Will Apple's Next Innovation Be Fueled by an Acquisition?

Don't get me wrong, I'm pretty excited for today's Apple event. I have been waiting to get a new iPad since I sold my first-generation model over a year ago. I came pretty close to buying an iPad mini last year, but despite the adoration I wanted that Retina display, so I waited. My patience is likely to be rewarded at today's announcement.

However, it's been more than two years since Steve Jobs' death and in that time, Apple has been accused of not innovating in the way it did under Jobs. And while faster processors, fingerprint scanners, and bigger iPhone screens can be considered incremental innovations, we've yet to see Apple plant its flag in a new product terrain. And I for one am getting a little antsy.

Of all the rumors out there regarding new Apple product lines, the most dominant are an iWatch and a television. Despite Jobs' claim that he had "cracked" the secret to the TV experience, no solid evidence indicates Apple is actually building a TV set. And the more time goes by, the more I believe a major TV product will not be a traditional HDTV set, but rather a highly evolved version of the current Apple TV. The Samsung Evolution Kit reveals what a future Apple TV product could look like, where a cable provider's default interface is replaced by a decidedly more innovative and user-friendly Apple version, perhaps controlled by a more advanced, Siri-powered remote. That way, Apple may be able to reinvent the television experience without getting into the TV manufacturing business.

Then there's the anticipation of Apple's first wearable product. Based on recent Apple hires, the safe money is on a wrist-based product. I hesitate to call it a watch because as recent reports have indicated, Apple's first wearable device could target home automation and not the next iteration of the smartphone.

That leads me to a not-so-wild prediction that would not only welcome a new product category into Apple's lineup, but also broaden its identity as a consumer lifestyle company: at some point in the near future, Apple will acquire Nest.

If you're unfamiliar with the company, Nest currently makes two smart products: a thermostat and a smoke alarm. That may not sound terribly exciting, but from a design and user experience standpoint, they're the best devices you can buy. If you check out Nest's About Us page, two statements will catch your attention:

• "We take the unloved products in your home and make simple, beautiful, thoughtful things."
• "We take what's familiar and look at it in a new light. Our team focuses on making technology that's simple, fresh, and helpful."

Does that philosophy sound familiar? It should, because Apple holds that mantra near and dear and the iPod, iPhone, and iPad are all proof. That's no coincidence; Nest was founded and is now led by Tony Fadell, former senior vice president of Apple's iPod division and known as one of the "fathers of the iPod." While Apple home automation products and a Nest acquisition aren't mutually exclusive, the move would seem logical given the companies' common philosophies and objectives.

Chime in: Do you think it makes sense for Apple to acquire Nest? And will Apple's next product line be focused on home automation?