Jobs Excited about Device, Keynote?

[MrFirework]

No...

I know what Jobs is announcing tomorrow. It's going to be the iFork.

Fork.

MP3 player.

Cell phone.

All in one, stunning design.

Magic.

He'll be eating ramen noodles through the whole keynote with a STUNNING fork, then at the end he'll say "Oh, and one more thing." Pulling his fork from the ramen, and holding it to his ear, "Yes? Oh, hi Jet Li, yeah, eating with it now. Ta-ta. :ause-:: This is the iFork."

Mark my words, people. Mark my words.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

I don't know what will be released tomorrow, but just for a little historical perspective leading up to tomorrow's keynote keep in mind that just a few years ago so many MR members at the time...

LAUGHED at the original iPod proclaiming "How dumb. Another MP3 player. This is destined for failure."

Then a few years after that when the iPod mini was released a whole lot of MR members at the time...

RIDICULED it because it was "too expensive" compared to the larger capacity, and larger footprint iPod. No one was going to buy the mini because it was a "rip off" and too "girly."

So if you feel compelled to rip the iPhone, if, when, announced, just keep that in mind. History doesn't treat Apple naysayers very well.

 

[shunpike]

ipod phone is 30th Anniversary Mac?

if he's excited it will be big I'm guessing a hand-held iTV+Mac compatible Hand-held PC (8gb) that works as a Pocket PC and a Phone and an iPod it will be slightly thicker than an iPod nano and slightly wider and taller too. this will run a watered down version of OS X.4 with a free upgrade to Leopard. It will be Mac and PC compatible and cost under £400 - IT will be the 30th anniversary Mac

 

[bdj21ya]

What if, of all things, the big announcement is NOT hardware? Lets look at the current climate:

Apple has LOTs of mindshare, and has ported OS X to intel. They have a "New version" of OS X coming out. Coincidentally, so does microsoft. OS X is cheaper. In many ways, its better, especially for the home user. OS X Basically "works" on standard PC hardware, but for a few driver issues.

What if the big announcement, of all things, is a retail version of OS X for the common PC?! It would be a huge transition, but one that is PERFECTLY timed. Apple has let people use windows on its machines, it has the right machines, and now has some idea of how to keep its sales will stand up against computers that can now be basically compared to one another apples to apples.

I can't be the first person to have thought of this? In a few months Microsoft expects millions of people to fork over $$$ or more for vista, would that not be the PERFECT time for Apple to say, hey, look, we have a GOOD quality alternative?

Apple will always be in hardware, but now, its in "Designer" hardware, IE, stuff that I would buy from them just because of what it is, not because it runs OS X. For example, looking at the macbook, its the best, most attractive piece of hardware for that price. Sure, I can get a similair speced laptop for 699-899 from dell, but, it wont look as good, it wont have all the features, etc.

I dunno, anyone care to comment on this idea? I mean, hardware sales only take you so far. I would dare say opening up OS X to generic boxes would concievably improve Mac hardware sales in the long run.

It would certainly widen the installed base which is great for getting more programmers etc on board.

If they announced this, it would have to be at least late 2008 before it was released. One of the reasons Apple computers work so well is because they control the hardware and don't have to write code that will run with a lot of different hardware. You may say that they could have been working on that for a while now, but they would still have to give at least a year or so for all the hardware manufacturers to write drivers for the hundreds upon hundreds of internal devices found in PC users machines.

My prediction: not going to happen anytime soon.

 

[Zzzoom]

everybody calm down, please

given that the keynote is still 1 day away and the hype fastly approaching hyperbolic levels, the only thing that could really top it would be the release of os x for pc... which, as we all know, ain't gonna happen with jobs at the helm.

the keynote will focus on leopard (with possibly some *new* surprises) and iTV. i just do not see the iphone, yet.

 

[cyberlarson]

What about an announcement that the Beatles Catalog is going to be released on iTunes.

The Beatle CD's were discounted for Xmas, an indicator that something new is on the horizon.

 

[digitalbiker]

But if we will all remember, Jobs also spouted effusively about the Segway, and we all know how that turned out.

Jobs has a rotten track record for personally predicting the success of products. His personal favorites over the last decade have been The Segway, The Mac Cube, and Next computers. Most of the success of Apple came from the talented design team and brilliant engineers. Early on the success was due to Woz, who will always be the heart of Apple.

Jobs talent has always been smoke and mirrors deception, sales pitches, and spewing obscenities at employee's who he thinks are not making him enough money.

 

[LastZion]

If they announced this, it would have to be at least late 2008 before it was released. One of the reasons Apple computers work so well is because they control the hardware and don't have to write code that will run with a lot of different hardware. You may say that they could have been working on that for a while now, but they would still have to give at least a year or so for all the hardware manufacturers to write drivers for the hundreds upon hundreds of internal devices found in PC users machines.

My prediction: not going to happen anytime soon.

exactly. well put. And I for one hope it never happens. For the same reasons you site as the delay. You want something that works, you need control over the whole thing. No reason to associate your name and product with something you can't control

 

[capran]

I still want the headless Imac. No, I dont mean a low end mac mini. I want a mac that uses the Conroe cpu and has upgradeable video. That would be my next mac.

You beat me to it. That's the only thing I've been dying for. I'm so frustrated right now by the current offerings.

 

[Rootman]

If they announced this, it would have to be at least late 2008 before it was released. One of the reasons Apple computers work so well is because they control the hardware and don't have to write code that will run with a lot of different hardware. You may say that they could have been working on that for a while now, but they would still have to give at least a year or so for all the hardware manufacturers to write drivers for the hundreds upon hundreds of internal devices found in PC users machines.

My prediction: not going to happen anytime soon.

Linux builds do this quite well - Apple can do this. All the hardware out there is supportable. Apple doesn't need to control the hardware - that's an old paradigm. Just a Rosetta to talk to existing Win drivers.

 

[Stella]

What about an announcement that the Beatles Catalog is going to be released on iTunes.

The Beatle CD's were discounted for Xmas, an indicator that something new is on the horizon.

Beatles on iTunes would be excellent - I would buy so much stuff. Jobs loves the Beatles too and would dearly love to get them on to iTunes, if not, exclusively. So, you have a point - it may not be hardware based.

However, the Beatles said they will put their catalogue on to online stores but the material will be remastered first to suite the format.

 

[kenaustus]

I still can't believe the media exposure that Apple has received on the iPhone - all while refusing to discuss it in any way. That must kill some spirits in the competition, and (hopefully) soon to be competition.

While I would love to see the iPhone and iTV I would also love to see Steve J announce something totally out of the blue.

The only thing that we know for sure is that we'll see iLife 07 and iWork 07. Everything after that is gravy.

 

[k2k koos]

My thoughts on Leopard

Leopard will , when released , need some serious eye candy and GUI 'surprises' to keep Mac OS X ahead of Windows Vista. Under the hood, I have no doubt that it is, but what people see and how they work with it ( I'm talking about Joe Average here) will have to be. Vista has updated Windows in such ways that it does come closer. It's media software is closer to the iLife suite etc. Eventhough most of it is 'borrowed' from OS X, our aforementioned Joe does not know that, or does not care. So reasons for him to switch are getting less in number. It's the simple reality. The only other option is to release OS X for all the other beige boxes out there, but I hope that doesn't happen. It will loose a little of the appeal that it currently has , besides, it will also create more compatibility problems, and that could damage OS X reputation. Apple has a good hold on the integration of hard and software, they need to keep that.

So Leopard, I am very curious what you have to offer to counter Vista, and slowdown it's rise a bit.

 

[Stella]

There are already phones that do this - Video calls ( i.e., Nokia E-Series for one ) so Apple will not be the first.

The other person must already have a video enabled phone for them to be any use. At the moment, thats what they are - no a lot of use.

It's a Sci-Fi fan's dream come true, and it all starts this year thanks to Apple....
I can't say too much, but I can tell you that this will begin the age of real-time video cell phones. We all know that the technology has been here for a while, it's just a matter of using it properly and marketing it well. Who market's better than Apple? An iPod Video Phone will have people lining up to plop down $600 before a fulll description is even available.
Just imagine standing in line at Starbucks and not just talking with your friend accross the country--but seeing them. "But we can already do that" you say. Yes we can, especially with iChat's video feature...which is basically what the iPod Video Phone will do.
Just when you thought Apple stock was too high to purchase...you ain't seen nothing yet. If they sucessfuly corner the market on this long-awaited technology the way they have cornered the MP3 player market...well, you won't have to worry about which carrier they will go with, because Apple will simply BUY the carrier of their choice.

 

[crispoe]

Sickly feeling...

As much as I am excited to see what Apple is going to bring out next, I am afraid that Jobs may be announcing his resignation (hence his closest friends being there). Pairing that with the exciting news of an amazing iPhone, it would be the best time to do so to lessen the blow.

I hope this isn't the case. I really hope it isn't.

 

[Rootman]

The other person must already have a video enabled phone for them to be any use. At the moment, thats what they are - no a lot of use.

I remember when that's what they said about fax machines.

 

[digitalbiker]

Faint hope for an early Stoakley-Seaburg equipped 8 core Mac Pro for under $4k and a 100GB 640 x 360 one third HD Resolution Widescreen Video iPod for $399.

You guys see those numbers at MacPoll saying 34% want an iPod Phone while only 17% want a Video iPod and 9% want an 8 core Mac Pro and only 5% want new displays? This culture is going INSANE. I do not get it. The voters here have got to NOT represent the masses out there - no other explanation for such flipped numbers.

22% want an Ultra-Thin MacBook like that's gonna happen - right.

I'm with you MM! How can only 9% want an 8 core Mac Pro while 34% want a friggin phone.

To me, phones might as well be disposable.

They all are useless in 75% of the locations where I spend my time. Most coverage is so bad, even national talk radio programs like ESPN don't want to except cell calls as NO one can understand them or they drop out.

Besides they are just friggin phones. The cell providers overcharge for useage, the taxes and service charges are incomprehensible, the bills are like receiving monthly phone books with listings of useless garbage, and the plans are ridiculously complex.

 

[Jeef690]

Lets not totally leave out the possibility that Leopard will be released early...Which seems (to me) to be quite promising.

 

[Stella]

I remember when that's what they said about fax machines.

True, but you need the infrastructure first. In Europe and parts of Asia you'd be OK because of 3G. However, the infrastructure is still lagging in in North America so much video phones aren't going to be a lot of use- high speed networks are few and far between and so any video will be poor. Poor quality isn't in Apple's interest, they want good quality. You can be sure if the U.S isn't ready Apple won't release a product, despite other parts of the world.

iChat isn't that useful for video conferencing since iChat only works with, iChat.

 

[peharri]

There are already phones that do this - Video calls ( i.e., Nokia E-Series for one ) so Apple will not be the first.

The other person must already have a video enabled phone for them to be any use. At the moment, thats what they are - no a lot of use.

I think the people raising this are generally following an Ameri-centric point of view. Videophones are common on UMTS networks, but the US only has half a UMTS network at the moment (some of Cingular has upgraded to UMTS), the other so-called "3G" networks in the US are more 2G networks upgraded to have faster Internet access, with a few data-lead services built on top of that.

Videocalling hasn't taken off that well, largely because most people use phones to convey conversations that they don't want to necessarily see or be seen in. Especially when driving.

I think Apple is well aware of what's going on outside of the US and is highly unlikely to try to "popularize" video calling. (a) It sucks, no matter how good an interface you have for it, it'll only ever be used for a minority of calls, and (b) it's already out there.

Seriously doubt it's videocalling.

 

[p0intblank]

Lets not totally leave out the possibility that Leopard will be released early...Which seems (to me) to be quite promising.

I have Apple gift cards waiting to be used and I'd instantly use them on Leopard if released early.

 

[gauriemma]

I know what Jobs is announcing tomorrow. It's going to be the iFork.

Fork.

MP3 player.

Cell phone.

All in one, stunning design.

Magic.

He'll be eating ramen noodles through the whole keynote with a STUNNING fork, then at the end he'll say "Oh, and one more thing." Pulling his fork from the ramen, and holding it to his ear, "Yes? Oh, hi Jet Li, yeah, eating with it now. Ta-ta. :ause-:: This is the iFork."

Mark my words, people. Mark my words.

I want the iFork.

 

[emotion]

So now all the nay sayers have told us that it's no an ipod phone, it's definitely not a small thin macbook etc etc I can reveal what I think it is:

It's the announcement of the Apple Hoverbike.

That should shake things up

I want the iFork.

Why limit yourself? iSpork would be much neater

 

[Goldfinger]

Videophones are useless. Most people aren't interested at all and mobile data rates are hidiously expensive everywere.

I can see it happening maybe 20 years from now but not today.

 

[Stella]

Very much agreed - see my last post.

Apple is very much Ameri-centric - if the u.s isn't ready, Apple won't release a product.

if the infrastructure was ready in the states then such a feature would be a very good possibility, but alas, the u.s isn't ready, holding back the rest of the world ( in regards to Apple products ).

I think the people raising this are generally following an Ameri-centric point of view. Videophones are common on UMTS networks, but the US only has half a UMTS network at the moment (some of Cingular has upgraded to UMTS), the other so-called "3G" networks in the US are more 2G networks upgraded to have faster Internet access, with a few data-lead services built on top of that.

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