Analyst Claims September Launch for New iPod Touch, Smaller iPod Nano, Two New MacBook Air Models

[6EQUJ5]

Good Bye Clickwheels.

i think Apple could release a 128 GB SSD ipod touch. But still not enough capacity for the crazy itunes collectors.

I know a lot of people will be annoyed if they totally kill off the ipod classic because they want to haul around their massive itunes collection.

what i've proposed for a while is apple make a headless ipod 'brick' (approximately 5" x 3" x 2") that could plug into your car stereo and wirelessly stream music to an ipod touch, iphone or ipad. You could 500 GB and 1TB capacities. Think mini time capusle for IOS ecosphere.

I emailed steve jobs and he said he'll get right on it!

 

[cherry su]

If we do actually see an 11.6" MBA then I think it goes without saying that they will keep the 13.3" (or move to 14-15" to make the difference worth it).


CULV Core i3/i5/i7

4GB ram

Glass Trackpad from MBP

SSD Across the Board

Prices:

11.6"

Base: Core i3 ULV, 2GB Ram, 64GB SSD $899

Premium: Core i5 ULV, 4GB Ram, 128GB SSD $1099

13"/14"/15" (whichever they go with)

Base: Core i5 ULV, 4GB Ram, 128GB SSD $1399

Premium: Core i7 ULV, 4GB Ram, 256GB SSD $1699

Unlikely. Apple does not want to use Intel's integrated graphics, which are included with the chips. There's also no possible way to not use Intel's northbridge instead of Nvidia's northbridge + graphics.

 

[hiptobesquare]

i think Apple could release a 128 GB SSD ipod touch. But still not enough capacity for the crazy itunes collectors.

I know a lot of people will be annoyed if they totally kill off the ipod classic because they want to haul around their massive itunes collection.

what i've proposed for a while is apple make a headless ipod 'brick' (approximately 5" x 3" x 2") that could plug into your car stereo and wirelessly stream music to an ipod touch, iphone or ipad. You could 500 GB and 1TB capacities. Think mini time capusle for IOS ecosphere.

I emailed steve jobs and he said he'll get right on it!

I think they could put 128GB in the Nano, if they really, really wanted to.

A small and big iPad pair (iPod touch should be a mini iPad, and named as such) could be 64 or 128 GB pretty easily, if they wanted.

------------

Your idea of a headless storage device is interesting, though. I would add that it should be a multimedia device, and have two modes. One mode as a headless media storage drive, to be played by other devices, in-car, in-home, connected to another iOS device with a screen, or whatever.

It should also be a streaming device. When it gets power, it should act like an AirPort Express, either joining a network, or creating an ad-hoc network, WiFi and/or Bluetooth discoverable, and allowing two-way connection to other devices.

That would allow an iOS device, or a computer with iTunes to see the device, and both control/configure it with input to the device, and read/stream data from it, as output from the device.

With the device active between an iOS or computer, and a physical output from the device to a car, home, or other media... audio or audio/video, it would actually act similarly to a new form of AirTunes and AppleTV, giving a computer, iOS device, or the device's internal storage, to display on the external video screen, and play audio through the external speakers.

It could also act as a tethering WiFi-based network node, as a router extension, or even a 3G/4G-to-WiFi bridge, like some cell phones do. Even if the specified device doesn't have it's own SIM and Cellular transceiver on-board, it could co-opt and tether to a device that does, like a data-plan iPhone 4 or newer, an iPad 3G or newer, or even a USB cellular transceiver, or a computer so enabled.

It would basically just need physical ports. Audio out (combo analog or digital optical), Video out (miniDP that can adapt to DVI or HDMI, including audio, and an analog video port, perhaps S-Video or mini-VGA), USB out, and 30-Pin dock input (Power, initial configuration, and software upgrades from a full computer, other inputs and outputs).

It would be cool if a 30-pin to 30-pin would connect the device to another iOS device to balance battery power between the two, and share the device's data with the screen-equipped iOS device, or act like a media-dock between an iOS device, and an external A/V component.

The device could be built like a solid-state hard drive, with a multi-media bridge interface. A screenless box with lots of ports sort of a form-factor. kind of like an external drive enclosure.

I like the idea. A versatile media transit hub, even without a screen. It would work as an audio/video car kit, a replacement for AppleTV, AirPort Express, and various mobile wifi/Cellular internet kits.

 

[niuniu]

The click wheel, don't get rid of it apple. Touchscreen during running sucks

Agree with this 100%. Current Nano is perfect.

Also, an 11 inch MBA? Sensational, I'd definitely be in the market for one of those. It would make up for my disappointment with the iPad having iOS.

 

[deconstruct60]

I don't see how it's going to sell at that $1000+ price and physical dimensions.

http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/...-category-id=135A781CA29B4ECB9ADAD8E72CF6FD61

Top end X100e model is $999. Would not be hard for that price to top $1000 if use an Intel part (generally more expensive than AMD), a better quality screen (IPS like quality) , and the additional parts/elements that apple puts on (custom trackpad, aluminum , etc. )

Several of the X201 models are over $1000 also but with slightly bigger screen.


Sony X Series offering $1,200 http://b2b.sony.com/Solutions/product/VPCX131KX/B

(again an Atom part , which pushes price down, ... which Apple may not go with, but comes with flash drive as default , which pushes price up over $1000. )

 

[kernkraft]

If you don't heavily use an MBA don't comment

In terms of typing, the Air is the best laptop that I ever had. Right dimensions, good screen (not mega/super/hyper glossy) and great portability. I wish I never had the noise and breaking hinges - on both. The second generation might have been better, but I never wanted to spend that much again on this level of performance.

 

[MacFly123]

Interesting about the iPods!

I figured that the little 1.7" touchscreen would be for the shuffle and just have basic touch input like play, pause, skip, etc. That makes sense to me.

Now, this could be interesting if they eliminate the shuffle and demote the nano to kind of a hybrid between the shuffle and nano. In order for this to work they will need to have a low end iPod Touch model at a close price point to the nanos! Otherwise people will be pissed! BUT if they get the prices right, then they could pretty much be eliminating the old iPods and moving almost all users toward the iOS platform! THAT could be very smart and powerful!!!

 

[ChrisGonzales90]

Interesting about the iPods!

I figured that the little 1.7" touchscreen would be for the shuffle and just have basic touch input like play, pause, skip, etc. That makes sense to me.

Now, this could be interesting if they eliminate the shuffle and demote the nano to kind of a hybrid between the shuffle and nano. In order for this to work they will need to have a low end iPod Touch model at a close price point to the nanos! Otherwise people will be pissed! BUT if they get the prices right, then they could pretty much be eliminating the old iPods and moving almost all users toward the iOS platform! THAT could be very smart and powerful!!!

Yeah its been said it may be a new shuffle.

I dont see how people will be pissed if the shuffle gets a touch screen.

 

[cult hero]

An 11.6" MBA will be the next machine I purchase from Apple if it comes out.

That would just be a cool little computer. I was one the 12" PowerBook owners and while I don't have any issue with the 13" form factor, it's a tad bit bigger and just doesn't slip into bags as nicely.

I'm content with the current product lineup. My real interest in anything new will come with Lightpeak or some other new high speed bus.

 

[firewood]

Price aside, it's not that fun to type and read on an ~11" screen for more than 30 mins...it's just physically too small for people who need to read/write a lot of documents.

Depends on what you're used to. Back in the day, Apple and IBM (and other early laptop manufacturers) sold zillion of PowerBooks and ThinkPads with screens a smaller than 11". I had a PowerBook Duo 210 with a 9" display for a couple years, and wrote a ton of documents on it.

People have also read a lot of books on the iPad display... for more than 30 minutes.

 

[firewood]

Now, is Apple going to price it appropriately to compete against $500 12" netbooks? ... I don't see how it's going to sell at that $1000+ price and physical dimensions.

Apple commonly sells stuff that is priced well above the competition's pricing (except for some of the competition's premium products), and sells just enough to make a lot more money than the competition. Apple is making more total profit of off the MacBook line than Dell is off of similar products, and with an MSRP nowhere near Dell's median laptop price.

I don't see why a hypothetical new product form factor from Apple would work any differently.

 

[ChrisGonzales90]

I'd love a large capicty touch. I'm building a large media collection and I want it with me at all times. I shouldnt have to suffer because some 13 year old who knows nothing about technology and only cares for what he wants tells me "just make playlists".

Sure i can get a classic, but i like the touch. I can keep my media on my iPad, or just install applications for the ipad.

 

[Gruber]

If we do actually see an 11.6" MBA then I think it goes without saying that they will keep the 13.3" (or move to 14-15" to make the difference worth it).


CULV Core i3/i5/i7

4GB ram

Glass Trackpad from MBP

SSD Across the Board

Prices:

11.6"

Base: Core i3 ULV, 2GB Ram, 64GB SSD $899

Premium: Core i5 ULV, 4GB Ram, 128GB SSD $1099

13"/14"/15" (whichever they go with)

Base: Core i5 ULV, 4GB Ram, 128GB SSD $1399

Premium: Core i7 ULV, 4GB Ram, 256GB SSD $1699

Pff. Why do you think that smaller computers should be cheaper? I am not looking for a netbook, but for an ultraportable. Also, 4GB is a little too small. I want to do my job on this thing, so give it decent specs. I don't really care about the price so much, and so are most people in the ultraportable segment.

If you want an affordable Apple notebook, buy a Macbook. If you want a 15in notebook, buy an MBP. If you want cheap, don't expect Apple to deliver, because Apple is all about margins, and a netbook would not only net little profit, but it would also cannibalize the sales of Apple's entry level offerings, and harm the brand by delivering sub-par performance.

 

[ChrisGonzales90]

Pff. Why do you think that smaller computers should be cheaper? I am not looking for a netbook, but for an ultraportable. Also, 4GB is a little too small. I want to do my job on this thing, so give it decent specs. I don't really care about the price so much, and so are most people in the ultraportable segment.

\.

Well good thing you are not the one running things.

 

[Adidas Addict]

Pff. Why do you think that smaller computers should be cheaper? I am not looking for a netbook, but for an ultraportable. Also, 4GB is a little too small. I want to do my job on this thing, so give it decent specs. I don't really care about the price so much, and so are most people in the ultraportable segment.

If you want an affordable Apple notebook, buy a Macbook. If you want a 15in notebook, buy an MBP. If you want cheap, don't expect Apple to deliver, because Apple is all about margins, and a netbook would not only net little profit, but it would also cannibalize the sales of Apple's entry level offerings, and harm the brand by delivering sub-par performance.

The 'Analyst' claims that it would ship in much larger numbers than the previous air, which in my book means it will re-position itself in the line up. I took a guess at the specs, why do you assume I want a netbook or an affordable model?

 

[deconstruct60]

Pff. Why do you think that smaller computers should be cheaper?

Errrr, The MBP 15" is cheaper than the MBP 17" and the MBP 13" is cheaper than the MBP 15". The iMac 21.5" is cheaper than the iMac 27". A Mac Mini is cheaper than a Mac Pro. .........

It isn't smaller it is a significant difference in engineering and/or components that might drive a smaller computer higher. Often Apple's design factors involves just leaving stuff out and not any significant increase in engineering between similar products.

If Apple were to stuff more into a smaller package then perhaps an increase in price. However, if they put less into a smaller package then it should get cheaper. The case is smaller (less aluminum to buy ) , the screen is smaller ( if of equivalent tech ) again cheaper. Smaller battery... again cheaper. It is unlikely a MBA 11.6" would get more ports or more functionality than the previous bigger version.

On the other hand don't see the need for a MBA 13" if going to intro a 11.6" model. There is enough overlap in the MBP 13" and MBA 13" to drop one; which obviously would fall on the MBA version since it sells in substantively smaller numbers.

The major problem an 11.6" version would have to face is how to retain the full sized keyboard, enough of the border between keys and edge not to compromise rigidity, and enough room to put the trackpad (again with some border so not run completely to the edge).

Can squeeze the keys closer together and keep borders or trim the borders; will need to do one or the other. if going to shrink the width and depth of the design.

I am not looking for a netbook, but for an ultraportable. Also, 4GB is a little too small. I want to do my job on this thing, so give it decent specs. I don't really care about the price so much, and so are most people in the ultraportable segment.

Of course price is an issue.
And netbook isn't equivalent with cheap.

 

[Amuraivel]

Been waiting

I've been waiting since the 12" PowerBook was discontinued to replace my wife's computer. The iPad is the right product for some users, but it's just not a computer replacement. Neither the 13.3" MacBook Pro, nor the 13.3" Air was ever a replacement for a 12"---it's all the foot print. Thinness is a somewhat of a gimmick because the computers just got wider.

 

[bnanaPEEL]

^ Completely agreed.

All Apple has to do is tune up the 12" PowerBook (but not by much) and sell it for less. Oh and also, if they could make it weigh less than a hundred boulders combined that would be nice (my back is killing me!). I don't care how thick it is, that's not what makes me buy a freaking computer!

Every year I pop onto MacRumors and every year someone speculates the return of the 12" mac laptop. For some reason I actually registered to post my frustration for the lack of updates for this perfect machine. Maybe this time will be different.. maybe this time my G4 will have a hot little hunny to hang with

 

[SamTheeGeek]

Oh Yea ! Thats what i wanna see !!!!

Yes !!!! macbook air here i come !!! cant wait !!!


hope it comes out sooner

 

[MorphingDragon]

These analysts couldn't guess the testicle count of a woman.

 

[Gruber]

The 'Analyst' claims that it would ship in much larger numbers than the previous air, which in my book means it will re-position itself in the line up.

The current MBA sells a few 100K units per year, while costing twice as much as a similar PC ultraportable. If Apple adjusts the specs to meet the competition again, it will ship larger numbers than the predecessor, without undercutting the price of the 13in MBP.

Errrr, The MBP 15" is cheaper than the MBP 17" and the MBP 13" is cheaper than the MBP 15". The iMac 21.5" is cheaper than the iMac 27". A Mac Mini is cheaper than a Mac Pro. .........

(...)

If Apple were to stuff more into a smaller package then perhaps an increase in price. However, if they put less into a smaller package then it should get cheaper. The case is smaller (less aluminum to buy ) , the screen is smaller ( if of equivalent tech ) again cheaper. Smaller battery... again cheaper. It is unlikely a MBA 11.6" would get more ports or more functionality than the previous bigger version.

Excellent point. The MBP line has been designed to deliver value for money (and add a healthy margin). They share much of the same technology, and in the larger editions, Apple uses the space for larger batteries, more cooling, larger displays, so it gets more expensive. But the whole idea of an ultraportable is to use different tech to make it lighter, without compromising too much on power. So: more expensive SSDs, CPU with better TDP, higher integration, more complicated battery design. The omission of an optical drive ($20) and a few square inches of screen ($30) and casing ($0.50) are not going to compensate for that.

Apple can not lower the specs without loosing out against Sony and Lenovo. It also can not lower the price below the 13in MBP, because it would cannibalize its best-selling laptop.

And netbook isn't equivalent with cheap.

For the most part it is. Netbooks are pretty much disposable computers. Their Atom processors deliver performance below the good old Pentium M, and their harddrives, memory and screen sizes are mostly kept below certain thresholds to allow the inclusion of cheaper Windows licenses. Exceptions are the Vaio P and some "business netbooks" by HP and Asus, which still come with relatively slow Atoms, but are priced above $500.

Apple has decided not to compete here directly, because either the margins are bad, or the performance is not satisfactory for professional use. Apple's solution for this segment is the iPad, where the operating system and Apps have been tailored for cheaper hardware.

The major problem an 11.6" version would have to face is how to retain the full sized keyboard, enough of the border between keys and edge not to compromise rigidity, and enough room to put the trackpad (again with some border so not run completely to the edge).

This is the same problem that the 12in Powerbook and a large number of competitors have solved.

An 11.6in display is 257mm wide. The standard keyboard is 274mm. The current screen bezels are 17mm, so there is room to spare.

 

[Shanpdx]

An ARM CPU for MBA? OS X doesn’t run on ARM chips. Well, I’m sure Apple does have a version of it that does in their labs, but would they ever release such a thing is the question.

iOS is for ARM, but an MBA running iOS wouldn’t be much more than an iPad with a hinge.

i am not saying port iOS to MBA instead port OS X to ARM and hence use it in MBA.

then i have no clue how much is that work to port OS X to ARM and what is bang for the buck.

 

[Shanpdx]

another options to go with some form AMD CPU + GPU combo and save $$$ and bring down the cost of MBA

but then everyone will say AMD mobile CPU s**ks and not so good

 

[entatlrg]

Lets hope the new MBA's are released in August with the rumored iPod event, maybe the MBA will be "one more thing". That would be cool!

 

[brendanspah764]

I imagine the nano to look like this. when the nano is off, it will look like the front is just one big screen. The 1.7" screen would show the clickwheel, snooze button for alarm, etc.