So what is it?

13

Comments

  • Reply 41 of 64
    Replace the 12" PB with a 1.67GHz 13.3" widescreen version, at a resolution of 1280 by 800, and I'll be incredibly satisfied.
  • Reply 42 of 64
    sport73sport73 Posts: 438member
    My gut tells me it's NOT a video iPod, but rather the quickly forgotten rumor du-jour of 6-12 months ago - The MAC Media Center (curtains makes sense for that).



    Incorporates iTunes (Apple said Airport Express was just the start) but let's you stream movies/photos other content to your TV/Home Stereo with Apple simplicity and aesthetics. This is the pre-cursor to the Video iPod, it will be the device that builds the content demand that will drive the vPod.
  • Reply 43 of 64
    Quote:

    Originally posted by Sport73

    My gut tells me it's NOT a video iPod, but rather the quickly forgotten rumor du-jour of 6-12 months ago - The MAC Media Center (curtains makes sense for that).



    Incorporates iTunes (Apple said Airport Express was just the start) but let's you stream movies/photos other content to your TV/Home Stereo with Apple simplicity and aesthetics. This is the pre-cursor to the Video iPod, it will be the device that builds the content demand that will drive the vPod.






    The only problem is that most people don't have enough (legal) video content on their mac to stream over to their tv.
  • Reply 44 of 64
    Quote:

    Originally posted by johnsocal

    The only problem is that most people don't have enough video (legal) content on their mac to stream over to their tv.



    Did people have 'enough' legal *audio* content before iTMS? Negative.



    After the iTunes boom what did Apple also come out with? GarageBand etc.



    iMovie, Final Cut Express, iDVD etc are already there.. just looking at the content storage system. Viola.



    Seems a slam dunk case. I say bring it on. There's no way I'm going to live another 6 days not knowing. (runs to find time machine in closet, be back (or should I say be present) shortly.
  • Reply 45 of 64
    Quote:

    Originally posted by Not Unlike Myself

    Did people have 'enough' legal *audio* content before iTMS? Negative.



    After the iTunes boom what did Apple also come out with? GarageBand etc.



    iMovie, Final Cut Express, iDVD etc are already there.. just looking at the content storage system. Viola.



    Seems a slam dunk case. I say bring it on. There's no way I'm going to live another 6 days not knowing. (runs to find time machine in closet, be back (or should I say be present) shortly.




    Allowing people to rip their existing collection is vital to the success of a movie version of itunes because most people dont want to re-buy something they already bought before.



    Riping commercial CDs was easy, fast, and legal.



    Riping encrypted commercial DVD's is not. First you have to legally get around encryption and the size alone takes more time to rip and then you have to convert the file to quicktime (or other types) to get it play that most people dont have the patients for.
  • Reply 46 of 64
    Quote:

    Originally posted by johnsocal

    Allowing people to rip their existing collection is vital to the success of a movie version of itunes because most people dont want to re-buy something they already bought before.



    Riping commercial CDs was easy, fast, and legal.



    Riping encrypted commercial DVD's is not. First you have to legally get around encryption and the size alone takes more time to rip and then you have to convert the file to quicktime (or other types) to get it play.




    But we aren't talking about just MOVIES. There is lots of varietes of audio content (audio books) but you didn't see Apple introducing a way to scan in your books did you? No. Instead they chose Songs (short little things) and eventually expanded from there.



    Why not start with shorts. (TV shows w/o commercials are MUCH shorter then you realize) Already many web TV shows have cult followings. (think Red vs. Blue for example)



    In any case... you can't compare that way.. people would *still* be able to add their own content. Just via iMovie, iDVD etc. Sure people will hack it so they can rip DVDs. But DVDs are *big* and it takes a long time. (and to download) Apple will try to stop them but it will pass with a wink and a nod. Meanwhile TV shows, new TV podcasts etc, as well as user contributed content (your home movies) would be filling up such services. Not *that* big a stretch.



    Just because it's video doesn't mean 'straight' to movies. (IMO anyway)



  • Reply 47 of 64
    "Allowing people to rip their existing collection is vital to the success of a movie version of itunes because most people dont want to re-buy something they already bought before."



    I might add... that nobody (sane anyway) is talking about moving your collection of DVDs to a computer format. They are *too big* for today's storage formats... that's why it wasn't done already. Your 80 gig HD just doesn't have room for even 'well encoded' DVDs beyond 3 or 4.



    Lets keep our 'sanity' caps on here....
  • Reply 48 of 64
    rongoldrongold Posts: 302member
    It seems funny that Apple proclaimed this as the year of HD when iDVD can't even write out content to a DVD in a widescreen presentation.



    'Course, why should they when it will get all that much easier by completely forgoing the DVD. Apple will just introduce some new Airport type of device that will send the stuff that resides on your computer's hard drive (and maybe even your iPod's hard drive) and THIS time it will have a remote of some sort ? a remote that will probably look a lot like an iPod. Heck, the remote may even be an iPod.



    It will probably be upgradably with a ROM flash as the new wireless standard is shaped over the coming year ? just like the Airport Extreme.
  • Reply 49 of 64
    Quote:

    Originally posted by Not Unlike Myself

    "Allowing people to rip their existing collection is vital to the success of a movie version of itunes because most people dont want to re-buy something they already bought before."



    I might add... that nobody (sane anyway) is talking about moving your collection of DVDs to a computer format. They are *too big* for today's storage formats... that's why it wasn't done already. Your 80 gig HD just doesn't have room for even 'well encoded' DVDs beyond 3 or 4.



    Lets keep our 'sanity' caps on here....






    When many in the music industry initially signed on to Apple's ipod/itunes most no expected expected Apple to monopolize the market like they did. The problem for Apple now is that they are a victim of their own success. Most no one in the Movie industry is going to let Apple monopolize the digtal distribution and storage of movies like they have done with music now that they know how good is Apple mixing software and hardware (as if the mac wasnt evidence of that already).



    If people cant convert their own DVD movies like they can convert their own CD's and if Apple cant convince the movies industry to sell movies over the itunes store then what content will people be able to play other then home movies , crappy music videos, and illegal p2p stuff?
  • Reply 50 of 64
    Quote:

    Originally posted by johnsocal

    When many in the music industry initially signed on to Apple's ipod/itunes most no expected expected Apple to monopolize the market like they did.



    Tell me you aren't saying that business people *planned* to fail? Give um a little more credit then they just got lucky. Movie industry people aren't stupid either...



    Quote:

    Originally posted by johnsocal

    Most no one in the Movie industry is going to let Apple monopolize the digtal distribution and storage of movies like they have done with music-



    What choice do they have? Someone is bound to do it. When ONE network gives it's HOT shows to Apple the rest HAVE to. Digital distribution hasn't even been born yet...but you seem ready to put it in the ground. What do you expect? Competition? Do you have 10 years to sit around waiting for Dish providers and cable companies to pioneer the solution? (and end up with a bunch of proprietary crap?) You want the CONTENT (not the commercials etc) so what will finance this? Purchases. What you are witnessing my friend is the beginning of the end for 'networks' that don't brand, and sponsor their own shows. I wouldn't be suprised if ABC, CBS etc are even around as you know them today. The *content* will live on but the crap won't.



    It's the same reason you subsidize special intrest TV. (in other words.. your larger cable bill helps pay for the Golf channel even if you don't watch it) Those days are soon at an end.

    Quote:

    Originally posted by johnsocal

    If people cant convert their own DVD movies like they can convert their own CD's and if Apple cant convince the movies industry to sell movies over the itunes store then what content will people be able to play other then home movies , crappy music videos, and illegal p2p stuff?



    I still don't know how you are hung up on Movies alone. I've already posted there isn't enough storage on people's hard drives today to even make this practical. And for your analogy.. most people don't rip CDs anymore they buy them straight online. They may grow *into* movies but you are selling short the new shape of media delivery. It has Apple written all over it.
  • Reply 51 of 64
    tak1108tak1108 Posts: 222member
    I think this event is to officially announce the new mac mini's.
  • Reply 52 of 64
    Quote:

    Originally posted by Not Unlike Myself

    Tell me you aren't saying that business people *planned* to fail? Give um a little more credit then they just got lucky. Movie industry people aren't stupid either...



    Did I say fail?



    Nice try but honestly no one expected the ipod to the incredible iconic success that it has become and most thought it would do well but limited as a high-end niche product.



    The reality is that if the music industry knew the ipod would have monopolized the market like it has they would have negotiated %'s differently and the movie industry doesnt want to give Apple too much control over the future of digital movie distribution.





    Quote:

    Originally posted by Not Unlike Myself

    What choice do they have? Someone is bound to do it. When ONE network gives it's HOT shows to Apple the rest HAVE to. Digital distribution hasn't even been born yet...but you seem ready to put it in the ground. What do you expect? Competition? Do you have 10 years to sit around waiting for Dish providers and cable companies to pioneer the solution? (and end up with a bunch of proprietary crap?) You want the CONTENT (not the commercials etc) so what will finance this? Purchases. What you are witnessing my friend is the beginning of the end for 'networks' that don't brand, and sponsor their own shows. I wouldn't be suprised if ABC, CBS etc are even around as you know them today. The *content* will live on but the crap won't.



    ok?



    Quote:

    Originally posted by Not Unlike Myself

    It's the same reason you subsidize special intrest TV. (in other words.. your larger cable bill helps pay for the Golf channel even if you don't watch it) Those days are soon at an end.



    Theres certainly 'no free lunch' and you will either pay for content by paying for it directly, by a monthly subscription in some form, subsidized by commercials/ads, or in the case of the BBC or PBS by taxes.



    Quote:

    Originally posted by Not Unlike Myself

    I still don't know how you are hung up on Movies alone. I've already posted there isn't enough storage on people's hard drives today to even make this practical. And for your analogy.. most people don't rip CDs anymore they buy them straight online. They may grow *into* movies but you are selling short the new shape of media delivery. It has Apple written all over it.



    Do you have any links/facts to back up that most people don't buy CD's and rip them anymore? You also need to find out what % of people still burn CD's from their pcs/macs as their main source of music in the car and etc while you're at it. You also need to quantify 'buy them straight online. Do you really mean 'buy' via itunes and other legal services, or just illegal downloading via a p2p?
  • Reply 53 of 64
    Quote:

    Originally posted by johnsocal

    Do you have any links/facts to back up that most people don't buy CD's and rip them anymore? You also need to find out what % of people still burn CD's from their pcs/macs as their main source of music in the car and etc while you're at it. You also need to quantify 'buy them straight online. Do you really mean 'buy' via itunes and other legal services, or just illegal downloading via a p2p?



    NOW you are getting it. That is the very point I'm trying to make. There are LOTS of ways people obtain, share and use music. And the ability to Rip that music is just one small facet of it. I continue to doubt that 'ripping dvds' would be the real road to success. So your

    Quote:

    Originally posted by johnsocal

    If people cant convert their own DVD movies like they can convert their own CD's and if Apple cant convince the movies industry to sell movies over the itunes store then what content will people be able to play



    has 2 very BIG 'ifs' in it. But at the end of the day.. will either *really* matter?
  • Reply 54 of 64
    groveratgroverat Posts: 10,872member
    I've been pushing for a freaking media center Mac since iMovie came out. I really hope that is it.



    Either that or a real iPhone.
  • Reply 55 of 64
    fahlmanfahlman Posts: 740member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by Sport73

    My gut tells me it's NOT a video iPod, but rather the quickly forgotten rumor du-jour of 6-12 months ago - The MAC Media Center (curtains makes sense for that).



    Incorporates iTunes (Apple said Airport Express was just the start) but let's you stream movies/photos other content to your TV/Home Stereo with Apple simplicity and aesthetics. This is the pre-cursor to the Video iPod, it will be the device that builds the content demand that will drive the vPod.




    Sport, you've hit it. I agree completely. It fits with all the "hints" that have supported the video iPod speculation, plus it's actually a viable product.
  • Reply 56 of 64
    sport73sport73 Posts: 438member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by fahlman

    Sport, you've hit it. I agree completely. It fits with all the "hints" that have supported the video iPod speculation, plus it's actually a viable product.



    The more I read the rumor sites and the postings of all inhabitants, the more I become convinced that IF Apple were to launch the Video iPod, it would have to be in conjunction with a MAJOR announcement/effort to build content for such a device. Apple can't advocate 'ripping' DVD's, since DVD's are protected and ripping them requires 'illegally- depending upon your lawyer" circumventing or 'cracking' copyrite software.

    So, I clearly can't use the movies I already own. So, I must choose the wine in fron of you...



    Downloading movies sounds attractive, but with bandwidth limitations, high-quality films would still take a LONG time, and there is no indication that Hollywood feels compelled to move in that direction yet, there is simply too much money being made on DVD sales. In addition, with this as "the year of HD" and HD DVD formats on the horizon, it's simply too soon to launch a film distribution online without full HD support.

    So, I clearly can't use the movies from the web...



    TV shows? Music Videos? Video Podcasts? About the only one of these that's immediately viable are Video Podcasts. TV Shows would require the 'licensing' of so many partners it would make the record labels appear easy to deal with (and don't forget that the money to make "King of Queens" still comes from ADVERTISING revenues generated selling commercials during the show). Plus, consumers already have Tivo and On-Demand systems that allow them to watch an episode of "Curb your Enthusiasm" that they happened to miss. Music videos? Maybe some people will like them, but to me the idea of paying for the 4 minute soft-porn, 'buy my album' ADverstisements that are today's videos is an insult to my intelligence. So, Video Podcasts? Maybe, but would Apple really want to launch such a high profile product with the bulk of the content coming from the uncontrolled masses?



    All this is not to say that a Video iPod should not exist, it should, and will. It's also not to say that digital distribution of movies, television shows, and more in a model similar to iTunes isn't the way of the future - IT IS. Only that the timing is not there yet.



    iPods are selling well, and there has been no successful venture yet into portable video. Apple simply doesn't need to jump on it this soon.



    Now, a Mac Media Center:



    Look at the XBox 360, it allows you to connect an iPod for music, a digital camera or flash memory stick for photos, and to connect to a Windows PC for the remote view of content. It also plays games, and DVD's. Sony will launch the PS3, designed to do many of the same things. The battle for the living room is well underway, and Apple can't afford to get complacent. They own music, and in my house that's all music everywhere (via network and Airport Express). They are the best at content creation and content management in the world of digital media (iPhoto, iMovie etc.). Apple needs to fire a shot into the living room wars in order to protect the iPod, continue the momentum of the new role as 'entertainment technology company', and fulfill plans for a Video iPod and more.



    A little box of Apple magic that plugs into your TV and gives you access to all the digital content you own, create, or borrow with Apple simplicity and aesthetic. A built in dock for your iPod, and a 'conduit' to the iTMS that lets you sit back with a few friends on the couch and browse/buy songs with the click of your remote control. Large HD built in for storing songs and content and sharing them to Macs/PC's throughout the home. Eliminates the need for a PC or Mac to make use of an iPod (which opens the market up for iPod to the millions of people too old or 'technically challenged' to rip, mix & burn). Video Podcasts featured, Movie trailers and music videos featured, Then, when the timing is right, digital distribution of movies etc.



    To me, this has to come before the Video iPod.
  • Reply 57 of 64
    gargar Posts: 1,201member
    i don't think apple will advocate couch potatoism by making a passivicator device like a video iPod or a gadget to make your entire life livable in front of your tv.
  • Reply 58 of 64
    http://www.drownedmadonna.com/module...ticle&sid=9145



    Latest news on october 12:

    Madonna iPod
  • Reply 59 of 64
    sport73sport73 Posts: 438member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by gar

    i don't think apple will advocate couch potatoism by making a passivicator device like a video iPod or a gadget to make your entire life livable in front of your tv.



    You're right, they'd rather lose billions and potentially the entire company by letting Microsoft and Sony take ownership of the living room, which would ensure that the iPod get surpassed by products that are 'integrated' into their livingroom solutions.



    Steve can hate TV, and the couch potatoes of the world, but he needs them and their money to continue to win. He's got integrity, but not so much that he'll let Apple die just to keep you from gaining 5 pounds.
  • Reply 60 of 64
    cubistcubist Posts: 954member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by Sport73

    ... little box of Apple magic that plugs into your TV and gives you access to all the digital content you own, create, or borrow with Apple simplicity and aesthetic. A built in dock for your iPod, and a 'conduit' to the iTMS that lets you sit back with a few friends on the couch and browse/buy songs with the click of your remote control. Large HD built in for storing songs and content and sharing them to Macs/PC's throughout the home. ...



    Sounds like it's a repackaged Mini with a remote control, iPod dock and a/v switch. Certainly doable. But it's the Pippin all over again. Where will the games come from for this thing? Would Apple try to compete with Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo, not just for consumers, but also for developers? And that in a market where products are sold at money-losing prices? Maybe it's a DVR too, but that doesn't make things any better, and introduces a bunch more technical issues.



    Too bold a move, imho. Instead, Apple should inch their way into the living room with products like Airport Express and the Mini.
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