Apple HomeServe
So what if the expected "set top box" turns out to be more like a "home server?"
If I have an iPod and more than one Mac in my house, how can I easily sync everything together. If Apple comes out with an inexpensive piece of hardware that let's me put all my shareable data in one place, all my problems would be solved. I could have one iTunes Library, one iPhoto Library and one common documents folder.
I could access all of this from my iMac, my iBook and any other Mac I add to my household. MAYBE a MacTablet device, with little onboard storage, would be the best client to this server. And, of course, it could work with AirPort and Rendevous, so connecting all of this together would be seamless.
What do you think?
If I have an iPod and more than one Mac in my house, how can I easily sync everything together. If Apple comes out with an inexpensive piece of hardware that let's me put all my shareable data in one place, all my problems would be solved. I could have one iTunes Library, one iPhoto Library and one common documents folder.
I could access all of this from my iMac, my iBook and any other Mac I add to my household. MAYBE a MacTablet device, with little onboard storage, would be the best client to this server. And, of course, it could work with AirPort and Rendevous, so connecting all of this together would be seamless.
What do you think?
Comments
As for everything else you ask for, "an inexpensive piece of hardware that let's me put all my shareable data in one place", it already exists. It's called a Mac. People do exactly what you're asking for all the time. Why do you need some special "home serve" thingy to do this?
Remeber: Apple make computers not set top box devices!!!!!
My point about the HomeServe is that it would NOT be as expensive as a fully-featured Mac. It would be some kind of networkable hard-drive with a few minimal extras, all done with Apple's special brand of technical and industrial design.
If you add the idea of the MacTablet as a "thin client" to this server, you then have everything you would normally get in a full Mac, but as a more portable device.
If you want some kind of file server just buy an old imac and hook up an airport card and a firewire drive, just make sure to get one with enuff memory to run 10.2.
<strong>There is no expected set top box
Remeber: Apple make computers not set top box devices!!!!!</strong><hr></blockquote>
"Remeber"<-- <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" /> <a href="http://8bits.scriba.net/vm2001/image/image041.jpg"; target="_blank">http://8bits.scriba.net/vm2001/image/image041.jpg</a>;
also "Remeber" <a href="http://www.metropoleparis.com/1996/60923031/pippin.jpg"; target="_blank">http://www.metropoleparis.com/1996/60923031/pippin.jpg</a>;
<img src="graemlins/smokin.gif" border="0" alt="[Chilling]" />
<strong>
"Remeber"<-- <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" /> <a href="http://8bits.scriba.net/vm2001/image/image041.jpg"; target="_blank">http://8bits.scriba.net/vm2001/image/image041.jpg</a>;
also "Remeber" <a href="http://www.metropoleparis.com/1996/60923031/pippin.jpg"; target="_blank">http://www.metropoleparis.com/1996/60923031/pippin.jpg</a>;
<img src="graemlins/smokin.gif" border="0" alt="[Chilling]" /> </strong><hr></blockquote>
hmmmm
<img src="graemlins/hmmm.gif" border="0" alt="[Hmmm]" />
What? These were on the market for us all to buy??
Forgive me but whats with the second picture?
[ 08-12-2002: Message edited by: trevorM ]</p>
<strong>
"Remeber"<-- <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" /> <a href="http://8bits.scriba.net/vm2001/image/image041.jpg"; target="_blank">http://8bits.scriba.net/vm2001/image/image041.jpg</a>;
also "Remeber" <a href="http://www.metropoleparis.com/1996/60923031/pippin.jpg"; target="_blank">http://www.metropoleparis.com/1996/60923031/pippin.jpg</a>;
<img src="graemlins/smokin.gif" border="0" alt="[Chilling]" /> </strong><hr></blockquote>
Yes however, none of those were made during the Reign of Jobs who has a very different take on products such as these.
With X and faster Airport, "Network Remotes" should be done sooner rather than laterer....
<strong>
What? These were on the market for us all to buy??
Forgive me but whats with the second picture?
[ 08-12-2002: Message edited by: trevorM ]</strong><hr></blockquote>
The second picture is the Bandai Pippin. Co-developed by Apple, it ran a version of OS 7.6 on a PPC 603. Notice netscape? Apparently, it was pretty easy to port apps over to the Pippin (it was still basically a Mac). There's a pretty rare version of Marathon 2 floating around that runs on Pippin....
Pippin was actually brought to market as a set-top box (like WebTV) but promptly flopped.
Peace :cool:
<strong>I have been waiting 2 years for the cube sized server that your diskless imac network boots off of allowing you to purchase a prepackaged network of machines for every room in the house.
With X and faster Airport, "Network Remotes" should be done sooner rather than laterer....</strong><hr></blockquote>
wasn't that basically what the iMac was designed to be? I mean, before jobs came back. The iMac was diskless and mean't to be used en mass, and all networked together around your house...
I could have sworn I've heard that somewhere, though I cannot for the life of me remember where.
I like the network storage idea by the way, I think it would be cool to combine it with the next airport base station, and have one integrated wireless server solution for the home.
<strong>
The second picture is the Bandai Pippin. Co-developed by Apple, it ran a version of OS 7.6 on a PPC 603. Notice netscape? Apparently, it was pretty easy to port apps over to the Pippin (it was still basically a Mac). There's a pretty rare version of Marathon 2 floating around that runs on Pippin....
Pippin was actually brought to market as a set-top box (like WebTV) but promptly flopped.
Peace :cool: </strong><hr></blockquote>
Interesting. I think that was a little before my time, of being an apple user that is!
<strong>
My point about the HomeServe is that it would NOT be as expensive as a fully-featured Mac. It would be some kind of networkable hard-drive with a few minimal extras, all done with Apple's special brand of technical and industrial design.
</strong><hr></blockquote>
I like the idea. Why not an AirPort BaseStation Deluxe? A regular basestation with an large (120 or 200 gb) harddrive in it, apache, ftp, filesharing, printersharing and a sort-of-server-version of iSync?
The computor in it should only have to be a slow G3 without everything extra like cd, connectors (just usb and firewire), screen and displaycard.
Price? 600 dollars.
Would you buy it?
Mac OS X and iDevices/iApps inherit the NeXT tradition of "small doses".
The iPod is an MP3 player, and it plays MP3s well.
iTunes is an MP3 player, and it plays MP3s well.
iMovies is...
Address Book is...
iCal is...
I doubt we will see a be-all and end-all set-top-box from Apple while Steve is still the iCEO.
Barto
centrally stored databases of iPhoto, iTunes, iCal, etc.
but thinking about netboot makes me think of domino,netboot,airport. and that remnds of me ofcourse of *i am sorry, i dont think i should mention his name*
thnx
by the way, i think that intellectual property is what allows me to compete with large corporations. funny how those with ideas do, those who dont, steal them.
[ 08-12-2002: Message edited by: niji ]</p>
Have a big fugly monster box hidden away, and multiple interfaces to it (tablet, X-Box, PDA, TV).
The Apple way is to have a beautiful PC in your living area, and small, focused iApps and iDevices to do tasks.
Barto
<strong>That's the Microsoft way.
Have a big fugly monster box hidden away, and multiple interfaces to it (tablet, X-Box, PDA, TV).
The Apple way is to have a beautiful PC in your living area, and small, focused iApps and iDevices to do tasks.
Barto</strong><hr></blockquote>
True, but remember the times are-a-changing... .Mac anyone?
<strong>
I like the idea. Why not an AirPort BaseStation Deluxe? A regular basestation with an large (120 or 200 gb) harddrive in it, apache, ftp, filesharing, printersharing and a sort-of-server-version of iSync?
The computor in it should only have to be a slow G3 without everything extra like cd, connectors (just usb and firewire), screen and displaycard.
Price? 600 dollars.
Would you buy it?</strong><hr></blockquote>
Make that a low end G4, so that they have the option to make MP versions of it, say dual 500's. Leave the CD in it to install softwarre. 1-2 PCI slots (adding USB2, firewire2, Cable/TV/Satelite tuners, or Audio for streaming to entertainment systems), and a low cost video built in. At least 1 free drive bay, preferably hot swapable.
<strong>That's the Microsoft way.
Have a big fugly monster box hidden away, and multiple interfaces to it (tablet, X-Box, PDA, TV).
The Apple way is to have a beautiful PC in your living area, and small, focused iApps and iDevices to do tasks.
Barto</strong><hr></blockquote>
I didn't think the Cube was that fugly
[ 08-12-2002: Message edited by: monkeyboy02 ]</p>
Oh come on, use some imagination! Yes, your solution works, but how elegent is it to have a bondi imac sitting on the floor next to your TV? No, I want a black box with an alluminum Apple logo on the front (like an XServe in reverse) that could stream iTunes wirelessly from my G4, record shows, play iMovies, display photos on your TV...
ahhh....
I'm starting to drool.