My MacWorld Predictions
Here are my predictions.
I don’t expect a 2nd generation iPhone yet… but do think a refresh to the current model is likely.
1st Prediction: iPhone RAM increase to 16 GB.
Looking at Apple’s history with the iPod, they followed the initial model design with a smaller version. I think this is likely with the iPhone, for a few reasons. First, some folks just don’t need the Internet access. Second, a lower-priced model would expand the market.
2nd Prediction: iPhone Mini (my name, yeah it sucks, I’m sure Steve and company will come up with something cool)
Lots of press about iTunes movie rentals. This seems likely, so I’ll go along with the crowd.
3rd Prediction: iTunes movie rentals (although I can’t see the reported 24 hour time limit being right, that’s just too short).
But just doing rentals with the existing hardware (iPods, iPhone, AppleTV, and of course Macs) seems incomplete. I think there will be something new here, something using AppleTV and FrontRow, but more interesting to a larger, iPod-savvy market. DVR technology is cool, but the technical issues for Apple to provide a solution that works with OTA, cable, and satellite are significant (witness Tivo’s struggles).
4th Prediction: An AppleTV line, probably three sizes of flat-screen, that includes the existing AppleTV functionality plus much larger hard-disk, and tight integration with Leopard and iDisk.
How about you? I’ve opened comments… Let’s have some fun!
January 11th, 2008 at 10:24 am
Not that Apple has to do it this way, but Amazon’s TiVo rentals are 24 hours from the start of the first viewing. You have 30 days to view it.