It ’s clear that 2006 was a momentous twelvemonth for Apple . The company ’s entire Mac lineup was converted to Intel C.P.U. , Boot Camp and Parallels Desktop offered every Intel Mac proprietor the ability to run Windows on their computer and iPod sale continue to surge — the release of the Zune notwithstanding . copulate with a successful class on those straw man , Apple tantalized users with a prevue of the next version of Mac OS X 10.5 , a.k.a . “ Leopard , ” and a set - top boxwood for streaming pic , music and video to your TV . And it carry on to keep everyone guessing about the next generation iPods and a possible iPhone .

As exciting as 2006 was for Apple fans , 2007 predict to be even bigger .

Leopard

The biggest and most compelling come attractiveness for the majority of Mac users will be the expiration of Leopard sometime this Spring . The operating arrangement ’s telling feature hardening , or at least those facets of it that Apple has made public to escort , may very well constitute the biggest progress of any OS X release . Leopard is expected to provide developers with amazing new capabilities ( particularly in animation and imaging ) , and it ’s designed to make the Mac easy and more productive for the median exploiter . young features let in Time Machine for backups and recovery ; improve Spotlight searching ; a more innovative version of Front Row that process on every Mac ; Apple ’s practical screen background software program , Spaces ; a truly collaborative translation of iCal ; and a novel version of iChat sporting a multifariousness of fun features . Of of course , those are just the thing we know about ; I have no doubt that when Leopard is released or exhibit , Apple CEO Steve Jobs will have his noted “ one more thing ” to show us about it .

Leopard Server

Equally big news is Leopard Server , which is planned for dismission along with the Leopard client operating system . With Leopard Server , Apple will be follow out some striking novel and update technologies . Advances in Open Directory will give system administrators more relief and flexibility in managing guest ; iCal server will allow users of any major calendar practical app to share data ; a wiki waiter and update blog and mailing list components will offer users new and easier kind of collaboration ; Time Machine will offer easy backups of both server and workstation ; a dynamical firewall should offer better protection ; and 32- and 64 - bit app will be able to endure side by side .

Those features are all available for the single cost of a waiter license — without a doubtfulness , a smart move on Apple ’s part and something organisation or web administrators will desire to hold out directly .

But Leopard Server reaches an consultation beyond the typical curing of IT professionals . Apple is aim to capture some of the little clientele community by volunteer a new Server Preferences applications programme that offer up stripped - down server management for small workgroups . I ’m both curious and somewhat hesitant about how Apple will manage to produce a full functional and yet very mere server direction system . If any caller can design an graceful interface to fulfill this labor , it ’s probably Apple . If Apple gets this right , Leopard Server could be an ideal root for small organization that ca n’t give a full - time scheme administrator . That could attract a young class of business users to the Mac and to Mac OS tenner Server — while render a product that they can mature into should they call for more advanced features .

Digital Media

Expect Apple to preserve to leverage its hold on the digital entertainment mart . Despite some contradictory news report about the state of online music sales , Apple ’s iTunes / iPod combining remains in a course of study of its own . Microsoft ’s Zune believably is n’t start away soon , but it also is n’t potential to supplant the iPod . Even so , I do n’t see Apple resting on its laurels .

The iTV is the clearest example of Apple ’s architectural plan to capitalise on the digital hub strategy it has pursued for the better part of a X . Its iTV offering will , for the first time , make it easygoing to join a Mac and TV . There are other systems that do this now , but iTV will be the first that is as easy as connect a DVD player . It will offer access not just to your euphony and iTunes Store downloads , but also to any other videos on your computer ( including those made in iMovie ) as well as digital picture — turning your TV into an always - available family photo record album .

Many people are speculate and/or hoping that Apple will ink a mess with TiVo or put up its own personal television recording capability as part of Leopard or the iTV offering . Given TiVo ’s history of tell Mac users that a Mac version of its TiVo - To - Go software system is coming — without having yet surrender anything — it seems a bit concentrated to believe the two company are collaborating on a Mac mathematical product . And , as much as I ’d love to see PVR capabilities built into Mac OS X , I guess Apple is much more probable to continue to concentre on sales of television content through the iTunes Store . Thankfully , there is Elgato ’s EyeTV for those who want to apply a Mac as a PVR .

If Apple ’s patent are to be believe , there is also a new craw of iPods on the horizon that will extend big screens and possibly unexampled navigation techniques . No one can say for certain whether these products will declare oneself Bluetooth or WiFi admittance or other still - unpublicized features . But Apple has never release a new iPod that did n’t advance the product stock in some way , and I have no question that the next generation of iPods will go on that custom .

If any of the rumors , analyst reports and patents are accurate , we probably will see an iPhone as well ( though maybe not at Macworld Expo San Francisco , which commence Jan. 7 ) . The iPhone has the potential to be completely revolutionary , both as a digital sensitive player and as a telephone set . Depending on how it ’s deal , it could even have a major impact on the U.S. mobile headphone market . But if Apple does n’t manage to get the product spot - on and hit the proper distribution channel , it could be in for some very stiff rival .

Apple will also almost certainly unveil a young version of its iLife suite . IPhoto will no doubt offer more choice for digital photos , iDVD will no doubt sport newfangled themes , and iMovie and GarageBand will no doubt get updates , as well . But I ’m see for the newest iLife app , iWeb , to get the fully grown change . Hopefully , iWeb 2.0 will create cleaner HTML code and offer up easier publication when not using .Mac — including an option to put out only updated files .

Professional App Updates

Apple ’s Pro applications will also probable to undergo major update in 2007 . In particular , look for advanced color chastisement and plus direction feature of speech to be built into succeeding versions of Final Cut Studio . And we could also see applied science from late acquisitions filter into other pro apps as well . Aperture should get a major update — maybe a complete overhaul , give reputation that much of the Aperture team was replaced earlier this class .

‘ One More matter ’

As always , I ’m certain Apple has a least one surprise Cartesian product or announcement that no one will really be expect . Whatever that may be , it ’s certain to add to what already seems like a very full and exciting twelvemonth for Apple , Mac exploiter and iPod owners everywhere .

Ryan Faas is a free-lance writer and IT advisor specialize in Mac and multiplatform internet intention and troubleshooting . He is the co - source ofEssential Mac OS X Panther Server Administrationand the writer ofTroubleshooting , Maintaining , and Repairing Macs . For more selective information , confabulate RyanFaas.com .