Briefly: Apple preparing for fall product launches
It's been less than a week since Apple Computer used its annual developers conference to make several new product announcements, but once again sources are finding themselves encapsulated by the warm fuzzy feeling that typically emerges around the lead-in to major product revelations.
High-Security Freight Shipments
In particular, the company this week is said to be preparing for massive air-freight shipments from the Far East that are due to drop in the United States around the 5th of September.
Although sources were not specific as to what product(s) Apple is planning to move, the timeframe of the shipments coincides nicely with dates in which the Mac maker is believed to be ready to roll with its first Core 2 Duo-based MacBook Pro notebook systems.
iPod nano Line Nearing End-of-Life
Meanwhile, inventory management systems tied to at least one US-based big-box retailer are reflecting end-of-life notices for Apple's entire iPod nano product line on September 16th. Again, no further details on the subject were readily available.
However, September 16th is the precise date in which Apple's "Free iPod nano" back-to-school promotion is set to expire. This date also coincides with timeframes provided by sources in previous reports pertaining to the expected availability of the company's next-generation iPod nano.
Seagate Boasts of 120GB 1.8-inch Portable Hard Drives
In a tidbit so far unrelated any published reports on Apple's future product plans, Seagate CEO William Watkins recently told BusinessWeek that his company plans to introduce 1.8-inch drives in 60GB and 120GB capacities during the December calendar quarter.
1.8-inch portable hard drives are the same form factor drives used in Apple's current fifth-generation video iPod players. Seagate was previously a major component supplier to Apple during the days of the iPod mini, in which it equipped the company with 4GB, 5GB (capped by software at 4GB), and 6GB microdrives.
However, reading into Seagate's future product plans has not been fail-safe indicator of Apple's own product directions. For instance, in June of last year many believed Seagate's 8GB microdrive would find its way into an iPod mini update. Apple subsequently did away with the microdrive-based iPod mini altogether, introducing the completely NAND flash memory-based iPod nano that September.
48 Comments
So should I mark down Sept. 12 (Mac Expo Paris) or Sept. 19th as the intro day for the long over due nano?
Which brings up a new question, will Apple keep the Nano name? Or do away with it like the mini??
I thought that I'd say that what seems to be the UK equivalent of the 'Free iPod Nano', '£100 off an iPod', finishes on October 7th.
So should I mark down Sept. 12 (Mac Expo Paris) or Sept. 19th as the intro day for the long over due nano?
Which brings up a new question, will Apple keep the Nano name? Or do away with it like the mini??
September 19 is Tuesday and Tuedays are favorite introduction days.
High Security Freight Shipments...
Hopefully one of them has a Conroe iMac in it.
Benton,
Are you trying to answer his question?
I think he wanted to know whether the 12th or the 19th is a good day. BOTH are Tuesdays.
Well, the 12th. Expo will certainly release something. It's just that no one knows what it is.
Apple's not going to release something on the 19th if they just did on the 12th. At least a major, headlining product anyway.
Here's my timeframe: (I'm not including details as to what will be 'new' about the product)
Apple Expo Paris (Sept. 12th):
New MacBookPro
New iMac
'New' hardware that was in the pipelines that was never expectedEarly October:
Quiet xserve releaseLate October:
Apple Special Event releasing new iPods + iTunes updatesMacWorld:
Next Leopard Preview
'New' hardware that was in the pipelines that was never expected
-=|Mgkwho