Apple Expo Paris 2004 Rumor Roundup

[CmdrLaForge]

My expectations

Hi guys,

here are my expectations-
- iMac G5. This is pretty much a no brainer. I think the specs from ThinkSecret are true.
- iPod. I guess some cool new WiFi add-on that works together with the Airport Express. Even so I don't see the need for that. The iPod is that small I can easy place it next to my stereo and connect it with regular cables. A remote for the iPod is available. So I don't get it why people want it.
- iWorks. AppleWorks is really old now and I expect that Apple releases a new Version.
- new keyboard and mouse to fit the alu scheme.
- NO new Powerbook or iBook or Powermac
- no changes to the eMac. eMac remains on the price list.

Cheers

 

[Neodym]

Nice fake

http://homepage.mac.com/loyalp1/.Pictures/imacdock.jpg

Appealing idea

 

[Porchland]

My predictions

Show Surprise: iPod features and add ons which change the portable music player game. Apple needs to make MS look like their launch on 9/2 is a non-event.

Agree. The guts have been fully examined, and there's nothing new there. If there's a killer feature, it's through an add-on or compatibility with other devices.

iSight works for the PC

Hmmm. It would require more than just compatibility with Windows; Apple would have to announce an iChat app for Windows or compatibility with either Windows Messenger or Yahoo Messenger. iChat for Windows seems right. Catering to Windows vs. supporting the home team is a difficult balance, but iPod for Windows was a master stroke. iChat for Windows would be another functional entry into the Mac market for Windows users.

iMac. People will love the design, hate the specs. Apple will sell a ton of them for 9 months

What happens in nine months? I think we're going to be mildly surprised at the iMac.

Apple remote that looks like a long iPod

I'm conflicted about this one but tend to think no.

ProBand

The more I think about it, the more this makes sense as a live gig app -- either as a soundboard plug-in or an out-and-out soundboard replacement. Marketing wise, it would be a bit odd to feature GarageBand as part of iLife but ProBand not. It would be the only iLife app with a branded big brother, and an iLife Pro suite is probably not in the works.

All things considered, it's been a slow year for Apple. I hope we see amazing products from Apple tomorrow.

Whaaa? Apple has updated virtually the entire product line and has refreshed every major app except Keynote and AppleWorks, which I expect to see revised in the next 24 hours.

 

[Porchland]

http://homepage.mac.com/loyalp1/.Pictures/imacdock.jpg

Appealing idea

What gave it away, the "its"? The capital-I "IMac"? (LOL.)

I like the concept of this a lot. The design is parallel to the iPod and fits in with the tablet rumors.

 

[BWhaler]

I am ready for a new iPhoto that doesn't SUCK!

I love iMovie and iDVD. These are the 2 reasons I own a Mac! But, for digital photography, editing/organizing, nothing beats MS Digital Image Suite... The image organizing really shines... Keywords, date changes, captions, ratings... ALL STORES in the EXIF information on each photo AND in a database...

Loose the database? No problem, just recatalog the photos...

Moving some photos to another PC... No Problem, just recatalog the photos...

Also, it allows me to place the photos in a directory structure that makes sence to me!

Bring on a new iPhoto and I will dump my XP machine once and for all...

I soooo agree with this.

I am amazed Apple has fallen so short with iPhoto. Besides music, it is the most commonly used leg of the digital hub. And yet iPhoto sucks.

I was importing 10,000 pictures on my new 2.5 G5. Fully loaded. Spin ball for 12 hours, then hung the machine. I have to add them in smaller batches to get it to work.

I hope to God Apple gets their act together for iLife 05. The 04 version added a great program they bought and put some incremental features in. Enough is enough. Let's blow away the Windows world, again.

 

[Neodym]

New "Power" model

As a black packaging is only used for PowerMac/Powerbook, it seems that we will see new "Power" machines tomorrow :

http://www.macobserver.com/article/2004/08/27.7.shtml

 

[Porchland]

I am ready for a new iPhoto that doesn't SUCK!

I love iMovie and iDVD. These are the 2 reasons I own a Mac! But, for digital photography, editing/organizing, nothing beats MS Digital Image Suite... The image organizing really shines... Keywords, date changes, captions, ratings... ALL STORES in the EXIF information on each photo AND in a database...

Loose the database? No problem, just recatalog the photos...

Moving some photos to another PC... No Problem, just recatalog the photos...

Also, it allows me to place the photos in a directory structure that makes sence to me!

Bring on a new iPhoto and I will dump my XP machine once and for all...

I don't like iPhoto for the same reason: The organizational structure makes it impossible to find an image without using iPhoto. I hope that gets fixed in the January iLife '05 update.

My other big gripe about iLife is lack of 16:9 support in iMovie and iDVD. My main TV is 16:9, my main computer is 16:9, I shoot all of my video in 16:9, but iMovie/iDVD can't handle it. Seems likely for the next update.

 

[James_C]

My thoughts on new announcements;

1. New G5 iMac.
2. Demo of Virtual PC Ver 7.0, shipping in a few weeks.
3. Updated Appleworks suite - Renamed iWorks
4. Keynote Ver 2.0
5. iSight with new mount
6. New 60 GB iPod
7. Some sort of wireless device (docking station) to connect to an Ipod to allow it to connect to Airport Express.
8. Garageband Pro

I was thinking about the New G5 iMac. One of the concept images I saw was with the DVD / CD Drive in the keyboard, which is a neat solution to the problem of loading disks if indeed the new iMac is wall mounted. Then I thought wouldn't be cool if the keyboard is wireless, but bluetooth does not have enough bandwidth for a superdrive. Then I remember Apple developing wireless firewire - so perhaps apple could have a wireless keyboard with a superdrive. Just a thought anyway ....

 

[achmafooma]

The more I think about it, the more this makes sense as a live gig app -- either as a soundboard plug-in or an out-and-out soundboard replacement. Marketing wise, it would be a bit odd to feature GarageBand as part of iLife but ProBand not. It would be the only iLife app with a branded big brother, and an iLife Pro suite is probably not in the works.

iMovie has its Final Cut Express and Final Cut Pro ... so it makes sense to me (from a product and marketing standpoint) to have a pro-level version for users to move up to after dabbling with GarageBand. I'm thinking it would mesh Logic and Sountrack into one all-encompasing app -- much like GarageBand, but without its limitations and significantly more powerful (ie. full production quality).

 

[Stella]

@BWhaler

The iSight works fine for PCs.. though you do get "Can't locate drivers for device" dialogs popping up on every boot up. I could never get iSight to work for AOL Messenger but works just fine with MSN Messenger.

 

[Abstract]

Are the single-core G4 derivatives that FreeScale are developing shipping yet, or only announced?

Announced, but not shipping. Technically, the 1.5GHz G4 is one of the chips. Remember when Moto could only produce a 1.42GHz G4 to put in the PowerMac G4? And some called that an overclocked 1.25GHz G4 as well (not true, but whatever). Now all of a sudden they're fitting a 1.5GHz G4 into a PB without a hitch? Heh.

 

[iMeowbot]

As a black packaging is only used for PowerMac/Powerbook,

The 3rd gen iPod came in a black box. iPods are pro equipment now? How about the iSight?

I really think they choose box colors by what makes a given product look cool, nothing more.

They use the black shrouds all the time.

 

[zelmo]

I was importing 10,000 pictures on my new 2.5 G5. Fully loaded. Spin ball for 12 hours, then hung the machine.

In out preflight department at work we refer to it as SPOD, or the Spinning Pinwheel Of Death.

 

[appleface]

Heck, if I'm sitting acrosss the room [like I'd ever be that far away from my Mac!] and the logo on the computer flashes to let me know I have mail, that's geeky chic, isn't it?

you're right. apple would be sure to avoid the tacky factor with chameleon. they unveiled the rainbow imacs, and they were a hit. i'm sure they could do something similar with the chameleon.

 

[Abstract]

They're going to announce a portable computer. No, not a laptop, but a portable computer the size of 2 iPods stuck together. Connect an LCD to it, a mouse and keyboard using 2 of USB slots, and tada, you have a computer. Then you can carry that mofo to your friend's house, to the office, etc, and it'll act as a portable HD with an entire operating system on it. It'll use the 60GB drives not being used in the iPods.

Someone at Apple (sorry, forgot who) said themselves that the 60GB drives were better suited to an entirely new device, and maybe not the iPod. They're right....the sales figures on the 40GB reflects this. Its only a very specialized market that wants it, but not unless they use them in the new Apple mini PowerMac!!

 

[appleface]

Yah pretty much like that..........

iSight? = Don’t care since I don’t know a single person who does video conf.

Fifteen years ago, nobody used instant messenger. i'm surprised that apple has not pushed ichat more. it'd be huge with kids.

 

[CmdrLaForge]

Even so I don't believe that we see new Books, I am wondering what this means What means next Logical would be on your lap

 

[JGowan]

My prediction, fwiw....

Schiller: Oh, and, uh, one more thing...

Curtains open. Steve walks onstage to thunderous applause. He demos the "secret" features of the iPod.

I truly like the way you think!

 

[wPod]

NOOOOOO!!!!! my 12" PB rev A is turning one year old soon. . . apple cant come out with any cool new products to tempt my wallet! maybe i will work two jobs while attending college and will be able to affoard all of the cool mac stuff i want! or sell my car and walk everywhere. . . or sell some unneeded apendage. . . anyone want to buy a kidney?

 

[uv23]

Even so I don't believe that we see new Books, I am wondering what this means What means next Logical would be on your lap

No, because Apple's notebooks are not referred to as laptops anymore. And notebooks still sit on your desk.

 

[JGowan]

Even so I don't believe that we see new Books, I am wondering what this means What means next Logical would be on your lap

How about: "A Super Computer on your Wall"... could be talking about the new iMacs. If you seen the couple of pictures that have slipped (don't know if they're real, but supposing they are...) they look very "hangable". That's probably it. I don't think the PowerBooks are going to make another BIG SPLASH until they're upgraded with G5 chips and then we could probably expect some cosmetic changes. Nothing incredibly radical, but at least perfected somehow (God only knows how on that one).

 

[toughboy]

well.. lets hope that iMac G5s formfactor is better than current iMac... I'm so curiously waiting to see how Apple will be able to improve it..

the other thing.. well.. I'm expecting a bluetooth feature on iPods, and so cable-free earbuds.. we deserve it.. its Generation 4.. we should have it man!

and the last thing.. it will definetly hurt not to see Steve on the stage as the keynote starts.. we all miss you SJ

 

[agentmouthwash]

Apple is not going to discontinue the eMac. Younger kids like to poke LCD screens with their fingers, so CRT screens are still needed for education.

 

[Zaty]

Even so I don't believe that we see new Books, I am wondering what this means What means next Logical would be on your lap

"On your lap" would be logical but then Apple wouldn't use those banners because it would be to obvious that a PB G5 is coming. Apple likes to surprise so let's wait and see. Secondly, the PB G5 is still several months away. If you think abut it, they say a "supercomputer on your desk" but how many people do have a G5 tower ON their desk? Apart from the word game, there might be more to it.

 

[Zaty]

No, because Apple's notebooks are not referred to as laptops anymore. And notebooks still sit on your desk.

What's the difference between laptop and notebook, I alwasys thought there were synonyms, so whether Apple calls their portable computers laptop or notebooks doesn't make any difference as it's the same thing.