7 Predictions about Macworld 2007


jobs.jpgJanuary 9th, 2007 is going to be here before you know it. At 9am Pacific time, Steve Jobs will deliver the Macworld Keynote, and if next year is anything like the last few years, it’s sure to be full of big announcements, and maybe even a few surprises. While it’s still early to speculate…let’s face it…it’s fun to speculate, and there are some things we can predict based on what we know now about Apple. With that in mind, here are 7 predictions about what you can expect to see at Macworld 2007.

iTV – I don’t think we were originally supposed to see iTV at the “Showtime” event this past September. I think iTV might have originally been the “One more thing…” for Macworld 2007…but when the Internet lit on fire about a “true” Video iPod and a wireless set-top box, Apple decided not to have us leave the “Showtime” event totally disappointed, and gave us a preview of this interesting new device….but I don’t think we’ve seen everything it can do yet…and I’m betting that Macworld 2007 is going to be it’s time to shine.

The patent for an Apple Universal Remote has also been revealed this week. A remote like this is almost sure to be bundled with iTV, and most likely unveiled at Macworld.

I’m betting the $299 set-top box will be available for purchase at the conclusion of the Keynote.

iLife ’07/iWork ’07 – Macworld, at least in recent years, has been all about software. iLife has been a staple for the event for the past two years, and I think it’s safe to say we’ll see the ’07 versions of both iLife and iWork at Macworld 2007.

This year’s edition of iWork is rumored to have a spreadsheet program called “Lasso” to further complete Apple’s version of MS Office.

Leopard – With OS X 10.5 promised for release in spring of 2007, Macworld 2007 is a perfect place to fully introduce the world to Apple’s latest OS innovations. A new (more Spotlight-focused) Finder, a more Unified iTunes 7-like look for the OS, and possibly even the previously scrapped “Home on iPod” feature, are just a few of the additions to Leopard that we can expect to see during the Keynote.

iTunes 7.5– Right now Apple is looking for a “Mobile Marketing Manager”. Could this fuel speculation about an iPhone? Sure…but I think it’s much more likely that iTunes is going to add ringtones and other cell phone related media to the online store. My guess is that Macworld will bring us iTunes 7.5 with Mobile content, and much better Hollywood Studio support for movie downloads..

No “true” Video iPod – January just isn’t the right time for a Video iPod to be released. Is it possible? Will we see them sometime in 2007? I hope so, but Macworld isn’t the right time for a release of this product. A new generation of iPods was released on Sept. 12th, and the holiday buying season is gearing up now. If a widescreen iPod was going to be released, NOW would be the time to do it (and recent rumors suggest that we MIGHT see it before the end of the year)…not after the holiday buying season is over.

If we don’t see the widescreen Video iPod before the end of the year, we won’t see until much later in 2007.

iPod Market Dominance – This holiday season it’s “Zune Vs. iPod”, but when the dust settles at the beginning of the new year, it’s clear which player is going to come out on top. The Steve Jobs Keynote will start off with the numbers from the last quarter of ’06, confirming that the iPod was unaffected by Microsoft’s “killer” device. [ You can find more on the reasons why in an upcoming article]

Oh…One More Thing… – It wouldn’t be a Steve Jobs Keynote without there being “One More Thing…” to close out the show, and I think Macworld 2007’s “One More Thing” will be the long rumored Apple iPhone. Engadget, and other sites have been reporting for months that the phone is ready to go. We know they are working on it, we know they’re looking for a Mobile Marketing Manager…it’s just a matter of time before the product is a reality, and I think Macworld 2007 is where we’re FINALLY going to see it.

I’m confident in each of these, and I believe we’ll see them all in the Keynote. Of course, I could be wrong.

What do you think?


Kokou Adzo

Kokou Adzo is a stalwart in the tech journalism community, has been chronicling the ever-evolving world of Apple products and innovations for over a decade. As a Senior Author at Apple Gazette, Kokou combines a deep passion for technology with an innate ability to translate complex tech jargon into relatable insights for everyday users.

24 Comments

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  1. I agree with you on all but the iPhone. iPhone could be a separate announcement, but not at the MWSF07. One more thing could be an ultra portable Mac lineup to satisy all those 12 inch powerbook fans. I could be wrong too !

  2. Makes sense to me. But one can never predict Apple, how much ever we speculate, they are tough to let the cat out of the bag, and could go to lengths of putting the cat in the bag under anaesthesia to hide their new take-over-the-world product.

  3. With the Developer conference hyping 64-bit processing I would think Apple would update the complete line of systems with the latest Intel Core 2 64-bit processor.

  4. “Could this fuel speculation about an iPhone? Sure…but I think it’s much more likely that iTunes is going to add ringtones and other cell phone related media to the online store.”

    “I think Macworld 2007’s “One More Thing” will be the long rumored Apple iPhone.”

    I think you don’t know what you think. Leave the surprises to Apple.

  5. I think the iPhone is not going to happen unless Apple rolls out its own Helio-like service with it. A agree with NYTime’s David Pogue who points out that unlike computers, phone companies want full software control of phones and their features and Apple will never allow that.

  6. How about MacBook Pros with Core 2 Duo processors and (finally!) high resolution displays (eg. 15″ UXGA 1900×1200) to take advantage of the resolution-independent UI in Leopard?

  7. Macworld has never been the place that apple has focused on the ipod. I would imagine that the iphone (or what ever they choose to call it) will be gven its own keynote and if itunes 7.5 focuses on mobile content, it would be at that same event. iTV and Leopard will be the big two things shown off in with much greater detail at macworld. Possily even talk about new airport devices with 802.11n support. iLife/iWork are no brainers – we will definitly see the 07 version. In the end, the one more thing is going to be something to really spur sales – maybe a new macbook pro or ultra thin macbook. Though never underestimate that steve won’t pull a rabit out of his hat.

  8. If the “One More Thing” is indeed the iPhone, I hope he introdces it by getting a phone call on stage, interrupting him and catching the audience by surprise.

  9. Stop putting Zune-the-brick in the same sentence with iPod, they just want free marketing by association with the best mp3 player in the world.

    They’re no match.

  10. Right now Apple is looking for a “Mobile Marketing Manager”

    This open position does not mean it has something to do with iPhone. There are many core business surrounded the mobile platform. THINK DIFFERENT!!

  11. Here’s what I would like to see:

    They need to throw in Keynote and Pages into the iLife suite for free w/ all new computers. Keeping those separate is ridiculous.

    .mac also needs an upgrade bigtime.

    syncing between systems needs to be addressed.

    powerbooks w/ dual harddrives raided would be sweet.

    Quicktime Pro – this should be thrown free in as well.

  12. Although the major cellular providers want full control over the software on the system I believe it is likely that Apple will benefit from the slightly established Disney Mobile. Afterall Steve has quite a chunk & a history with that company. I dont think they will release an iPhone that has under 10 or 20 gigs of memory due to the recent upgrades in flash & I do believe it will come at macworld.

    I also wonder if iTV will be not be only 1 device more of a line of devices w/ 1 main unit with other stacking units for cable cards, pvrs, HD/Blue ray players, etc. Perhaps that is what the USB is for.

    Hopefully they will bump the res in the ITMS because as of now, the quality seems to be getting worse from some shows like Battlestar Galactica.

  13. “I think the iPhone is not going to happen unless Apple rolls out its own Helio-like service with it. A agree with NYTime’s David Pogue who points out that unlike computers, phone companies want full software control of phones and their features and Apple will never allow that.”

    All you need is iChat to make calls or some kind of Skype application…Would that mean that making calls would then be free(one can dream) or are they gonna charge us a subscription fee to use iChat on the iPhone?

  14. I sure hope iWork ’07 is released, I’m planning to buy a 15″ MacBook Pro around February 3rd, and wouldn’t have to pay for an upgrade just after a purchase. I guess with Leopard that’s inevitable, but I probably won’t go for the 10.5 update until a second or third update, fixing any quirks.

  15. I am praying to see Leopard, and I think there is a chance.But I just completely think that the iPhone isnt even reality. I dont think they are going to come out with one, it is just the biggest rumor about apple in existance