I expect a Blackberry competitor, which addresses both the “nano computer” rumors and the “iPhone” rumors.

Always thinking too small.

In this case, weren’t you thinking too large?

one more thing… john lennon will come on and play “how much is that MacPhone in the window? ring ring” with lord lucan singing backing vocals.

give me an ipod with isight please monsieur Jobs and forget the phone, i think that’ll be too much fun to play with.

@Peter

There is definitely a market for smaller computers. Head over to Dynamism.com to see how much people are willing to pay to import sub-notebooks from Japan. I would love a compact notebook computer from Apple, and I fail to understand why the sub-notebook category hasn’t taken off in the US. I guess it’s the same mentality that makes people buy big cars and SUVs. I thought the whole point of a laptop was portability. Doesn’t a 17” widescreen kind of defeat that purpose completely? If I wanted all of the power of a massive Dell Hosstop, I wouldn’t be buying a laptop in the first place. What I need on the road is a basic system that doesn’t weigh 20 pounds. Smaller is better. I’d buy a Libretto if it ran OS X. I doubt Apple will release anything smaller than a 12” screen though — primarily due to technical constraints of the processors OS X currently supports — which is a shame.

As for predictions of what could actually happen…

I think iTV and Leopard are going to be the big announcements this year. Whatever Apple has planned for their “TV” product it’s going to be unexpected in some way and they’re going to try and make it this year’s big revolution. The entire iLife suite will be worked in to the product, perhaps with a new program, iTV, being added to the Macintosh iLife suite. Expect Apple’s concept of TV to revolve more around iTunes and/or Google video rather than actual broadcast television.

All of the rumors about new portable devices from Apple will probably end up culminating very disappointingly in a remote control for iTV (or whatever it winds up being called).

Leopard will be shown finally, and this time all of the features will be previewed. It might even be ready for sale.

iWork might finally have a spreadsheet component which would be nice though maybe too little too late.

As much as I’d like a cellphone with a halfway usable UI, I don’t see Apple going in this direction. Same goes for PDAs. If Apple ever does delve into PDA functionality, it will be as an extension of the iPod, not a rebirth of the Newton.

I can’t imagine Apple jumping into the tablet market. It’s a stillborn market — tablets just don’t sell and Steve is not the type to support development in markets that don’t have immediate potential (as the death of the Newton will attest to).

Just for kicks, heres the tablet rumor from 2005, and with slightly less credibility, the dream of an Apple iNote. : )

I’ve been wanting a 12” MacBook Pro. I love my 12” PowerBook G4. Great size. A little package that packs a punch, well a year or so ago it did. Now it needs a lil’ Core 2 Duo love and maybe a shorter package with the same footprint.

I looked at the MacBooks when they came out, but puullease…. Intel graphics? and the keyboard doesn’t compare to the Pro KBs. If I don’t see a 12” pro or at least a 12” MacBook you can get my 12” PowerBook when you pry it from my cold dead hands…

A MacBook nano? maybe… something to segment into the UMPC market? Do people really buy those? Or is it one of those if you are an uber-geek and buy every electronic device known to man then you buy one - kind of thing?

I like the thinking about small handheld that connects to .Mac and handles files and such that way, maybe it will pan out with the .Mac upgrade as well?

Here are my predictions: Leopard will be released ( As well as updated iLife ‘07) iTV ( whatever its finally Called) Will Be Ready iPhone ( whatever name) will be announcedfor later release Beatles on iTunes - New Cinema Displays with iSight built in And Something else, that we never saw coming

My bet: not a mobile phone necessarily, but a VOIP device that integrates with iChat. It will be either an ATA adapter where you can plug in your existing landline, or a wifi-enabled handset that lets you call into iChat and to landlines.

This is why Software Update pushed new cryptographic keys into iChat just a few days ago. Because the device is ready, and they want all the existing iChat installs to be working with it from launch time.

Business logic also favors this. Check out http://www.aaronadams.net/2007/01/04/the-case-for-apple-voip/ for a pretty convincing rundown of the obstalces in the cellphone market. Basically, it’s mature, saturated, and requires partnering with the noxious carriers.

I think Leopard will be released, Apple will have some kind of Spreadsheet application, obviously iLife will be updated, new small 13 inch skinny MacBook Pro, better video for iTunes, something new with iPods but I don’t think a video, new Apple Cinema displays with built-in iSights or HDMI in, and I do think that there will be a phone released, and maybe a new iSight. And the iTV thing will come out as well.

I’ll be getting Leopard, iLife, I’ve been waiting and saving up for the phone, and if I win the lottery get a Mac Pro and Cinema display.

MacPhone is very likely.

Look at the website…they are hinting at 30th aniversary items for sure!

I’m obsessed with the iPhone/MacMobile whatever. Why? Right now I have a phone, palm and iPod. I hate dragging them all around, and their chargers and fighting syncing all of them (some still unknown error cost me all my phone contacts on one sync.) It just sucks.

The Treo 700P looked like a solution, but really doesn’t do it for me - -mostly no iTunes compatibility. So what would I put in the beast?

In random order:

A Palm style OS (to allow for use with great 3rd party Palm-based apps). Also with some Mac flavor, such as complete compatibility with iCal — but better Memos and such. Mix in elements of iLife, with an emphasis on iTunes and iPhoto.

Camera (4 megapixels?) video, if you must.

Keyboard/thumbpad of some sort (a la blackberry/treo) BUT with stylus interface, too. Possibly with a horizontal orientation like a Sidekick, but done well (doing “done well” is Apple’s brainacs’ task.)

Bluetooth (isn’t that pretty much mandatory these days?)

Nice cradle for charging, syncing and admiring ;-)

Wifi? EVDO?

SD or CF card compatible (idealy either/or!)

That’s enough for me.

I think this is the Steve Vision is complete Macworld.

They must feel good about whatever it is… a new computer? Hard to see it, they have a matrix that is now complete and completely Intel. And looking at them it’s hard to see where it would be done. An 8-core MacPro is doable but not necessarily something the world is ready for software wise. An iMac or equivalent would be Apple’s traditional site of change but no one is hollering for that. The tablet market is small…. Steve will never do a PDA…

This for a phone? I dunno… Frankly there’s a bunch of great phones out there now. But the level of chatter is so high, it must be on the cards.

Apple since Jobs return has been pushing its own version of what kind of digital media universe we all live in. With the iTV preannouncement last year, Jobs indicated that the circle was now complete. A vision that media would be created digitally, distributed digitally, purchased digitally and consumed digitally. Oh and they’re all Quicktime files you own. The iTV will likely get a full unveiling.

The iTV will have a cut down version of the OS… What if the phone had the same cut down version of the OS…

I wonder if the phone could stream files the same way the iTV will? So once within the range of it’s iTunes Library it could browse and listen or view videos and photos?

What if a new video iPod could do the same thing?

You could use a phone, your iPod or the iTV to view the media you own on that there computer you own. And the computer could be a PC don’t forget so the whole market is available to you.

I think given the teaser on the Apple site… and the overall direction Apple have taken the big theme will be about How Apple Joins It All Up.

How about something really unexpected and cool, a new paradigm, like a 3D interface. How - no idea.

2D is one of the big the limitations of existing UIs. If anyone can carve out that sort of territory with elegance it’s Apple. And with the look and feel of things like time machine or spaces they sooo want to take us there.

Just to follow up: having seen the iPhone I must admit that the UI for the iPhone looks dead-on perfect. It is what phone UIs are supposed to be. But I will also affirm that I want nothing of it. I’ve got my cell phone and I’ve got my iPod and they’re just fine as they are.

Of course, in a year everyone will have one of these and we will all worship our Apple-branded Masters.

I think there will be a some hardware related announcements, but I’m afraid the big deal will be Steve Jobs stepping down from or scaling back his involvement with running Apple. I’ve heard a rumor that Steve has health problems, and he needs to cut back to focus on something more important than Apple.

I sincerely hope this is wrong. I hope Steve will announce something truly wonderful.

Here are my Apple dreams. Predictions never pan out.

• OS X put under the GPL and allowed to run on any modern x86 PC.

• Nintendo to collaborate with Apple on iTV, which will play Wii games.

• Apple monitors to have direct video inputs, to allow them to work as Hi-Def TVs without routing the video through a computer.

• Non-sucky Mighty Mouse.

• Bluetooth iPod.

• Two hard-drive option for Apple desktops for seamless Time Machine.

Spookily enough I’ve just blogged about what I expect to see at tomorrows keynote.

http://www.wholewidget.com/2007/01/08/macworld-2007-prediction/

I’m setting myself up for nothing major other than an iPod /Phone hybrid with a slider style much like recent Samsung models.

Hopefully, I’ll be proved wrong and there will be more exciting products announced.

I think the fullscreen video iPod and the Apple phone will be one and the same. (If you don’t want the phone functionality you simply don’t activate it.) I also agree with the Beatles predictions.

something to do with TV.

I think the big “One More Thing…” will be the Beatles on iTunes. As long as Steve’s been trying to nail this one, he’ll undoubtedly get a big rush of sniggering pleasure from springing this one on us at the last minute.

How about an iPhone with a “think seriously different” interface: three or four “soft keys” and a click wheel with a phone dial (plus * and #) printed on it, along with extensive voice command capability? It will also forgo the crappy optics of cellphone cameras and concentrate on delivering the best audio (in and out) available. You’ll be able to use it for “on location” podcast recording, taking the audio directly into GarageBand.

I just wound up getting a Samsung Sync & like it OK, but Apple will mop the floor with it if they are so inclined.

I’m with you on the 12” MacBook Pro.I’ve also heard mutterings about the Beatles/iTunes marriage. I’m also all for an iPhone that rivals the Blackberry. Just think: iPhoto, iTunes, iMovie, Safari and .Mac mail bundled in something resembling the Blackberry Pearl. Oh gawd! Of course, network will be of your choice.

I think the nano computer idea is a bad one. The 12” laptop form factor seems to be about as small as people want to go, and the blackberry/treo is about as large as people seem to want. I think anything caught in the middle will be a mistake. Newton doesn’t count… Hmm, new Newton… I’d but that. Snap, I just countered my own argument.

Well, there’s always the patent rumors about a Mac Tablet. That’s be my hope. Ah, to hand draw mind maps… : )

We will see an iphone, which i will bet will be called Mac-Moblie, it will have the striped down version of OS X, and integrate seamlessly with your mac. Will work with a windows PC also, but only with iTunes. So if you really want one, you need a mac also.

The laptop line will see integrated GPS, mostly likely just in the pro line.

iTV will be finalized. Called MacTV.

The Real Video iPod will be released.

Movies from FOX studios will be put on iTunes, along with the Beatles (with special limited edition beatles ipod). Might see another studio also

Panther will be talked about, and it will be VISTA 2.0

.Mac will be upgraded, most likely with the help of google, also might be FREE (maybe with some ad support of some type, think gmail like)

Something to do with the gaming world will be hinted at, but not talked about directly.

As you can see, this will be huge. Here is why

the Mac-Moblie will be so good, everyone with a mac will want one (millions of people).

The MacTV will be good enough that most people with a mac will want one (millions more)

Panther is pretty amazing upgrade, pretty much everyone with a mac will want it (millions more)

new iPod will be just as popular as the old one. (even more money, since everyone is a brand new shiny ipod will want to upgrade right away)

Lots more content on iTunes.

This really should be one hell of a year for Apple. I think it will be mostly focused on consumer goods like the Mac-Mobile, iPod, and MacTV. 2008 will be the serious upgrade year for the computer line up.

Hi Cameron, FYI, Panther was 10.3, Tiger (the current OS) is 10.4, and the next one out is going to be Leopard.

But your predictions made me excited!

Given that I will be placing an order Tuesday for a new notebook to replace my four-and-half year-old PowerBook (complete with a recently acquired line of stuck pixels), I’m rooting for an ultraportable. Unfortunately, the cellphone/computer hybrid is looking more and more plausible. iPhone rumors have been flying for years now, but the recent rumor of an ultraportable combined with the hybrid rumors seems to suggest that maybe that will be tomorrow’s stunner. But as cool and potentially revolutionary as the theoretical MacBook Nano would be, it doesn’t sound like it would quite fit my needs.

Though honestly what I’d really like to see is something completely unexpected that trumps the rumors. There’s always a little part of me that likes to see the rumormongers proven wrong while still leaving everyone satisfied.

I think it will be the 12” MacBook “Thin”. But I would be happy if they just updated the MacBook with discrete graphics. The MacBook 13” is to low-end for my needs and the Pro is too expensive. If they upgraded the MacBook I might finally make the Windows to Mac migration.

Sheesh. I’d hate to be Jobs: everyone has an expectation that twice a year he’ll have amazing gee-gaws. We’re developing into a cult of novelty (“Must have something new! Me want new toys!”) and consumerism.

That said, I think that Jobs will be handing over the reins (though he might still do future stevenotes). As such, he’ll want this to be a memorable keynote. I’m halfway expecting to see new versions of just about everything (even if it is just memory bumps).

And why all the fuss about a phone? C’mon, even a great phone UI is still a UI for… a phone. And it’s at the mercy of the wireless network (which all suck). It will be the most cursed-at Apple product ever (and that includes the flaming Powerbook 5200). The only cell phone worth using is what you can get for free; only dupes buy cell phones.