Apple Hints at a 'Product Transition' and a New Product Soon?

[.Chris]

Yeah, that'd be sweet!

Apple could call it the.........


iPad!


or


iNote!

lol, that would deff be awesome to use however, it would have to figure out that the stylus is touching the screen opposed to the resting of your hand while writing or doodling or wtvr

iNote sounds more like a name they would use...

First of all, there will be an apple media event in august where MacBooks and/or MacBook pros will be redesigned. This redesign will include aluminum casings (probably available in colors for the MacBook), a more easily removable battery, a black backlit keyboard, a slightly thinner and more tapered design, a multi-touch trackpad, the montevina chipset, a better screen, and getting rid of the combo drive.

I hope they dont get ride of the drives in the notebooks. Thats the problem with the air, no combo drive. I think steve was a bit thick headed at the air thinking we could "wirelesly" connect to another computer

There will also probably be a price drop on certain models of about $100. The MacBook will still come in a 13 inch model and possibly in 12 or 14 inch models. MacBook pro will come in the 15 and 17 inch model and maybe a 12 or 13 inch model too. [/quote]

Dobut we will see a 13" MBP, its a "pro" machine, meaning its gonna need a bigger case for the high end parts and that means larger screen sizes.

For now, BluRay is wishful thinking unless it is unveiled on a high end MacBook pro.

That will be the major new announcement cough. AKA One more thing.... at MWSF 2009.

Although it seems unlikely, the Mac Mini may be updated too, but that's about it.

The mac mini may be renamed to the mac nano or a new name. will have the same formfactor as the apple TV and will inclucde a stand so you can have the computer standing up if you wish

 

[kaeidoscope]

Wimax

Intel/Clearwire/Sprint/Google have committed 5B to get Wimax up and running nationwide. And that doesn't include Intel's investment in the technology. Eric Schmidt is on the Apple board. Eric is not doubt looking for synergies and opportunities with Apple and their products. It goes without saying that Intel has a huge vested interest in Apple adapting wimax. If Apple supports the wimax platform insta-market and amazing wireless performance for their products. Win win. It's not if, it's a matter of when apple commits to supporting this disruptive technology and how quickly the network can be rolled out. Will Apple throw some of their financial resources behind building out wimax and integrating it's capabilities into their mobile products? Enough to affect earnings?

 

[zartek]

Unless your a VP over at Apple I wouldn't make any assumptions about them at this point.

But the assumption makes sense, at least IMO

 

[kaiwai]

Intel/Clearwire/Sprint/Google have committed 5B to get Wimax up and running nationwide. And that doesn't include Intel's investment in the technology. Eric Schmidt is on the Apple board. Eric is not doubt looking for synergies and opportunities with Apple and their products. It goes without saying that Intel has a huge vested interest in Apple adapting wimax. If Apple supports the wimax platform insta-market and amazing wireless performance for their products. Win win. It's not if, it's a matter of when apple commits to supporting this disruptive technology and how quickly the network can be rolled out. Will Apple throw some of their financial resources behind building out wimax and integrating it's capabilities into their mobile products? Enough to affect earnings?

Personally I think the most monumentally stupid thing they've done is not going for the Intel wireless throughout their product line. 4G will be an option in the just release Centrino 2. I could never quite work out why they went for broadcom.

 

[Manic Mouse]

Product transition? Stinks of Apple transitioning to multi-touch on Macs. It could also be the reason for no "new features" in Snow Leopard, since they're having to build a multi-touch version...

 

[kaiwai]

Product transition? Stinks of Apple transitioning to multi-touch on Macs. It could also be the reason for no "new features" in Snow Leopard, since they're having to build a multi-touch version...

Well, they do have gcc-llvm; are we going to see Snow Leopard fully compiled in gcc-llvm given that Apple have spoke about reduced disk space used, lower memory usage and so forth.

 

[teme]

I hope they combine iPod classic and iPod touch = slim flash-based iPod (16GB & 32GB) and thicker harddrive-based iPod (250GB), both with similar design than the current iPod touch.

iPod nano could also be designed with touch screen (similar than iPod touch but smaller screen & less pixels). However I think that time is next year.

I'd also hope that Apple would combine Macbook & Macbook Pro to one notebook line with one case design. I think nowadays it's useless to try to separate the consumer and pro markets (some may say that too attractive consumer notebooks hurt the sales of pro models, but so what? Whether it's consumer notebook or pro notebook, it's a Apple product). The new notebook line could be like this...

13" with Intel graphics (under 1000 dollars)
13" with dedicated mid-range graphics
15" with dedicated mid-range graphics
15" with dedicated top-range graphics
17" with dedicated top-range graphics

 

[huntercr]

So you want rectangle pixels? What's the point of that? Surely you mean 848x480 for true 16:9?

I merely use 720x480 to match NTSC resolution and native DVD resolution. Whether or not the physical pixels are square or rectangle don't matter to me.

I would never buy such a portable device with a hard drive of that density. Imagine a small tap, knock and it's forked. Flash is the future. Hard drive developing should have been stopped years ago.

Joshua.

Why would you think a small tap would cause problems? Laptop/portable devices are specially engineered to take much more shock, and as we already know Apple has a keen understanding of accelerometers and can park the harddrive heads whenever a fall happens.

I agree that flash is the future, but I consider the ipod touch a step back in its current incarnation. The storage per dollar just isn't there, while harddrive densities climb while prices drop. I don't think my version of the ipod touch should be the replacement of the current touch... just a suppliment. Call it the "ipod fatboy" or something fun like that.
We can have both versions and make us both happy.

 

[Yixian]

13" with Intel graphics (under 1000 dollars)
13" with dedicated mid-range graphics
15" with dedicated mid-range graphics
15" with dedicated top-range graphics
17" with dedicated top-range graphics

What what what?

 

[boxod]

I really hope this product transition is something like this!

Found these pics on Gizmodo!, I really hope this is what apple has in-store for us!

The Source who reported the Macbook Touch said these would be the specs

"Think MacBook screen, possibly a bit smaller, in glass with iPhone-like, but fuller-featured multi-touch. Gesture library. Full Mac OS X. This is why they bought P.A. Semi. Possibly with Immersion's haptic tech. Slot-loading SuperDrive. Accelerometer. GPS. Pretty expensive to produce initially, but sold at "low" price that will reduce margins. Apple wants to move these babies. And move they will. This is some sick ****. App Store-compatible, able to run Mac apps, too. By October at the latest."


I really hope this happens! Please apple please!

 

[iMacmatician]

Rather than getting my hopes up on some product that will likely not show up for a while now, this is probably what will happen in the coming months.

You took the words right out of my mouth.

The MacBook will still come in a 13 inch model and possibly in 12 or 14 inch models. MacBook pro will come in the 15 and 17 inch model and maybe a 12 or 13 inch model too.

I highly doubt they will deviate from the current screen sizes. I also think they will stay at the current resolutions.

ACD revisions which I am really ready for!).

What could Apple be waiting for with the ACDs?
LED?
High-resolution 20" (1920·1200), 26.7" (2560·1600), and 40" (3840·2400) displays?
Until at least one of those two features comes to the ACDs, I don't see a significant update. From what I know, ACDs are good value for the kinds of applications they are designed for.

Found these pics on Gizmodo!, I really hope this is what apple has in-store for us!

I want one, as long as it had at least mid-to-high-end MacBook specs.

In fact, I'd even use it as a big iPod.

 

[wtylko]

the macbook air is so new. they will work on improving that or make that the tablet.

i think that the macbook air is the worst selling thing in the market and apple knows it.

 

[digitalbiker]

i think that the macbook air is the worst selling thing in the market and apple knows it.

Based on what?

Apple has been reporting sales as being very strong. Every time I listen to a tech podcast these days it seems like another podcaster is touting the MBA.

It definitely needs an update. Sony's just announced Vaio Z blows away the MBA. Apple can now fit the new Montevina platform into the MBA which will allow much better CPU, faster FSB, high speed sata SSD, HDMI port, much better IGPU, WiMax & WiFi.

 

[Eric S.]

i think that the macbook air is the worst selling thing in the market and apple knows it.

And yet Apple reports that the MBA is its top selling computer product.

 

[awmazz]

Found these pics on Gizmodo!, I really hope this is what apple has in-store for us!

Interesting idea. The mockup only shows one touched key highlighted, but to play a virtual keyboard with two-handed chords would need 6 to 10 simultaneous touches. Is it possible?

 

[Tallest Skil]

Interesting idea. The mockup only shows one touched key highlighted, but to play a virtual keyboard with two-handed chords would need 6 to 10 simultaneous touches. Is it possible?

Of course it is. The iPhone can do at least 4 simultaneous touches right now.

 

[awmazz]

And then you could attach a neck accessory and strum virtual guitar strings. This would be the size of a standard electric guitar body, so will we be seeing touch guitars on stage soon?

 

[Manic Mouse]

Found these pics on Gizmodo!, I really hope this is what apple has in-store for us!

!

Loving the black bezel, it looks amazing. Even if it ends up just being a standard laptop refresh with a new case I hope Apple go with that kind of bezel for the MB.

 

[azentropy]

And yet Apple reports that the MBA is its top selling computer product.

It is #36 and #78 on Amazon's sales ranks for notebook computers. Various Macbooks and Macbook pros are at #2, #3, #8, #9 and #16 etc.. including discontinued models...

When I bought my iPhone last week, the Apple sales rep walked me over to the Macbook Air area to fill out the online paperwork because "no one comes over here anyway"...

Maybe everyone who buys them just happens to buy them at the online Apple Store....

 

[thecartoonguy]

i think that the macbook air is the worst selling thing in the market and apple knows it.

Really? Why do you think this? Just wondering.

 

[.Chris]

Found these pics on Gizmodo!, I really hope this is what apple has in-store for us!

Now that is something I'd expect from apple. None of this childish BS we see of people making crappy phototypes of old or existing products.

Loving the black bezel, it looks amazing. Even if it ends up just being a standard laptop refresh with a new case I hope Apple go with that kind of bezel for the MB.

Well isnt the macbook the "imac" of the laptops? I mean the macbook pro is the "mac pro" of the laptops.

 

[Manic Mouse]

Now that is something I'd expect from apple. None of this childish BS we see of people making crappy phototypes of old or existing products.

Well isnt the macbook the "imac" of the laptops? I mean the macbook pro is the "mac pro" of the laptops.

Yeah so hopefully we will see such a design. That's assuming that Apple go for consistency across their product lines...

 

[digitalbiker]

It is #36 and #78 on Amazon's sales ranks for notebook computers. Various Macbooks and Macbook pros are at #2, #3, #8, #9 and #16 etc.. including discontinued models...

When I bought my iPhone last week, the Apple sales rep walked me over to the Macbook Air area to fill out the online paperwork because "no one comes over here anyway"...

Maybe everyone who buys them just happens to buy them at the online Apple Store....

Strange store. A friend of mine went down to a nearby Apple store to look over the MBA because he was looking to buy one for his wife.

He had a hard time getting near it because people were hanging around messing with the MBA, checking email, web surfing, etc. He finally stood over one guys shoulder and bugged the guy into letting him try the machine.

The response to the MBA has been very good.

Hopefully with this round of updates the MBA will get even better.

Like I mentioned earlier Sony announced the Vaio Z with Montevina and really upped the bar for price/performance lightweight portables.

 

[snake101st]

Macbook touch that allows you to manipulate dials, sliders, synths, etc. in Logic as if you were doing it with a hardware mixer? YES PLEASE! This is a dream come true if that is anywhere close to reality. I might just have to put off my MBP montevina waiting and now wait for this!

Hopefully it has at least 3 USB, 1 or 2 FW400, 1 FW800/or even better eSata, and the specs of maybe the macbook under the blackbook. If it has all of that, Im so sold.

 

[TouchOfClass]

Tablet is a crappy idea. The only people I have seen using tablets are doctors and the dude who measured on of my apartments for a carpet install. I think all of you want a tablet as long as someone else has to use it.

Of course Apple is getting big enough that they might need a tablet to fill out for niche markets. But its just wont be an important product if measured by units shipped.

I'll throw my guess into the ring:

Gaming console to replace AppleTV

1) Subsidized gaming console would negatively impact their gross margins as they have suggested
2) They have the OS, OSX/iPhone, that people already develop games for
3) They have the online community, MobileME
4) They have the App store and Itunes for online sales of games
5) They need AppleTV to play games if they want to compete with Playstation and Xbox for Downloadable Movies
6) Games is the next logical home entertainment market to attack after music, movies and TV shows.