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Tuesday, October 14, 2008

One Last Thing

Thee are a lot of rumors going around the Internet that we will not see a low end Macbook lower than $999.

I have to say that this is more consistent with Apple's behavior. They have crunched the numbers and this is the optimal scenario for them.

For those who might be disappointed with this news, I am going to throw this out there. The lack of change increases the chance that there is a better chance of "one more thing..."

Why do I think that? Consider this. Folks are now expecting what we already know. Nothing new will be offered, or so we think. We'll know in a few hours.

The word is that the some portable Macs will not be upgraded and the eventual upgrade may happen at Macworld. So this leaves Jobs something to talk about at Macworld and today to dazzle us with something totally new.

Posted with LifeCast

Monday, October 13, 2008

New Dawn In Macland

Whether it's $799, $899, or no change in the price of the entry level Macbook, we are in for another big shift in the underlying technology along with OS X that may change computing once again for Mac users. Well, we should be in for a change. Nothing is certain until Steve Jobs makes it so.

Tomorrow. 10AM PST. The follow sites are offering live blogs since Apple issues press passes and has stopped webcasting their events eons ago.

Macrumors - via Twitter
Engadget - excellent. If one of the other sites don't work, you can always rely on them.
Macworld - you get the bone. They provide the meat later through the day after the event and into the next day.
Gizmodo - excellent. The best live site for Mac and other Apple events
CNet - it's good to keep in mind. But they're generally one of the worst
Ars Technica

I think those live blogs are good enough. There are many others and if you think I should include them, let me know. Macrumors has put together a bunch of "expectations" and pre-announcement analysis. Sort of like the pregame shows for sports.

Here's what to expect before you get into these live feeds. Get your morning coffee, donuts, and unplug your phone. Just coffee. And a lot of this occur while most of us are at work. Go to work early and get most of what you need to do done. Block out that hours (10-11 - I don't expect this to go for more than an hour. And most of what we want to know will already happen in the first 30-40 minutes. In fact, if this is just straight up Mac portable updates, this won't be a long event.

One of the thing that bug me about this event is that Apple notify the press a bit late. It is hard to try and reason why is it so. A matter of expectation? Trying to not hype to event? After all, many have been expecting a mystery product that would result in this quarter's lower profit margin. A lot of folks are talking about price cuts. Right now, there seem to be some dispute whether that is going to be the case.

Here is what we should expect. Jobs go onto the stage and assure the fans that Apple has a great lineup for the coming Holiday Seasons. He'll tell us the event will be about Macs. He'll go through the data, how Apple is kicking ass in terms of sales and dollar market-share.

Before he finally introduces the new Macbooks, he'll might go through the evolution of the Powerbook G4s to the Macbooks and how that was a huge leap. Now, Apple is taking another one. Nvidia chipsets with Centrino 2 chips. And then finally, the new Macbooks. The audience is somewhat blown away. And while seeing is believing for the media and bloggers, the enthusiasm will be muted because of all the leaks in the last week.

Finally, one or two folks, probably Nvidia, maybe Intel, will be paraded onto the stage and talk up the honor it was to be walked all over by Steve Jobs. After they are yanked off stage, Jobs comes back thanks us and asks us to fork over our credit cards.

One more thing...well, maybe. But I doubt it.

Now, there are things I want to see for the new Macbook and from Apple.

3G connectivity. At the very least, provide it on the Macbook Air and the Pro line.
Minimum of 2GB and expandable to 8GB on the Pro line. If we are truly going to see the $799 price point, expect a mere 1GB.
Minimum of 4GB on the MBP. If the Macbook Air does get upgraded tomorrow, give us 3GB.
Dedicated GPU across the board. Maybe not the MBA but the Macbooks are just crying out for more power.
Eight hours of battery life.
LED across the board. While we're at this, keep the ratio at 16:10. We know we won't have Blue-Ray drives so there's no need for 16:9 screens. We will live with the black border when we watch movies.
Multi-Touch trackpads - and with more functionality. Prepare us for the day when we will get Multi-Touch LED screens. We all know that's coming.
Apple TV functionality on Macbooks. It won't cannabalize Apple TV sales. A lot of folks still have not experience it before. Think of it as a way to market Apple TV. If we like it on our Macbook, we will like it even more on our TV and we'll will go out and buy an Apple TV.
I love it if Apple can shave a pound off across the board. I can live with 1/2 lb on the Macbooks.
We already discussed pricing a bit at the top. Nobody knows. $799 is great but I double it. $200 cut across the board is entirely doable.

So, there you have it. My wish list. Looking forwards to have none of it happen.

Saturday, October 11, 2008

More Blog Momentum For Macbooks To Use Nvidia Chips

Not evidence. We said momentum.

As you know, there is going to be special Apple event next week to introduce new laptops.
We can be sure that Apple will try to keep up with competitors using Intel's latest Centrino 2 mobile chips. Beyond, that, it's all rumors and guesses.

We are feel that's valid to talk about the potential use of Nvidia video cards in Macbooks to offer more powerful graphics and game play, something that many critics have felt Apple failed to address since Apple introduced the Macbooks using Intel chips.

So, this is a welcoming news to me as a potential customer who feels it's time to upgrade. I have been unable to find information that we average users can use to help us decide what to get, I did find this old post from CNet that offers the breakdown of these Nvidia chips.

Performance

GeForce 9600M GT
GeForce 9600M GS
GeForce 9500M G

Mainstream

GeForce 9400M
GeForce 9300M GS
GeForce 9200M GS

Value

GeForce 9100M G

I'm almost certain the Pro line will gain the 9600 series while at least some of the Macbooks will use the 9300 chips. Now, it's just a feeling but I think Apple will not give us the 9400M since it maybe be too close for comfort to the Pro line.

Now, I said some of the Macbooks will get Nvidia GPUs. I think there will be a low end Macbook that will use Intel's X4500 to lower cost (not to mention saving-face for Intel). I'm guessing the Macbook Air will also use Intel's chipset as well.

Here's something else that's likely to happen. Apple may use LED across the board on all Macbooks and Macbook Pro.

For pricing, we've read anywhere from $800 to $999 to start at the low end. The $800 entry point is possible. But you're talking about 1GB (2GB is possible), LCD, and low-end CPU. It just good enough to entice switchers.

Note: I wonder about the Mac Mini as well. Give me a Mac Mini with a discrete GPU and Apple can have my money. But I doubt that'll happen. If the Mac Mini does get an upgrade, it'll almost certainly use the X4500 IGP as well.

Another Note: I try not to traffic in rumors but the Nvidia link is coming from multiple sources on the Web. The rest of the analysis comes from being an Apple nut who's been watching Apple's behavior all these years. With that said, no mystery product next Tuesday. Apple talks things up to generate media attention. No more. But I love to be wrong.

Thursday, October 9, 2008

Mac-iPhone Update for October 9, 2008

With the Mac back in the news today. Oh, sorry. You heard right. The Macbook is back to headline once again after ceding media and blog attention to its smaller mobile cousins, the iPod

Onxo Updates:

Pole Position for iPhone
Can Apple make America read again?
Need a better way to blog on the iPhone.
Mac Hybrid
Onxo on the best non-Apple Macbooks.
Hand crank to charge the iPhone or iPod
Podcaster via Jailbreak
Onxo feels iPhone games should contain more depth.

iPhone-iPod Update:

iSmashphone on iNotes for the iPhone.
TUAW on Street View and special features for Japanese iphone users. Emoji should have been on the iPhone to start with. Next step, make it easier for people to read enovels and comics, Jobs.
Touch Arcade on $10K prize for best iPhone/iPod game.
Small Wave talks about App Store.
iLounge on contract free iPhones in Mexico.
Macworld reports owners very satisfied with their iPhone despite problems.
iLounge reports on iTunes store for Russia in 2009. New Cold War is free market friendly.
Indy Star reprints Bloomberg article on iPhone in biz. MacDaily News reports first Japanese corporate customer.
Keep an eye on this. Judge allows lawsuit against iPhone ties to ATT to go forward. Possible this may impact other devices and carriers.
iPhone Atlas reports French Iron Man Blue-Ray copy has iPhone features.
Macworld reports Norway demands Apple drop DRM.
Apple Matters explains App Store as a prison.
iPhone Atlas on take your iPhone overseas.

Special Apple Event on October 14th!

This just from Appleinsider.

There will be a special event on the 14th to unveil the new crop of Macbooks. Special secret product or just Macbooks.

We'll know in 120 hours!

Source: Appleinsider

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Does Apple Have to Worry About the Coming "Storm"?

Hardly. Technologically, the iPhone is still the only game changer in town. But I'm very glad Blackberry, finally somebody, sought to challenge what no one else has done since the iPho came out about 15 months ago.

This is why Apple does not have to worry. Storm, with all its wonders, is missing a lot of things the iPhone has. And some of these things are not likely to come to the Storm if ever.

No Wi-Fi. Seriously?
1GB - in this day and age? This is the same complaint I have got with the G1. (15 more days till I get it!)
It's bulky. It's something some executive or manager might like but the bulk of the consumer will still prefer the sleek form factor.
Ease of use is still something Apple dominates.
Mind set. Teenagers, college students still identify with the iPod. That is translating into iPhone.
Innovation. Innovation. Innovation. Apple is the only company today to change the landscape of the mobile market while everyone is still trying to figure out what is going on.

Technically, the iPhone as a package is difficult to beat. Storm does a good job at coming in second. Not a close second. Given the business features that is innate in Blackberry smartphones, RIM has something that allows it to hold serve.

As a consumer devices go, a good analogy is the old IBM versus Apple of the 80s. Think of Blackberries as IBM and the iPhone...well, it's still Apple. But this time, the corporate assault Apple is mounting on Blackberry's turf is more evident.

Verizon is not going to see defection to Storm the way ATT has seen new subscribers coming from its competitors because of the iPhone, particular at the expense of Verizon. But Storm is just what Verizon needs to keep people from leaving.

Another issue may be pricing. Given how bulked up Storm is with the latest and greatest tech from RIM, one would assume it's going cost a bit. We'll find out soon enough. RIM, Verizon, and other partners seem to be very hush-hush about this. If I had to guess, they will try to under cut the iPhone.

Why? Because they have to. Because people want the iPhone. You don't think people will gobble up the iPhone if it was made available on Verizon's network? $150 seems about right. But if they really want to hurt Apple, they need to make it free.

It's the only want for RIM and Verizon to change the dynamics of this mobile arms race.

Note: Apple has warned about margins in the last financial report. Rim did the same because they higher costs due to launching new products. RIM has only Blackberries. As great as Storm is in my opinion, failure is not an option for RIM.

Impact: Look for Apple to counter regardless of what RIM does or how they price Storm.

Monday, October 6, 2008

Mac-iPhone Update For October 6, 2008

We did not post a lot of Mac updates last week because there really was not a lot to write about and I don't want to waste your time for the sake of clicks.

Just to recap a bit from last week, Apple finally lifted their nondisclosure agreement for iPhone developers. I can't call it the right move. It was just "a move" that really should have been done. Apple really screwed up by not communicating with the iPhone community on this issues.

Also today, NDP stated the iPhone took command of the smartphone market with 17% of total units moved. It's possible Apple has already broken through the 10 million mark it set for itself for total 2008 sales.

Onxo Updates:

Pole Position for iPhone
Can Apple make America read again?
Need a better way to blog on the iPhone.
Mac Hybrid
Onxo on the best non-Apple Macbooks.
Hand crank to charge the iPhone or iPod
Podcaster via Jailbreak
Onxo feels iPhone games should contain more depth.