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Macworld2007 posts

Filed under: Macworld, Hardware, Software, Features, iPhone, Apple TV

MWSF Keynote in a nutshell

Macworld2007's keynote left a lot of things unsaid. Any of you expecting a Leopard ship date, 2007 iSoftware announcements, or even coverage of Adobe and Microsoft flagship products were left wanting. In fact, going back through my notes, the keynote basically came down to this:

9:15 The Intel transition.
9:20 Paramount movies and the new iTunes ads.
9:25 AppleTV announcement and demo. Ships February 2007.
9:40 The iPhone. Ships June 2007.
11:10 The end.

By my calculations, that turns out to about 5 minutes each for Intel and Paramount/iTunes, 15 minutes for AppleTV and an hour and a half for iPhone. Steve never even got to announce the new Airport Extreme with its wireless hard disk capabilities. It was all about the iPhone. And here's how the iPhone presentation broke down:

9:40 It's an iPhone. It has no keyboard, runs on "OS X", syncs to your home computer OS X data, and has the following hardware features.
9:55 Interaction demo: multi-finger gestures, iPod functionality and cover flow.
10:00 Call-making demo: Conference calls and visual voice mail.
10:15 Content demo: iPhotos and rich text e-mail; surfing with Safari and Widgets.
10:30 Content providers: Google and Yahoo executives.
10:40 Accessories and Price announcement.
10:50 Cingular partnership discussed.
10:55 Wrapping up, thanking employees, mini-Concert.

All things considered, it was an exciting and productive keynote but after twenty five minutes of introductory material, it was all iPhone all the way.

Filed under: iPhone

Apple VPs confirm no 3rd party iPhone apps

The lucky Gizmodo guys got their paws on an actual iPhone plus an hour of Q&A with some Apple VPs. Here are some of their scoops: The OS isn't going to be "OS X for real." It's more like a pseudo-OS X and, like the iPod, it will not have a public API and open development. This confirms what Dan posted earlier today about no user-installable apps. Which is a shame. I'd really love to see the iPod and iPhone get opened up for more third party software. The screen is the same polycarbonite material as the iPod overlaid with a touch element. Finally, there won't be any WiFi or cellular data syncing, only sync-via-docking.

Thanks Matt

Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, iPod Family, iPhone

Nic Carr on the iPhone

Nic Carr has a quick op-ed up over at RoughType that's worth popping by to read. In it, he contrasts Bill Gates with Steve Jobs. Gates, he says, pitches a "'digital lifestyle' that nobody wants...[suggesting] that people want nothing more than to be network administrators." Jobs, in contrast, "is not interested in amateur productions". Carr suggests that Jobs separates the design from the audience, producing usable tools rather than general workflows. It's clear to me that Apple is heading ever more in the direction of digital appliances (the iPhone, AppleTV, etc), but this is also the same company that brings us XCode and Interface Builder. Clearly Apple knows the difference between users and developers and is building their product line to enhance that difference. Just like Macworld is in January and WWDC is in the Summer.


Thanks Joel Martin.

Filed under: Macworld, Analysis / Opinion, iPod Family, iPhone

Will the iPhone cannibalize iPod sales? Or vice versa?

Yesterday, Steve Jobs introduced the iPhone. It is clearly the next generation of iPod. It's the full-screen video iPod we've waited for. It's the full-color fully-designed interface we've waited for. It's the fully-connected wifi and bluetooth device we've waited for. And that doesn't even mention the built in speakers and microphone.

So why does it have to be an iPhone? Surely there's a huge market out there who wants all these features but who doesn't want the Cingular piece of the action. Of course, many of you will rightly point out that one can purchase the iPhone, maybe even use the iPhone to good effect, without using the phone itself. The included two year contract is a bit of a stumbling block, especially if monthly charges (which I'm still really unclear about) apply.

So why not offer a phone-less iPod? It doesn't have to wait for FCC approval except insofar as any Bluetooth or WiFi device might need some paperwork done. Why not sell a basic "true fullscreen video iPod" at the $299 price point that removing the phone hardware might allow, to the large market of iPod upgraders who'd jump on buying one like a starving Georgia Tech student on barbeque?

My guess is that introducing a phone-less iPod would cannibalize early sales of the iPhone. Of all the goodies introduced about the phone, it's the phone component that's the least glamorous. Sure, a lot of us would pay a premium to carry fewer gadgets in our pockets. Combining the iPod and the phone and a lot of the PocketPC features makes sense--and I tell you as a PocketPC user, that the iPhone does not score too well on the PocketPC range of capabilities--but it also takes a lot of choice out of the equation for those of us under existing phone contracts who are looking for a better iPod and not necessarily an iPhone.

So when do we see an actual G6 iPod sans the phone connectivity? Your guess is as good as mine.

Filed under: Apple TV

AppleTV requires iTunes 7.1

We may be living in a 7.0.2 world, but AppleTV seems destined for an iTunes 7.1 one. Eagle eyed TUAW reader Chris Hileman points us to evidence of iTunes 7.1's imminent release. Pop over to the AppleTV specs page and check out the system requirements. Along with Mac OS X 10.3.9 or later and Win XP SP2, you'll find iTunes 7.1. Since AppleTV will be released sometime next month, maybe we can look forward to an iTunes upgrade as well.

Filed under: Macworld, Humor, iPhone

iPhone on MySpace

I'm pretty sure that this MySpace page comes from a fan, and not from Apple, but it still made me chuckle. The iPhone is listed as being male, 30 years old, with 0 friends. There's a bit of the Apple hype cut and pasted onto the page. For more iPhone goodness, take a look at all the Flickr photos tagged with iPhone. There are almost 2000 of them last time I checked, showing the same wonderful iPhone/Apple fanbase as the MySpace page. Further, the iPhone announcement looks to be the 2nd most dugg story in the last year. Go fanboys!

Thanks Mr. Lizard

Filed under: Macworld, Analysis / Opinion, iPhone

Dan Warne hates 10 things about the iPhone


Nothing in this world is perfect, other than hindsight, and the iPhone is no exception. People will encounter quirks when using this product in the real world. Hey, it happens (especially with a first rev of a complex product).

Dan Warne has given a little thought to the iPhone and has created a list of ten things he hates about it. Considering that the iPhone has been out for less than a day this is an impressive feat. Dan lists, amongst his complaints:
  • The battery isn't removable
  • EDGE (it is slow compared to the other options)
  • 5 hour talk time
He makes some good point but isn't it interesting that despite these 10 things he hates about the iPhone he is still going to get one. That, my friends, is the true power of Apple.

Is there anything about the iPhone that you hate? Sound off in the comments.

Filed under: Macworld, Analysis / Opinion, iPhone

iPhone Will Not Allow User Installable Applications

While I was back taking pictures of the iPhone for a second time, I got chatting with one of the security/information attendants guarding the device from our grubby little fingers. The impression I got from the information coming out of the keynote was that the device would feature a full install of Mac OS X, and would run any and all desktop-based applications, as indicated by Apple asserting that the device "Runs OS X." You can imagine my surprise when while talking to the booth attendant I was informed that users will not actually be able to install any applications. This is a point of utter confusion with me. Why would Apple refer to the software running on the device as "OS X," when in reality, it will be running the long rumored stripped-down version of the operating system.

The inability for users to install additional applications of their choosing certainly makes me think again about my intentions to purchase the device. While the iPhone is certainly revolutionary and exciting, why should I buy it if I won't be able to install additional applications such as a terminal/IRC client or Skype, as I would do with competing devices such as the Palm Treo.

It has been suggested by some that the inclusion of Widgets in the device would allow this kind of expandability, but it doesn't make much sense to me to try and fit full-fledged applications into something designed to hold a few lines of JavaScript.

Filed under: Macworld, iPod Family, Rumors, iPhone

Revisiting the Rumors: Rebecca Runkle proved right

About a month ago, AppleInsider reported that Morgan Stanley analyst Rebecca Runkle's research note detailed her findings from unnamed inside sources. Her predictions were:
  • 4GB and 8GB models, priced at $599 and $649, although she suggested that a slightly lower list price would be a conservative guess.
  • Full screen 3.5" LCD about 0.4" thick with a virtual click wheel and soft touch design.
  • Metal casing, similar to the nano, in multiple colors.
  • Camera, digital audio playback, video, e-mail and calendar.
  • Most likely carrier: Cingular.

Pretty accurate stuff, wouldn't you say?

Filed under: Macworld, Cult of Mac

Flickr Find: iWoz sighting

TUAW reader Tyler Howarth had a rare encounter this morning with the elusive Wozbeast. The Woz, which is not often found in the wild, was encountered just outside of Moscone North this morning. By approaching him carefully and not showing agression, Tyler and his friend Mike were able to entice him into a photo shot. The Woz was also spotted shaking the hands of fans and signing a Macbook Pro. This probably does not technically count as twitching, as Mac events are the natural Woz habitat.

Filed under: Macworld, iPhone

iPhone: Up Close and Personal Gallery



I was able to sneak back through the crowd and grab a few more pictures of the new iPhone, including detailed shots of the innovative interface. This is about as close as we're going to get to the device until launch.

Filed under: Macworld, Analysis / Opinion

Software Not Addressed In Macworld Keynote

Today was certainly exciting day for everyone following the Macworld Expo. The announcement of the iPhone and the Apple TV, the latter more so than the former, certainly blew this blogger away. The one category of products expected by almost everyone, but missing from the keynote, was Apple's lineup of software, including the iLife suite and Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard. This begs the question about what Apple's plans are for the perennial update to the software suites, and when they plan to announce the release date and feature set for Leopard.

Filed under: Macworld, Accessories, Apple

iPhone Announced


Steve Jobs just dropped a bombshell on the audience attending his Macworld Keynote Address. Jobs at first announced the product as three separate products; a widescreen video iPod, a phone, and a mobile internet communicator. This was exciting enough, but I'm sure I'm not the only person who was a bit disappointed to think about carrying three devices. According to Laurie who is listening to the feed from the expo floor, the crowd went absolutely wild at this announcement.

The iPhone will use a revolutionary interface called MultiTouch, first seen in Apple patent filings over a year ago. The iPhone will run OS X, and be capable of running desktop-class applications.

The Nitty Gritty:

  • Single front button.
  • 3.5 inch widescreen display featuring the highest pixel density ever shipped in a portable device.
  • 2 megapixel camera.
  • iPod dock.
  • Proximity sensor which switches between modes and screen orientation based on how a user holds it.
  • 11.6 mm thick.
  • Syncs with iTunes
  • GSM/EDGE
  • Wifi
  • Bluetooth
  • Cinglar only.
  • Visual voicemail - shows a list of your voicemails like you see a list of emails.
  • Error correcting on-screen keyboard.
  • Gestural interface
  • Mail.
  • Safari.
  • Google Maps.
  • Widgets.
  • Switches seamlessly between EDGE and WiFi.
  • Free Yahoo! IMAP email to all iPhone customs.
  • GPS
  • 5 hour video battery life.
  • 16 hour audio battery life.
The 4GB costs $499 and the 8GB $599 (includes a 2 year contract). It is shipping in June.


[Photo via Engadget]

Filed under: Macworld, Apple Corporate, iPod Family, Rumors, Apple Financial, iTunes

Wall Street rises on Apple rumors

CNN Money reports that today's Apple rumors helped boost US stock prices this morning at the opening bell. Between the Cingular deal for the iPhone broken last night by the Wall Street Journal and news that Paramount/Viacom may join the iTunes store for catalog sales, it looks like good news for tech stocks all around.

Of course, we here at TUAW do not recommend investing your life savings in any particular stock. As far as monkeys throwing darts at stock listings go, we bet those monkeys would outperform us in a heartbeat.

Filed under: Macworld, Apple Corporate, Retail, Bad Apple

Greenpeace Greens Apple Store San Francisco



Greenpeace today, as part of its GreenMyApple.org initiative, "greened" Apple's flagship San Francisco retail store to raise awareness of toxic substances present in electronics manufactured and sold by the Cupertino, CA company. Greenpeace members handed our flyers while a large-scale projector was set to RGB 0,255,0 and pointed at the iconic glowing Apple on the stores facade. This TUAW reporter was there, camera ready, to document the dramatic display. Click through to the gallery.

Tip of the Day

Holding the Command key (aka the Apple key) and pressing Tab will cycle through your open applications. It's easier to Cmd-Tab if you are Copy (Cmd-C) and Pasting (Cmd-V) to and from various applications.


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