Tag Archives: Apple

Analyst fondles new Apple tablet

Article, News, Technology, , , , ,

macbooktouch5

Today Barrons is reporting that one lucky analyst has actually seen and handled the hyped and rumored forthcoming Apple tablet device.  From the article…

One veteran analyst who has seen first-hand a prototype slate-style computer from Apple  says the device could be announced in September for release in November.

Whatever the exact dates, the computer industry is so anxious to see what Apple introduces that it has held off on competing designs until Apple CEO Steve Jobs gives the device his final blessing. “It’s close enough now to a final design that in Asia, there’s no other product in the waiting room or in the bullpen,” said the analyst. “There are dozens of ODMs [original device makers] making products for Lenovo and other PC makers that are all waiting to see what the Apple product is.”

The new device, which may retail for $699 to $799, could fulfill a variety of multimedia functions currently taken up by a gaggle of individual consumer electronics devices. It could be a home media center, somewhat like the current Apple TV, and it could be a gaming machine, opines Jon Peddie, head of Jon Peddie Research in Tiburon, Calif. “Gaming will be a big part of what this is about,” he adds.

The machine impresses with its display of hi-def video content, says the veteran analyst, who asked not to be identified. “It’s better than the average movie experience, when you hold this thing in your hands.”

…

A second source confirmed to me that news of the new device “is all over the supply chain in Asia.” The biggest question at this point, and the least understood by anyone outside Apple, is whether the company’s App Store will be the exclusive distribution point for software for this device.

As Steve Jobs says, it’s the software that defines these things.

So, what do we gather from this?  A September announcement, a November release, a $699-$799 price point, media center and gaming capabilities, and computer manufacturers have put production on hold until official specs and other information is released.  More rumors added to the spinning, gigantic rumor mill.  What do you have up your sleeve, Mr. Jobs?  September cannot come any sooner.

[Via 9to5Mac; Barrons]

The Onion: Apple releases the iPhone 3GI

Article, Hilarity, Images, Technology, , ,

Apple Claims Main

“I am proud today to introduce to those who really, truly deserve it, our most incredible iPhone yet,” announced Apple CEO Steve Jobs, extending his seemingly empty left palm toward the eagerly awaiting crowd. “Not only is this our lightest and slimmest model ever, but as any truly savvy Apple customer can clearly see, it’s also the most handsome product we’ve ever designed.” …

“Oh my God, I can’t believe how much faster you can get online with this,” said Delaney, who exited the store holding a cupped hand up to her ear and yelling into her wrist about how wonderful the new phone was. “The reception is so clear, and you can pretty much get a signal no matter where you go.”

The Onion at its finest.  Click here to read the full article.  It’s genius.

[Article and Images via The Onion]

Steve Jobs is alive, here’s proof

Images, ,

Calm down, people.  Steve Jobs, the CEO of Apple, is in fact alive and well.  Prior to January, a gauntly Jobs appeared on stage and his thin appearance invited rumors about his health to spread like wildfire.  At one point his unconfirmed death was reported!  After his death had been greatly exaggerated by the media, Jobs took a leave of absence from Apple to receive a liver transplant in January 2009.  According to Jobs himself he has recovered from the ordeal and is back to work at Apple.  This photo was taken by TMZ today at 3:00PM when Jobs was spotted leaving Apple HQ in Cupertino, California.  And yes, this photo was taken with an iPhone.

[Via TMZ]

Apple tablet rumors, and “Project Cocktail” (music-related)

Music, News, Technology, , , , , , ,

macbooktouch5

The Financial Times has joined the gang of rumors pointing to an Apple tablet device coming out in the near future.  The FT is adding credibility to these rumors with the following information: the screen size  “may be up to 10 inches diagonally;” it will run the iPhone OS; it will connect to the Interner via WiFi; it will have a book marketplace (think Amazon’s Kindle service).  Here are some direct quotes taken from the article: “[The] tablet-sized computer [will ship] in time for the Christmas shopping season, in what the entertainment industry hopes will be a new revolution.”  “[The] touch-sensitive device… will have a screen that may be up to ten inches diagonally,” and while it will “connect to the internet like the iPod touch, it’ll probably [do so] without phone capabilities.”  Apple is known is release updated iPods and Mac desktop/laptop revisions in September, after the back-to-school season.  This tablet device could very well slip into the launch window between this time and the holiday season.  According to the FT, Apple is apparently rushing to complete this device and have it on store shelves by Christmas.

In other Apple-related news, Apple has decided to join forces with major music label companies (namely EMI, Sony Music, Warner Music and Universal Music Group) to come up with a plan to make consumers want to buy entire albums rather than single tracks when shopping at the iTunes Music Store.  In order to stimulate consumers to go beyond the single track and dive into the entire album of a particular artist, Apple and said music labels will soon include “interactive booklets, sleeve notes and other interactive features with music downloads.”  Up to this point, users have only received PDF files with their album downloads that includes only album liner notes.  According to an insider, “…it’s not just a bunch of PDFs; there’s real engagement with the ancillary stuff.”  Executives commented on this new initiative code-named “Project Cocktail:” Apple wants to make bigger purchases more compelling by creating a new type of interactive album material, including photos, lyric sheets and liner notes that allow users to click through to items that they find most interesting. Consumers would be able to play songs directly from the interactive book without clicking back into Apple’s iTunes software.  Would you be enticed to pay for entire albums instead of single tracks if these kinds of additions were tagged with your purchase of the album?  Both the Apple tablet device and Project Cocktail are rumored to be released side-by-side as soon as this September.  Let’s cross our fingers and hope these rumors come to fruition; sounds like really cool stuff is on the way.

[Via Mashable; Gizmodo; Engadget; mock-up by Edwin Tofslie]

Camera, microphone coming to iPod touches (or is it iPods touch?)

News, Technology, , , ,

Hot on the heels of Apple’s third quarter conference call comes yet another rumor concerning the third-gen iPod touch.  According to Wired, “a well-connected source tells us…that Apple’s factories in China are already manufacturing iPod Touch models with integrated cameras and microphones.”  The source adds that these new models will be available to purchase “in two to three months.”  That timeframe falls right after the back-to-school sales season when Apple usually drops its updates to its iPod and Mac desktop/laptop product lines.  If these rumors are indeed true, the iPod touch will evolve even more into an iPhone clone device.  In fact, with built-in Wi-Fi and a microphone, users will simply have to download an app like Skype to make phone calls.  Also, suggested by Wired commentors, “one could combine a microphone-equipped iPod Touch with the Verizon MiFi personal hotspot creator to enable the iPhone experience on Verizon’s network!  I can definitely see this heavily supported iPod rumor coming true.  Only time will tell.

[Via Wired]

Apple: What recession?

News, Technology, , , , , , , , ,

Today Apple held their fiscal 2009 thrid quarter conference call with investers and analysts.  Apparently Apple had the “best non-holiday quarter [in terms of] revenue and earnings.”  From their official press release:

The Company posted revenue of $8.34 billion and a net quarterly profit of $1.23 billion, or $1.35 per diluted share. These results compare to revenue of $7.46 billion and net quarterly profit of $1.07 billion, or $1.19 per diluted share, in the year-ago quarter. Gross margin was 36.3 percent, up from 34.8 percent in the year-ago quarter. International sales accounted for 44 percent of the quarter’s revenue.

Apple admitted that “we expect traditional MP3 players (read: iPod classic, nano, and shuffle) to decline over time as we cannibalize ourselves.”  Basically, Apple points out here that all iPod models (except for the touch) are “walking dinosaurs.”  Apple sees the iPod touch and iPhone continuing to dominate the market well into next year, while the traditional iPods will continue to decline in sales.  More from the offiicial press release:

The Company sold 10.2 million iPods during the quarter, representing a seven percent unit decline from the year-ago quarter. Quarterly iPhones sold were 5.2 million, representing 626 percent unit growth over the year-ago quarter.

If you’re wondering about Mac sales: Apple sold 2.6 million Macintosh computers during the quarter, representing a four percent unit increase over the year-ago quarter.

Other notable mentions include…Apple on its relationship with AT&T: “I think it’s an excellent relationship and we’re very happy with it.” …Apple on the netbook rumors: “At this point we don’t see a way to build a great product for this $399, $499…for this kind of pricepoint unit. Some customers, maybe many customers buying these become disappointed and disenchanted buying these.”  …Apple on the recent tablet rumors: “…without discounting anything for the future, I think most customers buying a portable want a full-featured notebook.”  And “many people won’t be happy” with the crappy experience of a netbook, so Apple is “only going to play in something that’s very innovative that we’re very proud of.”

The title of the official press release summarizes it best: Apple Reports Third Quarter Results – Best Non-Holiday Quarter Revenue and Earnings in Apple History.  Way to go, Apple!

[Via Apple; Engadget; quotes from Gizmodo]

Apple tablet/netbook rumors back in full force

News, Technology, , ,

The whispers of a Apple tablet/netbook device began in March.  The rumors of such a device have been newly rejuvenated today by China Times:

“Taiwan’s high-tech supply chain companies said Apple will debut its first netbook in October; Apple will pose itself to tackle the Christmas shopping season. Three corporations – Foxconn, Wintek, Dynapack have received direct orders from Apple…Because Apple will adopt touch screen technology on its netbooks, Apple will not target low-end consumers, avoiding direct competition with Acer, Asus, as well as their less-than-500-dollars netbooks. Apple’s netbook (or a “tablet” as many call it,) will probably be sold at around $800 USD each.”

The device will purportedly have a 9.7 inch screen.  Anaylists and comsumers alike beleive the aforementioned Apple device will either be an over-sized iPod touch/iPhone-type product running the mobile version of Mac OS X or an entirely new hardware that resembles current netbook-like mini laptops and/or a tablet ‘slate’ device.  Whatever the case may be, I am glad to see the rumor mill turning as well slowly but surely reach the end of the summer and enter Q4, the time when Apple annually updates its iPod and Mac product line.

*Note: The image above is a mockup (read: not real).

[Via Gizmodo; Engadget]

Facebook 3.0 for iPhone OS 3.0

Images, Technology, , , , ,

Facebook’s next big update for the iPhone looks to be just that–a massive UI overhaul that appears to make viewing and managing your account a much simpler and user-friendly task.  Facebook has officially announced the following 15 new features in 3.0:

1. The “new” News Feed
2. Like
3. Events (including the ability to RSVP)
4. Notes
5. Pages
6. Create new photo albums
7. Upload photos to any album
8. Zoom into photos
9. Easier photo tagging
10. Profile Pictures albums
11. A new home screen for easy access to all your stuff, search, and notifications
12. Add your favorite profiles and pages to the home screen
13. Better Notifications (they link to the comments so you can reply)
14. Quickly call or text people right from the Friends page
15. Messages you are typing will be restored if you quit or are interrupted by a phone call

According to Facebook, the new app is about “98% done.”  They also noted that push notifications will be included in future version 3.1 which will come out this summer to the App Store.

[Via InsideFacebook]