rare comment

The idea of leveraging a phone's CPU, memory, and connectivity to make a plug-in workstation is very appealing. People keep trying to make it work (https://www.engadget.com/motorola/atrix-4g-review/; https://www.cnet.com/news/samsung-dex-pad-galaxy-s9-touchpad-pc-mwc-2018-b2b/) but don't seem to get it right (I haven't actually tried any of the past experiments). Which is all a long of way of saying Apple would have the best chance of getting this to work given their software/hardware integration. MacMini on an iPhone!

Folio said:

Yes, China booming middle class. Purchases of bmw Audi etc help make VW largest carmaker. I’m no expert. Curious if iOS differentiates a device as much in China as in US. Never viewed app offerings in China. Anyone know if Apple still adding stores? Hitting many second tier cities?

this is Apple's biggest risk - in China, a lot of app functionality is consumed as a sub-app within a larger app (in particular, tencent's WeChat app). This means that payments, car sharing, shopping, browsing, chat, etc., are sub-apps within WeChat. And this also means that iOS is less sticky - someone entirely contained in the WeChat ecosystem can change phones with very small switching costs as their whole app world just moves with them. It doesn't completely undercut iOS and, obviously, hardware differences matter. But it is a real risk. As an aside, I think this is why Facebook tried so hard to make Facebook a platform so that its app would be the world inside which users live.

I really hope they port this to AppleTV.  It can't be that difficult and would be a real shot in the arm for ATV as a gaming platform (or perhaps Apple has already decided to forget that plan).

Speculative prediction tying together: (i) education focus, (ii) iPad & Pencil rumors, and (iii) dropping of the iBook name:

Chrome's presence in the classroom is burgeoning.  Obviously, given the general thrust of Apple (iPads are the right computer for many) and Mac pricing, iPads are the right direction to go.  To balance Chromebook and handle security at the same time, a custom enclosure that adds a keyboard, kensington security slot, and pencil holder (likely with some kind of tether).  By rolling this form factor out explicitly as a classroom accomodation, it limits efforts to compare what is now an iPad with keyboard to a macbook/laptop.  And is a test drive for an iOS form factor that is distinct from macOS notebooks.

And, of course, I can finally say I was right if they call it an iBook.

airnerd said:

No chance they look like that.  Apple is a design innovator, that's just a rehashed design with an overbearing Apple logo on it.  I'm expecting they will be over the ear but all of the materials will be extremely thin/low profile.  And the Apple logo will not be highlighted, it will just be a recessed logo. 

Agree with all of this (innovator, low profile, etc.).  My hope is that Apple goes a step further and does noise-cancelling without over-the-ear and without in-ear.  My guess is that Apple leaves these sorts of designs with Beats.  My speculation on how to go a step further and stay distinguished from Beats is here.