Apple Rumor Roundup: Let’s Rock

September 8th, 2008

Yet another Apple special event is slated for this Tuesday. Here’s a loose roundup of the loudest rumors I’ve seen regarding this event, and my personal take on each.

iPod Nano: A new iPod Nano form factor, that looks like a throwback to the previous generation with a tall screen. Photographs have become increasingly detailed and specific. The implication is the Nano could be rotated 90 degress for widescreen viewing.

My take: As stated earlier, this design doesn’t excite me. I’d prefer the new Nano be a smaller iPod Touch – just imagine the iPhone form factor reduced by a third, or the current “squat” iPod Nano without a click wheel and a full touch screen instead. Also with this form factor would be the iPhone apps and WiFi – the new iPod Nano would basically be a smaller iPod Touch with less memory. Unfortunately, evidence is mounting that the elongated, Zune-like Nano is correct.

iTunes 8.0: Ars Technica had a juicy rumor that secret features of iPhone 2.1 “were specifically removed from developer seeds in order to keep them secret from the world.” Drool! And Kevin Rose swooped in today with an actual mockup of what iTunes 8 will look like with this Genius feature and a new “grid” view. Lastly, a new visualizer called “magnetosphere.”

My Take: Here’s hoping for killer new features beyond Genuis, Grid view, and a new visualizer. I’m personally jonesing for sharing a computer’s library to internet-enabled iPods, specifically the iPod Touch or the iPhone – essentially extenting the shared iTunes library across the web. If Apple managed a way to include video streaming my head will explode; that would be so awesome.

iTunes Subscription Service: This rumor is still floating about, although most pundits are giving it the thumbs down.

My Take: Don’t think this will happen – Apple’s making too much money on straight up content sales. Perhaps Apple’s brewing something in regards to video content, but that subject would be more appropriate in conjuction with an Apple TV announcement which isn’t likely tomorrow.

Anyhow, to reiterate my predictions, the safe bets are:

Steve Jobs takes the stage to silence critics prepping his obit.
New Nanos, the elongated “Kevin Rose” model.
iTunes 8 with Genius, grid view, and new visualizer.
Shifted iPod pricing (cheaper iPod Touch).

Here’s my dream event – the moist fantasy:

New Nano which looks like a smaller iPod Touch – meaning a full touch screen, apps, and WiFi. The differentiating factor will be amount of memory.
iTunes 8 with Genius, grid view, new visualizer, and remote sharing of an iTunes library, including movies.
Shifted iPod pricing.
A new Apple TV with a subscription service for all movie rentals… uh, wait I’m getting ahead of myself. Scratch that.

Anyhow, all will be revealed tomorrow.

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