GadgetCrowd

Engadget: The Wall Street Journal’s Walt Mossberg caused a stir with a column on Apple Computer’s “device model” vs. Microsoft’s “component model.” And, although Mossberg’s assertion was that Apple’s model of end-to-end control over its product line had, in the “post-PC era,”  benefited consumers more than Microsoft’s model of allowing PC makers to sort out the details, that’s not what caused a new cycle of debate in the blogosphere. Instead, it was one line in the column, where Mossberg stated: ” Now, Apple is working on other projects built on the same end-to-end model as the iPod: a media-playing cellphone and a home-media hub.” If any other journalist had written this statement, it would likely have been dismissed as a mere assumption based on Apple’s current direction and rumors that have been floating around for the past year. However, given Mossberg’s stature, and the care he takes at presenting information, the comment was instantly hailed as conclusive evidence that Apple is indeed working on such products. And given word that leaked out later in the week that Apple may be working on an iPhone with Japan’s Softbank, and that the company plans to host the media at its New York store next Thursday, Mossberg’s assertion may turn out to have been quite accurate, quite soon.