It is that time of year where I make MacWorld Expo predictions based entirely on half-baked rumors, knowledge of Apple history, personal bias, and gut feelings. Therefore, here are my MacWorld Expo 2009 predictions.
1. New Mac Mini: Better processors, graphics card, new form factor.
2. New iMacs: Better processors, graphics card, yada yada.
3. 17 inch MacBook Pro: The non-removeable battery rumor makes sense based on other products, most obviously the MacBook Air. Expect a slide with some stats about how little users actually remove their laptop batteries. That said, I still think it’s a bad idea.
4. iLife 09: Addition of some online features.
5. New Apple TV: Apple’s overdue to do something with this product, with added pressure from Netflix and Boxee. There may be some tweaks to the rental window and the addition of new services - Hulu would be a no-brainer. At most ambitious, I could see combining the Mac Mini and Apple TV into one product, but I’ll put that prediction as unlikely.
6. Snow Leopard: More details and demos of this OS with a big emphasis on speed.
Unlikely But Possible Announcements At MacWorld Expo 2009
MacBook Mini
I’ll go out on a limb with this one: An Apple “netbook” priced below $1000. It will parallel the Mac Mini in the portable line. I expect to be wrong about this - I only mention it because I want one.
The Apple TV / Mac Mini / Time Capsule is combined into one product
One product with several uses depending on the user’s needs.
Steve Jobs makes an appearance
Even if it’s via a prerecorded message, I think something must be said to address the rampant health concerns. Also, because the present assumption is that he won’t attend, even a few seconds to say hello would be a welcome surprise.
Steve Gave Schiller “One More Thing”
Schiller makes a surprise announcement of a new, incredible product. It would show that Jobs doesn’t have to give a keynote to introduce a new product, and take advantage of lowered expectations. Candidates for this incredible product would be the aforementioned MacBook Mini or the big iPod Touch (iPad). If a new product is announced, Jobs’ pulling out of MacWorld will look like a genius strategic move.
So these are my predictions. I do think it’s worth mentioning what I do not think will be announced:
* No iPhone Nano.
* No Pink iPhone.
* No Apple Home Entertainment Server.
* No iPhone Pro.
* No big iPod Touch (iPad).
* No Garage Band music lessons.
* No Beatles on iTunes.
* No 32 GB iPhone.
I look forward to being completely wrong about my MacWorld Expo 2009 predictions.
Reprinted from Webomatica.
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