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

[Shot22]

I have a couple of questions:

1) Which months do the "Q4 revenue numbers" account for?

2) Where does it say that the "new production transition" will adversely affect those numbers?

 

[asouza]

I'll put my my money on...

It will be a new Apple TV set top, with Tivo type functions (seen in previous patent apps) and possible sling box type function to iphone. I believe this because it would be a transitional product that has more mass product appeal that would directly effect the cost margins at that volumn of sales. The price point will drop to better the new Netflix/Amazon boxes that are showing up at bargin market share grabing prices. The tivo and sling functions would best the other boxes out there right now in price and function. This also explains why Apple wont let sling box in as an apple app for the iphone. Apple TV with tivo and sling brings together all their software and hardware, Movies (itunes) to stream to iPhone, connected to the livingroom as well, with a larger mass market appeal for a catagory of product that has yet been exploited effectively by competition. A new laptop would still command top margins.

 

[Eric S.]

I have a couple of questions:

1) Which months do the "Q4 revenue numbers" account for?

July to September. Of course, there has already been a "product transition" in July. But they probably would have mentioned the iPhone specifically if that's what it referred to.

2) Where does it say that the "new production transition" will adversely affect those numbers?

I took it to mean that revenues would go up.

 

[Powerbooky]

"product transition" ???

I say... come on Powerbook G6 multi-core!!

for better protection against intel-based virusses/trojans...

 

[newyorksole]

I would like a new MBP please

 

[random person]

Here's my theory... the holiday and back to school seasons are coming up and they need to update the iPod line to keep it fresh and drive continued sales. I believe that they are going to drop the iPod Video/Classic line and revamp the Touch to replace them. I envision a flash model as well as a high capacity disk version. The Nano and shuffle will probably remain or have minor updates to fill out the lower end of the line.

With the advent of the App Store, the iPod/iPhone lines are becoming more and more like little computers in your pocket. This is the kind of vision that will keep Apple far ahead of the competition.

Now imagine if Apple decides to defer revenue from sales of these new iPods in the same way that they do the phones. This will move a significant amount of revenue that the analysts are assuming Apple will earn into future quarters. This could very easily explain why their guidance is so low!

YESSSS!!!!! This is it. September is iPod season, people. Happens every single year in September. Computer transitions are not tied to September. An UberPhone -- maybe. Cheap different iPods that leverage touch technology? Absolutely. New chips and designs in laptops? Ongoing.

But September is iPod season!!!!!!!!!

 

[Tilpots]

IMO it's gotta be the more TV friendly TV. Not just a hobby anymore. Too much money to be made.

 

[stone315]

Goodbye optical drives. Forever.

Apple killed the floppy too remember?

except no one watched movies or listened to music on floppies. you buy a cd/dvd and you want to put it on your ipod, you're not gonna want to pay for an external optical drive. until mass media moves away from discs (which i don't foresee happening anytime soon), it's not going to be wise to remove the drive. of course that doesn't mean apple isn't going to try...

 

[iTeen]

...but I'll go further and say that iPod touch might be discontinued...

That would be the least likely thing to happen.

For all of the people who can't get the iPhone, getting the iPod Touch is their only option.

And besides the iPod nano, it is the best selling iPod.

 

[t0mat0]

Apple TV take 3 to get Tivo like capabilities (Mac Mini involved?)
iPods go touch screen
Laptops get a refresh

If ACDs get a refresh, i'll faint

 

[tvwright01]

Apple is leading the pack.

 

[Eric S.]

YESSSS!!!!! This is it. September is iPod season, people. Happens every single year in September. Computer transitions are not tied to September. An UberPhone -- maybe. Cheap different iPods that leverage touch technology? Absolutely. New chips and designs in laptops? Ongoing.

But September is iPod season!!!!!!!!!

I would tend to agree. The Back to School promotion is designed to clear out iPod inventory, not laptops. We'll see updates of MB/MBP in August, and new iPods in September.

 

[CyberBob859]

Yeah, popular...

Apple doesn't give a crap about the netbooks. The iPhone is as Eee as they'll get.

The iPhone doesn't get them a contract to provide computers to a school system. A family doesn't buy an iPhone as a second or third laptop.

Apple has no interest in putting out a $499 laptop. But I also think they won't let the Asians creep into the $800 mini-notebook market and try to eat into Macbook sales.

 

[EdwardsNH]

This has to be a new product. Not just a redo of an existing product. Apple said the forward guidance was lower due to money being spent on the new product.

Spend a lot on R&D then make it up as they sell more of them.
This is no new Macbook. It's a completely new product.

Actually, they explain this a lot better at appleinsider. They will be going from a 38% profit margin to about 30%. High end/new tech components I'm guessing, so that they won't be TOO overpriced compared to competitors.

 

[wuzy]

As I said yesterday, I think we've seen the new Macbook cases..

Upgrade to Montevina, drop the optical drive and make the case aluminum (all of which, many people see happening soon)

Want to see a pic? http://www.apple.com/macbookair/

 

[BlackSp1der]

I would guess that Apple will be "transitioning" all of their software products to Intel-only, starting in Q4. They've already announced that the next version of OSX will abandon PPC, so I would expect that iLife, iWork and the Pro-tools suites will all go Intel-only with the next upgrade.
This would affect revenues negatively due to the smaller potential pool of buyers for these products, but it would aid Apple in the long run as they are able to add new revenue-generating features to the products, and lower development/service costs of having a single platform to support.

or can hit revenues... if the new intel-only OSX can boot in any PC in the market.

 

[ezekielrage_99]

My money is on new iPod Touch models including one with a much bigger screen, GPS, and built-in microphone/video camera for portable iChat. Resolution should be around 800x600.

Nope it will be the G5 Powerbooks


My money is on the following:
- iPod touch updates
- New Macbook and Macbook Pro
- And hopefully a new groin grabbingly awesome Mac Mini

 

[chelsel]

It will be a new Apple TV set top, with Tivo type functions (seen in previous patent apps) and possible sling box type function to iphone. I believe this because it would be a transitional product that has more mass product appeal that would directly effect the cost margins at that volumn of sales. The price point will drop to better the new Netflix/Amazon boxes that are showing up at bargin market share grabing prices. The tivo and sling functions would best the other boxes out there right now in price and function. This also explains why Apple wont let sling box in as an apple app for the iphone. Apple TV with tivo and sling brings together all their software and hardware, Movies (itunes) to stream to iPhone, connected to the livingroom as well, with a larger mass market appeal for a catagory of product that has yet been exploited effectively by competition. A new laptop would still command top margins.

Such a well thought out insightful scenario from a MacRumors newbie!? I bet this is really an informed post from someone who knows more than they're letting on.

 

[thecartoonguy]

except no one watched movies or listened to music on floppies. you buy a cd/dvd and you want to put it on your ipod, you're not gonna want to pay for an external optical drive. until mass media moves away from discs (which i don't foresee happening anytime soon), it's not going to be wise to remove the drive. of course that doesn't mean apple isn't going to try...

What about an Apple TV with gasp BLUE RAY.. Or perhaps just a dvd readable drive or something.

 

[KindredMAC]

KindredMac's wish/want list:
- Redesigned Mac Pro's that incorporate a BluRay option and a Single Quad Core chip base price of $1999.
- iSight HD that is the size or shape of the iPod shuffle so it can clip onto the top of displays.
- iMac touch. Just saw an HP commercial and got bummed that they used our tech to beat us to the market....

 

[EdwardsNH]

Apple is leading the pack.

shouldn't it be "Apple is leading the 'peck'ing order"

I'm sorry, that was lame, but I was just itching to write it

 

[collegedu3]

Just update those friggin' MBP's and my money's yours, Apple!

Haha –– I actually laughed. Seriously though, I'm not going to buy a mac until they update the MBPs.... so just DO IT ALREADY!


Sorry; I couldn't resist.

 

[collegedu3]

Those who forget last year's news are doomed to repeat it.

Wait - what does this mean? Explain yourself!

 

[bpm2000]

MacRumors Buyer's Guide:
Product: Mac mini
Recommendation: Don't Buy - Updates soon
Last Release: August 07, 2007
Days Since Update: 350 (Avg = 188)

The worst part is, it's 350 days since the last *CPU speed update*. It's not even a new revision!

Either the Mac mini is getting replaced by a less powerful and cheaper Mac nano (earth-shattering news: everyone can now afford a Mac) or it's getting replaced by a more powerful and more expensive Mac.. erm... something (also earth-shattering news: Apple finally releases a decent spec'ed, decently priced not all-in-one computer).

Man if they put out a more powerful mac mini and a mini-tablet of some sort I will be in a serious need of a cash infusion.

 

[iMacmatician]

Hm, there's no question in my mind that Jobs has seen the eee PC. And while he's clearly not a fan of 11- to 12-inch computers, or we would have had one long ago, I think he's taken it as a personal challenge to build the coolest small Mac we have ever seen.

When Jobs was told that ASUS shipped 350,000 eee PCs in its first shipment, he was able to imagine right away how he could brilliantly milk the Mac installed base one more time, like he's already done twice with the iPhone.

You can count on a miniBook in the very near future.

I don't think there will be a mini MacBook.

Could the new product be the return of the Newton. I remembering reading a rumor about a new newton device coming out. But now I think of it this would just be a larger screen on a iPod touch. So this posting was a waste of web space. Sorry gang.

Apparently this new Newton was slated for a MWSF 2008 launch, but was delayed. Maybe it'll come out soon.

If they intro a 5 to 7 inch iPhone or new category device I'll be all over that...no more laptop for me!

And I won't have to carry around my laptop everywhere.

Apple has no interest in putting out a $499 laptop. But I also think they won't let the Asians creep into the $800 mini-notebook market and try to eat into Macbook sales.

That's a reason for the mini-tablet.

Those who forget last year's news are doomed to repeat it.

Quoted for truth. I don't forget.