iMovie - iDVD - iTunes - iPhoto - anything missing?

[evanmarx]

hi everybody ... first of all ... i'm a die hard mac fan since years .. use macs for professional work (new media) and for home use ... i have 3 macs that i'm still actually using and 1 dell pc (for gaming, sorry) ..

since seeing SJ's 4part matrix of iSoftware (read subject), i was wondering if anything was missing that may be crucial for the consumer user ...

don't flame me at this ...

what i mostly use the pc for (besides gaming..) is software like netmeeting or M$ instant messenger (XP, which has now netmeeting functionality) to chat, talk and video conference with my brother and his kids on a daily if not hourly basis ... i think its great (not the software itself), but the functionalty it gives you ... i know that we (mac users) have MSIM on macos ... but what i would really like to see what Apple could make out of this functionality! ... after seeing how well iPhoto has been thought out (!!!) ... i'd die to see some iTalk/iConnect sw from apple SW dept. ... i think this is one of the key uses of the coming "digital hub"

only my 2 c

[mac15]

MAYBE A THIRD PARTY APP OR iCONNECT SOUNDS COOL
MS IS ****

[dolstein]

How about iMusic, a very user friendly digital audio recording and editing program? Turn your iMac into a home recording studio. I suppose there isn't that big a market for it -- I'm sure that more people would rather rip tracks from CDs than record their own music. Plus you'd still need additional hardware to get the music into the computer (the built-in mic isn't good enough). Still, I've always wondered why they called their MP3 program iTunes rather than the better-sounding (to me, at least) iMusic.

I'm sure Apple could come up with a better PDA interface than Palm Desktop for OSX, but I doubt they'll go there.

[Six]

Apple should make a music editing program.. That'd be awesome. I doubt they will, but it'd be nice to have something that you can do simple mixing and audio clipping and stuff. I have mixman for something like this, but i really dont like it all that much. I think in addition video confrencing software would be cool too.. I know there already are a lot of programs out there, but there were a lot of Mp3 players out there before iTunes, and Apple made the best. I'm confident Apple could make a video confrencing program that was great.

[rastalin94]

Hold on a second, you have to be careful about what you put on a computer. You want a Mac to ship with enough function to get a user up to crusing speed, but you do not want to overwhelm them. Right now they seem to have the perfect blend of simple yet powerful programs that meet the need of the AVERAGE USER. The iTalk idea is something i can see them working on. As far as music editing maybe something along the lines of iMovie in power. My point is that you do not want to ship a Mac with a bunch of shovel ware. By giving the user very basic programs it shows them what they can do and than the user can upgrade to the bigger programs after they have gotten comfortable with the basics.

[jail]

what about iSurf? IE is microsoft so meaning it sucks, but also to is too slow, and doesn't do enough. Netscape is getting too complicated now, and the rest aren't really very reliable. Apple should give us a browser that's upto standard with OS X (ie, fast, easy, powerfull, elegant).

[arn]

Originally posted by jail
what about iSurf? IE is microsoft so meaning it sucks, but also to is too slow, and doesn't do enough. Netscape is getting too complicated now, and the rest aren't really very reliable. Apple should give us a browser that's upto standard with OS X (ie, fast, easy, powerfull, elegant).

I doubt it... the browser market is not something Apple needs to be into... too much history in it...

arn

[jail]

Originally posted by arn


I doubt it... the browser market is not something Apple needs to be into... too much history in it...

arn

yeah, its a shame.
i don't know anybody whos happy with todays "choice" of browsers

[Six]

Sadly, M$ still owns part of Apple.. so i dont think we'll see any new macs come without a copy of IE

[dantec]

that contract ends this July... then M$ should not own a penny of apple :).

How bout iScan? The revoultionary scanning program that makes another chain of pain disapear. Just think, plug in, scan, unplug...

*(joke)*

I just would like to see the second revision of iPhoto. This would include basic filters like, brightness & contrast, instant fix, stuff like that... How do you edit photo's in iPhoto? You can't, just redeye and resizing...

[udannlin]

Originally posted by Six
Apple should make a music editing program..

a dependable source of mine has confirmed apple's intention in a "Digidesign ProTools Killer" app for audio professionals. Real time multitrack audio recording, mixing, effects with out additional hardware. (course accept the multitrack input capabilities will be from various third party vendors such as MOTU.) Similar to what Final Cut Pro has done to Avid. As far as whether or not they will go through with it, only time will tell.

[Buggy]

Some great ideas!

Here is my 2 cents.

Audio editing software becomes built into itunes

iConnect gets built into mail and becomes iMail

iScan (great idea btw!) gets built into iPhoto

this could keep the # of software titles down and increase the abilities of existing software. Hopefully not scaring newbies with too many competing programs.

I would like them to start converging many of their online features into one ease to see folder.

My itools disk, webpage, support page,...etc all visible and hot sync with what ever machine I wish so that I can keep my work machine and home machine "on the same date" and "on the same page".--- yes i mean to have the actual files in 3 places. @home, online, and @work

iTools 2???

[elfin buddy]

i doubt apple will put a feature like im into mail. it would make mail itself too complicated. same goes for all the other apps. i heard something a few months ago about apple working on a new IM app that would combine all the major IM apps into one so you would be able to contact people on both msn messenger and icq (etc...) at the same time.

an apple branded music editor is a possibility but i doubt apple would give it away for free (at least a full blown version...). it would probably target the same market as FCP. an iMusicEditor would probably be similar to iMovie, except to do with audio. maybe iMusicEditor and Music Editor Pro?

something else i would like to see apple release is a low end 3D animation studio for consumers. there arent many companies giving away 3D animation apps so its fair game for apple =) still, i doubt apple would releqase somthing like that because too few people are interested in 3D modeling.

[BurntCalc]

What's missing here? Well, all of Apple's i-apps complement existing trends in the industry. MP3's, Digicamera, camcorders, etc...

The question to ask here is what trend is there that's not being exploited?

Netmeeting capabilities is certainly interesting, but that's nothing new. Conferencing is a corporate thing.

An iMusic device has been buzzed about forever. I think the iPod is going to be Apple's only iMusic device for the time being.

So what's left? What appliances are there that Apple hasn't built isoftware for?

Well, not much. PDA's are about it. Unless iWalk comes out (ha!), I think Apple's iSoft lineup is gonna remain unchanged.

That is unless Apple comes out with some new hybrid appliance that we did't know we needed...

If Apple ever did make an appliance, I'd expect it to be some type of Apple-branded digi-cam or camcorder. In other words, think of a camera that at the moment is super complicated, and make it super easy. That would also follow the trend of how iTunes was released, then iPod a year later.

There's very little else that the industry hasn't already figured out. DVD players work well. Receivers are still confusing, but work. Cell phones? I don't think so.

The obvious answer to your question about new apps from Apple is that there won't be anything new for the next year. The next big thing is gonna be on the hardware side. The G5 and possibly an iCamera.

That's my prediction anyways.

;)

[spuncan]

iTalk and iWeb seem the most likely iTalk( like AIM but can talk to all Im'ers not just iWeb users) this is probably already in production for MWNY 02'. And iWeb (a internet browser Apple style) will be out when ever my guess is that it will be MWSF 03' if ever. And the entire iMusic think no way 3rd. parties have been making Music apps. since the Mac 128k so theres no need and no one would use it. It would be like Metro or sound studio.

[GigaWire]

Similar to what Final Cut Pro has done to Avid.

FCP is still very juvenile in its feature set compared to avid. I do see an audio program, especially since the digi hardware tools are so last decade in terms of actually being needed.

[smokeafatty]

i want to see iShare, a p2p networking program that links all mac users together into one big happy macintosh family tht can share files with the click of a button and find anything from mp3s to your college thesis paper. and the name doesnt get any better than iShare.

damn im good.

- pc user waiting patiently for the G5.

[jail]

Originally posted by Buggy
Audio editing software becomes built into iTunes
doubt it, iTunes is for listening, not editing.
It would be too complicated.
iTunes is designed to open, play, ignore.

iScan (great idea btw!) gets built into iPhoto
greate idea! every photo program should have scan built in

[Xapplimatic]

I think Apple's focus should now be on the human interface. Trackpads are clumsy, mice are corded and clumsier. It would be cool if they would put optical trackballs into their portables and keyboards and reduce peripheral clutter. But, on the other hand how about something totally new:

*Why doesn't Apple invest in optical tracking technology and innovate with putting microcameras into their screens which not only double as webcams, but use a type of optical recognition software that picks out what the human eye is focused on and create a new ability to navigate visually without having to use hands... Just think about it.. you're browsing MacRumors, and when your eye hits the end of the last line on the page, the browser automatically rolls the page up for you instead of having to waste time finding and manipulating a scroll bar. Want to follow a link to another page from a post? Just look at the link and give a long blink. Left eye blink for left mouse button, right eye blink for right mouse button.. Just a radical thought.
Canon has made digital camcorders which use eye position detection to change the focus.. why not put that technology to use in computers?

[eyelikeart]

I'm thinking maybe a design or page layout program possibly like Freehand or Quark? Apple has taken a stake in video, audio, photo.....so what's left?

Maybe Apple is going to venture into the consumer printing industry and create a layout program...like many of the crappy ones Microsoft bundles with Windoze....for people to be able to create cards, announcements, CD templates, etc, etc...

[G4scott]

Just remember guys, If Apple makes too many apps, and hurts developers, then they will be in the same place M$ is right now.

[GeeYouEye]

but if Apple did become like MS there, at least the programs would all bee good. BTW, only the contract with MS ends in July. MS will still own quite a bit of Apple though

[usa4jer]

apple should definitely release some sort of simple, easy-to-use consumer web page design software. sure it's easy enough to post your pictures on the web with a mac.com homepage using itools, but those are extremely limited and don't really do much. plus, you have to do everything online, which people with slower collections probably don't like. instead, make something that would allow consumers to build a simple but fully functional, customizable, and personalized web site from the ground up. it would have to be easier than something like GoLive and therefore include less features, but for the average Joe Schlubb it would be ideal. and it would be called iPage, and i would be entitled to royalties. iDeally:D
i don't know about the rest of you, and i don't give a **** how much of apple microsoft owns, i would love to see an apple web browser. i'm really liking the way apple is integrating all it's iSoftware with osx and itools (ie iPhoto, Mail, etc.), and i think there are an enormous amount of integrations apple could make by having a web browswer that talks seamlessly with osx.
also, and this is admittedly stupid, and obviously never going to happen, but i think it would be really funny if apple made a version of osx for xbox. pre-release, xbox's press releases were constantly making a point of the fact that microsoft didn't want the xbox to become a pc. it was to be a video game console, and nothing more, despite the fact that it's obviously capable of more. given that bill doesn't want the xbox to become a computer, nothing would piss him off more than to turn it into a mac. heheheheheh. but that'll never happen. or will it??? no. it won't.

[whfsdude]

http://www.apple.com/digitalhub/buy/

[mischief]

Apple's support for digital music production was severely hampered when Apple Records (of Beatles fame) sued under Company Name statutes.

That is: Apple Records sued Apple Computer because their names were confusingly similar and Apple Computers were beginning to look capable of being used for pro-Audio production which would put them in the same market genre. The court ruling prevented Apple Computer from pursuing pro-Audio as long as Apple records was in business. If you want an Apple Audio suite: find out if Apple Records still exists.;)

[cryptochrome]

I agree, although on the surface of it there doesn't seem to be a need for an apple web browser, there is a distinct need for a consumer-level website/webpage creation/editing program. I went looking for one today because I wanted to do some WYSIWYG editing and was sorely dissappointed, because besides the big commercial packages there simply aren't any.

This seems like it's right up apple's iApps line - make it one simple process, from creation to posting. It should integrate with iPhoto, iMovie, iDisk, and web sharing at the very least to let you make a full-fledged website. It should come with templates and clip art as well, and be a simple drag-and-drop affair. Beyond that it could do much more, leveraging technology like IBM's uServ, or even greater things.

My dream iApp combines p2p concepts, uServ technology, and all the best ideas of the web, page layout, p2p tech, fileserving, distributed and public chatting, conferencing, multisite searching, GPS coordinate=linking, and interactive technologies to allow you to create a personal node on the net, managed from your computer and available even when you're offline, using protocols unfettered by backwards compatibility to offer everything the net has to offer in one clean package. All the core functionalities of the net made simple and leveraged to create multilevel net communities around groups of distinct, expressive, individuals, instead of sites.

[sparkleytone]

im sorry but the only hole i really see in the digihub strategy is the PDA.

gimme my iMate, because i know you have one in the works.

my Vx does fine for what i need, but nothing else does what i WANT.

[eyelikeart]

can we please give the PDA thing a rest already?! :rolleyes:

[sparkleytone]

well, heres my theory as to why the OTHER things will/won't happen.

Music: apple does not seem to be interested in the slightest in pro music because people dont want or need it as much as video.

p2p proggie: won't happen period. why do you think the iPod is only sync-able with one mac? if he wasn't before you have to know that now Steve Jobs is intellectual property savvy.

browser: this is just a pandoras box of *****. there are way too many standards, protocols, etc. let the survivors of the first browser war deal with it. the only promise i see in this is the fact that OS X has java2 built in, and that could be a real boon to browser development. so i guess this is a distant maybe.

iTalk: maybe they could buy the fire.app and make it sweet. its already a good ways in but it has performance issues. also, they'd really have to deal with the big companies bishing about it.

iPHP: my little name for a sitebuilder...maybe iSite. this is a fun little concept. make it really visual and cool. very much in the iMovie vain, as iPhoto is in certain ways. if they made it really easy, maybe i'd finally build one for my domain.


i think there will be one more piece of hub-hardware.

oh...and m$ DOESNT OWN VOTING SHARES!

[Timothy]

I agree that the largest "hole" in the digital hub strategy is the PDA. Give me iOrganize. A way to keep all of my contacts, wallet-size photos, portable mp3's and imovies in one compact, ultra-portable unit.

I just don't get the "angst" of some of you against the PDA concept? Why don't you want Apple to give us a killer PDA? Can someone (eyelikeart?) please explain this to me?

iPod came about because nobody was building a good, viable mp3 player. And currently, no one is building a good, viable PDA. Palm is dying becuase users want better integration with their desktop machines, and for Windows users, Pocket PC is providing this. What about us Mac OSX users?

Give me iOrganize, and a great PDA, and for me, the digital hub strategy will be complete.

[rekras]

Originally posted by evanmarx
hi everybody ... first of all ... i'm a die hard mac fan since years .. use macs for professional work (new media) and for home use ... i have 3 macs that i'm still actually using and 1 dell pc (for gaming, sorry) ..

since seeing SJ's 4part matrix of iSoftware (read subject), i was wondering if anything was missing that may be crucial for the consumer user ...

don't flame me at this ...

what i mostly use the pc for (besides gaming..) is software like netmeeting or M$ instant messenger (XP, which has now netmeeting functionality) to chat, talk and video conference with my brother and his kids on a daily if not hourly basis ... i think its great (not the software itself), but the functionalty it gives you ... i know that we (mac users) have MSIM on macos ... but what i would really like to see what Apple could make out of this functionality! ... after seeing how well iPhoto has been thought out (!!!) ... i'd die to see some iTalk/iConnect sw from apple SW dept. ... i think this is one of the key uses of the coming "digital hub"

only my 2 c
good idea but not compatible with apple's digital hub stradegy which apple seems to be focusing on, remember guys, every time apple puts software out it pisses off software companies that apple needs porting their software to macs.

[whfsdude]

I was thinking apple needs to make a firewire webcam. hehe I ended up giving my sis the kritter usb. But I would by a firewire cam :-)

[eyelikeart]

if u need a PDA....go to Palm, Visor or even Sony....

Apple won't be making one.....or so Steve says....

[sparkleytone]

my point was that altho i can get a Palm or Visor or whatnot, none of them offer what I want. They just get by. I would like it to be a wireless device with a nice color interface and capability of playing DiVX movies. (over the wifi LAN Connection)

[Timothy]

Eyelikeart...

Simply put...if Steve feels that way...steve is wrong.

I own a Visor. It's a lousy PDA. It shouldn't even be called a PDA.

Again, I ask, why are you against Apple producing a PDA?

[eyelikeart]

because we all know that Steve Jobs clearly said that Apple has no interest in getting into that market again.... :o

[jail]

Originally posted by eyelikeart
because we all know that Steve Jobs clearly said that Apple has no interest in getting into that market again.... :o

just because steve says he has no interest doesn't mean it's not a good idea. if enough people want it, he will come up with one.

i don't want a PDA myself, but a few of my friends would kill for an apple PDA.

[Rogue]

how about something to do with home automation from Apple. That could be part of the digital hub.

[AJW]

Apple buys SGI, then

Maya >> 3D Pro Studio

iMaya (pared down version) >> i3D

[cryptochrome]

Originally posted by Rogue
how about something to do with home automation from Apple. That could be part of the digital hub.

I think you'd need something to automate before that would be of any use. Besides electronics, there aren't a whole lot of things that are automatable.

[kiwi_the_iwik]

It would be unwise to suggest that Steve Jobs would bow to the will of the few who would want to buy a PDA. Since the Newton was actually a financial loss-maker, AND was around at the time that Gil Amelio was at the helm of Apple, I doubt that Steve would even look down that avenue, because there was no love lost between them. Even in the beginning, the Mac Development Team seperated itself from the main unit that was Apple, who at the time was producing the most successful personal home computer in history - the Apple II. That proves that Mr. Jobs is a person who will focus on one specific project, and run with it. His whole idea of streamlining the Mac product line in 1997 made perfect sense. Trim the fat, and run a lean, tight ship - and it shows in Apple's revenue in the past 5 years.

Don't get me wrong - the Newton was WAY ahead of it's time - and I rushed out and bought one in 1994. It still sits proudly next to my Cube (Boy - can I pick the winning hardware, or what!?!?). But eyelikeart is right - enough on this PDA thing. It ain't gonna happen.

Getting back on topic though - I digress - how about iPlay?

A more elaborate method of gameplay with virtual headset support, force feedback and more intuitive tools for game software manufacturers.

[wrylachlan]

this seems like a no-brainer to me. In the next revision of the iPod stick a crappy microphone in it. Let folks dictate into it and when you plug it into your mac it turns it into text. You can set it up to automatically send the text to MS Word or Nissus or whatever it is you use. And since every mac has a mic in it you could dictate right from your desk if you want. But I think the real selling point will be the dictation on the road with iPod.

While on the iPod, I will eat my shirt if we don't see the iPod with a full color screen and the ability to play those iPhoto slide shows within the year.

[jail]

Originally posted by AJW
Apple buys SGI, then

Maya >> 3D Pro Studio

iMaya (pared down version) >> i3D
i don't think maya has a future, it is just too expencive. a program sells good when a lot of people own it, not when only a few companies can afford it.

but i do agree that there should be a simple, but powerfull 3D program, it would sell well, if it was cheap, 3D programs are way to costly for the home user, but every one would love to play around with a simple 3D program. it could have all the basic shapes, a decent texture editor, and be able to import objects from other programs.

[j763]

I don't really know - but I'd imagine that using a computer just by moving your eyes is a bit far off... But I think that Voice Recognition/Activation should be getting closer to working by now - it's been around for a while now... Surely it's moved on since I last used it...

[jaykk]

What I am looking for is a better browser.. either apple should work with Netscape or come up with its own..
read the following article titled "Own It All, Apple, Please: Homepage, iPhoto, Netscape 6, & The Problems"
http://www.macobserver.com/editorial/2002/01/25.1.shtml

[littlejim]

Originally posted by jaykk
What I am looking for is a better browser.. either apple should work with Netscape or come up with its own..
read the following article titled "Own It All, Apple, Please: Homepage, iPhoto, Netscape 6, & The Problems"
http://www.macobserver.com/editorial/2002/01/25.1.shtml
Hmmmm - have a look at this link!!

Netscape and Apple Announce Plans to Develop Netscape Navigator for Apple's Cyberdog.

http://product.info.apple.com/pr/press.releases/1996/q4/960827.pr.rel.netscape.html .

Not quite cutting edge news I'm afraid!

---------
littleJim

[ilikeiBook]

Originally posted by jail
what about iSurf? IE is microsoft so meaning it sucks, but also to is too slow, and doesn't do enough. Netscape is getting too complicated now, and the rest aren't really very reliable. Apple should give us a browser that's upto standard with OS X (ie, fast, easy, powerfull, elegant).

iSurf would be good, probably alot better than anything microsoft or netscape could do. After all, the iMac and iBook were designed to be your internet co-pilot. An Apple browser would be ideal.

[whfsdude]

Digital Hub is missing communication. But maybe the next big thing will be the power to send matter over the next. hehe or maybe apple is doing some kind broadband thing with metaphysics and it will throw the usa into a state of anarchy, just a thought

[obeygiant]

iKitchensink is missing

[dantec]

what ever happened to Cyberdog??? Was it axed by SJ too?

[littlejim]

Originally posted by dantec
what ever happened to Cyberdog??? Was it axed by SJ too?
From MacCentral (http://maccentral.macworld.com/news/9903/09.opendoc.shtml) -

Cyberdog is an OpenDoc-based set of Internet utilities. However, when Steve Jobs took over as Apple iCEO he, in his own words, "put a bullet in the head" of OpenDoc.

I think that answers the question!

LittleJim
----------

[Xapplimatic]

That news release was 1996 dated.. talk about waking the dead!

Hey, why not a PDA? The Newton was LONG LONG ago.. and people just weren't ready for PDAs back then. Now there is a business class market which depends on them. Apple could certainly clean house if they made one now. With an active TFT color screen, and a dual-OS system which runs both OS X apps scaled for PDA use and Palm OS, it would probably be a big hit.

On a related note, anyone notice that Palm is now releasing a super mini keyboard with the new Palm that just came out? I think they are anxious that they may loose the patent lawsuit against them over their Grafitti pen-input technology and are trying to leave themself an out if they are ordered to remove pen input from their product line.. and IF that were to happen, what better way for Apple to clobber the PDA market being they hold rights to their own system (Inkwell)?

[cryptochrome]

iProgram - the user friendly programming app.

There are plenty of programs out there that badge themselves as a neophyte-level programming language, such as RealBasic. Relatively speaking, they are. But the fact is someone can't just start making a program without wading through blocks and blocks of uninterpretable text. The learning curve is always steep, it's just that some programs make it a little less steep than others. The sad thing is being able to program can turn a computer from a useful tool to a truly powerful machine of discovery and communication.

I think apple should make a visual mac programming application as free of text as possible, using full color icons and connections. Instead of writing a program you build it, and it's so intuitive and easy that anyone can do it. At the very least we could use a visual scripting program.

[mywar2000]

I realize I got onto this thread way late but... Anyway, I started a thread on the hardware board about a PRO AUDIO MACHINE. It sounds possible to me. Here are the *rumors* That I put together:

G5's coming soon
Single rack space (19") Servers (G5?)
gigawire- whether it's wireless or not...
and a "Digidesign ProTools Killer" app for audio professionals

FCP rules in video... We need an awesome AUDIO APP!!

This WOULD NOT be part of the included software of any new mac. (DUH?!)
It will be expensive...(as is FCP) and require additional equipment: A/D converters operating on ... Minimum: Firewire 2 , max: Gigawire? whatever the 'ell that is?!

Apple is going after the PRO market in every other area. SEE: custom built ULTIMATE Dual 1gig machines) Stick that beast in a RACKMOUNTABLE case and offer a Pro level audio app and we will be in audio heaven! :)

the apple records VS. Apple computer court case would def. be a limitation to this pipe dream... :( but as far as I know that is a *rumor* too. :)

[eyelikeart]

how about a PDA?

oh wait.....Apple said they wouldn't get back into that market....

what was I thinking?! :rolleyes:

[jail]

Originally posted by cryptochrome
iProgram - the user friendly programming app.
good idea, there would be some writing involved, or it wouldn't be powerfull enough. AppleScript could be used for what can't be avoided. it's an easy to understand languadge, it could use some improvements in speed though. assistants for writing each command (like commando in MPW) would help. there could be a reference/help were user can search for "notify user" and you get a list of commands that can do it, how to use them, and an interface for building the command.

i don't think it's possible to "build" an application, but it could be made easy to write commands, say a list of commands with recognisable icons that get executed 1 by 1?

sounds like an expencive program...