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Salty · May 11, 2009, 02:06 PM

Hey all, figured I'd talk about Apple's current product road map, either what the holes are, or what they can add to current products to make them worth buying new ones.

Obviously there's the desired/never gonna happen Xmac, or lower end Mac Pro (something upgradable but not with as crazy specs as the Mac Pro, essentially a headless iMac with upgradable graphics card, multiple HD bays, more RAM slots and PCI slots.)

I was thinking the other day that the next iPhone they could try and start differentiating themselves from other smart phones by including a high quality camera. I'm not just talking high mega pixels, I'm talking about an honestly high quality camera. I imagine they could do this without really adding that much to the overall size of the phone. Perhaps they'd need to make it exclusive to the highest end model and make that one a bit thicker (which is not something they're like to do but I can dream.)
Think about it if they added the ability to do basic iPhoto style retouching on the device (sure you can say the screen isn't good for that but I'm talking more casual user) as well include a few things like face detection, maybe even include an HDR mode

As for the evolution of the iPod. I think it'd be pretty cool to create an iPod snap. IE iPod with a decent digital camera in it. If you look at it there are cameras almost as thin as an iPod touch, and since they share a lot of the same stuff on the inside I imagine you could add a decent camera with optical zoom to the iPod touch without too much hassle. Apple has enough of a consumer following now that they could easily enter the digital camera market, or even the digital camcorder market with an iPhone OS based product and really clean up! Maybe even a device the size of the Flip Mino. Obviously the device would have go be good, and I know that the margins in that market aren't super high, but I think Apple could have the wiz bang effect and use that to generate an extra hundred bucks or so on the sticker price. Not to mention if they partnered with a camera maker on the glass it shouldn't be too bad at all.

On the computer side I realize Apple doesn't want to compete in the Netbook space, but I think they're going to need to have some sort of option. In all honesty it might make more sense to position it more as another option for potential mini buyers. IE call it the MacBook mini. Give it a high end Atom proc, USB and mini display port out, and suggest to people that they have a computer for on the go but Apple recommends they pick up a USB keyboard and monitor so that they can use it comfortably on the desk at home. And it'd be great if Apple started selling a nice 19 inch display port monitor that didn't break the bank. Though in all honesty I think Apple would much sooner make this a companion device more like the iPod touch.

I'd like to see Apple overhaul the Apple TV, by actually selling Apple Branded TVs, again a partnership with a good name panel maker you could have some good stuff doing on. Even instead of using the Apple Remote, switch to using an iPod touch that gets bundled in with the TV. Again especially at the start they could just have a few big models that cost a lot have high margins etc, get great reviews then depending on how profitable they think it would be, they can start selling smaller sets.

Chuckit · May 11, 2009, 02:26 PM

There's already a laptop option for people who want to radically overpay for an underpowered but impressively small computer.

Salty · May 11, 2009, 02:40 PM

But this way they can over pay by the hundreds instead of the thousands

Chuckit · May 11, 2009, 03:54 PM

What I'm saying is, Apple already has a product in that feature space. And it's features that Apple tends to compete in, not price. The closest thing to a netbook I would expect from Apple would be an iPhone Giant.

Big Mac · 07:29 PM

iPhone Giant - LOLs.

Apple has explained why we'll never see an xMac class tower again with its comments that it doesn't compete for market share in the mature PC space. Too bad.

It would probably be nice at times to have a camera in the touch, I agree. I also think the MacBook Air is not a sufficient answer to the netbook craze, but Apple probably doesn't want a netbook harming MacBook sales.

Chuckit · May 11, 2009, 10:59 PM

It's not a sufficient answer to the Netbook craze in the same way that none of Apple's products were a sufficient answer to the Dell craze — when a market is defined by being cheap, it's a pretty good predictor that Apple will not have an entry there. Apple will usually have an entry that fulfills the same needs and is better but way more expensive.

Salty · May 12, 2009, 10:53 AM

But Apple doesn't have a 10 inch notebook period. I'm not begging for it to be super cheap, I'm asking for a companion product that I can take with me on a trip if I get an iMac, have all my really important stuff with me, but not necessarily be able to goof around in Photoshop on.

Chuckit · May 12, 2009, 10:59 AM

If the Air is too hefty for you, you probably shouldn't be going outside anyway.

besson3c · May 12, 2009, 11:03 AM

If you have to carefully think of a justification for a product, chances are it is catering to the gadget geek crowd.

Chuckit · May 12, 2009, 12:05 PM

Originally Posted by besson3c

If you have to carefully think of a justification for a product, chances are it is catering to the gadget geek crowd.

wut

besson3c · May 12, 2009, 02:52 PM

If the usage and intended audience of the product is unclear, that is you have the lay person asking "what is this and why would I want this?", this may indicate that its appeal may not go beyond the gadget geek crowd of people that "get it".

Chuckit · May 12, 2009, 02:54 PM

Originally Posted by besson3c

If the usage and intended audience of the product is unclear, that is you have the lay person asking "what is this and why would I want this?", this may indicate that its appeal may not go beyond the gadget geek crowd of people that "get it".

Yes, but I fail to see the relevance to anything in this thread.

Salty · May 12, 2009, 03:56 PM

OK so all I'm saying is, I would buy a netbook. Especially since Apple has EVERYTHING necessary to actually MAKE the Netbook a worthwhile computer to use. Imagine the envy on all those windows Netbook users faces when people show, "Oh yah this one syncs all the settings between my iMac at home and itself for things like my bookmarks, my email, my address book, it keeps my favourite iTunes songs on here, all my important documents, and as soon as I walk within range of my wireless network it'll automatically resync any changes."

Fact is if Apple made the product well, IE not the way current Netbooks are, all of you would want one.

Chuckit · May 12, 2009, 04:04 PM

Yes, and if Apple started selling Mac Pros for $500, we'd all want one of those too. Again, the only reason the MBA isn't considered a "netbook" is that part of the definition is "really, really cheap." You can get the Apple netbook — you just have to pay a lot more.

Laminar · May 12, 2009, 04:28 PM

Originally Posted by besson3c

If the usage and intended audience of the product is unclear, that is you have the lay person asking "what is this and why would I want this?", this may indicate that its appeal may not go beyond the gadget geek crowd of people that "get it".

Plenty of products started out this way - [guy from the 60s]No one would ever want a computer in their home, they're big and noisy and their usage is limited[/guy from the 60s]

Originally Posted by Chuckit

Yes, and if Apple started selling Mac Pros for $500, we'd all want one of those too. Again, the only reason the MBA isn't considered a "netbook" is that part of the definition is "really, really cheap." You can get the Apple netbook — you just have to pay a lot more.

"Really, really small" is in the definition as well, and I don't think the MBA qualifies.

Chuckit · May 12, 2009, 04:42 PM

I've heard of other 13-inchers considered netbooks.

boy8cookie · May 12, 2009, 04:57 PM

I'd like to see cooler laptops (in terms of temperature).

Salty · May 13, 2009, 12:47 PM

I think for that you're gonna have to talk to Intel. Though I could see Apple putting out some really thin and cool CULV notebooks. Anyone think that the MacBook might start using those chips as opposed to the standard ones? Or perhaps they could move to producing 15 and 17 inch books that are super thin and use the CULV chips coming out, while moving the Pros to slightly thicker cases with intel's highest end mobile chips.

SSharon · May 13, 2009, 02:19 PM

Originally Posted by Chuckit

...when a market is defined by being cheap, it's a pretty good predictor that Apple will not have an entry there. Apple will usually have an entry that fulfills the same needs and is better but way more expensive.

How about that whole subsidized cell phone market? There were some pricey smartphones in the past, but by and large the cell phone market is seen as pretty cheap.
If the answer is that the iphone is only cheap because it is subsidized then why not do the same thing with an Apple Netbook?

Personally, I would rather Apple fix its mistakes in its current lineup before adding new products to the mix. Why can't I use a bluetooth keyboard with my iphone again?

Stogieman · May 13, 2009, 02:54 PM

I thought that was coming with the 3.0 update?

Salty · May 13, 2009, 03:28 PM

I believe it's cause... if you did... that would be... well... wrong.

ort888 · May 13, 2009, 03:45 PM

I'd like to see the iMac TV. A 24" iMac with a TV tuner and TV inputs. It would also ship with a wireless keyboard with a built in trackpad... or maybe a Wiimote like pointer/remote control.

Something like this would be great for college kids and anyone looking to consolidate. Plus, with the amount of TV watching moving to computers anyway, it makes sense to have it all in one device.

I would also like an expandable Mac that costs WAY less then $2,500 bucks.

Laminar · May 13, 2009, 03:47 PM

Originally Posted by Stogieman

I thought that was coming with the 3.0 update?

Originally Posted by Salty

I believe it's cause... if you did... that would be... well... wrong.

Huh?

Kerrigan · May 13, 2009, 04:14 PM

I sat around for a few minutes thinking of what new product I would like to see Apple introduce.

I couldn't think of anything.

The only thing that really came to mind was a multi-touch tablet, like the one currently going around in the rumor mill, but frankly I think it would have usability problems, eg, it would too big to be truly portable, yet too small and too limited (no keyboard) to do what a laptop can do.

Kerrigan · May 13, 2009, 04:18 PM

btw would you guys mind if I made this a sticky?

ort888 · May 13, 2009, 04:19 PM

How about a portable Bluetooth keyboard for use with the iPhone.

besson3c · May 13, 2009, 04:30 PM

Has it ever occurred to you guys that Steve Jobs = Michael Scott?

Have you guys seen the Michael Scott Paper Company episode? Michael Scott was fired from his company, and decided to leave to form his own competing company. Steve Jobs did that with NeXt. Apple later decided that they really needed NeXt/Steve Jobs, so they kissed his ass and got him back. Michael Scott did the same thing.

Laminar · May 13, 2009, 04:43 PM

Originally Posted by besson3c

Has it ever occurred to you guys that Steve Jobs = Michael Scott?

Have you guys seen the Michael Scott Paper Company episode? Michael Scott was fired from his company, and decided to leave to form his own competing company. Steve Jobs did that with NeXt. Apple later decided that they really needed NeXt/Steve Jobs, so they kissed his ass and got him back. Michael Scott did the same thing.

Dunder Mifflin didn't need Michael Scott. They needed The Michael Scott Paper Company gone. They'd be better off without Michael, but that was the price of getting rid of the company. Apple didn't face similar crippling competition from NeXt.

ort888 · May 13, 2009, 05:08 PM

Yeah, that whole plotline was a bit of a stretch. Required a lot of suspension of disbelief... more so then normal for the office.

Is this thread about the Office now?

Laminar · May 13, 2009, 05:11 PM

It'd be an improvement.

mattyb · May 13, 2009, 05:21 PM

Originally Posted by Kerrigan

I sat around for a few minutes thinking of what new product I would like to see Apple introduce. I couldn't think of anything.

I agree. Sort out the probs in the existing product line (heat, battery life etc), upgrade hardware, OS etc etc and keep the same price for the next few months. I really hope that Snow Leopard is as fast as people expect it to be.

Oh and don't buy Twitter.

Salty · May 15, 2009, 01:46 PM

I dono I think Apple still has a way to go, eventually the iPhone will replace the Mac in a sense... or the two will converge. Essentially the iPhone will become a Mac as soon as you sit it down in a docking station... least this is my thinking.

I think the Apple TV still needs to grow. I'd really like to see Apple somehow come up with something that would really compete with the media centre PCs out there and no Front Row isn't enough. I like the idea of integrating a TV tuner into the iMac. Indeed even creating a 50 inch iMac with a plasma screen would be pretty sweet

There's still a lot that Apple could do. It would also like I said be nice to see them get into the digital camera market. The margins as I said aren't very high but I think they could really push the high end to be more than JUST cameras. And frankly customers haven't even been trained to expect that great of images.

SSharon · May 15, 2009, 02:01 PM

Originally Posted by Salty

I dono I think Apple still has a way to go, eventually the iPhone will replace the Mac in a sense... or the two will converge. Essentially the iPhone will become a Mac as soon as you sit it down in a docking station... least this is my thinking.

I think the Apple TV still needs to grow. I'd really like to see Apple somehow come up with something that would really compete with the media centre PCs out there and no Front Row isn't enough. I like the idea of integrating a TV tuner into the iMac. Indeed even creating a 50 inch iMac with a plasma screen would be pretty sweet

There's still a lot that Apple could do. It would also like I said be nice to see them get into the digital camera market. The margins as I said aren't very high but I think they could really push the high end to be more than JUST cameras. And frankly customers haven't even been trained to expect that great of images.

I don't see why Apple would add a TV tuner to its machines when one can be purchased for $100. I would venture a guess that the vast majority of mac owners have cable or satellite and so what good is an integrated tuner (or an external tuner for that matter). On top of this a tv tuner built in would possibly take sales away from the itunes store that sells TV shows.

As for digital cameras I think you mean Apple should RE-enter the market as they have already been there before with the quicktake (wasn't that the first digital camera?). Apple excels in the software realm and I don't think digital cameras are so complicated as to require Apple's touch for most people. Most people don't care about the special modes and features of the cameras they already have so I don't see what Apple stands to contribute.

ort888 · May 15, 2009, 02:02 PM

I wouldn't be surprise to see them make an iPod photo or something. An iPod touch with a semi-decent camera on the back.

I don't see them making a straight forward camera though.

Kerrigan · May 15, 2009, 02:04 PM

I don't really agree with the idea that Apple should get into the camera market. I just can't see professional photogs being very welcoming to an unestablished brand, much in the same way that audiophiles scoffed when Apple released a "high-fidelity" speaker system.

Laminar · May 15, 2009, 02:04 PM

Originally Posted by ort888

I wouldn't be surprise to see them make an iPod photo or something.

That would be neat.

Laminar · May 15, 2009, 02:06 PM

Originally Posted by Kerrigan

I don't really agree with the idea that Apple should get into the camera market. I just can't see professional photogs being very welcoming to an unestablished brand, much in the same way that audiophiles scoffed when Apple released a "high-fidelity" speaker system.

What if they don't intend to market to the professional "photogs?"

ort888 · May 15, 2009, 02:21 PM

Salty · May 15, 2009, 03:09 PM

That's what I am saying. I think they could slaughter Sony in the digital camera market. Strap a decent Fujifilm system or something like that on the back of the iPod touch and double the thickness and you're good to go!

ort888 · May 15, 2009, 03:15 PM

They would also destroy the Flip Mino if they have it do video.

Salty · May 15, 2009, 04:02 PM

Indeed, though the Mino is pretty thick... I dono if they'd be able to do HD capture without making the device too thick for Steve.

Kerrigan · May 15, 2009, 07:17 PM

Originally Posted by Laminar

What if they don't intend to market to the professional "photogs?"

What if you actually read the proposition I was criticizing?

Originally Posted by Salty

they could really push the high end [in the camera market]

Anyways, Apple will not go back into the camera market anytime soon. And I highly doubt they will bloat the iPhone to twice its weight and thickness just to add a nice camera.

mduell · May 26, 2009, 05:14 AM

iTouch with decent storage... at <$2/GB for flash, let's see the $500 128GB model, even if it is a bit thicker.