iPhone Cruncher

By Sam Oliver

Published: 04:00 PM EST

New comments from Apple Chief Operating Officer Tim Cook that Apple doesn’t want its products to be “just for the rich” have fueled speculation that the company is interested in offering a cheaper iPhone.

Bernstein Research analyst Toni Sacconaghi met last week with Cook, Apple Chief Financial Officer Peter Oppenheimer, and Vice President of Online Services Eddy Cue. According to Forbes, the analyst came away with the impression that Apple is “likely to develop lower priced offerings” in its handset business.

Cook also reportedly said that Apple is planning “clever things” to compete in the prepaid handset market. He also said that Apple is “not ceding any market,” and the company doesn’t want its products to be “just for the rich.”

Cook’s comments, and the analyst’s interpretations, come soon after two prominent publications claimed that Apple is working on a new, smaller, $200 contract-free iPhone that it could sell directly to customers and bypass wireless carrier contracts. Both Bloomberg and The Wall Street Journal said that Apple’s alleged plans were in an effort to compete with Google’s growing Android mobile platform.

But another mainstream publication, The New York Times, rebuffed those two reports only days later, and said that Apple is not developing a smaller handset. However, it was reported by the Times that Apple has explored opportunities to create a less expensive iPhone.

In his meeting with Sacconaghi, cook reportedly referred to the iPhone as “the mother of all halos,” as the handset has expanded sales of Apple’s other devices, particularly in emerging markets. Apple has long referred to sales of the iPod — and later iPhone — as having a “halo effect” that drives sales of Macs.

And one emerging market where Apple has found great success in a short period of time is China. Cook reportedly acknowledged that Apple has spent “huge energy” in China, and also noted that it is a “classic prepaid market,” which would be an ideal candidate for a cheaper iPhone.

The company is also said to be

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We’re just 48 hours away from getting our first look at the long-awaited, next-generation iPad—or that’s what we’re expecting, at least.

Indeed, with all the leaks, rumors, and wild guesses we’ve been hearing in the past months about the next iPad, it’s easy to forget that Apple hasn’t even officially announced the thing yet, much less doled out any details or pictures.

Since we still have a couple days to kill before Apple ends the suspense, now might a good time to summarize what we know, what we think we know, and—most importantly—what we definitely don’t know about the iPad 2.

What we know

The original iPad is still the only iPad, for now: Like I just said, Apple has yet to announce, acknowledge, make veiled references to, or even hint at a new iPad. Well … strike that: during Apple’s most recent quarterly earnings call, Apple COO Tim Cook told analysts (who’d been asking about competition from impending Android-based tablets) that “we’re not sitting still” in terms of the tablet market, a remark that may qualify as a vague hint.

Apple is holding an iPad-related event Wednesday: The invitations went out last week, with an image showing a Mac OS calendar page peeled back to reveal an iPad peeking out from behind. The caption: “Come see what 2011 will be the year of.” So yes—the writing’s on the wall, but the invite stops short of saying “come meet the iPad 2″ or anything like that.

Last but not least, we know that … uh … : If we’re only talking about things we definitely know about the next iPad … well, strictly speaking, we don’t know much more than what I just outlined above. Oh, wait: Wednesday’s Apple event will be held in San Francisco, at 10 in the morning local time. And iPad-related topics are on the agenda. There you go.

What we don’t know

What it’ll be called: Everyone’s been calling the next iPad the “iPad 2,” and there’s even a new (and likely fan-generated) rendering of the next-generation tablet floating around

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The iPad is an awesome mobile computing tool, and it can take the place of a PC for most tasks, but when push comes to shove, it’s still not a PC. Citrix is bridging that gap, though, by enabling users to remotely connect to and work with their PC on the go from an iPad using the GoToMyPC for iPad app.

The iPad, in and of itself, is an awesome mobile computing platform for business. It is lighter and more portable than a laptop, has exceptional battery life, and works like a charm for e-mail, Web surfing, and many other common tasks. Inevitably, though, there will be some special software or proprietary application that doesn’t have an iPad app equivalent and requires the actual PC.

A Citrix press release describes the new app. “GoToMyPC for iPad provides a fast, easy and secure way to instantly connect over the Internet to a host Mac or PC from an iPad, allowing people to access and work on their data, files, network and applications.”

Lisa Reeves, vice president and general manager of Access and Cloud, Citrix Online, explains, “Today’s workforce wants the ease and flexibility to work wherever it’s most optimal. Regardless of where people choose to work, this transition to mobility requires secure, high-performing and reliable technology to help them be effective and productive.”

So, let’s check it out and see how it works in the real world.

My Experience with GoToMyPC for iPad

I installed the GoToMyPC for iPad app on my iPad to see how it works. First, I had to actually install GoToMyPC on my laptop. The iPad app is free, but it only works if you are running GoToMyPC in the first place. The subscription for GoToMyPC service starts at $10 per month per PC, but I signed up for the free 30-day evaluation.

When you install GoToMyPC, you must create an account login for the service, and a unique access code for the specific PC. So, with GoToMyPC installed and

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A purported photo of what may–or may not be–the front bezel of the next iPhone.

(Credit:
iDealsChina)

Here we go again with the rumors that the
iPhone 5–or whatever Apple chooses to call its fifth-generation iPhone–will have a larger screen. This one comes out of China, where iDealsChina has posted what it claims is a photo of the front bezel or digitizer panel for the iPhone 5.

Here’s the long caption that was posted along with the image, which was first noticed by 9to5Mac:

China’s 1st iPhone 5 photo has surfaced! From this photo it seems that the screen size will be larger than iPhone 4. There has been a lot of speculation about a larger screen and maybe this will be one of the upgrades we will see when iPhone 5 is released this summer.

Previous rumors have the iPhone 5 sporting a 4-inch “edge-to-edge” screen, which some are interpreting to mean that it will have a smaller bezel or border. With so many of the new Android smartphones having more generous screens than the iPhone, some consumers–including many CNET readers–are hoping that the next iPhone will have a larger screen.

It’s also worth pointing out that a recent rumor suggested the next iPhone and
iPad will ditch the home button for onscreen gesture commands. But as you can see from this photo, there’s a spot for the home button.

If you’re looking for a track record on iDealsChina’s rumors, it’s hit and miss. In 2008, this Chinese reseller of Apple parts claimed on its Web site that an iPhone Nano was in the making (ironically, those same rumors of a smaller iPhone are making the rounds now). But it did better with posting images of some molds for iPhone 3G cases prior to that model’s launch.

iDealsChina says that more photos of parts for the iPhone 5 “may be available soon” and that the part it would really like to see is the back of iPhone 5 to “verify if the rumored tapered back

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Apple execs talk about their plans to cash in on the popularity of the iPhone and iPad

In a note to clients issued Monday, Bernstein Research’s Toni Sacconaghi reports on a meeting with three top Apple (AAPL) executives: COO Tim Cook, CFO Peter Oppenheimer and Eddy Cue, vice president of Internet services.

Steve Jobs did not attend.

According to Erik Savitz, formerly of Barron’s, now at Forbes.com, Sacconaghi reports that the execs are concentrating on what he called “the right things,” including:

• Expanding the market for the iPhone, which Cook referred to as “the mother of all halos.”
• Developing “lower priced offerings” and doing “clever things” to address pre-paid markets like China and India. (Cook doesn’t want Apple’s products to be “just for the rich,” according to Sacconahi.)
• Capitalizing on the “explosive” demand for the iPad, believing that tablets could end up being a bigger market than PCs. (If this is so, Sacconaghi calculates that the iPad could eventually be a $60 billion to $100 billion business for Apple.)
• Adding carriers. Oppenheimer notes that Apple has only 175 carriers today, versus 550 for Research In Motion (RIMM).

Cook told the analyst, presumably tongue in cheek, that he felt the iPhone was just below food and water on Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, a reference to Abraham Maslow‘s theory that people can’t focus on higher-level needs (like love, self-esteem and self-actualization) until they have met the most basic ones (like food, sleep and, apparently, cellular telephony).

See the chart below the fold.

Source: Wikipedia Commons

Also on Fortune.com:

• Apple JointVenture targets small shops
• Dooce was paid to switch to Droid
• CNBC’s anti-Apple crusader

[Follow Philip Elmer-DeWitt on Twitter @philiped]

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The photo of the alleged white iPad 2 frame posted by 9 to 5 Mac

By Athima Chansanchai

For some, the white iPhone or iPad is their Moby Dick, ever elusive and gaining an almost mythical quality as hopes are raised and dashed with each rumor. So we’ll add to that roller coaster with today’s report of an all-white iPad 2.

9 to 5 Mac posted a pic (see image above) of an alleged white second-generation iPad, which industry watchers predict will be unveiled at the Apple event Wednesday. What looks like a frame is actually a bezel (aka “digitizer”) that seems to sync up with leaked images of screen protectors and the backside of the device (image shown below).

It arrived mysteriously — don’t these things always? — in their inbox, but they took it with a grain of salt, as we all should. (Even those that want it so bad, they can taste it. Not me, but some people out there are like that about this.) Even 9 to 5 ponders, “one of the reasons for the black frame that surrounds most of Apple’s displays is that it presents the image better visually.  However, this image above, seems to refute all of that.”

This fits in with the usual buzz that accompanies a highly anticipated product’s imminent arrival, but we’ll all soon know for sure in two days.

More iPad/tablet stories:

• Motorola Xoom review: iPad finally has competition
• When you have a tablet, who needs a PC?
• Good evening, may this iPad take your order?

Check out Technolog on Facebook, and on Twitter, follow Athima Chansanchai, who 

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AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez

The iPad after it was unveiled at the Moscone Center in San Francisco in early 2010. Apple is expected to unveil the second generation of its wildly successful media tablet this week, widening its head start against competitors just starting to sell their first tablet computers.

Sequels very seldom win public acclaim, unless you’re talking about “The Godfather II” or “The Empire Strikes Back.” And the Apple iPad, of course.

On Wednesday Apple will release “iPad: Part II” — the follow-up to the risky, untested, Silicon-Valley thriller “iPad: Begins.” It was a hit the world over and a darling of the Academy that sold a whopping 15 million units. No one predicted that.

When movie sequels come out, they have a hard time impressing. Just consider “The Matrix Reloaded” or “Caddyshack 2.” Or even “Weekend at Bernie’s II” — all major disappointments. But I have high hopes for iPad II.

In a world where all Internet video runs on Adobe Flash … In a world where most mobile gadgets have front-facing cameras … In a world where super-high-definition screens are the norm …

In that world, the Apple iPad still rules the roost — even though it lacks all of the above. We’ve seen dozens of tablets hit the market this year, all of them furiously trying to compete with it. The problem is that they are only just catching up with where the iPad started. None of them, in my opinion, surpass the iPad in functionality or finesse, and certainly not in apps. So when the iPad II hits the market, it could very easily put this year’s tablets yet another year behind.

Even the Motorola Xoom, unveiled in early January and finally released just a few days ago, doesn’t have the stats to be an iPad killer. Sure, it impresses with speed and specs. And sure, it has a front-facing camera. but when the iPad II comes out with its widely anticipated front-facing

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The iPad is an awesome mobile computing tool, and it can take the place of a PC for most tasks, but when push comes to shove, it’s still not a PC. Citrix is bridging that gap, though, by enabling users to remotely connect to and work with their PC on the go from an iPad using the GoToMyPC for iPad app.

The iPad, in and of itself, is an awesome mobile computing platform for business. It is lighter and more portable than a laptop, has exceptional battery life, and works like a charm for e-mail, Web surfing, and many other common tasks. Inevitably, though, there will be some special software or proprietary application that doesn’t have an iPad app equivalent and requires the actual PC.

A Citrix press release describes the new app. “GoToMyPC for iPad provides a fast, easy and secure way to instantly connect over the Internet to a host Mac or PC from an iPad, allowing people to access and work on their data, files, network and applications.”

“Today’s workforce wants the ease and flexibility to work wherever it’s most optimal. Regardless of where people choose to work, this transition to mobility requires secure, high-performing and reliable technology to help them be effective and productive,” said Lisa Reeves, vice president and general manager of Access and Cloud, Citrix Online.

My Experience with GoToMyPC for iPad

I installed the GoToMyPC for iPad app on my iPad to see how it works. First, I had to actually install GoToMyPC on my laptop. The iPad app is free, but it only works if you are running GoToMyPC in the first place. The subscription for GoToMyPC service starts at $10 per month per PC, but I signed up for the free 30-day evaluation.

When you install GoToMyPC,

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