It’s that time of year where I make MacWorld predictions based entirely on half-baked rumors, knowledge of Apple history, personal bias, and gut feelings. Here goes:

1. New Mac Mini: Better processors, graphics card, new form factor.
2. New iMacs: Better processors, graphics card, yada yada.
3. 17 inch MacBook Pro: The non-removeable battery rumor makes sense based on other products, most obviously the MacBook Air. Expect a slide with some stats about how little users actually remove their laptop batteries. That said, I still think it’s a bad idea.
4. iLife 09: Addition of some online features.
5. New Apple TV: Apple’s overdue to do something with this product, with added pressure from Netflix and Boxee. There may be some tweaks to the rental window and the addition of new services – Hulu would be a no-brainer. At most ambitious, I could see combining the Mac Mini and Apple TV into one product, but I’ll put that prediction as unlikely.
6. Snow Leopard: More details and demos of this OS with a big emphasis on speed.

Unlikely But Possible Announcements

MacBook Mini

I’ll go out on a limb with this one: An Apple “netbook” priced below $1000. It will parallel the Mac Mini in the portable line. I expect to be wrong about this – I only mention it because I want one.

The Apple TV / Mac Mini / Time Capsule is combined into one product

One product with several uses depending on the user’s needs.

Steve Jobs makes an appearance

Even if it’s via a prerecorded message, I think something must be said to address the rampant health concerns. Also, because the present assumption is that he won’t attend, even a few seconds to say hello would be a welcome surprise.

Steve Gave Schiller “One More Thing”

Schiller makes a surprise announcement of a new, incredible product. It would show that Jobs doesn’t have to give a keynote to introduce a new product, and take advantage of lowered expectations. Candidates for this incredible product would be the aforementioned MacBook Mini or the big iPod Touch (iPad). If a new product is announced, Jobs’ pulling out of MacWorld will look like a genius strategic move.

So these are my predictions. I do think it’s worth mentioning what I do not think will be announced:

• No iPhone Nano.
• No Pink iPhone.
• No Apple Home Entertainment Server.
• No iPhone Pro.
• No big iPod Touch (iPad).
• No Garage Band music lessons.
• No Beatles on iTunes.
• No 32 GB iPhone.

I look forward to being completely wrong come Tuesday.

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Categories: Apple, Technology :: ::

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