As pretty much everyone who cares knows by now, there will be an Apple event tomorrow that will introduce the new iPad. It’s prediction time. Here’s what I’m guessing we’ll see.

• The new iPad will be called the iPad HD and, other than some minor tweaks to the shape of the back, will look essentially the same as the iPad 2 when turned off.
• It will have a high-resolution, 2048×1536 screen.
• It will have a faster processor. I’m betting this will be the quad-core A6 processor, but a faster dual-core processor (A5X) is also possible.
• It will have better cameras and “FaceTime HD” will be touted as one the advantages.
• A new Apple TV will be released. It will be basically the same as the old Apple TV, but will support 1080p video.
• There will be new apps/features to highlight the strengths of the new iPad. This is most likely to include photo editing (e.g. Aperture).
• It will have Bluetooth 4.0
• The 3G models will be replaced by LTE models, at least in the US, for carriers that support LTE. FaceTime over LTE will be touted as one of the advantages.
• We’ll also see the announcement of some major new iPad apps, most likely Microsoft Office.

Siri is a wildcard. I give it a 50% chance.

Sources: New Apple TV launching in March, near-immediate availability hinted for new iPads | 9to5Mac | Apple Intelligence.

The new Apple TV is rumored to include a faster processor, possibly a variation of the dual-core A5 chip. The dual-core A5 chip has been said to be required for the Apple TV to finally stream 1080p quality video, but Apple is also working on an “A5X” chip that is dual-core, which also includes an improved graphics engine. Those two components of the chip would likely delivery the smooth video playback that Apple would include in such a product. Other possibilities from the rumor-mill include a redesigned Bluetooth 4.0 remote control, and Siri support, but those are not rumors that we can independently confirm yet. This new Apple TV would make sense to launch with a new 1080P movie service from Apple’s iTunes Store.

There have been rumors for some time that Apple is planning a TV set, but it sounds like there’s a more imminent release of an updated Apple TV, the box that plugs into your regular TV. I’ve been a big fan of the current iteration – it’s great for streaming home movies to your TV, and there’s been a recent push to turn it into a mirrored display, reflecting what you see on your iPad (or soon, your Mac).

I’m not sure how much difference 1080p video will really make; just reducing the compression of existing video would probably make a bigger difference. That said, improved quality is always nice. I’m guessing there’s got to be something more than a slightly faster box with slightly improved video quality. Apps could be a game changer.

About six months ago, I needed to buy a new computer. I knew the MacBook Air was the right machine for me. Easily more portable than my heavy MacBook Pro, and powerful enough for just about anything. I struggled, however, over which model to buy: the 11-inch or the 13-inch. The 11-inch was clearly smaller and lighter, but I feared I would miss the increased screen real estate of the 13-inch. Those fears were misplaced. I went with the 11-inch and I love it. Compared to my wife’s 13-incher, it’s much easier to grab and go with one hand. As a result, I end up taking it with me much more often. The key is that the screen is quite wide due to the 16:9 aspect ratio (compared to the more typical 16:10 ratio of Macs past). While one might think that height is more important in this web-centric age, it’s actually width that is key for working with multiple windows simultaneously (e.g. a web page and a text file, or two text documents). The 11″ Air’s screen hits a sweet spot, and I have no trouble getting real work done on it. I should note, however, that when I’m at my desk, it’s hooked up to the massive 27″ Thunderbolt Display, so the calculus may be somewhat different for those who don’t plan to use an external monitor.

Despite that, I’m quite happy to work with this machine as a laptop alone. Do be sure to buy the model with 4 GB of RAM, as you can’t upgrade it later. I decided to stick with the standard 1.6 Ghz processor, however, given some complaints that the upgraded 1.8 Ghz model is prone to more heat generation and noise issues.

It’s been 3 weeks since Steve Jobs died. The response in the press has been much more substantial than I expected, partially fueled by the lead-up to and release of the Walter Isaacson biography. It’s no doubt, though, that the loss is felt most strongly by Apple fans. This is not because of any personal attachment to Steve. We didn’t know him, or really even what he was like. It is important what he represented.

The mid-90s were a tough time for Apple fans – the company was regularly referred to in the press as “beleaguered”, and the general perception was of a company in the last throes of a prolonged decline. Despite the gloomy atmosphere, there was still one event which could bring home: the annual Macworld Expo. Apple regularly announced major products at these conferences, and each year there was the hope that a killer product, something that could restore the company to its former glory, would emerge. It never did, though, and I often debated about jumping ship (ironically enough, the alternative platform I flirted most with was the NeXT).

When you’re a kid, it’s easy to get excited about an event like a birthday, or a holiday like Christmas. This year could bring a really cool new toy. As you get older, these events lose some of their luster, and serve more as a mere marker of the passing years. This is what Macworld Expos were beginning to feel like.

Then Steve returned and the Expos became exciting again. The new products were actually interesting. Before the rumor sites got so aggressive, we’d often have no idea what would be in store for us. Those of us excited by technology actually had new things to be excited about. It restored that childhood Christmas. When he was bearded and before his dramatic weight loss, Jobs even began to look a bit like Santa Claus. Eventually, the Expos gave way to more unpredictably timed Apple events, but in a way it was more exciting, because any week could bring Christmas.

There will certainly be more products from Apple. What’s less clear is whether that same magic will be there.

Who will show up next time? A new Santa, or just some guy in a Santa costume?

Tasks have traditionally been an afterthought in iOS and MobileMe. Until iOS5, the operating system didn’t even include a task list. That changed with the new reminder’s app. What may be less obvious is that, with iCloud, it’s now possible to share your task list with someone else.

Reminders have now been separated from standard calendars in iCloud, and can be independently managed. If you log in to iCloud.com and switch to the calendar, you’ll see a list of both standard calendars and reminder lists on the left. These can be easily shared with another individual by clicking the sharing icon to the right of each list name.

You can set a default reminder list in iOS and Mac OS, so that new reminders are assigned to the appropriate list.

For many Apple followers, particularly iPhone 4 owners, yesterdays’ iPhone 4S announcement can be summed up using one word: disappointing. The reason is simple: internal changes don’t create the same impact as external ones. The new phone could have had twice the battery life, 10 times the processing power, and new location capabilities that could pinpoint your location to a single square inch, and it would still feel disappointing if it looked the same as the prior phone. We are, for the most part, visual beings. If something looks the same as something else, we think at some fundamental, unshakable level that it must BE the same. In contrast, relatively minor internal changes paired with a dramatic visual overhaul would feel like a new phone.

I don’t think the importance of this should be dismissed. Many would-be upgraders, particularly those with iPhone 4′s who might have traded up for a redesigned phone, will hold off. It’s a real danger for Apple, and I’m sure they know it. No one knows for sure, but I suspect the 4S was a plan B. Apple had hopes to combine the internal changes with a visual overhaul, but it just couldn’t happen in time, and they were already delayed from their usual cycle.

The internal changes, however, are not insignificant. The phone will be dramatically faster. The camera quality appears to be significantly increased, addressing issues with low light performance and video stability; for many the iPhone might now legitimately replace both a point-and-shoot and a camcorder. How can these changes not be significant motivators to upgrade for people like me who use their phone for everything. All. The. Time. Add to this dramatic, and possibly game-changing voice recognition – scratch that – voice COMPREHENSION, and how can existing users not be driven to upgrade?

Because it looks the same. And if it looks the same, it must BE the same.

Some may argue that the 4S is missing some technologic features as well, such as LTE, NFC, and a larger screen. This is true, but in practice, most of these don’t make much of a difference. A larger screen might be nice, but change the ergonomics of the device and potentially power consumption as well. If Apple pushes screen size too far, it either creates a headache for developers who have to retool their apps or drops the resolution to below their much-marketed retina threshold. LTE (or “4G”) has great promise for boosting speeds when WiFi is unavailable, but current chips are seriously detrimental to battery life. Furthermore, LTE coverage in Verizon is limited to a handful of cities, in AT&T to 4 cities, and in Sprint to 0 cities. Worldwide, there’s a similar lack of support. It just doesn’t make sense as a major feature for 2011. NFC? Google is trying to push their wallet, and the technology looks impressive, but there still isn’t an obvious use. Apple doesn’t launch hardware features that have no demonstrable use for their users.

But it still looks the same.

There’s a debate about the significance of the timing of Jobs’ resignation. Initial theories about a rapid decline in health now seem to be dispelled. Some think it’s to lock in Tim Cook, but why now instead of months ago, or months in the future?

His health appears to be on a permanent downward trajectory, so this transition is inevitable. But a transition now accomplishes several things.

Jobs is getting weaker. In the last keynote, his voice (up until the iCloud portion) was thin and he appeared frail. I suspect he didn’t think he could hold up through another presentation. If he’s not giving the next keynote, the story will no longer be that he’s not giving the keynote; now it’s expected.

This is not an abstract issue. Apple is clearly preparing to announce at least one new iPhone next month (or in early October). Jobs, and the rest of Apple, want that announcement to be about the products, not about him.

Why wait until he’s deathly ill to make the transition? Reports suggest he’s still healthy enough to remain engaged in product planning and meetings, but not at the level required of a CEO. Transitioning to Chariman makes perfect sense. He can supervise the transition to Cook and make sure everything goes smoothly (though in a real sense, he’s already handed over the reigns).

Though perhaps its somewhat morose, this transition gives him some dignity and privacy. Chairman is a role he never needs to retire from. He can stay in the role until he’s gone, remaining as active as he can be. No more questions about when or if he will return. No questions about who’s in charge.

Lastly, Apple is at the top of its game. Handily disposing of many of its competitors, rocketing sales, and vying for largest market cap of any company. Jobs took a company on its deathbed and took it to first place. He’s won. He can leave a champion.

AT&T to drop all but Unlimited texting plans | iLounge News

AT&T is set to discontinue all but its most expensive, unlimited text messaging plans, leaving customers with a choice between expensive pay-as-you-go plans or paying for a full unlimited plan.

I wonder how much of this is a response to iMessage, Apple’s upcoming free messaging service that essentially replaces SMS for iPhone to iPhone communications in iOS 5.

AppleInsider | Apple seen merging iOS, Mac OS X with custom A6 chip in 2012

Peter Misek with Jefferies & Co. said in a note to investors on Wednesday that he sees such a transition possible with a new MacBook Air running Apple’s custom next-generation “A6″ processor. The theory, first reported on by Barron’s, would have a new iPad, iPhone and MacBook Air all running the A6 in 2012.

The headline is misleading here. It’s not really about merging Mac OS X and iOS, necessarily. It’s about moving iOS onto a broad range of devices, including the traditional ultraportable laptop. I’m sure part of the goal here is to turn iOS into a broad-based portable OS, with a focus on power management. One of the best aspects of the iPad is its incredible battery life. It would be great to have that in a laptop the size of the 11″ Air with an OS that’s optimized for the small screen.

I’ve been running Lion on my laptop since the GM came out in early June, and on my iMac since the official release. Some folks are still holding off on upgrading. Unless you’ve got some mission-critical piece of software that is incompatible, I see no reason to. It’s better in pretty much every way.

Lion is clearly optimized for the trackpad. Enough so that, if you use a mouse, I would suggest ditching it for the Magic Trackpad. I did this even before Lion, but Lion makes it all the more worthwhile. I don’t miss a mouse at all.

Aside from the under-the-hood advantages and various modernization upgrades, the biggest advantages of Lion for me are:

• Mission Control: I’ve been hugely surprised how much of a difference this makes. A three-finger upswipe now reveals all your spaces and windows, neatly organized. Unlike the random disarray of Expose, which I always found clunky, Mission Control makes it incredibly fast to find what you are looking for.
• Trackpad Gestures: iOS gave Apple a great deal of experience with developing a gesture-based UI. While the Lion experience is a bit less direct because of the lack of a touchscreen, with a bit of effort the touchpad adds another dimension of control over what was possible with the mouse. If you’re used to the old-style trackpad scrolling, Lion is disorienting at first as it reverses the direction of scrolling, but it really does make more sense with the trackpad, as you feel you’re directly manipulating the page as opposed to the scrollbars. Swiping between spaces, between pages in Safari, and adding pinching and zooming capabilities to web pages enhance the experience considerably.
• New Mail App: Better layout, better organization, better searching. Just better. The best addition: a browser like favorites bar. Navigate to folders by pressing command-1, command-2, etc. Move messages to the same folders with command-control-1, etc.
• Full disk encryption: I was a prior File Vault user in Snow Leopard, but this essentially made your entire home directory an encrypted disk image: one huge file that was mounted as a disk each time you logged in. This meant that anything outside of your home directory was unencrypted, but a bigger issue was that it rendered Time Machine (one of the best features of the Mac OS) useless, since any minor change would mean backing up a huge monolithic home directory file. Forget about tracking the history of a single file: it was impossible.

There are many other new features in Lion, some of which (e.g. versions) have a lot of promise that is yet to be realized because of application support.