Apple fans hope keynote holds news of sub-notebook
Madness over Macworld gathers momentum
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Updated So, CES packs up for another year and everyone takes a break from the full-on, week-long frenzy. However, another big event is about to steal the spotlight as Apple is expected to announce an ultra-slim laptop at its annual show on Tuesday.
The annual Macworld conference in San Francisco is the venue of choice for Apple CEO Steve Jobs to roll out new products and chart the company's course for the year.
His Barnum-like behaviour has set the agenda for key announcements within the computer and electronics industries, and in recent years Macworld has served as a spoiler to CES, as the two events frequently overlap - as will be the case again next year: Macworld 2009 - Tuesday 6 to Friday 9, CES 2009 - Thursday 8 to Sunday 11 January.
Now iConic: the arrival of the iPhone last January
Apple's new wares are expected to be more of an enhancement to its current offerings rather than anything that packs the awe of last year's star attraction, the iPhone.
Apple never gives any hint of what will be announced, so guessing what Jobs has up the sleeve of his black polo-neck is a favourite pastime of fans, analysts and industry folk.
Speculation about the sub-notebook itself isn't new, we reported on rumours regarding this back in July and again when hip hop star Just Blaze allegedly spilled the beans after he was promised one for performing at a recent Apple Christmas party. Analysts are predicting a computer half as thick as the current MacBook lineup, but incorporating Flash memory rather than a hard drive.
Many also believe Jobs will announce that customers will be able to rent downloaded movies from Fox, Warner Brothers and other big studios through its iTunes online store. Register Hardware will bring you all the very latest news from Macworld as it unfolds.
Macworld teaser banner - not really giving much away
Update: teaser banners have sprung up all around the Moscone Center site in San Francisco, the site of tomorrow's highly-anticipated Macworld Expo. According to AppleInsider, the sprawling matte black banners hang above the entrance to the south hall and simply read: "2008. There's something in the air."
What does this all mean..? Well, it's still tricky to tell. Some believe the new subcompact will be called the MacBook Air, and speculation on 9to5Mac suggests it will have the tagline "cables not included". Others postulate that it has something to do with the movie downloads.
Exactly what cables won't be included is totally up in the air (maybe that's it), with talk of built-in WiMAX, Wireless USB or even induction charging being bounded about. Perhaps "air" simply refers to the the lightweight design of the new machine.
Register Hardware will be providing full, live coverage of Steve Jobs' keynote on Tuesday 15th January. The show kicks off at 5:00pm GMT/London time.
COMMENTS
What's in the air
if it's California, and there's something questionable in the air, 30% of it is probably the part of the Asian Brown Cloud that crosses the Pacific.
as for Mr. Jobs, despite having the character of a snapper turtle (as described in a legion of anecdotes by a legion of people), and reputedly being personally unpleasant (dubious habits, marginal social skills, poor hygiene, etc.), he is also highly effective; consider Apple's numbers (now bigger than the entire music business), specifically the figures from before his return, versus what came after. Apple products are starkly different, too, and hugely popular, but numbers are a more effective, neutral metric.
Theo de Raadt (leader of the OpenBSD project) is also considered to be difficult and abrasive, but the project puts out a consistently superior product (one of the most secure OSes on the planet), on time and to spec.
i've never met these guys, so do not know them well enough personally to judge whether i'd want them as friends, but their accomplishments are impressive, and i like their work.
@ Nick
As if the "if it moves, patent it" approach is the sole domain of Apple and Steve Jobs? Funny how if Jobs or Apple says it, sells it, whatever it, its pure evil and the masses are weak simpletons to fall for it. Whereas if its Gates, Ballmer, Mr. Softy, etc, well, shucks, that just fine and we'll take a two, please.
RE
'Apple products are highly competent and sometimes even genuinely innovative'
ROTFLMAO
Apple products are driven by one thing, marketing and a multi million dollar advertising budget. Apple don't innovate and haven't done for a long time. They take other peoples inventions, dress it up nicely and hype it beyond belief to make the masses of sheeple believe it is a must have item. Reports on anything that isn't up to scratch, poorly designed, major flaws etc get buried by all the hype reporting.
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