MacWorld SF 2005 Rumor Roundup

[hughdogg]

Flash Pod Doubles as Remote

I bet you Apple's research is showing that a lot of people use shuffle a majority of the time. Pick a playlist and hit shuffle. (I can't tell you the last time I listened to an 'album' on my iPod). That is why the moved the shuffle feature to the front menu on the 4G iPod.

My sense is the Flash pod will also serve as an remote for an updated Airport Express. Apple said they were working on some stuff to address the 'no remote' aspect of Express. "New Remote Control for Airport Express, and oh, BTW, it can also serve as a 250 song iPod."

So they built is a remote control instead of a screen. Don't get too freaked out about no screen, the power of iTunes/iPod is the smart playlist ability.

Cheers,
hughdogg

 

[hob]

hmmmm... the descriptions sound to me just like the iPod remote I have hooked up to my iPod 3G every day... Wasn't the rumour that there was gonna be a small 1-line screen?

And why is the new headless thing being called Q88? 😕

Hob

 

[BillHarrison]

hmmmm... the descriptions sound to me just like the iPod remote I have hooked up to my iPod 3G every day... Wasn't the rumour that there was gonna be a small 1-line screen?

And why is the new headless thing being called Q88? 😕

Hob

That is the "Internal" name. Until a real name comes around, I am sticking with it.

😉

 

[sunilraman]

I hope for Powermac updates, I pretty much have all the cash I need to buy the entry-level mac with 20" ACD, just gotta wait for speed bump till I can finally switch 😀.

(hmmm... never thought there'd be potential switchers on these rumor forums 😀 )

welcome friend, you will soon enough enter the world of Mac
😉

______________
iNook G4 933mhz 256mb
iPod mini
blueTooth
sony ericsson t630

 

[sunilraman]

I eagerly anticipate the launch of the PowerBook G5 so we can get a serious start on whining about how long it will be until the PowerBook G6 is released.

😀 yeah... all you powerbook whingers... 🙄
wa wa wa... video card too slow
wa wa wa G4 too slow
wa wa wa Fsb too slow
wa wa wa it doesnt make toast for me...

lol 😛

my bet is definitely on dual-core G4... maybe tomorrow???!!!!

 

[sunilraman]

Odds are in the favor that more than 1 hour of the 1.5 hour keynote will pertain to iPod sales, updates, accesories, iTMS and Mini news. Sorry but thats what there is, it is the single driving force behind Apple right now.

i LOVE my iPod mini 🙂

 

[PretendPCuser]

Misdirection

Okay, i know what's coming, all the suing by Apple, all the rumors of a headless imac, etc etc can mean only one thing. Apple is playing misdirection and is set to unveil....

...The G5 powerbook.

That's right. 😛



knock, knock....
uh-oh. It's Apple Legal!!

 

[sunilraman]

o.k. can someone explain in semi-tech speak (I'm mostly fluent in certain dialects 😀 )what and how these single core, dual core freescale chips work and why the hype. I've done a bit of reading on it here and there, but not enough yet.

Dual Core = 2 CPUs for the price of one.
It's like having another G4 duct-taped to your computer 😀

Yet doesn't consume extra power, doesnt generate more heat

=Blazing fast powerbooks at a total of 3 GHZ (2x1.5ghz)

thats the hype but i'm sticking to it.... 😉

 

[hob]

That is the "Internal" name. Until a real name comes around, I am sticking with it.

😉

I guess Q88 sounds better than "that headless thing" - we could be talking about a chicken...!

 

[zelmo]

I'm still holding out hope for at least a 2-line display on the new 1GB micro, because I think the display, coupled with the scroll wheel, is what really defines the iPod's ease-of-use experience. No display wouldn't be a total crusher, though.

Either way, I'm hoping that this new micro can hook up to a mini (or larger iPod) and dl songs or playlists from it, so you don't even need to be near your computer to update the playlist. This could be the much-rumored hidden feature of the 4G that was never announced or confirmed.

Or not 🙂

 

[ASP272]

Hopefully we'll all be surprised by G5 powerbook updates! 😀

 

[Stella]

I don't know if its been mentioned but MacShrine are reporting that Tiger is ready for release at MW.

 

[hob]

I don't know if its been mentioned but MacShrine are reporting that Tiger is ready for release at MW.

So maybe all this 1H 2005 stuff was just to give 'em some breathing room?

Hob

 

[sunilraman]

For those of you (like me) whose Italian is a little rusty, I'd suggest this Google-translated version. Basically, the article says that aside from the photos, it was also discovered that the banner says "240 songs" (which suggests 1Gb capacity for a new flash-based iPod) and that the unit on the banner is silver (other colours too?) with a vertical form-factor. Exciting stuff!

Err... sorry to say, but you guys aren't to bright today 😀
They made an English version of the article
http://www.macitynet.it/english/aA20182/

 

[petelechem]

Confused

Hi Guys,

i've enjoyed reading all your news and posts, thought i'd join the forums.

What i'm confused about, is why is Steve's speech on the 2nd day of the conference? I guess they don't put the new products on the Apple stand until after the keynote yeah?

I'm hoping for Tiger and iLife '05.

So excited. 🙂

Peter

 

[Photorun]

Ugh! Jobs and his stupid super ego tripping, if they (let's face it, HE!) kills all updates of the keynote while it happens, it will prove he's gone from genius, to genius ASS**** who needs a beatdown. What a prick.

 

[restiffbard]

What i'm confused about, is why is Steve's speech on the 2nd day of the conference? I guess they don't put the new products on the Apple stand until after the keynote yeah?

All Apple news happens on a Tuesday. I've no idea why that is. It's just the way it's done. Same thing with movies only being released on Fridays and Wednesdays.

 

[gbpmi]

G5 Powerbooks next week?

Hi,

I live in Bangkok but I called a Mac shop in Singapore this afternoon, to enquire about a 15 inch Powerbook, as I will be going there in 2 weeks and they are cheaper over there.

The lady told me straight off not to bother as the new G5 would be in stock next week??? Can this be believed?

She also mentioned a 5GB updated Mini iPod.

cheers
Gavin

 

[Alfie]

iMac Mini?

The term iMac mini got me thinking...

What if Apple came out with an iMac that looked like this:
Just like the current design only smaller...

15" monitor
1.6 ghz G5 processor
256 mb RAM
CDRW drive
etc.

$899

This keeps Apple's product line very linear, gets underneath that magic $1000 price barrier, and keeps them in line with the iPods that have a "mini" and a larger version of the product.

They could even run an intro special: iMac mini and iPod mini: buy both for $999....

Apple could then discontinue the eMac line and use this as their "low cost" educational solution.

Not saying this will happen, but to me this fits better in Apple's product line than a headless mac.

Just my thoughts....

 

[FelixDerKater]

Considering Apple's current secrecy, I would say to watch for new PowerBooks. The timing is perfect.

 

[fraggle]

Considering Apple's current secrecy, I would say to watch for new PowerBooks. The timing is perfect.

Not really. Apple adjusted the pricing due to the weak dollar in most stores just one week ago and for example the Swiss store shows "Shipping in 24h". I would say no PowerBook updates.

 

[HiRez]

Ugh, now Apple says they won't broadcast the keynote until 6pm PST (!) Sheesh, what's the deal?

 

[SteveC]

Of the remaining hardware line, the PowerBook has the longest lead time since last introduction (April 2004), but no word on PowerBook updates have been heard.

Great roundup. The only thing that may want to be corrected is the Powerbook update stat. It's actually the eMac that has the longest time since its last update.

https://buyersguide.macrumors.com//

eMac - 272
PowerBook - 266

 

[Benj]

* I may be swayed because I got a PB in november and would be gutted if they upgraded them already, And from a customer satisfaction view, they were last upgraded in April (?) and so less than a year between upgrades would piss off the people who waited for the bugs to be worked out, such as me.

A PB update is already massively overdue. I stand to be corrected but I can't imagine Apple have ever waited this long to update one of their marquee products.

EDIT: I say waited - forced to delay may be better!

 

[bree]

The term iMac mini got me thinking...

What if Apple came out with an iMac that looked like this:
Just like the current design only smaller...

15" monitor
1.6 ghz G5 processor
256 mb RAM
CDRW drive
etc.

$899

funny thing is, you just quoted something that has worse specs (excluding the G5) and costs more than the current eMac.