Apple may have new Cinema Displays ready for Macworld

[AppleInsider]

It's been over four years since Apple made a material announcement surrounding its line of standalone Cinema Displays, but that could finally change come early next year, says a new report.

According to MacRumors, the wheels are in motion for the Mac maker to introduce the first updates to its professional display line as early as the January Macworld conference that runs the 5th through the 9th.

While details are limited, it's suggested the new models will see a transition away from cold cathode fluorescent backlights (CCFLs) and towards LED backlights as part of a promise by Apple chief executive Steve Jobs last year to rid the company's displays of mercury "when technically and economically feasible."

At the time, Jobs noted that Apple's ability to completely eliminate fluorescent lamps in all of its displays "depends on how fast the LCD industry can transition to LED backlighting for larger displays."

While there are some LED-lit displays arriving on the market at sizes comparable to Apple's existing display line, pricing remains a limiting factor. Apple currently offers a trio of Cinema Displays for use alongside its Mac mini and Mac Pro desktop offerings, including a standard 20-inch, and 23- and 30-inch HD models.

However, Wednesday's report points out that commercially available 30-inch LED displays, like the Samsung XL30, cost upwards of $4300 dollars. Combined with an entry-level Mac Pro at $2,799.00, that would be draw a bill of over $7000.



By comparison, Apple's existing 30-inch HD Cinema Display fetches just $1799, or around half the cost of comparable LED models. Therefore, it's unclear how Apple would attempt to market a new line of LED Cinema Displays with such a large price discrepancy to its existing offerings.

One possibility could have Apple include proprietary technology alongside LED Cinema Displays that would make them more cost effective through guarantees of prolonged lifespans.

For instance, a recent patent filing covered by AppleInsider revealed the company to be working removable LED light strips that easily slide in and out of the base of a flat-panel display in very much the same way a memory card slides in and out of a digital camera.



Those "side firing LEDs" would be mounted on -- and electrically connected to one another via -- a flexible strip with a power feed contact that adheres to the display housing once inserted. This concept, Apple explained, would prevent users from having to replace an entire display should an LED eventually fail or burn out.

The last changes to Apple's Cinema Display line came on June 28th, 2004 when the company introduced the 30-inch HD model alongside Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger. The display was then priced at $3299.

[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

[deep]

What about built-in iSight? Better yet, how about that pixel camera patent filing back in 2006? I wish my iPhone had that.

[Ireland]

Yeah cause Apple waiting so they can make the displays "so cheap"

[Haggar]

All Cinema Displays will go glossy!

[fuyutsuki]

Traditionally, Apple's displays have matched their desktop systems, and tend to lag behind a bit. I remember when the G5 came out in 2003, and the demo systems were hooked up to candy style "G4 era" displays.

So if the past is anything to go by:

1. New Mac Pro (and possibly Mac mini) case designs debut with next round of processors
2. New Cinema Displays unveiled, matching said designs

That still is a big if though.

Come on: make autumn 2008 be the big season for new industrial designs across the board. Mr. Ive surely can't stand how long his last round of creations have been out now. Same age as TIGER!? We get it already, Intel Macs are still Macs. etc. End rant.

[Virgil-TB2]

Personally, if they are going to update at all I hope they do something interesting and make a more "next-gen" product. A built in iSight and/or backlight changes are all no brainers. Even the glossy/matte argument is not really anything worth getting excited about.

What would be truly exciting is if they did something with the inputs, like HDMI ports or component or composite, or all three. A monitor is not just a monitor anymore. There should be no reason why I can't easily hook up my iPod to my ACD, or my video camera, or my Apple TV (if I had one of those). In short there is no reason why a "monitor" is really so different from the TV in the living room. Heck why not include a tuner or even an optical drive. All of these options would add only pennies to the price relative to the huge cost of the screen itself.

I am happy with the ACD I have now, but the reason people buy them is that they last for years and years and years. It would be nice, and it would make a lot of sense to try to "future-proof" them to some extent given that they will be around ten years from now.

[alolkoy]

If I remember correctly, the original 30" display was closer to 4000, then 3299.

[shanmugam]

i wonder, iPhone is the reason apple is delaying lots of other products ...

i wish the next Apple event and apple product well planned and well delivered ...

iPhone is still shortage and working on their 2.1 release!!!

[SpamSandwich]

Could be that all monitors will double as HDTVs with a built in digital tuners... leading to the inevitable re-branding of AppleTV. That would certainly make a whole new display line more compelling.

[benny-boy]

Originally Posted by deep

What about built-in iSight? Better yet, how about that pixel camera patent filing back in 2006? I wish my iPhone had that.

I'm not quite sure what that is, but if they could mount TWO isights, one each on the top and bottom of the display, and triangulate/average/reconcile the images so that the user's eyes look like they're looking into "the camera" instead of off-camera, that would make a major difference in the emotional impact of video conferencing and would be a very apple thing to do.

I think this is feasible.

[JeffDM]

Originally Posted by alolkoy

If I remember correctly, the original 30" display was closer to 4000, then 3299.

I don't remember anything higher than $3299. This seems to confirm that, though they say the price was $3200, I'm not sure about whether it was $3299 or $3199.

http://www.macnn.com/articles/04/06/...pple.displays/

[DimMok]

Lets see something with touchscreen built in. I caught my 5 year old daughter "trying to open up applications on my mac desktop screen" since she has gotten used to opening and moving stuff around on my iPhone using her fingers.

According to SJ.....god has given us 10 great input devices...lets use them.

[gugy]

boy, it's about time.

I do hope they redesign it alongside MacPro's.
Also, it would be nice a larger than 30" display.

[tobyfoote]

Maybe it'll be a widescreen iSight camera so you can talk with other people who have this new ACD w/ iSight, like those Cisco commercials. Tie it in with AppleTV and give it a wireless keyboard so I can play my Ticket To Ride game on a big screen! Or better yet, just put an HDMI output on the Mac Mini.

[JeffDM]

Originally Posted by Virgil-TB2

A monitor is not just a monitor anymore.

Most computer monitors that I look at really are just computer monitors, i.e., nothing other than VGA and DVI inputs. There are plenty that do offer various TV inputs, but those seem to be less common than standard monitors. I would like it if they support HDCP. I've read somewhere that Apple quietly put that feature into newer ACDs, but I have not found any confirmation of that.

Originally Posted by gugy

boy, it's about time.

I do hope they redesign it alongside MacPro's.
Also, it would be nice a larger than 30" display.

Something would need to change if it keeps the same pixel density (100ppi) and still be bigger. If it's Display Port, then you'll need to either replace your video card (Mac Pro) or replace your notebook computer in order to use it to it's fullest.

[FuturePastNow]

These displays had better be spectacular. Anything less will be too little, too late.

[McHuman]

I have a 42" samsung LED LCD tv. it's phenomenal and only cost about $3000. Why is their little 30" monitor over $4k? Something doesn't add up here..

[the_steve]

Originally Posted by McHuman

I have a 42" samsung LED LCD tv. it's phenomenal and only cost about $3000. Why is their little 30" monitor over $4k? Something doesn't add up here..

Production volume?

[bobertoq]

Originally Posted by Haggar

All Cinema Displays will go glossy!

Yeah that would be awesome! (seriously)

[JeffDM]

Originally Posted by McHuman

I have a 42" samsung LED LCD tv. it's phenomenal and only cost about $3000. Why is their little 30" monitor over $4k? Something doesn't add up here..

TVs and monitors aren't very comparable. For one, TVs have a lot lower dot pitch.

[bobertoq]

Originally Posted by McHuman

I have a 42" samsung LED LCD tv. it's phenomenal and only cost about $3000. Why is their little 30" monitor over $4k? Something doesn't add up here..

well is it LED or LCD? anyways, the TV has a lower resolution.

[Bregalad]

More pixels = more money
30" display is 2560X1600. Your 42" TV is only 1920x1080.

Plus the aforementioned difference in production volume. There are a lot more buyers for large TVs than for large screens that can only be used as computer monitors.

[Xian Zhu Xuande]

Hehe... I have a feeling people are going to be disappointed by this announcement.

What are we supposedly expecting now?

- New Macbook
- New Macbook Pro
- Tablet?
- New Screens
- New Pro to match screens!
- Mini is overdue!
- All new iPods

Are we expecting Apple v. 3.0 or something here?

[SpinDrift]

Yawn... here we go again!

[Blah64]

Originally Posted by alolkoy

If I remember correctly, the original 30" display was closer to 4000, then 3299.

Trivial to look it up....
It was indeed $3299

http://everymac.com/monitors/apple/s...isplay_30.html

[Blah64]

Originally Posted by Virgil-TB2

..... Even the glossy/matte argument is not really anything worth getting excited about.

I agree 100%, uh, except that the matte screens are quite nice and the glossy ones are practically unusable except in ideal conditions, i.e. no direct light coming from behind. Can't understand how people find all the reflections on their MacBook screens acceptable. At least with a desktop you can attempt to arrange a physical arrangement where it's not that bad. MacBooks are designed to be mobile - with often lousy lighting conditions. Okay, maybe that 100% was actually 10%

[satchmo]

Originally Posted by SpamSandwich

Could be that all monitors will double as HDTVs with a built in digital tuners... leading to the inevitable re-branding of AppleTV. That would certainly make a whole new display line more compelling.

That unfortunately makes way too much sense for Apple to ever do it.

[CWeb]

Originally Posted by benny-boy

I'm not quite sure what that is, but if they could mount TWO isights, one each on the top and bottom of the display, and triangulate/average/reconcile the images so that the user's eyes look like they're looking into "the camera" instead of off-camera, that would make a major difference in the emotional impact of video conferencing and would be a very apple thing to do.

I think this is feasible.

You can read the patent app. via the link below. Your suggested implementation would be a very Microsoft thing to do. As you'd expect, Apple's implementation is much more elegant.

http://appft1.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-...DN/20060007222

[AHeneen]

Maybe they will just wait until new MacPros and MacBook Pros come out with an HDMI port...and then turn out new Cinema Displays with HDMI. Isn't HDMI better than DVI. Not only that, but Apple would be able to appeal to high-end PC users whose computers have HDMI ports...I have never seen a PC with a DVI port, only the occasional projector and my MacBook Pro.

[ncee]

Plus, other then features, what can they do to the design, that would be jaw-dropping?

- Thin
- Clear
- Smooth
- BIGGER is about all I can see.

Skip

[mdriftmeyer]

However, Wednesday's report points out that commercially available 30-inch LED displays, like the Samsung XL30, cost upwards of $4300 dollars. Combined with an entry-level Mac Pro at $2,799.00, that would be draw a bill of over $7000.

Try being more accurate:

However, Wednesday's report points out that commercially available 30-inch LED displays, like the Samsung XL30, sell upwards of $4300 dollars. Combined with an entry-level Mac Pro at $2,799.00, that would be draw a bill of over $7000.

They don't cost Samsung near what they charge. They make high profit margins on them.

Apple's trying to break through and expand, but I doubt it's just in the system display market.

[mdriftmeyer]

Originally Posted by AHeneen

Maybe they will just wait until new MacPros and MacBook Pros come out with an HDMI port...and then turn out new Cinema Displays with HDMI. Isn't HDMI better than DVI. Not only that, but Apple would be able to appeal to high-end PC users whose computers have HDMI ports...I have never seen a PC with a DVI port, only the occasional projector and my MacBook Pro.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HDMI

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DisplayPort

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Visual_Interface

[nofear1az]

This has been a very long wait. I just wish for once that Apple's displays were more in line with competitive prices (or maybe I'm just too cheap to buy an Apple Display).

I am curious if they will stick an iSight in the new displays. I wish they would also have more inputs for their monitors and even a USB hub on the side or back.

[Roberto_007]

I can get this for $749.:

Refurbished Apple Cinema HD Display (23-inch flat panel w/ aluminum enclosure)

Should I go for it or wait until new expensive models are released?

[tobyfoote]

Originally Posted by AHeneen

Maybe they will just wait until new MacPros and MacBook Pros come out with an HDMI port...and then turn out new Cinema Displays with HDMI. Isn't HDMI better than DVI. Not only that, but Apple would be able to appeal to high-end PC users whose computers have HDMI ports...I have never seen a PC with a DVI port, only the occasional projector and my MacBook Pro.

I believe HDMI is just DVI+sound. The video quality for HDMI and DVI is the same. HDMI also has the ability to add copy-protection.

My dad just bought a refurb HP laptop, and it has every port imaginable on it, including HDMI. If you need to do video presentations, that might have the occassional audio, using HDMI would be so easy. Also, HDMI-to-HDMI cables are a lot easier to find than DVI and Mini-DVI cables.

[8CoreWhore]

Originally Posted by McHuman

I have a 42" samsung LED LCD tv. it's phenomenal and only cost about $3000. Why is their little 30" monitor over $4k? Something doesn't add up here..

Compare the resolution between the two... and theirs is 1800, not 4K.

[photoeditor]

The 20 and 23 inch Cinema Displays are overpriced and underpowered for what they offer. In particular, the 23 inch stacks up extremely poorly compared to the similarly priced (once you count the cost of AppleCare) NEC 2490WUXi. For similar prices you get more even backlighting, an extra year over AppleCare, HDCP support, two digital and one VGA input, and far superior color calibration support with the NEC. As for the 20 it has a certain rarity value given the lack of IPS displays in that size, but it does not go bright enough for a bright office space and like all the other Cinema Displays suffers from having only a single input, no HDCP etc.

The 30 inch is better but it still lacks features like HDCP and multiple inputs that are simply expected of all other monitors in its price range.

They all also have this excessive anti-glare coat that creates a strong speckled effect compared to competing monitors.

I guess customers must line up, like lambs to the slaughter, to give Apple huge profit margins on these obsolete, underperforming displays. They were state of the art in 2004; they aren't even close now.

[melgross]

Originally Posted by satchmo

That unfortunately makes way too much sense for Apple to ever do it.

I don't know. Every time I've suggested it, people have said nooooo...

It seems the idea of Apple selling a Tv is too much for them to contemplate.

[FuturePastNow]

Originally Posted by AHeneen

Maybe they will just wait until new MacPros and MacBook Pros come out with an HDMI port...and then turn out new Cinema Displays with HDMI. Isn't HDMI better than DVI. Not only that, but Apple would be able to appeal to high-end PC users whose computers have HDMI ports...I have never seen a PC with a DVI port, only the occasional projector and my MacBook Pro.

You have never seen a PC with a DVI port. Really?

[melgross]

Originally Posted by AHeneen

Maybe they will just wait until new MacPros and MacBook Pros come out with an HDMI port...and then turn out new Cinema Displays with HDMI. Isn't HDMI better than DVI. Not only that, but Apple would be able to appeal to high-end PC users whose computers have HDMI ports...I have never seen a PC with a DVI port, only the occasional projector and my MacBook Pro.

You mean you've not seen a PC with an HDMI port? What computer doesn't have a DVI port?

HDMI is basically DVI with audio over the same cable with separate lines.

But, HDMI is now up to 1.3a, which conveys certain advantages.

With my PS3 and my Samsung LED lit projector, I can use Deep Color, which has a wider gamut. It's quite noticeable with movies and games.

Apple hasn't utilized HDCP in its OS as yet. Without that, no high def commercial formats can be seen. The ATv may utilize it, but that's it.

Even the complete iMac can't see BD movies, and they're new.

I hope the new Mc Pro will allow it, but it does depend on the OS as well as the hardware.