[Vincent Ferrari]

With the opening bells of Macworld 2009 only a few mere hours away, the staff and I wanted to share our predictions for MacWorld 2009, so without further ado, here you have them!

"Given that Steve Jobs won't be at MacWorld, I don't see any major announcements. I think we'll see a refresh of the Mac Mini and the iMac. If I had to make a wild prediction, I'd say that Jason Calacanis's prediction from last year is correct and Apple is releasing an HDTV with integrated AppleTV like functionality, but I don't see that being announced without Jobs there." -Joe Johaneman, Contributing Editor

"I'm hoping something for the Apple TV, Netflix interface would be nice. Also home server type of setup would be great for media. Thats more hope and dream category though I guess :-). Most likely an update for the 17 inch laptop to the new construction, also think will be an update to the mac mini and they will discuss Snow Leopard. My crystal ball gets pretty cloudy after that :-) Oh yea one more thing, more capacity on the iPhone. I would like to say iPhone Nano, like the concept, but again that is the hope dream category." -Jeff Campbell, Contributing Editor

"Being new to the Apple scene, I'm not sure how reliable my predictions will be, but here's what I think: #1 - There will be some sort of new MacBook to make me drool. There always is. #2 - They will announce new Shuffles. All of the other iPods have new shiny models, except those, so it's time. #3 - An Apple netbook of some sort would be nice to see, and would be quite the surprise (for me anyway). #4 - In an unexpected move, they will announce the 'iBuds Nano'. Earbuds the size of pinheads that stick directly into your earlobes. (Intended for use with the long rumored iPhone Nano). #5 - Steve Jobs WILL appear at MacWorld, somewhere, somehow. (if he doesn't, many fanboy heads will explode later this week) #6 - The Beatles catalog will finally be added to the iTunes store. (okay, okay, I'll stop now)." -Michael Barrett, Contributing Editor

"I think we're going to see a new 17" MacBook Pro and updates for the Mac Mini, but aside from that nothing really earth shattering.  The possibility of a storage bump on the iPhone seems realistic (which, of course means we'll probably also see a storage bump for the Touch).  I'm expecting an update on the AppleTV, but nothing huge; probably just a storage bump.  I'm hoping for an update to iLife and iWork, also.  iMovie '08 is my favorite video editor for small projects and with a few small tweaks it could easily take care of most of my editing needs that Final Cut Express handles now. Honestly, I'm really with Jeff.  Without Steve, I wouldn't expect the earth to move under our feets during the keynote." -Vincent Ferrari, Executive Editor

Your Turn!

Okay folks...  We've had our say...  Now it's your turn.  Make your predictions known in the comments section.  If it isn't in writing, it was never said!  Hit us up so we can discuss afterward! Also, we're not going to try to cover the keynote.  The idea of metablogging it doesn't really thrill me, but what you will get from us is a nice helping of post-keynote coverage including our thoughts, the product announcements, etc.  We're not there, and most likely neither are you, so why pretend?

Once the announcements are out there, you aren't going to be able to shut us up!

[Vincent Ferrari]

With the opening bells of Macworld 2009 only a few mere hours away, the staff and I wanted to share our predictions for MacWorld 2009, so without further ado, here you have them!

"Given that Steve Jobs won't be at MacWorld, I don't see any major announcements. I think we'll see a refresh of the Mac Mini and the iMac. If I had to make a wild prediction, I'd say that Jason Calacanis's prediction from last year is correct and Apple is releasing an HDTV with integrated AppleTV like functionality, but I don't see that being announced without Jobs there." -Joe Johaneman, Contributing Editor

"I'm hoping something for the Apple TV, Netflix interface would be nice. Also home server type of setup would be great for media. Thats more hope and dream category though I guess :-). Most likely an update for the 17 inch laptop to the new construction, also think will be an update to the mac mini and they will discuss Snow Leopard. My crystal ball gets pretty cloudy after that :-) Oh yea one more thing, more capacity on the iPhone. I would like to say iPhone Nano, like the concept, but again that is the hope dream category." -Jeff Campbell, Contributing Editor

"Being new to the Apple scene, I'm not sure how reliable my predictions will be, but here's what I think: #1 - There will be some sort of new MacBook to make me drool. There always is. #2 - They will announce new Shuffles. All of the other iPods have new shiny models, except those, so it's time. #3 - An Apple netbook of some sort would be nice to see, and would be quite the surprise (for me anyway). #4 - In an unexpected move, they will announce the 'iBuds Nano'. Earbuds the size of pinheads that stick directly into your earlobes. (Intended for use with the long rumored iPhone Nano). #5 - Steve Jobs WILL appear at MacWorld, somewhere, somehow. (if he doesn't, many fanboy heads will explode later this week) #6 - The Beatles catalog will finally be added to the iTunes store. (okay, okay, I'll stop now)." -Michael Barrett, Contributing Editor

"I think we're going to see a new 17" MacBook Pro and updates for the Mac Mini, but aside from that nothing really earth shattering.  The possibility of a storage bump on the iPhone seems realistic (which, of course means we'll probably also see a storage bump for the Touch).  I'm expecting an update on the AppleTV, but nothing huge; probably just a storage bump.  I'm hoping for an update to iLife and iWork, also.  iMovie '08 is my favorite video editor for small projects and with a few small tweaks it could easily take care of most of my editing needs that Final Cut Express handles now. Honestly, I'm really with Jeff.  Without Steve, I wouldn't expect the earth to move under our feets during the keynote." -Vincent Ferrari, Executive Editor

Your Turn!

Okay folks...  We've had our say...  Now it's your turn.  Make your predictions known in the comments section.  If it isn't in writing, it was never said!  Hit us up so we can discuss afterward! Also, we're not going to try to cover the keynote.  The idea of metablogging it doesn't really thrill me, but what you will get from us is a nice helping of post-keynote coverage including our thoughts, the product announcements, etc.  We're not there, and most likely neither are you, so why pretend?

Once the announcements are out there, you aren't going to be able to shut us up!

[Spooof]

I personally hope and think that Apple will improve on the Time Capsule. If you look at the success of Drobo and the potential of Windows Home Server (he best Microsoft Product they make in my opinion) I think that there is room for Apple to provide an elegant solution.

The only problem is that it would cut into Apple TV, Mac Mini and Time Capsule so I would not bet the farm on this. We can always dream.

[ptyork]

Wow. Just wow. I've been underwhelmed at these events before, but wow, this is a whole new level of underwhelm... did I mention wow. Here's hoping that this gave something to someone. Sounds like perhaps Vincent got his new iMovie...

[doogald]

I'm liking the face recognition and geotagging in iPhoto. I've been delaying going through thousands of photos to category tag them by people. Hopefully procrastination paid off this time.

And who can't like the tiered pricing and the elimination of DRM in iTunes?

I have no interest in a 17" MacBook Pro, but I'm digging the new battery technology. Hopefully they can bring that to the other models in the near future (I am about a year away from either a new MacBook or Air.)

As for the lack of excitement otherwise, it's clear from Apple's decision to pull out of MacWorld in the future that they have no reason to schedule new releases of stuff a few weeks after the holiday season is done.

[Jason Dunn]

I'm a software geek so I dug some of the stuff they announced. But I definitely didn't feel the lure of going to buy a Mac like I do after most keynotes. Without the Jobs reality distortion field, it's easier to resist.

[ptyork]

Originally Posted by doogald

I'm liking the face recognition and geotagging in iPhoto. I've been delaying going through thousands of photos to category tag them by people. Hopefully procrastination paid off this time.

Or do it without the $79 upgrade fee using PicasaWeb's Name Tags (also uses face recognition). You also get geotagging and (of course) google maps / streets integration. I like the integration that the new iPhoto offers with FB, but I'm really dubious of how it will sync properly BACK to FB. How will it know that my iPhoto tag "John" really means my FB friend "Johnathan Numbnuts" with FB ID #17891298739. Perhaps they've done this well, though. We'll see.

And who can't like the tiered pricing and the elimination of DRM in iTunes?

Yup. Nice. But I switched to Amazon long ago. If you're 100% Apple, then this will be meaningful. If not, the availability of <= $5 albums using the completely portable MP3 standard make Amazon a better option for many.

I have no interest in a 17" MacBook Pro, but I'm digging the new battery technology. Hopefully they can bring that to the other models in the near future (I am about a year away from either a new MacBook or Air.)

New battery = good. Non-removable = bad. $50 "upgrade" to matte screen = WTF? Goofy ass keyboard = joke. I'm really glad I got my current iteration. The new machining does make the laptop feel more solid (extrapolating from the 15"), but is a step backwards in too many ways for me to want one.

It's not like there was anything "bad" in the announcements (except for the exceedingly lame paid iWork.com). I'm just flabbergasted that they didn't touch the Mini or the AppleTV. Perhaps this will come in a separate "event," but I'm starting to believe that these are being abandoned. I can't wait for some of the radical greenies to get hip to Apple's lack of a sub $3000 computer that DOESN'T include a display and hit back at those ridiculous "we're the greenest ever" commercials. Come on, most of us get new computers every 2 years. Most of us get new monitors for our desktop every 6-10. That's 2 (almost certainly more) extra displays manufactured / landfilled per desktop user every 6+ years. What's currently the most environmentally damaging component on a PC? Guess. This is just incredibly wasteful. For people that require laptops, then sure, this is a necessary evil. But otherwise, it is shameful.

[Spooof]

Overall I am disappointed in the applicability to my situation; however I do like the improvements to the MBP.

As I just upgraded my 15inch I am 2 to 3 years away from a new MBP. Maybe they will offer a repalcement battery with the new technology for my 15inch... I will check into it once I see a pig fly by my office window

In addition I do not use iPhoto unless I want to make a photo book or slide show. I can't stand how it won't accept my black and white jpgs from ACR. I have to import color and convert to B&W in iPhoto. If the new version corrects this it might be worth the upgrade.

The rest of the items do not excite me like previous MacWorlds. Yet it is unrealistic that Apple can consitantly blow our socks off. I wonder what CES will hold?

[Spooof]

I completely ignored the removal of DRM. This is something I look forward, but would prefer MP3 at a decent bit rate.

[ptyork]

Originally Posted by Jason Dunn

I'm a software geek so I dug some of the stuff they announced. But I definitely didn't feel the lure of going to buy a Mac like I do after most keynotes. Without the Jobs reality distortion field, it's easier to resist.

For me, over an hour of talk/demo about tweaks to iLife software that (mostly) served to a) bring it to parity with free software (e.g., Picasa) or b) bring back features that were removed in their last $79 upgrade (iMovie) acted more like a "repulsor beam" than a "reality distortion field."

In fairness, yes, there were some cool new features, but it was obvious that they were hurting for things to talk about for 90+ minutes...

[Jason Dunn]

Originally Posted by Spooof

I can't stand how it won't accept my black and white jpgs from ACR. I have to import color and convert to B&W in iPhoto.

That's completely insane...a JPEG is a JPEG, how did Apple manage to screw that up? Wow.