5 January, 2009
We know that Jobs won’t be there (to give the keynote at least), but there is still a Macworld in January to look forward to. Here are some news and rumors about Macworld 2009 that I’m keeping track. (updated with more details)
The Hard rumors – updates and new products?
Highly possible #1 – Mac mini update
(Fake Mac mini photo from Macenstein)
The last time the Mac mini got updated was back in August 2007 and Wired speculates that it will be updated this MacWorld and will be enclosed in a block of aluminum, similar to the recently updated MacBooks and uses the mini Display Ports.
Adding fuel to that rumor is that MacRumors discovered in a configuration file found in the new MacBooks, that contains key strings that showed that Mac mini and iMacs to use the new NVidia MCP79 chipsets that are found in the newly released MacBooks. This chipset will also provide the Mac mini with dual display capabilities – mini Display Port and a mini DVI Port. Currently Mac mini is still using the Intel GMA 950 graphics chip while the iMacs are using ATI Radeon for the 20-inch and the lower end 24-inch and NVIDIA GeForce 8800 for the 24-inch top end model.
Also it will come with Firewire 800 and a fifth USB port. There will also be possible an optical SATA drive that can be swop for a second SATA hard drive, according to TUAW. These new features will definitely make the Mac mini a viable AppleTV replacement.
update – SeeFile software, a company that develops digital asset management software accidentally let slipped that its latest version will support the new Apple Mac Mini in its latest press release.
SeeFile 4.6 is priced from $499 to $4,995, depending on number of user licenses. Complete bundled server systems including a Mac mini server with 1 terabyte of storage are available starting at $1,495.
Problem is the current configurations for Mac mini, can only go up to a maximum of 160GB harddisc space. However, an update in Ars Technica stated that the 1TB drive is external and the company has no knowledge of the new specs of the Mac mini that will be introduced at Macworld. So basically they’re saying is there will be new Mac mini but just not sure about the specs. Confirmed?
Highly Possible #2 – 17-inch MacBook Pro update?
With the MacBooks and the 15-inch MacBook Pros getting the unibody treatment during the last update, the 17-inch was left out from that make-over. That might be because Apple was waiting for Intel to update their processors and just before the New Year, they did – releasing a new Core 2 Extreme Q9000, that has four 2GHz cores with 6MB of Level 2 cache, which we might see in the new 17-inch MacBook Pro – according to APC.
Besides that, there will be an improved battery for the 17-inch that unfortunately, will be fixed-in-place like the MacBook Air but with longer running time, a trade-off for size and capacity but sacrifice replaceability which will probably result in much controversy with fans.
Highly Possible #3 – iMacs update?
Lumped together with the Mac mini rumor about the new NVidia MCP79 chipset was the update to the iMac line. Though there probably won’t be any changed in the form factor, the new iMacs will have this new chipset that will also give the iMac with mini Display Port and mini DVI ports like the Mac mini – one can never get enough screen space. It will also come with a new and improved cooling system possibly to cater to the new graphics and cpu updates. There might also be a possible a new size – a whopping 28-inch, according to PC Perspective which will also use a new Intel Core i7 processor which will give it much improved performance.
Might appear – iPhone nano?
(Concept design published in Macrumors – this is too clear to be a real thing, since most leaked photos are blurry)
Rumors about an iPhone nano area also popping out on the interWeb. First a rendered drawing of a smaller case for case seller XSKN appeared on a China site – iDealsChina.
Why is China the place where these rumors start? Simple, thousands of people are involved in building iPhone components and those that have the means know how to get inside information, once it starts the information spreads.
However, an update to their page makes this rumor questionable.
It is the same height as the just release Nano but wider and thicker and with the same iPhone 3G contours. It has 3 sensors, camera, mirror screen but no 3G.
No 3G? What’s the point? Also other rumors that they have posted before have proved to be just that – rumors. For example, iPod touch with GPS – way off.
Anyway, adding to the fun, a visit to the XSKN site, clearly shows a new page for iPhone nano, even though the product photo shows the iPhone 3G. Mistake in their IT department or just someone out to disturb us fanboys? (via TUAW) Apparently VAJA also had a dig at this iPhone nano, according to Macrumors although the link is not seen now but the page to sign up for the iPhone nano cases update is still there.
Probably nothing – new Mouse?
New Mouse for the new year? According to MacBlogz, there might be one that will incorporate positioning and multitouch detection, like how one uses the trackpads in the MacBooks.
A 2007 patent application details an “arbitrary shaped grippable member” (don’t get any filthy ideas here) that incorporates positioning and multitouch detection to determine a users action. In essence, it would act as one seamless area from which a user could scroll and pan by dragging a finger over the device’s surface. The mouse would also have the ability to process various movements and gestures assigned to different functions on the computer.
Probably but not at MacWorld – Large form iPod Touch
For big hands only. Tech Crunch has reliable sources (three and one had held it) that hints of a large form iPod Touch in 2009. Maybe its true – a dream come true for fans who wants a tablet or a Netbook from Apple. Or maybe its just for BigFoot.
The rest of the rumors
Highly Possible – Snow Leopard peeping out?
Phil Schiller to talk and demo about Snow Leopard. Guardian claimed that Snow Leopard will ship earlier than expected and that Schiller will demonstrate two new technologies in Snow Leopard that will push the speed of computing further – Grand Central and OpenCL.
The first technology, Grand Central, is designed to make better use of the Intel processors that sit inside the current range of Macs. The other, OpenCL, could have a more dramatic effect on performance for some programs as it will tap into the power of graphics processors (GPUs) that now goes to waste.
Probably – iWork’09 goes into the Cloud
9to5Mac has a source that let them in on that iWork’09 (consists of Pages, Keynote and Numbers) are going into the Cloud – not just as a storage but having a web interface, similar to MobileMe. Not much details about this as yet.
Not so much – iMovie to go up there too?
In a related story at Computerworld, Seth Weintraub who also writes for 9to5mac, says that Apple will also push iMovie up to MobileMe to provide uploading and editing of movies and then easily share them to the rest of the internet.
I find this probably pushing the limit of cloud computing because for one, uploading of raw movies for editing online will be slow for most people and that video editing requires substantial raw computing power. Editing a word document or spreadsheet or image is possible, but movie? Not now at least.
More DRM-free music and flexible pricing on tunes
CNet is reporting that Apple has made deals with the big three music labels to put expand their collection of DRM-free music in the Music Store but in exchange for flexible pricing, especially for new and hot tracks. With that, you will see DRM-free music from Sony BMG, Universal and Warner Music, joining EMI. You will also different pricing structure for current hits, new songs but not hits and the older songs costing the lowest.
However, whether that will result in Singapore getting our own Music store, is still something most of us won’t know.
One More Thing
Just two more days before Phil goes on stage for his maiden keynote presentation, what will he bring to us? Surprises or just the same-ol-same-ol. Or will Steve spring a surprise and do a _One More Thing”? We’ll know soon.
More to come as we get closer to Macworld. Stay tune.
The Mac mini also saw an update. It looks the same as the previous generation’s and comes in 3 configurations. First is a 2.26GHz Interl Core 2 Duo with 160 Gb hard disk, the second is a 2.53GHz with a 320Gb hard disk but the last one is a nice surprise.
The Macbook also saw a much needed update. It now sports an entirely new unibody polycarbonate enclosure. Like her bigger Pro cousin, the Macbook now comes with a built-in rechargeable battery, which boasts up to seven hours of wireless productivity with each charge. It comes in one flavor, clocking in at 2.26 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo and only at S$1588 if you add any additional extras.
