The real key, though, was something Steve said at the keynote: The transition to OS X is over. "We made it." AI's story about PowerMac sales confirms this, with some pitiful number of PowerMac G4s selling last quarter. The eMac, the other OS 9 booting machine, got a non-update last fall, indicating that the current incarnation doesn't have much of a future either. At the same time, OS X has gotten past the basic development stage and is now in place and refined.
What this all means is that on the Mac's 20th birthday, Apple can reveal the Mac for the next 20 years. The rebirth of the platform. The OS is there. The hardware is there with the advent of the 970. The applications are there. The company is running at a level of competence and efficiency that I have never seen in over two decades of observing Apple. They're reasserting their original thesis of providing a means to turn everyone into a creator. And, of course, there's a new platform: iPod.
If 2003's release schedule is any indication, 2004 looks to be a blowout.
Incisive. My thinking runs along similar lines.
San Fran's Keynote was a B+. Solid. Good. The calm before the storm. 2003 is a virtual template for 2004 to be even better. Apple has a great team in charge of the most unprecedented turnaround in I.T history.
As an aside. Isn't it strange that nobody bothers that iPod doesn't 'run Windows'. At the current rate, the iPod market market may be at five million inside a couple of years.
Is there any change Apple could utilize this momentum to launch a new computing platform for the next 20 years? Does this necessarily mean an iMac 3? Could it be an 'iPod' branded computer? A 'Pod' Mac? An 'iPod' tablet 'iMac' (screen and docking station?) PC folks are buying the iPod in great numbers. At what point will this benefit the Mac...or how could this iPod momentum be used to gain Apple greater computing acceptance..? Or will it happen naturally in the fullness of time...? Would a name change or the addition of a name changed Mac or an addition to the iPod brand give Apple the acceptance it seeks in computers?
In light of the HP land grab...my imagination is going into overdrive...
The Newton. It may well 'live' in some form. The iPod is now mini. What does that imply for the iPod MAXI? It implies that Apple has now more than one dld. One small. One big. Can we expect more? I think so. Even if it means creating a top end colour iPod/Newton type device. But it probably be quite diffferent and typically Apple in redefinition.
We didn't think clones would return...but they have...and HOW!
Lemon Bon Bon, regarding your possible future for the iPod, I would have to agree with you somewhat. The iPod mini has been introduced, with many wondering what the fuss is about due to the relatively high price compared with the original iPod.
Apple now have the perfect opportunity to introduce a colour screen, bells and whistles iPod (incorporating video or whatever) in the original iPods price point (or possibly more expensive, knowing Apple!).
"Why didn't they do this last week", I hear you cry. Who knows, last minute R&D, problems with pricing, components? It would be silly not to intro something like this though, considering all the other pieces are in place.
The iPod has a serious negative vis a vis the Newton and any other PDA: There are no developer kits. There is no way for an end user to add anything into what is basically a completely closed box. It's a bundle of third-party stuff to which Apple added a few little extra features. SAs it is, it's a dead-end architecture.
Sure, they could jack up the logo, put a completely different design under it, and call it iPod 2. But I don't think they will, and the reason is, the HP deal.
<opinion>To me, the deal with HP says that Apple would like to find a way out of the iPod/iTMS situation. They'd like to spin it off as a separate company, but the financial climate doesn't allow it. So they are going to license it and hope that they can ease their way out of the music player business without anyone noticing. Remember Laserwriter, Quicktake, and Newton - they were all revolutionary products which created whole new markets, markets which Apple later got out of. Ultimately Apple wants to be a computer company, not a manufacturer of every possible doodad. Laserwriter, Quicktake and Newton were all distractions from the core business, diversions which consumed precious resources.</opinion>
Is it me, or has Apple been very quiet these days. After an Autumn of some sort of software update every few days I can't remember when the last update showed up...well, actually Software Update can remember and it looks like the last one was the Security update on December 20th. The rumor sites aren't talking of anything in the pipeline either...like where is 10.3.3? Perhaps Apple is saving everything for some announcement on the Anniversary, who knows.
Looking at another post I was amused at this particular LINK
Look at the rumors in that page. That's like Mac OS Rumors of a few years back isn't it. Wishful thinking, but I hope that PPC successor tid bit is true. Dual Cores that soon?
<opinion>To me, the deal with HP says that Apple would like to find a way out of the iPod/iTMS situation. They'd like to spin it off as a separate company, but the financial climate doesn't allow it. So they are going to license it and hope that they can ease their way out of the music player business without anyone noticing. Remember Laserwriter, Quicktake, and Newton - they were all revolutionary products which created whole new markets, markets which Apple later got out of. Ultimately Apple wants to be a computer company, not a manufacturer of every possible doodad. Laserwriter, Quicktake and Newton were all distractions from the core business, diversions which consumed precious resources.</opinion>
That may have been true at the time of the Newton. But the iPod isn't a flop. It's a success and the iTunes store is at 70%. We're talking domination of both player and music markets. This is one hell of a Trojan horse and it will lead to Apple mindshare that may eventually translate into computer sales for Apple.
Between eLogic, GarageBand, Soundrack, Final Cut Pro's music capabilities, iPod and iTunes 4/Music store? I don't see Apple getting out of the music world any time soon. They're too good at it. And it's got them 'cool' and 'rockin' with the press, the punters and now Wallstreet.
The HP deal is just that. A deal to increase mindshare. It could be the first of many deals as HP looks to become a gadjet company...they may become the distribution strong arm of Apple's 'cool' R&D. A powerful alliance between HP and Apple. Apple and IBM. Pepsi and AOL with Apple. For a 5% company, Apple is sending shockwaves through the computer world.
2004. I'm expecting even more shocking news.
Lemon Bon Bon
Hmmm. What about an OS Lite that runs on an awesome Tablet that blows away all the Xp tablet wannabees? HP to distribute? Rumours are rumours... We'll see.
Comments
The real key, though, was something Steve said at the keynote: The transition to OS X is over. "We made it." AI's story about PowerMac sales confirms this, with some pitiful number of PowerMac G4s selling last quarter. The eMac, the other OS 9 booting machine, got a non-update last fall, indicating that the current incarnation doesn't have much of a future either. At the same time, OS X has gotten past the basic development stage and is now in place and refined.
What this all means is that on the Mac's 20th birthday, Apple can reveal the Mac for the next 20 years. The rebirth of the platform. The OS is there. The hardware is there with the advent of the 970. The applications are there. The company is running at a level of competence and efficiency that I have never seen in over two decades of observing Apple. They're reasserting their original thesis of providing a means to turn everyone into a creator. And, of course, there's a new platform: iPod.
If 2003's release schedule is any indication, 2004 looks to be a blowout.
Incisive. My thinking runs along similar lines.
San Fran's Keynote was a B+. Solid. Good. The calm before the storm. 2003 is a virtual template for 2004 to be even better. Apple has a great team in charge of the most unprecedented turnaround in I.T history.
As an aside. Isn't it strange that nobody bothers that iPod doesn't 'run Windows'. At the current rate, the iPod market market may be at five million inside a couple of years.
Is there any change Apple could utilize this momentum to launch a new computing platform for the next 20 years? Does this necessarily mean an iMac 3? Could it be an 'iPod' branded computer? A 'Pod' Mac? An 'iPod' tablet 'iMac' (screen and docking station?) PC folks are buying the iPod in great numbers. At what point will this benefit the Mac...or how could this iPod momentum be used to gain Apple greater computing acceptance..? Or will it happen naturally in the fullness of time...? Would a name change or the addition of a name changed Mac or an addition to the iPod brand give Apple the acceptance it seeks in computers?
In light of the HP land grab...my imagination is going into overdrive...
Ponderingly.
lemon bon bon
We didn't think clones would return...but they have...and HOW!
As ever, expect the unexpected from Apple...
I'm on the edge of my seat...
Lemon Bon Bon
Apple now have the perfect opportunity to introduce a colour screen, bells and whistles iPod (incorporating video or whatever) in the original iPods price point (or possibly more expensive, knowing Apple!).
"Why didn't they do this last week", I hear you cry. Who knows, last minute R&D, problems with pricing, components? It would be silly not to intro something like this though, considering all the other pieces are in place.
Sure, they could jack up the logo, put a completely different design under it, and call it iPod 2. But I don't think they will, and the reason is, the HP deal.
<opinion>To me, the deal with HP says that Apple would like to find a way out of the iPod/iTMS situation. They'd like to spin it off as a separate company, but the financial climate doesn't allow it. So they are going to license it and hope that they can ease their way out of the music player business without anyone noticing. Remember Laserwriter, Quicktake, and Newton - they were all revolutionary products which created whole new markets, markets which Apple later got out of. Ultimately Apple wants to be a computer company, not a manufacturer of every possible doodad. Laserwriter, Quicktake and Newton were all distractions from the core business, diversions which consumed precious resources.</opinion>
Look at the rumors in that page. That's like Mac OS Rumors of a few years back isn't it. Wishful thinking, but I hope that PPC successor tid bit is true. Dual Cores that soon?
<opinion>To me, the deal with HP says that Apple would like to find a way out of the iPod/iTMS situation. They'd like to spin it off as a separate company, but the financial climate doesn't allow it. So they are going to license it and hope that they can ease their way out of the music player business without anyone noticing. Remember Laserwriter, Quicktake, and Newton - they were all revolutionary products which created whole new markets, markets which Apple later got out of. Ultimately Apple wants to be a computer company, not a manufacturer of every possible doodad. Laserwriter, Quicktake and Newton were all distractions from the core business, diversions which consumed precious resources.</opinion>
That may have been true at the time of the Newton. But the iPod isn't a flop. It's a success and the iTunes store is at 70%. We're talking domination of both player and music markets. This is one hell of a Trojan horse and it will lead to Apple mindshare that may eventually translate into computer sales for Apple.
Between eLogic, GarageBand, Soundrack, Final Cut Pro's music capabilities, iPod and iTunes 4/Music store? I don't see Apple getting out of the music world any time soon. They're too good at it. And it's got them 'cool' and 'rockin' with the press, the punters and now Wallstreet.
The HP deal is just that. A deal to increase mindshare. It could be the first of many deals as HP looks to become a gadjet company...they may become the distribution strong arm of Apple's 'cool' R&D. A powerful alliance between HP and Apple. Apple and IBM. Pepsi and AOL with Apple. For a 5% company, Apple is sending shockwaves through the computer world.
2004. I'm expecting even more shocking news.
Lemon Bon Bon
Hmmm. What about an OS Lite that runs on an awesome Tablet that blows away all the Xp tablet wannabees? HP to distribute? Rumours are rumours... We'll see.