Steve Jobs seen returning post-WWDC brandishing new iPhones
While all eyes are on Apple's annual developers conference as a likely forum for new iPhone hardware announcements, one Wall Street analyst is advising clients that better bets may be placed on an event a few weeks later that may also mark the return of Steve Jobs.
In a note to clients, Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster said he believes a press release from Apple on Wednesday regarding its WWDC keynote plans suggests the event will largely focus around software and may have even been drafted as such to reset expectations for the conference.
"As indicated in today's press release, we believe Apple will focus on the new version of Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard at WWDC," he wrote. "While some investors may be expecting Apple to launch redesigned iPhones at WWDC, we do not anticipate the launch in early June."
Instead, Munster is placing his money on a surprise media event that would take place sometime in late June or early July following Jobs' return. He believes the event will be used to usher in a new "family" of iPhones, including a cheaper model that he sees playing into Apple's strategy for the Chinese cell phone market which could materialize by September.
"We continue to expect multiple models, possibly a high-end iPhone with improved specs from the current version and a low-end version with lower capacity and fewer features along with a reduced pricing plan," the analyst wrote.
With Phil Schiller announced as the keynote speaker for this year's WWDC, some investors may have renewed concern that Jobs may never return to the company, according to Munster, who maintains his belief that co-founder is on track to return later in the month, per comments from other members of the company's leadership.
"This is consistent with our expectations as well as Apple's indications that Steve Jobs is still planning on returning to the company 'at the end of June' (emphasis added)," he wrote. "In order for Jobs to deliver the keynote on June 8th, he would likely begin preparations well before his intended return date."
Munster's presumptions may carry some weight given that new iPhone hardware will require advancements present in iPhone Software 3.0, which is unlikely to be ready for public consumption as early as WWDC. Only last week did Apple issue a mandate requiring all developers to certify that new and updated app submissions are compatible with the upcoming software update.
In a note to clients, Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster said he believes a press release from Apple on Wednesday regarding its WWDC keynote plans suggests the event will largely focus around software and may have even been drafted as such to reset expectations for the conference.
"As indicated in today's press release, we believe Apple will focus on the new version of Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard at WWDC," he wrote. "While some investors may be expecting Apple to launch redesigned iPhones at WWDC, we do not anticipate the launch in early June."
Instead, Munster is placing his money on a surprise media event that would take place sometime in late June or early July following Jobs' return. He believes the event will be used to usher in a new "family" of iPhones, including a cheaper model that he sees playing into Apple's strategy for the Chinese cell phone market which could materialize by September.
"We continue to expect multiple models, possibly a high-end iPhone with improved specs from the current version and a low-end version with lower capacity and fewer features along with a reduced pricing plan," the analyst wrote.
With Phil Schiller announced as the keynote speaker for this year's WWDC, some investors may have renewed concern that Jobs may never return to the company, according to Munster, who maintains his belief that co-founder is on track to return later in the month, per comments from other members of the company's leadership.
"This is consistent with our expectations as well as Apple's indications that Steve Jobs is still planning on returning to the company 'at the end of June' (emphasis added)," he wrote. "In order for Jobs to deliver the keynote on June 8th, he would likely begin preparations well before his intended return date."
Munster's presumptions may carry some weight given that new iPhone hardware will require advancements present in iPhone Software 3.0, which is unlikely to be ready for public consumption as early as WWDC. Only last week did Apple issue a mandate requiring all developers to certify that new and updated app submissions are compatible with the upcoming software update.
Comments
Guess we may have to wait several more weeks for iPhone hardware updates.
Apple simply must separate themselves and their products from Steve. That way it won't matter what he looks like on stage. The alternative is more of the same obsession with his health.
If Apple waits for Steve they'll be making a huge mistake. They need to show the world that they can do major product releases without him.
Apple simply must separate themselves and their products from Steve. That way it won't matter what he looks like on stage. The alternative is more of the same obsession with his health.
Exactimo - big mistake to bring back Steve. Just when he/we thought he was out they couldn't possibly pull him back in, could they? He may insist, of course...
Umm, this actually does make sense.
Guess we may have to wait several more weeks for iPhone hardware updates.
Doesn't make sense to me. So far this year has been just like last year. They did the iphone software intro at the same time. It will be released at the same time, or close to it.
Last year there was NO announcement of iPhone 3G hardware until it happened, first day of WWDC. Despite it being obvious as there was no iPhone stock anywhere.
It's easier for Apple to follow a pattern than do everything different each year.
If Steve isn't well enough in early June will he be in late June? Doubtful.
I see little basis for Munster's prediction. If I had to bet on it I'd say WWDC keynote unveils the new phone. Which may ship then or maybe later.
Gruber explains why:
http://daringfireball.net/linked/200...et-iphone-apis
If Apple waits for Steve they'll be making a huge mistake.
I doubt Apple is waiting for Steve. Production schedules are established many months in advance. I expect when Steve said he was taking a 6 month hiatus, he and everyone else at the top of Apple knew this would fit well with the next generation announcement.
Apple simply must separate themselves and their products from Steve.
As if MWSF'09 didn't and WWDC'09 won't help with that?
Doesn't make sense to me. So far this year has been just like last year. They did the iphone software intro at the same time. It will be released at the same time, or close to it.
Last year there was NO announcement of iPhone 3G hardware until it happened, first day of WWDC. Despite it being obvious as there was no iPhone stock anywhere.
It's easier for Apple to follow a pattern than do everything different each year.
If Steve isn't well enough in early June will he be in late June? Doubtful.
I see little basis for Munster's prediction. If I had to bet on it I'd say WWDC keynote unveils the new phone. Which may ship then or maybe later.
I agree. I think it will be the same as they've done every year. That would also accomplish, as other have pointed out, that they can release a product without Steve.
Now...
Super quality camera with autofocus, and a flash.
+
Double the RAM.
+
An OLED display.
Just do it ✔
---
I'd like to add - no matter what people tell you - the black levels on these iPhone screens (both types) are awful. The screen is this phone. Even if the only thing they changed was the screen, by making it an OLED display, I'd be basically happy with that. A better camera would be a bonus, and video is a given. It's not an extra new thing, but something that currently is missing. The RAM seems to be a technical thing that no amount of optimization can fix, I hear programmers talking about it all the time. It would be a tiny tiny cost to double the RAM - that would great reduce sluggishness, and would probably improve Safari a bunch.
I know it's a little out there in terms of actually happening but if you think about it, it goes together nicely with lots of the rumors. For example the whole "Iphone 3,1" thing operating under the 3.0 software. Also wasn't there a rumor about a 3.2 megapixel camera order with a 5.0 megapixel camera coming later on in the year? Hopefully it will go on the Iphone pro. Also this could be the family of iphones mentioned above and would be a nice way to welcome Steve back- by introducing a device nobody thought possible ( 64 gigs, 5 meg camera, 1Ghz processor, slide out keyboard or keyboard "attachement" to appeal to business/former blackberry users?)
Let me know what you think.
The RAM seems to be a technical thing that no amount of optimization can fix, I hear programmers talking about it all the time. It would be a tiny tiny cost to double the RAM - that would great reduce sluggishness, and would probably improve Safari a bunch.
Yes, it is something developers talk about a lot and its extremely important. Why? iPhone is capped, for the whole system at 128MB, which is very low. When it gets packed with a whopping game, then you will experience sluggishness because the iPhone will tell the app to release memory, causing a slowdown because the CPU is busy releasing tonnes of memory, not playing your game.
It is important to note, however, that the CPU is the main cause of sluggishness. Test an iPod Touch 2G... that 100Mhz upgrade made it a KILLER device. It gives a whole new meaning to snappiness . Thats because its got extra CPU cycles idle to allow bottlenecks at memory deallocation to be worked through quicker, and its just got less hogging its CPU all the time.
If you want snappier iPhones then developers need to be critical of where they're doing all their fugly, processor intensive code, not so much focusing 24/7 on memory...
Looks like the same games Cramer got slammed for exposing are still in play.
Apple needs to put Jobs on the shelf permanently. Super-Senior-Apple-Fellow, with all powers except for the ability to drive stock down because of his health.
They have the opportunity... they need to take it.
If Apple waits for Steve they'll be making a huge mistake. They need to show the world that they can do major product releases without him.
I totally agree. Apple and it's board have to show that new products can happen WITHOUT Steve. Yeah, it'll be great to have him back, but I cannot imagine that they'll want him to continue as the one spokesman of amazing things.
I think the ONLY reason to push back an iPhone release is to ruin everyone else's plan for their announcements. Because all the other vendors (RIM, Palm, Microsoft) are scheduling all their announcements based on a WWDC announcement. If Apple pushes back their announcement, 100 marketing departments will be jumping through hoops rescheduling their own announcements.
WWDC is for developers. I do expect iPhone OS 3.0. But a new phone? Not necessary. All the great features for the new series of phones will be in 3.1.
- and then Steve comes back weeks later to introduce their tablet media pad iThingy.
Makes more sense to unveil new iPhones at WWDC, not later.
Gruber explains why:
http://daringfireball.net/linked/200...et-iphone-apis
Agree
New hardware needed to show 3.0's new features at WWDC!
But/And on SJ's return late jun/jul? announcing new i mini/net/tab - U name it. hopefully w/ upgraded books/computers running Snow Leopard.