MWSF Rumors

January 9, 2005, 8:23pm
Paul Boutin of BusinessWeek says that persistent rumors are based on what people want and on the products that can be built on the existing technology. He also says that rumors in a way will help Apple decide what product to release next since longstanding rumors would seem to mirror the demand for that type of product.

Another article from BusinessWeek goes into how the transition to Intel is going for Mac software developers. Arik Hessendahl writes that the Mac Transition To Intel 2005 is almost the same as the Transition of OS 9 to OS X of 2001, the Move to System 7 in 1991, and the Change to IBM From Motorola Chipset on 1994. According to most developers, the transition to Intel is easier than expected. Still from BusinessWeek, Peter Burrows confidently claims that Apple will perform well in 2006 but asks does Apple still have more tricks up its sleeves? Enough to satisfy the investors that are expecting more miracles from the company in 2006. And 2006 will not be without its challenges especially from the competitors that are willing to take huge chunks out of the iPod and iTune Music Store market.

And with just one more day to go, Mac fans are all revved up and non-Mac users just can't understand this phenomena. Tom Bridge explains the mystique Macworld San Francisco has on folks like me. Aside from the conferences and the booths in MWSF, the people are there to hear the words of the High Priest of Apple, Steve Jobs. Tom Bridge and I will be among the millions he can't go to MWSF, but instead we will be refreshing the pages of Mac related sites as they frantically try to type every word Steve utters during the keynote to try to let those of us not present feel like we're there experiencing 2006 unfold.

January 8, 2005, 4:37am
Just two days to go before Macworld San Francisco 2006 and the rumors are hot. MacRumors presents a roundup of what might be forthcoming from Apple on January 10. Among these are: Intel Macs, new iPods, and iLife '06. But iLife '06 is not considered a rumor. A snapshot of an iLife support page shows the ability to record podcasts in GarageBand. Also this online slip shows in the lower right corner, a box shows the word "iWeb." IWork '06 might feature a new addition, a spreadsheet application named "Numbers."

The keynote presentation by Steve Jobs is the most awaited event in Macworld. Mike Evangelist, who used to work in Apple, reveals that the seemingly nonchanlant way Jobs speaks and moves during his keynote are prepared and rehearsed extensively. Very interesting read from Guardian Unlimited for a behind the scenes look on what goes into every Steve Jobs keynote at Macworld.

Many try to copy Jobs's flair and finesse on stage but they more often than not look foolish than cool. This week CES is in the spotlight and on the opening night, Gates and his team were on the limelight. But according to one executive, Gates tried to out-Job Jobs but didn't succeed. The same with Sony's boss who flipflopped on the question about what people can expect Sony's response will be to the dominance of the iPod. Yahoo's demo also didn't go very well. The introduction of their new service, Yahoo Go TV, was marred by poor internet connection and poorer OS performance. Even Tom Cruise couldn't save this impossible mission.

David Pogue calls the demoed Vista features as "pure, unadulterated ripoffs from Mac OS X." A spoof of Gates's demo is available online. Introducing the Real Windows Vista takes a real look what the Vista really wants to be. The second episode hilariously refers to David Pogue's article about the Vista demo.

Even if Apple is conspiciously absent from CES, their presence is felt. From companies selling iPod and Mac accessories to cmpanies that are trying to pull the company off its pedestal.

To this day back in 1998: Steve Jobs says, "Oh, yeah, we're profitable."

December 31, 2005, 11:05am
For all you Mac fans out there, you just know that its Christmas all over again on January 10.

December 28, 2005, 7:20pm
Quanta and Asustek will continue to make Powerbooks and iBooks for Apple even after the switch to Intel. According to some, Apple has hired Intel to design the new motherboards for the next generation Power Macs. Aside from hardware rumors, some say January 10 will bring out Mac OS 10.4.4 and this release is compiled specifically for Intel chips.

December 25, 2005, 3:23PM
I've decided to consolidate the MacWorld rumors into one post and just update the publishing time.

As if have consolidated the different MSWF rumors, so has World of Apple. They list down the most widely circulated rumors and rated them on the chances of the rumor being true. On the top of the list are the PVR or DVR Mac mini, the Intel-based iBooks (with 13.3" screens), iLife '06 with Front Row, IR remote and Aperture-like app, and iWork '06 with "Numbers" (spreadsheet application). Those that didn't get high ratings are the MacIntel Powerbooks and new iPod shuffle rumors. I personally think there will be new iBooks and Mac minis. Also a lower capacity nano. Powerbooks will come in the middle of the year, perhaps June, with a new look.

December 22, 2005, 7:19PM
Let's have a round up of the rumors for MacWorld San Francisco 2006. This is from CNN Money:

The most popular is the release of the MacIntels. Some say that this is a very good bet since this will coincide with the release of the Yonah

Mac mini upgrade, becoming a digital media device.

New shuffles. For me, they will be gone and be replaced by cheaper nanos.

The new iPod boom box. Oversized iPod with speakers. I don't think so.

More content deals. But of course.

Perhaps MWSF related, PC and consumer electronics companies are teaming up to create a UDI, or Universal Display Interface. The goal is to have just one port that will allow a PC to connect to any HD TV or monitor. This will mean bye-bye to the VGA, DVI and S-Video ports. Perhaps it's time that these people sit down and create one standard port for all devices.

December 13, 2005
Shaw Wu predicts that the first MacIntels will be Mac portables like the Powerbook or iBook, or perhaps lightweight sub-notebooks or palmtops. Wu doesn't think iMacs will get the Intel chip soon because the PowerPC G5 offers the best price-performance. Think Secret thinks that Apple will introduce a 13.3-inch iBook, replacing the 14-inch model. The new iBook is said to have 15 percent more pixels than the 14-inch and will have WXGA resolution of 1280x720.

Aside from the Mac rumors for MWSF, there are also iPod rumors, particulary that Apple will release "iPod companion" products. One such "companion" is an iPod boom box.

December 11, 2005
Just what do people think MWSF 2006 will bring? Apple Matters shares a few of its thoughts on the biggest rumors on the end of 2005:

Intel-based Macs: still the number one rumor for MWSF 2006. You just can shake it off. But it's still up in the air on which Mac will get the Intel chip first.

PVR: Apple might let loose a TiVo-like device rather than a competitor for the Window Media Center. This rumor is said to be a favorite of Think Secret

New shuffle: Some thinks that the shuffle should have a screen and perhaps come in different colors. Definitely a 2GB can't be in the offing since this would step on the 2GB nano.

November 18, 2005
Forget about the MacIntel or MacTel Mac minis on January 2006 at MWSF, think about something smaller and more colourful. At least that's what Apple Insider sees for the shuffle. After reading yesterday about how the shuffle will be discontinued, Kasper Jade now reports that the shuffle just might become smaller and will come in different colours. Smaller? How much smaller? That'll be really hard to hold and control, unless thay can make it stick on your skin or something. Think Secret's sources tell them that if the MacIntels are indeed released on MWSF 2006 it would most likely be consumer-based products like the iBooks and Mac minis, rather that the high-end computers.

So there'll be something smaller and with more colours. Now, what about something cheaper? Think Secret says that the first MacIntel to be sold will be the iBook; a cheaper iBook. How much cheaper? Think Secret says about $200 cheaper. This is to lure new and current users away from Dell, Sony, or Toshiba.

November 13, 2005
You know that 2006 is right around the corner when Apple product rumors start flying around. A JupiterResearch analyst says he won't be surprised if Intel-based Macs will debut as early as January 2006, at Macworld San Francsisco (MWSF). Macrumors says that it'll be iMacs and Powerbooks instead of the Mac minis, as some have speculated, that will be the first to get the new Intel processor.