WWDC Product Releases?

[macnews]

Think Secret has taken a strong stance on the G5 imac. They also bring up some good points - no broadcast, this is WWDC Tiger is main focus, etc (ok, some other's mentioned these things as well).

I do have to wonder about the stock analysits who came out in the main stream press with this - they have a much bigger repuation at stack, their own and their company's. Then you add in the shortage of them at retail and it does have to make you wonder.

Now, also remember Steve has said he wants to get away from major announcements at conferences like these. Since he made that statement a few (2?) years ago he pretty much has done that. The G5 was announced at WWDC last year but that (during the presentation) was tied hand-in-hand with Panther release and Apple's compiler. Basically saying "see we have a great new computer, with an even better OS than before and a better compiler than what you have been using to help you develop apps for OSX."

So, looking at the bigger picture - taking all the above and Think Secret's report - what could be happening? Notice Think Secret points out an imac redesign - quoting "And another thing: would Apple really announce a consumer iMac re-design and not broadcast the event live on the Web or via satellite? The company has no such plans for WWDC."

What if the iMac isn't redesigned? What if it has a 1.5, 1.6 or 1.8 G5 in it (single proc)? Or if not the G5, perhaps faster G4s - like a 1.5? Either of these could account for the comments from stock analyists, short supply and no announcement at WWDC. Any of those G5 chips could fit, from what I have read, with no change to design.

I think the more likely change will be 15" 1.25 Ghz, 17" & 20" 1.5Ghz G4. These will also be announced with little to no fanfare (ala the newest G5s) a week after WWDC.

And TS did leave a way out - "Besides, Apple is just starting to build this product in Asia, we're told." So if a new G5 imac shows up next week, they can say we were right, just wrong on delivery. Again, I think the more likely event will be speed bumped imacs (G4) with perhaps a new redesign imac in the late fall/winter time - like perhaps in time with Tiger release???

 

[egsaxy]

imho the imac is about 200 dollars over priced (and update is needed) it's been cited that apple should be using moderate range products in its everyday machine. and as far as i can tell thats what the imac is. it has its upper tier 20 inch model, hardworking middle machine, 17 inch, and its basic honda civic model, the 15 inch no frills. not everyone needs or wants a superdrive, not everyone needs more than 256 base ram, a 40 gig hard drive is plenty, price is the only problem not the pieces inside the box. what needs to happen is the emac drop to like 599, the current g4 imac drop to 899-1299 range eliminating the 20 inch model, and then a cube like headless model that is last season's g5. the "crippled" machine, the 1.6 g5 from like 1499-1899 one/two models that can be customed. the cube was the right idea but not for what they were selling powermac g4s for at the time. like now there is still now news about the feed so think secret might (OMG) be right about no new imacs etc. since steveo isnt coming to us live, but then again it was left to "compete" with macworld boston (crappy move)

 

[SirusBodine]

If there is no iMac redesign...

What's the deal with the mention of "Powermac 8,1" in 10.3.4?

 

[LaMerVipere]

http://thinksecret.com/news/wwdc04apple.html

DARN IT ALL!

well not that thinksecret is the end all, know all, source of reliable apple related rumours, but it certainly isn't great to hear.

 

[macnews]

Think Secret is saying a definite "NO" to iMacs at WWDC. I really hope this isn't true. If it is, I will have to put off plans for my first Mac indefinitely. Theres no way I'm paying a minimum of 3000 for a system with 256MB RAM and a 3 year old video card. Especially with Tiger most likly only a few months away. Thats another $129.

How do you figure $3000 minimum? First, no imac cost $3000. If you want a PM, maybe. You are correct, however, about the $129 (rumors it might be more since the updates will slow after Tiger). If you are going to buy and want Tiger, wait until October.

Its either the old, slow, overpriced iMac... the even slower eMac, or the 3000-5000 PowerMac systems. Thats just terrible.

Since you don't have a mac, how can you say any of them are slow? Have you ever been able to compare them side by side with a PC? I have and can every day. I run a small lab heavy in graphic design and networking. The emac holds its own with a ram upgrade. The imacs are a great consumer machine. Oh, and putting an emac, 800Mghz imac up against a 2.7 Ghz dell (all with 768MB ram upgrade, otherwise straight out of the box) - the macs "feel" faster to the average person in my lab then the dell after one year! I don't care about tests dealing in seconds of speed, it is what is percieved during actual use. The Dell may startup faster but is slower when doing day-to-day tasks.

In summary, Steve.. give the common man a computer he can take home to his mother. Economies of scale will thank you in the long run.

He did with the imac. My mom and grandmother both have the imac. Scared them at the thought of getting a new, non-windows, computer. After 10 minutes they felt right at home. Oh, and that was out of the box, on the net via DSL (mom was up even via wireless) and checking email. They can ingnore the machine and even don't notice the OS. It just works.

 

[klaus]

Well, just look at it this way, thinksecret reports the iMac will NOT be announced at wwdc, because of bad timing. But they do mention a new iMac just being produced.

They say the timing is appropriate when holiday season is on it's way, when is that? End of the summer? I don't know, cause I don't live in the U.S.

i'm guessing at the end of the summer, we'll see new imacs.. but who am i

 

[LaMerVipere]

Well, just look at it this way, thinksecret reports the iMac will NOT be announced at wwdc, because of bad timing. But they do mention a new iMac just being produced.

They say the timing is appropriate when holiday season is on it's way, when is that? End of the summer? I don't know, cause I don't live in the U.S.

i'm guessing at the end of the summer, we'll see new imacs.. but who am i

Hmm, I don't know for sure, but aren't stocks and supplies of iMac G4's in incredibly low supply, and haven't resellers been told not to expect any more? If thats the case, I don't think Apple will be able to go a month or 2 more without announcing something new, even if they can't ship it immediately.

 

[utsava]

Well, just look at it this way, thinksecret reports the iMac will NOT be announced at wwdc, because of bad timing. But they do mention a new iMac just being produced.

They say the timing is appropriate when holiday season is on it's way, when is that? End of the summer? I don't know, cause I don't live in the U.S.

i'm guessing at the end of the summer, we'll see new imacs.. but who am i

Yeah, I found this interesting. I'm no financial analyst, but I would think that the September college/school buying time is a big time for computer sales too. So why not release right before then? With this line of logic, an unvieling of the iMac at WWDC doesnt seem like "bad timing" to me. Ship in August. Gives them a month to guage sales and ramp up production for any shortage that may occur by school time.

 

[LaMerVipere]

Yeah, I found this interesting. I'm no financial analyst, but I would think that the September college/school buying time is a big time for computer sales too. So why not release right before then? With this line of logic, an unvieling of the iMac at WWDC doesnt seem like "bad timing" to me. Ship in August. Gives them a month to guage sales and ramp up production for any shortage that may occur by school time.

We all saw how well Apple timed the Power Mac G5 release last year, and the beginning of the back to school buying season

They just did a splendid job of it, no delays at all...*major sarcasm*

 

[Soire]

It seems to me that AppleInsider is pro Imac release, and ThinkSecret is against it.

This doesn't concern me except for the fact that AppleInsider is also predicting a release of the 4th gen iPods at WWDC as well...

Looks like no iPod...?

 

[nagromme]

Middle ground... iMacs in July?

Maybe there's a middle ground... WWDC focusses on Tiger (and maybe lesser stuff like new apps/accessories/displays)... and THEN a bigger Apple event a week or three later brings new iMacs.

Thus TS may be right about WWDC, and yet the iMac could still be pretty close--with all the publicity hype that TS expects it deserves.

(I for one think Apple would be smart to come up with ONE flexible product line to replace the eMac, iMac, and the clamor for a low-end headless. I'd still call it an iMac, and some configs could still have a CRT or a swing-arm LCD.)

 

[afields]

No g5? then why not update?

If Thinksecret is right I have one question: Why haven't they put a 1.5 g4 in the imac then? If they are right what has been the hold up, they could've at least provided a speed bump. I mean, emac blows away the imac right now in terms of value. Thats a hole in thinksecret's argument, IMO- I really hope their wrong.

 

[AidenShaw]

The Rev C "DVI Power Macs (July 2004)" will show up next week

But they are also sticking to predictions of new NON-ADC displays, right on the heels of ADC PowerMacs--that's just bizarre.

Ah - but an "ADC Power Mac" is a Power Mac with an ADC video card. It would be very easy to immediately start to offer DVI cards with the Power Mac (with a BTO for ADC cards for the people who have the plastic screens).

People thought that the video options on the Aqua-Macs were screwy - maybe the real options will show up along with the new monitors! Apple couldn't see coming out with new ADC video cards for the Aqua-Mac, not when they knew that ADC was dead.

 

[nagromme]

Ah - but an "ADC Power Mac" is a Power Mac with an ADC video card. It would be very easy to immediately start to offer DVI cards with the Power Mac (with a BTO for ADC cards for the people who have the plastic screens).

It would be possible, even easy in one sense, but looking at issues of assembly and inventory and marketing and customer-relations, and at manufacturing a handful of ADC cards and then discontinuing them, it would be bizarre... Apple could have just waited to time the new G5s along with the displays. Both were expected at WWDC by many anyway.

BTW, I strongly support moving away from ADC, and I hope that happens some time. ADC is great, but other compromises would be better in the end.

Going DVI means we'd get display cards faster for one thing--not to mention letting PowerBook users buy Apple displays more easily.

And there could still be just one cable. Each end would have a long "brick" with multiple plugs--much like a laptop dock. (On the computer end, DVI would be broken out in a Y-cable for flexibility.) This brick could fit into a hollow on the back of the display, leaving a seamless cable exit. But if you chose to use your own cabling, the plugs would all be in that hollow ready for you.

Current PowerMacs are not set up that way--power is missing in particular--but a dock of some kind, or a branching hydra-cable, could still work, and still be totally clean on the display end, which is what's visible.

 

[macnews]

It would be easy in one sense, but looking at issues of assembly and inventory and marketing and customer-relations, and at manufacturing a handful of ADC cards and then discontinuing them, it would be bizarre... Apple could have just waited to time the new G5s along with the displays. Both were expected at WWDC by many anyway.

One would think if Apple was going to get rid of ADC they would have left them off the new G5's. As you said, many people were expecting new G5's at WWDC. Then there are rumors of Apple holding off the new displays due to large inventory of old ones. Thus, announce new G5's (if they have excess displays, they might also have excess ADC cards) in hopes of moving some new displays (also note the discount which goes till next week). Reduce inventory, announce new displays w/no ADC. People that just bought a new G5 could still run the new displays because the ADC cards have both ADC and DVI. Apple might also carry some ADC cards still because people may want to buy a new G5 but not want a new display. In my case I have two 23" displays and no I have to worry about getting a ADC/DVI adapter when the older machines that run them need up grading in the coming years.

 

[nagromme]

I should clarify that I think TS likely has their details right or very close--I just find the WWDC timing far less likely than they say.

 

[mambodancer]

Wallmount iMac?

I'm beginning to think that the next iMac will be a wall mount design incorporating blue tooth and wifi. The "guts" of the computer will be located behind the screen with access to the CD/DVD on the side and interface ports hidden on the bottom edge of the screen (ethernet, modem, usb, firewire, etc.). This way, with airport express, your printing could be wireless, your mouse and keyboard are wireless via blue tooth, and if Apple incorporates a bluetooth or wifi remote control you can control DVD player and iTunes from across your room. I'm betting this will be a 1.6GHZ G5, 800MHz frontside bus and RAM expandible to 4GB with a 64Mbyte graphics card. Probably 17", 20" and 23" configurations.

I also think 10.3.5 will have changes to the sound systems prefs so that you can select airport express as an output audio source with updates to all sound capable iApps to support Airport Express too.

Now wouldn't wireless Apple Pro speakers be a really cool thing!

As for software updates--I like to see a brand new version of Appleworks with tighter integration of the iApps and iLife, iChatAV for XP, iSync support between two computers without a .Mac subscription, a better disk util, and updates on all the iApplications (esp. iCal, Address book (I want a dialer)).

 

[lilblueimac]

And how, exactly, did you come to such a conclusion?

 

[ingenious]

I DO NOT believe it was streamed live through QuickTime, but released a few days later for people to listen to. It was however boradcasted to Apple Retail Stores and via satellite. I have a C-Band Dish so I usually watch it there. Apple almost has to have it broadcasted on satellite. This is how news stations get their clips, and also how some of the Apple Stores got it. I'll have to do some scanning around monday around noon eastern time and see if I can find it with my C-Band dish. Maybe I'll get lucky!

This is a rather dumb question, but is there anyway I can pick it up with my dish? (Dish Network.... ) I highly doubt it, but, hey, it was worth a try.

 

[seamuskrat]

This is a rather dumb question, but is there anyway I can pick it up with my dish? (Dish Network.... ) I highly doubt it, but, hey, it was worth a try.

Sadly, No.

Different type of satellite as well as different location and such.

At one point these type of events were broadcast on techTV, but with all the mergers and layoffs there I doubt they will ever be on TechTV again.

Historically, Apple stores and Quicktime had them live for 'the rest of us' and those with the old style (pre cable) and tinker sats could view them on the various bands. Its fun to do, but you need one of those 8 to 12 foot dishes and special hardware. Plus, you get some odd TV channels with those dishes.

Hopefully you can get a recap online and watch it on QT a few hours after the fact.

 

[ClimbingTheLog]

it's not the end of the world if there's no broadcast -- as long as they post a qt movie of the show afterwards

if there is no broadcast of any kind, we can be pretty sure there isn't much anything to release. right?

Or Steve doesn't want the whole world see him squirm like a whiny bitch when the crowd starts chanting, "3 GigaHertz, 3 GigaHertz, 3 GigaHertz". There's a movement to start the chant right after he goes over the new PowerMac, especially if he skirts the issue.

 

[ClimbingTheLog]

That's a terrible idea, for several reason.

* The use of contacts as opposed to plugs allows for a much greater problem with lack of signal if an end-suer doesn't seat it properly. There's also the issue of the contacts becoming dirty, losing conductive material over time, and other basic issues that would affect the usability.

Consumers manage to deal with this technology in the form of cell phone batteries millions of times a day. I could almost buy the "dirty" argument, coming from Jobs, except he's shipping white keyboards.

Smart displays cost almost as much as the iMac does on its own. The chepest ones are smaller than the current screen (at a mere 12") and cost $800, while one the size of the current low-end iMac costs $1,000-1,400 and can't display video while detached.
Battery life.

I know of one computer manufacturer in particular who is really good at bringing formerly expensive computing items down to consumer pricing levels through innovative technology and manufacturing techniques. Check out the old iMac, eMac, Airport Base Station, iPod, Gigabit Ethernet, XSR/Fiber Channel HBA, etc.

 

[savar]

For almost everyone, "64-bits" is just marketing hype until everything on the following list is true:

o The computer has more than 4 GiB of physical RAM

This will happen in a few more years.

o OS X has been ported to be true 64-bit throughout

This will take some time, but I'm sure Apple is already directing all new work on OS X to keep 64-bit compatibility in mind.

o Applications have been ported to the new 64-bit APIs

This is the one point that people keep making which I must disagree with. For most API calls, I imagine that there will be two versions of each library: a 32 bit and a 64 bit. Most apps I imagine will only need recompiling to get 64 bits.

o You have a dataset for a 64-bit application that actually needs to hold 4 GiB or more in memory.

I still can't imagine this being true for end users for a *long time*...meh

 

[gone fishing]

the big secret

SJ will anounce...
* the new 3 button apple mouse.
* the magnet iMac... you can stick it on your fridge.
*the new IgamePod... games and music.
Something I would like is an Apple external wifi HD.
The revolutionary iSPod... a new iPod with a color LCD to which you attach your iSight and you van use it as a cordless video phone.
and the all new iBurger... with the purchase of avery Apple product (over $300) you get a cupon for a BigMac genetically modified to have a brushed metal finish.

 

[wdlove]

Originally Posted by mklos

I DO NOT believe it was streamed live through QuickTime, but released a few days later for people to listen to. It was however boradcasted to Apple Retail Stores and via satellite. I have a C-Band Dish so I usually watch it there. Apple almost has to have it broadcasted on satellite. This is how news stations get their clips, and also how some of the Apple Stores got it. I'll have to do some scanning around monday around noon eastern time and see if I can find it with my C-Band dish. Maybe I'll get lucky!

That is exactly what I'm looking for. I really enjoyed watching MWSF '04 at my local Apple Store in January. So I plan to be at CambridgeSide Galleria about 11:30am on Monday. They setup chairs and had great hospitality.