Highlight of Apple's Sept. 9 event predicted to be Steve Jobs

[AppleInsider]

With so many seemingly concrete rumors tied to Apple's Sept. 9 event, one Wall Street analyst doesn't expect any big surprises from the iPod maker, except the appearance of the company's co-founder.

In a note to investors Tuesday, Piper Jaffray Senior Research Analyst Gene Munster speculates that Steve Jobs will take the stage at Apple's iPod event next week and announce a new lineup with built-in cameras. Rumors of camera-equipped iPods have persisted for months, with leaked photos of numerous third-party cases suggesting the speculation will prove accurate.

However, given that the new iPods are part of an ever shrinking segment of Apple's lineup, Munster believes that investors on Wall Street will not be wowed by Apple's announcements, Jobs or no Jobs.

"We believe investors will view the new products as a non-event, as iPod growth slows and the segment becomes less of an investable theme," Munster said. "However, we also believe Steve Jobs will be present at the event, a first since his health-related leave of absence, which would likely be a slight positive for shares of AAPL and the first public confirmation of Jobs' health since his return to the company."

Munster also reiterates that he does not believe Apple's long-rumored tablet will make an appearance on Sept. 9. AppleInsider's own sources have insisted the 10-inch, touchscreen device will make its debut in early 2010.

"While we continue to believe that Apple is currently developing a new operating system and enclosure for a tablet," Munster said, "we do not believe it is ready to go to market yet. Apple will likely release the tablet in early (calendar year) 2010."

In a separate note published Monday, Munster also predicted that Apple will eventually announce a new Apple TV tied to an iTunes subscription model. Given the negotiations that must take place in order to allow customers to subscribe to TV shows, he does not expect that product to debut at the Sept. 9 event.

However, he does believe that the company will debut a new version of iTunes with social networking features, as well as changes to the iTunes Store. He speculates that new offerings could include more options on more devices for TV and movie viewers, and "new music features with richer album artwork." Last month, rumors of an iTunes 9 upgrade began to circle, with reports suggesting the music player could integrate with Web sites such as Facebook and Last.fm.

[success]

you mean it's not me being the first poster?

[SGSStateStudent]

Originally Posted by success

you mean it's not me being the first poster?

Congratulations then.. Anyway, I'm betting that the tablet will not be a giant iPod Touch but more of something we have never seen / expected.. just like the launch of the 1st iPhone..

[akf2000]

Hopefully iTunes 9 is 64bit.

[Banalltv]

"While we continue to believe that Apple is currently developing a new operating system and enclosure for a tablet,..."

Does that mean a third version of OSX? Desktop Lite or iPhone Beefy?

Maybe a version of OSX mobile where you can install desktop Apps like Pshop either through wi-fi remote install or the charging cable and not be limited to what's in the App Store?



iPhone Beefy, they should call it that, or the iBeefy. Not the iHunk or iChunk. Where's the Beefy?

[psychodoughboy]

Hopefully iTunes 9 will be able to pull contact info from Facebook/Gmail/et cetera the same way the Palm Pre can.

[Roc Ingersol]

While iPods themselves are far less interesting, the Touch, apps and iTunes in general have never been more interesting.

[Takeo]

I wonder if Steve is training for the event by eating steak for breakfast everyday and a pint of Ben & Jerry's for dessert. Seriously though... I hope he's doing well and looking better. If this is true... it'll be great to see him back where he belongs. Even if the announcements are not so exciting.

[Ronbo]

Originally Posted by akf2000

Hopefully iTunes 9 is 64bit.

Actually, Gene Munster predicted it'll be 65.

[sticknick]

Originally Posted by akf2000

Hopefully iTunes 9 is 64bit.

This +1000.

I don't care about Blu-Ray, or Facebook, or a subscription pricing model.

I would simply like to look in my Activity Monitor and see iTunes - Intel (64 bit)

[Ronbo]

Originally Posted by Takeo

... it'll be great to see him back where he belongs. Even if the announcements are not so exciting.

I certainly agree with you that on stage is where Jobs belongs.

But it seems very unlikely that Jobs would squander first appearance with a boring announcement. My suspicion is that if it's boring, he'll just be present, not center stage.

Though it might just as easily be the case that he takes the stage just because he feels like it. That's usually the reason he does something like this, right?

[thanx_al]

Wouldn't it be superb if Apple's tablet came out just before, oh, I don't know, Windoze Se7en?

The buzz would be on the Macbook Touch and effectively stymie a great deal of the Windoze hype.

[Carmissimo]

If it was somewhat expected that the tablet would debut on Sept. 9 it would kind of blunt the wow factor for Jobs' return to the spotlight. As such, the fact that it doesn't appear anything of significance is going to be announced hardly rules out that happening.

Seems to me that the next evolutionary step in the iPod's development is a Touch with a larger screen. Looking at how Apple has evolved the Touch, it is very possible that the plan is to add a new version to the iPod family sporting a larger screen, checking in at a higher price point. An iPod Touch based around a 5" to 7" screen could certainly be ready for Sept. 9 and could serve as Jobs' one-more-thing. Really, if such a device were to be unveiled, why bother calling it a tablet. It would simply be a Touch only more enjoyable to use as a portable gaming unit, a movie viewer, a browser.

Price it roughly $100 north of the current top-of-the-line iPod and you couldn't build them fast enough. More importantly from a marketing perspective, it would serve to give Jobs' return that extra something that would enhance his image.

Is there a single down side to doing this for Apple? Isn't it rather logical and obvious yet not what is being reported in the works. As such, there is a high probability of it happening. I have no inside info but if this makes so much sense, what are the chances that Jobs and his capable staff have not considered it. I for one would buy this thing sooner than later. That's the bottom line.

[Walney]

...or maybe it's the eventual appearance of The Beatles back catalogue. Suprisingly enough, they all get released on September 9th too. (http://www.thebeatles.com)

[DJinTX]

Originally Posted by Carmissimo

Seems to me that the next evolutionary step in the iPod's development is a Touch with a larger screen. Looking at how Apple has evolved the Touch, it is very possible that the plan is to add a new version to the iPod family sporting a larger screen, checking in at a higher price point. An iPod Touch based around a 5" to 7" screen could certainly be ready for Sept. 9 and could serve as Jobs' one-more-thing.

I think it would be more difficult than you describe. You mention that a large iPod with multi touch and apps, and A/V abiltities, but the one thing that would be difficult is Apps. On a larger screen they would have to do something to either (a) have them fit a larger screen, so basically increasing the size., or (b) keep the app windows the same size, but then have a way to navigate and switch between them. And since currently it is one app at a time, then this doesn;t really fit in as a large iPod touch anymore. If they just make the app windows bigger, then this might look a little weird (fisher price)?

You are correct though, Jobs and Co. have considered tablets, media players, and everything else under the sun, and I have faith they will come to market with the right product. We just have to be patient and let them do it right. Rushed products = failure.

[GQB]

Originally Posted by Takeo

I wonder if Steve is training for the event by eating steak for breakfast everyday and a pint of Ben & Jerry's for dessert. Seriously though... I hope he's doing well and looking better. If this is true... it'll be great to see him back where he belongs. Even if the announcements are not so exciting.

I'd love to have him push some buttons by coming out in a movie 'fat suit'.

[GQB]

Originally Posted by sticknick

This +1000.

I don't care about Blu-Ray, or Facebook, or a subscription pricing model.

I would simply like to look in my Activity Monitor and see iTunes - Intel (64 bit)

I admire your humble pleasures.

[GQB]

Originally Posted by Carmissimo

... why bother calling it a tablet. It would simply be a Touch only more enjoyable to use as a portable gaming unit, a movie viewer, a browser.

How about the 'touch Venti', or does Starbucks own that?
'touch Grande' then.

[charlituna]

Originally Posted by Takeo

I wonder if Steve is training for the event by eating steak for breakfast everyday and a pint of Ben & Jerry's for dessert.

yeah so after cancer and a new liver he can die of a heart attack. hate to say it folks but get used to the fact that he's going to look like crap for the rest of his life. not skin and bones but he's certainly not going to be some beefy slub with a beer belly. or even look like he could run a 5k.

as for him appearing. I don't think it will happen the way folks think. He might come on the stage and say hello and then pass the announcements over to Phil and the gang. or he might be a 'one more thing' pop in at the end. but the days of Steve doing the keynote as the only guy on stage or even the guy 90% on stage are over. Consider that he was back on campus for WWDC and nada as a big clue (and that was a bigger deal than this little press announcement)

[elroth]

Originally Posted by charlituna

as for him appearing. I don't think it will happen the way folks think. He might come on the stage and say hello and then pass the announcements over to Phil and the gang. or he might be a 'one more thing' pop in at the end. but the days of Steve doing the keynote as the only guy on stage or even the guy 90% on stage are over. Consider that he was back on campus for WWDC and nada as a big clue (and that was a bigger deal than this little press announcement)

He's going to be the guest musician (with Paul McCartney as his sideman).

[quinney]

Originally Posted by GQB

I'd love to have him push some buttons by coming out in a movie 'fat suit'.

Just imagine what it would do to the stock price if he did a Mr. Creosote?

[Carmissimo]

Originally Posted by DJinTX

I think it would be more difficult than you describe. You mention that a large iPod with multi touch and apps, and A/V abiltities, but the one thing that would be difficult is Apps. On a larger screen they would have to do something to either (a) have them fit a larger screen, so basically increasing the size., or (b) keep the app windows the same size, but then have a way to navigate and switch between them. And since currently it is one app at a time, then this doesn;t really fit in as a large iPod touch anymore. If they just make the app windows bigger, then this might look a little weird (fisher price)?

You are correct though, Jobs and Co. have considered tablets, media players, and everything else under the sun, and I have faith they will come to market with the right product. We just have to be patient and let them do it right. Rushed products = failure.

While some tweaking would be in order, one advantage to an evolutionary upgrade to the Touch form factor is that existing content would be compatible. Movie files formatted for the current Touch would look fine scaled up for a screen in the 5" to 7" range. Games also would work fine.

Higher spec content could then be added to the mix to take advantage of the larger screen but in the interim the bigger Touch would not be a neat device with no content to work with.

I don't think Apple would be rushing a product to market if the next Touch version came out now. The Touch has been around for a while in its present form. Apple stands still at its peril. If all we get on Sept. 9 is a Touch with a camera, the reaction will be disappointment bordering on boredom. Besides, September is the time when Apple is most likely to introduce a comsumer-criented device. It's not that I would be amazed if Apple failed to release a significant Touch variant next week but then again, I would not be amazed if Apple does.

[SGSStateStudent]

Originally Posted by quinney

Just imagine what it would do to the stock price if he did a Mr. Creosote?

Oooh.. I'll watch ..

[success]

oh neat...I just noticed it's 4:20AM.

[SGSStateStudent]

Originally Posted by success

oh neat...I just noticed it's 4:20AM.

?? What was that for?

[BenRoethig]

As long as the products are released, I really don't care who's on stage.