News, info, and opinion by Mac users, for Mac users.

November 21, 2006

speculation

Let the speculatin’ begin: think “top secret”

Posted Nov. 21, ’06, 9:08 AM PT by Dan Moren
Category | Apple » Speculation

Steve goes Top SecretWith only seven weeks left until the next Steve Jobs keynote (the MacUser HQ has a big clock on the wall that counts down the time), it’s time to let the speculating begin full throttle. And I’m not talking about the iPhone rumors, or the true video iPod, I’m talking about something a little more concrete: Leopard’s supposed top secret features.

Remember, back at WWDC? Steve-O said that he couldn’t tell us about some of Leopard’s super secret awesome new bells and whistles, lest Microsoft try to “start their photocopiers.” Well here it is, more than three months later, Vista’s getting ready to ship, and we’ve yet to hear another peep. What gives, Steve? Well, John Siracusa has kicked off the speculo-rama with a few suggestions about what the deal with the old “top secret” label might be. But first, he takes a look at the Steve Jobs statement that started it all:

The gist is that Apple is keeping some things secret because it doesn’t want Microsoft to start copying them immediately. Before even considering what these features might be, let’s back up a bit. Should we even take Jobs’s statement at face value? Here are a few other possible explanations.

  • Apple hadn’t yet decided on the final feature list for Leopard. The demonstration only included the features that were already locked in.

  • The top secret features were not yet complete or stable enough to demonstrate.

  • Apple felt the need to respond to Vista, but hadn’t yet decided what that will response would be. The top secret features were vaporware, an attempt to “keep the PR fires hot,” as a friend of mine put it.
    • Conspiracy theorists, start your, er, conspiracy engines (steam-powered, as I understand).


    2 Comments

    Ronan said:

    There could be proper virtualisation without the need to install any version of Windows. Just like codeweaver's Crossover software. That would sell a tonne more Macs.

    November 21, 2006 5:35 PM
    IT Guy said:

    My vote is the vMac, a software-based Mac running in an easy to install virtual machine that runs on any P4 or better PC. Cost is $199 and comes with a $100 coupon for a real Mac. Apple would sell millions of them, along with a lot of copies of iLife/iWork, FinalCut etc.

    November 22, 2006 5:25 AM

    Leave a comment

     



    Visit other IDG sites: