In case you missed it, Apple has already put up a banner in the Moscone Center in San Francisco that says “2008: There is something in the air.” Typically Apple puts up those signs in private, keeping large black cloths over the signs until Steve is done with his keynote speech.
Now for some reason we have these photos from Ars Technica a full 3 days before the event. Is this a rare mistake, or an intentional leak to drum up publicity – like I’m doing now – from the blogosphere? In any event, what do you think it means? Here is my suggestion to get the chat going:
Wireless monitors & computers: We’re due for a refresh of the Cinema displays. Couple that with a computer device that has a small LCD panel when traveling but that can hook up with larger wireless Cinema displays (or any HDMI equipped TV) and you’ve got a revolution in the making. (Steve’s note: I’ve long wondered why computer makers insist on cramming an entire computer, monitor and keyboard into a laptop…it’s like cramming a hot water heater into every sink. All you need is a fast, multitasking computer at home and a bunch of wireless monitors/tablets to access it.)
Other thoughts?
Apple finally solved the cable clutter problem, power over BlueTooth!
Seriously, I am sorry that I didn’t plan on attending this year. I have family in the East Bay and they live two blocks from the BART station, free lodging in exchange for a dinner or two.
I think this will have more to do with AppleTV and movie rentals. Wireless monitors would be cool but wouldn’t they be incompatible with every existing Mac? You’d have to find a way to stream the audio and video using an exiting built in technology like Airport. I’m just not sure that would work.
I’d love to see complete wireless syncing for the iPhone. My biggest disappointment is having to cable sync my iCal between the phone and MBP. Let’s hope Apple has put some real $$$ into .Mac sync services and that would be huge.
The consensus seems to be that the line refers to the new ultra-slim portable, dubbed the “MacBook Air.” Of course, (a) that could be wrong, and (b) Apple could still be debuting new wireless technology, such as wireless USB, or more integrated wireless networking between devices.
Apple has often had banners in the hall before Expo starts and then reveals others during the Keynote. This banner is not unusual in that regard.
The next thing Apple will probably do is release a sub-notebook – most likely in the form of an iBook. It will most likely be solid state and have a horribly low capacity. But its touch screen, combined with battery life advantages, and portability will make it an attractive product. A new interface should be in store – since a large percentage of users prefer games on their mobile devices – and those of us with iPods know that the touch wheel is awkward and frustrating for games.
Eventually, I think that Apple will release iWork for the iPhone. For the business market they need to eliminate the IBM domino dinosaur by combining “mail” & “address book” & “iCal” together & be compatible with a web-based mail system. (big business will want to host this themselves)
and/or they might just release the new “macintosh” which if I were to predict the specs would be a consumer level Quad Core Pentium @ ~2.8 ghz, 1 gb ram (prob expands to 8), and a 250GB HD, with either an Nvidia or ATI chipset (I hope its a card).
Apple has been missing this market segment for a while and HP has been lapping it up. My last computer purchase was *almost* an HP.