< Blog Home

My Macworld 2008 Predictions

Everyone's doing it so I thought I would jump on the bandwagon. We just got some new Mac Pros and some new Xserves so I don't think there will be any further announcements in these departments.

What I think will be announced:
* Steve is sure to show off some features of the new iPhone SDK due in February but these will most likely be non-technical, with more technical info saved for WWDC.
* New MacBook Pros. It's been a long time since the last update and Intel just released some new mobile chips.
* iTunes movie rentals and iTunes 7.6. Based on this article.
* 16 GB iPhone plus the new firmware that was previously leaked.

What I hope will be announced:
* An update to the disappointing Apple TV that will allow you to purchase songs, music and maybe even video from the iTunes store, directly from your couch. It may even combine the Mac Mini (also disappointing sales-wise) and Apple TV into one media center unit.
* New cinema displays with glass displays like the new iMac. Not sure about built-in iSight.

What I don't think will be announced:
* I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that I don't think there will be an ultraportable or a PDA. A lot of people think there will be one, but I don't. I think it would be too much of a blur between the MacBook and the iPhone / iPod Touch. Remember that with the SDK, the iPhone and Touch will essentially be PDAs so it is unlikely that there will be a separate PDA unless they can make it vastly different.

I'm writing this post on a MacBook and I can say that they can't make this thing much smaller without taking away some of the keys on the keyboard. The only way to make it really portable would be to make it a touchscreen but you would have to hold a massive screen in your hands the whole time (unless they make a stand) but then it would practically be an iPod Touch in all but size anyway. Also, flash-based storage is still very small.

* No 3G iPhone. Steve has said that 3G battery life is poor, and 3G coverage in the USA is relatively sparse.

Find out how wrong I was on January 15th at 9am.