2010 Apple Predictions

[XboxEvolved]

So I have been talking to some friends "in the know" that were pretty dead-on about some of the stuff that has been happening at Apple the past few months, and based off of what they are saying and my own predictions here is what I think will happen with some of Apple's products and announcements:

-The tablet Apple has been working on will launch subsidized via ATT, Verizon, or a combo of both for around $200. Not really sure about how it will do, but I would guess not very good, Im thinking it could be a flop but who knows, I would guess in March

-The Macbook Pro line will see some moderate updates, with the highend 15 and 17in getting i5 mobile, possibly i7, sometime before March

-By the middle of the year more powerful Mac Pros with actual real graphics cards in them, far more powerful processors, possibly not Xeon but more consumer grade, possibly a redesign or a revision of the current case design, will be the first (and only place in 2010) with Apple products where you can get the new BD=RW Superdrive, although I suspect that by the end of 2010, Apple will release a seperate BD Superdrive USB addon, and perhaps put them in iMacs.

-By the end of the year, with BTO Bluray reading iMacs, the entire line will also be updated to at least i5 by the end of the year.

-The 30' ACD is discontinued in favor of a 30' or bigger LED display, the prices overall for Apple's displays goes down

-The iPhone 3GS might be the main phone Apple concentrates on due to concentrating more on their tablet, instead the 3GS will get memory bumps and price reductions, the 3G will go from $99 to free.

-AppleTV still sucks, macmini is still around, time capsule, but they probably slowly start to let these things fade...

-Steve Jobs steps down by the end of the year, or announces he is stepping down as CEO to take on a lesser role, be part of the board of directors, or leave out right, he can't do it forever.

 

[Cboss]

I think an Apple tablet will be much more than $200. IPhones cost more than that.

Also, Apple just expanded the Mac Mini line. I don't see it going away anytime soon.

 

[rdowns]

Nice try. There are very few people inside Apple that have exposure to more than one product line let alone knowledge of almost all their products.

 

[XboxEvolved]

I never said what parts of it I got from friends..much of what I'm saying is just what I would assume they do.

Also what makes you think the tablet won't be subsidized and require subscriptions...or have advertisements every few minutes.

 

[t0mat0]

1 by 1:

You don't need to have a friend of a friend to have an educated guess about the areas mentioned - predictions in these veins have been done before by Macrumors veterans if you look through the threads.

Tablet - it's likely to be a higher end launch- it's not netbook prices, if they do launch it. Think MacBook Air launch, and number of buyers or more.
I'd imagine they'd do an unsubsidized version. There are the chips out there to do dual CDMA and UTMS these days to do ATT vs Verizon.

MBP has a steady 8 month cycle. Even the MacRUmors guide would say refresh around February. Isn't in any way insightful. See the Waiting for Arrandale thread...

Mac Pros - again, a no brainer. See the Buyer's Guide - the Mac Pros are I think (apart from the perennial ACDs) the main product line looking for an update. It's a given. SL's moves indicates a move towards better GPUs being proffered too (alongside the Nvidia Macbook line up refresh saga).

BluRay as a BTO - has always been on offer going 3rd party. A case redesign? Not really amazing insight either... Apple's been cold on BR front - iMac's pointing to using DisplayPort in for input for BR discs, and 3rd party drives are currently doable for current Mac Pros. Apple could offer them for Mac Pros but it isn't a huge thing. APple's much more likely to be pushing SSD amongst other things than BR in the near future.

iMacs can already read BR btw (well, at least teh 27 inch, i'd imagine that'd roll out in a refresh).

30' ACD being discontinued? Wow, not amazing insight either. When was the last ACD refresh? The iMac refresh is the answer. Apple's on file as saying they can't do 30 inch yet, but 27's good so far. When a 30 or more inch LPS is feasible, they'll roll it out. The iMac has brought ACD prices down already in a sense - the 27 inch iMac has a resolution near the 30 inch ACD anyhow.

iPhone 3GS update. Maybe, hmmm, around June, July perhaps?
3GS will get more thanmemory bumps.

-AppleTV still sucks, macmini is still around, time capsule, but they probably slowly start to let these things fade...

That's repeating news from last year. ATV as a concept won't fade. It's being phoenix from the flames. Expect more once a tablet comes forth/ iTunes X.

-Steve Jobs steps down by the end of the year, or announces he is stepping down as CEO to take on a lesser role, be part of the board of directors, or leave out right, he can't do it forever.

He's already stepped down a bit. It's a given at some point he'll have a lesser role.

 

[Consultant]

This amount of wild speculation are usually not seen here. Mostly wrong or obvious.

1. Think about how much iPhone costs. Tablet would have more parts, more R&D. So dream on. Apple is not going for the bottom of the barrel / netbook market. FYI more than half netbook purchases are unsatisfied because netbooks are similar to 3 year old computers in term of speed.

2. OMG updates, on a computer?

3. OMG more powerful computers? FYI Mac Pro can buy the high end graphics cards as add on already. Plus see next.

4. NO NEW PRODUCTS this year.
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/810070/

5. OMG upgrade of a product? And old product price goes down? Very hard to figure that out.

6. Apple IS concentrating on 3gs.
Storage does not equal to memory (RAM).

Cost of iPhone is not the factor for purchase. Some people just don't need a data plan.

7. AppleTV: it does what it says it does. Why does it suck, if a product works as advertised?

MacMini: yes it will be around. It's used in specialized installations to save businesses money.

8. Wild guess.

 

[AppleFan123...]

6 Predictions for Apple Incorporation for 2010

*1: Complete Blue Ray integration - Need HDMI support beyond Tv

*2: Expand iPhone to other Carriers

*3: Make deal with Google for an expensive GPS Ap - ~$100 Seems like a reasonable price to me.

*4: Video Cameras on iPod Touch & Classic

*5: Fabled Multi-touch sensitive personal computer.

*6: Introduction of OLED into product line. - Benefits:
#Amazing HD Displays
#Set market standard for the technology
# Greatly increases battery life on portable electronics.

 

[macfan881]

My predictions.

Ipod touch gets the long awaited Camera

Normal ipod updates

iPhone 4.0 big update some backrounding capabilities theme customasation app organization via iPhone client.

bto Blu-Ray on all mackbook pro iMac Mac mini Mac Pro.

iPhone comes to Verizon/t-mobile

Subidized Tablet on Verizon/att

Sneak peak on the next big upadte 10.7

 

[miki66]

My predictions.

Ipod touch gets the long awaited Camera

Normal ipod updates

iPhone 4.0 big update some backrounding capabilities theme customasation app organization via iPhone client.

bto Blu-Ray on all mackbook pro iMac Mac mini Mac Pro.

iPhone comes to Verizon/t-mobile

Subidized Tablet on Verizon/att

Sneak peak on the next big upadte 10.7

second that t-mobile iphone (although that really sounds impossible to me thou)

 

[talkingfuture]

Same as I said last year -

The usual spec upgrades to Macs and iPods.

A Tablet

A second tier of iPhones

One year I'll be right.

 

[MorphingDragon]

Why would the MacPro include Consumer parts?

 

[macfan881]

I'm also adding apple will announce there working on a Gaming Console whether it be hand held or a normal system but with the recent rumors i wouldn't be surprised.

 

[thegoldenmackid]

-The tablet Apple has been working on will launch subsidized via ATT, Verizon, or a combo of both for around $200. Not really sure about how it will do, but I would guess not very good, Im thinking it could be a flop but who knows, I would guess in March

I am thinking not Verizon, given their current ads, I can't see Apple being very happy. It's going to do well, but it's going to cost more then $200, even with subsidization.

-The Macbook Pro line will see some moderate updates, with the highend 15 and 17in getting i5 mobile, possibly i7, sometime before March

Yes, January/February.

-By the middle of the year more powerful Mac Pros with actual real graphics cards in them, far more powerful processors, possibly not Xeon but more consumer grade, possibly a redesign or a revision of the current case design, will be the first (and only place in 2010) with Apple products where you can get the new BD=RW Superdrive, although I suspect that by the end of 2010, Apple will release a seperate BD Superdrive USB addon, and perhaps put them in iMacs.

Don't see a case redesign or a consumer based approach.

-By the end of the year, with BTO Bluray reading iMacs, the entire line will also be updated to at least i5 by the end of the year.

No Blu-Ray.

-The 30' ACD is discontinued in favor of a 30' or bigger LED display, the prices overall for Apple's displays goes down

Who knows when it will happen, I see no reason why next year is "the year," but, I will bank on prices staying the same.

-The iPhone 3GS might be the main phone Apple concentrates on due to concentrating more on their tablet, instead the 3GS will get memory bumps and price reductions, the 3G will go from $99 to free.

There will be a redesign, they aren't going to do the 3GT. In response to the Droid, Apple will definitely feature a complete redesign of the iPhone, probably no 4G hardware, but definitely new casing and a new OS.

-AppleTV still sucks, macmini is still around, time capsule, but they probably slowly start to let these things fade...

Umm, they will get moderate updates

-Steve Jobs steps down by the end of the year, or announces he is stepping down as CEO to take on a lesser role, be part of the board of directors, or leave out right, he can't do it forever.

No, keep dreaming...

 

[CaryMacGuy]

In 2010, I am sure we will continue to see some interesting innovation out of Cupertino...

iPhone 4.0 Software will be a lesser update. Apple seems to have addressed a lot of the complaints about things being ignored. I expect to see things like user optional background processes (for audio streaming apps), maybe a turn by turn implementation of Google Maps (similar to the Droid)

My prediction for the iPhone device will be the first major redesign since its inception. I predict an OLED screen capable of displaying HD video and a full 16x9 display. I think that we will see a front camera for self portraits and video (and maybe a Photobooth app). However, I don't see Apple supplying an iChat app. I can see them opening up the front camera API for developers to run with. I cannot say that the iPhone will get any thinner but it might. Also, I am not going to enter the Verizon/Sprint iPhone debate. I cannot make heads or tails when it comes to that.

As far as the tablet, I can see something but I think it will be heavily marketed towards students (the size and weight of a spiral notebook). It will have the ability to be a textbook viewer, fully featured version of iWork 10, internet device, it will run iPhone apps, and it will have all the benefits of iPhone OS 4.0 (whatever that is). Finally it will also connect to a major wireless carrier for data (once again, not going to enter that debate).

I also think we will see small updates to existing products.

 

[leomac08]

i think for 2010

1.) THE APPLE TABLET WILL EXIST....IN SOME WAY....or FORM..

2.)NO NEW MACBOOK PRO'S!!!!! ONLY UPGRADES!!!!

3.)HOW ABOUT ADDING TO ALL MACBOOK PRO'S INTEL CORE 3 DUO CHIPS! haha or Xeon..

4.) BLU-RAY for LATE SEPT 2010 or JAN 2011

5.)3GS will be the $99......the 4G (new) iphone will be $199 and SAY GOOD-BYE to the 3G!!!!!4-EVER

6.) APPLETV will come in more memory!!!

7.)STEVE JOBS WILL BE CEO OF APPLE UNTIL HE PASSES AWAY.....(which will probably be unknown for millenias to come...)

 

[greygray]

* Apple Tablet gets released at a pricepoint of $800.
* iPhone gets updated with a slight redesign and much more features.
* Arrandale comes to the Macbook Pros.
* iPod touch gains a camera.

That's my $0.02.

 

[leomac08]

* Apple Tablet gets released at a pricepoint of $800.
* iPhone gets updated with a slight redesign and much more features.
* Arrandale comes to the Macbook Pros.
* iPod touch gains a camera.

That's my $0.02.

+1 i like the camera with ipod touch.....

 

[TuffLuffJimmy]

So I have been talking to some friends "in the know" that were pretty dead-on about some of the stuff that has been happening at Apple the past few months, and based off of what they are saying and my own predictions here is what I think will happen with some of Apple's products and announcements:

-The tablet Apple has been working on will launch subsidized via ATT, Verizon, or a combo of both for around $200. Not really sure about how it will do, but I would guess not very good, Im thinking it could be a flop but who knows, I would guess in March

Absolutely wrong.

-The Macbook Pro line will see some moderate updates, with the highend 15 and 17in getting i5 mobile, possibly i7, sometime before March

Sure.

By the middle of the year more powerful Mac Pros with actual real graphics cards in them, far more powerful processors, possibly not Xeon but more consumer grade, possibly a redesign or a revision of the current case design, will be the first (and only place in 2010) with Apple products where you can get the new BD=RW Superdrive, although I suspect that by the end of 2010, Apple will release a seperate BD Superdrive USB addon, and perhaps put them in iMacs.

Absolutely wrong. If anyone gets bluray, everyone gets bluray. And Mac Pros will be updated in January, not the middle of the year.

-The 30' ACD is discontinued in favor of a 30' or bigger LED display, the prices overall for Apple's displays goes down

Sure

The iPhone 3GS might be the main phone Apple concentrates on due to concentrating more on their tablet, instead the 3GS will get memory bumps and price reductions, the 3G will go from $99 to free.

Absolutely wrong. The 3G will be discontinued, the 3GS will take it's place at $99 and a new iPhone will be introduced.

-AppleTV still sucks, macmini is still around, time capsule, but they probably slowly start to let these things fade...

The Mac mini is a best seller, it doesn't matter how much Apple downplays the mini it will not be discontinued. AppleTV, will either be revised heavily or go the way of HiFi. Time Capsule is too new, and works too well with Time Machine to fade out.

 

[jwt]

My prediction, Jan 1, 2011, still no BluRay. So sad.

 

[Colton534]

Anybody have good predictions for the 13" MBP line? arrandale chips or not? I'd rather stay away from the 15" and 17"

 

[Colton534]

?

 

[Colton534]

4. NO NEW PRODUCTS this year.
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/810070/

We are discussing 2010 products, this thread pertains to the last quarter of 2009.

 

[Silas1066]

The Apple Sensory Deprivation Tank: comes in classic white a platinum colors