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Analyst: Apple keynote to focus on home entertainment
American Technology Research analyst Shaw Wu believes that Apple’s product announcements at Macworld Expo tomorrow will focus on Macs and home entertainment, but that the company could also unveil a new iPod, cell phone, or even an Apple-branded HDTV.
“There appears to be more uncertainty as to what Apple CEO Steve Jobs will announce this year than in previous years. We believe this is likely because Apple is plugging leaks better as protecting its secrecy remains a top priority for the company,” Wu says in a research note to clients today. “We therefore believe there will likely be more surprises this year. We anticipate announcements to focus on two areas—Macs and home entertainment. Our supply chain sources indicate new vPods with Bluetooth stereo headphones and cell phones near/at manufacturing stage, though we are not certain on near-term timing.”
As do many other Apple watchers, Wu expects Apple to officially release its iTV streaming media device this week. He also expects new iTunes Store movie partners, and hears whispers of an Apple big-screen TV. “We anticipate new movie content partnerships with one or more studios (Fox, Universal, Paramount, and Warner) that extend beyond Disney,” says Wu. “Furthermore, we are not certain on timing but our analysis indicates that Apple is beyond prototype on large-screen technologies (for a larger monitor or possibly Apple-branded HDTV).”
Wu says a new video iPod is definitely in the works, but is unsure of timing. “The very successful vPod has not had a major update since August 2005 when it was first announced. Our analysis in the supply chain indicates that its successor has been under development for some time and recent data indicates shifting component order dynamics,” Wu says. “We do not have high conviction on timing but see improved battery life, widescreen, and Bluetooth 2.0 stereo as the newest features.”
Wu is also unsure if the long-rumored iPod phone will be shown tomorrow. “While our analysis continues to indicate Apple’s first cell phone is technically complete, its ‘go-to-market’ strategy continues to be a mystery and likely a gating factor (MVNO vs. traditional carrier or both),” says the analyst. “Our conviction remains high that Apple’s first cell phone will be released in 2007—potentially 1H07.”
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1
In other news, Shaw Wu was forbidden to ever comment on anything Apple ever again.
Posted by Bad Beaver on January 8, 2007 at 12:04 PM (PDT)
2
This guy just sits on digg all day and get’s his opinions from there. Anyways he’s right about the Apple branded TV but it will have a built in iTV
Posted by pitchdark on January 8, 2007 at 1:35 PM (PDT)
3
Great, more crap from Shaw Wu…...
Posted by ShawWuHater on January 8, 2007 at 2:59 PM (PDT)
4
An Apple TV would have to have built-in iTV - or something equally special to justify the typical high Apple price tag. Otherwise what’s the point? They make really nice monitors, but a lot of manufacturers make really nice HDTVs.
Aside from all that, I’m still insanely curious about an Apple branded TV.
Posted by Multimoog on January 8, 2007 at 3:07 PM (PDT)
5
Shaw Wu could be the Counselor on the Starship Enterprise with that kind of consise vagueness.
Posted by unreal on January 8, 2007 at 3:17 PM (PDT)
6
An Apple HDTV could be the thing that finally gets me to buy into HD. Hopefully it’ll have a BluRay player built-in along with its iTV, otherwise I’ll also have to get a PS3.
Posted by Cool Cat on January 8, 2007 at 4:32 PM (PDT)
7
The Apple TV Rumours speculation is probably riding on Cinema Displays with integrated iSight.
An Apple TV would be bollucks IMHO; The only people who would buy them would be Apple Fanatics, who would be more likely to buy a real Cinema Display and hook it up to a Mini.
Posted by Dan Woods on January 8, 2007 at 5:50 PM (PDT)
8
Well this guy is smart, he basically said that apple can release anything tomorrow
Posted by Evan Monahan on January 8, 2007 at 6:16 PM (PDT)
9
His boss probably said,
Wu,
Why don’t you
go write about Apple
and what they up to?
Baby Wu Wu Wu!
wait, that’s a song.
Posted by John Pszeniczny on January 8, 2007 at 6:25 PM (PDT)
10
Shaw Wu is lame. He either states the obvious or makes stupid predictions that never come true. But I suppose thats what most analysts do.
Posted by JeremytheCamel on January 8, 2007 at 7:19 PM (PDT)
11
Sooooo, what he’s saying is that anything could or could not be anounced. Nice. Well I personally don’t think that apple would release a tv of any kind, because no one would buy them except, like Dan Woods said, fanatics. And apple wouldn’t put out a new iPod directly AFTER the holliday season… but I guess we will see.
Posted by Andrew H on January 8, 2007 at 9:10 PM (PDT)