Following on from my WWDC 2008 Predictions Part One – iPhone, lets look at the Mac OS – OSX.
OSX 10.6 Announced – 70%
Apple has updated OSX 10 on a regular basis since it was released. A fact they were pretty proud of – comparing 5 updates to OSX since the release of Windows XP. Give or take, it’s been about every 18 months between major updates.
Its now 8 months since the release of OSX 10.5 Leopard in October 2007.
Given they seem to like about 6 months of testing and build up for most releases – the time is kinda NOW to at least announce it. If not at the WWDC – then when? MacWorld 09 in another 6-7 months?
With the focus definitely on 3G iPhones and other possible announcements, 10.6 might be buried this week. But the timing shouldn’t be seen as “early” if they do. Perhaps 10.6 will have even more integration with the iPhone and other lifestyle / business options.
OSX 10.6 – No New Features? 0%
Would find it very hard to believe that OSX 10.6 would just be a “stability” upgrade. Sounds too much like a Service Pack 1 to me. Very Microsoft-ish.
It might not have the “300+ New Features” that 10.5 Leopard had, but it won’t be a glorified Point upgrade either.
OSX 10.6 Intel Macs Only – 65%
Apple have been switching to Intel based chips for over 2 years now. Sooner or later they will leave behind the old Power PC architecture. I’m not sure how long OS9 lasted once OSX was released – but it was 2-3 years.
If they DID support Power PC chips in 10.6, that would mean by the time it was released, and the life of the OS, they are likely to be supporting machines that are 5-6 years old at the end of it.
It seems a bit early – but long term I think its a great idea. Leopard is a great OSX to leave for older machines, but going forward I think intel only is the way to go.
Many programs are already specifying intel only machines.
10.6 Name – Snow Leopard – 90%
It’s as good as any.
The Apple World Wide Developers Conference – WWDC08 – is barely days away from kicking off. Everyone is expecting some Pretty Big Things to be announced – 3G iPhones, OSX 10.6, new .Mac service, new MacBooks, iPhone Nano and lots more.
Rather than one big post, I’ll break up my thoughts on what I expect /hope to see. Let’s start with the iPhone.
iPhone 3G – 100%
Yes the 3G iPhone will be announced. There has been too many phone carriers around the world announcing plans to offer the iPhone “soon” for it not to be announced. There has been no “leak” or “rumor” from Apple to throw cold water on peoples expectations – nothing to say that it’s been delayed till the end of the year.
Availability might be another thing. I’d say it’s 50-50 as to the 3G iPhone being available as of the announcement on Monday, or available “in a few weeks – or even a few months” as the original iPhone was. I doubt the release would be more than 2 months away, and of course I’d love to see it available internationally as of this week.
Not to mention the hundreds of millions of dollars of FREE press and hype Apple got with the extended introduction last time.
iPhone 2.0 – 100%
Separate to the 3G iPhone being announced will be the upgrading of the software for all iPhones to version 2.0. This was announced back in February 08, but I expect a big deal will be made of the applications that people have already made with the SDK.
(The Software Developers Kit – SDK, and the new Apps Store, allows anyone to write and distribute application for the iPhone, rather than just Apple as it has been for the first 12 months of iPhone)
Expect to see Steve Jobs introducing some big name companies who have written apps for the iPhone covering games, enterprise, productivity etc.
GPS on 3G iPhone? – 90%
If they can keep the size and the battery life – then GPS should be included with the 3G iPhone.
Better camera? 95%
The chipset that Apple are supposedly including with the 3G iPhone supports a 5 Megapixel camera. As one of the disappointing “includes” with the original iPhone – I think upgrading it to what is basically the standard for decent phone cameras now, is a done deal.
Triple Band – Quad Band – 95%
The 3G iPhone has to be capable of working in all of the markets that it has been “unofficially announced” for. Plus too many travel now between countries and wont accept a phone that doesn’t go with them.
With all the effort Apple have put into iPhone 2.0 for getting it to work with enterprise – especially Microsoft Exchange, it only makes sense to make the 3G iPhone global as best they can.
Nano iPhone / Alternate Models – 10%
I don’t think Apple will release more than one model of iPhone. I’m 90% sure we will see a new model before Christmas, but Apple won’t want to take away from the 3G iPhone / 2.0 announcement itself.
A Premium 3G model will lead the way in sales and revenue before offering more models in September with a iPod refresh.
Plastic Back / Colors – 10% / 75%
I really hope Apple don’t give up the Aluminum back for a plastic thing. The mockups “leaked” onto the web look cheap and nasty – I just don’t like plastic. Given the noise they have made by converting a few million computers from plastic to Aluminum, I don’t see them replacing that with an iPhone they will sell 10 times the amount of.
I really DO hope we see a couple of colors. A Product (RED) iPhone would be awesome (perhaps Orange?). As long as its not the wusy bland pastels of the current Nano iPods.
