UPDATE 2: Post Keynote Talk now online (but don’t expect too much until tomorrow)

UPDATE: I have crossed out things that Apple didn’t announce today. I am going to write about what Apple plans to release this year sometime this week (I have accounting midterm to study tonight, so no article tonight) which is most of the stuff. What Apple WON’T RELEASE THOUGH, is iLife 2010 and iWork 2010, that has been pushed to 2011, following Apple’s guideline to release new version of the two apps every two years.

However, anything iPhone OS related will be announced at their annual iPhone OS preview event in March, new iPhone related announcement during WWDC, iTunes and music/movies related in September, and MacBook and iMac related in October and November, so stay tuned for the 2010 Apple Preview.

Well, it’s that time of the year again, folks. It’s January, and its time for the annual Apple Product Keynote.

Usually, this keynote is given during Macworld, but Apple shocked the entire tech community by announcing that they would no longer participate in Macworld, thus breaking the long tradition of having the one and only keynote open to the whole public. (as long as they bought tickets for it).

This year, the keynote will be at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, and will be open to only the member of the press and special distinguished guest who have received the special invitation. Unlike last year’s Macworld Keynote, this year’s keynote will be kicked off by Steve Jobs himself, along with his sidekick, Phil Schiller and Johnny Ives.

So, what do they mean by the theme of “Come See our Latest Creation”? Well, here are the list of thing Apple is going to announce in the first keynote of 2010:

1. •iLife 2010, and iWork 2010, at new lower price, since Apple wants EVERYONE with iLife and iWork 09 to upgrade.
   

2. • iDVD now supports Blu-Ray authoring, along with iTunes extras creation.
   

3. • Speaking of Blu-Ray, ALL MACS WILL START SHIPPING WITH BLU-RAY BURNER BUILT IN, along with external Blu-Ray burner superdrive for MacBook air.
   

4. • Garageband will now have iTunes LP creation, built in.
   

5. • Codenamed the Tablet, the newest member of the Mac family. (Originally named MacBook slate)
   

6. • “Tablet” will on completely new OS, joining the family of Mac OS X line up: Mac OS X, iPhone OS, and Apple TV OS, and iPod OS.
   

7. • One More Thing: ....
   

Verizon will also carry the iPhone effective IMMEDIATELY, in addition to price cuts on the at&t pricing. LET THE CELLPHONE WAR BEGIN!

(sorry folks, One More Thing, you’ll have to read the entire article to find out....)

First, iLife and iWork. Both product have been a major success for Apple, particularly iPhoto, which got the biggest update ever last year, Face Detection, built in GPS mapping, Facebook integration, and etc. iMovie became much easier to use, and at the same time, added new features, iWeb got more widgets that made this website possible, and GarageBand now has built in tutor that eliminates the need of hiring a real music instructor (sorry Music majors, and others, please flame me now, and your IP address will be recorded)

iWork added more features, especially in Keynote, like Magic Move, better animation, and Pages and Numbers got so many features that I can’t even list them all from top of my head.

In iLife 2010, and iWork 2010, there won’t be much different, just some refinements, like Mac OS 10.6 Snow Leopard. Both iLife and iWork will now be compact, yet faster. Both apps will also become Intel only starting with this release as well, and has 64 bit support.

However, there is two applications in iLife 2010 that will get new features: iDVD and Garageband.

In iDVD, Apple will FINALLY ADD BLU-RAY AUTHORING SUPPORT, like Compressor in Final Cut Studio. In addition to Blu-Ray, Apple will add support for authoring your own iTunes extras content that you can bundle into your own Home Movie DVD, like iTunes digital copy.

Same for GarageBand. iTunes LP authoring is also coming to Garageband, so you can create your own masterpiece digital album for your own music, or to integrate into your Music CD. Perfect for local bands who want to promote their own CD in new ways.

Price for iLife 2010 and iWork 2010:

From my closest source (who shell remain anonymous), iLife 2010 and iWork 2010 might be available free of charge to all iLife and iWork 09 users, and also at lower price for 08 users. However, this might change, since I got this information 2 weeks ago (and Apple has tendencies of making last minute changes in pricing)

Speaking of Blu-Ray.... (and this will probably make lot of Mac users who got a new Mac on Christmas really mad)

Apple is introducing next generation Superdrive, which has Blu-Ray support. This Superdrive will be integrated to all the MacBooks, including MacBook air via external Superdrive. Apple will also introduce new version of DVD player application, which will add Blu-Ray support. Since some Mac users have Blu-Ray burner or player attached to the Mac externally, Apple will release software update for DVD Player.

The “Tablet”

Yes, the rumors are true. Apple is going to release a tablet tomorrow.

First of the name of the device:

Currently, I don’t know. The reason, is this trademark filing regarding MacTablet:

files.me.com/alchemistmuffin/sa5f46

This trademark was previously owned by Axitron, a licensed Apple product OEM manufacture, who sold specially modified MacBooks as tablet.

In 2008, however, Axitron transferred the trademark to Apple Inc.

However, I doubt that this trademark will be used tomorrow. Reason: The “Tablet” will not run on Mac OS X, but on a new OS based on the iPhone OS.

However, another trademark filing, for iSlate: (WARNING: 75 MB PDF!)

files.me.com/alchemistmuffin/vxc5rc

This one is somewhat suspicious. Slate Computing Inc, as Limited Liability Company.... Hmm, sounds like what Apple did couple of years ago when registering the trademark for iPhone.

What’s weird, is the whois record of islate.com:

Registrant:

        Domain Administrator

        DNStination, Inc.

        303 Second Street Suite 800N

         San Francisco CA 94107

        US

    Domain Name: islate.com

        Registrar Name: Markmonitor.com

        Registrar Whois: whois.markmonitor.com

        Registrar Homepage: http://www.markmonitor.com

    Administrative Contact:

        Domain Administrator

        DNStination, Inc.

        303 Second Street Suite 800N

         San Francisco CA 94107

        US

    Technical Contact, Zone Contact:

        Domain Administrator

        DNStination, Inc.

        303 Second Street Suite 800N

         San Francisco CA 94107

        US

    Created on..............: 2004-10-30.

    Expires on..............: 2011-10-30.

    Record last updated on..: 2009-12-30.

    Domain servers in listed order:

    ns5.markmonitor.com

    ns4.markmonitor.com

    ns7.markmonitor.com

    ns3.markmonitor.com

    ns1.markmonitor.com

    ns2.markmonitor.com

    ns6.markmonitor.com

Registered in San Francisco, and registrar is Markmoniter, the same company who also registered the domain for www.apple.com. Sounds too suspicious. But who knows, Apple may have trademarked the name, just in case under a different name, so the true identity would not be reveled.

Anyway, enough about the name. Time for the features on the “Tablet”

1. • Multi-touch glass display, size similar to the Amazon Kindle.
   

2. • GLORIOUS  C.O.L.O.R LED Backlit Display
   

3. • Tablet OS, based on the iPhone OS 3.0, and Mac OS X.
   

4. • Background processing support
   

5. • Ability to run any purchased apps from iTunes
   

6. • iPod app can playback Music, Movies, and Podcast, IN ADDITION TO iTunes LP, iTunes Extra, and Audiobook bundled with E-book content (Audible with iTunes LP)
   

7. • Remote Desktop Support (ability to control your Mac via tablet, with all the multi-touch gesture support, like pinch to zoom, swipe, rotate, three finger swipe, etc)
   

8. • Built In Wi-Fi, so you can access iTunes Wi-Fi Store to buy books, music, movies, etc.
   

9. • Cellular 3G connection, for worldwide support.
   

10. • Built In Phone app, no need to carry the “tablet” and the iPhone at same time. (think of it as an oversized iPhone, but thinner)
    

11. • Nike+ (just in case, but it might be too big, perfect for hiking?)
    

12. • Photo apps now lets you do advanced editing, like red eye retouching, etc.
    

13. • Seamless wireless sync with your Mac or PC via iTunes.
    

14. • 7 - 10 hour battery life in single charge (and yes, BATTERY IS GLUED, but it is supposed to last for 3-4 years, before replacement)
    

15. • Accelerometer, with built in Magnetic Digital Compass
    

16. • Safari, with Flash (yes, Flash will be installed by default, Apple and Adobe has been working on this for years, and they finally managed to put Flash in MobileSafari without compromising battery life)
    

Wow, lot of cool features, don’t you think. But what makes this tablet possible is the apps within the App Store.

ANY APPS ALREADY IN THE APP STORE WILL WORK WITH TABLET WITHOUT ANY MODIFICATION. The SDK for tablet is almost identical to the iPhone SDK, if not, the same. You might have to make some minor adjustment, but for many apps, no coding change is needed.

As for pricing, I don’t know yet. There will be two version of the “tablet” : The Contract Version, with cellular plan, with Voice and Data, and Wi-Fi only version, no contract needed.

As for carriers, a lot of them. Don’t know who will carry the tablet in the US, though it is highly likely that both at&t and Verizon will carry them. The device with contract is equipped with 3G signal at global level, and Apple also has intentions to release LTE version as well in future.

As for one more thing, well go back to the one more thing at the top, and highlight the area below the text.