Macworld San Francisco 2006 Rumor Roundup

[mcmillan]

I was laughed at when I said a couple of years ago that Apple would split off iPod (they proceeded to split into divisions). This time they may go all the way - it's gonna happen, it's a matter of time.

I would love an update to Keynote!!!!!

A Keynote update is very likely, I mean they wouldn't release iWork '06 wihtout updating its apps, right?

By the wait, the entry missed some info about Leopard, IMO it's very possible that we will get the first sneak peek during the speech.

 

[SiliconAddict]

Excellent recap Admin!

Fearless prediction :

ALL of the above..

iBook Core Solo 1.66Mhz 533Mhz FSB 13.3"
MacMedia Center ( formally Mac Mini ) Core Solo 1.66Mhz with Front Row 2.0 not ViiV.ViiV branding requires Microsoft Media Center Edition O/S

Powerbook Core Duo 2.1Mhz 667Mhz FSB PCI-E Video w/256 Mega RAM 15" and 17"
1 Gig DDR-2 667Mhz memory
160 Gig S-ATA HD
Built-in iSight w/ Front Row 2.0
Firewire 800
USB 2.0
Optical Digital in/out
Dual Layer DVD
Built in Irda


Mac "JamBox" interconnects with the MiniMedia and iPod


iPod Shuffle 1G w/built in Irda to act as remote control

iLife'06-Garageband,iPhoto,iWeb,Front Row,iTunes,iDVD-HD etc.

iWork'06 will include Numbers


What a show!

Holy crap! I had to do a Google search because I thought the max they made was 100GB.

And they are 5400 drives to boot.

I think we can do without the IRDA though. Its so 1990's. BlueTooth all the way.

 

[nagromme]

Just remember, whatever Macs are announced at MWSF, others can follow soon after.

I expect all G4 Macs to go Intel by the month after next... but I do not expect all G4 Macs to feature on Tuesday.

So if your particular dream (PowerBooks are mine) doesn't come true on the 10th, just keep an eye on every Tuesday for the next 2 months!

 

[Peace]

Holy crap! I had to do a Google search because I thought the max they made was 100GB.

And they are 5400 drives to boot.

I think we can do without the IRDA though. Its so 1990's. BlueTooth all the way.

I was thinking about changing it to Bluetooth all the way but I think it would kinda/sorta make the new iMac obsolete unless of course there were a Yonah iMac coming too but all that just made the last fuses in my mind blow up!

 

[yoda_four]

Who knows, Apple could even put the iMac's guts into a 23" ACD-HD or 30" ACD-HD, or make a "headless" model.

Would everyone please go now and read this thread over at AppleInsider. A member, Rolo, claims to have knowledge that Apple is set to release two oustanding products:

1. iHome w/ HDTV intergrated. Think extra-large iMac. iSight intergrated. 42" (2499$) & 50" (3299$) screen using CNT-FED or possibly SED technology.

2. Headless set top box iHome. Front Row 2.0, DVI w/HDCP, etc.

He mentions that the two devices are part of a new lineup; not a Mac product. Apple is apparently set to accomplish what they do best: create a perfect solution with an excellent mix of software, hardware, and services. They are to use Intel's Viiv chip, despite what PR says. He also mentions that Think Secret is set to report this story very shortly.

Also, if you read the bottom of this recent AppleInsider report, you'll see they say iWork '06 is set to include Numbers 1.0, Apple's Excel competitor.

 

[doogle]

Holy Crap Batman! Well worth the journey!

Would everyone please go now and read this thread over at AppleInsider. A member, Rolo, claims to have knowledge that Apple is set to release two oustanding products:

1. iHome w/ HDTV intergrated. Think extra-large iMac. Priced about the same as a 17" Powerbook. iSight intergrated. Around 42"/50" screen using FED technology.

2. Headless set top box iHome. Front Row 2.0, DVI w/HDCP, etc.

He mentions that the two devices are part of a new lineup; not a Mac product. Apple is apparently set to accomplish what they do best: create a perfect solution with an excellent mix of software, hardware, and services. They are to use Intel's Viiv chip, despite what PR says. He also mentions that Think Secret is set to report this story very shortly.

Also, if you read the bottom of this recent AppleInsider report, you'll see they say iWork '06 is set to include Numbers 1.0, Apple's Excel competitor.

 

[yoda_four]

Holy Crap Batman! Well worth the journey!

Glad you liked it. Thought more people should know about this, although hopefully it won't scare ThinkSecret away from posting their purported article on it. I wonder how many people will also read this by tomorrow morning?

Also, I update my first post with new price points for product #1.

 

[DaftUnion]

That post about the two new products brought a grin so wide on my mouth I almost hurt myself

Even the icon doesn't do it justice.

Thanks...if that's true...well...I'm gonna have to find some money somehow.

 

[SiliconAddict]

Holy Crap Batman! Well worth the journey!

Hmm. . . I could easily live without a PowerBook for a few months if it meant putting a Mac into my home entertainment center. At the very least it would keep me from going on a mouth foaming, shotgun touting, rampage around the office Tuesday.

 

[NVRsayNVR]

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[sw1tcher]

Frankly...I couldn't care less about 90% of this. All I want is my Core Duo PowerBook with PCI-E graphics and 2GB of RAM. Oh and throw in a 100GB hard drive.

Same here. But only after I get mine first.

Credit card ready and waiting.

 

[windowuser82]

I would just like to see a mini with something faster than a 1.42 g4 and better specs.

If they DO release them, I'm going to make my first mac purchase. If not I'm going to jus' buy a Dell.

I have no use for -another- laptop.

 

[macnews]

I can't see Apple releasing two seperate "ihome" type products, along with new iLife, new shuffle (seems likely) and then possibly a new ibook or mac mini. That just seems like a whole hell of a lot of products. Not saying it couldn't happen, matter of fact I would LOVE for this to happen. Just don't see it as likely.

 

[JW Pepper]

Can iBooks be released with Intel before Powerbooks? My reaction is that they cannot, unless pro-apps are not ready OR that performance in Rosetta is unacceptable. Apple would have to keep something on which pro-apps could run sucessfully. If on the otherhand Pro-Apps are either ready or do run at acceptable speeds without glitches then Apple will not e able to upgrade the iBooks without also upgrading Powerbooks.

There are a lot of if's here, but my money is on both being upgraded. From what I have heard the GUI on OSX86 is as snappy as Windows, so there it feels as though the machines have gone through a hugh jump in performance, but I am not sure how they compare on non-graphical things such as encoding video.

 

[macnews]

I would just like to see a mini with something faster than a 1.42 g4 and better specs.

If they DO release them, I'm going to make my first mac purchase. If not I'm going to jus' buy a Dell.

I have no use for -another- laptop.

You haven't messed with a mini apparently. I was in a print shop trying to print some over size full color pdfs. The brand new Dell ran dog slow, not to mention the prints kept coming out off center - and this was by the guy who ran the print shop. Frustrated after 15 minutes of wasted time and many bad prints, I jumped on the mini fired up acrobat pro and illistrator (had to make some minor changes). In no time I had all my prints done.

I would say give the mini a try.

 

[windowuser82]

You haven't messed with a mini apparently. I was in a print shop trying to print some over size full color pdfs. The brand new Dell ran dog slow, not to mention the prints kept coming out off center - and this was by the guy who ran the print shop. Frustrated after 15 minutes of wasted time and many bad prints, I jumped on the mini fired up acrobat pro and illistrator (had to make some minor changes). In no time I had all my prints done.

I would say give the mini a try.

I have 2 Dells,, a main desktop system and the laptop I'm using now (which I want to replace but not with another laptop). 4 years old, 512 mg 2 ghz P4, 32 megs of video memory (shotty I must admit) and I have no issues with Photoshop CS or any other heavy application; Not as fast as the new desktop but not bad by any means.

I just cannot justify buying a mini with the specs being so low and pretty much the same as my 4 year old lappy. I admit I don't know much about PPC's but I have read way too many mini reviews by "switchers" that really don't speak of it highly.

So here's hoping, anyway

 

[d.f]

Is this the new 15" iBook.....?

this was part of Intel CES Keynote. They showed a range of Laptops featuring the Core Duo chip...... looks like a thin iBook to be..... opinions.?

 

[yoda_four]

I can't see Apple releasing two seperate "ihome" type products, along with new iLife, new shuffle (seems likely) and then possibly a new ibook or mac mini. That just seems like a whole hell of a lot of products. Not saying it couldn't happen, matter of fact I would LOVE for this to happen. Just don't see it as likely.

I actually think Steve could fit it all in. I mean, it depends on how many Macintels he announces. If it's only two, ya he can do it. Four... i'm not quite sure.

Remember the 3 acts keynote? Now, I don't believe we'll see an updated shuffle, but that's just me. So, basically he has Macintels to announce, new iLife and iWork software, and these two Media center iThingys. He could make it work.

Or remember last year's MWSF? An update, the iPod shuffle, iLife and iWork, the whole Year of HD stuff w/ the camera + Sony and FCE, plus the Mac mini.

I would think that he'd probably have to spend a bit more time explaining the Media iThingys than a Macintel, but seeing how long it takes to preview software... I think he could make it work.

 

[bigandy]

ack, isn't this year's rumour roundup a little early? i mean four days? wasn't it like hours before, last time?

hmm. most of it good, all i can say i hope for is a dual core powerbook. and maybe a new mac mini dvr..

 

[b0x]

this was part of Intel CES Keynote. They showed a range of Laptops featuring the Core Duo chip...... looks like a thin iBook to be..... opinions.?

If that notebook on the right is an updated iBook, it looks f*cking sweet.

I think Apple will come out with the iBook first as I have a sneaking suspicion that Jobs wants the FAT versions of the Pro Apps to really make a statement and the time taken to rewrite for a completely new architecture. I also think that Rosetta will be acceptable for home users in emu mode, but not for Pro's.

Why do people think the pro laptop has to come before the consumer laptop? Apple might be cautious to avoid a repeat of some of their Rev A disasters of the past.

Whilst the Pro market is important if Apple can produce great hardware that appeals to the consumer both in terms of design and performance as well as price point won't that increase the total volume of mac sales?

 

[Machead III]

Gaaah! Give us the Intel iMac already! Apple should be making the switch as quick as possible, a slow transition would be ridiculous!

 

[AlmostThere]

I would just like to see a mini with something faster than a 1.42 g4 and better specs.

If they DO release them, I'm going to make my first mac purchase. If not I'm going to jus' buy a Dell.

I have no use for -another- laptop.

Agree about the Mini. A $500 / £350 price point Mini with Pentium or Celeron M and X300 should be possible at that price point and have enough oomph for things like the Sims 2 and powering a 17-19" monitor, home use it really struggles with now.

I haven't been following CES that closely but given the prices of the Core Uno, I am dubious that Apple would cram that in there (but keep fingers crossed none the less!) and I don't see how the Mini is going to evolve into some home media centre without a substantial price increase, although IIRC ATI are bringing out cards with on-board MPEG4 decoding.

The Mini's forté has always been it's prices and even 'budget' PC technology would give it a decent performance boost.

Beyond that, I am not bothered, a cheap Intel box is the only thing I would invest over for the next year until Intel Macs have proven reliability (and why I think 'pro' model have no problem being released after consumer and will continue with dual line PPC up for some time).

Powerbooks, I hope reach the rumoured 2.54cm and come in a matt black carbon fibre body.

 

[thegivenone]

iWeb

Since GarageBand is getting fully integrated Podcast recording support (expecting the smae from iMovie of course), don't you guys think iWeb will be more of a Podcast-Uploading utility?

 

[runninmac]

Intel Mac Mini: 7/10 (These have been updated a million times, but it does make sense to launch one.)

The mini's have been "updated" ,if you would even call them that, 1.1 times. I would hardly call an Airport and Bluetooth card and more RAM on the higher priced ones an update. Or even the rumored 1.5 GHz processor thats slipping up

 

[mac-er]

The "Behind the Magic Carpet" things is so interesting.

So Steve does type all those slides himself....