Mac Notebook and iPod Updates in September?

Standard Toaster

From Mac Rumours

AppleInsider claims that Apple resellers have received notice that MacBook, MacBook Pro and iPod supplies will become constrained in the coming weeks. Apple expects to decrease production of these models and, as a result, Apple is recommending that resellers stock up on supplies now to last them through August.
Based on past experiences and knowledge of their own inventory sell-through, those resellers who received the bulletin believe the notice is a strong indicator that Apple will begin introducing its holiday consumer electronics and Mac offerings sometime in early to mid-September.

Apple has refreshed their iPod lineup in September for the past 2 years and is widely expected to do the same again this year. Apple's free iPod Touch Back to School promotion coincidentally ends on September 15th.

Rumored possibilities include a new iPod touch, "tall" iPod nano, MacBook with glass trackpad, newly designed MacBook Pros, and, of course, a Mac tablet.

I think I can hold out just a wee bit longer. Still undecided if I'll get the MacBook or MacBook Pro. Depends on what they decide to do with the refresh I guess.

J-blk

I'd say we'll definitely see iPod updates in September - Apple has been updating the iPod range like clockwork in September for how many years now?

As for the MacBooks/MBPs, I saw the rumors on the inventory situation too and they are a pretty strong indicator that something is coming but what exactly, only Steve knows... Definitely a good idea to wait and see at the moment (I'm still wishing for the fabled tablet but I doubt it'll happen any time soon - anyone remember how long the iPhone was rumored for before it actually existed? )

Dman001

Yep, iPod season is coming. That's why the Back to School/Coke offer is on, to clear out the old iPods. Macs are usually announced at MacWorld in January but if there is going to be a new MultiTouch product, then September mabe the time. I think we may see a new Mac that uses the iPhone OS, with a 7" screen with multitouch meaning no keyboard. Priced under €500, mainly a competitor to the EEEPC. As for the MBs, they'll probably go all aluminium (I still prefer the glossy plastic) with the rumored Glass Trackpad. The only real use for a Glass Trackpad is if they put a screen behind it with MultiTouch functions and use it for editing photos and browsing music (maybe using Coverflow) all from the TrackPad.

J-blk

Dman001 wrote: »

I think we may see a new Mac that uses the iPhone OS, with a 7" screen with multitouch meaning no keyboard. Priced under €500, mainly a competitor to the EEEPC.

I would love to see that happen (crosses fingers/toes) .

Not too sure about a 7" screen though, might be too small but if they build it, I'd definitely take a serious look at it...

-Blanco-

I was going to get a MBP in the US this week but after hearing this I think I'll hang on and get the updated one even if it does mean I'll have to pay Irish prices... Can anyone speculate what are the likely upgrades the new MBPs will feature other then the casing being shaped slightly more like a macbook air?

J-blk

-Blanco- wrote: »

Can anyone speculate what are the likely upgrades the new MBPs will feature other then the casing being shaped slightly more like a macbook air?

It's always hard to guess with Apple... things I've heard are the casing, the glass trackpad (which may be for a screen underneath as Dman001 pointed out but I'm not too sure on that one) and not much else. I would also guess the keyboard will be the "spaced" design used in the MacBook, Air and both the current wireless and wired desktop keyboards (since the Air has the backlit one, the MBP would probably just use that exact one). One other thing to note is that usually with these refreshes, Apple tends to drop the entry level MBP and replace it with the next model up (spec wise I mean) so expect to see processor speeds of 2.5Ghz at least and larger HDDs on the entry model. Not much really but I'm interested to see what (if any) new products they introduce, rather than just updates...

BanzaiBk

Cue alu-macbooks, just because I bought a mba:rolleyes:

unklerosco

http://gizmodo.com/5027706/rumor-macbook-touch-coming-in-october

Thats what I wanna see.... If its gonna be 7" stick it in the bin...

BanzaiBk

I would be totally floored if there was a tablet like the G'modo article. I really don't think that's the right direction for Apple at all. Look at all tablets currently on the market, of which I've tested many and have found them all terrible, how could Apple improve that experience realistically? A 7" tablet/iphone thing seems plausible, however, but would totally cannibalise iPhone/iPod touch sales no?

On a related note, people must spend epic proportions of time working on photoshop mock ups for Apple products.

unklerosco

I'd used a good few touch screen phones(that where pants) before the iPhone came out and that worked a treat... I'd really like to see a iMac with a touch screen. I think a 7" screen is too small, 10" at least. Or a foldable screen...

J-blk

unklerosco wrote: »

I'd used a good few touch screen phones(that where pants) before the iPhone came out and that worked a treat...

Exactly. Even touch screen phones that came out after the iPhone still have a craptacular navigation system and UI - the iPhone is still the benchmark when it comes to touch control phones. I'd love to see the tablet too but Apple tends to release their take on already established product lines, not introduce completely new concepts. Since tablets haven't sold well, I don't see them going for it but I really do hope I'm wrong.

Hotblack Desiato

I'd be surprised if the MacBook gets an aluminium case, tbh.

There's a substantial price premium on the MBA/MBP and having a visually similar MB would undermine those models. Yes the MBP is significantly more powerful than the MB/MBA, but only computery geeky people know about stuff like video cards and GHz :pac:

It would also up the price of the MB...

Dman001

I highly doubt they wold make the MB line into Tablets. But I think they could release a seperate MB with a MultiTouch screen that would use the iPhone OS. But saying that, there might not be a huge demand for a product like this, the iPhone would do the same job. Then there's the possibility of a MultiTouch MB using OSX but it would be a cost loads and the MBA is already Apple's attempt at a Tablet/UMPC. As for the iPods, The Classic will probably get WiFi for streaming content and maybe a bigger screen. The Touch badly needs a big transformation to become it's own product instead of being a phoneless iPhone. 64GB might be possible this year with external controls and a price cut and more Apple made Apps. The Nano doesn't really need much changing. There is a rumor of a bigger screen which would be possible. I'm hoping for better quality control for the next generation of iPods because the current generation of iPods are full of bugs. I'm also hoping for movie rentals for Ireland.

Dman001

BanzaiBk wrote: »

I would be totally floored if there was a tablet like the G'modo article. I really don't think that's the right direction for Apple at all. Look at all tablets currently on the market, of which I've tested many and have found them all terrible, how could Apple improve that experience realistically? A 7" tablet/iphone thing seems plausible, however, but would totally cannibalise iPhone/iPod touch sales no?

On a related note, people must spend epic proportions of time working on photoshop mock ups for Apple products.

Current Tablets have a Touch screen which are useless. Apple would use MultiTouch which is way more useable and can support many finger and hand gestures which make it easy to use and much more dynamic than a Touch screen. Also, people thought the Touch would cannibalize iPhone sales but as Apple said before "I'd rather Apple cannibalize Apple than somebody else cannibalize Apple".

projectmayhem

a new ipod would be nice, something to replace the classic. it's been a while since that range has been updated... and mine's in bits (from being dropped, treated like crap generally). i'm also dangerously close to filling up the 80gb space... and i can't justify buying the exact same unit, but with a bigger capacity

Spud83

Anyone have an idea if this would be happen in early or late september? Do apple have any events planned where the announcements might take place.

Dman001

There's usually an event held in early September.