rich ruminations

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!

New Zune review: better than before, but not quite good enough - Engadget:

For the second year running the Zune and its anti-Apple pedigree squanders its unique position to chase after the iPod-disenfranchised; it offers nothing special to ex-iPod owners, nor anything innovative to the proto-geeks looking to buy just about anything but an Apple product. It doesn’t do much anything better, cheaper, or all that differently from its primary competition, and it’s further behind today’s leading edge devices, like the 605 WiFi and the touch, than the original Zune line was last year. When we really look at the product, perhaps FM radio aside we can’t think of a single compelling reason to recommend it to an iPod user that’s ready to upgrade or switch — and we don’t even have any particular affinity for iPods.