- iPhone 5G will use this dual-core A5 chip
- there'll be a smaller, low-cost iPhone model (nano iPhone?)
- the next nano will play video (maybe combined with the above?)
- iPad 3G will play 1080p, and have 1GB RAM
These devices have enough power for a full OS. But I predict Apple will hold off combining them (OSX on iPad; A5 in laptop/desktop) for as long as possible: 1. it doesn't help the customers of the iPad; 2. it would segment the developer market, who can use the extra power anyway. However, it's inevitable as processors get faster; and they can't hold off for ever because if they don't do it, someone else will. It's just a question of when.
It represents the end-game of the smartphone disruption of laptops and PCs, because you will "dock" it at home and work, yet still have all your data with you whereever you go (despite coverage, network outages, webapp provider downtime etc etc etc) like people used to do with their laptops. A bit like the portable diskdrive that the iPod was.
You might think Apple would be hesitant to do this, because it will cannibalize their own laptops and desktops. I think they will do it as soon as they can, because: they have a history of racing down the tech curve as fast as possible; if they don't do it and it's possible to do, someone else will, and the strategic losses from not being first are enormous; it will only start to cannibalize their other products (because a smartphone really isn't as good yet; people are familiar with the old way; power users are a long way off being disrupted).
I've been waiting for this. Ye Mark my Words, the End is Nigh for the PC: July 2011
