Applemorphic

Reports are coming in from all over the web with additional details about the iPhone, too many such reports to link them here. You’ve probably already seen them, but from my perspective, here are some of the highlights that weren’t obvious in Tuesday’s announcement.

I expect all but the last of these to change at some point in the future. After Apple actually gets this thing produced in volume and into the field, and now that they can openly develop solutions for it, things will evolve rapidly.

BusinessWeek online has a new special report up called “The Apple Economy.” Articles cover its influence on other companies, its success in corporate markets, and its relationships with partners, among others.

Okay. I’ve made my own predictions (here and here), and I’ve reported on those of others here, here and here. Now, Sunday morning before Tuesday’s Macworld 2007 Keynote, I’m done with predictions. But I’m not done dreaming. Besides, Apple is being even more proactive and obvious with their hype machine, given that the Keynote is now 2 hours instead of 1-1.5, and the Apple homepage dramatically promotes what is to come in 2007. Here’s what I’d like to see, which is all within easy reach of the fruity one and it’s mercurial leader, though far from likely, at least in the near future.

Mac OS X Embedded: A lite version of the OS for embedded applications. The new OS would be made available only through Apple’s own products and carefully selected strategic relationships. For example, Mac OS X Embedded would be bundled on future generations of the iPod, the iTV, and an Apple mobile phone, as well as in certain car-based systems (dockable iPod, iTunes head-end, music through stereo, video through rear-seat displays, etc.).

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Ever since Mac OS X was first released to consumers as a beta in 2000 (is that right? I’m surprised Wikipedia’s history section of its Mac OS X entry doesn’t included such a date, but I distinctly remember running it while I was working at VarsityBooks.com in the Spring of 2000), there have been rumors of a so-called “lite” version of the operating system that could be used on a new-century version of the Newton and other devices. Speculation about a limited version of Mac OS X has been increasing of late, particularly with regard to iTV and the rumored Apple mobile phone (nee, iPhone).

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Dan Benjamin at Hivelogic makes his picks, and he sees things similar to the way I do, at least with regards to Macworld 2007 predictions.

Macworld magazine put together an impressive panel and asked for their predictions for Apple in 2007. The panel includes Daring Fireball’s John Gruber, Andy Ihnatko of the Chicago Sun-Times, and John Moltz of Crazy Apple Rumors Site, along with Christopher Breen and Adam Engst, both of Macworld. These are all long-time followers of Apple who are usually on the money with their reporting and/or analysis. Most of the predictions are quite level-headed, and this makes for an interesting read. Most interesting will be the follow-up article next year to see how everyone did with their predictions, as Macworld did for a smaller set of authors at the conclusion of this article.

Several readers have said they want a more concise version of my earlier Macworld 2007 predictions, so here it is. If you like the highlights, you can always read the full post.

I don’t expect to an Apple-branded mobile phone introduced at Macworld 2007, but do expect it this year. Either Apple has to introduce it, or they need to quell the rumors because their stock will ultimately take a hit if they don’t respond to overwhelming analyst predictions. I also think there is strong evidence that rumors of a Mac OS X Lite to be included in iTV, a future mobile phone, and even the iPod (which would mean new software under the acclaimed UI) are true.

Instead of covering the actual keynote and announcements about Macworld 2007, Applemorphic will be posting quick analysis of each significant announcement. Stay tuned…

Okay, I admit it. I’m a bag whore. I’ve chastised my wife for buying Kate Spade diaper bags, but that’s really the pot calling the kettle black. For a few years, I used and cherished my Tom Bihn backpack with the PowerBook insert. Then I decided I needed something more professional, so I got a leather Kenneth Cole satchel about two years ago.

Now I’m on another binge. The K. Cole is a great, professional looking bag, and the InCase insert is an ideal companion I use to protect my newer MacBook Pro. But it’s not ideal when I’m traveling with lots of gadgets. And it turns out I don’t need anything so professional looking anyway; I’m an Internet consultant, after all. So I went searching for a new bag. And I have a new obsession.

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As you probably know by now, Nike reported strong earnings in its latest quarter, fueled in part by the Nike+ line of products that launched with iPod related gear. I went shopping with my wife the day after Christmas, and bought a pair of Nike+ running shoes at a Nike outlet in New Jersey. Today I’ll grab the Nike+ iPod Sport kit, and give ‘er a whirl. I let you know if the gadget is good enough to get this inactive Apple enthusiast off the sofa and onto the treadmill.

Need another present for the Mac or iPod enthusiasts in your real-world social network? Here are a few ideas:

MacSanta: Through Christmas Day, MacSanta is offering 20% discounts on software from over 100 companies. MacHeist aside, software just doesn’t go on sale everyday. Hurry to take advantage. iTunes Gift Certificates: You don’t have to buy a iTunes Music Card ($25)“>gift card at Amazon to spread iTunes goodiness, but you can. Need it quicker, go straight to the source and email a gift certificate directly. Apple Store Gift Card: It won’t make it to it’s destination by Christmas, but you could download some artwork from the Apple store, print it, and tell the recipient to watch for it in the mail. Hey, whatever works. Go to your Nearest Apple Retail Store: Seriously, if you’ve waited this late, you’re starting to run out of options. Hopefully there is one near you. Besides, they have several items set up for express shopping, which may be the easiest retail experience you’ll ever… well, experience.

Happy Holidays! See you next week.

Ah, the aroma of fresh cut evergreens and baked goodies. The twinkle of tree-topping stars and children’s eyes. Parties with eggnog and gifts exchanged. It’s that time of year again, alright. Time for predictions about what Apple will do at Macworld 2007.

Like the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Macworld is held in Las Vegas in early January every year. It seems as though the post holiday shopping season is the perfect time to announce new electronics gear. Product lineups for Christmas are usually set by September or October, so as to allow time for inventory to fill the stores and marketing to take effect.

January comes along at a time when people want to spend on their own to buy the gifts they didn’t get, and these major shows fill the new product introduction void that has existed for a couple of months. The media eats it up, and so do consumers. The Mac news sites and rumor mills will go mostly radio-silent during the last week of the year as well. Together with Steve Jobs’ keynote flair (aka, reality distortion field), and some truly innovative and memorable product introductions, Macworld is an explosive event.

Reader Karin wants to know what Apple has in store for the upcoming Macworld. Only Jobs’ knows for sure, but here are my predictions.

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I just saw a quick bit on CNBC where Joe Kiernan reported that Cingular is launching a new music service with Napster, eMusic and other “leading digital music companies.” Notably absent was Apple. This appears consistent with earlier reports that Cingular would stop bundling iTunes with it Rokr and other phones. But it seems to contradict rumors reported by ThinkSecret that Cingular would have a 6-month exclusive on the iPhone.

Macrumors has a post about news from TrustedReviews.com that a new full-screen video iPod will be introduced in December. I doubt it. Why? Virtually no one introduces new products in the United States in December because it’s so late in the Christmas selling season. If you want product on the shelves in time to sell many for the holidays, and want time to promote said products with marketing, advertising and promotions, you don’t launch in December, you launch before the end of October. And more importantly, you don’t announce anytime in the fourth quarter, as such announcements can cannibalize sales of existing products. I’m much more willing to bet that the new video iPod will indeed be ready in December, but won’t be announced or launched until Macworld in January.

I’ve been radio silent for over a week now. A 12-hour road-trip with the infant will do that to you. So, some quick catching up is in order.

You’ve probably already heard, but Apple has joined with U2’s Bono to release yet another special edition iPod, this time the nano (Product) RED. $10 of the revenue from every one of these 4GB models goes to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS in Africa. Nice.

Apple also has three new I’m a PC, I’m a Mac ads. Worth a watch.

Engadget has joined the chorus singing about the expected launch of the widescreen iPod, believing that it’s coming soon, and that it will include wireless technology of some sort. I expect it too. The iTV, wireless iPod and iPhone will all be a part of the Apple Wireless digital hub/media ecosystem by second quarter of 2007 (IMO).

Finally, the fruity company’s stock has been interesting to watch of late, as news of options grant irregularities has weighed heavily, but projections for strong revenue and earnings growth–fueled not only by the iPod but also the Mac product line–are expected at next week’s earnings call.