Let's Rock: Rumor Roundup and Expectations

[Beric]

Why is everyone speculating on GPS for the iPod touch? It makes no sense?

Unless you store every map of every location on your touch (goodbye over 16 gigs), or you have to buy maps for your location and pay to update it (goodbye, ~3-5gigs), without internet access to interpret what the GPS is telling you and download the google maps, the GPS itself becomes useless?

Unless it also has a 3G data plan to go with it, it makes no sense. And adding 3G and GPS to the iPod makes no sense. There isn't a market for it that wouldn't just get the iPhone instead.

First off, GPS preloaded maps have been speculated to take less than 1GB of data. I know they take a whole lot less than that on your typical Garmin handheld GPS. And does Apple even have to go with Google for GPS on the Touch?

And I guess that also takes care of the issue of a 3G data connection, which hardly any potential Touch customers want.

 

[hierobryan]

One more thing... just one more thing... please.
Go the tablet!

Ditto. If they release something like the Archos 5G, I'll be a happy bumble bee!

 

[z-man]

Apple Records?

I'm totally guessing...

But..could "Let's Rock" mean Apple might be shifting gears more into the music world itself?

All the tools to create and distribute music are in place. The record companies allow non-DRM offerings on other sites, but not on iTunes (except EMI, and independents). Would it make sense to bring out something like "Apple Records" to create leverage? Would it make sense to allow bands to record their music and distribute it (and make money through iTunes sales directly) without going through a traditional label? Sign up for Apple Records, and we'll distribute your music? Maybe beyond just a free podcast?

Is something like that possible at all?

I wonder about the "confidential" parts of the last lawsuit with Apple Corp in '07... "Let's rock" just seems like...."let's make some music".

Anyways -- just some "wild speculation" to perhaps think about.... feel free to shred the idea apart...I'm not super-attached to the idea.....and that's the fun of speculation!

 

[MattInOz]

Hey ages and ages ago there was a suggestion that Apple had a music browser based on the early ad with all the album covers.

That would be a cool interface to the Genius Feature
The streets might be the collected works of bands you play most or have a lot of music for, then towers of complimentary music grow out of the streets.

 

[ikid007]

No Tall Nano!

I don't see why apple would make the nano tall again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[thelairster]

My predictions for tomorrows event:

• Steve Jobs enters to "Helter Skelter" by the beatles
• He is now over seven feet tall, tan, and weighs over 300 pounds
• Calls everyone a bunch of frigtards for doubting him, says he was just purging excess fluid to get down to fight weight last time
• Joe Nocera is brought out on stage, steve says "I'm flying you outta here knuckles airlines, (thwack) FIST CLASS!". Crowd Roars as Nocera's limp body is pummelled through a 30 inch cinema display
• Steve then pulls out an old nano and bites it in half, calls it obsolete, tells everyone to look under their chairs for the new nano, Oprah sues
• Steve reveals the new macbooks, "The fastest mac notebooks ever, ever" before telling everyone they can't have them until he says, which is a while.
• One more thing... Steve announces he is immortal and he has cured car sickness.
• Steve beats up john mayer, crowd applauds

 

[dontwalkhand]

edit: nvm found out it was a mockup

Command+Shift+4 is your friend

 

[MattInOz]

^ i swear in my last office where i was "it guy" that was the answer to at least a 1/4 of all questions.
Mostly the same "I do understand these mac's" guy.

"let's rock" en' roll.

Apple is going to give iTunes cards to anybody who enrolls to vote for the first time.

I don't see why apple would make the nano tall again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's not a tall nano, it's the new classic.

 

[ezekielrage_99]

And one more thing.... Introducing iRock, it comes in 3 brilliant flavors, sandstone, granite and slate. Sit it on your desk, drop it on your cat, it's better than bad it's good, it's the iRock (wont be available till OCT 2008).


Pure speculation? I think not, I know exactly what Apple is planning with "Let's Rock"

 

[timster]

My predictions for tomorrows event:

• Steve Jobs enters to "Helter Skelter" by the beatles
• He is now over seven feet tall, tan, and weighs over 300 pounds
• Calls everyone a bunch of frigtards for doubting him, says he was just purging excess fluid to get down to fight weight last time
• Joe Nocera is brought out on stage, steve says "I'm flying you outta here knuckles airlines, (thwack) FIST CLASS!". Crowd Roars as Nocera's limp body is pummelled through a 30 inch cinema display
• Steve then pulls out an old nano and bites it in half, calls it obsolete, tells everyone to look under their chairs for the new nano, Oprah sues
• Steve reveals the new macbooks, "The fastest mac notebooks ever, ever" before telling everyone they can't have them until he says, which is a while.
• One more thing... Steve announces he is immortal and he has cured car sickness.
• Steve beats up john mayer, crowd applauds

One other thing...

"I AM Chuck Norris."

 

[kjs862]

Let's hope a new firmware for the iphone 3g comes out that fixes a lot of the problems people are having.

 

[FightTheFuture]

I am surprised I have not heard this rumour yet in the rumour world. I would think it is quiet obvious that Apple will be announcing that the entire iTunes catalogue will be going DRM free. Or maybe I will just be proven wrong but that is my prediction, other than new iPods of course.

yeah! could this be possible? how long is apple contracted to continue fairplay with the record companies? it has been over 5 years for most of them now right?

One more thing... Apple's new CEO - Jonathan Ive

as much as every apple fan would love for this to happen, i doubt the board would allow a secretive introvert to release new products at every keynote

 

[jamesmay]

Macbooks and mbps

I know at this event we aren't expecting the new laptops to come but it will be very soon. Talking to the business manager at my local PCworld, he told me they have new display racking coming in for the new models and reiterated a fact i told him a couple of weeks ago. Alu cases, but he added the spec of what they are being sent is not much change on the present models. He also added that the would have them 'very soon' after the announcement instead of the usual 2-3 week wait for new machines.

 

[El Magnificante]

Perhaps reception might be one of the new products released for the iPhone

 

[Ironduke]

Steve says one more thing then starts singing

"what what in the butt"

 

[MacGohil]

Forget it!

Ditto. If they release something like the Archos 5G, I'll be a happy bumble bee!

What makes you think Apple is going to cannibalize the sales of new iPod Touch by introducing another device with almost identical form factor/functionality?

They are not gonna do another Apple-III here!

 

[Aranince]

Kind of sad that we know everything before Apple officially announces it. I guess this is what happens when your market share grows.

 

[jchandler3]

laptops...

I really don't see why we couldn't see laptops... I know everywhere says it's unlikely, and that "we'll have to wait," but apple is crapping themselves over this event and it really doesn't seem that significant to me. Seems like there needs to be more than a few ipod updates and itunes.

i dont know, maybe i just don't care enough about the other stuff...

 

[pmoeser]

I don't see why apple would make the nano tall again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

NanoPhone...

 

[theknightshift]

There's only one thing that could possibly make me interested in whatever Apple is trying to sell with their event today:

iPod with user-replaceable batteries.

That line about "it would ruin the aesthetic" doesn't hold water. I can think of two or three ways that an iPod classic and even an iPod touch could be designed to swap batteries out on the fly by the user, *without* sacrificing its lean and trim look.

And Apple would make a handsome profit from people would would be VERY glad to be able to have a spare iPod battery in their pocket or purse or backpack.

Besides, flash memory that's just as buff in capacity as hard drives is still a ways off (maybe not even next year). If Apple wants to keep innovating the iPod line, then user-replaceable batteries is the only real way to go in the near future.

 

[jchandler3]

Steve says one more thing then starts singing

"what what in the butt"

hahaha

he won't bite.... TOO hard

 

[Discostu7]

My Guess for the "BIG ANNOUNCEMENT"

here's my guess.

It won't be a tablet laptop, new mini, apple tv, etc. It's going to deal with the iPhone. Apple will (Im guessing) announce that they are partnering with more cell phone companies that will allow them (verizon, sprint, etc.) to sell iPhones and use their services.

 

[wizard]

No not just Internet access, but it is a big draw.

I'd like to see a 3G ipod touch. I don't need the phone, but would love to have mobile internet access anywhere. The WiFi is ok at home, in hotels, airports, and your local Starbucks, but it pretty much sucks everywhere else.

I'd gladly pay $20 per month for this service to an iPod. I'm not sure why its not considered. Surely people don't buy an iPhone simply for the internet access.

I don't see anyway that AT&T could offer 3G data for less than $30 a month. Especially considering that they know Apple users use considerable bandwidth. Of course other vendors could offer whatever to compete against AT&T.

The problem as I see it is this, the AT&T contract isn't that bad if you accept the charges they make for data. That right now is only $10 over what you are willing to pay. The thing is the data /net appliance and phone being on one device is extremely useful.

Personally I'm a bit shocked as to how much I make use of the data features. The iPhone is the first place I turn to for E-Mail now. The web is bareable for some sights. The other software that makes use of the net is OK too. Notice I said OK as there are numerous bugs to be dealt with. The fact that I put up with those bugs and stability issues for just about all my E-Mail says something. Part of what that says is that being able to address things as they pop up is very useful, there is no wait until I'm at my MBP or some other PC. So in a nut shell yes 3G is the nuts but you might as well go iPhone if you want it.

Dave

 

[fiftydollarshoe]

First off, GPS preloaded maps have been speculated to take less than 1GB of data. I know they take a whole lot less than that on your typical Garmin handheld GPS. And does Apple even have to go with Google for GPS on the Touch?

And I guess that also takes care of the issue of a 3G data connection, which hardly any potential Touch customers want.

I'm with you. I have a Garmin 705 for my bicycle and on a 1GB SD card it fits full street mapping for the entirety of Europe. It also has POI and traffic updates. Now unless someone is saying the US is 16 times bigger than Europe then storage won't be an issue.

 

[GregA]

Any old school user can tell me if there were so many computers marked as "Don't Buy - Updates soon" all at once before??

Apple's putting everything off so they can make a huge product transition all in one go!

(don't do it Apple... remember MobileMe!... stagger that transition!)

gut feeling we will be disappointed.

It's impossible for us not to be disappointed. Probably
With so many possibilities Apple could do 3/4 of the rumours and still leave people disappointed. I mean take a look at the hopes of people in this thread eh?

Of course if we get exactly what we personally need, then we can be personally happy.

Has anyone heard anything about an Apple TV refresh? It seems like it should be about time (although they were updated in January).

I agree it's time. If Apple wants to define our multimedia future (and I believe they do) then they have to make a new play in this area. Not that the AppleTV isn't good, just that it's not redefining TV as we know it. And if they don't do something soon, Sony or MS might do it.

I agree, there are about 4 features lacking that are preventing me from buying one right now.

-TV recording (DVR or otherwise)
-BlueRay player
-Larger storage capacities
-Interface kinda sucks (like iTunes 7)

I am hopeful.

No possibility IMO, sorry. Look at the cost of BluRay players. Look at the cost of DVRs (High Def ones I assume!?). There's no way Apple's going to make a megaTV with all those features.

The cost of current AppleTVs has to be plummeting. It's an old chip - it never needed to be cutting edge, but the graphics card needed to be good. Could they simply go cheaper? I don't think that would be enough.

Without changing hardware they could offer a better interface, some subscription deals (subscribe to all NBC programs (FTA, USA, Scifi) for a fixed monthly fee?), play a DVD remotely from any iTunes computer, support external hard disks, sync iPods at the AppleTV, or even just add good support of divx/avi files on iTunes/AppleTV.

Hardware changes could be larger disks, 1080p support, use the iPod Touch chipset (+ HD graphics) instead of an old Intel cpu. A DVR is a longshot - and a very interesting one if they go that route.

i said before about the definite ipod upgrades aswell as itunes 8 and iphone 2.1 software for the september 9th date, but i also GARUANBTEE that new macbooks and macbook pros will be coming out.

We need a prediction guarantee scoring site! Where we can lock in our predictions and get scored for hits and misses. Scores are higher for accurate very specific predictions and over longer time-frames ("new iPods tomorrow" isn't worth much.).