Predictions
With all this talk of iPod this and touchscreen that... i think i shall throw in my 2 cents worth of predictions (or wishes)... and they are as follows, in no particular keynote-delivered order...
1. Launch of Movie downloading service of some type.... Disney and all its friends to pioneer this feature... in conjuction with an update to front Row "2.0" or whatever not as a entire revamp, but as an added layer to the existing FR, and either as a free upgrade for those with intel machines or G5 iMacs with front row... or as a paid software bundle ($29 or something small like that) avaliable to anyone with 10.4. This way if you want a beefier media center, toss 'em 30 bux and have at it.. no matter what kind of computer you have.
2. Launch of Special Edition iPod AV (video iPod.. duh) with all the already-heard-about features that are in countless threads including this one. But in 30 and 60GB, or maybe 40 and 80 GB capacities. This way.. they will leave the 30 GB 5gen where is is for those who just want music... and anyone who wants video primarily can get the 30/60GB special edition video. This will be special edition until it winds up in some new category much later.. but I think Apple will not stray too far away from the actual tactical click wheel for the majority of iPods, since a virtual click wheel is so impractical for EVERYONE but those watchin movies.
3. *this is one thing i have not heard anyone mention(not to say that it hasnt been mentioned).. and its a definite wish moreso than a prediction... but I think, since they like releasing special edition stuff, and its their anniversary and all.. and the iMac is their baby and all.... they should come out with the iMac SE... basically, a 23" cinema display with the guts of a 17 or 20" imac core duo built in. Keep it flat (as opposed to thicker in the middle, thinner on the edges), its already thick enough seems like, with no extra space underneth the screen.. hell, make it a lil thicker to fit in the drive and all. Pop a lil DVD drive slit in the side of it, a slit for the heat across the back of it... and the holes of a Powemac under the bottom for the speakers, and air intake. Hell, you could even make the holes on the sides of it, so it would be uniform silver, and have the slit for the disc still in the same place, and all the air could be sucked from the lower sides, and the speakers on the mid or upper sides... Add an iSight on the top of the bezel.. and call it a $1999 knock out.. them things will fly off the shelves. And if they wanted to really spice things up, make the keyboard and mouse match... with the silver plastic they make powerbook/macbook keyboard keys out of....... i mean, you know they can do it if they want. that would be only adding 700 bux to the price of the 23" cinema display as it is... and it could be a limited thing in case its impractical from a business and profit standpoint... that is.. unless if took off (as i think it would)
food for thought!
wow, that was a long post.... sorry.. but a man can wish