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Macworld 2007: Roundup

sHARD>>

By sHARD>>

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Here's what we've learned:

 

iTV

The iTV has now dropped its codename and is officially known as AppleTV. It sports a 40GB hard drive, 720p HD output, 802.11b/g/n wireless, connects to the iTunes store, can stream content from up to 5 computers, and sync content with another computer. It costs $299, can be preordered today, and will ship in February.

 

Price: $299

Shipping: February

Buy it now: Apple store

Product page: Apple TV

 

iPhone & iPod

Next up is the famed iPhone. This was coyly introduced as an iPod, iPhone, and "Internet Communicator"... all in one! Big widescreen, fully touch sensitive, multitouch, gestures, runs a version of OS X. It docks and syncs with iTunes, and can play movies, music, podcasts, TV shows, photos, contacts, and e-mail. It has a 3.5" high res screen, with 160 pixels per inch and is 11/16" thick, though it is a bit taller and wider than a standard cell phone. The screen is very impressive, though the interface looks vaguely Zune-like, in it's focus on a colorful wallpaper. It houses 4GB or 8GB of onboard flash memory. A nice 2 Megapixel camera is housed on the back of it, a standard iPod connector at the bottom, and an ambient light sensor to adjust brightness. The built-in speaker appears to function with music, not just the phone system. It also houses an acceleromoter to automatically turn on the display, and orientation detection to adjust the screen to portrait or landscape.

 

It appears that Cingular is the only carrier to have the iPhone, and as it is GSM, it also takes SIM cards. It also takes advantage of the faster EDGE network, giving mobile broadband. Connectivity also includes WiFi and Bluetooth, allowing it to connect to home networks and pair with other devices. The onstage demos showed the device flying, looking very much like a full-scale laptop with its Core animation support. Yes, that means it supports Coverflow. Overall the interface is designed with the typical Apple ethos - everything is simple and attractive.

 

"Visual" voicemail which let's you select which voicemails you wish to listen to, quick buttons to conference call, mute, speakerphone, etc. Along with standard SMS features (iChat style), the phone also supports e-mail, enhanced with a new form of predictive input. A minimalist version of Safari is used for web browsing, using the power of the WebKit engine for everything from Google Maps to Widgets (both demoed). Yes, it even has tabs. In order to offer cheaper and more reliable internet access, it automatically switches between the EDGE and WiFi connections. Free e-mail with Yahoo! uses a system similar to that on Blackberries (push IMAP). Back to Google Maps for a second - finally, a phone which uses the GPS features... it knows where you are.

 

The interface is, in general, very OS X like. With the added joys of multitouch, photos can be resized with two fingers, web pages can zoom in and out, and more. And don't forget multi-tasking. Browse the web while making a call, shoot off some e-mails. Music auto-pauses when a call comes in much like the older iTunes software for phones. With all these features, battery life sits at a respectable 5 hours talk time, 16 with audio only.

 

Price: 4GB: $499 (with 2 year contract)

8GB: $599 (with 2 year contract)

Shipping: US: June

Europe: Quarter 4

Asia: 2008

Product page: iPhone

 

Google & Yahoo

What the heck? I remarked to fellow InsanelyMac user other that it would be fairly amusing if Google bought Apple... moments before Eric Schmidt walks on stage and they start talking about doing a "merge without merging". What's that translate to? It seems it's a "strong partnership". But then again, they've also announced heavy Yahoo integration with the iPhone.

 

Apple Computer

Is no more. Now it's just Apple, Inc.

 

Airport Extreme

Here's a little gem that managed to escape the keynote: the AirPort Extreme Base Station has launched and can be found at the Apple Store. It sports 802.11a/b/g/n, 3 LAN ports, a USB port for a printer or hard drive, and a new design resembling the Mac mini or Apple TV.

 

Price: $179

Shipping: February

Buy it now: Apple store

 

Pictures and Video

Need a peek at the units? Check out MacRumors, Engadget, or Gizmodo.

The 2007 Keynote can be found at Apple's 2007 Keynote Address page.

 

Commentary

Wow, so the iPhone is really here. It's... amazing, though a bit pricey. But with those features, it's hard to complain.

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ampTK
Same GPS that all phones have in them. That is, all phones since 2005 or so. It's just most phones only allow access to it for 911 services...or 999 or whatever in the UK.

 

I believe service providers deduce the phone location by looking with which tower it's connected and how close, maybe even triangulating with other towers. Many ideas of services and location sensitive ads have been planned around this, I believe this is what Jobs refered to when he said "location aware".

 

But I may be wrong

Edited by andazp
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maculas
Does anyone think that since Macworld runs until the end of the week, they might just have another "stevenote" or at least have Schiller release new Macs and talk about Leopard?

 

I hope they will! May be not exactly SteveNote, but something like Leo.......thing! :thumbsup_anim:

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Swad

Good wrap-up, sHARD. A fun day, but fairly disappointing for Mac fans...

 

They really need to rename the conference to "AppleWorld" or "iWorld" if the Mac keeps taking a backseat.

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jtwh20
Boo. I was really hoping we'd see a *real* Apple desktop here. Instead we get another iPod with even more features I don't want. Would it kill someone to release a cellphone that just makes calls and texts? And would it kill Apple to release a real desktop?

 

agree 100%

 

i can't wait til the phone IS the bluetooth headset - just need to answer and make calls nothing else

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sHARD>>
Good wrap-up, sHARD. A fun day, but fairly disappointing for Mac fans...

 

They really need to rename the conference to "AppleWorld" or "iWorld" if the Mac keeps taking a backseat.

 

Well it is actually named after the Macworld magazine. So it might make sense for them to change it to Appleworld magazine. :tomato:

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Swad
QUOTE(sHARD>> @ Jan 9 2007, 04:39 PM)
Well it is actually named after the Macworld magazine. So it might make sense for them to change it to Appleworld magazine. :tomato:

 

Indeed.

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non sequitur

i must say i want the iphone. It is expensive, and i just got a krzr, but damn that phone is nice. if i can get $500 and some way to get edge for free (h4x lol) then im gonna get out of my contract with verizon and ebay my krzr. a little expensive 800 number+leaving it on all weekend(free nights + weekends ftw)=no contract!

 

wow. that iphone looks sweet.

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DiaboliK

500 bucks for a phone... not a problem. my limited edition LRG sidekick3 was the same price so, its not all that bad.

now the question is do i want to switch to cingular?

Edited by DiaboliK
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kevin_4e

iPhone

Luckily I'm currently under a contract with Cingular, but unfortunately I've already dropped enough into my current phone so I wont be replacing it. Unfortunately I wish they had an iPhone version of this, and an iPod version. This is unbelievably expensive and I don't even need a new phone. The memory size is a bit questionable too. I would use up 4 in a heartbeat and 8 wouldn't last much longer for me.

 

AppleTV

Sweet but :thumbsdown_anim:. This is a neat innovation but I won't be buying it. I have no complaints against it, i just find no need.

 

Leopard

:dev: I was really surprised Leopard wasn't mentioned, AT ALL! It would have been nice to have a little update.

 

Router Thing

What is it called, "Airport Extreme?" I like this a lot. I think Apple has now made a competitive router to go against companies I'm used to buying from. Unfortunately it isn't really cheap when comparing to the rest of today's sold routers. Because of all the features, this may be an upgrade down the road.

 

Overall Thoughts

Dissapointed just like everyone else (at least the majority). Still waiting for a new better iPod. Hopefully with some similar features as the phone. I guess all else I can hope for is, if we're not getting any Leopard info. please let Leopard come on time.

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salax

Anyone know if any mention of third-party cloners took place at Macworld? I'm asking because the Modbook was announced at the OWC site today, and i suppose Apple wouldn't allow this if they didn't decide to let companies build Mac clones again.. http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/ModBook

If this is happening i wouldn't be surprised to see OS X sold for generic PCs in computer stores around the world soon!

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exadeath

There is nothing generic about the modbook. Its a disassembled macbook, LCD swapped with a special enclosure - wacom digitizer, and other nifty hardware.

Edited by exadeath
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sandmanfvrga

Frankly I am disappointed with the members here. I mean come on, "no new macs, boo freaking hoo!!!!" UH HELLO!!?? Apple has been updating the mac line for months now, I mean NEW Mac Mini's updated twice, the iMac like 3 updates with the core duo, core 2 duo AND the 24 inch, then Macbook and Macbook Pro line has had two or so updates with the processors. THEN we got the killer monster the Mac Pro. "Oh no, no 8 core!!" SHUT UP. :thumbsup_anim: Don't you get that with Leopard that the 4 64 bit cores will be used to the full potential? There is no need to update!

 

All this whining, and Macworld isn't even over yet! Sheesh! I can understand disappointments in the iPhone, I have them in that it is high priced and there is no iPod only alternative (you know, take all the phone stuff out and just have a video/music/photo iPod) but this keynote was awesome and we should think about the future of Apple Inc, not we didn't get a new puter! :rolleyes: No offense to most but grow up! Apple is trying to expand the business and show the world, especially Microsoft, how to really do things.

 

The Apple Tv is great, but not for me. For $299 you get alot. Plus so many compare it to other things, well I will assume that the "other things" don't have the quality of Apple. I have a tivo and it is good, but has had many revisions to the hardware/software and thankfully I have the insurance plan with DirectTV or I would have had to live with TWO tivo boxes dead. I don't think Apple will do that do you?

 

The iPhone is great, but has issues yes. I would like an iPod only solution, but maybe they will in time. For the cost, compared to all the other "Smart Phones" this thing kicks their ass and we should be happy for Apple, even if the iPhone isn't this great "savior of Macworld". Frankly many of you built yourself up and it is YOU who should look at yourselves and be disappointed. The iPhone is greater than any of those false ads and pics we have seen. Between now and June, the iPhone will probably be revamped and maybe improved. Who knows.

 

I don't care if my post is flamed or picked apart, I will just report that {censored} to the mods/admins, they seemingly are tired of the tearing apart of others on this forum. Now some may say I am doing the same thing, but I am not. I am trying to get everybody to calm down and not put down Apple. Just everybody needs to calm down and get over it. This keynote, while not perfect, was awesome and we should think of the future of the Apple company, NOT our spoiled brat wants. There is MORE Macworld so calm down. Ok, go ahead and flame me....

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asap18

I see it now, Swads new project.

 

macberry.com "Getting iphone osx on current windows mobile phones"

 

also i hope we seed new ilife/iwork by the end of macworld, i was really hoping to see a release today

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Guest goodtime

Guest goodtime

Posted (edited)

As I recall, the first iPod was around $500 bucks. So it is not too out of line for the first Apple iPhone to be priced the same. Early adopters will have to pay the price of R&D.

 

I like the iPhone. I am too stuck with Verison. I wonder if people will swap out there SIM card with their current carrier and use it iPhone? I am sure there will be hacks for this phone. It's after all running OSX.

 

The video part of the iPhone is something I have been wanting. I record TV Shows on my Mac and have been wanted a good mobile video device because the current iPod's screen is too small for me. The Apple iPhone's screen is much better. And I don't want to use a Laptop as a mobile video device. It's Wifi Internet capability is something I also been wanting in a Mobile Device. I frequent many resturants that have public WiFi, but don't also want to lug my 15.5" gtBook around with its equally large Laptop case. I would like to tote a tiny device in my pocket. My only real concern is scratches and how well the screen can be protected. I am sure there will be skins for this thing, but how easy does the screen scratch and how well can it be protected from scratches.

 

It's a gorgeous device. It reminds me of Apple's first Optical Mouse, only better. I am not too sure how well this phone will fit the side of one's face, I guess there has to be a compromise somewhere in an Multi use device.

 

I could imagine the Wii getting some competition from Apple with this device. The gestures that you can do with this thing might make for some killer games for the iPhone.

 

I think the reason it is only 4/8 GB is because it is using Flash memory to save battery life.

 

I might get one, but might not use it as a phone right away. (Contracts, Contracts.) I am sure other companies will step in. Let's all hope Cingular does not have an exclusive with Apple. Verison! Come to Apple!

 

I don't own a Widescreen HDTV. I wish AppleTV had a S-video and standard Audio connectors for one's which will not buy an expensive $3000 TV. My 7 year old TV still works and I won't replace it until a lightning strikes it. AppleTV is not for me. So HDMI + svideo + RCA + everything else would have been what I could of used now and could have grown into later. So, that's $200-$300 bucks that Apple is not getting from me.

 

The iPhone is a definite maybe. We'll see how it does when it ships.

 

gt

Edited by goodtime
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Numberzz
anyone has a torrent, link to keynote to watch ? apple is oversaturated ...

 

thks

I got in. Only 110 X something pixels instead of the 650. Did anyone see the announcement of the Airport Extereme 802.11n in the Keynote? I couldn't find it.

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roscoe13
Except June is a little after Spring 2007.

 

Spring doesn't end 'till two thirds of the way though June...

 

If anything, I would think that Leopard would fall right around the same day as the updated Airport Base Station and AppleTV is released...

 

I hope it's no later than that...

 

Peace

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sHARD>>
I got in. Only 110 X something pixels instead of the 650. Did anyone see the announcement of the Airport Extereme 802.11n in the Keynote? I couldn't find it.

 

They didn't. We found it through independent research.

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non sequitur

@asap

phone hacking is very complex. i'd love to see osx mobile on the smartphones, but not only is the hardware different, finding a monster file for it will be almost impossible. it took the krzr 3 or so months to get one to flash the verizon red bar ui to the alltel moto ui. it was a miracle, too. v3m monster didnt come out for 6 or 7 months after the release of the phone. and those phones are cheaper and more common. :/ monster files enable you to flash the firmwares of phones, btw.

 

 

i think im gonna start a blog about my quest for an iphone and my research on whether or not itll be worth it to switch to cingular. i have somewhere around $289.73, and i need to save. or get a job.

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