[caohanlu]

I'm very excited about the "Mac Touch" - brilliant idea, truly...

[DisabledTrucker]

I posted mine here http://www.macworld..../01/predictionsreader.html before seeing this article, but I'd like to add a few things I forgot in that one.

Apple strikes a deal with Dell, where they can build Apple clones but, they have to allow Apple to use it's Alienware SLI exchangable video card technology so it can add that to it's new line of iMacs which it does hoping to quell the people who are looking to be able to upgrade their computers, it also allows an easier way into those iMacs where they can also upgrade the processors, memory and hard drives, these new shells come in various "Apple" colors as well as wood grains and the basic black, white, and grey's. Wanting to compete with the XBOX360, Apple finally releases it's own console device that uses solid state drives as well as being shaped like an actual apple and works with the iMac's. Being forced by the law suits, Apple unlocks it's iPhone and allows it to be used on AT&T or other GSM based networks, here in the U.S. They also embrace both the new WiMax as well as wireless and fiber optic cable, which AT&T promises to make available to all it's customers by the end of the year, and this time follows through on, starting with it's newly acquired BellSouth customers. AT&T and Apple create a new venture as well, where their cell phones also can be used as home phones with Apple providing a new iPhone that can act as both using wi-fi at home or in the office with cellular away from it. They also add a 5 MP camera to the iPhone as well as new solid state drives to them with vastly more storage capabilities.

In his quest to keep iTunes store going, Steve releases all of Pixar studios content on it for free only on his birthday, then announces that all of their content will be released in HD quality H.264 MP4 videos that can be burned to DVD's at a reduced cost over buying them in a store, usually at a 14% savings, to allow for cost of the media. Disney and others quickly follow suit, except they don't give anything away for free. This allows for Apple to increase prices for those movies but, the ones that they still sale without all the "extras" will be at the reduced rate, including and especially the ones broadcast on public tv, which lose their DRM protections. In order to continue to compete and in order to quell it's lawsuit, Apple releases it's full music catalog without DRM and upgrades everyones music for free if they chose to have it done, and on piece-meal instead of an "all at once" deal.

With Apple looking to add features of Skype into it's next edition of iChat, they purchase it and incorporate it into the next edition of the iPod Touch. while also giving it a slightly bigger screen. Not to be outdone by Microsoft, Apple also partners with Honda and Toyota to release the iHybrid, which gets 50+ mpg and uses it's well known voice features as well as a newly developed retina scanner through the iSight cameras installed, that must be used to operate/unlock the vehicle and gives them a way to add video to the cellular broadcasts that are achieved by plugging in your iPhone or iPod Touch. Your car starts by using your voice but also has a backup key for if you get laryngitis or strep throat, that requires you to blow on it before it will activate the credit card strip that holds the code, to keep you from driving while intoxicated. The GPS unit in your car can also now be used to update the one in your iPhone and visa versa. Your emails can also now be read to you while your driving as you get them and can be saved, transferred, or printed out on the built-in printer in the dash. Your iMovie and Garageband creations can also now be played back on the monitors in the passenger areas. While the car is parked in the driveway, you can upload/download your creations to the vehicle from the house via wireless "n" and store them on the solid state drive bank tucked in the trunk area. These new cars are 100% recycled and recyclable and use airless tires but are able to withstand an impact at 70 mph with minimal damage and have built-in speed and collision sensors that go off if you go too fast or get too close to another vehicle. These speed sensors are GPS controlled and are updated by the highway patrols of each area so they can also tell that your in a work zone. With these two features unable to be disabled, they make excellent first time driver and elderly vehicles, who also want a coupe version of them thus they are released in both coupe and sedan models. Steve also embraces this and has a special edition hybrid version of one made using hydrogen fuel instead of gas which Honda opens a station near his home and office to accommodate him and his employees whom must also now drive one to work. This special edition for Apple employees gets 150 miles on a tank of hydrogen and is their bonus for helping Apple triple it's profits in 2008 over 2007. The cars come out with "Apple" paint jobs, interiors, and logos on them. Oh, they also come pre-loaded with some of the Beatles music in them provided by the Apple music company that holds the licenses to those.

With so many people stealing the Mac OS to put it on their "Hackentoshs" for the ability to have upgradable systems as well as more storage options, Apple first releases a "iSoho" system which gives them basically the same thing as the "Pro" but uses only one processor and is geared more for the small and home office, then they move to release the operating system from it's DRM in one of Steve Job's anti-DRM attacks and it can now be used on any computer that embraces Apple's strict technology licenses, which they make profits off of. I also look for them to combine an AMD/nVidia based machine for more profits as well, getting the feedback from it's new stockholders that are demanding it.

[robusto240]

apple and at&t announce a plan that links with your .mac account and your cell phone for one bill, allowing a more integrated ability to use the internet on the iphone. they also strike a deal with comcast, allowing you to seamlessly switch between at&t networks and wifi networks to reduce stress on at&t towers, and provide more clarity when in a wireless network. the idea starting at starbucks of being able to view the music being played will expand into all kinds of different retailers. they will release a new iphone that will be 3G, have a larger screen that extends all the way to the edges of the device, ridding itself of the "home button". all other buttons will be removed and the only way to turn it on will be through the thumb reader/eye sensor on the bottom that also acts as the magnetic power supply and microphone. the entire thing will be waterproof and will have 2 cameras, one with 10MP+ resolution that can zoom 60X and is located on the top half of the screen-less side, the other behind the touch-screen that lets you video conference while having the ability to view yourself and send your receivers the images on the other side of the device. another deal will be set up with wells fargo that allows you to manage your accounts on the device and make purchases from your account/ visa line with the phone. perhaps their biggest stump will be getting government clearance on allowing owners to use the phone as an identification card, making the wallet a thing of the past. the other half of the back side will have three superbrite LED lights that can act as a camera flash or flashlight/stress signal. surrounding the LEDs will be a surround speaker system providing for optimal speakerphone capability and audio playback. it will also have the ability to adapt to other companies programming, allowing it to unlock your car/start it, open your garage, control the temperature at your house and cabin, GPS navigation, monitor your daily exercise and such. not to mention, the device will not be more than 1/6 inch thick. it will also come will a game controller that lets you grip it like a 360, but lets you put the phone right in the middle like a PSP, the screen is not needed however if you wish to play on the new series of imacs who follow suite of the iphone in having its screen go all the way to the edge and only being 1/6 inch thick,without a c.d. drive and having full touch screen capability, waterproof as well, it will have damage resistance and a battery to give it mobility when the screen size of the iphone just wont do it. it will be offered in a variety of sizes varying from 10 inches to 70. wires will be a thing of the past (expect for the power cables which are used when not outdoors to use the solar panels on the back of course) the macbook will sadly be the thickest of all the devices only to make room for its ability to store & charge the iphone, which can also act as a secondary screen/touch interface placed to the left or right of the mouse-pad pending on your preference. the large screen will also have touch screen ability. the computer will also contain an at&t chip allowing it to use the wireless towers when no wifi is found.

[CTMAN5ON]

I cannot wait for the Macworld Expo. I especially would like to see Apple create that iCar that was rumored of earlier! I would really love it if that car were to come out; I'd buy it right off the lot if I had the money. I also wish that one could customize the outside of his or her Mac, iPhone, etc. without going onto these special mod sites. I don't necessarily mean the whole case anew; I would just like maybe a multi-colored approach or maybe customizable faceplates that one could print out or order.

I also heard that an exec from AVON is now part of the board of directors for Apple. Maybe they will finally do away with the uniform look to all their computers, eh?

[AlanCE]

"Apple will (finally) give us a midrange, screenless Mac-something in between the Mac mini and the Mac Pro-for people who don't want an all-in-one desktop system."

I will sell my children to science if this is true.

[AlFeldzamen]

Look for Beatles tunes finally coming to the iTunes Music Store, and . . . with luck . . . for the iPhone . . .DICTATION SOFTWARE or VOICE RECOGNITION SOFTWARE, that would permit voice dialing, and perhaps even dictation of outgoing Email text, later to be received on a home computer, and then to be filed or printed . . .

Al Feldzamen

[midlantica]

iPhones/iPods should be able to send wireless audio/video to other such devices including Apple TV... Bye

[Passels]

That all sounds great! But im shocked that noone has predicted, therefor I am going to ...

1) The New Aluminum Multitouch Mouse - This would be a nice addition to the Slim keyboards. It will most likely have a multitouch feature of some sort and it will be completely flat most likely representing a small touch tablet. It will also be laser guided as opposed to optical.

[DesignCrime2]

Cinema Display Touch

Notice that the CD has not been updated in two years and it has been removed from the Apple Store?
Need I say more?

Notice that the new iMacs have the same black bezel as the iPod touch w/phone?
Possibly, already touch sensitive? Touch sensitive built into OS X.5?

http://homepage.mac....hotoAlbum1.html

[DesignCrime2]

AT&T adds WiFi to all of their cell towers, making them the widest and most accessible network!

If you do not use AT&T, you will be able to pay for a $20, unlimited data package, allowing you access to their network.

This, in turn, makes the NEW iPod with PDA (formally iPod with phone) the most sought after multimedia device.
NOW it will only be called, iPod. (Since the phone is only one of dozens of features.)

[msherm]

since there is the iPhone which is basically an iTouch with phone capability, will there ever be a phone with the reverse...a phone like the iPhone without iPod capability? I know a lot of people that want to keep their phone and iPod separate, but love the other features of the iPhone.

[Falkie2006]

There is one product that Apple or someone needs to develop. AM radio for the Iphone or an Ipod. I am tired of having to lug around a radio and an ipod and cant listen to am talk or sports without it.
I am aware of interference problems with am but surely someone could overcome this.

[DesignCrime2]

With the iPod touch or the iPod phone you can check if the station you listen to has a live broadcast off their website.
I know, in NYC, talk radio WABC has a live broadcast on their website. The more stations that publish their content LIVE, we might not need AM?