It's been three years since I last when down to Macworld. So, I thought it would be good to visit a year after the iPhone launch to see how the Mac marketplace has changed. I'll also be taking a two day Aperture workshop. Adding photography to the trip will make it double the usual fun.
Here are my predictions for new Apple announcements:
- Sub notebook (super thin, external DVD drive, flash drive, optional dock)
- New displays, thinner, cheaper with included iSight camera
- AppleTV 2.0 with included BlueRay DVD drive
- Minor iPhone hardware upgrade--16GB model still at $399 price point. iPhone 2.0 (3G + GPS) will be announced at the Apple Developers Conference in June.
- iPhone software rev to include new Google Maps cell tower based my positioning update
- iPhone SDK will be announced and a few partner companies will demo what they've built with a pre-release version. Will be made available in Februrary. Probably will require becoming and ADC member to get the SDK.
- Processor upgrade to existing MacBook Pros to latest Intel Penryn processors
- Leopard update (10.5.2) with stability updates plus fixing customer gripes (like turning off stacks in the dock)
- Aperture 2.0 will be released either at Macworld or PMA (the more likely venue)
- iTunes store will offer movie rentals. Most major studios will be on board. You'll have up to 30 days to watch your title. Though, once you start watching, you'll have 24 hours to finish the movie before it expires.
- Airport Express will be upgraded to 802.11n.
Well, since I just bought a new computer three weeks ago, I hope they don't announce a new one just yet.
I'm also looking forward to see what announcements are made about the iPhone. I can't wait to find out more about the upcoming SDK.