Apple in 2012

If the lineups at your local Apple Store are any indication—and they are—Apple had a really big 2011. Apple’s numbers were in no small part propelled by the success of the iPhone and iPad, already nearing their sixth and third year of production, respectively. And given that there were not a lot of changes on the hardware front in 2011, expect some significant upgrades from the Cupertino-based company in 2012.

iPhone — The Bread & Butter of Apple

It’s almost hard to believe that the iPhone was introduced by the late Steve Jobs on January 9, 2007, a mere five years ago. Since then, the iPhone has become Apple’s ‘gateway’ device. It’s what gets consumers in the store.

The iPhone 4S had some nice features, including a peppier camera and zippy processor, as well as the much-talked about (and spoofed) voice-control feature called Siri. But the general consensus is that the 4S was heavy on promise but light on delivery.

These days it’s hard to keep anything under wraps—even for Apple. The Korea Times reports that Samsung will continue to produce the Apple-designed A6 chips for the so-called “iPhone 5” at its Austin, Texas, plant. The next version of the iPhone will carry the LG “Retina Display” that has become a hallmark of the device. Also expect to see a slightly larger screen, which will make it more competitive against the Android phones.

iPod — Apple’s Old Friend

Remember the iPod? It seems that everyone these days is talking so much about Apple’s new lineup that they have forgotten about the little music maker that first brought joy to ears around the world in 2001. Despite its falling numbers, the iPod remains a staple on Apple’s à la carte menu.

There is, however, speculation that the shuffle and the classic may be put on the shelf (not the store shelf, the metaphoric one) for good. That would surely be a sad epilogue for those who have come to love the little guy and its chubbier companion.

Increased wireless and Bluetooth capabilities are likely changes for the iPod, which should bring it more in line with its iPhone cousins.

iPad — The ‘New’ Kid on Apple’s Block

Although there have been a plethora of tablets dumped onto the market (dumped is an apt term given the haste many companies have shown in releasing a tablet), Apple seems to have hit its stride with iPad 2. Although there are arguably more robust and versatile tablet devices on the market, Apple continues to lead the way in design and functionality (if not in function). Strangers to Apple products may scoff at the limited scope of iPad tablets, but anyone who has ever used one will attest to an unrivaled simplicity and ease-of-use.

There is talk of an iPad 3 making its way through the techie blogs and Internet websites. About the only hint of improvement is the adoption of Bluetooth 4.0, Retina Display, and an upgrade A6 processor. There is even gossip of an “iPad Mini” set to go toe-to-toe with the Kindle Fire—a tasty, if bite-sized, prospect.

Macs — Yes, Apple’s Other Products

The entire Mac line is set for upgrades. From the Mac Pro to the MacBook Pro to the ever-popular and precocious MacBook Air, the line is undergoing a makeover.
Apple is reportedly introducing a 15-inch version of the MacBook Air as well as significant upgrades to the 11- and 13-inch versions, including extended battery life and storage capabilities. DigiTimes, the Taiwan-based techie blog and newspaper, also reported that higher-resolution monitors will be added to the MacBook Air laptops.

As for the iMacs, expect faster processors and a sleeker new look.

Apple TV — Back to the Future

We reported recently about the computing giant taking on television with the eponymous iTV. This is probably the most exciting prospect on the horizon for Apple. Apple’s set-top box has been quietly making a mark in the industry. The sales have been modest indeed, but not so modest that Apple has not had a moment to glimpse the future. With the rumored 32- and 37-inch iTV set be released in 2012, Apple will surely bring their sophistication and vanguard thinking to this ‘new’ medium.

Anytime a monolithic company like Apple strides into new territory, the prospect is both exhilarating and perhaps even a little frightening. Exhilarating because Apple has a knack for breathing new life into ‘dormant’ industries (such was the case when the company introduced the first iPod and the iPhone and now the iPad tablet). And frightening because it means big changes for some of the old-money players.

If you have ever been to an old boy’s club, the grey-haired, cigar-smoking members of the lodge do not like their business toyed with. This is fitting because it speaks to Apple’s lighthearted yet unflinching approach to business.

Regardless of the changes, 2012 promises to be a big year for Apple Inc. If you have any doubt, ask yourself when you saw an Apple Store for the first time (probably not that long ago) and if you have ever seen one empty.

Apple Television—32- and 37-inch Apple iTV for 2012

Apple will be stepping into the television market with a 32- and 37-inch “iTV” in the second or third quarter of 2012—albeit with baby steps. Baby steps because in terms of the ultra-competitive television market where bigger is better, this small format seems to be a modest introduction for the computing giant. Then again, if Apple has proven anything, there is no such thing as ‘small’.

Industry sources spoke to DigiTimes and stated that Apple’s supply chain will be preparing materials for what is being dubbed as the new iTV. With chips from Samsung and displays from Sharp, Apple will bring to its venture into television the kind of aesthetics and performance consumers have come to expect from the Cupertino-based company.

Although the set-top box version of Apple TV has only enjoyed “modest success” compared to sales of the iPhone and the iPad, the numbers have been steadily rising. Add that to the growing numbers of AirPlay-enabled apps now available, and it’s easy to see that the iTV will arrive on the scene with an already-established niche.

The smaller format will also allow the company to offer the TV at a price that will not come as a shock. It seems consumers have accepted that Apple products don’t come cheaply. But even the most loyal and fervent supporter might be put off by a sticker price that doubles or triples the price of an ‘equivalent’ product.

Simplicity, integration—these are things Steve Jobs always strived for in his work and his life. It seems television is just another area of our lives where the late visionary felt we lacked symmetry. Ease and simplicity are not necessarily the aversion of having to “lift a finger”. Indeed, in Apple’s case, this seems to be the goal: having everything at a finger’s touch.