Comments on: Apple branching out in 2009?

Financial analyst spreads the word Apple is planning to enter "a completely new device category" next year, but fails to provide any semblance of what that might entail.

[Vegaman_Dan]

It's a shoe, folks. The iShoe. Molly Wood of Buzz Out Loud had leaked this info months ago and only now is Apple taking a serious look at the iShoe.

It comes in only two sizes, two colors, and you have to wear it for 24 months before you can take it off or wash your feet.

[SpiritWater]

1) Tablets are too clunkie so it won't be that.
2) Netbooks are under powered so that's not it.
3) The iPhone and iPod Touch can do what Kindle can do.
4) GPS capabilities are already had by the iPhone and iPod Touch, although not so well. This could be taken care of by the next iPhone rev.
5) Video cameras have been done by Apple in the past and this isn't a high margin area.
6) PVR would be grand but they would need deals with the big cable providers. The AppleTV has still not caught on so this may be a redefined product to enter a new market. Most likely Apple will enter PVR as VCRs are fading and there are many solutions (Tivo etc) that offer the service. Apple can unify the field.
7) Apple could enter the auto industry by buying-up GM, Crysler, or Ford. Nah.
8) I do foresee one new market no one has realized is coming sooner than later for Apple. Robots. Microsoft has already entered this field with an SDK. I believe Apple could enter an agreement with iRobot and integrate their wares into the household appliance robot.

[maverick_nick]

If you look at application sales in the iTunes App Store, you'll notice that the biggest sellers are games. I'm certain that Apple has spotted the demand for games and an Apple gaming console may not be such a bad idea.

Building a tablet or something close to an existing product isn't exactly what I'd call branching out. So I think it'll be something very different from what Apple's doing right now.

[Seaspray0]

Tom, come back when you find out something substantial. Apple rumors are common place these days and becoming old hat.

[someguynamedbob]

what about portable games ie:DS, PSP, other stuff (would you count the iphone as a portable game console since it has monkey ball and stuff?)

[DarkHawke]

I just want to see an iPhone that can hold its own, spec for spec, with some of those ice-slick Nokias. They already have the interface down better than anyone, they just need to add things that you'd expect of smartphones of that caliber, like a minimum 3-megapixel camera with video recording, voice dialing (hell, you can get FREE phones that do that!), and, dare I say it, cut and paste! This whole hobbling of the device just because they can and fanboys will buy it anyway has got to end.

[Brian]

Considering how much Apple has been copying ideas from the video game industry, I predict a video game handheld device to be called the iGame.

The iGame will appear widescreen like the PSP, have a touch display like the Nintendo DS, an accelerometer like the iPod Touch and have a dedicated graphics processor to power the device.

The device will have a built-in WIFI and software to access the iTunes wireless store for video game titles.

I predict the price to be very expensive and out of range of most, to ensure only the elite will be able to afford it in this hostile economic crisis.

[jokayhn]

I have an iTouch and I like browsing the web and watching videos (youtube etc) on it but just dont like the size. I want an iTouch style tablet PC. I want to sit at my couch watching TV and when something comes up I want to look up then I can pick it up. I want it light. I want all the same functionality. Maybe three times larger or something that still retains some of the accelerometer gaming (which I do not use) but is still a larger screen for watching movies on the plane or browsing the Internet in general. That and larger virtual buttons. It would be nice if it had ports for camera cards as well so that if I am on the road and I want to see how a shot came out I can look at it on a larger screen with better quality graphics to see if I need to take the shot again. That and move files from the card onto the tablet so I can reuse the card. Which of course means making the itouch OS capable of being a file system. Sucks I cant use (that I know of) my iTouch as a storage device. To do this I think would be relatively easy. Just an oversized iTouch with a few minor additions.

[moshelinho]

Gaming console!!!!!!!

[rhold17]

It's simple... make a MacBook Touch. That's all they had to do in order to change the name for the new touch sensitive iPod.

[TheStairMaster]

I'm thinking Camera or Camcorder.

I can think of the names already: iCam, iVid...

Thats my bet. It seems to be the next logical direction, seeing as how all their products already have cameras built in (save iPods and their standalone towers)

I'd like to see an iGame video gaming console, but THATS not gonna happen...

[AppleSuxLeo]

Apple will come out wit the iCrapper...but it will fail because it uses proprietary toilet paper that no one else supports. You have to buy it from them , and it costs ten times as much.

[zhakidd532]

This will be interesting to see. I have no idea what's coming.

[dukeboy42]

I believe that the product is most in need of is a digital camcorder. We the emphasis on AppleTV and all the various video iPods, it would seem that something that records directly to formats for those devices would be a hit. Personally, I hate the idea of having to edit and change formats everytime I wish to have a video on my iPod. iTunes could then add a seperate tab for Home Movies to the Movies, Music, Podcast, etc. tabs are.

[Travis Ernst]

Tablet market I can't see Apple going into. The industries that use them are so small it isn't worth the financial loss. Would it be nice for a very small amount of users? Sure. So would a computer built into your jacket, but that isn't going to happen. Tablet PC's are used for inspection, industrial with wireless, inventory, and even pilots use them with GPS and wireless internet for flight service/navigation.

However a student or businessman has no realistic use for one that they could do with a MacBook or Air.

Apple's point is to keep costs down and have a product that will sell. Not have 3 or 4 of the same product (pre Jobs takeover years) and be in the red. Keeping it simple and what people need makes it easy for the consumer and Apple. Their computers are low end (educational computer line) Middle, and high end line. The portables have again a small selection so you don't get confused.

What is this, a modbook from Axiotron? Is that another psystar type non official product...uh OH!

[daridenus]

iphone is a device in a new category. doubt they will launch another one any time soon.

my bet is steve will launch Apple's own internet search engine instead. About time. I hate the Google's big brother scanning my emails, recording my searchers and keeping my private data.

[dcbeal]

Two predictions:

1. A nano-sized iPhone. I think there was a reason that went back to the skinnier version last year and I believe that's why they have curved the back. It will be primarily a phone and an iPod...maybe sms too...

2. A tablet with an integrated flush mount where you snap your iPhone into it (in the side). The tablet would be powered by AC or its own battery. The OS and all the goodies would come from the iPhone.

3. iTV is going to become the all-in-one entertainment box including a game controller.

4. Imacs are going to be ultra-thin.

[babyfacemagee]

iSlate.

Believe it. It's coming.

BFM

[sanjayb]

I would be happy with an IPOD touch that has HD capability. Bump up the storage to 64GB as well.