Briefly: Office 2008 info; 'House' to be pulled from iTunes; more

[AppleInsider]

Microsoft continues to reveal itty bitty details of Office 2008 for Mac one at a time in an effort to spur interest in the now tardy productivity suit. Meanwhile, NBC's rift with iTunes has claimed yet another hit TV show. And smartphone maker HTC is preaching iPhone-like sales numbers for one of its own touch-based handsets.

New Office 2008 for Mac Toolbox

Microsoft's Mac Business Unit on Tuesday began offering the second of what it promises to be "several more exciting Sneak Peeks of Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac."

The latest info -- available via the Office 2008 Sneak Peek site -- focuses on the Office Toolbox, which has been revamped as a "one-stop destination for some of the most useful tools in Office for Mac."

Microsoft has incorporated the original Office for Mac Toolbox and Formatting Palette into a single user interface -- a Mac-only feature aimed at providing users with "instant access to the tools they need, including Object Palette, Animation Settings, Citations, and Formula Builder."

Office 2008 for Mac is due for a release in mid-January, about the same time Macworld Expo rolls around. Pricing and package details were disclosed last week.

'House' pulled from iTunes

Meanwhile, it appears that Fox's hit television show "House" will become an unfortunate casualty of NBC's rift with Apple over iTunes pricing.

New episodes of show will not be available on the digital download service, a spokesperson for Apple confirmed to B&C.

Despite airing on Fox, "House" is produced by Universal Media Studios, a subsidiary of NBC Universal, which is severing its ties with iTunes when its contract expires in December.

HTC claims iPhone-like numbers

Taiwan smartphone maker High Tech Computer Corp (HTC) said on Monday it had sold 800,000 units of its own branded HTC Touch phone, launched in Europe and Asia around the same time that Apple's iPhone hit U.S. shelves in June.

"This is better than I expected ... We feel very good about our success," chief executive Peter Chou told Reuters in an interview, adding that the smartphone's popularity was close to that enjoyed by the iPhone.

HTC Touch Dual.

Chou was speaking as HTC launched a second "touch" device, the Touch Dual, which has a keyboard function as well as the touch screen system used in the first phone. Orange has signed on as the Dual's pan-European partner but the handset can also be used by different operators in individual markets.

[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

[MacTel]

I actually like the looks of that HTC Touch better than the iPhone. I haven't seen one in-person though.

[melgross]

While those are good sales numbers, with them being sold in both Asia and Europe, with the possibility of a much larger audiance during the time both the HTC Touch and the iPhone have been selling, I'm not sure how the numbers compare.

[help4mac]

Bogus statistics. Where shall I start? Let's see, how about 800,000 units to a market of +1.5 billion consumers?

But these asian firms are "Born to be wild", huh...

[melgross]

Originally Posted by help4mac

Bogus statistics. Where shall I start? Let's see, how about 800,000 units to a market of +1.5 billion consumers?

But these asian firms are "Born to be wild", huh...

They didn't supply statistics, they supplied a simple sales number, which is why I added the question. You are supplying a statistic.

[dfiler]

The sales numbers are relevant and correct. However, it is AppleInsider's comparison to iPhone sales that is spurious without further qualification.

[jonessodarally]

man....

NBC really knows how to piss off a ton of people all at once, eh?


Not to mention, watching The Office premiere on the NBC website's new thing WITH COMMERCIALS was an absolutely horrendous experience. It was at the point where I assumed they purposely made it run poorly in Safari, so I gave it a second try in Firefox. Same experience.

Mind you, I also tested the theory that maybe I just had a slow connection at the time. Nope. Everything else I tried loaded fine. So it's just NBC.


Anyone have any personal recommendations for good torrent sites for NBC shows?


EDIT: I worded that weird... it wasnt a horrendous experience because of the commercials. It was horrendous because of how poorly the site ran/loaded everything. The commercials just sorta... made it suck more balls. Oh! Speaking of that, can someone tell me who was in charge of this decision by NBC/Universal so I can go kick them in the balls?

[Lafe]

Originally Posted by AppleInsider

'House' pulled from iTunes

Meanwhile, it appears that Fox's hit television show "House" will become an unfortunate casualty of NBC's rift with Apple over iTunes pricing.

I don't understand the foolish bickering. I'm no Business major, but according to my logic:

A) Consumers can watch this NBC content for free on their television, TIVO, etc.

B) They are lining up by the thousands to BUY that same content for use on their portable devices.

C) The content owners and the distribution gurus should be holding hands and laughing all the way to the bank! They don't even have to pay for DVDs, packaging . . .

[Rot'nApple]

Originally Posted by AppleInsider

'House' pulled from iTunes

Meanwhile, it appears that Fox's hit television show "House" will become an unfortunate casualty of NBC's rift with Apple over iTunes pricing.

"House", another Universal "Hit" Show to which I have only seen one, yes one, episode on actual tv and none on the web, nor purchased from iTunes or other outlets if there was one...

While NBC/Universal is pulling it's content off or will discontinue tv shows sales on iTunes by years end, I have this to say... I used to have premium cable that included HBO with their movies and HBO produced content like "Deadwood", etc. I had direct cable to cable-ready tv connection and all was fine but then my cable company said they were upgrading their system and service and that direct cable hook-up to a cable ready tv was no longer supported and that in order to avoid seeing "snow" on my HBO channel, I needed to rent a "cable box" for $4.95 a month in order to keep all that "Great" HBO content. (on a side note, hey I was bricked by the cable company)

To which I said, "NO THANKS" and reverted to basic cable and a smaller bill!

To date I have not missed HBO and it's content. I have a feeling that most of the iTunes store base will eventually not miss the lack of your content from iTunes, nor search elsewhere for your product. My opinion, keep in mind, but I think it will be the case. Time will tell as will sales numbers.

So, Good-bye NBC/Universal content. I cannot speak for others, but as for me, I will not miss you! To Apple, I have never purchased an NBC/Universal tv show or movie from iTunes, so with regards to me at least, you will not be losing any revenue and NBC/Universal will not be gaining any.

[Reid]

I also think this is a totally boneheaded move on NBC's part. They should look to CBS as a model of "video everywhere." CBS has taken the position that they'll distribute their video content basicaly anywhere it can be played, whether it's on their website, on AOL, YouTube, Joost, MySpace, etc., with ads, or on iTunes for money. This kind of consumer-minded approach is exactly what these companies will need to do to adapt to the way people want to consume their content. NBC's single-mindedness is only going to increase piracy of their product, and I highly doubt it will lead to much revenue growth for them.

"House", another Universal "Hit" Show to which I have only seen one, yes one, episode on actual tv and none on the web, nor purchased from iTunes or other outlets if there was one...

Okay, dude... just because you haven't watched it doesn't mean it's not a hit. It's one of the top-rated shows on TV, consistently ranked in the top 10 primetime programs, because millions of other people do watch it.

---

P.S. AI: I don't understand why you always italicize the names of the networks... FOX and NBC Universal are just corporate names that don't need anything more than appropriate capitalization. It's not like they're the titles of a book or something.

[Gustav]

eyeTV is a simple soluton to this problem. eyeTV also has editing features to quickly remove the commercials.

[noirdesir]

Originally Posted by dfiler

The sales numbers are relevant and correct. However, it is AppleInsider's comparison to iPhone sales that is spurious without further qualification.

Appleinsider did not make the comparison, they were just reporting that the CEO was making that comparison. Don't scold the messenger.

[bloodstains]

Man. NBC finally got me where it hurts. This destroys my plan of canceling my cable service and going iTunes only. I could live without everything else on NBC, but I'm as addicted to House as House is addicted to the Vicodin.

[minderbinder]

Originally Posted by bloodstains

Man. NBC finally got me where it hurts. This destroys my plan of canceling my cable service and going iTunes only. I could live without everything else on NBC, but I'm as addicted to House as House is addicted to the Vicodin.

Many in your position would probably resort to piracy.

[Squirrel_Monkey]

I find it odd that ABC and CBS are more open-minded about distribution than NBC, which remains the ratings cellar.

[JeffDM]

Originally Posted by bloodstains

Man. NBC finally got me where it hurts. This destroys my plan of canceling my cable service and going iTunes only. I could live without everything else on NBC, but I'm as addicted to House as House is addicted to the Vicodin.

Are you prevented from installing an antenna? Really, EyeTV can capture from over the air better quality video than what iTunes, hulu or where ever will sell you. Unless geography or local housing regs prevent you, I don't see the point in paying for a video service to get NBC.

[pt123]

Originally Posted by jonessodarally

man....
Anyone have any personal recommendations for good torrent sites for NBC shows?

Hmm, don't like the terms, just go out and take it huh? While you are on the torrent site, maybe you could get a copy of Leopard and iLife?

[macinthe408]

It's funny that the supposed experts--the phone companies that have been doing this for a while now and laughed at Apple's predicitions that they would come in and shake the industry--are now reeling and using the iPhone to gauge their own success.

But, as expected, all the handset makers have finally paid attention to the USER experience, instead of catering to the technical needs of entrenched cellular providers, and are slowly starting to produce handsets that don't suck donkey balls.

Some have even been almost as good as the iPhone.

The moral is: Don't laugh at your little brother. He might be smarter than you and could eventually kick your stupid ass.

[Jimmy01]

1) That HTC thing is a piece of shit in real life. I've seen it and used it.

2) NBC are idiots. Guess the TORRENT revolution is back on track baby. May P2P show you the light baby!!

[MacTel]

Originally Posted by Jimmy01

1) That HTC thing is a piece of shit in real life. I've seen it and used it.

Hardware and/or software wise? I wondered how the Touch interface over WM6 would be.

[bloodstains]

Originally Posted by minderbinder

Many in your position would probably resort to piracy.

I know many would, and hopefully that fact will get NBC back in line, but that's just not how I roll...anymore...

Originally Posted by JeffDM

Are you prevented from installing an antenna?

I could, but I don't get reception where I live, and my TV doesn't have a tuner built in.

[minderbinder]

Originally Posted by pt123

Hmm, don't like the terms, just go out and take it huh? While you are on the torrent site, maybe you could get a copy of Leopard and iLife?

Terms? Under what terms can mac users watch these shows, much less download them to an iPod or appleTV? Is there a legal way to watch NBC shows on a mac?

It's not easy to stick to legal options when there are none.

Personally I don't see the appeal of torrents compared with good old usenet.

[jonessodarally]

Originally Posted by pt123

Hmm, don't like the terms, just go out and take it huh? While you are on the torrent site, maybe you could get a copy of Leopard and iLife?

Haha, it was more of a joke than anything. I used my switch from PC to Apple as sort of a transition to actually paying for everything.

Microsoft didn't deserve my $$. I feel like Apple is a good fair company (at least in comparison to most) so I don't have trouble paying them for things.

NBC on the other hand... losing my respect quickly.

[SpamSandwich]

Originally Posted by MacTel

I actually like the looks of that HTC Touch better than the iPhone. I haven't seen one in-person though.

It's a good looking phone. I saw it in Hong Kong.

[pt123]

Originally Posted by minderbinder

Terms? Under what terms can mac users watch these shows, much less download them to an iPod or appleTV? Is there a legal way to watch NBC shows on a mac?

It's not easy to stick to legal options when there are none.

Personally I don't see the appeal of torrents compared with good old usenet.

Well, since you put it that way, I guess it's okay to take whatever you like.

[a_greer]

Originally Posted by AppleInsider

'House' pulled from iTunes

Meanwhile, it appears that Fox's hit television show "House" will become an unfortunate casualty of NBC's rift with Apple over iTunes pricing.

New episodes of show will not be available on the digital download service, a spokesperson for Apple confirmed to B&C.

Despite airing on Fox, "House" is produced by Universal Media Studios, a subsidiary of NBC Universal, which is severing its ties with iTunes when its contract expires in December.
[/c]

Well, cool, now everyone that wants to watch House will get the HIGH DEF version for FREE...because there is no way to pay for the content...and people wonder why The Pirate Bay is so popular...sheesh

When will our corprate overloards understand that us work-a-day joes will pay for the content, we understand that if we do not pay, either with tolerating ads, or parting with a little cash, the content will at some point stop flowing, but damn, drop the DRM, give us an open format, and...oh yea...HIGH DEF...


Raise your hand if you would pay $2 or even more for a HD MP4 episodes totally platform independent and archivable, so we can continue to enjoy the content fot years or maybe generations to come!

Look, I do not want to break the law, nor does any young person who has some smarts and potential...but I CAN NOT PAY ANY AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR WHAT I WANT!!!! I do not seek drugs, smuggled moonshine, cuban cigars, or anything like that, just HD for my life (PC, laptop, work during lunch break (hey, I have a 20 inch LCD so why not?) and where ever else I want it!)

Please hollywood, let us pay you for what we want!

[Rot'nApple]

Originally Posted by Reid

Okay, dude... just because you haven't watched it doesn't mean it's not a hit. It's one of the top-rated shows on TV, consistently ranked in the top 10 primetime programs, because millions of other people do watch it.

My post was my post. I have my fav shows other people have theirs. It was not a condemnation and sorry if you took it that way, not my intent! Like I said in my post, "I have a feeling...", "My opinion...", "I cannot speak for others...", "I will not miss you...", okay dude.

[nagromme]

I wonder if they "sold" 800k in the same sense that Microsoft reported "sales" of XBox 360s... meaning, they shipped a bunch to retailers to sit on shelves and in warehouses, from which they would eventually be sold in the future.

[Porchland]

Originally Posted by Rot'nApple

"House", another Universal "Hit" Show to which I have only seen one, yes one, episode on actual tv and none on the web, nor purchased from iTunes or other outlets if there was one...

So it's only a hit if YOU watch it?

[tonton]

Originally Posted by MacTel

Hardware and/or software wise? I wondered how the Touch interface over WM6 would be.

I've tried out the HTC too. My first Windows Mobile experience. In my opinion, the hardware is fine. Windows Mobile, however, is absolutely horrendous. It's anti-intuitive, hard to do ANYTHING, and looks just terrible.

[hillstones]

I would rather watch the shows in HD and 5.1 surround on my Widescreen HDTV. I don't know why anyone would pay for iTunes content when it is 480 resolution and 4:3 aspect. Pretty sad when they advertise the AppleTV to be connected to a Widescreen TV when none of the TV shows are sold in 16:9 ratio. If I am not home, no worries, my TiVo Series 3 will record the HD content.

[Jimmy01]

Originally Posted by MacTel

Hardware and/or software wise? I wondered how the Touch interface over WM6 would be.

Both. It feels clunky and royally unintuitive. Typical MS software. Worth nothing.

[lfmorrison]

Originally Posted by minderbinder

Terms? Under what terms can mac users watch these shows, much less download them to an iPod or appleTV? Is there a legal way to watch NBC shows on a mac?

With a USB<-TV Tuner box. Many of which will also allow you to receive the FREE OVER-THE-AIR Digital version of the programming if your local NBC affiliate has gotten around to making the equipment upgrade. (Eventually they all will, because of Congress's analog shut-off ruling.)

(Or in the case of House, I guess you'd replace "NBC" with "Fox" in the above paragraph...)

[JeffDM]

Originally Posted by Rot'nApple

My post was my post. I have my fav shows other people have theirs. It was not a condemnation and sorry if you took it that way, not my intent! Like I said in my post, "I have a feeling...", "My opinion...", "I cannot speak for others...", "I will not miss you...", okay dude.

The problem is that your quotes around hit suggested incredulity about whether it really is a hit. Your opinion can be that it's not good, but it doesn't make it not a hit and such an attitude about facts really tells me that your opinion isn't credible either.

[JeffDM]

Originally Posted by lfmorrison

With a USB<-TV Tuner box. Many of which will also allow you to receive the FREE OVER-THE-AIR Digital version of the programming if your local NBC affiliate has gotten around to making the equipment upgrade. (Eventually they all will, because of Congress's analog shut-off ruling.))

Exactly what areas haven't added digital already? I consider my area to be below standard on many things but ALL locals are transmitting digitally, even the independent or minor network affiliates. All the major network affiliates transmit HD if it's available too.

[Guartho]

Originally Posted by hillstones

I would rather watch the shows in HD and 5.1 surround on my Widescreen HDTV. I don't know why anyone would pay for iTunes content when it is 480 resolution and 4:3 aspect.

In my case, it's the only way to get it (Heroes) without paying through the nose for cable or satellite. I only want to watch 2 shows so there's no way I'm subscribing for that. I'm also too far away from any major population center to get free over-the-air broadcasts.

BTW, Heroes is in 16:9 and looks better on my TV from my iPod than it does on my parents highly-compressed satellite signal.

[zanshin]

NBC-U is owned and run by people in GE (General Electric) who have proven they can lose huge amounts of money in nearly every market they enter. They screwed up more businesses than they improved after "acquiring" them. Once they lose enough money on NBC-U, they'll break it up, sell it off, and it will heal itself. Unless Microsoft buys it.

[Wildguess]

Originally Posted by hillstones

I would rather watch the shows in HD and 5.1 surround on my Widescreen HDTV. I don't know why anyone would pay for iTunes content when it is 480 resolution and 4:3 aspect. Pretty sad when they advertise the AppleTV to be connected to a Widescreen TV when none of the TV shows are sold in 16:9 ratio. If I am not home, no worries, my TiVo Series 3 will record the HD content.

Thats interesting. Most all of my shows on AppleTV are in 16:9 ratio. Maybe you have a wrong setting.

[Lemon Bon Bon.]

Screw NBC. ..and Universal. Greedy gets, both of 'em.

Lemon Bon Bon.