What Not To Expect At Macworld 2008

Last year, I wrote up a short list of products that we should not expect to be announced at Macworld, and I was 100% correct. In the spirit of my Nostradamus-like abilities, I’m going to refresh my list for this year’s keynote (9 a.m. PST, today).

Slightly shorter list this year, because the rumors are so insane that it’s really hard to tell just what will be announced, with predictions ranging from an ultraportable MacBook to a tablet to a new iPhone to Apple TV 2.0 to movie rentals in the iTunes Store to new Apple Cinema Displays.

I’ve narrowed it down to two products that will not be announced at Macworld 2008:

iStone



This one is a product that been in development since the early days of Woz-man and Jobs-man and all the other ancestral engineers and developers of Apple that made the company what it is today. iStone is designed to deliver a superb, user-controlled listening experience that is totally wireless and requires no syncing. Simply bang it on things, and you get to hear what you want when you want it. Bang harder to raise the volume. Bang softer to lower it. Designed with social networking in mind, you can use iStone to keep in touch with your friends and family. Sharing music with them is never more than an iStone’s throw away.

Why You Won’t See It At Macworld
Despite eons of user testing and iteration, this is a product that maybe just barely missed its time. That’s what you get for skating so far ahead of the puck, I suppose. Look for this sometime last millennium.

MacBook Flow



The world’s first underwater notebook, MacBook Flow runs the innovative new OSX Leopard Seal operating system to deliver a premium entertainment and productivity experience when you’re in the Deep Blue. Seamless integration with the 100-mile reach of the AirPort Awesome Base Station means you’ll have a great time “surfing” even when you’re hours away from dry land. Totally waterproof, and constructed out of Titanic-grade metal alloys with optional sharkproof chain mail casing for your travels off the coast of Australia.

Why You Won’t See It At Macworld
Shipping delays and high component costs from overseas manufacturers. OSX Leopard delayed by iPhone Shuffle software development. They’re just having a hard time getting the random-dial algorithm perfect.

P.S. Last year I predicted you wouldn’t see an Apple iPatch. Well, I was half right. It isn’t an Apple product, but nonetheless, there is an iPatch, and Guy Wheeler from theiPatch.com reminded me of it in a timely email this morning. Check it out. It doesn’t do what you might think.