Apple Stores Gearing Up for the Event

[Tom800]

My thoughts

1. Apple will never be a phone company: that's why there are phone companies, because it's so specialised and complex. Also the beauty of phones is you get them free, then a free replacement when they get smashed - only fees are service. A video/internet/camera/pda phone is a nonsense for all but 007 and the insane mobile phone freaks.

2. The name iPod is generic, not music-related. I predict (you heard it here first!) that it is the name for a kind of sub-platform within Apple called iPod, much the way Vaio is for sony. Hence we will see a range of devices: iPod Music, iPod Video, iPod Photo, iPod Subnotebook, iPod PDA, iPod Treo, etc. My point, based on its generic name and its propriety OS/navigation system, is that iPod is a PLATFORM, not a one-off device.

3. People who find using a Mac complicates rather than simplifies their life should just fix up their life. This talk about AI is BS - the mail thing is a filter; just because it addresses the user as "mail thinks these are junk" doesn't make it "intelligent" in any way that hasn't existed (though not in the apple mail app) for 20 years already.

4. On a completely unrelated note, I see Maxis has dropped the Mac for SimCity 4, due soon for PC only. This is a sad end for the originally Mac-only game; moreso, as now in this iteration it looks better than ever and potentially a huge hit on the scale of The Sims. Not that I'd play it much, if at all, but why the defection from the Mac in these good times, when it stuck out the nineties?

Answers on a postcard...

 

[christof]

Re: Sprint PCS in Chicago DOES suck. vPod, yes!

Originally posted by deepkid
As an investor, I hope that Apple DOES NOT partner with Sprint PCS becuase the telco's service is ANYTHING BUT free and clear. They forced their customers onto a discombobulated webpage that's never updated in a timely fashion and crashes too often. I think their web customer service team is in India. Add insult to injury by charging $3/call for help with their defective product.

Anyway, let's hope that Apple DOES NOT plan to out a phone. It's a bloody market to enter and doesn't show as much promise as the mp3 market did at the time the iPod was introduced.

Agreed... As an Apple shareholder, as well. It would be a very difficult market to enter: the cell phone handset industry. However, I believe that Apple can deliver compelling products to the space, and it seems as if our favorite CEO has spoken in favor of such market.

I've read much on howardforums, wirelessadvisor, and alt.cellular.sprintpcs about coverage troubles in the Windy City. However, as I mentioned in my previous post regarding AT&T... One would expect AT&T to have stellar coverage with its aging TDMA network. Coverage is wonderful in San Francisco, and I have no complaints about its voice services. However, if one wanted rich data services (3gish) or even location based services, there are only a few carriers who can deliver such products to market today: Verizon and Sprint. Both of these carriers lead in bringing "3g" wireless services to the United States, leaving AT&T and Cingular/T-Mobile behind. AT&T has only recently started to roll out its GSM/GPRS network and hopes to bring WCDMA to a few markets in 2005 (I hope they succeed, as I am an AWE shareholder as well). Cingular/T-Mobile have yet to deliver great "3g" services--they've only been pushing minute plans to the edge and pushing thousands of minutes only goes so far and will start eating away at revenues.

Verizon is the largest carrier in the USA with a stellar network. Everywhere I've been (from the rural areas between Las Vegas, Hoover Dam, and the Grand Canyon, the coast line along California (from the SF Bay to San Diego), and the rural areas in Santa Cruz county and mountains), my Verizon phone has worked. They also have "3g" services and have been pushing its Get It Now! service greatly.

Sprint PCS is the fastest growing wireless carrier. While service isn't as great as Verizon or AT&T, Sprint works where I need it. They also have great handsets and rate plans that no one has yet matched. The "3g" services are there, the coverage is improving, and its location-based services technology is ahead of anyone elses (Cingular recently announced that it switched location technologies and is starting all over).

Agreed... Yes, I see revenues from wireless service plans dwindling; however, "3g" application services will increase and will create revenue streams for wireless carriers. Additionally, there is a greatly needed space to fill: to create not only compelling applications for "3g," but also compelling technologies/handsets for use on these networks.

While it may be a daunting task for Apple to enter such a market, I believe that they can reap the benefits if they enter. Nokia, the world's largest cell phone manufacturer has yet to deliver products that captivate the audiences of "3g." They have only delivered tiny candy-bar handsets with tiny color screens and a camera. Sanyo, winner of the first JD Power and Associates cell phone maker award, has created some great handsets, but have yet to deliver a handset that breaks from normal tradition, capitalizing on "3g." The Sony Ericsson partnership has been stalling, and while their handsets are great (as Steve has seen), Apple can do better.

Steve has spoken already about the death of the PDA and its morphing into the cell phone. I wouldn't be surprised if Apple released a handset, and I wouldn't be surprised if they released it for GPS/GPRS networks. (I hope they release one for CDMA networks as well.)

With iCal, iTunes, iPhoto, iMovie, MPEG-4/Quicktime, iSync, .Mac... I believe that all of these pieces, Steve's suggestions about PDA's, and looking back at the Digital Lifestyle Device "matrix" shown a previous Macworlds, there really is only 1 product that Apple can create that will fit into this mix. It isn't a PDA, it isn't an even larger iPod, it isn't a digital photo frame, it isn't a TV or watch or sunglasses with a heads up display... It's a cell phone that doubles as all of these devices (except for the sunglasses) and does more.

I only hope that Apple makes a very good decision in regard to which network(s) it decides to deploy the device on... I only hope that Apple partners with some good companies: KDDIau/NTT DoCoMo (in Japan), T-Mobile/Orange (in Europe), Sprint PCS/Verizon/Cingular/AT&T (in the USA).

 

[Frobozz]

Sprint!

Originally posted by HasanDaddy
Cingular sucks!

I'd be a lot happier if apple introed an iPhone for Sprint PCS.......then the iPhone will actually be able to receive calls!

Amen, brotha.

 

[pyrotoaster]

Exactly!

Originally posted by Tom800
Apple will never be a phone company
and
The name iPod is generic, not music-related. I predict (you heard it here first!) that it is the name for a kind of sub-platform within Apple called iPod, much the way Vaio is for sony. Hence we will see a range of devices: iPod Music, iPod Video, iPod Photo, iPod Subnotebook, iPod PDA, iPod Treo, etc. My point, based on its generic name and its propriety OS/navigation system, is that iPod is a PLATFORM, not a one-off device.

I think you're totally right about Apple not entering the phone market.
What I really liked is your thoughts about the name iPod. I think you good really be on to something there. Everytime I thought about the possibility of a new iDLD, the only name that seemed to fit was iPod (I didn't put much effort into thinking of another name, though).

 

[bdkennedy1]

Re: 6" is too small...

Originally posted by Timothy
Do you guys realize how small a device would need to be to be adequately displayed in a 6" acrylic display? As I recall, the iPod acryllic display is about 12" tall, with enough room on it to tout features and inset the iPod.

So, I don't think we're looking at any new iPod-type device...

My guess? How about a Firewire-based microphone addition for the iPod? Or, some firewire plug-in that increased funtionality of the iPod...

But, if we are basing our speculation on the size of the acrylic display, this item would have to be very small...about the size of the bluetooth adaptor...

Considering how small hard drives have become, it wouldn't surprise me if the new iPod would be half the size it is now.

 

[pyrotoaster]

The size's the limit.

Originally posted by bryank1

Considering how small hard drives have become, it wouldn't surprise me if the new iPod would be half the size it is now.

And have the scroll wheel on top of the screen?

 

[mangoman]

Sheesh...all things said (no less considered!), I'm really stoked for Tuesday. Gotta convince my boss that watching the streaming vid is "research".

Good stuff, all. Keep that crazy speculation comin'.

 

[Frobozz]

Wireless

Folks, everyone seems to have an opinion that one provider is better than another because they've had a phone or two. One was bad, one was good, so one carrier is great and the other sucks. I hate to get off topic of this thread, but you need to stop thinking that way... my god! It doesn't make any sense. Here's the reality:

1) Every provider has to use their own network, with minor exceptions like overseas. If their antennas are better, you will receive a stronger signal. This is localized, not national. One city could be great, and another awful on the same service.

2) The particular phone you are using has different antenna circuitry that the others. Each one is a little different and some do better underground, above ground, etc. Some just get better reception. Again, has nothing to do with the service, as one phone that sucks in Chicago may be good in New York.

3) Geography. Anything will work in flat areas without power interference, etc. So, people that state it works great in Texas (not knocking texas!) are not taking into account the problems of service in a place like New York City or other Northeast city. They have hills, tall buildings packed in closely, and massive concentrations of interference.

For me, Sprint PCS is better than it's competitors in NYC... and I will quantify that. Sprint has a digital signal, I have a phone with a great antenna, and the distances between towers are short. I've travelled with this phone to Las Vegas and to Fort Lauderdale and has zero problems with reception. I pay the same as if I was home, and I get 4,000 minutes for $40 bucks. For me, it's ideal. I know some guys who went with T-Mobile/Voicestream and say it's much improved over the past 2 years. Cingular is pretty bad in NYC for most of their phones.

 

[Bear]

Re: My thoughts

Originally posted by Tom800
4. On a completely unrelated note, I see Maxis has dropped the Mac for SimCity 4, due soon for PC only. This is a sad end for the originally Mac-only game; moreso, as now in this iteration it looks better than ever and potentially a huge hit on the scale of The Sims. Not that I'd play it much, if at all, but why the defection from the Mac in these good times, when it stuck out the nineties?/B]

Actually, as I recall, SimCity was out for the Amiga either at the same time as the Mac or a little before. Some of the Games people remember as Mac only were actually Amiga & Mac games or Amiga first games.

 

[Tom800]

Re: Bear & Sim City 4

Yeah I think you may be right concerning the origins of Sim City. But take a look at the new version (http://www.maxis.com): was anything ever made for OS X if not that? The navigation system even looks and acts like the Dock, with transparency, magnification, bouncing, etc. The work that must have taken to function at all on Windoze...

 

[medea]

Re: Sprint!

Originally posted by Frobozz


Amen, brotha.

Actually in my area Sprint (both celluar and regular) sucks and Cingular is one of the best providers, it all varies from area to area, that's why it would be very hard for Apple to release a phone becuase it would have to be compatible with all the major service providers....I'm starting to think that if Apple has anything to do with integrating cellphones and macs it will be on the software side and not the hardware.

 

[dguisinger]

There are actually chips (it was a huge breakthrough a year ago) that work with all major phone providers........so it technically could be done.

Here is another thought. How about a Bluetooth watch? Syncronize your addressbook and schedule to it (automatic alarms anyone?). I had one of the Timex/Motorola pager watches 4 years ago and they were great....I'd page myself messages that I would use on tests at school Heck, Apple could even get it from Motorola, and leave the pager in...things certainly are smaller and more energy efficient than 4 years ago as well. And there are MP3 watches available right now......sure they aren't 4,000 songs in your pocket.......but what if they had the ability to take notes by pressing in a button on the watch and speaking?

Obviously I have no inside knowlege.....I just know that all of these things are possible based on where we are today, and what has been done in the past.

But that would easily fit in a 6" display case......

 

[arnette]

Re: Wireless

Originally posted by Frobozz
3) Geography. Anything will work in flat areas without power interference, etc. So, people that state it works great in Texas (not knocking texas!) are not taking into account the problems of service in a place like New York City or other Northeast city. They have hills, tall buildings packed in closely, and massive concentrations of interference.

Yep, when I mosey on down to the town with a population of 230, hitch my horse up to the post, swagger into the saloon for a whiskey, I do notice that my phone reception goes down quite a bit. I get much better signals when I'm out on the prairie.


I know what you mean, but we DO have cities, you know. In fact.. Houston is rated US's fattest city by Men's Health. Maybe THAT'S all the interference you've been talking about.

 

[medea]

Originally posted by dguisinger
There are actually chips (it was a huge breakthrough a year ago) that work with all major phone providers........so it technically could be done.

Here is another thought. How about a Bluetooth watch? Syncronize your addressbook and schedule to it (automatic alarms anyone?). I had one of the Timex/Motorola pager watches 4 years ago and they were great....I'd page myself messages that I would use on tests at school Heck, Apple could even get it from Motorola, and leave the pager in...things certainly are smaller and more energy efficient than 4 years ago as well. And there are MP3 watches available right now......sure they aren't 4,000 songs in your pocket.......but what if they had the ability to take notes by pressing in a button on the watch and speaking?

Obviously I have no inside knowlege.....I just know that all of these things are possible based on where we are today, and what has been done in the past.

But that would easily fit in a 6" display case......

Yeah but the only problem with an Apple multi-function watch is, only dorks would buy/wear one.....no offence ok, but not only do I love the way my mac works it's also rather stylish, and pda/pager watches are not.

 

[dguisinger]

Originally posted by medea

Yeah but the only problem with an Apple multi-function watch is, only dorks would buy/wear one.....no offence ok, but not only do I love the way my mac works it's also rather stylish, and pda/pager watches are not.

Only dorks huh? I'm actually considering picking up a new watch from Timex so that I can receive text pages without needing my phone on me. Its a hell of a lot smaller, and harder to leave behind, and works great when you are in the tech industry and need to be in-the-know when something goes down.

The problem is you don't have much vision on use.......nor the fact that Apple of all companies could make one stylish. And you ignore the fact that at one time Timex did make an executive style version of the watch with a normal metalic wrist band.

Do you seriously think it is stylish for hold a object the size of a brick up against your head?? Guess that rules iPhone out. Walkman's aren't stylish, yet iPod is in that form factor.

Me, my goal is a life where the technology one has for mobile use is as unseen as possible. A well done watch using those technologies would work well in a business world. Timex seems to do well with them, they still have several models for sale today....5 years after conception. Addition of bluetooth and providing a place to view contacts & appointments (NOT make them, since it would be hard as hell) would be a much better solution than store them on a large clunky iPod......which no business person would want to carry around in the first place.....either putting the information on their phone, or on their watch is the most practical. And in complete honesty, I can't tell you how many times I've been without my phone when I wished I had someone's number on me that was stored on it.

 

[rjrufo]

Hmm... could the acrylic displays be part of the Dynamic Ornamental Appearance thing?

 

[sanford]

Re: Honestly, what about more A.I. in our O.S.?

Originally posted by GeneR
Have I been reading too many comic books?

Yeah, you've probably been reading too many comic books. BUT, you have a significant point about simplifying devices creating complexity. I'm not really sure where we're headed with all this; perhaps only deeper into the land of mass consumerism.

I'm a writer, yet my desk looks like a world domination console. I have a G4 Quicksilver with 17" Apple LCD Studio display. A 5GB iPod, and a 10GB iPod, because I have a rather large music collection -- 500+ CDs -- and 5GB wasn't, for some reason, enough to carry around a representative selection. I used to work as a writer for the game industry, and still try some freelance in that area, so I have a giant Alienware PC with its own LCD display. Then a Sony Clie NR70, because the high-resolution color screen was so attractive. Later, when the price dropped, I switched to a Palm i705 because I thought that wireless e-mail and internet reference was possibly more important. Everything is plugged into a Yamaha Cavit USB amplifier and speakers.

On the mobile side, I have a 12" dual USB iBook, and a combo-drive TiBook, now my principal portable. We have Airport in the house and a digital camera.

And of course I have a cell phone, even though I hate talking on the phone.

This is all to support a profession that can be adequately executed with a pen and notebook. I have to put up with software upgrades on at least 2 computers, recharges for all the mobile gear, document parity on 2 computers, extended warranties for TiBook and G4, 3 dozen different sets of user names and passwords for various things, fan noise from the G4 when I'm not playing music, ahhhh!

This is not simple, yet simplicity is the reason I bought a Mac in the first place. The one item in all this I can't bear to part with is the digital music. Apple has me hooked with iTunes, my iPod and the ability to order and play my music, lots of it, wherever I am. My musical tastes are varied and eccentric; I hate radio. But now I have to have more than 20GB of storage on my computer to hold all this music.

Sorry, this is way off topic. But I think the original writer had a point buried in his speculation: what happened to the toaster Mac? The promise of simplicity? Apple's products are by far the most elegant, but my machines own me now and I want my desk back!

 

[AndrewMT]

iPhone

I disagree with anyone who thinks that Apple can not and will not enter the cell phone market. I actually considered the mp3 market pretty crazy before Apple blew them all away with the iPod. You had multiple memory card formats, mp3 on cd, mp3 players with no expandable memory, and the early and very crappy hard drive players that could not fit in your pocket and only had usb 1.1. Apple just chose the best format.

It seems to me that Apple would support the best network (based on their own testing) for a possible phone that would have the ability to access the internet. An Apple phone that did not access the interent would be pointless since there are so many other phones that do that fine already. Like most cell phone providers, Apple's phone would only work on the best network (probably 3G, but who knows?) and therefor would only be sold to customers that are in the range of that network. Sure the network area may not be as big as some of the other crappier networks, but the people in Apple's choosen network would have great service on a great phone.

The danger hiptop (a.k.a T-Mobile Sidekick) was a great start, but had some fatal flaws. The greatest of which was the network the hiptop currently runs on. GSM is slow and unreliable. Lets not also forget the monocrhome screen with no onscreen touchpad for easy surfing.

If Apple releases a phone with the following features, it should do as well as the ipod in it's area:

1. Phone runs on reliable, fast network. Apple tested for approval.
2. Phone can access internet and aim.
3. Phone has a reasonable sized color screen (to small a screen limits the phone's ability to surf web pages).
4. Phone has a QWERTY keyboard (needed for fast surfing and aim). No add-on keyboard, please.
5. The phone demonstarates Apple's famous design and ease-of-use.

I would buy one. Wouldn't you?

 

[jamesnp]

I have got school on Tuesday.... here's what I'm going to do...

I'm first of all going to buy €20 of call credit for my mobile.... then I'm going to connect in between every class and check what's out. If it's good I will place my order on the Apple Store straight away!!!

-James

 

[iJon]

Originally posted by jamesnp
I have got school on Tuesday.... here's what I'm going to do...

I'm first of all going to buy €20 of call credit for my mobile.... then I'm going to connect in between every class and check what's out. If it's good I will place my order on the Apple Store straight away!!!

-James

haha great idea. luckily for me a have a pointless class and lunch during macworld. so all i gotta do is take my laptop, hook it up to the schoool network (which the hate me doing) and watch it. i am so excited. then i get to come and watch signs.

iJon

 

[GeneR]

Re: Re: Honestly, what about more A.I. in our O.S.?

Originally posted by sanford


Yeah, you've probably been reading too many comic books. BUT, you have a significant point about simplifying devices creating complexity. I'm not really sure where we're headed with all this; perhaps only deeper into the land of mass consumerism.

I'm a writer, yet my desk looks like a world domination console...

Sorry, this is way off topic. But I think the original writer had a point buried in his speculation: what happened to the toaster Mac? The promise of simplicity? Apple's products are by far the most elegant, but my machines own me now and I want my desk back!

Thanks for your opinion. Thanks too to the guy who says A.I. is B.S. Maybe it is. Maybe it isn't. I don't know. That's why I posted in the first place: to hear and learn from others. What impresses me about this site is the fact that most of the people here (I am saying 'most' because I haven't read that many of the comments) seem to come from differing backgrounds representing some very smart, creative and informed thinkers.

That fact alone is exciting to me.

But I still believe that making life simple is still the magic ace up Steve Job's sleeve. We may not remember the importance of what it means to keep things simple because of the clutter of devices and programs and upgrades, etc.

But whenever Jobs seems to turn on his reality distortion field it seems (to me at least) to bring us back to that old idea of productivity and simplicity. And hence, my question about A.I.

I think the preoccupation that we all face here with computers is the same preoccupation we have faced about any other new and complicated toy/game/tool: we are stimulated and at the same time burdened by the responsibilities that come with playing with/using it. And as a result, most people today may have lost the big picture that computers were suppose to help us go about our day-to-day chores and life. Not the other way around.

Hence, the lamp design for the iMac. And hence the simple organic designs of its predecessors, the eMacs, the simple elegant design of the Ti Book and iBooks. Their design communicates both function as well as the simplicity that I believe we all crave on some level.

Maybe someone at sourceforge will make such an A.I. application? I don't know. I'm just trying to keep my life as simple as possible.

Well, I said my piece. I really appreciate the feedback. I guess we'll all have to wait and see at MWSF in two days. Thanks, again!

 

[pyrotoaster]

Watches

I read something about watches, and couldn't help but bring up the old Apple watch story.
Apple lincensed a company to make watches with the Apple logo for trade shows (specifically Macworld) year ago.
One expo, shortly after SJ had taken the helm at Apple (after the release of the iMac, though), the Great Job-ness himself saw some of these watches and shot an intern. Just kidding! He was so underimpressed by the watches, however, that he killed the deal.
I doubt we'll see any kind of wrist-ware with the Apple logo so long at SJ is in charge.

 

[mangoman]

IF those are the same watches I saw, they WERE butt ugly. Woof.

 

[dguisinger]

Re: Watches

Originally posted by pyrotoaster
I read something about watches, and couldn't help but bring up the old Apple watch story.
Apple lincensed a company to make watches with the Apple logo for trade shows (specifically Macworld) year ago.
One expo, shortly after SJ had taken the helm at Apple (after the release of the iMac, though), the Great Job-ness himself saw some of these watches and shot an intern. Just kidding! He was so underimpressed by the watches, however, that he killed the deal.
I doubt we'll see any kind of wrist-ware with the Apple logo so long at SJ is in charge.

Yeah, but I'm not talking about taking a stock watch with an apple logo......the iPod isn't a stock device. Just throwing out ideas of something that can fit in a 6" display, and atleast in my world would have usefulness... There are just times you dont want the bulk of a PDA or phone.........but could use something like contact and appointments on you.....

 

[Frobozz]

Re: Re: Wireless

Originally posted by arnette

we DO have cities, you know.

No, I'm sorry. I just don't believe you.




Actually, a couple friends of mine lived outside of Austin... way, outside.