Mac Soda

Amazingly enough, my predictions were very close to what came, and I called some obscure features way before the rumor mill. Here are my predictions again to see how close I came…

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Prediction: iPod Shuffle: At 49 dollars, its hard to imagine the price dropping anymore. However, I’m sure we will see some sort of an updated design, definitely thinner, and while a screen is possible, its unlikely. More space, and thinner are what to expect here.

Actual: This was the most surprising of everything in my eyes. I expected a redesign, and instead got colors. Oh well… I don’t use the shuffle anyways!

2. iPod Nano: Some say touch, others say click wheel. I say both. I believe that just as the iPod Touch didn’t kill off the Classic, the iPod Touch Nano won’t kill off the Nano. The iPod Touch Nano will be extremely thin, and will sport a 2.5 inch screen, with prices starting very cheap (99-149?). Expect 4-8 GB of space. As far as the click-nano is concerned, I believe it will stay fat, add more space, and will come in multiple colors, as 9 to 5 Mac claims. While some are interpreting this as more than one color on the frame, I have a feeling they will be able to change colors, as Apple has a patent for this, and because it would be awesome. Prices should drop in line with the Touch Nano, and space should be boosted.

Actual: I was wrong at first, but I later revised it. See the very last prediction…

3. iPod Classic: Thinner, Cheaper, Bigger Hard Drive. Yawn. This is probably the Apple product I care the least about.

Actual: Thinner, Cheaper, Bigger Hard Drive. Discontinuation of 160 GB.

4. iPod Touch: GPS should be added. Maybe a camera and speakers and a mic to go with the iPhone. 64 GB of space is possible. While some may think that’s crazy, Steve Jobs said that the iPod Touch will always have more space than the iPhone, so if people expect a 32 GB iPhone, a 64 GB Touch has to come first. I also expect it to be thinner (if that’s even possible: that thing is so thin!), and perhaps sport a plastic or aluminum back. That chrome back scratches too much for my liking as it is now. I also would like to see volume buttons to match the iPhone. Expect a substantial drop in price: As it is now, It doesn’t make sense to pay 499 for a 32 GB Touch, and 299 for a 16 GB iPhone. I’d expect all price points to drop 100 dollars (or at least 50).

Actual: No GPS. Speaker. Volume Buttons. Price drop was in between my 100 dollar and 50 dollar estimates.

5. PowerBook G5. Two Button Mouse. iNintendo. Beatles on iTunes. Steve said he expected them in early 2008, and time’s running out. Remastered catalog, DRM-Free, All albums available immediately plus a new “special” album of some sort (Greatest hits type thing). Paul McCartney Performs at event.

Actual: Sigh….

6. iTunes 8.0. iTunes really is in need of some sort of a refresh, a new way to organize and view content. One idea I had was to take the “Events” theme from iPhoto and iMovie and bring it over to iTunes. Basically it would let you view all your music by month, with album artwork appearing as it does in iPhoto for photos. You could skim to view the album artwork, and merge or separate your events. Events could be renamed Mixes. Just one idea out of many possible.

Actual: I called iTunes 8 early on, and I was really close with the whole events deal. Instead, they added grid-view, which is what I depicted in this mockup I made. They also added a feature called Genius, which is similar to Pandora (but based on my testing, not as good… close though.)

7. iTunes Movie Rentals could become 48 Hours. If Australia has it with the same movies, we will get it too. 

Actual: Nope. But expect this to be announced when the Apple TV gets updated next.

8. NBC Back on iTunes. From Flipping Out, to The Office, to Heroes, they have some of the best content available, and iTunes needs it.

Actual: CALLED IT!!! NBC is BACK!!! The most interesting thing about it is that NBC won: they got the flexible pricing they wanted. All NBC shows are in HD, and cost… $2.99.

NEW PREDICTION: iPod Nano will be given an accelerometer in order to accommodate the new widescreen display. The click wheel could possibly change the text depending on the orientation. And who knows? Perhaps the nanos could come in a rainbow of colors…

Actual: I was spot on with the accelerometer. It seemed like it was necessary to add. I love the “shake to shuffle” feature as well. Also, 9 to 5 Mac was right again, as they always are…. the nanos are rainbow colors! And they’re awesome!