Analyst: iPod Updates By Holidays, Additional OS Support For Macs?

[MacRumors]

Following a meeting with top Apple executives, Bear Stearns analyst Andy Neff sent a note to clients regarding a range of issues, both current and future.

Of note, Neff mentions that Apple is likely to refresh their iPod line ahead of the holiday shopping season similar to what it has done in years past. Should the rumored "true" video iPod appear with these updates, it would be offered as a complementary product to the iPods and not as a replacement. Neff also briefly mentions that he feels Apple is indeed working on an iPod phone, however he is uncertain as to the timing of its release.

Incremental iPod updates have been rumored to arrive, with a larger video iPod release having been pushed back to the end of 2006 or later due to technical difficulties. Analysts have also predicted that an Apple-branded phone would arrive by early next year at the latest.

Neff also mentions that Apple is testing ways to drive mac sales, including developing the capability to run more Operating Systems.

While Apple launched Boot Camp to accommodate the use of Windows, it views the tight integration of hardware and software (Mac OS) as key to creating superior user experience, although it is looking at different ways to better address users needs for multiple OSs.

While this probably means that Apple is simply investigating adding support for additional OSs into Boot Camp, it could hint that Apple is creating a virtualization solution of its own.

 

[Chaszmyr]

That Boot Camp quote sounds to me more like they are developing a better way to switch to other operating systems than dual booting.

 

[iGary]

Of note, Neff mentions that Apple is likely to refresh their iPod line ahead of the holiday shopping season similar to what it has done in years past.

Duh. That takes a genius.

And analysts have been predicting this phone FOREVER.

Not. Happening.

 

[corywoolf]

I would hope they get new iPods out before the holidays, as it is, they are getting kind of stale. Hopefully they keep a version in a similar form factor to the current ones and offer a widescreen one as well.

 

[FoxyKaye]

I'm really curious to see what happens with Boot Camp and the rumored Apple virtualization in Leopard. One advantage Apple retains in keeping its hardware/software integration tight and closely held is the ability to provide drivers for other OSes if it chooses to do so. They don't have to worry too much about whether or not there's some variance in hardware configuration based on distributor like in a generic PC/Windows world - they know exactly what they're putting into every machine.

Gotta wonder how great it would be to have working drivers for all of Apple's hardware under Windows (Boot Camp - already happening) and some distribution of Linux. I'm not a gamer, but if Apple got the 3-D stuff working under Windows for the ATI and NVIDIA cards it stocks, I'd imagine Windows gamer folks would be *very* pleased.

I'd be personally much more interested in some sort of transparent virtualization running in Leopard - maybe click on an app in the Windows partition of my HDD and voila, it just opens. No need to boot Windows separately or start a program like Virtual PC. That would undoubtedly be a real revolution and programming nightmare, I'm sure.

 

[Porchland]

That Boot Camp quote sounds to me more like they are developing a better way to switch to other operating systems than dual booting.

I think this all depends on how Apple gauges what the consumer wants. Personally, I want Windows XP-compatible apps -- not Windows XP itself -- to run on my Mac.

I don't want a Start button or a My Computer icon. I just want the XP version of Microsoft Office, games, etc.

 

[Object-X]

Flash drives

What I think Apple is going to do is add some kind of flash hard drive so you can "instant on and off" an OS; so, with OS X (Leapord) you will be able to jump into bootcamp in seconds and switch your OS, dramatically reducing the time it takes to switch over. Vista is also going to support this kind of booting from what I read.

 

[miketcool]

New iPods before the holidays is a given.

Apple's own virtualization, yeah, I see that being a very important feature of a future OS. Why boot in Windows when you can make it seemless and make Leopard look even more amazing.

 

[nbs2]

And in other news, Apple will be releasing a new version of iLife within the next year. Also, Apple is expected to release an Intel based machine to replace the current PowerMac offerings, but I am uncertain as to the timing of its release.I copied him! Maybe I can get a book contract!

 

[tkidBOSTON]

What I think Apple is going to do is add some kind of flash hard drive so you can "instant on and off" an OS; so, with OS X (Leapord) you will be able to jump into bootcamp in seconds and switch your OS, dramatically reducing the time it takes to switch over. Vista is also going to support this kind of booting from what I read.

I think this is an amazing idea and hope it happens. It might drive me to buy an Intel mac before I would otherwise.

 

[DavidLeblond]

I get excited when I see new rumors on Macrumors. Then I see the word "analyst" and I tune it out immediately.

How does one go about getting paid to be an "analyst"?

 

[gotohamish]

I would bet a LOT on this actually being their current program to run native Windows apps within the Mac OS X environment—no emulation needed. That's their future in many ways.

 

[freeny]

How does one go about getting paid to be an "analyst"?

Just start analysing things, then ask people for money...Repeat if necessary.

 

[Kingsly]

I would love to cube between OSX and windows.
"Oh, I need an address for my iPhone, let me pause HL:2 and cube over... okay, here it is... While I'm at it, I think I'll bluetooth sync it to my iPad (fullscreen iPod)... done... cubes back to windows, continues playing HL:2."

The ultimate dream, my friends.

 

[DavidLeblond]

Just start analysing things, then ask people for money...Repeat if necessary.

I have a pretty good feeling that sometime in the next 10 years Apple will be releasing some sort of iPod that is the color red.

That'll be $100. Small bills please.

 

[crees!]

Xgl

What I think Apple is going to do is add some kind of flash hard drive so you can "instant on and off" an OS; so, with OS X (Leapord) you will be able to jump into bootcamp in seconds and switch your OS, dramatically reducing the time it takes to switch over. Vista is also going to support this kind of booting from what I read.

Maybe the cube effect but more manual like in XGL. Look up XGL on YouTube to see some examples. It's pretty rockin'.

It would be cool if Expose had a little bounce to it like it does here.
About 1 minute in is where the magic happens.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDD1N7NdCmI

 

[ManchesterTrix]

I think this all depends on how Apple gauges what the consumer wants. Personally, I want Windows XP-compatible apps -- not Windows XP itself -- to run on my Mac.

I don't want a Start button or a My Computer icon. I just want the XP version of Microsoft Office, games, etc.

I doubt that will happpen, if anything would kill Mac software development, that'd be it.

 

[weitzner]

iPhone: not happening. iPod updates before the holidays: duh. Better Boot Camp: duh - it's a freakin' beta right now!

 

[weitzner]

I don't want a Start button or a My Computer icon. I just want the XP version of Microsoft Office, games, etc.

why would you want the windows version of office? the mac version has everything that the windows version has (plus some more) and is like an order of magnittude cheaper.

 

[longofest]

why would you want the windows version of office? the mac version has everything that the windows version has (plus some more) and is like an order of magnittude cheaper.

Visio
Project
Access
Frontpage

All not part of Office for Mac, but are part of the premium editions of Office for PC. Personally, I've always felt the sting of not having Visio or Project. Don't care about Access or Frontpage (especially since it's now discontinued), but those are some reasons that people might want the Windows version.

 

[Electro Funk]

why would you want the windows version of office? the mac version has everything that the windows version has (plus some more) and is like an order of magnittude cheaper.

Because the mac version of office doesnt even compare the the windows version of office... this has been debated time and time again...

I am Forced to use MSOffice for work because quite frankly ther are things you cant do in mac office (also some limitations) that you can in MSO for winblows...

Edit... Damn Longo... type slower next time!

 

[imikem]

How does one go about getting paid to be an "analyst"?

Isn't it obvious? Consider the first 57% of the occupational title.

 

[york2600]

Gotta wonder how great it would be to have working drivers for all of Apple's hardware under Windows (Boot Camp - already happening) and some distribution of Linux. I'm not a gamer, but if Apple got the 3-D stuff working under Windows for the ATI and NVIDIA cards it stocks, I'd imagine Windows gamer folks would be *very* pleased.

This is exactly what boot camp is. It's really just a boot loader and a CD full of all the drivers for Windows. It wasn't rocket science or anything. Apple just had to slap the BIOS emulation ontop of the EFI they ship and then put together a slick UI assistant to help Mac users get into the Windows installer. If you look at the drivers on the CD they're just Windows drivers for all the devices. I have the Duo Mac Mini. It's just a run of the mill PC. A Dell desktop in a much nicer case.

All I want from Apple (and why I replaced my G4 MDD) was tri-booting. There are LOTS of Linux nuts with Macs now. If they could take the time to let me get Windows, Ubuntu Linux, and OS X running I would be happy beyond belief and many hardcore geeks would be very impressed and seriously consider Macs.

 

[Analog Kid]

mmmm..... virtualization....

 

[MacsRgr8]

I just want the XP version of Microsoft Office, games, etc.

Apps like M$ Office might be able to run sort of native (like OS/2 did), but games would be much harder. The whole DirectX APIs should have to work, along with the drivers for the grfx cards and sound cards. Maybe it's possible.... but it would probably come with a performance penalty aswell.