Projecting Apple's future beyond MWSF
updated 10:30 am EST, Tue December 5, 2006
Projecting Apple's future
Industry watchers are likely to shift their focus to potential new product announcements at Macworld during the final stretch of the busy holiday shopping season. Senior analyst Gene Munster of research firm Piper Jaffray believes these new announcements could include Apple's pre-announced iTV, a new iPod, and the iPhone. "With growing expectations for new and upgraded products at the Macworld Expo on January 9th 2007, there is an upward bias to our valuation," Munster said. "The iTV and iPhone represent significant additional potential drivers to Apple's growth engine in 1H07. And these new offerings could be strengthened by the release of a widescreen iPod at Macworld." Apple is entering the music-enabled mobile phone market at the correct time as well, according to the analyst, by waiting for early music-enabled handsets to test the waters. "Apple will differentiate itself by offering iTunes integration on Macs and PCs, and by leveraging its expertise in software engineering for media playing devices," the analyst said.
Addressing rumors surrounding the forthcoming Macworld Conference & Expo (MWSF) in San Francisco, Munster ranks each rumor on a scale from 1 to 10. A 10 signifies near certainty, while 1 alludes to a very unlikely possibility. Launches of the iTV and iPhone are almost certain for Macworld 2007, according to the analyst, with likely possibilities for the next 6-12 months including the launch of an iPhone with a candy bar form-factor, a widescreen iPod with touch-sensitivity as well as wireless features, a second smartphone iPhone model with an integrated keyboard, and multiple carriers as iPhone providers.
Less likely rumors include an ultra-portable 12-inch MacBook Pro, a radio-transparent material used for the iPhone casing, an iPhone that will feature 'iChat Mobile' video as well as instant messaging, and the release of Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard at Macworld in January.
Macworld Announcements
12/05, 11:58am reply
Every year people forget that Jobs has just 2 hours to his keynote. With the normal topics it normally leaves time for a hardware update and a single new product announcement. Every year the speculation includes too many new products for the time allotted. I would expect that the "iTV" will wait for a later date as Jobs has already gained from his prerelease announcement.
reboylin
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Joined: Aug 2005
iTV
12/05, 12:28pm reply
If Apple has figured out how to reliably stream real HD over the iTV (something Jobs avoided saying before) then I hope the release that. My checkbook is waiting.
-Christopher
christophersj
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Joined: Jan 2003
There's no way...
12/05, 12:32pm reply
That the Keynote can live up to the insane expectations that are out there. Unless they came out with an iPod that could make you fly...
danaherd
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Joined: Dec 2004
Other Apple Tech
12/05, 01:21pm reply
I have heard they will introduce the first fusion powered MacBook Pro (though it will run a little hotter than current models), with iTeleport feature built-in (using the iSight Teleport camera, keep the fly's out of the room). 10.5 pre-installed that includes a new iAlmighty search feature that will answer any question you can ask. I personally have upgraded the stock to "BUY" with a price target of $105,009.57 a share.
ClevelandAdv
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Joined: Jul 2004
re: there's no way...
12/05, 02:06pm reply
There's gonna be a fliPod???!?!? OMG!!!
But I'll buy only if it supports Ogg
topless
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Joined: Mar 2003
re: there's no way
12/06, 12:00am reply
Forget Ogg! It bettter have a freakin' AM/FM tuner, or its not worth any price (although knowing Apple, they'll probably charge a premium for the fliPod, something ridiculous like $499 or something - and watch, the screen will probably scratch from the dust in the air while you're flying in the thing. And MacNN posters will be pointing out that its your fault, not Apple's, as you're an idiot for not putting a screen protector on the thing!)
LouZer
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Joined: Nov 2000