MacRumors

The keynote line has started for attendees and media. The keynote will kick off at 9 a.m. Pacific today. Live coverage will be provided here at MacRumors. All traffic will be directed to MacRumorsLive.com when the time approaches. MacRumorsLive also supports iPhone and iPod Touch browsers.

Meanwhile, Apple's downloads page reveals that iWork '09 will indeed be announced. iWork has been renamed to "iWork '09" in the top downloads list. The current shipping version of iWork is '08.

With Macworld Expo kicking off in a matter of hours, a number of last minute rumors have appeared today.

- CNet reports that Apple has cut deals that will allow iTunes to offer copy-protection free (DRM free) songs from the largest music labels. In exchange, Apple is said to offer more flexible pricing.

Under the terms of the deal, song prices will be broken down into three categories--older songs from the catalog, midline songs (newer songs that aren't big hits), and current hits--said one of the sources.

Beyond this, Apple has also come to an agreement to deliver over-the-air downloads which will allow iPhone users to download music directly on their iPhones. These announcements could be announced at Macworld.

- Arstechnica points out one press release by SeeFile software that reveals the software supports the "new Apple Mac Mini".

- TUAW suggests we may finally see an AT&T / iPhone tethering deal announced this week, according to a "trusted" source.

MacRumors will have live coverage of the keynote at MacRumorsLive.com. The keynote kicks off at 9 a.m. Pacific on Tuesday, Jan 6th.

Google today released Picasa for Mac. As detailed in the Official Google Mac Blog entry on the release, the beta version of Google's free photo management application provides users with a number of tools for photo manipulation while also providing smooth integration with Picasa's free photo-sharing site.

If you've never tried Picasa before, it's a program that helps you manage, edit, and share your photo collection. It works especially well with Picasa Web Albums, Google's free photo-sharing site, so it can help you manage the photo albums you've shared online with friends and family as well as the photos on your computer. In addition to photo editing tools, the Picasa client includes features like automatic web sync, fast and simple sharing, collage making, and simple movie editing.

Google notes that several features, including geotagging and webcam capture, are not yet functional, but will be added at a later date. Picasa for Mac requires OS X 10.4 or later and an Intel-based Mac.

Today also saw the release of FileMaker Pro 10. FileMaker's press release covers a number of improvements in the database application's interface and new scripting and reporting features. FileMaker Pro 10 is priced at $299 for new users and $179 for users upgrading from FileMaker 8 or later. FileMaker Pro 10 Advanced, which brings additional development and customization tools, is priced at $499 for new users and $299 for upgrade users. Server versions of both packages are also available.

Both of these releases had been expected and were highlighted in our Macworld Rumor Roundup.

Apple has published a letter today from Apple CEO Steve Jobs that addresses speculation surrounding his health. Steve Jobs reveals that he has been recovering from a hormone imbalance that has been causing an unhealthy weight loss.

Dear Apple Community,

For the first time in a decade, I'm getting to spend the holiday season with my family, rather than intensely preparing for a Macworld keynote.

Unfortunately, my decision to have Phil deliver the Macworld keynote set off another flurry of rumors about my health, with some even publishing stories of me on my deathbed.

I've decided to share something very personal with the Apple community so that we can all relax and enjoy the show tomorrow.

As many of you know, I have been losing weight throughout 2008. The reason has been a mystery to me and my doctors. A few weeks ago, I decided that getting to the root cause of this and reversing it needed to become my #1 priority.

Fortunately, after further testing, my doctors think they have found the cause - a hormone imbalance that has been "robbing" me of the proteins my body needs to be healthy. Sophisticated blood tests have confirmed this diagnosis.

The remedy for this nutritional problem is relatively simple and straightforward, and I've already begun treatment. But, just like I didnt lose this much weight and body mass in a week or a month, my doctors expect it will take me until late this Spring to regain it. I will continue as Apple's CEO during my recovery.

I have given more than my all to Apple for the past 11 years now. I will be the first one to step up and tell our Board of Directors if I can no longer continue to fulfill my duties as Apple's CEO. I hope the Apple community will support me in my recovery and know that I will always put what is best for Apple first.

So now I've said more than I wanted to say, and all that I am going to say, about this.

Steve

Apple's board of directors also distributed the following statement:

It is widely recognized both inside and outside of Apple that Steve Jobs is one of the most talented and effective CEOs in the world.

As we have said before, if there ever comes a day when Steve wants to retire or for other reasons cannot continue to fulfill his duties as Apple's CEO, you will know it.

Apple is very lucky to have Steve as its leader and CEO, and he deserves our complete and unwavering support during his recuperation. He most certainly has that from Apple and its Board.

Since Apple's announcement that Phil Schiller would be giving this year's keynote there has been intense speculation as to the reasons, both political and health-based.

AppleInsider confirms yesterday's report that the new 17" unibody MacBook Pro will arrive with a fixed non-removable internal battery.

In what's sure to be a controversial move on the part of the Mac maker, those familiar with the new unibody 17-inch MacBook Pro confirm that it will not share the same panel-covered battery layout as its 13- and 15-inch cousins. Instead, the notebook's battery will be fixed in place and not easily removable by users, similar to the MacBook Air's.

The rumor site also believes the Mac mini is also due with the NVIDIA chipset and will include a FireWire 800 port and an additional USB port.

In addition to sporting both a Mini DisplayPort and a Mini DVI connector, it's now also rumored that the new Mac mini will see the addition of a FireWire 800 port and a fifth USB port, with the legacy FireWire 400 port going away. The Mini DVI connector will allow the mini to continue to cater to users who already own a display, while the Mini DisplayPort will offer support for customers of Apple's latest LED-backlit Cinema Display.

MacRumors had also heard that the 17" MacBook Pro will contain a non-removable battery, so we feel this information is well corroborated. In exchange for this, the new MacBook Pro's battery is said to be longer lasting. 9to5mac's Seth Weintraub says the new battery will last up to 50% longer and speculates Apple could be exploring the use of Silver-Zinc which we previously covered.

MacRumors will post a Macworld San Francisco rumor roundup shortly.

With Macworld San Francisco 2009 (MWSF) beginning next week, MacRumors provides this Rumor Roundup as a summary of major rumors circulating around the Mac Web before the event.

The biggest news about Macworld came early when Apple announced that Steve Jobs would not be delivering the 2009 keynote address nor will Apple be participating in future Macworld events. While Apple's official reason for the withdrawal was that trade shows are becoming less important, some believe that Apple simply wanted more control of their own release timetable rather than being dependent on this yearly event. Of course, health questions about Steve Jobs were again raised as another possible reason.

While this rumor season started off slowly, the past few weeks have raised some interesting possibilities.

New iMac and Mac Mini - NVIDIA Based

The most likely hardware releases for Macworld San Francisco include updated versions of the iMac and Mac mini.

While there has been talk about these updates for months, the most convincing evidence actually came from Apple themselves. The latest versions of Mac OS X were found to include references to NVIDIA-based iMacs and Mac minis. The NVIDIA chipsets were just introduced into Apple's notebook line and promise faster graphics hardware for these new models. DigiTimes has reported that iMacs should be shipping in quantity in January and Apple may have been waiting specifically for new Quad-Core processors from Intel.

Early details about the Mac mini update came from internet hosting company MacMiniColo.net, who was able to confirm that the new mini would include a Mini DisplayPort, increase in max RAM to 4 GB and an SATA Optical drive. Since then, Wired and TUAW have confirmed that we'll see a Mac mini release at Macworld. Other claims from AppleInsider suggest that the mini will get some significant new features, including FireWire 800, dual-monitor capabilities and an additional USB port.

All of these changes will be welcome to this otherwise neglected product line.

17" MacBook Pro - Fixed Battery

One product that was left behind during the October notebook updates was Apple's high-end 17" MacBook Pro. New reports released in the past few days have revealed that Apple will be releasing the new 17" MacBook Pro as early as Macworld. Aside from adopting the NVIDIA chipset and aluminum unibody design, the most notable change that was first reported by 9to5Mac is the elimination of a removable battery. Instead, Apple is said to have chosen a slimmer but longer-lasting battery that is not replaceable, as in the MacBook Air.

This information has been confirmed by a number of sources, and we feel accurately describes the new 17" MacBook Pro.

iLife '09. iWork '09 - The Cloud

A series of reports from 9to5Mac indicate that Apple is going to make a major effort to turn portions of their iLife and iWork products into Internet services. This would allow some or all of iWork and iMovie to be accessed from your web browser and possibly your iPhone. Critics of the move, however, point to the problematic launch of Apple's MobileMe web-services.

While these original reports drew some outrage from existing customers, many expect that Apple will continue to offer traditional Mac-based applications. To further add to 9to5mac's source's credibility, we've heard their most recent report about a GarageBand update may also be true. The rumor site believes that Apple will begin selling "celebrity music lessons" to GarageBand customers.

Snow Leopard

Some reports have suggested that Phil Schiller may demonstrate or provide more info on Apple's upcoming Mac OS X revision codenamed Snow Leopard.

An Apple employee presentation first suggested that we could see the release of Snow Leopard in the first quarter of 2009. Meanwhile, Apple rushed certification of OpenCL to be ready in time for Snow Leopard's release.

iPhone and iPhone Nano

The rumor that has gotten the most attention seems the least likely possibility for a Macworld update. In fact, we had originally heard that Apple was planning on focusing on Mac products at Macworld, though this was well before Apple's announcement that they were withdrawing from the event.

This rumor gained traction after both XSKN and Vajacases posted teasers and case designs on their sites about a new iPhone Nano. This fact by itself may not have generated so much interest, but both sites also provided links and photos to iPhone 3G cases in May before its release.

We're still unsure what to make of the iPhone Nano claims, since there have been no reliable sources stepping up to corroborate this possibility. Even if the iPhone Nano coming, it seems Macworld is unlikely to be the venue for its release.

Finally, there have been suggestions that some updates may have been delayed from Macworld altogether, which could mean this or other iPhone announcements may be forthcoming in the next few months.

Cinema Displays / Mac Pros / Home Media Server / Tablet or PDA

- Despite an early rumor that we might see new LED Cinema displays at Macworld 2009, there has been no other confirmation. While it seems obvious that Apple will be moving towards LED across all their displays, no one seems to have heard if Tuesday will be the day.
- Unfortunately, despite a long wait on Mac Pro updates, desktop customers may have to wait a little longer. Mac Pro-suitable processors will be released in the first quarter of 2009 but may not be available in time for a Tuesday release.
- Apple Home Media Server seems like an interesting idea that Apple has been toying with, but no one knows when or if Apple will release this to the market.

- The latest about an Apple Tablet seems to push off the product until at least the Fall of 2009.

And, of course, there's always the promise of something amazing that we've never heard of before.

3rd Party

- Google is rumored (unconfirmed) to be releasing a Mac version of Picasa.
- Cultured Code will be releasing the 1.0 version of Things, a task management app for the Mac.
- Freeverse Slotz Racer iPhone/iPod Touch game.
- Delicious Monster hints at a free iPhone app.
- Filemaker 10 said to be announced on Monday.

We'll have more 3rd party coverage at Macworld Expo throughout the week.

Keynote Coverage and Meetup

MacRumors will be providing live keynote coverage at MacRumorsLive with photos and text updates. The system has been improved and should provide even faster updates than in the past. While there is no live video stream available for the event, those who wish to watch the time-delayed stream without any spoilers can sign up for the spoiler free announcements. Finally, Twitter users can sign up for SMS updates at http://twitter.com/macrumors.

The Keynote begins at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, January 6th, 2009 (view local times).

Readers at Macworld Expo should join us in person at the Macworld Finale Bash on Tuesday, January 6th starting at 6 p.m (details), hosted by Delicious Monster.

9to5Mac reports that Apple will be finally be releasing a unibody 17" MacBook Pro at Macworld, but with an interesting twist. According to the rumor site, the new laptop will have a super slim non-removable battery. The advantage of the new design will be a more extended run time than current models.

The news is that Apple is making a super slim battery pack for the 17 inch MacBook Pros that will last much longer than current models. Additionally, you won't be able to remove said battery pack. It will be inside the machine, just like iPods and iPhones.

We at MacRumors feel confident that this rumor is likely accurate, as we have heard similar independent whispers.

9to5 also expects that the 13" plastic MacBook will be phased out which may bring the low-end aluminum model closer to $1000.

While we were initially disappointed by the lack of an Apple teaser banner at Macworld Expo, it appears Moscone is littered with banners that are covered behind white tarps. These banners will presumably be revealed after Apple delivers their keynote address. Phil Schiller will be delivering the keynote address on Tuesday, January 6th at 9 a.m. Pacific.

AppleInsider was able to get a number of photos of the covered banners as well as a true "spy shot" of the keynote rehearsal:

We snapped a photo of the rehearsal live feed through the open door in Mira's mobile unit. The individual on stage wasn't Schiller, and actually looked more like Al Gore or Intel chief Paul Otellini. Probably just a random tech guy...

Macworld San Francisco kicks off next week. First time attendees may find useful information at Macworldbound.com, an unofficial guide to Macworld Expo. MacRumors will provide live keynote coverage as well as ongoing floor coverage throughout the week.

SetteB.IT has posted two sets (one and two) of photos from the preparations for Macworld Expo 2009.

While the banners are not particularly revealing, Apple's booth area is shrouded in black cloth as is typical prior to the event. One Macworld sign spotted on the street reads "even the small talk will be big":

This, however, appears to be an IDG-sponsored banner rather than an official teaser from Apple and reflects Macworld's website promotion that "small talk is the biggest talk we do". There do not appear to be any Apple teasers like last year's "There's Something in the Air" banner. Update: There are covered white covered banners throughout the hall which should have the new announcements hidden behind them.

Finally, the exit sign shows the dates for next year's Macworld San Francisco (Jan 4-8, 2010) with the words "The start of a new era" -- acknowledging Apple's decision to stop participating in future Macworld Expos.

AppleInsider reports that the rumored upcoming revision to the Mac mini will bring support for dual displays via one Mini DisplayPort connector and one Mini DVI connector. Apple's low-cost desktop computer has featured only a single DVI connector since its introduction in January 2005.

Evidence recently discovered in OS X configuration files points to the adoption of NVIDIA's MCP79 chipset in the forthcoming Mac mini and iMac revisions. The current models of the MacBook, MacBook Pro, and MacBook Air already utilize the chipset, which offers a substantial increase in graphics performance over the Intel GMA 950 integrated graphics found in the now-dated Mac mini.

The report also casts doubt on recent rumors that the Mac mini will see a shift to a black plastic and aluminum enclosure, which would bring its appearance more in line with that of Apple's iMac and notebook models.

The U.S. Patent & Trademark Office today released a patent application from Apple describing research into gloves that allow the wearer to operate electronic devices. The patent application was filed on June 28th, 2007.

The invention, credited to Ashwin Sunder and Steven Hotelling at Apple, is a cold-weather glove consisting of two layers: a thin inner shell and a heavier outer shell. While Apple clearly intends for the glove to be used in conjunction with Multi-Touch devices such as the iPhone and iPod touch, the patent is written to cover a much broader class of electronic devices.

Apple describes several methods by which the wearer could operate electronic devices while wearing the gloves. One method involves using electrically conductive materials for both the inner and outer shells to allow the signal from the wearer's finger to be transmitted to the input mechanism on the electronic device. Apple acknowledges, however, that the thickness of the outer glove may hinder the tactile response to the wearer. Additional methods include removable caps covering the fingertips, or an elastic ring in the outer shell that would remain nearly closed until pressure from the finger inside the glove forces the ring open and allows the finger to access the device's input mechanism.

While many of the inventions disclosed in Apple's patent applications have yet to appear in commercial products, this application at a minimum demonstrates Apple's awareness of the difficulty of using Multi-Touch devices in cold-weather environments and documents some of their efforts to address the issue. Apple is also certainly not the only vendor to attempt to develop Multi-Touch-compatible gloves, as several other companies, including Dots Gloves, The North Face, and Freehands, have introduced their own solutions.

In a Computerworld blog entry, Seth Weintraub of 9to5Mac follows up on yesterday's rumor of iWork becoming a suite of web-based applications with a new report regarding a similar update to iMovie due at Macworld next week.

Weintraub specifically points to several benefits of integrating iMovie into MobileMe's "cloud":

iMovie in the Cloud would also offer users the ability to easily view their movies on iPod Touches or iPhones. If the application is entirely Web based, it means that potential customers include the "other 90%" of users who use Windows.

The release of iMovie '08 in August 2007 received a number of complaints that ultimately resulted in Apple offering purchasers of iLife '08 the ability to download the previous version, iMovie HD 6, free of charge.

Weintraub seems uncertain if this move means that iMovie (or iWork) will become a web application only or if the "cloud" component is simply an add-on to the native Mac versions. From a practical standpoint, it would seem that for high definition video, the Mac version would remain as it currently is.

Craig Berger, an analyst with Friedman, Billings, Ramsey & Co, reported today that Apple is getting ready to introduce a "lower-cost version" of the iPhone.

"Some call this device the iPhone nano," Berger wrote in a research note. " Whatever one calls it, we believe this device is on its way."

Berger does not expect the product to be ready for a Macworld introduction. The basis for the information is based on "checks" with Apple suppliers. This report adds to a growing number of hints that Apple is preparing what many have labeled an iPhone "Nano" -- a smaller, cheaper version of the current iPhone.

Meanwhile, the analyst also believes that the iPod Shuffle may get even smaller and a cheaper version of the MacBook could also be introduced, possibly in the middle of the 1st quarter of 2009. He does not believe the cheaper MacBook would qualify as a "netbook" -- a market Apple has specifically said they are not interested in pursuing at this time.

9to5Mac claims that Apple will be announcing at Macworld that the next version of iWork will be composed of web-based applications. According to the rumor site, that means the future versions of Numbers, Pages and Keynote will be entirely browser based. (Note that this does not necessarily mean that native Mac versions will not also co-exist.)

Apple's move into web-based applications has been clear with the release of MobileMe's extensive Mail and Address Book applications composed entirely out of web-based technologies such as Javascript. In fact, there had previously been talk of an entire "Webkit-based" platform after Apple had adopted the SproutCore framework for use in MobileMe.

Developers have been constantly pushing the boundaries of what a web application can accomplish. 280 Slides is an example of a browser-based version of Keynote/Powerpoint written by former Apple employees.