for BTS orders.

[ClimbingTheLog]

And then maybe they could drop the price of the current one. This is how I would like to see it:

4 GB - $199
8 GB - $249

Dude, have you heard about the problems they're having selling them at $249? They could raise the price to $299 and still not have a problem selling them.

Supply and demand, it's a beautiful thing. See also market-based economy.

[immac]

NAB seems like the perfect venue to unveil new Cinema Displays. The rumormill has been pretty quiet re: them of late. With the current video chip wars RAGE-ing (nyuk,nyuk) a release could grab some good press.God knows we need new ones (that rotate ohpleaseohpleaseohplease).

[numediaman]

NAB seems like the perfect venue to unveil new Cinema Displays. The rumormill has been pretty quiet re: them of late. With the current video chip wars RAGE-ing (nyuk,nyuk) a release could grab some good press.God knows we need new ones (that rotate ohpleaseohpleaseohplease).

New displays would be nice, especially if there were new features -- newer inputs (USB 2.0, firewire), higher resolutions. Lower prices might be nice, but I wouldn't count on it, as usual.

[dernhelm]

april 18th at NAB - Shake 3.5, with an outside chance at Quicktime 7 announcement in prep for WWDC

april 20th - Powerbook update (slightly faster G4s)

april 28th - ITMS update event, iPod capacity bump


I can't see Apple losing an opportunity to roll out new product in front of a captive audience. I mean, if you are going to be there with a software product (Shake) in hand, wouldn't you want to show the latest hardware to go with it?

And really this goes either way - if you weren't even going to hold a press event for the updates (too minor or whatever), then the NAB provides a good no-additional-cost publicity boost to an otherwise low key product update. If you were going to hold a press event, it would seem kind of silly to hold one two days after a large conference like the NAB.

Unless I just don't get it, I would think you'd see the PB's at the NAB unless they simply are not ready.

[iGuy]

iPod capacitiy update? I don't think so. The 40 giger is big enough. (That's the same size as my PB's hard disk).Not many people have that many songs and even if they do, Why would you need 15,000 or 20,000 songs on your iPod. The only thing I could see would be a 20/30/40 line up but only if they released 4G iPods.

40 GB may be large enough for you but how dare you assume that your needs are the only ones in the universe?

I recently ripped my entire CD collection to 320 AAC. I tested a varitety of combinations - 128 MP3, 128 AAC, 320 MP3 and 320 AAC. 128 sounded fine on earplugs but there was a noticable difference when playing the files through my home stereo.

My collection currently stands at 2,843 songs and takes up 26.37 GB. I intend to increase my music collection over time. I also want space to carry other files.

And yes, I do want to carry my entire music collection with me, especially if I'm traveling for weeks at a time.

Clearly you have a different use for you iPod. Good for you. But do not assume that you are so clever that no one else could possibly have a use for an iPod that you haven't thought would be useful. This type of nonesense is typical of teenage, I'm the centre of the Universe, look at me, I'm wonderful thinking. Be very ashamed of yourself.

~iGuy

[immac]

newer inputs (USB 2.0, firewire), higher resolutions. Lower prices might be nice, but I wouldn't count on it, as usual.


I'll 2nd that emotion... FW 1&2 x2 would be pretty sweet for me. :D

But if they're not able to rotate this time, I'll be qualified (or is that certifiable?) for a Postal job.....

[captain kirk]

Toshiba's tiny hard drives are up to 60 and 80 GB now. ( Product Index : http://sdd.toshiba.com/cda/main.aspx?Path=/818200000007000000010000659800000001/81820000011d000000010000659c000003fd ) some of the drives listed in that URL are the exact drives used in the current iPods. the 60 and 80 GB drives are slightly thicker... but i for one wouldn't mind a small increase in they physical thickness of the iPod in exchange for TWICE the storage capacity. the existence of the iPod Mini can help to offset any criticism that a bigger iPod is a step backward.

."

You are wrong, the 1.8 inch hard drives only go up to 40GB, these are the 8mm version. This is the drive used in the 40GB ipod. The 15 & 20GB model use the 5mm version which is why they are thinner.

[rog]

From what I hear they plan to debut a fancy new version of Calculator!

[Knox]

does flash get bigger than they have in there now? And if so then how much would it cost, I have read that they are already loosing money on the minis (cheaper to buy a mini and take out the flash then to buy the flash itself).

That doesn't mean Apple is loosing money - that would be comparing retail prices with the bulk discount Apple will no doubt be getting for ordering several hundred thousand of them. However you're right in that it is cheaper to buy a Creative mp3 player (iPod mini doesn't work with most cameras aparently) and take the hard drive out of them than buy a microdrive. At the time the mini was released the 4GB microdrive was almost twice the price as the mini, although it's about the same now.

The confusion with flash is the fact that the iPod mini drive uses a CompactFlash interface, but isn't flash memory.

[fishlord]

That doesn't mean Apple is loosing money - that would be comparing retail prices with the bulk discount Apple will no doubt be getting for ordering several hundred thousand of them. However you're right in that it is cheaper to buy a Creative mp3 player (iPod mini doesn't work with most cameras aparently) and take the hard drive out of them than buy a microdrive. At the time the mini was released the 4GB microdrive was almost twice the price as the mini, although it's about the same now.

The confusion with flash is the fact that the iPod mini drive uses a CompactFlash interface, but isn't flash memory.


the reason that it doesnt work with most cameras is that most cameras dont support fat32 isnt it?

[Sun Baked]

Let's all just blame IBM and their yield problems with the 970FX as the cause of, "No New PowerMac G5s"

Time to switch back to the old reliable Motorola G4 . http://forums.macrumors.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=6694&stc=1

[wdlove]

Let's all just blame IBM and their yield problems with the 970FX as the cause of, "No New PowerMac G5s"

Time to switch back to the old reliable Motorola G4 . http://forums.macrumors.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=6694&stc=1

I will wait till WWDC, then we will know for sure.

Lets not even entertain that thougtht! :(

[Sun Baked]

I will wait till WWDC, then we will know for sure.

Lets not even entertain that thougtht! :(Sort of hard not to...

If you read the Apple Q2 04 call with financial analysts -- live update (http://maccentral.macworld.com/news/2004/04/14/liveupdate/) where it's said..."IBM is working very very hard" to bring supply demand in balance for (Xserve) G5 chips, expects to catch up with demand this quarter. IBM is the only supplier that's delaying the shipment.

[aswitcher]

Sort of hard not to...

If you read the Apple Q2 04 call with financial analysts -- live update (http://maccentral.macworld.com/news/2004/04/14/liveupdate/) where it's said...


It does not say that they haven't had any luck with producing quantities of 970FX at lower speeds. For all we know the need to produce a lower speed 970FX for the PB and iMac lines has resulted in signficant production of those either trying to get the 2GHz or as a deliberate process?

[invaLPsion]

From what I hear they plan to debut a fancy new version of Calculator!

WITH GRAPHING CAPABILITIES. OH BOY! :D

[FFTT]

After spending nearly $3000.00 on my beige G3 tower, I'm very comfortable waiting for a G5 system.

Apple still needs to get up to speed and memory on video and sound cards.
With P/C's running 128,256 and 512 cards, there is clearly room for improvement.

I imagine that the improved, cooler running IBM970FX processors will be used across the board as soon as it's possible.

Apple's displays have quite a bit of competition out there.

I'll be looking for a monitor that supports what I think of as a
"media center", with picture in picture display
CPU & HDTV inputs as well as any necessary audio/video
connectors needed.

With programs like FCP4, DVD Studio Pro, Protools and Garageband,
I would also hope that Apple will soon provide a factory built-in Analog/Digital interface card.
As nice as an upgraded G4 powerbook might be, I can't imagine investing
in old tech this late in the game.

The only other improvement that comes to mind would be a user changable
battery for updated iPods.

Good things come to those who wait.

[cubist]

Anyone up for speculating about NEXT week's updates (4/26 or thereabouts)?

I think we'll see 1.5GHz G4 iMacs, with a 1.2GHz G4 15" model hovering close to eMac prices... they'll have improved graphics and 8x superdrive. After all, that's the other shoe dropping.

[Blackheart]

WITH GRAPHING CAPABILITIES. OH BOY! :D

Actually, calculator already does graphing. It's nothing to get all excited about. It's really basic and doesn't have complete functionality. It was probably in the works when it was updated (probably in Panther).

Anyway, since you're probably wondering how to activate it, make a copy of your calculator app. With the copy, ctrl-click and "Show Package Contents". Go to Resources and take Graphing-2D.calcview (and Hexadecimal.calcview if you want) and move them into the PlugIns folder (it's in the same directory as the Resources folder). Start up the calculator and go to View->Graphing

Have a good time with that.

[slooksterPSV]

I hope they do updates to iMacs or even an upgrade for the processor in the G5's would be perfect. GO APPLE!!!

My Windows broke, can I have a nice shiny Apple please?

[MirrorMan]

Anyone up for speculating about NEXT week's updates (4/26 or thereabouts)?

I think we'll see 1.5GHz G4 iMacs, with a 1.2GHz G4 15" model hovering close to eMac prices... they'll have improved graphics and 8x superdrive. After all, that's the other shoe dropping.

1. With all the recent criticisms directed at the current spec. of the iMac, do you think an increase to 1.5GHz would be considered a good update?When would you expect such an update?

2. Would you then consider it a good buy assuming the prices remain similar to present prices?

3. I would like to get an iMac (my first Mac) and the most demanding tasks I will probably be doing is messing around with Garageband, a bit of video-editing and some work with iDVD. I have read quite a few mixed views on the performance of the iMac eg say using four software instruments in Garageband or doing a production in iDVD with a lot of transitions and effects?

4. When do you think we will get a G5 in the iMac or it's new form?

I would appreciate your views as I am dying to get my hands on a Mac!!

[danman]

WITH GRAPHING CAPABILITIES. OH BOY! :D

Hell no, Calculator already has graphin' abilities.. go and dig inside the Calulator 'Package' and move Graphing-2D.calcview into the plugins folder.

Bobs' your mothers brother.