More Surprises On Apple's Tree?

CBS' Larry Magid Reports On Industry Buzz At The MacWorld Expo

(CBS)  CBS News tech analyst Larry Magid reports from the MacWorld Expo in San Francisco.

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The Consumer Electronics Show is so last week. This week the tech industry turns its attention towards San Francisco where the MacWorld Expo is now underway. The big event takes place Tuesday morning when Apple CEO and co-founder Steve Jobs addresses the faithful.

Attending a Jobs MacWorld keynote is a bit like sitting in on a revival meeting. While the press quietly records the event, the Mac fans in the audience applaud almost everything he says. Jobs has been likened to the P.T. Barnum of the tech world. Or, in the words of Jason Snell, editorial director of MacWorld Magazine, "Jobs is as close as we come to a rock star in the technology field."

Apple is very tight-lipped about what it will announce. The company is famous for keeping its product announcements secret until Jobs lifts up the curtain at the show. Last year, Apple sued some bloggers for allegedly leaking company secrets and it has clamped down on employees and partners to remain quiet about what’s being offered. Indeed, there have been years when the Mac rumor mill and even the mainstream press was sure about a certain product only find Apple announcing something entirely different.

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Check out Larry Magid's podcast interview of Jason Snell
of MacWorld Magazine, for a few reality checks and
some speculation on what Apple's likely to unveil.

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This year there is speculation that Apple will announce the availability of Macs with the Intel processor. Steve Jobs has already announced that Intel-based Macs will be available this year, the question is simply when. Some think that Apple will announce a laptop, possibly a small “sub-notebook” with an Intel processor. Last year, at an industry conference, Jobs admitted that the Apple product line could benefit from a very small notebook PC. Right now, if you want a PC under four pounds you’ll have to get it from Lenovo (formerly IBM), Dell, HP, Toshiba one of the other Windows PC-makers.

The Consumer Electronics Show was all about convergence between the PC industry and digital entertainment. With its iPod, Apple has been the leader when it comes to portable entertainment. But it has never offered anything to compete head-on with PCs running Microsoft’s Windows Media Center Edition, which are combination PCs, TVs, personal video recorders and home music systems.

Last year, Apple introduced its Front Row software which gives new Macs some of those capabilities but Apple doesn’t currently sell hardware that turns Macs into TV sets (other companies to offer add-on products). There is speculation that Apple might add Front Row to its Mac mini. Given the mini’s small size and relatively sleek appearance, it certainly could be seen as a possible addition to a home entertainment system if it had the right software and add-ons.

It’s conceivable that Jobs could introduce a new iPod but that’s not likely since Apple introduced two new iPods in the fall. Apple frequently, however, releases upgrades to its popular iTunes music software and store. Other possible new software programs could include a web content creation tool or an update to the iLife suite of programs.

But stay tuned. The curtain goes up at 9:00 AM Pacific time on Tuesday when Jobs takes the stage.

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A syndicated technology columnist for more than two decades, Larry Magid serves as on air Technology Analyst for CBS Radio News. His technology reports can be heard several times a week on the CBS Radio Network. Magid is the author of several books including "The Little PC Book."