On the eve of iPhone version 2.0

If anything is possible then it’s possible that Apple will not introduce a new iPhone at the World Wide Developer’s Conference in San Francisco on Monday. And George W. Bush will go down in history as one of America’s greatest Presidents. So, I’m predicting a new iPhone at WWDC.

Duh?

To be fair, I don’t know of anyone who is not predicting new iPhones at WWDC. For the most part, both Apple and AT&T are out of the current iPhones.

Apple has signed agreements with dozens of telecom companies around the world to sell the iPhone ‘this year’. It’s a safe bet that what they sell will be a new generation iPhone, a 3G iPhone, probably faster, smaller, and less expensive than the original.

Less is More

Since it’s likely that the sun will come up tomorrow and Apple will introduce new iPhone models at WWDC the only real speculation is, 1) the feature set, 2) the price tags, and 3) what else?

Apple’s stated goal in 2008 was to sell 10-million iPhones and by their own numbers they’re behind schedule. The second half of 2008 will see Apple’s iPhone distribution jump from half a dozen countries to perhaps 50 or 60 countries.

Without question, the new iPhones will have more features. Which ones?

Without question, the new iPhones will be heavily subsidized by cell phone carriers which will increase sales and market share of the heavily promoted iPhone version 2.0.

Without question, the new iPhones will have hundreds of 3rd party applications available by the end of 2008, further pushing the iPhone ahead of rather lackluster cell phone competition.

Focus

PixoBebo is about my digital Mac life, which, remarkably, includes an iPhone, which, when viewed from version 2.0 onward, becomes much more of a Mac in your pocket than just a cell phone.

I promise not to dwell on the iPhone announcements this week. You will likely have more reading material than you’ll have time as everyone in media helps Apple promote their newest digital darling.

Features

I know what I want when I think about a Mac in my pocket. The iPhone needs a more advanced version of OS X, a faster processor to enhance the Safari web browsing experience.

The new iPhone needs to sync more with the Mac and even more so with Windows PCs and business users. Have no fear. It will.

What else? A video camera for iChat is tops on my list.

Touch Me

Whatever Apple throws into the iPhone will make it an experience not wholly unlike using a Mac. PC users switch to Macs, not from Macs to Windows PCs.

So it will go with the iPhone as it becomes more powerful, does more, and yet resides comfortably in your pocket. I do not expect the Mac, in whatever near future forms-- iMac, MacBooks, whatever-Macs-- to become touch machines. The keyboard and mouse are likely to rule for another decade or two, or more.

Touch is the domain of small, up close, personal, and perfect for the handheld device that can do more than a Mac (and sometimes less).

Prognosticate

So, what’s coming? New iPhones. New OS X with emphasis on OS X not on Mac OS X. That’s the easy bet.

A more difficult bet is for Apple to introduce a new version of OS X that is Intel only. Or, a new tablet device with touch screen, perhaps our long predicted iPad handheld device.

Let the games begin. There’s barely 48 hours before show time. What’s on your list?