Macworld: Roxio issues Mac TiVo teaser; OWC ModBook
Roxio, Axiotron and Other World Computer are among a handful of players in the Mac market that have released new product teasers ahead of next week's Macworld Expo in San Francisco, Calif.
Mac Ta-ta-ta-TeeVo?
Roxio, a division of Sonic Solutions popular for its Toast and Popcorn optical disc authoring software packages, is expected to deliver one of the most sought-after Mac software solutions during the conference.
The Novato, Calif.-based company this week distributed to affiliates a digital invitation to its booth at Macworld, promising a special gift. "We've got a special present for you," it said. "Come to booth #314 at Macworld Expo and see what we've got under wraps."
Roxio in the invitation also promises "show special prices, free gifts and raffle prizes. So what's in the software developer's secret sauce? What was that earlier? Did we say TiVo?
ModBook tablet
Moving on now... Solution hardware manufacturer Axiotron, Inc. and technology solutions provider Other World Computing (OWC) this week announced that they are teaming up during Macworld to unveil ModBook, the first ever Mac tablet computer solution.
"The Axiotron ModBook features WACOM Penabled hardware for true pen input and is fully compatible with Apple's Inkwell, a Mac OS X Tiger feature that provides system level handwriting and gesture recognition to all Mac applications," the companies said.
"Drawing and writing directly on the screen provides for a uniquely intuitive user experience and its slim, slate-style form factor makes the ModBook the ultimate companion for mobile users, artists, professionals and students."
Axiotron and OWC say the ModBook is also the only portable Mac solution that features an optional built-in Global Positioning System (GPS). The product, according to this teaser image, appears to involve an Apple MacBook that has been converted into a tablet. However, the companies aren't providing any further details until after Apple's opening keynote on Tuesday, January 9th.
Mac Ta-ta-ta-TeeVo?
Roxio, a division of Sonic Solutions popular for its Toast and Popcorn optical disc authoring software packages, is expected to deliver one of the most sought-after Mac software solutions during the conference.
The Novato, Calif.-based company this week distributed to affiliates a digital invitation to its booth at Macworld, promising a special gift. "We've got a special present for you," it said. "Come to booth #314 at Macworld Expo and see what we've got under wraps."
Roxio in the invitation also promises "show special prices, free gifts and raffle prizes. So what's in the software developer's secret sauce? What was that earlier? Did we say TiVo?
ModBook tablet
Moving on now... Solution hardware manufacturer Axiotron, Inc. and technology solutions provider Other World Computing (OWC) this week announced that they are teaming up during Macworld to unveil ModBook, the first ever Mac tablet computer solution.
"The Axiotron ModBook features WACOM Penabled hardware for true pen input and is fully compatible with Apple's Inkwell, a Mac OS X Tiger feature that provides system level handwriting and gesture recognition to all Mac applications," the companies said.
"Drawing and writing directly on the screen provides for a uniquely intuitive user experience and its slim, slate-style form factor makes the ModBook the ultimate companion for mobile users, artists, professionals and students."
Axiotron and OWC say the ModBook is also the only portable Mac solution that features an optional built-in Global Positioning System (GPS). The product, according to this teaser image, appears to involve an Apple MacBook that has been converted into a tablet. However, the companies aren't providing any further details until after Apple's opening keynote on Tuesday, January 9th.
Comments
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dmVU08zVpA
I'm fairly certain this is what Roxio will unbox:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dmVU08zVpA
HAHA I had forgotten about that skit. That entire episode of SNL was very excellent.
Krikey! This certainly is a bit of all right!
As an Australian I feel compelled to point out crikey is spelt with a C. Sorry.
But if it can swivel and fold and has gps, how is this computer legal? By this time they've surely changed enough that it qualifies as a clone or something.
What'd be hilarious though is if Jobs debuted a mactablet on the 9th.
As an Australian I feel compelled to point out crikey is spelt with a C. Sorry.
ROFLMAO
*"PermanentResident", at least... You can't kick me out until 2011 or sometime around then.
HAHA I had forgotten about that skit. That entire episode of SNL was very excellent.
HOLY CRAP
The legality of OWC's product confuses me. If it's just a screen mod, making no other changes to the mb then it makes sense because I guess that's no different then what colour ware pc does.
But if it can swivel and fold and has gps, how is this computer legal? By this time they've surely changed enough that it qualifies as a clone or something.
What'd be hilarious though is if Jobs debuted a mactablet on the 9th.
To be honest i think owc has Job's good graces on this one. it seems like Jobs may have not wanted Apple to go directly into the tablet market and wanted a test run so let someone else do it. Thats just the scenario i could see. Then if he liked it he would do it but do it with "Apple Style"
The secret to a useful tablet is in the SOFTWARE. Better handwriting solution, better support throughout the apps, etc (beyond inkwell). Something Apple could do if they had a mind to. Something Axiotron can't do. Something better than OneNote or InkPad.
Still...probably good enough to stop the erosion of macs in the medical arena.
I might get one if its smaller than a normal macbook and is semi-ruggedized.
It would have been smarter IMHO to use a 15" MBP as the basis and chop it down to 11" slate + docking station (drop the optical drive if need be). Maybe a BT keyboard + trackpad as a cover kinda like how Motion does theirs only make the table be able to prop itself up rather than using the keyboard to do it.
Vinea
Still...probably good enough to stop the erosion of macs in the medical arena.
Vinea
I agree. Tablets seem to have the most promise in health care IMO. Good tablet + good EMR = holy grail.
I hope I am wrong and this is software/hardware to make your mac into an HD Tivo with real Tivo software.
As much as I would love to see Apple do a tablet, I don't think they have lost a single sale by not having one.
Well, I'm 100% certain they've lost thousands (tens, maybe hundreds of thousands) of sales (which I'm sure any mainly Mac using site that got stuck buying Tablet PCs would tell you). BUT, that doesn't mean it would be profitable for Apple to produce and sell one.
Mac Ta-ta-ta-TeeVo?
Is this something the writer knows, or is this just a guess?
ModBook tablet
This has been done before. That is, taking a Mac and re assembling it into a different form. It was done before Apple put out their first portable, many years ago.
The question is, just how expensive will it be. All the work they have done, including the R&D, must be added to the cost of the original machine. Doesn't seem to be worthwhile.
The legality of OWC's product confuses me. If it's just a screen mod, making no other changes to the mb then it makes sense because I guess that's no different then what colour ware pc does.
But if it can swivel and fold and has gps, how is this computer legal? By this time they've surely changed enough that it qualifies as a clone or something.
I apologize that I don't know of any other correlation that is similar enough, but I don't think it's less legal than a conversion van or Saleen Mustang. Use the original unit, make enough changes and make sure it's clear that what it is, and it should be OK. There are/were some high end electronics brands that take an off-the shelf piece of consumer electronics and modify/replace the analog circuitry for improved output quality. The original manufacturer still gets its money because they have to have the original to modify it, and given that it's a fairly major change, it's not really direct competition either. It's also pretty clear what it is too. If they built a knock-off from scratch rather than modifying an original, then I can see the problem.
The current Mac PVR software pretty much boils down to EyeTV, and there is some third party hardware supported by the same EyeTV software, such as Miglia's tuners. The generel user interface ease-of-use of the EyeTV software is pretty good, but it's not very robust in my opinion, it crashes, stalls flakes out from time to time. Using the exposé "Application Windows" mode reliably makes the playback screen go black, which I bring back using the "All Windows" mode.