Macworld San Francisco 2006 Rumor Wrapup: Winners and Losers

After each major event, MacRumors provides a wrapup of rumors to reveal the sources of the most accurate and inaccurate information. Readers are encouraged to read our Macworld Rumor Roundup which was written prior to the actual event.

Last week, Steve Jobs took the stage the stage at Macworld San Francisco and introduced a number of new products including iLife '06 with iWeb, iWork '06, an Intel iMac, and the new MacBook Pro. The keynote was viewed live by over 100,000 people simultaneously through our AJAX webcast system.

iLife '06, iWeb

With surprising regularity, Apple itself is the inadvertent source of leaks about upcoming releases. This year, Apple's website revealed updates to iLife '06 as well as the new iWeb application.

Intel Macs

While the first Intel Macs were widely rumored to be released at the MWSF Expo, readers should remember that Intel Macs had only been promised by June 2006. Apple does not typically beat their estimated timeframes, but the rumors proved to be true. However, with the increased media interest in Apple, there has been an increase in speculative reports from analysts which resulted in an amalgam of disjointed rumors.

In this particular case, the first Intel Mac rumor turned out to be the most accurate. Appleinsider reported in November that the first Intel-based Macs would make their debut at Macworld SF in January. They reported that contrary to expectations, the iMac and PowerBook would be the first Intel-based Macs to be released. The Intel iMac was accurately described as being "based largely on the design and feature set of the current iMac." Apple was also said to be working to ship a 15" Intel PowerBook "around February", complete with built-in iSight. Indeed the 15" Intel PowerBook did arrive as described, though rebranded as the "MacBook Pro".

The accuracy of Appleinsider's report gives further credence to other claims made in the same article. According to the same report, Apple's Intel-based Mac mini will "debut closer to the Spring" -- the same time the company revamps the iBooks with 13" widescreens.

Meanwhile, (traditionally accurate) ThinkSecret's confident reports that the Intel iBook, Intel Mac mini, and a new iPod shuffle would be released at MWSF 2006 entirely missed their mark. These inaccuracies have then cast doubt over other details of the reports, including claims of iBook price drops, as well as the intriguing concept of a Mac mini media center with DVR capabilities, an iPod Dock, and Front Row 2.0.

One More Thing...

It wouldn't be a proper Macworld Expo keynote without the genuine hope of something outrageous and unbelievable. Prior to June 2005, "Apple switching to Intel" frequently occupied that role. In the past, readers have also fruitlessly pined for
the iWalk, Mac tablet, and iHome products.

This year, PowerPage confidently reported on an Apple 42" and 50" Plasma Display with Viiv technology, but has since backpedaled. Of course, no such technology was introduced, and as such PowerPage retains a relatively poor rumor accuracy record.

Optimistic readers, however, may choose to believe claims that Apple did not release everything intended, and that perhaps more was originally planned.

Curiously, while Kevin Rose's 11th hour report of a 15" Intel Macbook, iWork/iLife '06, Photocasting, iPod FM receiver, and OS X.4.4 with new Widgets was exactly on mark... he also mentioned a "New remote of some type". Most likely, this simply refers to the iPod FM receiver/remote - though it is curious that this would have been mentioned twice.

Rumors to Watch

iBook Revisions - est. 2nd quarter 2006.
Intel Developing Next PowerMac for Apple? - est. 3rd quarter 2006
New iPod Products from Apple - boombox?

Intel Mac mini To Evolve Into Digital Hub?
Final Cut Pro 6, Final Cut Extreme, Xserve RAID

Mac Viiv at Macworld Expo 2006?
Light-weight Stylish Mac Laptops in 2006

Related Roundups: iMac, MacBook Pro, Mac mini, Mac Pro

Popular Stories

iOS 26

iOS 26.1 Coming Soon: New Features for Your iPhone and Release Date

Monday October 27, 2025 7:55 am PDT by
The upcoming iOS 26.1 update includes a handful of new features and changes for iPhones, including a toggle for changing the appearance of the Liquid Glass design, "slide to stop" for alarms in the Clock app, and more. Below, we outline key details about iOS 26.1. Release Date Given that Apple has yet to seed an iOS 26.1 Release Candidate, which is typically the final beta version, the...
iOS 26

6 New Things Your iPhone Can Do in iOS 26.1

Wednesday October 29, 2025 4:22 am PDT by
Apple is about to drop iOS 26.1, the first major point release since iOS 26 was rolled out in September, and there are at least six notable changes and improvements to look forward to. We've rounded them up below. Apple has already provided developers and public beta testers with the release candidate version of iOS 26.1, which means Apple will likely roll out the update to all compatible...
maxresdefault

Apple TV 4K Could Still Launch Before 2025 Ends: All the Rumored Features

Monday October 27, 2025 4:51 pm PDT by
Apple is designing an updated version of the Apple TV 4K, and rumors suggest that it could come out sometime in the next couple of months. We're not expecting a major overhaul with design changes, but even a simple chip upgrade will bring major improvements to Apple's set-top box. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. We've rounded up all the latest Apple TV rumors. ...
M6 MacBook Pro Feature 1

M6 MacBook Pro: Release Date, Pricing, and What to Expect

Monday October 27, 2025 9:15 am PDT by
Apple this month refreshed the 14-inch MacBook Pro base model with its new M5 chip, and higher-end 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips are expected to follow in early 2026. However, these machines will represent the final update to the current design, with Apple reportedly developing a completely new version of the MacBook Pro packed with next-generation hardware...
iOS 26

Apple Seeds iOS 26.1, iPadOS 26.1, and macOS Tahoe 26.1 Release Candidates

Tuesday October 28, 2025 1:07 pm PDT by
Apple today provided developers and public beta testers with the release candidate versions of upcoming iOS 26.1, iPadOS 26.1, macOS Tahoe 26.1, tvOS 26.1, watchOS 26.1, and visionOS 26.1 updates for testing purposes. The RCs betas come a week after Apple released the fourth betas. The new betas can be downloaded from the Settings app on a compatible device by going to General > Software...
iOS 26 Battery Glass Feature

iOS 26.1 Beta Liquid Glass Battery Drain Test: Tinted vs Clear Mode

Friday October 24, 2025 2:30 pm PDT by
In the fourth iOS 26.1 beta, Apple added a "Tinted" option that reduces the translucency of Liquid Glass for those who prefer a more opaque look. I saw some comments wondering whether the setting might preserve battery life, so I thought I'd do some testing. Test Settings I did four separate tests using the iPhone 17 Pro Max, and I kept the parameters as similar as possible. Here are the...
ios 26 digital id passport wallet

Apple Says U.S. Passport Feature on iPhone is Coming Soon

Monday October 27, 2025 7:41 am PDT by
You will "soon" be able to add a digital version of your U.S. passport to your iPhone, according to Jennifer Bailey, vice president of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet. Bailey reiterated that the feature is coming soon during her keynote at the Money20/20 USA conference in Las Vegas on Sunday. On its iOS 26 page, Apple says the delayed feature will be "coming later this year." Apple's...
macos tahoe

Here Are Apple's Release Notes for macOS Tahoe 26.1

Tuesday October 28, 2025 1:21 pm PDT by
Apple today provided developers and public beta testers with the release candidate version of macOS Tahoe 26.1, which means the update will likely see a public launch next week. The release candidate includes notes on what's in the update, so we have a full picture of the new features that Apple has included. macOS Tahoe 26.1 adds AutoMix support over AirPlay, improved FaceTime audio...
All Screen iPhone 2027 Feature 1

iPhone XX? 6 Features Rumored for Apple's 20th Anniversary iPhone

Monday October 27, 2025 4:01 pm PDT by
For the 10th anniversary iPhone that came out in 2017, Apple introduced the iPhone X with Face ID, notch, and minimized bezels, providing more display space than ever before. The 20th iPhone anniversary is approaching and Apple wants to take the iPhone X design even further. We're two years away from the 2027 iPhone, but it's tough for Apple to keep major changes under wraps. We've rounded...