MacWorld San Francisco 2004 Rumor Roundup

[MacRumors]

With MacWorld Expo quickly approaching, MacRumors provides this Rumor Roundup as a summary of the major rumors circulating around the Mac Web. As always, stay tuned, as last minute leaks and revelations are common.

The Event

MacWorld San Francisco 2004 kicks off on January 6th, 2004 with Steve Jobs giving the Keynote Address. The speech starts at 9am Pacific time, and has traditionally been covered by Satellite, Quicktime Webcasting, as well as Apple Store theatre coverage.

Curiously, Apple has made no official announcements with regard to any of modalities. What appeared to be an official MWSF 2004 streaming page did appear about two weeks ago, but then quickly went offline.

As always, MacRumors plans -- if at all possible -- to provide live coverage of the event both on this site as well as on IRC.

Mini iPods

The most widely publicized rumors before this event are those of the "Mini iPods" -- which are rumored to represent cheaper and smaller versions of the current iPod.

Steve Jobs had stated in an interview in October that they would "love to have a $100 iPod" but that they just didn't know how to do it at that time. Rumors of a cheaper iPod, however, began creeping out in the following months... first from MacRumors' Page 2 and then Apple Turns.

First details of the new iPods came from this Page 2 report which promised 2GB "mini" iPods in a variety of colors coming as early as January. AppleInsider, ThinkSecret and reliable MacRumors sources filled in some other minor details. Confirmation of colors (one being gold), stripes and 2GB and 4GB sizes came from these reports... as well as a starting price "around $100US".

MacRumors has heard mixed reports about starting prices but consistent expectations that pricing will be significantly lower than current models. According to some, Apple has been targeting prices from $100-$150 for the lowend.

Such pricing would be extraordinary in the current MP3 market... and has lead at least one writer to doubt the release of such a product. This author's doubts, however, are based in speculation rather than any particular insider knowledge.

PowerMac G5s

Where have the PowerMac rumors gone? At the widely anticipated release of the 2.0GHz PowerMac G5 in June, Steve Jobs boldly stated that they would reach 3GHz PowerMacs within a year.

It's no secret that IBM will be presenting information about the 90nm PowerPC G5s in February. Current PowerPC G5s are manufactured with a 130nm process. The improved manufacturing (90nm) should yield performance increases to the PowerMac processor.

Appleinsider has been the most vocal about the release of updated PowerMacs at MacWorld San Francisco. A December 4th report claimed that speeds of 2GHz, 2.2GHz, 2.4GHz and 2.6GHz processors were currently being produced by IBM with expectations of the release of new PowerMacs at MacWorld SF 2004. Later, "collaborating information" from the same site claimed PowerMac (and Xserve) updates with speeds up to 2.4GHz would indeed be coming at MacWorld SF 2004.

ThinkSecret has dashed some of these hopes/rumors. In their rumor report, they claim that no desktop or laptop announcements will be made at MacWorld SF 2004.

Readers should remember that product release in the weeks immediately following MacWorld is not unusual. Last year, Apple released PowerMac updates 3 weeks after the January 2003 Expo.

Software Updates

As reported by ThinkSecret, it appears this expo will be focused on software updates. ThinkSecret expects iPhoto, iMovie 3.5, iDVD 4.0 and iTunes updates at MacWorld Expo.

Reliable MacRumors sources previously noted: iMovie 3.5 will only bring minor improvements to the consumer video application; iTunes will bring improvements related to "Purchased Music, iPods and Music Store Availability"; iPhoto will see "support for Photo Albums and Photo Print services to "some" countries outside the United States."

As well, Final Cut Express 2.0 has already been sited at CompUSA's stores and should also be announced at the expo.

New Application?

A reliable report of a new Application coming... with many uncertain rumors since:

Apple Trademarks 'iWrite', New Audio iApp?, Apple DVD Authoring and Optibase, New Pro Audio App?.

Xserve

The Xserve remains long overdue for an updates. Appleinsider and ThinkSecret consider Xserve announcements likely, but can offer few details.

Other

January 2004 marks the 20th anniversary of the Macintosh. Notably absent in recent weeks are more details regarding the rumored return of the Apple Cube. Sources of this rumor were not particularly accurate, and with no further details or rumors arising, should be taken with a grain of salt.

Most recent hints of LCDs suggest we may have to wait until after PowerMac releases, despite previous unconfirmed hints at LCD updates at MacWorld.

Summary

Mini iPods and across the board software updates appear most likely for this Expo. As always, there are hopes for the unexpected.

[Grimace]

bring it!

Hopefully they will do something (anything!) with the powerbook line - even if only a price drop.

I'm hoping to "convert" someone with a new 15.2" Alubook. If there are white spots, I'm going to be in big trouble.

[Waluigi]

What about the rumors of new displays? Or have those been shot down until after the expo?

--Waluigi

[HenMaster6000]

not a fan of the colored mini-ipods. But, What im lookin for is this new iApp. thats gonna be cool.

[Squire]

I just got a 20-gig iPod a month ago so I'm not really interested in mini iPods either. (Possibly a gift for my wife later this year.) I'm also excited about the proposed iApp, especially if it's music-related (i.e. music creation). I won't be in the market for a notebook for another 6 months or so.

Squire

[AirUncleP]

I've said it once and I'll say it again....iTracks.

[Freg3000]

AI was really pushing for Power Mac updates a few weeks ago, and TS has said no. Software updates are always good.

We shall see. About 4.5 days.....

[AirUncleP]

I just built a solid G5 system on Apple's website ( Dual 1.8, 1 gig RAM, 17'' Studio) and would be looking at a bill of $3500. Not many people have $3500. I'd like to see price drops.

PS. Please don't reply telling me to buy an iMac.

[anodized]

What? So anything exciting is brushed off as a rumor, and anything non-exciting (iMovie 3.5. Woahh!!) will be the only thing happenning. WTF?

I thought it was 20-th anniversary? iMac 3rd generation! New Displays! iPod with record line-in! G5 cube! c'mon!

I guess the only reality would be 2.6 Ghz dual G5 and loooong overdue XServe G5. prety spectacular.

Oh well .

[MattG]

Originally posted by AirUncleP
I just built a solid G5 system on Apple's website ( Dual 1.8, 1 gig RAM, 17'' Studio) and would be looking at a bill of $3500. Not many people have $3500. I'd like to see price drops.

PS. Please don't reply telling me to buy an iMac.

A price drop would certain be welcome. I wish they'd just do away with the 1.6, make the dual 1.8 the "low end" model, the dual 2.0 the midrange model, and a new dual 2.? the high-end model, with price cuts to the two "old" models.

[rodnarms]

I can't beleive we have yet to see a new office suite or an overhaul of Appleworks. I mean come on, piggy back off of Open Office or Koffice.

Something.

It's stupid that we still have to use Microsoft.

As a Canadian I look forward to iTunes Canada.

Right?

You think?

I can always hope...

[Flowbee]

Originally posted by AirUncleP
Not many people have $3500. I'd like to see price drops.

Lots of people have $3500.

[nuckinfutz]

Originally posted by AirUncleP
I just built a solid G5 system on Apple's website ( Dual 1.8, 1 gig RAM, 17'' Studio) and would be looking at a bill of $3500. Not many people have $3500. I'd like to see price drops.

PS. Please don't reply telling me to buy an iMac.

Yes and I'd like to be able to buy a Ferrari for $25 thousand

If you BTO from Apple you're going to spend more money.

Crucial sells 512 DDR 400 modules for $116 to Apple's $250

And 17" analog monitors are much cheaper than the $699 Apple charges.

As always roll your own for the best prices. The Powermac is price competitive enough for a Dual Processor computer with best of breed tech.

[restiffbard]

What you're saying here is that we have friggin idea what's coming?

And what we do think we know doesn't sound all that exciting?

Yay.

[ITR 81]

If you buy ram from any computer OEM your going to pay a boat load of money for it just because they have to install it.

I'll be getting 3GHz in about 6 months and by yr end I'll pick up a G5 PB.

I still am figuring on some iTune Music stores openings and new iPod revisions to 3rd gen iPods.

[StudioGuy]

I was really hoping for G5 speed bumps. Guess I'll be waiting a bit longer...

I agree with anodized, it does seem too routine, so I hope we're all just missing something!

[snofseth]

I hope the "unexpected" is something good I have $300-700 and already have an Ipod. I hope they come out with some other new device that would be cool. The only new actual computer I'm lookin forward to is the powerbook G5 which isn't coming yet and I want it now but I cant get it know but for the start of the school year is when I want it and when I think I can get it.

[thatwendigo]

Amen, nuckinfutz!

Would you mind helping out on the gaming thread, over in the gaming forum? I seem to be having trouble getting that very idea across to some people over there.

[Stella]

PowerBook G5 released - I can feel it in my bones...

yea.... right.

Seriously... I hope iPhoto gets and update, an iApp word processor would be welcome too.

I *really* hope the mini iPods rumours are correct - Apple can then make an impact in the cheapy low end mp3 player market - which is good for AAC adoption.

iTunes for Canada and Europe... (other places would be nice too)

[Grimace]

Originally posted by nuckinfutz
Yes and I'd like to be able to buy a Ferrari for $25 thousand ...
And 17" analog monitors are much cheaper than the $699 Apple charges.

If you are going to buy a new monitor, I see no reason to intentially buy an ANALOG monitor. The screen is no where near as crisp as with a digital. A digital 17" may still be cheaper than Apple's, but to go out and buy an analog (unless it's the only connection your computer has) seems a little goofy.

[Sabenth]

Somthing that has come to my atteniton is the shear lack of any 20th birthday bash thing.. 20 years of Apple thats got to bring out some heavy new gear one hopes. I for one wold love a ofice suite update or music recording iApp please...

[gwuMACaddict]

i was a little skeptical about the mini ipod... but its gonna be a perfect gift for my girlfriends b-day in late january... thanks to steve-o again, bailing me out

[wizard]

I'm really hoping for a vastly improved 32 bit processor for the Laptops. The last revision was a little anti climatic to say the least. I'm only hoping for a 32 bit processor because I don't think it is likely we will see a 970 operating at the power levels needed.

As to the G5's well an update of some sort has to come soon for them to stay on track. The question is how far do they go, I'm hoping for a jump to three GHz.

To address the IPod issue. I'm wondering if apple may potentially introduce a new technology for non-volital memory. The thinking here is mram that I heard about a couple of years ago. It would be rather neat if the densities for these devices have climbed to the point where they can be used in such a device. Introduction of such technology would have several positive effects, not the least of which is to put pressure on flash memory pricing. Ultimately a completely solid state IPod is what is need to get me to buy one (need something rugged).

dave

Originally posted by Squire
I just got a 20-gig iPod a month ago so I'm not really interested in mini iPods either. (Possibly a gift for my wife later this year.) I'm also excited about the proposed iApp, especially if it's music-related (i.e. music creation). I won't be in the market for a notebook for another 6 months or so.

Squire

[sushi]

Originally posted by Sabenth
Somthing that has come to my atteniton is the shear lack of any 20th birthday bash thing.. 20 years of Apple thats got to bring out some heavy new gear one hopes. I for one wold love a ofice suite update or music recording iApp please...

Not to get picky, but 20 years of Apple has already passed by.

...and they released the TAM (20th Anniversary Macintosh). Have one. Love it.

What I think that you mean to say, is something to commemerate 20 years of the Macintosh.

And yes, I would love to see a 20th Anniversary Macintosh -- although I am not sure what they would call it since they already produced the TAM. But something along the lines of a new version of the iMac would be neat.

One thing for sure, it is going to be a long 4 days until we know what Apple/SJ has up their sleaves!

Sushi

[sushi]

Originally posted by wizard

As to the G5's well an update of some sort has to come soon for them to stay on track. The question is how far do they go, I'm hoping for a jump to three GHz.

I think that this is being a bit unrealistic.

Based on SJ's comments, we should see 3Ghz sometime next summer.

However, as you state, I would expect to see some sort of G5 speed bump soon, like maybe next week.

Sushi