My prediction, not having gone thru all the posts, is that Apple will indeed replace the 11" ( possibly the 13" as well) MBA with a larger iPad. My variation on this rumor is that it will be a larger iPad with a detachable keyboard, but running full Mac OS X+iOS hybrid.
Well I think we can rule out a hybrid OS. At least in the sense most people view a hybrid OS. I rather see plain old Mac OS with the ability to run iOS apps in a window. In other words iOS apps effectively run in a simulator much like they do on developer workstations.
64 bit ARM is a given in all future iOS devices. On Mac devices that is still up in the air
2. Full Mac OS X, compiled for ARM. Not sure if ARM would be powerful enough run something like Rosetta to run existing x86 apps.
ARM isn't powerful enough to run Rosetta like apps but that is of no concern. All Apple needs to do is to have developer submit their apps as fat binaries.
3. Magnetically detachable BT keyboard/trackpad with extra battery. Perhaps with some sort of inductive power sharing/charging between the display and keyboard to eliminate any electrical connections.
Inductive power transfer is never very efficient.
4. Optional cellular radio
Yes, a mandatory feature in my book. That cellular connection is what makes my iPad so useful.
5. The CPU, RAM, SSD, etc. will all be behind the display.
That really isn't a big deal anymore. With the coming RAM standards Apple will be able to deliver a machine with 4GB of RAM in one chip. So concerns about expansion capability and the like will go out the window for most users.
6. Since Apple already gives all it's basic productivity and creativity apps away for free, Apple doesn't have to rely on third party apps to be recompiled for ARM for the consumer market this device is already targeted at.
Actually they do need to rely upon third party apps. You make a fatal assumption here that consumers only use Apple supplied apps. A little thought here should clear that idea up in your mind. In fact third party support is so critical that Apple will need to have the bulk of the App Store converted to dual architecture support in a couple of months or face consumer backlash.
Unlike the Microsoft Surface, Apple will execute flawlessly. Sometimes it is better not to be the first to enter the market. Apple also doesn't have to worry about pissing off their OEMs by entering the hardware market. Intel should be very worried, unless Apple intends to use one of Intel's planned low power mobile CPUs due to be released next year.
Intel is already worried, they are in the process of laying off 5000 employees! Intel is in trouble and they know it, Apple doesn't even need to go to ARM to impact Intel drastically all they need to do is build a machine like the Mini with an AMD APU. It would shake up the industry and bring credibility to the AMD hardware lineup. I know many get upset at even the talk of using an AMD APU but for Apple there is potential synergy with the Mac Pro that is hard to dismiss. All AMD really needs is a Kaveri solution with a much faster memory interface. If that happens (a big IF) then Apple can leverage all of its driver and code development for the Mac Pro on its entry level machine.
In any event I'm off track here, it is pretty obvious that Intel is way off track meeting industry needs. It took them way to long to acknowledge those needs thus the position they are in today. It isn't even certain that Intels mobile targeted chips will get industry acceptance at this point. In a nut shell they carry to much crap from previous generation Intel architectures and the developers of these new mobile products know it. If your portfolio contains Intel stock I'd be worried.
