Video: There’s Something In The Air, Macworld 2008 Predictions

This is my latest video, covering my trip in the time machine to the Keynote presentation at Macworld.  The usual warnings apply, low-budget effects, and corny jokes throughout.

With Apple letting loose announcements like the Mac Pro’s upgrade to 8 cores, the slash in iTunes prices, and that look at the banners at the Moscone center in San Francisco, it’s looking like the most silent company is about to let loose some serious tech.

Apple has never engineered a situation like this before – not even leading up to the announcement of iPhone. Normally, the announcements I mentioned before would have been reserved for Macworld at this time of year. So what is behind Apple’s svelte veil of secrecy? Here are my predictions for Macworld 2008:

#1: Digital Movie Rental This one seems imminent. iTunes has been disassembled already to show mentions of movie rental, and there have been reports of users being asked to upgrade to the next version of iTunes, which doesn’t exist – yet.

Check out the rest of my predictions, after the jump.

#2: iTunes, version 8 As I said previously, users have been asked to upgrade their iTunes installation, and with digital movie rental coming soon, a new iTunes – version 8 – is imminent.

#3: Slimline MacBook There have been rumours for a while now, but I think that the slimline Mac or Mac Pro is set for release at this year’s Macworld Keynote. Not least the fact that they have been seen in the wild, with two given to a rapper who performed a live set with the new machines.

#4 Software updates for iPod Whilst the most recent updates to the iPod line have been a huge hit, there are some bugs, and functionality that really could have been included in the original firmware.

At the top of that list is the iPod touch. When Apple created a media device that emcompassed both Wi-Fi capabilities, as well as a touch-screen, they opened a can of worms. The device already comes packing internet browsing, full-screen video, and Javascript support – but it dosen’t support Flash content, like videos and games, or Java applets.

#5 An SDK for iPhone I would have included this as a firmware update to iPhone, but it’s a huge development for iPhone, and iPod. The SDK was actually announced last year, after a swathe of hackers had taken the iPhone and iPod’s firmware to pieces.

Not happening: A touch-screen UMM (Ultra-Mobile Mac). There have been so many roumours about a device like this. A portable, touch-screen Mac. Looking at the hype, I think such a device is indeed in the works, but we won’t see it this Macworld. If we do, it’ll be to send the media into an iPhone-anouncement style frenzy.

However, I expect The Steve to draw the world’s attention back to the SDK, due for release shortly afterwards.

All in all, I expect that Apple to unleash a slew of revolutionary products upon the world, and Apple to continue to grow both in profit and in it’s user base.

Graham.