Apple September Predictions: iPods, MacBooks,....
Now that the iPhone 3G is losing its shiny new gadget smell (*cough* Safari crashing *cough*), the rumor-mongers are wondering what’s next from Apple. There’s no doubt something is coming real soon now, September specifically, as Apple likes to have refreshed goodies set up for the back to school and holiday seasons. So I’ll run down the more interesting rumors and add my take.
New iPod Nano: Lots of buzz from Kevin Rose himself - supposedly the iPod Nano will sport a new “horizontal” form factor, specifically for watching video in wide-screen mode, with the click wheel on the right (and hopefully rotatable 180 degress to put the wheel on the left also, for us southpaws). Pictures of dubious quality are even floating around, of a Nano with curved body (kind of like a smashed cylinder) and a mini USB port replacing the wide connector. There are pics, cases, and even CGI images.
My take: I call BS on the new form factor. The whole point of “Nano” is supposed to be a smaller iPod, so to replace the current “chunky” iPod Nano with this larger, “Zune-esque” model feels wrong. The smashed-cylinder look I can swallow, but the mini USB port feels wrong, too.
I think Apple will just rejigger the pricing on the current line up of iPods (albeit with a storage bump). With the iPhone being a subsidized $199 maybe they’ll drop the 8GB Touch to $199. A dream would be a drop to $150, and the iPod Nano to $99. They’ll keep the Shuffle as a “gateway drug” for the iPod line - but what’s becoming more clear is all the iPods are merely “gateway drugs” to the iPhone.
Updated MacBooks: Rumors of portables with touch screens and tablet functionality, or maybe a stand-alone “tablet” Mac that’s an entirely new product.
My take: The MacBooks and MacBook Pros will receive the obvious incremental upgrade - faster processors and possibly larger hard drives. Any touch functionality will be limited to a new type of track pad. In my wildest fantasy said track pad would have a small screen, or a glass top like the iPhone.
I don’t think now is the time for a multitouch screen, multitouch monitor, or the oft-drolled over “tablet” Mac. There’s just no way Apple would announce something that revolutionary at a special event in September. They’d save the big stuff for MacWorld 2009, so that’s where I’m placing those products.
Apple Music Subscription Service: Rumor has it Apple will debut “iTunes Unlimited” at $130 a year, with an option to buy songs. There would be a discount for MobileMe customers.
My take: I’m skeptical here as well, as Apple is supposedly doing really well with the pay-per-download business model. iTunes is currently the #2 music retailer in the US. So I’m doubtful they’ll want to slow that gravy train by offering a directly-competitive music subscription service.
Still, I think the iTunes Unlimited rumor is possible - but I believe the price would be higher (true to Apple form) - more like $199 a year. They’d probably spin the value with higher quality bit rates or the broadcast feature which I think will arrive in a new version of iTunes.
iTunes 8.0: A new version of iTunes with special, unknown features.
My take: I think this will happen, and I’ll float a rumor (or just a desire) of my own - Apple adds functionality to stream your entire iTunes library from your home computer (or those of your friends) to your iPhone / iPod Touch over a cell or WiFi connection - just like Simplify Media, but Apple will make it brain-dead simple.
To sum up:
- No new iPod form factors - just rejiggering of the current models and maybe an increase in storage.
- Spec improvements to the MacBooks and MacBook Pros, at most a newer trackpad with more multitouch capabilities.
- iTunes 8.0 with iTunes library sharing to any iPhone / iPod Touch.
- Maybe a new music service, but priced at a groan-worthy level.
So these are my predictions. I look forward to being proven completely wrong as soon as September 9.
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