In surveys of customer satisfaction, "EMC has the highest ratings we've ever seen--in any customer survey, for any company, ever, " says Carl Howe, a researcher at Forrester Research.

FORBES: Boom

"The market for networked devices is growing rapidly with the proliferation of broadband and the rise of the 'Anywhere Consumer'- those desiring to be connected everywhere they go, " said Carl Howe, director, Yankee Group.

ENGADGET: Seagate gets NASty with Pogoplug-based FreeAgent DockStar: hands-on

Blackfriar principal analyst Carl Howe believes Jobs will make a statement about his company's direction with regard to portable devices, but that the devices themselves won't show up for a while--the Intel chips simply aren't ready yet.

FORBES: Apple Cozies Up To Intel

Carl Howe, vice president of research at Yankee Group, a Boston-based research and advisory firm focusing on mobile technology, says a significant advantage for Apple is that it convinced automakers to add a button for its interface into their vehicles.

FORBES: Apple Wants To Help Drivers With Better Navigation