Rumors of the new iPhone are making their way around the web (see Business Insider). They are good looking and would cause iPhone enthusiasts to wish they had them... but the color alone wouldn't cause people to upgrade:
Think about it:
People are gobbling up netbooks for $400-$600 and the Amazon Kindle runs $359-$489... wouldn't a $500-$750 be a success? I would pre-order instantly.
I've written before that 2009 will be the year of the Netbook. As consumers get more accustomed to surfing the web on their cell phones, using online services (like Google Docs) and doing it on slim, portable devices - it makes sense that we will transition from larger, more powerful machines to Netbooks. And considering the economic climate, the significantly slimmer price is a major advantage.
A couple months ago, I previewed the Dell Mini 12 which in hindsight was better looking than it was functional (too little power and too slow).
But today, Engadget has write ups about two better Dell Netbooks: the Dell Mini 10 and the Dell Adamo. Though neither is as slick as the iPod Tablet I'm craving, both looks fantastic:
Dell Mini 10:
Dell Adamo:
CES 2009 is in full swing and as interesting as the technology on parade is the mood at the conference. And while I'm not in Las Vegas, I have been following the trends, mood and gadgets from the web (namely blogs, Twitter and Facebook). Day one of CES '09 ended much like yesterday's MacWorld keynote: nothing game-changing... but some of tantalizing moments. Thanks to Gizmodo, here are the three gadgets that I'm already craving (and when the price tags are announced, I'll be cringing):
1. Linksys Wireless Home Audio System Streams All Around Your House
why: there is no great wireless audio system. This looks like it could be it. If this was out a couple months ago, perhaps I'd have purchased instead of the Bose Companion. More on Gizmodo
#2. Modbook Pro: 1/2 iPod Tablet, 1/2 MacBook Pro
Why: Simply put, I want an iPod Tablet. This looks like an amazing product... with an amazing price tag: $4,999. Totally unreasonable price - but it looks amazing. More on Gizmodo
#3. Eee Keyboard: Gorgeous Touchscreen Keyboard
Why: A slim keyboard with tons of ports and the equivalent of an iPod Touch attached to it. Amazed we haven't seen similar concepts yet. More on Gizmodo
Macworld 2009 is around the corner and that means that the tech world and blogosphere are abuzz with rumors... 10 of which Fortune covers in the article "Top 10 Macworld rumors for 2009". It's a good, thorough list, but only two of the ten rumors get me excited; the other eight strike me as cool... but far from groundbreaking or - more bluntly - being very important. I assume Fortune agrees with me because these two Macworld rumors are listed as #1 and #2 (although I don't fully understand what their ranking system means):
2. New Apple TV/Time Capsule. This one also comes from an analyst. Shaw Wu, a veteran Apple watcher newly ensconsed at Kaufman Bros., wrote last week about the possibility that Apple will introduce a new consumer device — “an enhanced version of Apple TV and/or Time Capsule” — that would give users access to their media content, SlingBox style, from anywhere on the Internet.
I am neither an Apple TV nor a Time Capsule user; but a significant improvement in Apple TV in particular creates an avenue into a wider consumer market. Lots of companies and technologies are competing to win attention in your family room and on your TV. Apple is one of them and this could mark the entrance in a larger, more consumer-friendly manner.
1. Steve Jobs. Show or no-show, Apple’s CEO is both Macworld 2009’s No. 1 rumor and No. 1 source of rumors — whether it be that he’s stepping down, that his health is failing, that he doesn’t feel there’s enough news in Nos. 1-9 to justify a Steve Jobs keynote, or that he just doesn’t feel like playing in Macworld’s sandbox anymore. We favor the theory that he’s set the stage brilliantly for a surprise cameo appearance
Not exactly an announcement as sexy as the iPhone 3G - but every bit as important. Steve Jobs is synonymous with Apple and (right or wrong) his health has been the subject of many Apple rumors and stock swings. Getting truth to those rumors clearly changes the direction of Apple, its management and potentially its product roadmap.
It's also important to note that Fortune doesn't include either the iPhone Nano or iPod Tablet in their rumor list... If either were in the list, I would immediately add them to the my list.
After thinking more about yesterday’s post "Amazon Kindle + iPod Touch Tablet + Netbooks…?", I am convinced that the Amazon Kindle (which I’m a big fan of) is going to die at the hands of Apple. The Kindle is great – but at it’s core, it is an electronic book reader.
When Apple launches its forthcoming iPod Touch Tablet - you’ll have an ultra-sexy netbook with iTunes and all the other non-phone goodies Apple packages on it’s iPhone… and the book reader will be one possible feature.
iTunes already sells music, movies, television shows and applications… where are the books? Apple hasn’t had a device capable of delivering a good reading experience. But the iPod Tablet would change that. It would offer the same – and probably better – format that the Kindle does. It would be tied to your iTunes account such that you can manage all of your media files simply and from a single location.
And because it’s a netbook, you can access the internet to link out, subscribe to blogs, and so forth. Eliminating the downfall of the current Kindle (changes are coming in Kindle v2). The only thing lacking is Amazon’s constant connectivity through their wireless deal… but I suppose you could access your books on your iPhone as well (if you were so inclined) – or I am sure that AT&T would be willing to offer some monthly subscription / service.
Finally, inventory shouldn’t be an issue. Amazon has proven that authors and publishers are interested in selling electronically – and the sales numbers support its success. They’d gladly open up to another sales channel provided that Apple doesn’t screw them in the negotiated fee / revenue split.
Alas, much of this will come down to pricing. If the Kindle’s price doesn’t drop quickly, Apple will have an opportunity to take market share with a comparably priced Tablet… at prices anywhere near one another, the Tablet will win because it offers so much more in addition to e-books. But if the Kindle can handily win the pricing war… and solve inventory woes… conusmuers will have to ask if the Tablet’s extra features justify the higher price tag.
