Thoughts on today's Macworld Expo keynote

Here are thoughts on today's Macworld Expo announcements:

FM tuning. Apple has finally seen fit to offer FM tuning via an iPod add-on that also is a remote (the iFM works on the same principle). It's about time (readers know this is a pet peeve of mine :-) Too bad FM tuning isn't built into iPods, which would be much less awkward (I'll wager next-generation iPods will include this). The iPod Radio Remote won't work with older iPods such as the mini, either.

Personal publishing. Apple's updated iLife software has a thrilling emphasis on personal Internet publishing. iPhoto allows for online photo sharing (a la "photocasting") while the freshened iMovie assists with so-called video podcasting. GarageBand and iChat do ditto for audio podcasting. This is awesome! For icing on the cake, the new iWeb publisher builds in blogging and podcasting features.

At least one third-party software developer isn't going to be happy, though.

Intel Macs. These were expected; Intel-based iMacs weren't. Their G5 chips aren't nearly as creaky as the G4s in Mac portables. Boy, I feel for anyone who bought a recently upgraded iMac G5 (not that it is or soon will be a slouch, far from it). I also sympathize with anyone who recently bought a G4 PowerBook instead of holding out for an Macintel laptop -- now revealed as the more-powerful MacBook Pro.

I'm quite surprised, though, that Apple didn't significantly modify the PowerBooks' appearance, as it's wont to do with Mac hardware that makes a quantum leap.

The Macintosh to now shun at all costs is the iBook consumer laptop. It was the least-powerful shipping Mac yesterday, and it looks downright pathetic today. Save your nickels for what I assume will be the MacBook (without "pro" in the name), which would come within the year as part of Apple's announced Intel migration.

Mac Office. It's nice to know that Microsoft will continue making versions of its Office productivity suite for the Mac, though I'm not optimistic it will ever shed its bloatware tendencies.

No plasma Macs, Mac mini media centers nor anything else TV-centric. Damn.

Update: A weeping new-PowerBook owner's letter to Apple Support. (Kottke, by the way, is a former Minnesotan.)

As I've said, it's a good idea to wait until the Mac-laptop migration to Intel is completed before seriously mulling your buying options. An Intel-based Mac mini, with or without media-center capabilities, is going to look awfully tempting, too.

Second update: Next-generation iPods may have an integrated FM transmitter, in addition to an FM tuner.