Macworld Expo 2009 Starts Today (But Where in the Hell is Steve Jobs?)

Although I'm a PC- yes, that means that I'm a Windows person (and, by the way, Vista works just fine with me, thank you very much!), I'm still interested in the Mac- after all, I almost got another one. Which explains why I'm interested in this year's Macworld Expo at Moscone Center. I could ask the usual question, "What will Apple release this time?" But over the past year, the folks from Cupertino has revamped the iPod and MacBook lines- the lower end MacBooks now feature NVIDIA graphic processors, with the hard drive options including the solid state drives (the serial ATA drives are still standard equipment). According to Wired.com, the probability of Apple releasing a new incarnation of the lowest end desktop, the Mac mini, is pretty high, as is the possibility of the newest version of the all-in-one desktop iMac. The 17-inch MacBook Pro could get a new Intel processor. (to read the entire article, click here to http://www.blog.wired.com/gadgets/2009/01/rumor-roundup-w.html ).

So, with that pearl of wisdom out of the way, there is one glaring omission at this year's event: one Steven Paul Jobs. For years, the Apple founder and CEO has been a ubiquitous presence at the Expos, releasing new products and version of Apple hardware.
euereka279/YouTube/Macworld Expo

But this year, Jobs won't be at this event, and there is speculation as to why. Is it because of the hormonal imbalance he has? Or is it something worse- as in his pancreatic cancer returning? Jobs says that he'll stay on as Apple CEO, so the news seem encouraging about his health.

Phil Schiller of Apple will deliver this year's keynote address.

Jobs won't be the only person- or thing- missing from Macworld. Next year, Apple itself will be missing from the Macworld Expo. How will that bode with the Mac and Apple faithful? We can only wait and see. But Apple says that they could do a better job marketing Apple products by just going to the customer. Small companies, with the absence of Apple in 2010, may be better able to feature their products.

(C) 2009 by Darren W. Alexander. All Rights Reserved.

Thus Far, Nothing to Ride Home about...AND THEN...

Right now, I'm looking at live coverage of the 2008 Macworld Expo & Conference.

So far, I'm seeing a MIGHTY THUD.

Apple has, so far, released a wireless device called Time Capsule, which is useful with the notebooks. The 500 GB model will run for $299, the 1TB for $499. It ships next month.

Now whether this is worth shelling out $300-500, this remains to be seen.

All new iPhones and iPod touch models will have a Maps feature, and support lyrics from songs being played. Existing iPhone and iPod touch users will have to shell out $20 to upgrade.

iTunes Movie Rental allows users to rent a movie 30 days after they're released on DVD or Blu-Ray. Library titles will go for $2.99, new titles for $3.99.

NOW I'M EXCITED!
The rumors are true!
Apple releases a subnotebook called the MacBook air. According to Jobs, it's about as half as thin as a Sony ultraportable model- 0.76" at its' thickest, 0.16 at its' thinnest!

One ships with a 1.8", 80GB hard drive, and the keyboard is backlit. The display is the same as the MacBook, 13.3", runs on a 1.6Ghz or 1.8 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo processor. It weighs only 3 pounds, has Bluetooth 2.1 and EDR built-in.It has no optical drive, but Apple has designed a $99 model.

The MacBook Air will begin at $1799, and will ship in two weeks.

And there's that annoying 'One More Thing!' bit: Randy Newman playing music as he watches CNBC.

So that's the long and short of things.

The MacBook Air looks pretty useful- for basic tasks. At least it does have a MagSafe adapter cord, but Apple says that it's meant to be wireless. So, it may be worth the $1898- Optical drive included (though I can easily get an external optical drive, or connect it to another Mac).

Otherwise, I'll just spend the $1500 for a MacBook, or $2000 for the lowest end MacBook Pro.


Copyright (C)2008 by The DWA Organisation. All Rights Reserved.

What Will Apple Release This Time?

It's that time again when Apple CEO Steve Jobs takes to the stage at San Francisco's Moscone center for the annual Macworld Expo and Conference keynote address. It is here that Jobs reveals what new products Apple will release, and the state of the Macintosh operating system.

For me, making these predictions is fun, as I'm always anticipating what the folks down in Cupertino will pull from their sleeves.

But also, it gives me an opportunity to make out my wish list to Apple. Yes, I'm beginning to sound like a broken record in this regard, but I have the hope that Steve and company will eventually hear my cries. Eventually. So, here goes on the wish list:

1. Lower the Prices, Steve!: No doubt Apple wants to make a profit- after all, Steve and the kids have to eat and dress, too (though the jeans and black turtleneck bit, Stevie...a bit long in the tooth...). But if Apple wants a larger share of the computer market- and likely larger profits- it has to lower the prices on their more popular products, like the MacBook and the iMac. To be frank, I'd love to see the price on the professional video editing suite Final Cut Studio 2 slashed by at least $300. If Sony can sell Vegas Pro 8 for $600, Then Apple can do this for under $1000- $900, or even $1000 is good.
2. Make the keyboard and mouse standard in the Mac mini: The BYOKM (bring your own keyboard and mouse) bit's okay. But some of us Mac-heads are on budgets. It won't cost much- if anything- to include the keyboard and mouse to the budget Mac desktop.
3. Apple and NBC- Can't we all get along?: Apple and NBC need to kiss and make up. Again, I know you CEOs and top management have to eat, too, but we don't need to lose body parts just to download our favorite programs. $1.99 is, well, okay. But if the prices drop to, say, $1.29, or even 99 cents per download, more people will flock to those sites. The more people, the more money. The more money made...see where this conversation's going? And while I'm on the price slashing bit (again), perhaps Apple could now drop the song downloading price down to 49 cents, or even 25 cents per download. That's not too much to ask. Again, the lower the price, the more people...
4. I know that this is wishful thing, but I'd love to see Apple start placing Intel Inside stickers on their computers. Don't be ashamed to flaunt it, baby!

That's just some of the things I'd love to see from Apple. Now, let's touch base on predictions.

For years now, every seer-wannabe (yours truly included) makes predictions on what Apple will release at Macworld. Not every prediction is right (hell, I should know!), but on some, we're right on the money. So here's what I think Apple will give us today:

1. A Tablet Mac: Sorry, Apple, but a company called Axiotron (http://axiotron.com/ ) was first out of the gate with the world's first tablet Mac. But Apple will likely release its' own- that is if it doesn't buy the Axiotron company first just to get Axiotron's ModBook.
2. The iPhone will get third party software- and even allow AT&T users to switch to other carriers: I know that this is possibly the worst kept secret, but come February, Apple will allow third parties to add software and widgets to the iPhone. After all, Apple will do the same for a newly upgraded iPod touch, speaking of which...
3. Updated versions of the MacBook and MacBook Pro: Those two speedsters have been getting faster and stronger at each turn. Apple will continue to place faster Intel Core 2 Duo chips inside, and the top-of the-line MacBook Pro may even be the first to get the Core 2 Quad chips. We may even see a redesign of sorts.
4. Perhaps Steve will announce the next generation of the Mac OS- perhaps even the name...or even Mac OS 11. Interesting.

I'll be back later today to talk about the releases. Until then, enjoy the keynote address- which is at 9 this morning (Pacific time, 12 Eastern).

(C)2008 by The DWA Organisation (Darren W. Alexander). All Rights Reserved.