Analyst: Apple to demo new MacBook Pros at WWDC, but no iPhone
Apple(InfoWorld) - Apple will show off new MacBook Pro notebooks along with a full demonstration of the next operating system, Mac OS X 10.5 (a.k.a. Leopard), at next month’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), a Wall Street analyst predicted Wednesday.PiperJaffray analyst Gene Munster rejected rumors that Apple will tout its iPhone at the conference, which opens June 11 in San Francisco. Instead, Apple will launch the new cellular phone in late June. At WWDC, Munster wrote in a note to investors, CEO Steve Jobs and crew will flesh out the remaining undisclosed features of Leopard, announce updated or new MacBook Pro models, and perhaps unveil a revamped iMac desktop lineup. “We believe the Street would react positively to such product announcements,” he said.Munster’s forecast didn’t exactly come from left field. Apple has already promised that Leopard, once scheduled for a spring release but now shooting for October, would be feature-complete by WWDC. Developers, in fact, are to receive beta copies of the new operating system at the conference.Nor is the MacBook call a long shot. Just last week the Cupertino, Calif. computer maker tweaked the MacBooks by boosting hard disk capacity and bumping up processor speeds, clearing the way for an upgrade to the pricier Pro models. Analysts, pundits, and bloggers have for weeks been hyping the idea of LED-backlit MacBook Pros using the new Intel Santa Rosa chip set.Although neither Apple or AT&T have spilled an iPhone launch date, Munster figures it will come after WWDC. That means there’s little chance sales will boost Apple’s bottom line for the quarter ending June 30. However, during the next three months, Munster predicted Apple would sell approximately one million iPhones at an average price of $550 each. But because Apple plans to account for iPhone revenues over the life of each phone’s contract, the company will see only $27.5 million in recognized revenues for the quarter.Munster also pegged the September quarter as the time frame for a widescreen iPod — essentially a stripped iPhone. “Expect Apple to launch new widescreen iPods with the iPhone’s multi-touch technology at a price-point below the iPhone’s $499,” said Munster. “Like $399.”PiperJaffray maintained its Outperform rating for Apple shares, with a price target of $140. On Wednesday, Apple closed $112.89, down 65 cents or 0.57 percent, for the day.ADVERTISEMENTIBM Information On Demand 2006Industrial Industry Leaders, please join us at IBM’s premier information management global event, IBM Information On Demand 2006, October 15-20, Anaheim, CA. More IBM business and technical solutions content in one place than ever before! Select from over 800 sessions. Register today!
Add comment May 29th, 2007
Apple’s introduction of the new, redesigned iPod nano solves many of the problems that plagued the first generation digital music player. Anyone who came within arm’s reach of a nano that was more than 5 minutes old was familiar with how easily scratched it was. After the iPod mini’s multi-color availability, the choice between black and white of the new nano seemed limited. And you can never have too much battery life, my 1G seemed to run out of juice too frequently. 
