Apple's Mixed Singles and the Mythical Touch Me Pad

Yes, I'm talking about the likelihood of Apple actually introducing a tablet-like device, along with new support for new MacBook Pro models in the latest seed of 10.6.2.

Here's where the confusion seems to be for the blogosphere (via Ars Technica):

Apple SVP of worldwide marketing Phil Schiller recently implied to Gizmodo that there would be no more new products announced this year. Indeed, it would make logical sense that this is it for 2009, as we are soon entering November and the beginning of the holiday season. However, Apple was quick to clarify that what he actually said was, "The holiday lineup is set," indicating that the company doesn't want to say, specifically, that no more products are coming.

Here's my thoughts, as if you care. I believe the "The holiday lineup is set" comment means exactly that, no new product types will be in the Apple lineup between now and the beginning of 2010 (or end of 2009, depending on how you look at it). In fact, I highly doubt any updates will come to light before the end of year, only because you don't want to piss off your customer base during the holiday buying season. Traditionally, most companies like to update their product offerings right after the holidays. At least a month or so later. Give the poor buggers enough time to really enjoy their new Shiny-Shiny before putting out a new and improved Shiny-Shiny that makes the old (well, month old) Shiny-Shiny look like a piece of crap wrapped in gold-tone tinfoil.

Now, Macworld (the Conference, not the publication) is traditionally held in early January, but we all know that Apple left that relationship. So, if Apple were to introduce a new product type, like the so far mythical Apple Tablet, when would that be? By not participating in a conference with a set date in which the company is expected to introduce new products, Apple is free to introduce new and updated products at will. No timelines, no schedules. This goes even for the WWDC as Apple sets the dates. So, now that Apple isn't tied to any third-party's need to have a get together with all their friends and family right now, they're free to hold their own parties whenever they feel like. Which is what they've been doing. Sometimes, they'll even introduce a slew of products with nothing more than a PR release.

So, where does that leave us regarding the 10.6.2 update, support for new MacBook Pro models, and the mythical Apple Touch Me Pad? Here's how I see it playing out. Mac OS X 10.6.2 is released sometime in November. MacBook Pro updates come in January consisting of some speed bumps, maybe upgraded GPUs, and that's about it. The form factor is there, the major connectivity options are there. There isn't much for Apple to do to these machines at this point. The real news, though, come late January (after Macworld and that CES thingy¹), will be the oft-rumored and still mythical Apple Touch Me Pad. Yes, Virginia, it will sport a form factor reminiscent of the iPhone/iPod touch, but I'm on the fence as to which OS X version it will sport, iPhone OS or Mac OS X. I'm leaning toward Mac OS X because, as a bigger device, the Touch Me Pad would have more screen real estate to work with, most likely sport enough CPU/GPU horsepower to effectively run multiple apps at once, and with Apple's new battery tech, should get enough battery lifetime to be worthwhile as a portable device.

Of course, I could be completely wrong on when the Touch Me Pad would be introduced, though I feel kind of confident on the timing of the updates. The other point at which I can see a new product type being introduced is, of course, during Apple's WWDC. This makes more sense than early-2010 for two reasons:

1) the Touch Me Pad, while not a completely new platform like iPhone, would represent a new device category for developers to target, one that would provide a superset of functionality, either of Mac OS X (touch capabilities, maybe accelerometer support, etc.) or iPhone OS (multiple apps at once, possibly even the ability to run in the background);

2) it's close to the back-to-school buying season, and therefore a great time to maximize initial sales.

At the end of the day, what all this really means is that I don't believe that just because 10.6.2 is imminent and MacBook Pro updates are pretty much a given that Apple will also introduce a new product type at the same time. In fact, I don't think the introduction of the mythical Touch Me Pad is tied to anything other than When It's Done It's Done. So, yes, regardless of evidence of updated machines and the drawing near of 10.6.2's release, Phil Schiller spoke the truth, the holiday lineup is set. There will be no new product types launched between now and December 31, 2009.

Let the frothing and counter-arguments begin.

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1. A quick search of the CES exhibitor list doesn't produce a listing for Apple. So, unless they're a late entry (always a possibility), I don't foresee the company participating in any tradeshows/conferences unless they're the ones throwing the party.