Jobs humors "D" crowd, talks iTunes 4.9, future products
Exclusive -- A witty Steve Jobs helped kick-off the third annual Wall Street Journal D Conference last night, focusing his comments largely on the digital music arena as it pertains to Apple's iPod and iTunes products.
Jobs partook in the 7:00 pm opening dinner, which consisted of soup and salad, followed by a main course of lobster and steak. Jobs, of course, is a vegetarian.
"In general, Steve was amazing," said an AppleInsider correspondent present at the dinner. "He was sharp and funny. As he was last year, he was very insightful into why Apple did things, and had great observations on the industry."
iTunes 4.9
During his chat, Jobs demonstrated iTunes 4.9, a forthcoming version of Apple's digital music jukebox software. Calling it the "Tivo for Radio for iPod, " he said the new version would incorporate Podcast support -- allowing users to download and subscribe to pre-recorded audio content.
Jobs said the software is slated for released within the next 60 days and that all Podcast feeds and subscriptions will be free. Apple is currently adding functionality to display relevant album art during the Podcasts, he said, which will provide listeners with purchase links to the iTunes Music Store.
Apple will also release a tool that will allow any Podcast creator to easily upload their content to the company's music store.
Future Products
Throughout the dinner, Jobs was pressed quite hard on future products and strategies, but cracked only once. When asked whether Apple would eventually sell movies in the same fashion it does tunes, he responded, "I'll leave the answer to that question to our actions of the future."
Commenting on the highly anticipated iTunes-savvy mobile phone, Steve noted that wireless carriers retained enough power in the industry to practically dictate the specifications of each cell phone being manufactured.
Jobs spoke at length about iTunes and cell phones, giving AppleInsider correspondents the impression that what Apple has in store may not necessarily be an "iPod phone" but something totally different and unique.
Bill Gates
At one point Jobs asked members of the audience to raise their hand if they owned an iPod. The attention of the room was almost immediately turned to Bill Gates, who was also present. As the video cameras panned his way, Gates smirked and shied away -- he owns a Rio.
Competition
Jobs was also pressed to comment on the significance of iPod competitors and their strides towards duplicating the iPod experience. He conceded that some of the rivals were "getting close" to knocking-off the iPod, but that Apple is working on several "great things" in its labs.
Also during dinner, Jobs chatted about the prospect of buying or producing a TiVo-like device, as well as his company's recent legal actions against Apple news sites.
Jobs partook in the 7:00 pm opening dinner, which consisted of soup and salad, followed by a main course of lobster and steak. Jobs, of course, is a vegetarian.
"In general, Steve was amazing," said an AppleInsider correspondent present at the dinner. "He was sharp and funny. As he was last year, he was very insightful into why Apple did things, and had great observations on the industry."
iTunes 4.9
During his chat, Jobs demonstrated iTunes 4.9, a forthcoming version of Apple's digital music jukebox software. Calling it the "Tivo for Radio for iPod, " he said the new version would incorporate Podcast support -- allowing users to download and subscribe to pre-recorded audio content.
Jobs said the software is slated for released within the next 60 days and that all Podcast feeds and subscriptions will be free. Apple is currently adding functionality to display relevant album art during the Podcasts, he said, which will provide listeners with purchase links to the iTunes Music Store.
Apple will also release a tool that will allow any Podcast creator to easily upload their content to the company's music store.
Future Products
Throughout the dinner, Jobs was pressed quite hard on future products and strategies, but cracked only once. When asked whether Apple would eventually sell movies in the same fashion it does tunes, he responded, "I'll leave the answer to that question to our actions of the future."
Commenting on the highly anticipated iTunes-savvy mobile phone, Steve noted that wireless carriers retained enough power in the industry to practically dictate the specifications of each cell phone being manufactured.
Jobs spoke at length about iTunes and cell phones, giving AppleInsider correspondents the impression that what Apple has in store may not necessarily be an "iPod phone" but something totally different and unique.
Bill Gates
At one point Jobs asked members of the audience to raise their hand if they owned an iPod. The attention of the room was almost immediately turned to Bill Gates, who was also present. As the video cameras panned his way, Gates smirked and shied away -- he owns a Rio.
Competition
Jobs was also pressed to comment on the significance of iPod competitors and their strides towards duplicating the iPod experience. He conceded that some of the rivals were "getting close" to knocking-off the iPod, but that Apple is working on several "great things" in its labs.
Also during dinner, Jobs chatted about the prospect of buying or producing a TiVo-like device, as well as his company's recent legal actions against Apple news sites.
Comments
July 2002 ? 2g
April 2003 ? 3g
July 2004 ? 4g
October 2004 ? photo 4g
?June 2005 ? 5g (all photo)?
?July 2005 ? video 5g?
Of course, podcasts isn't tivo for radio. That would be iTunes recording live broadcasts for later listening, not relying on the original broadcaster doing that for you. Plus, I'd be able to start up the podcast 20 minutes after it started and listen while it was still recording the later segment. Its more "Blockbuster for Radio for iPod" to me.
1. Direct podcast support seems like a very cool idea. I was expecting this to happen. While Jobs is probably right about the "Wayne's World" thing, and current "professional" outlets will be the biggest players in podcasting, it does open a venue for some "diamonds in the rough" who cannot break into the "pro" business, but still have a lot of talent.
2. Apple is not likely to sit the video market out. I don't think it will be "iPod" (at least we know it...it may be branded this way for some obvious reasons...but it will be something different. Perhaps it will be something that combines the ideas of TiVO and Netflix. Maybe Mac mini is the base platform. Who knows.
3. I'm beginning to wonder what more Apple can add to the iPod without starting to suffer from feature creep. I mean I know there are some things people have been clamoring for...but it seems like we're getting to the top of the mountain on this. What seems more likely is new, different devices in the "iPod universe". Maybe new shapes and forms...there is a lot of creativity to be expressed in that way I suspect.
The next version of iTunes should be cool; finally a built in podcasting ability. And maybe some new store featues, but I guess i'll have to wait to hear about all of the new features.
In the new iPod I am hoping for an 80GB iPod photo that plays music videos purchased on the iTMS, and better flash games, with perhaps other games you can upload onto it. And finally a new brushed metal interface for the iPod, nothing too eye popping but just a touch.
I've been looking for a way to share what I'm listening to with some close friends. The 21st Century equivalent of a C90 tape/mindisc/burnt CD mix. A spare GMail account with an RSS feed and podcasting support in iTunes might be the way forward.
I wonder if I can get DRM on my "convection current" lecture? : )
Originally posted by MacCrazy
Podcasts with music require licenses - I'm sure Apple will either not support them unless they are licensed or they will sell these with DRMS.
Sell? Wait, are these 'podcasts' things we'd have to buy? Well, screw that, why would anyone pay for a podcast when they're generally free now???
Originally posted by Louzer
Sell? Wait, are these 'podcasts' things we'd have to buy? Well, screw that, why would anyone pay for a podcast when they're generally free now???
Except, of course, if they are selling podcasts that you cannot get for free.
I read in a different site on this same item that this was basically a built-in way to access podcasts that currently exists. Just adding new features to iTunes.
In the future there could be a market for selling some podcasts of course.
Originally posted by Louzer
Sell? Wait, are these 'podcasts' things we'd have to buy? Well, screw that, why would anyone pay for a podcast when they're generally free now???
The BBC are experimenting with iMP a free (at least for UK licence fee payers) download service that allows you to watch/listen to programmes for up to a week after broadcast. Applying DRM to content doesn't imply you have to pay for it.
Originally posted by zanc
The BBC are experimenting with iMP a free (at least for UK licence fee payers) download service that allows you to watch/listen to programmes for up to a week after broadcast. Applying DRM to content doesn't imply you have to pay for it.
indeed, well put
Originally posted by Chris Cuilla
Except, of course, if they are selling podcasts that you cannot get for free.
I just can't imagine paying for a podcast. I mean, if it were something truly special that I'd listen to multiple times, sure. But most are just "listen once, throw away" type deals. That's the whole definition, theoretically, of podcasting, timeshifting some audio program for later listening.
Originally posted by Louzer
I just can't imagine paying for a podcast. I mean, if it were something truly special that I'd listen to multiple times, sure. But most are just "listen once, throw away" type deals.
Do you buy magazines? Newspapers? Garbage bags? Toilet paper? Rent movies?
Those all pretty much fit the same definition...well "use once, throw away" anyway.
Then, for podcasts that were all-talk or only included music that was independent or otherwise freely licensed, the downloads would just be in standard .m4a format (hopefully bookmarkable) but not encrypted.
Originally posted by jegrant
What if Apple just provided DRM and paid the license fee for podcasts that included major-label music? They wouldn't necessarily need to charge, and the DRM would make sure that the download was keyed to a specific iTunes account and not being "shared indiscriminately".
music ha to be paid for - and what does? advertising or consumers. Virgin radio do a podcast - they have special adverts and take the bloody music out!
Originally posted by Mike Moscow
dudes, hopefully we'll be streaming/watching episode III thru itunes by next x-mas!
Shouldn't you be in line right now?