Project "Iceland"
Project "Iceland" within 6 months.
I know its been sometime since I've posted, but today, is day to update the timeline again. I had to clear somethings up with friends, associates and heal some feelings.
I only deliver what I know and what I feel is appropiate for the boards to have. With that said, I apologize to anybody and everybody but this is how the wild things are. So be it.
Project "Iceland" is the final stage for the iPod and its timeline. It will finally blossom into the next cellphone from Apple. Able to handle all North America, Japan and Europe major carriers. The iPod is the back down into this market.
Apple research shows, people only use PDAs for 2 major things: Contacts and Scheduling. Jobs has been on the record to say they have thought hard of the PDA and they feel it will merge with cellphones. He is correct. The current iPod handles both and the new "Iceland" iPod will become Apple's new trojan horse into for all. It will also be Bluetooth aware.
I will be back with more details in a few days. Lucida is just a matter of time. Real soon.
-Allen
I know its been sometime since I've posted, but today, is day to update the timeline again. I had to clear somethings up with friends, associates and heal some feelings.
I only deliver what I know and what I feel is appropiate for the boards to have. With that said, I apologize to anybody and everybody but this is how the wild things are. So be it.
Project "Iceland" is the final stage for the iPod and its timeline. It will finally blossom into the next cellphone from Apple. Able to handle all North America, Japan and Europe major carriers. The iPod is the back down into this market.
Apple research shows, people only use PDAs for 2 major things: Contacts and Scheduling. Jobs has been on the record to say they have thought hard of the PDA and they feel it will merge with cellphones. He is correct. The current iPod handles both and the new "Iceland" iPod will become Apple's new trojan horse into for all. It will also be Bluetooth aware.
I will be back with more details in a few days. Lucida is just a matter of time. Real soon.
-Allen
Comments
Blatant non-content post. Sorry.
<img src="graemlins/hmmm.gif" border="0" alt="[Hmmm]" />
The speculation in this thread is obvious and well known. Jobs has also specifically said that Apple has no plans to enter the cell phone market. Maybe that will change, and if it does, I could see some sort of iPod-like device, but I'm not going to hold my breath.
Also, if Apple made a 900 MHz cordless phone, it would be faster than their iMacs, and I don't think Jobs would want that.
Pay attention to everything Apple has done recently in new software (Ink/iCal/iSync) and support for technology standards (SyncML/Bluetooth/Rendezvous). That is a lot of development for Apple to have gone through without any clearly obvious use, except a few random cell phones that support Bluetooth and MIGHT work with SOME of these technologies. All of these things seem to point directly to some sort of handheld device to really take advantage of them.
Note that I didn't say "PDA"...because all handheld devices aren't PDAs. Take a look at the iPod for example. I am not suggesting that Apple is going to built another Palm knockoff. But Apple certainly seemed quite cozy with Sony/Ericsson at the last Macworld. Doesn't seem to me that Steve has anything to gain by going out of his way to sell phones for them. So why did that segment appear to be such a focus at Macworld? It wasn't just a way to demo iCal and iSync.
However...consider a new handheld device, with cell phone technology designed by Sony/Ericsson, with a user interface designed by Apple, swathed in a Jonathan Ives designed look and form, and you would absolutely have an amazing product to add to the digital hub lineup.
All of the reasons being used to explain why Apple would "never do this" are exactly the same arguments used about Apple building an MP3 player. So it would make more sense to actually look at all the evidence FOR this rumor at least being realistic. You don't have to believe it as fact. Doesn't meant it WILL happen. But there is far too much evidence in its favor to claim that it absolutely positively WILL NOT happen.
On the other hand, having this new thread started by AllenMcJones isn't exactly a ringing endorsement for this rumor, so I remain just as skeptical as anyone. In his previous predictions, we had a lot of controversy.
"Glove" appeared to not pan out...unless you count the 5-user home Jaguar license...5 users/5 fingers? Definitely none of the unlimited license for servers stuff came through. OS X 10.1 Server users are having to pay full price for the 10.2 upgrade, for god's sake!
"Lucida" is a different story. I still happen to believe that Apple is working on their own still/video hybrid camera. Same logic as used above with my belief in "Iceland". Apple would rather have you buy their custom designed MP3 Player or Digital Camera or Cell/PDA-ish type device than lose that sale to another company.
BUT ... here we are with no more specs than before, and we never got to see a photo of the unit. (Except that round thing that we all found out later was made by a totally different company.) The only real excitement in that photo was the cute girl holding the camera.
So Mr. McJones - In the words of the poster on Fox Mulder's office wall: I WANT TO BELIEVE!
So instead of these sneak guerilla attacks you make, how about some real updates. The most recents specs on "Lucida" to your knowledge. An explanation for why "Glove" never came about. And some details on what "Iceland" really entails...even if they are only preliminary specs. (Discuss the actual hardware, size, weight, color screen, etc.)
Don't force Mr. McJones to leave by being rude to him. Instead, let's just request that he prove his insider status by sharing some real details instead of just vague possibilities.
-- Ensoniq
cell phone technology has been miniaturized with each and every revision of phones.. look at the Mot v60.. very tiny package... I'm sure Apple could squeeze the current chips needed into the 5gb iPod form factor.. here's my dream machine..
Either exact iPod form factor, or perhaps a bit smaller version... I don't see a need any longer to hold a phone against ones head to use so it could be used with a handsfree cord or bluetooth ear/mic headset. Input contacts/phone numbers using the scrollwheel (faster for text, slower for numeric).. Should have voice dial/command capabilities (not necessarily recognition though - but wouldn't that be sweet)...
We'd be carrying around a global gsm phone, mp3 player, contact and calendar organizer, fireware hd and whatever else they could throw on there.. Later versions could have a stylus if they thought the market needed it.. The resolution could handle picture messages and I'm sure they would include an "Apple Wireless Portal" for easy web navigation using the scrollwheel.. Check your .mac email through webmail, sherlock for all it's uses, etc etc etc... would be a great selling point for .mac
If they aren't planning on something like this, maybe we should be asking why not?
5gb iPod's are selling for 250 or so these days... how much more would the price have to go up for the additional cell technology needed.. 100 bucks or so?? People would gladly fork over their 3-400 bucks for such a device...
And of course, Mac only.... Maybe the best reason yet to "switch" isn't even here yet...
mavster
<strong>I would think that this is the logical evolution of the iPod, but I wouldn't expect it for at least another six months or so since we just had a refresh.. maybe MWSF... picture this..
cell phone technology has been miniaturized with each and every revision of phones.. look at the Mot v60.. very tiny package... I'm sure Apple could squeeze the current chips needed into the 5gb iPod form factor.. here's my dream machine..
Either exact iPod form factor, or perhaps a bit smaller version... I don't see a need any longer to hold a phone against ones head to use so it could be used with a handsfree cord or bluetooth ear/mic headset. Input contacts/phone numbers using the scrollwheel (faster for text, slower for numeric).. Should have voice dial/command capabilities (not necessarily recognition though - but wouldn't that be sweet)...
We'd be carrying around a global gsm phone, mp3 player, contact and calendar organizer, fireware hd and whatever else they could throw on there.. Later versions could have a stylus if they thought the market needed it.. The resolution could handle picture messages and I'm sure they would include an "Apple Wireless Portal" for easy web navigation using the scrollwheel.. Check your .mac email through webmail, sherlock for all it's uses, etc etc etc... would be a great selling point for .mac
If they aren't planning on something like this, maybe we should be asking why not?
5gb iPod's are selling for 250 or so these days... how much more would the price have to go up for the additional cell technology needed.. 100 bucks or so?? People would gladly fork over their 3-400 bucks for such a device...
And of course, Mac only.... Maybe the best reason yet to "switch" isn't even here yet...
mavster</strong><hr></blockquote>
Cool!
Hows this logical? <img src="graemlins/bugeye.gif" border="0" alt="[Skeptical]" />
Why in gods name would apple make a damm phone?
Sure sony (For example) make phones but the companies dont compare, apple are puerly computer hardware and software.....
<a href="http://forums.appleinsider.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=1&t=001723"; target="_blank">http://forums.appleinsider.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=1&t=001723</A>;
<strong>
Also, if Apple made a 900 MHz cordless phone, it would be faster than their iMacs, and I don't think Jobs would want that.</strong><hr></blockquote>
And the 2,5GHz phones would clean the clock of the PowerMacs.
One, what happens if the current "switch" campaign isn't really that effectiive in adding new hardware sales?? Is the current installed base really in that much of a hurry to upgrade their current systems to newer models?? We all know there hasn't really been a great incentive for users to buy newer machines as the speeds haven't dramatically increased, especially for the casual user... Joe's 500 mhz imac can handle the web and mail just a tad slower than his 800, so why upgrade?? The avg price of Apple's machines is not like it was years ago so they've got to find new revenue streams such as this..
Two, where do they find the revenue?? Services.. IBM has built a tremendous revenue stream in services and recurring revenue... Sure, most are corporate but they had problems in the late 80's and early 90's and found their way... I'm not saying that Apple will tomorrow be a multi billion dollar service business, but they've shown they're moving that way...
The first (baby) step was simply setting Earthlink up as the preferred isp of choice.. They may not have broken the bank with that step, but it was a first step after all.. .mac is just the beginning (I think) of a new area they're entering.. Let's take a look at this... If in a year or two Apple has a 10 million installed base of OS X.. Let's say that 1/2 opted for .mac (100/yr) and 1/2 pay for the yearly OS maintenance upgrade (129).... that's $229 of recurring revenue each and every year or almost about 1.15 billion dollars.. just in software and services...
Cellular is another way to have recurring revenue.. If Apple entered this market, they'd probably do it the "Danger, Inc" way.. By partnering with cellular companies and receiving revenue only from web/mail services, not from the actual cell usage.. If they could sell 1 million units over a year or two and could get $5-10 month from the cell companies, that's another 60-120 mill or so (besides making a couple of bucks on units sold).... not bad for expanding their business into a new market..
They've also started selling the xServe's, not making huge amounts off of them, but selling some nice profit margin service contracts with them.. That's where the money is...
Now I'm not saying that Apple should pull back on hardware upgrades or "switch" campaigns and such, but they really should and I believe are learning new revenue streams that don't require people to buy new computers every two years for them to be a profitable/growth company...
The Apple stores will be incredible places to introduce and promote these types of products.. Show switchers that with this new phone they can sync contacts, transfer music and give them a chance to play around with them.. Steve's said they want to be the Sony of the computer business (as we've all heard before)... Sony doesn't only make computers, ya know?? Reaching out into new markets is tough, of course, and not all will be as successful as the iPod has, but it's something that every business must do to survive...
Apple truly does make living and working with these devices an easier experience, one which should be expanded into other markets...
just my 2 cents..
mavster
[quote]<strong>The first (baby) step was simply setting Earthlink up as the preferred isp of choice.. They may not have broken the bank with that step, but it was a first step after all.. .mac is just the beginning (I think) of a new area they're entering.. Let's take a look at this... If in a year or two Apple has a 10 million installed base of OS X.. Let's say that 1/2 opted for .mac (100/yr) and 1/2 pay for the yearly OS maintenance upgrade (129).... that's $229 of recurring revenue each and every year or almost about 1.15 billion dollars.. just in software and services...</strong><hr></blockquote>
The last word I saw put the iTools -> .Mac adoption rate at something truly astonishing, like 80%.
Viewed skeptically, I think much of this adoption rate can be accounted for by people paying the $50 now to avoid disruption, and to see if the service matures into something. The proof will come when everyone renews. Even in that case, if half of the former iTools users decide to renew, that means the baseline revenue is at least as good as the first year's. Apple has said, in response to criticism of their current subscription rules, that they're gearing up to accept monthly payments as well as yearly subscriptions within a year, which might spur a round of adoption as well (and bring in a little more money, because the monthy fee will not be $99/12, you can count on that).
Mr. McJones initially stuck his neck out on projects "Glove" and "Lucida."
"Glove" looks like it was the 5-fingered 5-user family license. I say he got that right (or very close to the mark). the whole "Glove" project may be fleshed out (by Apple) soon: as in other licensing prices and upgrade paths.
"Lucida" we simply do not know about yet. He seems to imply in the above post that it is coming "real soon." I wonder if Paris might be the place and time? Not all things happen at once (e.g. no MacWorld PowerMacs).
Mr McJones also offered hints as to "David's Stone" but other than that David's stone killed Goliath is all we know about it. It is either an overarching strategy, or something else entirely. He mentioned, however, that it was a long-term project. It has sounded like it is not a particular widget, however.
As for this new "Iceland" we can only speculate, now. Pieces seem to be falling into place, though.
<a href="http://www.wirelessweek.com/index.asp?layout=story&articleId=LN46M5-94G0-00S1-40YS-00000-00&verticalID=360&vertical=Applications"; target="_blank">Wireless Week,</a> as noted on MacRumors.com has an article on a new phone/digital device possibility in conjunction with Danger and good old Wozniak. The technology, along with iCal and Bluetooth is also coming along quite well. The iPod is already showing its potential: just look at the features available, all digital. The equalizer presets (whether you like them or not) are a sophisticated little bit of software engineering. There is a lot of potential in that device. And anyone who has one loves it; it is a real feather in Apple's Cap.
.Mac is also starting to show some promise for users (once again with iCal, and the slideshow program that is now out). SpyMac (gotta hate 'em) just published a note on new connectivity possibilities with .mac : intimating that there is work being done on communication even when changing IPs. [CAVEAT: Spymac, I know, is a joke when it comes to hardware, but they were the first to mention that iTools was going to be subscription based. My guess is that they have one good source and a lot of hoaxers.]
So, my conclusion is this: Mr McJones is not full of malarky. The possibilities are starting to poke their noses above water, and I am hopeful that the next 5 or six months are going to be pretty exciting.
Hope Springs Eternal,
Mandricard
AppleOutsider
Ps. Now, if he would only give a hint as to David's Stone!
That does not look like M$ licensing to me.
<strong>P.P.S. RE "Glove" from Macintouch: "An alternative to Apple's XServe, the new G4 Server also includes an "unlimited client license" for Mac OS 10.2 Server."
That does not look like M$ licensing to me.</strong><hr></blockquote>
all Apple servers include unlimited licences and have. it's not an unlimited license to install its an unlimited license for clients to serve to