My guess, and just to be different than all the others who want a tablet computer. Last October I predicted that Q1 2010 would bring an updated Apple TV.

Reasoning:

• The platform is getting a bit long in the tooth, with devices from Linksys/Boxee coming out soon it needs an update
• iTunes LP can really add value to music and movie experience (already included in the current version, but it get’s better)
• Switching to standard SATA drives, higher capacity (500GB, 1TB, 2TB)
• Will have App Store games and custom (wireless) controllers. A reason for developers to take different screen resolution into account.

There will be a new device you will want to buy, but it will be a phone not a tablet. It might even be 2 devices.

First Device:

• A hipper iPhone slightly different form factor, maybe a bit smaller, possibly in colours (see the invitation to the event).
• Same specs as 3GS.
• More geared to young people, will form the basis of the iPod Touch future gaming device (with camera this time)
• Might double as the controller of the Apple TV games

Second Device:

• Specced up iPhone
• Screen the same resolution as the Nexus One (480×800, current iPod Touch/iPhone has 320×480). This is the reason why iPhone developers need to take into account different screen resolutions
• Charging without cable, just like the Palm Pre
• Maybe even Verizon & T-Mobile versions for the US, but I won’t bet too much money on the Verizon version, unless they found a smart way to ‘interchange’ the RF board.
• Wireless 802.11n, and with that wireless synching with iTunes (as the charger will be wireless…)
• And to stick with wireless as a meme, there could be some RFiD technology in it, but my guess is that Apple would let this pass for the first couple of iterations of the SWP NFC etc stuff…. Once they have an idea why it would be usefull they will add it.

One More Thing:

• iLife 10 (or X), will be better integrated with AppleTV and social sites. iTunes LP functionality added to iDVD and Garageband.
• iWork X, adds a drawing program (not very likely but we can dream
• New Apple bluetooth headset, to be in the wireless wave….

And not:

• A tablet to browse the web from the toilet. Frankly we can do that with the iPhone already
• A tablet to consume media. The iPhone offers plenty of opportunity, combine that with an iMac and Apple TV and you are all set.
• A touch tablet. Any idea how expensive it is to have a good touch experience on a big screen? Counting on the fact that when typing/using the computer only 1/3 of the screen would need to be touch sensitive…
• An e-book reader. Books are so yesterday, and really, you can’t replace paper. Who uses only stickies.app and not Post-It any more???? To quote Marc, ‘an e-book reader is useless on the toilet’

Back in November last year I posted this:

What will Apple bring in 2009

My timing was absolutely not right (way too optimistic), biut it seems I got the inclusion of the Intel i7 CPU with 4 cores in the iMac right for 2009.

I nailed the iPhone hardware stuff for the 3GS, got the timing wrong for iPhone OS and Snow Leopard.

For the iPod, i put ‘maybe a device more geared to gaming’, and it looks like the omission of the camera on the iPod Touch and the push of it as a gaming device would be just that. The Nano got an update, not what I thought , just video added. The SSD iPod will be for 2011 I think, prices need to drop drastically to make it viable, chances are that iPod Touch and iPhone will simply get more and more memory.

Mac mini server update was a surprise, I thought the form factor would change more

Q1 2010 will bring a new Apple TV.