Netflix Will Premiere Feature Films Too

Netflix has proven itself to be a disruptor.  Its announcement of a distribution agreement with The Weinstein Company changes the framework of the movie distribution business.  Walls are collapsing as we speak.  A film would normally go to the movie houses first then to premium cable, then basic.  Some bypass premium and some bypass basic cable and go to broadcast.  Netflix has decided to go to the top and bypass the movie screen for the home. 

Next August, Netflix will premiere the sequel to the Ang Lee film, "Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon".  The film will play simultaneously on Netflix and on IMAX screens.  It is an interesting strategy and one that depends on consumers continuing to subscribe to Netflix and staying loyal to the service.  I wonder how else Netflix can monetize such a push into original theatrical content to continue to invest in more productions.  At the very least, it is another disruptive move that will put cable television on the defensive.   

SoftBank Interest in Dreamworks Animation

I have a pretty high regard for content and as much as I believe that content is king, I also know that acquiring content is not always the best move for some platforms.  Case in point is international telecommunication giant, Softbank, owner of Sprint.  While their move to acquire T-Mobile was thwarted, a merger that did seem to make sense, an acquisition of DreamWorks Animation does not.

DreamWorks Animation was once part of DreamWorks SKG before spinning out into its own animation business.  And while it has had some great theatrical animated hits like the Shrek and Madagascar series of films, it has most recently struggled.  A cash infusion would help DreamWorks Animation to develop more projects, but how it fits into the Softbank business is less clear.  Given their size and place in the mobile space, that would need a much larger bank of content to pursue an exclusive niche of content offerings.  That might not be appealing to customers who like to access their content across different platforms, some mobile, some not.  Sprint and Softbank would need to make a sizable investment in this infrastructure to grow.  Perhaps partnerships with Microsoft or Apple to make sizable inroads.

For now, we wait and see if Softbank acquires DreamWorks and what their largest motives will be.  At first glance, it may not be the right piece in entering the content business. 

Univision Next On The Block?

Financial Times has released a story that has been around a while.  They continue to speculate that the private equity investors of Univision are "considering their options after seven years of ownership. A sale or initial public offering could be on the cards."  Considering that shareholders of DIrecTv have approved a purchase by AT&T and that Fox may be interested in acquiring Scripps, such news is simply part of a much larger media merger environment. 

In my opinion, Univision could be a valuable addition to many portfolios. Their core audience represents a growing market base and ratings for Univision programming continue to reach the size of the big 4 broadcasters.  In fact, there are times that they get larger ratings than one of these other broadcasters on certain nights.  With that reach, it seems likely that synergies are easy to achieve. 

Fox May Have Starz In Its Eyes

According to The Los Angeles Times, 21st Century Fox may be interested in acquiring Starz.  "A full acquisition of the company could be valued at more than $3.2 billion based on its share price of $29.58 Tuesday. Fox could also decide to take an ownership stake instead of buying Starz outright."  Given consolidation on both the operator and programmer side, the results are to assure a large size to add to leverage in negotiations.  And content is king as access to it extends not only on cable platforms but on digital screens as well.

Starz continues to compete aggressively in the premium space, most notably against HBO and Showtime.  And like those two, their reliance on acquired content has been muted with a push toward original series.  That strategy has proved successful for all parties. 

Currently, Starz is a standalone company, once part of Liberty Media before being spun off into a separate stock.  Having a future parent like Fox could give it a much larger muscle in creating more content and securing greater fees for its channels.  And that is what makes content king. 

Digital Continues Its Growth Over Traditional Media

Advertising dollars are not limitless.  Total dollars spent may grow every year, but with choice comes more allocation.  And the more that new media demonstrates its value to reach and convey marketing messages, the more that dollars will move out of one pocket into another. 

According to ZenithOptimedia, digital will see an increase in media share while the big losers will be TV and print media.  The rapid increase in digital, due in part by its ability to target and segment by actual user as opposed to household, offers greater cost efficiency and effectiveness.  Its easy to see why. 

With a user having more than one digital device, a smartphone and a tablet, perhaps also a laptop or desktop, they are reachable on a one to one level.  Television may know that the household owns a TV set, or two or even three, but they don't know for sure who in the household is watching the show.  is it the father, the mother, the daughter or son, the grandparent, or combination of any or all.  And while television advertising can be effective in reaching an audience, a table can more accurately count the time spent, the click, the purchase, and more.  And the better the experience gets, the more dollars that will keep flowing to digital ad budgets. 

Consumers Want the iPhone

Apple's latest iPhone incarnation, the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, seems to have pleased its fans.  Already 10 million iPhones have been purchased and the phone has been out less than a week.  Also good news for Apple fans looking for more functionality, the operating system for it and older phones and iPads has been upgraded to iOS 8.  And while the Apple Watch has been announced, it will not be ready for retail till sometime next year.

So with all these new phone orders, I would love to hear how the iTunes and App store are doing.  Were these new phones sold to existing Apple customers, or did Apple gain new subscribers of their devices and new customers to their store.  I see their store as a money tree with easy opportunities to get larger revenue gains from customers needing content to feed their devices.  More phones, more tablets, more apps and downloads.  Add to that the new Apple Pay business, and Apple will profit from every transaction it services.  It is a business that keeps on giving and giving to Apple. 

Will Yahoo Buy AOL?

The stock market is abuzz this morning with the IPO of Alibaba and as a shareholder of the now public company, Yahoo could have some extra cash available.   Given the enormous rise in value the ROI on the investment could be a major assist in making a play on a company like AOL.  And for Yahoo, potential synergies of such an acquisition or merger could help both grow. 

MarketWatch refers to a note out of BGC Partners seeing upside in such a combination.  In terms of original content and video content syndication, economies of scale can help to further improve profit margins.  At the same time, television is not going away and those same dollars could be used instead to acquire a cable network and extend its digital expertise across another media platform.  A CNN-Yahoo merger perhaps or MSNBC-Yahoo stake?  And if not a news network, a general entertainment company like AMC Networks or Scripps might be appealing too.  The upsides are tremendous and Yahoo is no doubt considering all its options. 

Couple Cable Nets To Rebrand

Despite the fragmentation that is occurring in the cable net universe, the idea of networks staying true to their niche identities continues to evaporate.  We have watched as highly focused networks continue to broaden their format to embrace as wide an audience as possible.  And the result is that it has become harder and harder to differentiate one network from another.  Original programming does try to enable differentiation but overall the goal is to become more general entertainment to the masses. 

The latest round of branding goes to The Hub, a joint venture between Discovery and Hasbro.  The new network will be called Discovery Family (eerily familiar to ABC Family) and most likely going after the same demo.  The other network, TV Guide Network or TVGN will be rebranded as Pop, a broad entertainment net most likely reaching the same audience as TBS, USA, and others.  Will a new suit help these nets to drive more share of audience.  The pot is so fragmented now and with a leak in the boat as audiences embrace digital, total audience reach will be difficult. 

New Tech Announcements As Amazon Launches New Devices

The old joke goes, 'what is the secret to comedy'...

September has become crowded with tech announcements as Amazon makes its announcement one week after Apple.  And while Apple and Tim Cooke went splashy with a huge event, Amazon went PR with multiple upgrades including a low end tablet and a high end e-reader.  According to the Wall Street Journal, "Amazon extended some additional services to its new tablets, as well. Family Library will let users link their Amazon accounts to one another so they can share purchases of e-books, music, video and apps. And, as with the Fire phone, the retailer is offering unlimited cloud storage for photos taken with the new Fire tablets."

Certainly, Amazon is not afraid of Apple and the timing of this announcement may have been an attempt to divert attention off Apple and back to Amazon.  But as consumers start downloading their iOS 8 upgrade, their focus might be on all the new tricks the Apple operating system offers instead.  Amazon's hope is that they create their own buzz in time for the holiday buying rush.  And likely Samsung is waiting in the wings to make their more announcements too.  Clearly the timing of this Amazon announcement was strategic and the hope for Amazon is that it pays off with strong product reviews and high consumer interest. 

'Timing!'

Clear Channel Rebrands To Reflect Its New Direction

Turn on an iHeart radio station and you know quickly where you have landed.  We are reminded incessantly about its iHeart radio app and that is not a bad thing.  No longer are they a single 'Clear Channel', the iHeart tag is multi-media.  And unlike subscription services, the iHeart app is free.  To me, the heart symbolizes more personalization and more emotion.  And the radio stations deliver with big energy.  So now, the corporate name has rebranded to reflect a this new connection and multi-platform experience.

Headed by CEO Robert Pittman, former head of AOL, this rebranding reminds us that iHeart Inc. is more than just a radio station, they are digital as well as event focused.  Other than the corporate name change though, what else is changing.  While this announcement enables multiple press releases, tweets, and blogs, like this one, the rebrand simply puts another stamp on what iHeart Inc. has been doing for quite a while.  I'm more interested in what comes next.

With a focus that includes digital, shouldn't Pittman consider adding video to the list of businesses that they run.  Live events could be syndicated or sold as pay per view and video adds more dimension to their reach.  Just check out You Tube as others post video music performances from iHeart festivals.  I'm not suggesting Pittman buy a music cable network but consider developing a robust video offering to add another platform to their business model.  The iHeart Inc rebrand move is a good first step,but what's next.

  

Does Wireless Need Net Neutrality?

Net neutrality has been a hot topic.  While the FCC attempts to revise its rules, many are still unclear what it all means.  In essence, net neutrality for the internet means that all web sites would have equal access to consumers accessing them, whether the data is light use email or heavy use video streaming.  Netflix, leading the way with heavy usage, has made deals with cable companies to assure that it gets premiere broadband access.  And while they can afford it, many argue that lack of net neutrality favors big business at the expense of start up web companies.

But as net neutrality rules are being reworked, you would be surprise to hear that these rules have been strictly toward wired broadband connections.  The mobile space has been mainly unregulated in the broadband space.  According to the NY Times, that exemption is being reviewed.  "On Tuesday, the Federal Communications Commission will hold a round-table discussion to examine whether proposed net neutrality rules should cover mobile broadband."  With so many consumers accessing the web through their cellular connections verse a WIFI one, it is hard to believe that the two platforms were being treated differently. 

Technological change as wireless carriers have upgraded their systems has led to such a move. And again, according to the NY Times, "Now, with advanced LTE networks complete, a growing portion of consumers use mobile as their primary method of connecting to the Internet, meaning a wireless exemption would leave those consumers without net neutrality protection."  And as younger consumers cut the cord on cable connections, their cellular subscription becomes their primary communication, information, and entertainment portal."  If my children didn't have access to WIFI inside the house, they would definitely be using their cellular connection.  In fact, I sometimes check that their smartphones are still connected to the WIFI so that our cell bill doesn't get impacted.

Does wireless need net neutrality?  All broadband, whether wireless or wired, should be treated similarly.  While I oppose to much government regulation and prefer an open economy to manage supply and demand, broadband has become as essential a basic right as shelter, food, and the right to education.  I would prefer that the FCC spend more time lowering the barrier to entry to enable more companies to compete in the broadband space.  The rise of competition is the best means to assure consumers right to choose a source for their broadband connection. 

Should Amazon Buy Radio Shack

What business isn't Amazon into these days, from web retailer of a vast array of merchandise to streaming video platform to digital hardware maker.  And thanks to the web, their reach is limitless; wherever there is delivery, there is Amazon.  And Amazon scares many other retailers because they do it without the added costs of brick and mortar, rent, property taxes, utilities, that add to the costs of merchandise and causes retail prices to rise. 

But Amazon also knows that customers like to touch and test and taste before they price compare and buy and why not do it in an Amazon store.  So speculation comes that Radio Shack, close to bankruptcy, but nationwide with retail locations, might be an opportune acquisition to rebrand as an Amazon store.  According to Marketwatch, "it would enhance Seattle-based Amazon’s already robust focus on local, showcase more Amazon products and services, such as the Fire smartphone and Kindle, and enhance pickup and distribution, making for a more seamless transition between clicks and bricks."

While  the idea is sound, it raises the costs that have previously allowed Amazon to price its product lower than brick and mortar.  And is RadioShack the right choice?  Most of their stores have a small footprint making it difficult to display a lot of merchandise.  Would another larger retailer with bigger stores make more sense?  Could Barnes & Noble or Best Buy be a better target?  If the strategy is to enter the brick and mortar business, then Amazon should keep its options open. 

Is It Time To Throw Away The Newspaper?

Given the ease and immediacy of the tablet, the advantages of home delivery of the newspaper has shrunk.  But change is hard and I have enjoyed getting the paper delivered to the home every morning for a very long time.  I still remember back in school when our teacher wanted us to get the Wall Street Journal to best understand the market and the economy.  For those that love the morning paper and a good cup of coffee, it is endless joy to read "all the news that's fit to print". 

But over the last year, my home delivery has been sporadic.  Missed delivery, late delivery, previous day's paper delivery have all added up to a poor customer experience.  And each time that happens, I turn to the web or to the paper's corresponding app to get my news instead.  I have resigned myself to one last mistake before pulling the plug on home delivery of the newspaper.

What will I save? First, peace of mind that the newspaper will be automatically accessible in my iPad as I have become more comfortable reading the paper on a smaller electronic device.  Second, a cost savings that drives up the cost of a print edition higher than digital.  And third, less time wasted calling the newspaper to complain, getting a one-day credit, and arguing that its delivery service will cost them a subscriber.  I know I am not alone.

Funny, the paper that causes me the most angst is the NY Post.  My NY Times and Wall Street Journal print subscription both give me app access to their papers.  And I appreciate it.  My NY Post subscription does not give me access to their app.  And their website is difficult to navigate and limited in the articles posted to what is in the paper.   So one last mistake and I am making the switch.  And once I do, I will likely do the same with my other papers.  Perhaps I will keep the Sunday print edition of the NY Times, but the more comfortable I get with reading on the tablet and the less I have to deal with shoddy home delivery, the better I will be. 

Playstation To Go OTT

Playstation parent, Sony, wants badly to be in the OTT business. And unlike Intel and its OnCue attempt, Sony seems to have a plan.  Intel tried building its own set  top box while Sony has the power of millions of Playstation boxes already out in the field.  The next step is content and Sony plans to deliver. 

Per the Wall Street Journal, Sony has "reached an agreement for its planned Web-based TV service to carry MTV, Nickelodeon and 20 other Viacom Inc. channels and offer access to streaming Viacom programming on mobile devices."  And as Playstation reaches a core young adult and teen audience, Viacom networks like Comedy Central, MTV, and others seem a terrific fit.  Intel eventually sold OnCue to Verizon and so far we have heard little about their plans with the acquisition.  Others, like Dish Network, also want to get into the web TV gain.  Of course the question remains, will consumers embrace getting fewer channels although at a lower price.

Should cable operators be worried?  Remember that the same lines that deliver cable TV also delivers broadband to the home and services from Sony or Dish or others in the OTT space still need a broadband platform to deliver streaming content.  Cable operators could simply charge more for broadband only connections.  At the same time, cable operators can negotiate with the networks for additional access of linear and VOD content for streaming, an opportunity that would give customers a better TV Everywhere experience.  Lastly cable operators can enhance their value with deals with other box companies like TiVo, XBox and others.  And cable operators can still tout the power of more... more content, more accessibility, more value.

As this rock rolls down the mountain, the moss that it gathers will be more content companies doing deals with OTT.  Discovery Networks has been mentioned as another possible content seller to Sony.  Others will no doubt follow.  For cable, all is not loss; just remember that what got you your size doesn't keep you number one.  Its time to act. 

Should Microsoft Buy Minecraft

With all the news about smartphones and smart watches, Microsoft wants to remind us that they are relevant, too.  According to the Wall Street Journal, Microsoft " is in serious discussions to buy Mojang AB, the Swedish company behind the popular "Minecraft" videogame, according to a person with knowledge of the matter." 

Yes, Minecraft has been a very successful game but for Mojang, just as Angry Birds is to Rovio and Candy Crush is to King.  And yes, Minecraft has had a much longer run than those others in sustained popularity.  But the consumer is a fickle lot and at some point they tire of old and seek new and different.  As for this moment, the video gamer is buying up Destiny according to publisher Activision Blizzard.  Does Mojang have more in the pipeline for Microsoft to engage in acquiring? 

And yet I wonder if this planned acquisition is consistent with their strategy.  It seems over the summer, the plan was to drop it content business to work on the cloud.  Xbox, while a nice business was rumored to be a possible spin-off and the future focus was cloud computing.  So where does gaming fit into that chart?  Is this the business that Microsoft wants to move into?  It just doesn't pass the smell test.

Apple Drops The 'i'

Yesterday, when I brainstormed some names for Apple's new wearable, I suggested that Apple replace with 'i' with an 'ap'.  Well I was close; they dropped the letter and instead took my ap idea and added another 3 letters.  The new product is called Apple Watch. Not so revolutionary a name but certainly one that the public will find easy to understand.  Unfortunately at a price tag of almost $350 and availability in 2015, we will have to wait a long time before we can actually get it.

Interestingly, Apple stopped with the iPhone and Apple Watch.  No mention of new iPads or new laptops.  But it is only early September and the holiday season is still months away.  My gut says another announcement in early November with releases of new iPads, new iMacs, and hopefully an update to the Apple TV.  Hey, we need something to buy this December.

What Will They Call Apple's New Wearable

With just a few hours remaining before Apple's press announcement, many are speculating what will be formally revealed.  Will it be new iPhones, iPads, and other software improvements?  And what about the iWatch, a brand name not ever publicly mentioned by Apple?  So what might Apple call their new wearable device?  Here are a few suggestions and please comment to add your own:

iWear   
iHealth
iMove
iLive
iSmart
iFit
iComm
iPhaz
iCord
iMove
iRule
iStaple
iMotion

Perhaps, it is time to replace the 'i' with another designation, perhaps an 'ap' to represent Apple.   Each of those brands could be renamed as follows:

apWear
apHealth
apMove
apLive
apSmart
apFit
apComm
apPhaz
apCord
apMove
apRule
apStaple
apMotion

Apple could also gain ownership of brands that have already created i devices. Brands like iHome could be used for Apple with new names like apHome.  Apple might be quick to trademark all possible uses of an 'ap' designation.  Whatever name, they call it, ultimately consumers will decide if it has appeal and value.  The Apple clock is ticking and the announcement is coming soon. 

Amazon Fire Fizzle Leads To Price Drop

On the heals of new iPhone releases, Amazon has quickly reduced the price of its smartphone, the Amazon Fire, from $199 to 99 cents.  Mackelmore and Ryan Lewis could have a field day with this news.  According to Business Insider, "Even with the slashed price, the phone still comes with a year of Amazon Prime, which includes free shipping on millions of items as well as a growing selection of free movies, books, and music."  Current customers should demand their money back given that the phone has only been out less than 2 months.  I doubt that this news creates that much more demand.

The Reinvention Of The Smartwatch

Tomorrow marks a potential big announcement by Apple of its first wearable device, the iWatch.  Many have also wondered why Apple hasn't come out sooner with this new product.  But that doesn't seem to be Apple's modus operandi. 

To illustrate, recall that the iPod wasn't the first mobile music device.  Prior to its release, we had the Sony Walkman followed by a ton of digital devices that tried to capture and play music.  I owned an mp3 player and could never get it to download music from my computer and play it back.  I hated it.  The arrival of the iPod brought a simplicity and ease-of-use that took years to be duplicated. 

Since then, the rate of change has been rapid. And Apple has responded by doing to the world of smartphones what it did to music players, reinvented them with the touch screen.  Like mp3 players, the Blackberry and other non-touch phones became uncool.  Again, Apple was not the first to release a smartphone, it just did it differently.

So tomorrow, we may just hear about the next wave of new devices.  And typical for Apple, it could be a device that others, like the Samsung Galaxy, Sony, and the Pebble, have already released.  But if Apple is true to form, the Apple iWatch will also be different and if done right, will revolutionize the wearable marketplace.  Articles on it range from the ergonomics and fashion focus of the device to the Health apps, wireless charging, and NFC chip for mobile payments.  But most importantly, it needs to follow the Apple strategy of simplicity and ease of use.  Done right, the Apple iWatch, or whatever they officially call it, will again show that Apple motto  to 'Think Different'.  Stay tuned. 

We Still Need Better Broadband

FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler agrees that we need better broadband capacity and competition in the US.  And while he was speaking about better wired broadband, the same announcement should apply to wire and wireless.  The c/net article cited thinks such remarks hurt the proposed merger of Comcast and Time Warner Cable, but the truth is that no such competition currently exists between these two media giants.  They each deliver broadband to different community franchises.  So it is a mute point.

But the bottom line is that broadband speed is lacking in this country, especially as more devices are enabled on the platform.  Coaxial wired broadband is limited both in capacity and in usage.  The more users on a ring, the slower the performance.  Heck the more users of broadband devices in a house, the slower the speed.  My own house is a perfect example.  A tablet running a video will slow down internet access on the pc. 

But we have known that our broadband speeds are lacking for quite a while.  In March, the website ThisWeek shared that "According to a recent study by Ookla Speedtest, the U.S. ranks a shocking 31st in the world in terms of average download speeds. The leaders in the world are Hong Kong at 72.49 Mbps and Singapore on 58.84 Mbps. And America? Averaging speeds of 20.77 Mbps, it falls behind countries like Estonia, Hungary, Slovakia, and Uruguay."  Yes, America's download speeds are worse than many Eastern European countries.  What took Tom Wheeler so long to address it and what is he doing about it?

Preventing a Time Warner Cable - Comcast merger is not the solution to the problem.  In fact, consolidation creates some economies of scale that could perhaps improve broadband speed to some communities.  Our reliance on broadband is bigger than that.  To many, broadband access and speed is more important than bread and gasoline.  We could be standing in line waiting for our access and share of broadband.  Even days for broadband, odd days for gas.  

More needs to be done to improve broadband speed and performance in the US.  The infrastructure is collapsing under its own weight as more and more people stream content across their many devices.  The demand is certainly there, its time for the supply to catch up. 

A New Revenue Idea For The NFL

As an out of market fan, I am not always so fortunate to get to see my team on television.  Yes DirecTv has all the games, but I am a cable customer who still gets triple play service from my provider.  I live in the NY metro area so I certainly get all the NY Giants and NY Jets games, but I am a Philadelphia Eagles fan who, if lucky, might get four or five games aired locally.  Unfortunately, this Sunday's game against Jacksonville is not one of them.

Yes, I could go to my local bar and shell out some bucks for a few beers and wings although my waistline might not approve.  But I would also be willing to buy the game from my local cable provider on a PPV basis.  And I wonder, how many other NFL fans might also be willing to pay, say 10 or 15 dollars to get their game as well.  Given the mobility of this country, I would not be surprised to know that there are quite a few out-of-market fans who would pay for the same content. 

As for this weekend, I might just have to suck it in and head out for a few hours to the local pub to enjoy the season opener.  Heck, there are worse things to worry about.  But maybe next season, things will be different. 

Is Our Cloud Information Ever Truly Secure?

If there was one thing our parents always told us, it was that what you tell someone is no longer a secret the moment you share it.  Another truth seems to be that no matter how secure you try to make something, whether it is your nude photos all the way up to your home security, there are people trying to break in and steal it.  Locks thwart some who look for open doors while more sophisticated security systems try to stop those more daring in their attempt to smash and grab.  And despite all that has happened in domestic terrorism, we still have people circumventing security to jump off One World Trade Center or replace flags with white surrender flags on the Brooklyn Bridge.  We are never completely safe from those that want to break in.

And just as celebrities are upset that their nude photos were stolen and shared, The Home Depot became the latest business to have its credit card information hacked.  And as surely as I write this, another security breach will occur.  So who is at fault?  Apple's iCloud platform, Target and The Home Depot's credit card data breach are also victims.  If there is a will, there is a way, and in the digital world, stealing can happen without even leaving the comfort of your chair.  As long as someone wants to hack, they will; it is not a question of if, only when. Who are at fault; those that want to steal what is not theirs are the ones we should blame

Is there a solution? As security systems get more sophisticated, so do those trying to hack them.  It is a game, a puzzle, where the prize is to solve them.  But the repercussions are untenable.  Security fraud, identity theft, information and financial loss seem more at risk the more our information is shared on cloud based platforms.  And we must balance that risk with the value the cloud also offers in accessibility, transaction ease, social networking, and more. It is a tightrope of security breach and mobility that we continue to face in our society. 

New Apple iPhone Could Enable Mobile Payments

According to re/code, Apple is partnering with American Express to enable its iPhones to act as credit cards for store transactions.  Utilizing NFC or Near Field Communication, the iPhone coupled with perhaps Apple's fingerprint scanner feature, would provide the speed and security for purchases.  Instead of swiping a credit card, the user would wave the iPhone and confirm the purchase.  All this and more is expected to be announced on September 9 at Apple's big reveal.

Is this the next big thing that Apple needs to compete?  Will the iWatch be part of this announcement as well as part of this mobile wallet transaction piece?  And what about upgraded iPads, iMacs, and even the Apple TV?  With just a week to go, more rumors will fly.