Earlier this week, I asked you to predict what Apple would announce at the music event it held yesterday. Time for a recap! (Executive summary: You got a bunch of stuff right but missed out on a few key points.)

You said: Apple will announce a new iPod Touch, a new iPod Nano, and a new Apple TV. It won’t announce any other new products.

What happened: Apple did announce a new Touch, a new Nano, and a new Apple TV. But it also unveiled a new iPod Shuffle. (It released a new version of iTunes as well, but I’ll cut you slack on that one, since I didn’t ask specifically about that app.)

You said: The iPad will get at least some of iOS 4’s new features.

What happened: It will–in November, when Apple plans to release iOS 4.2, which reunifies the feature set of the iPhone and the iPad..

You said: If there’s a new Apple TV, it’ll run iOS and have third-party apps.

What happened: Do we know for sure whether Apple TV runs iOS now? In any event, it doesn’t do apps.

You said: Steve Jobs would be the primary host of the event.

What happened: He was. In fact, he handled almost the whole thing on his own, except for a game demo.

You said: The Beatles wouldn’t become available on iTunes.

What happened: They didn’t.

A very small plurality of you said: Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr would perform at the event.

What happened: Chris Martin of Coldplay played at the conclusion.

I also gave you the opportunity to make free-form predictions. Here’s a sampling of them and whether they panned out:

“I think they will start pushing payments and near field communication (nfc).” (No)

“They will push forward with iOS (stole name again from Cisco – just like iPhone) on a bevy of entry level consumer devices, no programming or intelligence necessary.” (Nope)

“Apple will introduce a streaming music/movies subscription service. Streamed music will be at a lower bit rate, but you will be able to stream anything in the Apple catalog. iPod Classic will begin phasing out, but may find new life by having touch screen replace click wheel.” (No music/movie subscription service–the Apple TV provides rentals and Netflix. The Classic survives for the moment in its presentform.)

“New iTV will act as an accessory to iPhone/iPod touch; use WiFi or bluetooth to connect devices for use as controllers for games or remotes for navigating iTV.” (It’s called Apple TV, not iTV. New Airplay feature lets you stream media from an iOS device to Apple TV.)

“Prepare to be underwhelmed by a cosmetic only Touch and shuffle update; new form factor like iphone on Touch and no screen on the Shuffle; The “iTV” will have a ship date of Nov.2010; Apps in Jan. 2011″ (no)

“iPod classic and shuffle will disappear, in favor of the touch and nano respectively. This emans no more clickwheel and iOS everywhere.” (no)

“Apple will announce 6 million iPads sold. 99¢ movie rentals might also be in the cards. And iPhone on T-Mobile.” (no on everything–the 99-cent rentals are TV shows, not movies)

“Lady Gaga special appearance.” (sort of right–she wasn’t there in person, but we saw a Gaga video.)

Overall, your predictive talents were…well, definitely adequate, but not uncanny. You’re in excellent company–when it comes to Apple, almost nobody’s record is better than erratic. Thanks for participating, and we’ll try this again next time…

 
3 Comments


Read more: Apple, Predictions