Word is AW is shopping themselves. Apple has purchased Nothing Real for kickass compositing....what are they waiting for for 3D, Maya gives Apple the crown jewels of 3D. Open up the wallet and spend a little Cash Apple. You want to be a player in Desktop DV don't you?
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Can u imagine apple buying Maya and touting it as a high end mac solution? All it would do is make it painfully obvious that apple's pro towers are a crock of sh*t that can't compete with wintel machines.
Just a dream. :cool:
OTOH, how would that purchase jibe with other vendors of 3D Mac software? We see companies like Adobe, Avid, and Media100 being bruised by Final Cut Pro. Apple buying Maya would probably shrink the number of 3D vendors on the Mac side. Of course, a market shakeout can also be a good thing....
As for Final Cut eating into Media100 and Avid's marketshares... I don't think that is entirely true. Final Cut Pro has allowed people to set up a handful of suites for the cost of one Avid, but those Final Cut Pro suites aren't doing what a Media Composer 8000 is going to do. With Final Cut Pro, you're just getting the software. If you want anything other than FireWire in and out, you've gotta buy another piece of hardware, and even then, there still isn't anything you can get that will compare to what Media 100 and Avid offer. Media 100 and Avid hit the high end market, and while Final Cut Pro isn't a toy, it's not the Ferrari of editing systems either.
Case in point would be Media 100's new <a href="http://www.media100.com/844x.asp"; target="_blank">844/X</a> system.
To sum it up, Final Cut Pro is allowing people new opportunities. Inexpensive cutting suites, mobile editing stations via a TiBook... but I wouldn't say it's really hurting the bread and butter of Avid and Media 100's markets.
<strong>Word is AW is shopping themselves. </strong><hr></blockquote>
A|W may want nothing more than to be Apple's newest acquisition. However, there's one little fact that gets in the way: (wait for it...)
A|W is owned by SGI.
A|W is not autonomous in this matter - far from it. If Apple wants to make this acquisition (and I agree, it would be a fabulous acquisition), they've got to negotiate it with the aging graphics behemoth of yesteryear.
I'll leave to your imagination the many reasons why SGI may not be looking to sell.
-mithral
<strong>I have an NFR copy.
As for Final Cut eating into Media100 and Avid's marketshares... I don't think that is entirely true. Final Cut Pro has allowed people to set up a handful of suites for the cost of one Avid, but those Final Cut Pro suites aren't doing what a Media Composer 8000 is going to do. With Final Cut Pro, you're just getting the software. If you want anything other than FireWire in and out, you've gotta buy another piece of hardware, and even then, there still isn't anything you can get that will compare to what Media 100 and Avid offer. Media 100 and Avid hit the high end market, and while Final Cut Pro isn't a toy, it's not the Ferrari of editing systems either.
Case in point would be Media 100's new <a href="http://www.media100.com/844x.asp"; target="_blank">844/X</a> system.
To sum it up, Final Cut Pro is allowing people new opportunities. Inexpensive cutting suites, mobile editing stations via a TiBook... but I wouldn't say it's really hurting the bread and butter of Avid and Media 100's markets.</strong><hr></blockquote>
First things first...
Your handle & location make me wonder, "Is this the guy that produces AtAT?" If yes, great site!
Second, IMHO FCP & CineWaveHD seem like a noble contender to the Avid/Media100 'throne'... Never used Avid, but I have used Media100, and I like FCP WAY better...
As for Apple purchasing A|w, could happen... SGI might let Apple pick up A|w, but require them to 'leave' StudioTools with SGI...
Would work for me!
Looking forward to a future Apple workstation (quad G5) running an Apple-designed 3D production software (consisting of FCP+Shake & Maya)...
Think about it...
Cheers!
Maya just drastically dropped their prices last week. This was probably pre-arranged between Apple and A|W to bring their prices more in line with Apples products.
I predict that at NAB next week, Apple is going to publicly demo Shake on OSX and announce the acquisition of Maya. They will then be able to offer a professional all in one software solution with FCP DVDSP Shake and Maya.
<a href="http://www.digitalfilmtree.com/apple.html"; target="_blank">http://www.digitalfilmtree.com/apple.html</a>;
This give Video Professionals working in Film much more flexibility and a bridge to FCP. Apple is slowly making the moves...it's like turning a big ship around...slow but deliberate.
Lemon Bon BOn
It buys apple respectibility and their pending hardware will probably be their best yet...if m/b and G5 arrive.
If they can deliver in quad and oct multi versions.
Having an inegrated suite of apps seems to be the way things are going.
Long term, Apple seems to be moving towards software. They are taking their bets now.
If they lose on the hardware front, they'll always have the software. And Apple's software has never looked this good.
Given Maya and a few more aquisitions then Apple may be set for the long years ahead.
It's not just having a 3d app. But the ripple effect of credibility. More developers will move to Apple because of Maya with or without a buy out. Plug in support et al. Many potential customers will look and think 'Premier platform for 3d...' The artist's tool of choice.
By focusing development on the Mac version and stalling the PC version, Apple could squeeze some influence.
The debt issue will be of concern to the latter day 'lean and mean' apple. But I'd figure those can be resolved.
Sgi may have a say in it too. Alias would be at home with the replenished creative drive by Apple.
We'll see.
Lemon Bon BOn :cool:
<strong>Don't forget, a while back Apple bought Raycer which specialized in 3D graphics acceleration. That little purchase should be ready to bear fruit about now.
Maya just drastically dropped their prices last week. This was probably pre-arranged between Apple and A|W to bring their prices more in line with Apples products.
I predict that at NAB next week, Apple is going to publicly demo Shake on OSX and announce the acquisition of Maya. They will then be able to offer a professional all in one software solution with FCP DVDSP Shake and Maya.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Not a chance, they're barely starting the OS X port for Shake. You just don't port something like that, even in alpha stages, in 30 days.
<strong>
Long term, Apple seems to be moving towards software. They are taking their bets now.
If they lose on the hardware front, they'll always have the software. And Apple's software has never looked this good.
Given Maya and a few more aquisitions then Apple may be set for the long years ahead.
Lemon Bon BOn :cool: </strong><hr></blockquote>
Can you picture...
Apple buys Maya, cuts all non-OS X dev.
Simultaniously releases OS X for x86.
Now, let's be clear, I'm not predicting this, it's pretty crazy, but if Apple were to release OS X (x86), they'd need to leverage the 'compelling software' as much as possible to urge adoption. By focusing on a specific market, with more clearly defined needs, Apple could potentially own the OS & software market for all video/3D, media.