Bow to the Jobstradamus.

In the words of Spiderman's Uncle, with great power comes great responsibility.   According to 9to5mac.com the "Mac Touch" was mentioned in a recent job posting for Apple.  With the January MacWorld event coming up, and the constant rumor of the "ultraportable" on it's way, it seems everyone is focused on the "duh" rumor of a flash memory laptop.  But there is mounting evidence to prove my "vision" of the Apple tablet to be correct.  While everyone pats themselves on the back for jumping on the ultra-portable bandwagon, Jobstradamus continues to see visions of a giant iPhone/Macbook like device. 

I will begin working on a rumor roundup and highlight the secret little hints here and there about the upcoming "Mac Touch".  

Jobstradamus - round 2.

I wish I could write in quatrains, that would be awesome. But alas, time is of the essence and thus I will get to my predictions.

For all you underestimators out there, the mighty genius Steve Jobs has a special surprise for everyone at Macworld 2008.

Of course, at this point the famed "ultra-portable" seems destined to be on it's way. The 13.3 inch Macbook Pro to replace the venerable (and my all-time favorite Mac ever) 12.1 inch Powerbook. I see this coming, and it's going to be sexy....but....

The one more thing that will come at this show or the next is going to be the little rumor that could...the iTablet. Here is my argument for the iTablet.

1. Apple, in order to pick up marketshare, has to find it's way into the "Dell super-cheap computer" sector. The iPhone is damn close to being all the computer I need when I travel. Close, but not quite ready for prime time. So at $399 it gets close, but that leaves about $900 between the iPhone and the first option in the Mac lineup.

2. The iPhone proved that Mac OS X can be downsized to fit on smaller screens using innovative UI changes. The touchscreen is awesome. But don't think for a moment that Apple is going to rest leaving the touchscreen OS X on the iPod/iPhone.

3. What Apple does is redefine a space when they enter it. iPod/mp3player - check. Macbook Pro/laptop - check. iMac/PC - check. iPhone/PDA/phone - check. They are getting rather good at it. So, if they are going to enter the $700-ish computer space, how else could they redefine it. The Mac Mini was good, but not...Jobsian. But, a true touchscreen, 13.3 inch tablet with iPhone styling and coolness but with real versions of iPhoto and iTunes this could be the real deal that finally makes the tablet PC sexy.

13.3 inch iTablet. Built in Wi-fi. Pre-configured with iPhoto and iTunes, as well as Apple's other consumer software (mail, calendar, etc.) NO CD input (trust me.) Touchscreen/multi-touch interface. 100GB. $799/$899.

Call me Jobstradamus.

Forgive me the following moment of arrogance...but HA! I did it again. I correctly identified the "One More Thing...." item from the latest Apple event.

Sure, we all expected the phatty Nano, and the iPod Touch - which he delivered. But ONCE AGAIN, I correctly figured out that those weren't the big WOW thing he was going to announce. The "anywhere you can get WiFi" iTunes store is a reality.

And now, I will be going by Jobstradamus.

Tick...tick...tick...

I'm pretty excited about tomorrow.  September 5th - the day that Apple is finally going to make the Zune laughable.  Oh wait, the Zune was laughable at launch.  Well, tomorrow will be the day that we see what the follow up to the coolest smartphone of all time will be for the coolest computer company of all time. 

While I've been on-again/off-again about my decision, I think my hope is maybe the iPod Touch and the iPhone Nano.  Really, it doesn't matter what is released tomorrow.  The iPhone is the first true convergence device and it's from Apple, making it wicked cool.  

Sure, Apple likes to torture us with new devices.  But maybe the 5G iPod lifecycle is a example of positive things to come for Apple.  I was totally pissed off about the 4G iPod and it's constant reiteration.  But really, from 4G to 5G to 5.5G was really a long time and all it really did was get flatter and brighter.  From what I've seen, I don't want the iPhone to get any flatter and I'm not sure how, without beaming 3D images ala "help me Obi Wan, you're my only hope", the screen could get any better on the iPhone.

So, barring an unbelievable iPhone derivative released on Verizon tomorrow, I will be waiting impatiently for the announce before going to get my iPhone in the next couple days. 

Stay tuned!

technorati tags:iphone, ipod, apple, itunes, zune, touch

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Why not commit?

So, next Wednesday is the big day - all new iPods.  New iTunes.  Probably something even cooler than anyone expects.  Which brings me back to the original idea for this blog - to chronicle my nagging indecision about the iPhone.  Which brings me to my point - with all the new, cool, wow items coming out next week, does it fundamentally change the beauty of the iPhone? 

Let me revisit this device.  It has 8GB of storage - good enough for the music I'm ACTUALLY listening to at the moment.  A video, tv show, movie or two.  Device storage such as contacts, applications, and documents.  Web access for maps (which anyone who has ever travelled with me knows is absolutely critical.)  Email, twitter, facebook, and SMS.  And of course, the phone.  I don't talk on my phone much anymore.  I think last month I used less than 200 minutes.  Texting is probably the bigger part of my bill.  And the iPhone does all of this.  VERY WELL.

So who cares what comes out on Wednesday?  Nothing that gets released next Wednesday seems to change whether or not I should get an iPhone.  It seems that no matter what Apple throws at me next week, no matter how cool the offer is, it doesn't make the iPhone any less perfect.

And...scene.

technorati tags:iphone, apple, ipod, itunes

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I am moving the needle in the Apple rumor blogosphere. SWEET.

So, there is absolutely NO WAY for me to actually lay claim to this...but if you read my earlier post, then this one from Engadget seems totally uncanny.

So far that makes Original Analog 2 - genius mac rumor specialists 0.

Hehehehe.

technorati tags:iphone, engadget, ipod, apple, itunes

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Where is the Wow in this event?

This is slightly outside the iPhone Diary conversation, but I think it's relevant.

I don't think the Touch iPod (the way it's being described) or the Beatles catalog coming to iTunes are the Wow in this event. The chubby nano with the big screen, clearly not wowing people. So what has his mighty genius Mr. Jobs decided to wow us with this September.

Beatles catalog. Unequivocably.

iPod refresh. Yes.

iPod "Touch" release. Yes.

Chubby Nano. Duh.

OS X w/ Coverflow on everything. Probably even Steve's belt will have OS X in it.

So what is the WOW.

The problem I have with is that everyone sees this coming, and just like I predicted with the iPhone, it's got to be BIG for Steve and Company to use the word wow. I guessed the iPhone would be the wi-fi + touchscreen + OS X + phone device, while almost everyone else was stuck only connecting one or two of those. When he showed it off, it wow-ed.

So what now? What could the iPod family introduce that would make even those folks like us with wicked high expectations sit up and say, "Wow."

How about this...

If you have wi-fi, and OS X on the iPod - why can't you just have iTunes there as well and be able to access and download songs from anywhere that you have wireless internet access? Think about it. They have already leaked info about ads on iTunes, and wireless controls/access, and the social aspect of iTunes. You spend more time with your iPod than you do iTunes, so if Apple can send you ads they've hit the motherload of monetizing iTunes. Then, having bigger screens and bigger form factor for the Nano makes sense.

Any other thoughts?

technorati tags:iphone, ipod, itunes, apple, nano, wifi, wireless, touch, rumors, wow, social

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And...The beat goes on!

So, Apple finally announces the September 5th event to launch the new iPods and all the sites are saying, "Oooh, the new iPods. Look at the obvious hint with coverflow."

I see two more "hints", and I know with 100% certainty that I am right.

1. The word "beat" - this is going to be the Beatles announcement.

2. Look at the Beastie Boys album prior to the selected album. In mine, and I'm sure many others, my Beastie Boys albums line up directly before my Beatles albums.

In the immortal words of Steve Carrell - For sho.

Eat that mainstream gadget blogs. I'm right, you know I'm right, you overlooked this fact, and hahaha I'm right.

Matt 2.0

technorati tags:iphone, beatles, itunes, ipod, coverflow, beastie, boys, touch, apple, gadgets, nano, rumors

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At&t versus T-Mobile - What to do with an unlocked iPhone

So you've unlocked your iPhone.  Congratulations - you now have 2 choices instead of 1 (if you live in the US.)  Considering the big hoopla over the unlocked iPhone, and how this figures into my decision, I thought it would be good to go through pros vs. cons of T-mobile versus At&t in an iPhone GSM provider death match. 

First the Cons:

At&t

-Edge sucks

-2 Year commitment

-Long standing reputation for hating customers

-No more in-network free calls (everyone I know is on Verizon)

T-Mobile

-Not the greatest coverage of the major providers

-That's about it, actually

Now, the Pros:

At&t

-Visual voicemail (really cool feature of the iPhone on At&t only)

-Easy Youtube setup (may not actually be possible on an unlocked iPhone)

-No hiding from the man

T-Mobile

-My faves allows for free calls to 5 people, which sadly covers most of the people I would call

-No 2 year commitment

-No 2 year commitment

-Get to feel sneaky and thwart the man trying to hold me down

-Better data rates than Edge (according to random comments online)

-Awesome customer service.  Seriously, they REALLY work with customers to make them happy

Summary:  Flexibility alone gives the edge to T-Mobile, with the "My 5" (or whatever the hell it's called) and the lack of a 2 year commitment, but their real advantage comes in the way of their customer service.  However, as long as you don't particularly care about who your provider is, making a 2 year commitment, (or good customer service) then you might as well sign with At&t.

ps.  I'm leaning toward the unlocked iPhone and T-Mobile.

technorati tags:iphone, apple, ipod, unlocked, tmobile, t-mobile, at&t

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Hmmm...I can buy an iPhone an unlock it.

So according to Engadget (and subsequently every other gadget or Apple rumor website) there is a new way to unlock the iPhone using software, without any annoying invasive hacks.  The guys at http://www.iphonesimfree.com/ will be releasing a version of this software for sale next week and it appears to be the real dea.

This offers another reason to buy the iPhone - sans the At&t shackles.  Just as my 2 year commitment to Verizon has proven terribly inflexible for me, a 2 year commitment to At&t is likely to me as or more restrictive.

In fact, this post at Engadget proves that there are likely to be many of these options to come, making the idea of buying the iPhone THAT MUCH MORE exciting.  T-mobile doesn't provide the best coverage in the US by any means - but with my limited travel plans and 190 minutes of voice usage in a month - I'm unlikely to really notice.  Data, SMS, and email are more likely to be the big deal - with the ability to make the occasional call. 

Which brings up an interesting thought:  do I talk enough to make the phone worth while, or am I better off with a wi-fi enabled iPod and a Razr?  Hmmm...

technorati tags:iphone, ipod, apple, macrumors, appleinsider, unlock, hack, at&t, iphonesimfree

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And then there were 2…?

Another iPhone?  I was reminded today about the July post on Apple Insider about the iPhone Nano possibilities this fall.  Less expensive, and more iPod Nano/Regular cell phone like, it doesn’t seem to be the same “gadget of the gods” that is the original iPhone.  Multi-touch devices are what make this all so exciting.  It’s almost 2008 - where are my flying cars and robot housekeepers and giant teleconference walls!  The multi-touch iPhone is the first device that feels like a device should in 2007. 

Here is a clip of the Apple patent that caused the iPhone Nano speculation.

It’s not worth waiting until 2008 for, but another month?  Maybe.

technorati tags:iphone, nano, ipod, apple, patent, macrumors, ppleinsider, cupertino

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Racing to buy an iPhone? The caution flag has been raised.

Consumerist just posted the story of "Jonathan" who has had nothing but trouble with his iPhone. This happens with 1st generation devices, and unless it's the Xbox 360 (which I think has a failure rate of 30% or more) it is usually a small percentage.

However, the concerning aspect of this is not the failure rate but Apple's "rental policy" for when you need another iPhone while yours is getting repaired. $29 plus a $500 deposit? Isn't the purchase of your first iPhone deposit enough?

I have always had great luck with Applecare and Apple support in general, and this seems surprising. Hopefully it's an anomoly. But it is a cautionary flag to the fact that if your iPhone goes down, it takes a whole lot of your life with it.

Really...trying...to...resist....must warn others...

I used to have AT&T and hated it. Shame on Apple for this exclusivity arrangement. At first, the whole thing was irritating enough to say "F' you Apple iPhone, I'm waiting for the touch screen iPod with WiFi." And I think the refreshed iPod Nano is a CLEAR indication that Apple plans on moving their current iPod video screens downmarket to make way for their iPhone style touchscreens. Coverflow is too freaking cool not to have it in the core iPod and Apple has to know that (as indicated by it's appearance in the iPhone.)

All that being said, the dream of 1 device is soooo compelling. I used to travel for a dot com in the first bubble, and carrying my Palm, 2 cell phones, a laptop, a Gameboy, and my old CD player (then 2nd gen iPod) was a pain. I started dreaming of convergence. Now I travel with my Blackberry, iPod 5.5G, Macbook Pro, and either PSP or DS - and again, there seems to be an opportunity for convergence. An iPhone can cover the iPod need and Blackberry needs. With decent apps, it might even prove more interesting than a DS.

But then I'm stuck with AT&T for 2 years. A touchscreen iPod with Wifi and OS X for $399 or less, and I might just go get a really tiny cell phone and call it good. Hmmmm. Surely someone has gone through all this debate and can give me some feedback.

Apple - you torture me!!!

Ok.  So in case you aren't following the concept of this blog (which I'm pretty sure no one is) I am dying to upgrade my iPod and am currently obsessed with the iPhone.  However, the fall upgrade to Apple's line looms and I fear making another one of those painful choices like when I bought my 40GB iPod Photo for $499, and then saw it re-released months later thinner and cheaper.

Macrumors and 9to5mac are torturing me with the latest (possible) leak from Cupertino.  Check it out. 

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New Ipods coming? (Grrrrrrr....)

Well, according to Appleinsider.com (and just about everyone else) the iPod refresh is finally coming.

Why does this matter? Well, At&t blows and not being forced to get 80% of the iPhone's functionality without having to donate an organ to the consumer hate-fest that is At&t would be awesome. Sure, I'd love to have a phone built into my iPod - but at the expense of having to endure craptastic customer service, craptastic Edge wireless data services, and the thought of having to be locked into ANOTHER 2 year contract with a phone company - it's a tough call.

Then again...it's 5 years until the exclusive contract is lifted and the iPhone might be able to be used more freely, so I guess if I'm going to do it...why wait.

(This is Gizmodo's pic by the way. Since no one reads my blog yet, I'm hoping they wont care that I am completely "borrowing" it. Asking for permission.)

Decisions, decisions....the iPhone.

Well, as any Apple fanboy or iPod junkie knows - buying an iPod is a guaranteed heartbreaker. In 6 months, there will be a newer, sleeker, smaller, brighter, more colorful iPod to make you feel obsolete and foolish. Somehow though, that $300 purchase is easily justified.

The iPhone though, in case you hadn't read is $599 (8GB). Which is a whole other ball of wax. Few of us mere mortals make $600+ impulse buys (see the Playstation 3.)

And sure enough, just as I finally decide to bite the bullet and shell out for the latest Steve Jobs gift to consumerism, there are rumblings about the new "touch iPod". According to many of the gadget blogs like Engadget, Gizmodo, Macrumors, Appleinsider (and probably others) the long overdue iPod refresh is likely to include an "iPhone without the phone."

So this is where I start my iPhone Diary. On the cusp of a depressing or exciting decision to buy one of the most inspired gadgets ever created. Stay tuned. If you are thinking about getting the iPhone, or recently picked it up - I want your feedback!

-Matt