Here is my take on what "non-computer" device might come out of Apple next:
Think about iTunes' new Rendez-vous features, the ability to use your purchased music on three computers in your home and the authorization/de-authorization thing when transfering your songs to a different mac. Add to that the hassle of having to plug your iPod in to one "main" computer.
Wouldn't it be cool to have the cube reborn - maybe with the addition of Apple's Xserve-style hdd-cartridges in a RAID-config and Airport Extreme and two ethernet sockets (one 1GBit and one 100/10 MBit) and minus the optical drive and the full-grown processor - to be just that: Your "main" computer serving all the Macs and iPods in your home with digital media content (audio and video) purchased online or your ripped CD collection or your iMovies and other files - documents, your homefolder, user profile, software updates etc. - and Internet access.
Maybe add a TiVo-style set-top box so you can stream the content to your home stereo or TV.
Besides bandwidth, a Video pod and video publishing service won't work, lemme tell ya why...
Price!
A new DVD costs 20 bucks and has MUCH better audio and video quality that MPEG4. MPEG4 can come pretty darn close, actually do even better than MPEG2 if you use a huge file, but that defeats the purpose of compression in this instance. BUt you won't get any of the wonderful 5.1, DTS, ES, Matrix, multi sound track, captions, commentary, and bonus features of a DVD, just the film.
They're basically selling songs for the same price as over the counter CD's, the only advantage they've added is that now you can choose specifically the songs that you like/want without buying a CD worth of "filler."
Movies DO NOT have a "hit singles" driven model, you won't be buying just that one scene you like, you'll be buying the whole film and you can expect the whole film to cost pretty much the same whether you buy the disc or DL the MPEG4. And if you hound the local blockbuster for deals on previously viewed discs, the DL option looks even worse.
But, I can't help but think, other than Apple's moves into their own retail stores, they have been trying to move away from brick and mortar sales. Internet sales and delivery are their focus right now. [/B]
I don't think this is so much a concerted move away from brick and mortar so much as it is a rethinking of content delivery. The iPod replaces the CD, the floppy, the zip, the DVD (for storage...and even perhaps for video), the VCD, etc. Toss the content you need (music, data, etc) on the pod and go. With a service like iTunes Music Store, there's no need for an audio CD anymore. Hell, I haven't "used" an audio CD since I got my 20 gig iPod.
About the other thing, though, Matsu's right. I should have indicated that that's my dream of dreams (the Blockbuster thing). Really, what I want Apple to do is use the pod technology to replace the videotape for home use: I record something on my Mac using Eye TV and save it on my hard drive; later, I move it over to a videopod and plug that into my TV when I want to watch it.
1. An Airport Extreme portable "radio" device that would hook into a wireless network and enable the streaming of MP3s/AACs (via Rendezvous from iTunes 4) and internet radio. This device would have built-in speakers (or this could be provided by a modular-style hook-on option) and would have a line-out port to hook up to your hifi. Here in the UK you can get a portable digital (DAB) radio with built-in speakers for around £100 -> $150, so it must be possible to build something similar using WiFi for that sort of amount and make a profit.
2. A tablet-like device with a GPS receiver, Airport and an optional GSM/3G plug-in card and mapping software. This could act as an atlas for use when you're out and about, with the added ability using WiFi or Cellular (depending on which is available) to get information about places selected from the map. For example - where the nearest gas station is that's open, tourist info on the nearest sights, train times and tickets, film times and tickets, restaurants, hotels with vacancies, etc etc. The hook here is that now that Apple's got into the content delivery business this technique could similarly be applied here with ease. I've harped on before about this but it's time is coming, I'm sure!
1. An Airport Extreme portable "radio" device that would hook into a wireless network and enable the streaming of MP3s/AACs (via Rendezvous from iTunes 4) and internet radio. This device would have built-in speakers (or this could be provided by a modular-style hook-on option) and would have a line-out port to hook up to your hifi. Here in the UK you can get a portable digital (DAB) radio with built-in speakers for around £100 -> $150, so it must be possible to build something similar using WiFi for that sort of amount and make a profit.
2. A tablet-like device with a GPS receiver, Airport and an optional GSM/3G plug-in card and mapping software. This could act as an atlas for use when you're out and about, with the added ability using WiFi or Cellular (depending on which is available) to get information about places selected from the map. For example - where the nearest gas station is that's open, tourist info on the nearest sights, train times and tickets, film times and tickets, restaurants, hotels with vacancies, etc etc. The hook here is that now that Apple's got into the content delivery business this technique could similarly be applied here with ease. I've harped on before about this but it's time is coming, I'm sure!
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before you get cranky about UK availability, let me note that the following device is approved for use in North America by the FCC. complaints about UK spectrum allocation and the ability to run your own radio station (Pirate Radio with 30 foot range is hardly worthy of the title, let alone the eyepatch) should be directed to the Beeb, not Apple.
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Device 1 is not required. You can already buy a "Radio broadcast" kit for the Mac/iPod that sends (headphone) output to a 'few tunable' FM stations. Not as clean a sound quality as speaker or headphone, but you wanted the portability of radio... simple to send the output to your own short range FM.
Quote:
Belkin TuneCast FM Transmitter for iPod USD $29.95
Now you can use your iPod to listen to your favorite music through any FM stereo receiver. The Belkin Tunecast Mobile FM Transmitter wirelessly connects your iPod to your car or home stereo quickly and easily.
if you want Internet radio too, plug into any Mac within Airport range, and go and buy a "headphones only" joggers FM Radio. range from TuneCast? 10-30 ft... but if connected to iBook/PB within range of Airport... good enough?
as for device 2, a Steve-ified iGPS... that'd be way cool.
now there's a device that cries out for Apple UI redesign.
only downside? PRAM battery death would reset the iGPS location to Cupertino.
Device 1 is not required. You can already buy a "Radio broadcast" kit for the Mac/iPod that sends (headphone) output to a 'few tunable' FM stations. Not as clean a sound quality as speaker or headphone, but you wanted the portability of radio... simple to send the output to your own short range FM.
Sorry, doesn't do the job for me, or at least not the job I'm looking for. With your suggestion I'd have to go to my Mac all the time to change channels or music - there wouldn't be any autonomy of the listening device. What I'm looking for is a standalone device that can be controlled directly to select any of the available audio sources across the network.
In addition, with my device you could have multiple devices in different rooms (for different people) all listening to different sources. Not possible with yours!
Thanks for the suggestion, but I prefer my idea...
Here is my take on what "non-computer" device might come out of Apple next:
Think about iTunes' new Rendez-vous features, the ability to use your purchased music on three computers in your home and the authorization/de-authorization thing when transfering your songs to a different mac. Add to that the hassle of having to plug your iPod in to one "main" computer.
Wouldn't it be cool to have the cube reborn - maybe with the addition of Apple's Xserve-style hdd-cartridges in a RAID-config and Airport Extreme and two ethernet sockets (one 1GBit and one 100/10 MBit) and minus the optical drive and the full-grown processor - to be just that: Your "main" computer serving all the Macs and iPods in your home with digital media content (audio and video) purchased online or your ripped CD collection or your iMovies and other files - documents, your homefolder, user profile, software updates etc. - and Internet access.
Maybe add a TiVo-style set-top box so you can stream the content to your home stereo or TV.
-- Edited some typos --
Actually, the docking feature of the iPod makes me think we'll see a component MP3 juke that does Airport/10T and allows you to plug the iPod in like an 8-track.
Someone on this forum did an excellent job predicting the Jan MW products and speculated that exactly such a device would come out soon.
PDA Geek has posted an interesting piece about feature creep in the iPod. The article points out that the new non-standard FireWire connector on the iPod2 might be used for a keyboard in the future. Isn't that a great prospect?
I thought a quick and dirty mockup of an iPod2 with keyboard would be fun. Maybe the Newton is coming back...
Please pardon the poor perspective and ugly seams. Unlike Michaelm8000, I'm no graphics whiz kid. Anyone care to do a better job and post the result?
I still think an Apple PDA-phone is more likely than a keyboard for the iPod2. But who knows, maybe there's more to the new FireWire dock connector than meets the eye.
Oh my god.. Thats some superior Photoshop skillz you got there bro!
I did say "quick and dirty," T'hain Esh Kelch. All I've got on my iBook is GraphicConverter, and I don't know how to adjust perspective in there. I also couldn't find a picture of the iPod without dock from the right angle. Anyway, I dare you to better than me!
Seriously, I wonder whether Apple's purely hypothetical PDA-phone will feature the same connector as the new iPod so that they can share accessories. Woudn't that be cool?
Comments
Think about iTunes' new Rendez-vous features, the ability to use your purchased music on three computers in your home and the authorization/de-authorization thing when transfering your songs to a different mac. Add to that the hassle of having to plug your iPod in to one "main" computer.
Wouldn't it be cool to have the cube reborn - maybe with the addition of Apple's Xserve-style hdd-cartridges in a RAID-config and Airport Extreme and two ethernet sockets (one 1GBit and one 100/10 MBit) and minus the optical drive and the full-grown processor - to be just that: Your "main" computer serving all the Macs and iPods in your home with digital media content (audio and video) purchased online or your ripped CD collection or your iMovies and other files - documents, your homefolder, user profile, software updates etc. - and Internet access.
Maybe add a TiVo-style set-top box so you can stream the content to your home stereo or TV.
-- Edited some typos --
it is a back lit scene, and in a better rendition of the foto you posted here, you can actually see that it is white at the edges of the iPod.
no mystery.
Price!
A new DVD costs 20 bucks and has MUCH better audio and video quality that MPEG4. MPEG4 can come pretty darn close, actually do even better than MPEG2 if you use a huge file, but that defeats the purpose of compression in this instance. BUt you won't get any of the wonderful 5.1, DTS, ES, Matrix, multi sound track, captions, commentary, and bonus features of a DVD, just the film.
They're basically selling songs for the same price as over the counter CD's, the only advantage they've added is that now you can choose specifically the songs that you like/want without buying a CD worth of "filler."
Movies DO NOT have a "hit singles" driven model, you won't be buying just that one scene you like, you'll be buying the whole film and you can expect the whole film to cost pretty much the same whether you buy the disc or DL the MPEG4. And if you hound the local blockbuster for deals on previously viewed discs, the DL option looks even worse.
Sorry, music only for now, and for quiet a while.
But, I can't help but think, other than Apple's moves into their own retail stores, they have been trying to move away from brick and mortar sales. Internet sales and delivery are their focus right now. [/B]
I don't think this is so much a concerted move away from brick and mortar so much as it is a rethinking of content delivery. The iPod replaces the CD, the floppy, the zip, the DVD (for storage...and even perhaps for video), the VCD, etc. Toss the content you need (music, data, etc) on the pod and go. With a service like iTunes Music Store, there's no need for an audio CD anymore. Hell, I haven't "used" an audio CD since I got my 20 gig iPod.
About the other thing, though, Matsu's right. I should have indicated that that's my dream of dreams (the Blockbuster thing). Really, what I want Apple to do is use the pod technology to replace the videotape for home use: I record something on my Mac using Eye TV and save it on my hard drive; later, I move it over to a videopod and plug that into my TV when I want to watch it.
Cheers
Scott
1. An Airport Extreme portable "radio" device that would hook into a wireless network and enable the streaming of MP3s/AACs (via Rendezvous from iTunes 4) and internet radio. This device would have built-in speakers (or this could be provided by a modular-style hook-on option) and would have a line-out port to hook up to your hifi. Here in the UK you can get a portable digital (DAB) radio with built-in speakers for around £100 -> $150, so it must be possible to build something similar using WiFi for that sort of amount and make a profit.
2. A tablet-like device with a GPS receiver, Airport and an optional GSM/3G plug-in card and mapping software. This could act as an atlas for use when you're out and about, with the added ability using WiFi or Cellular (depending on which is available) to get information about places selected from the map. For example - where the nearest gas station is that's open, tourist info on the nearest sights, train times and tickets, film times and tickets, restaurants, hotels with vacancies, etc etc. The hook here is that now that Apple's got into the content delivery business this technique could similarly be applied here with ease. I've harped on before about this but it's time is coming, I'm sure!
That sounded like one hell of an alarm clock to me!
Originally posted by Jingo
Personally I would like to see two new devices:
1. An Airport Extreme portable "radio" device that would hook into a wireless network and enable the streaming of MP3s/AACs (via Rendezvous from iTunes 4) and internet radio. This device would have built-in speakers (or this could be provided by a modular-style hook-on option) and would have a line-out port to hook up to your hifi. Here in the UK you can get a portable digital (DAB) radio with built-in speakers for around £100 -> $150, so it must be possible to build something similar using WiFi for that sort of amount and make a profit.
2. A tablet-like device with a GPS receiver, Airport and an optional GSM/3G plug-in card and mapping software. This could act as an atlas for use when you're out and about, with the added ability using WiFi or Cellular (depending on which is available) to get information about places selected from the map. For example - where the nearest gas station is that's open, tourist info on the nearest sights, train times and tickets, film times and tickets, restaurants, hotels with vacancies, etc etc. The hook here is that now that Apple's got into the content delivery business this technique could similarly be applied here with ease. I've harped on before about this but it's time is coming, I'm sure!
---
before you get cranky about UK availability, let me note that the following device is approved for use in North America by the FCC. complaints about UK spectrum allocation and the ability to run your own radio station (Pirate Radio with 30 foot range is hardly worthy of the title, let alone the eyepatch) should be directed to the Beeb, not Apple.
---
Device 1 is not required. You can already buy a "Radio broadcast" kit for the Mac/iPod that sends (headphone) output to a 'few tunable' FM stations. Not as clean a sound quality as speaker or headphone, but you wanted the portability of radio... simple to send the output to your own short range FM.
Belkin TuneCast FM Transmitter for iPod USD $29.95
Now you can use your iPod to listen to your favorite music through any FM stereo receiver. The Belkin Tunecast Mobile FM Transmitter wirelessly connects your iPod to your car or home stereo quickly and easily.
currently North America legal... other countries may varymore info from Belkin here
if you want Internet radio too, plug into any Mac within Airport range, and go and buy a "headphones only" joggers FM Radio. range from TuneCast? 10-30 ft... but if connected to iBook/PB within range of Airport... good enough?
as for device 2, a Steve-ified iGPS... that'd be way cool.
now there's a device that cries out for Apple UI redesign.
only downside? PRAM battery death would reset the iGPS location to Cupertino.
Originally posted by curiousuburb
---
Device 1 is not required. You can already buy a "Radio broadcast" kit for the Mac/iPod that sends (headphone) output to a 'few tunable' FM stations. Not as clean a sound quality as speaker or headphone, but you wanted the portability of radio... simple to send the output to your own short range FM.
Sorry, doesn't do the job for me, or at least not the job I'm looking for. With your suggestion I'd have to go to my Mac all the time to change channels or music - there wouldn't be any autonomy of the listening device. What I'm looking for is a standalone device that can be controlled directly to select any of the available audio sources across the network.
In addition, with my device you could have multiple devices in different rooms (for different people) all listening to different sources. Not possible with yours!
Thanks for the suggestion, but I prefer my idea...
Originally posted by RolandG
Here is my take on what "non-computer" device might come out of Apple next:
Think about iTunes' new Rendez-vous features, the ability to use your purchased music on three computers in your home and the authorization/de-authorization thing when transfering your songs to a different mac. Add to that the hassle of having to plug your iPod in to one "main" computer.
Wouldn't it be cool to have the cube reborn - maybe with the addition of Apple's Xserve-style hdd-cartridges in a RAID-config and Airport Extreme and two ethernet sockets (one 1GBit and one 100/10 MBit) and minus the optical drive and the full-grown processor - to be just that: Your "main" computer serving all the Macs and iPods in your home with digital media content (audio and video) purchased online or your ripped CD collection or your iMovies and other files - documents, your homefolder, user profile, software updates etc. - and Internet access.
Maybe add a TiVo-style set-top box so you can stream the content to your home stereo or TV.
-- Edited some typos --
Actually, the docking feature of the iPod makes me think we'll see a component MP3 juke that does Airport/10T and allows you to plug the iPod in like an 8-track.
Someone on this forum did an excellent job predicting the Jan MW products and speculated that exactly such a device would come out soon.
Escher
Please pardon the poor perspective and ugly seams. Unlike Michaelm8000, I'm no graphics whiz kid. Anyone care to do a better job and post the result?
I still think an Apple PDA-phone is more likely than a keyboard for the iPod2. But who knows, maybe there's more to the new FireWire dock connector than meets the eye.
Escher
Originally posted by Escher
Oh my god.. Thats some superior Photoshop skillz you got there bro!
Originally posted by murbot
Best. Mockup. Ever.
Thanks for the compliment, oh Hulking Moderator!
Originally posted by T'hain Esh Kelch
Oh my god.. Thats some superior Photoshop skillz you got there bro!
I did say "quick and dirty," T'hain Esh Kelch. All I've got on my iBook is GraphicConverter, and I don't know how to adjust perspective in there. I also couldn't find a picture of the iPod without dock from the right angle. Anyway, I dare you to better than me!
Seriously, I wonder whether Apple's purely hypothetical PDA-phone will feature the same connector as the new iPod so that they can share accessories. Woudn't that be cool?
Escher