iTunes says It's Showtime

[Mydriasis]

here it is....

[*GG*]

I really don't see how Apple will sell video iPods outside of the US until they start providing tv shows or movies for download to watch on them outside of the US.

[SodaPopMonster]

Well. As a Picker-upper, I suggest reading the archives of a certain day in October 2001.

[DrFrankTM]

iTV works with PC or Mac

$299, not bad

No one thinks it's a big deal?!?! I'd think it's a pretty good kick in the nuts to Windows Media Center! Apple is telling the PC world that they can now use an *Apple* gizmo to connect their Windows machine to their HDTV. I'm not quite sure what it will be able to do exactly - like how easy it will be to add new content and such -, but if Apple is bringing FrontRow to PC users throughout the world, I'd say it's a pretty big thing! No wonder the Woz felt like it was worth showing up...

[bjbyers]

So, can I get the search features and other stuff on my current 5th gen Ipod video, or do I need the new one? Other than a brighter screen and increased battery, ANY difference?

[dunc85]

Show us the Album Cover view! :)

[dpaanlka]

I love this new Shuffle. I wouldn't want one, but it looks so sleek and Apple-like now. I'm sure it will be a great seller.

I am so satisfied!

[richard4339]

****. I've got iTunes 7, but the store is still down.

[~Shard~]

someone please start a poll asking people if they were disappointed with todays proceedings!

Oh, there will be one (if not many) don't you worry! ;)

[MacSA]

WOW... can anyone confirm that there have been price cuts to Apple hardware at the UK store? Is it just some fault?

[Agathon]

OMG!!!

It's hideous....

[kellen]

Damn, the shuffle lost its USB plug built in, must use the dock.

Well I guess it is the size of a usb plug, but dang that was a great feature.

[aafuss1]

The nano looks like a mini reinvented-and a 80GB 5thgen iPod

[mazola]

1) Pac Man (http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/2006/09/dsc_0876.jpg)
2) Asteroid (http://www.engadget.com/2004/11/25/apple-asteroid-was-emagic-emi/)

[peharri]

No one thinks it's a big deal?!?! I'd think it's a pretty good kick in the nuts to Windows Media Center! Apple is telling the PC world that they can now use an *Apple* gizmo to connect their Windows machine to their HDTV. I'm not quite sure what it will be able to do exactly - like how easy it will be to add new content and such -, but if Apple is bringing FrontRow to PC users throughout the world, I'd say it's a pretty big thing! No wonder the Woz felt like it was worth showing up...

It sounds good to me. I'm surprised everyone's being negative on it. Of course, we'll have to see the specs (I'm not seeing anything on apple.com)

[AppleKrate]

Steve sez: it's called iTV. That's a codeword. we need to come up with a better name...

How about OnDigital?:D

:confused: ? sorry, Region 2 joke

[conradzoo]

Just ordered the black 8 gig Nano.

And boy, Itunes 7.0 looks terrific! Wow wow! :)

[SodaPopMonster]

So, can I get the search features and other stuff on my current 5th gen Ipod video, or do I need the new one? Other than a brighter screen and increased battery, ANY difference?

I remember seeing that the new features will work with the 5G.

[Mydriasis]

Show us the Album Cover view! :)
ok but it is still loading the covers

[briansolomon]

I'm fairly pleased with this. A moderate iPod update. 80 Gigs at $349 will have a lot of people going for the high end instead I believe.

Also, it's interesting to note that they are making black a premium item on the nano in addition to the MacBook. Only difference is that it's actually worth getting the black.

[mauly]

new ear buds look good

[treybean]

Has anyone else noticed that when you click 'customize' during the install of iTunes7, there is an option titled 'iTunes Phone Driver'? It isn't checked and I can't check it, but it is there.

Hmmm.

[suneohair]

No EDU pricing on the new iPods yet.

The Free Nano promotion is only for the old Nanos too.

[mensrea]

The 80gb upgrade is a big deal for me. My music collection alone is 65gb. No Books, no Podcasts, no Video. I was hoping for 100gb, but this will do. I'm in.

[SodaPopMonster]

I like the new iPod mini-esque stying on the nano.

[numediaman]

I think there is a lot there -- but not much for consumers.

For instance, the move to 640X480 video sounds like a minor thing -- but for those doing video podcasts its a huge improvement, and guarantees that video podcasts will be superior to Flash streamed YouTube and Google video.

What about the box? It sounds interesting, but why is this better than simply hooking up your mini to your TV? Does this act as a wireless router? Or does it simply get the information wirelessly from your PC? If you are supposed to hook your iPod to it, why isn't the USB connection in the front? Clearly I don't get something here.

[karlfranz]

Did somebody mess up with the iPod specs or pricing. The store has a 30GB for $249US and the 80GB for $349US, but no 60GB. I'm confused.

Here's the feed from MacRumors:

10:12 am iLounge: 249 and 349 with 60GB and 80GB capacity

[bankshot]

This post is going to get lost in the noise, but with the album-oriented view now, it's even more of a crime not to have true gapless playback. Does the new version finally have it? iTunes? iPod? Music lovers want to know...

Edit: reading the other thread, people are talking about gapless... hmmm... could it be? Can I have hope? Going to investigate further....

[calculus]

Well as I expected 'movies' but no films yet (ever?) - come on steve you're supposed to be a global company!

[sfwalter]

Any ideas how much space a 2hr. movie will consume? I'm trying to decide between the 30gb and 80gb iPods?

[peharri]

"No wireless. Less space than a nomad. Lame."

Most of the posters here sound like people did at the original iPod launch.

Here's the reality. What we just saw was, potentially, the complete reinvention of TV. Some products aren't ready yet, but Apple was keen to show us at least one that's critical to this change - the iTV.

It is quite possible, quite probable even, that this event is as important to the future of visual media as the original announcements of VHS, TiVo, and Cable TV.

I don't know if Apple will carry it off this time, but the model described is quite possibly how we'll all be watching TV in a few years.

[richard4339]

Education store update:

New iPods don't get education discounts it appears, and the free iPod with a Mac purchase is giving you the 5G iPods.

[jamesnajera]

No one thinks it's a big deal?!?! I'd think it's a pretty good kick in the nuts to Windows Media Center! Apple is telling the PC world that they can now use an *Apple* gizmo to connect their Windows machine to their HDTV. I'm not quite sure what it will be able to do exactly - like how easy it will be to add new content and such -, but if Apple is bringing FrontRow to PC users throughout the world, I'd say it's a pretty big thing! No wonder the Woz felt like it was worth showing up...


How can you not be sure, all iTV is an iPod+iTunes with your TV as a screen. You will now be able to visit iTunes with it from your TV and purchase movies, music, etc from it. Movies will probably be stored on it or streamed from your computer to it. This is not better than windows media center, in fact they should have put a tuner in mac mini, that would be better than wmc, but still not original. Why do you think they allow for your iPod or Library to be authenticated on more than one computer, it is to support this device in the future.

[~Shard~]

This post is going to get lost in the noise, but with the album-oriented view now, it's even more of a crime not to have true gapless playback. Does the new version finally have it? iTunes? iPod? Music lovers want to know...

Yes, it was announced at 10:07 AM to be precise - "iPod is getting enhanced today. 60% brighter with brighness control, 3.5 hours video playback (up from 2 hrs... big version goes to 6.5 hours), new headphones, gapless playback."

[richard4339]

Did somebody mess up with the iPod specs or pricing. The store has a 30GB for $249US and the 80GB for $349US, but no 60GB. I'm confused.

Here's the feed from MacRumors:

10:12 am iLounge: 249 and 349 with 60GB and 80GB capacity

MacRumors mistyped: the presentation pics from Engadget confirmed its a 30 and an 80.

[///mdriver]

its taking forever to find the gapless info

[suneohair]

Did somebody mess up with the iPod specs or pricing. The store has a 30GB for $249US and the 80GB for $349US, but no 60GB. I'm confused.

Here's the feed from MacRumors:

10:12 am iLounge: 249 and 349 with 60GB and 80GB capacity

THat was wrong. Engadget reported 30Gb and 80GB, supported by an image at the show.

[prady16]

is the apple store down once again?
edit: it was down for just a minute or so!

[ftaok]

This post is going to get lost in the noise, but with the album-oriented view now, it's even more of a crime not to have true gapless playback. Does the new version finally have it? iTunes? iPod? Music lovers want to know...

Edit: reading the other thread, people are talking about gapless... hmmm... could it be? Can I have hope? Going to investigate further....
Yes, iTunes 7 has gapless. Also, there's indication that it'll search your current library and determine which songs in your library should be done gapless, although I'm at a loss in figuring out how that happens.

Incidentally, gapless is available for mp3, aac, and Apple Lossless.

[///mdriver]

FLAC support integrated would be nice.

[SodaPopMonster]

Man, I could stare at the new iTunes iCon for hours. That thing is purdy.

[karlfranz]

THat was wrong. Engadget reported 30Gb and 80GB, supported by an image at the show.
Damn! 60GB for 249 would have been an incredibly awesome deal.

[macenforcer]

If they are upgrading the downloaded video there has to be an update for current video ipods. Someone hook up your ipod video to your mac and go to software update. Lets see.

[prady16]

i LOOOOOVE the shuffle......too bad it starts shipping only next month!

[ImNoSuperMan]

Best part of this whole affair today:-

Back to school scheme is still there. Good news for those who`d been holding out till last minute.

EDIT: Sorry I was wrong. You cant order the new ones with the scheme. I jumped on to conclusions without checking the details

[aafuss1]

Movies-is High School Musical and classic and new Disney films-Pirates of Carribean 2 is stunning to launch it with.

And 80GB-perfect for a movie fan-lots of Roeper & Ebert podcasts, a film or 2 and a soundtrack or two.

[kellen]

Best part of this whole affair today:-

Back to school scheme is still there. Good news for those who`d been holding out till last minute.

Because in two weeks new macbooks pros

J/K, but its only minutes until the thread is started

[dornoforpyros]

well iTunes 7 is rather sweet, very clean, and I especially like the new views for searching through your music. And kudos on implementing cover flow.

other than that this was pretty much what was expected today. Enjoy your movie downloads if your in the US...

[tonyvz]

here it is....


I do not like the new scroll bars.

I really hope this isn't a "sneak peek" as to what the finder windows will look like in Leopard.

[sfwalter]

I just fired up iTunes 7 and went to the music store. Its nice that they show the size of the movies. National Treasure a 2 hr., 11 min. movie takes up 1.48gb. Not too bad!

[BRLawyer]

Now we can only ask...WHERE ARE THE DAMN IPOD KILLERS?

The Nano is simply AWESOME, and it's gonna sell like bananas to everyone...SIMPLY AWESOME. They were able to take the best of the Minis with the best of the Nanos...Apple is UNBELIEVABLE!

There is simply NO competition...THANKS APPLE! It's GOOD to be an Apple RABID fan! THANKS SJ! DOWN WITH THE COPYCATS AND PC CRAPS!

[suneohair]

Best part of this whole affair today:-

Back to school scheme is still there. Good news for those who`d been holding out till last minute.

Too bad the new ipods arent apart of that.

[danielbriggs]

I don't live in the US, but is the offer still on for the new iPOd and buy a mac deal? Is it the same for the UK?


Dan :-)

[prady16]

Because in two weeks new macbooks pros

J/K, but its only minutes until the thread is started

*hugs kellen*

[rorschach]

Here's the option for Gapless Playback. It's in the Info window:

[bankshot]

Yes, it was announced at 10:07 AM to be precise - "iPod is getting enhanced today. 60% brighter with brighness control, 3.5 hours video playback (up from 2 hrs... big version goes to 6.5 hours), new headphones, gapless playback."

Yup, thanks. And I see it on the iTunes page at apple.com:

Gapless Playback

Live albums, classical works, or any work that sounds best when it’s continuous, now seamlessly transitions from one song to another.

And from the iPod page:

And if you’re a fan of live albums, classical works, or anything that sounds best when it’s continuous, iPod supports gapless playback that seamlessly transitions from one song to another.

Sweet. I'll have to play with this soon. This is literally the one thing that's kept me from getting a new iPod since mine was stolen over a year ago. If it's truly fixed (and not a substandard workaround), I'm buying one ASAP! :cool:

Looks like I might have to get a new sig soon... :D

[suneohair]

I don't live in the US, but is the offer still on for the new iPOd and buy a mac deal? Is it the same for the UK?


Dan :-)

The deal is still on, but RIGHT NOW it is only showing the old iPods not the newly refreshed, reinvented ones.

[howard]

the new itunes icon is blue instead of green... NOOOOO!!!!!!!

[///mdriver]

i do not like how the "browse" button has been moved to the bottom of the screen

[A is for Apple]

Education store update:

New iPods don't get education discounts it appears, and the free iPod with a Mac purchase is giving you the 5G iPods.

Yeah I saw that and my heart sank a little, Im loving the new shuffle though, its come at the perfect time. I lost my old faithful the other day. I cant do anything with out it. I had to laugh when I saw the docking station.

[danielbriggs]

Excuse me for asking a silly question, with all these updates to iPod's etc. The only udate to tghe propper iPod's is the 60 has been bumped up to 80??? is that it???


Dam...

[Pismonium]

I feel a bit let down, I've got the $$ waiting for a new MBP. When will they release the Merom already? This better be a substantial upgrade after all this anticipation. I mean come on!

[suneohair]

Yeah I saw that and my heart sank a little, Im loving the new shuffle though, its come at the perfect time. I lost my old faithful the other day. I cant do anything with out it. I had to laugh when I saw the docking station.

Does it really make sense that Apple would just abolish the EDU discount? No.

Historically it has always taken the EDU store to reflect the EDU discount when a new product is launched.

[iGav]

the new itunes icon is blue instead of green... NOOOOO!!!!!!!

YEESSSSSSSSS!!!! just like the old days. :D

[mtrctyjoe]

VERY DISAPPOINTED ON THE MOVIE SIDE - not APPLE at all if you ask me. They blew it. Big Time.

Nice updates to iPod and iTunes.... that is it as far as I am concerned. Apple has it wrong with movies - plain and simple - no way am I paying $9.99 to $14.99 for a movie I will watch ONE TIME! PLUS $299.99 for a scaled down mini to stream video too??? What the?

I can rent videos at netflix / blockbuster at higher quality for less $$ and watch them on a $50 DVD player...

[kellen]

Excuse me for asking a silly question, with all these updates to iPod's etc. The only udate to tghe propper iPod's is the 60 has been bumped up to 80??? is that it???


Dam...
Price drop, gapless playback, brighter screen, games,

[Eriden]

Well, that was certainly disappointing (though not unexpected) for those of us who hoped for MBP updates. :( I can't wait for a laptop any longer, so I'm thinking of buying a refurb 17" MBP. Have any of you bought one? If so, what was the listed production week, and have you had any of the various problems that most Apple fans seem to know about (whine, excessive heat, etc...)?



All in all, I'm more than a little underwhelmed by the event. Apple won't be getting my money for a set-top box unless it includes DVR functionality. Speaking of which... what are the odds that Apple might include DVR functionality through a combination of various Macs (iMac, Mac Pro, Macbook Pro, Mac Mini) and the iTV? Is such a pairing even possible with the ports included on the iTV?

Lastly, how many of you are actually planning on buying the revised 5G ipod? For those of you who haven't purchased, will this update induce a purchase, and for those of you who already own the 5G, will you be selling your current model to buy the September update, or are you going to wait and drop your cash on the true vPod when and if it ever gets released?

As for myself, I think I'll be waiting for the true vPod to take the plunge into the age of digital video.

[corywoolf]

My Prediction (http://forums.macrumors.com/showpost.php?p=2822513&postcount=376)
"I really expect it to be a mixture of a let down and goodness. There is likely going to be new nanos, I work at the 5th Ave. CompUSA and can tell you that we are out of almost all the nanos. That never happens, we are also out of the iSight, both the 5th Ave. and SoHo Apple stores are too. We are also out of all the Shuffles too. Expect to see new nanos and an iSight. Of course the Video Store rumors are all but confirmed, so expect a rename of the Music Store to something more fitting, as well as iTunes 7.0.

Definitely:
- iPod G6 (most likely 16x9)
- Movie Downloads

Possible:
- nanos (higher capacity, new look)
- iSight (higher resolution, much smaller form factor, connect to iPod)
- iPod line division (Dedicated Music iPod vs. Video iPod)
- iTunes 7.0
- Airport Express with Video (Showtime)
- New iPod Shuffle or discontinuation

Unlikely:
- iPod G6 with WiFi for mobile downloads and iChat video conferencing (with optional iSight attachment)
- High Def. movies
- MacBook Pro w/ Merom

Now for a guess of the pricing:
2 GB nano: $129.99
4 GB nano: $199.99
8 GB nano: $249.99

60 GB iPod Video: $299.99
80 GB iPod Video: $399.99"

Pretty darn close, I was off on some of the prices. :eek:
I guess I'm just a good guesser? :confused:

[skiermac]

What does anyone make of this:

11:02 am Engadget: [Steve finds and plays The Incredibles. it's not 640x480, it's HDTV]

[iKwick7]

If they are upgrading the downloaded video there has to be an update for current video ipods. Someone hook up your ipod video to your mac and go to software update. Lets see.

I believe so as well. According to the iTunes downoad, "5th gen. iPods are required for game downloads." I do believe my 60 gig video is 5th gen. :)


http://www.apple.com/itunes/store/games.html

[slate1]

Just wondering - in Steve's address he stated that the Nano would now have the functionality of the regular iPod - i.e. video playback. It's been shown that the existing Nano can play back video with a software hack, hoping that they'll release an update to allow that functionality on the existing Nanos.

Wishful thinking I suppose! :D

[Bregalad]

"It's Showtime" aka "iPods are overdue for updates so here's nothing special"

iPod: 30 and 80 a bit cheaper yawn!
nano: worse than expected because black is once again "special"
shuffle: should've been this small all along. oh and it's not available yet either

iTunes 7: evolution not revolution. nothing to see here folks, move along.

Low resolution Disney movies that take 3 hours to download via DSL, only available in the USA, maybe elsewhere next year if you're lucky: whatever

The iTV: I realize the aforementioned updates aren't worthy of a media event so I need to show off something that won't be available to anyone except me until next year.

[shadowx]

The whole iTV preview / preannouncement thing is just bizarre. Not that it doesn't look interesting... but that it is very "un-apple-like" to do such a thing. Giving out so many details... including the price... Is this a trend? They sort of did the same thing with the new XServe I guess...

Aluminum Nanos look cool... not a shock that the Black version only comes in the 8GB model (a little mad at that, but I probably won't get one anyway).

Improvements to the iPods are good... price drop and gapless playback is nice. My 3G is slowly wasting away... almost time to upgrade.

Not shocked at the lack of MBP / MB announcements... very disappointed but maybe next week?

[pjarvi]

I wonder if the Mac Mini will get a refresh in Q1 2007 with the gray top like the iTV has?

[tonyvz]

VERY DISAPPOINTED ON THE MOVIE SIDE - not APPLE at all if you ask me. They blew it. Big Time.

Nice updates to iPod and iTunes.... that is it as far as I am concerned. Apple has it wrong with movies - plain and simple - no way am I paying $9.99 to $14.99 for a movie I will watch ONE TIME! PLUS $299.99 for a scaled down mini to stream video too??? What the?

I can rent videos at netflix / blockbuster at higher quality for less $$ and watch them on a $50 DVD player...


you wouldn't be very cool doing it that way though. :D

Although, I do agree...

[slate1]

Just wondering - in Steve's address he stated that the Nano would now have the functionality of the regular iPod - i.e. video playback. It's been shown that the existing Nano can play back video with a software hack, hoping that they'll release an update to allow that functionality on the existing Nanos.

Wishful thinking I suppose! :D

One of my biggest wishes is that the gapless playback will work on existing Nanos. I just purchased the freakin' thing a little over a month ago and this is my only complaint about it. It would be great to have it fixed!

[Snowy_River]

I do not like the new scroll bars.

I really hope this isn't a "sneak peek" as to what the finder windows will look like in Leopard.

Hmm. I like the new scroll bars. But I don't like the fact that it's not putting the double arrows at both ends, the way I like (and have used TinkerTool and related utilities to implement since before OS X).

[DrFrankTM]

How can you not be sure, all iTV is an iPod+iTunes with your TV as a screen. You will now be able to visit iTunes with it from your TV and purchase movies, music, etc from it. Movies will probably be stored on it or streamed from your computer to it. This is not better than windows media center, in fact they should have put a tuner in mac mini, that would be better than wmc, but still not original. Why do you think they allow for your iPod or Library to be authenticated on more than one computer, it is to support this device in the future.

I don't really have much of a clue as to what the box does exactly, but if it provides all PC users - regardless of their OS - access to the next-gen FrontRow, I think it is a pretty big deal.

Does iTunes handle photos? As far as I know, it doesn't. And there might be a bunch of other little things like these that could make the integration between this set-top box and a Mac better than between the box and a Windows computer. There's probably a lot of stuff that I'm missing, but to me, the set-top box is HUGE!!11II!!!!e!evenIII!!111!!!

The movie downloads are nice, but I suspect that the torrent sites will contribute just as much - if not more - to Apple's hardware sales. Five years from now, we'll look back at the day Apple showcased this little box for the first time and think: "This is when it all started." My two cents, anyways.

[ArcaneDevice]

The iTV: I realize the aforementioned updates aren't worthy of a media event so I need to show off something that won't be available to anyone except me until next year.

or "let's hope this announcment stops the share price from instantly tanking because we didn't announce a redesigned iPod."

[slate1]

VERY DISAPPOINTED ON THE MOVIE SIDE - not APPLE at all if you ask me. They blew it. Big Time.

Nice updates to iPod and iTunes.... that is it as far as I am concerned. Apple has it wrong with movies - plain and simple - no way am I paying $9.99 to $14.99 for a movie I will watch ONE TIME! PLUS $299.99 for a scaled down mini to stream video too??? What the?

I can rent videos at netflix / blockbuster at higher quality for less $$ and watch them on a $50 DVD player...

I didn't see anything indicating that you'd be limited to viewing the movie only once... surely not:confused:

[danielbriggs]

Just a thought about the iTV thingy. Could you stick a mac Mini on top, like the extra HDD for it you can buy? Then you could use it like a tv???

[zevucsd]

The "get album art" option doesn't seem to work.

e.g. if i delete low resolution album art I downloaded previously to see if itunes would replace it, nothing happens...?

[EDIT] NOW SEEMS TO BE WORKING

[jamesnajera]

I don't really have much of a clue as to what the box does exactly, but if it provides all PC users - regardless of their OS - access to the next-gen FrontRow, I think it is a pretty big deal.

Does iTunes handle photos? As far as I know, it doesn't. And there might be a bunch of other little things like these that could make the integration between this set-top box and a Mac better than between the box and a Windows computer. There's probably a lot of stuff that I'm missing, but to me, the set-top box is HUGE!!11II!!!!e!evenIII!!111!!!

The movie downloads are nice, but I suspect that the torrent sites will contribute just as much - if not more - to Apple's hardware sales. Five years from now, we'll look back at the day Apple showcased this little box for the first time and think: "This is when it all started." My two cents, anyways.


Dude, I am sorry DrFrank, but this is nothing more than a wireless video streamer with the ability to buy stuff from apple. All those people that wanted a iPod with wireless well here it is. Apple is probably hoping that this will replace video on demand, since you will actually own the movies.

[tonyvz]

or "let's hope this announcment stops the share price from instantly tanking because we didn't announce a redesigned iPod."


I said that few pages back.

I was watching the stock during the keynote, and we're right, its down. And the iTV didn't bring it up.

[baleensavage]

Just a thought about the iTV thingy. Could you stick a mac Mini on top, like the extra HDD for it you can buy? Then you could use it like a tv???
Probably could, though I think that would defeat the purpose of the box since you can already, I think, connect your MacMini to the tv with a cable and the whole point of the iTV is wireless.

[mongoos150]

Not impressed.

[Carl Spackler]

One of my biggest wishes is that the gapless playback will work on existing Nanos. I just purchased the freakin' thing a little over a month ago and this is my only complaint about it. It would be great to have it fixed!

This is my question, too. Is gapless only availible on the new iPods? It strikes me that this is somthing that could be cured through a firmware update. Serioulsy, Animals just isn't the same.

[Pismonium]

This iTV sounds like a lot of work to watch a movie, wait for it to download, then if you want to watch it at a friends house you have to take the iTV with you? Why do all that when there's Netflix or even a free torrent (if you love to wait)? Or buy it at Walmart the day it's released and own the box and all. Todays technology seems a bit backwards sometimes.

[ArcaneDevice]

The movie downloads are nice, but I suspect that the torrent sites will contribute just as much - if not more - to Apple's hardware sales. Five years from now, we'll look back at the day Apple showcased this little box for the first time and think: "This is when it all started." My two cents, anyways.

in it's current form I find it utterly pointless. It's not a PVR, it doesn't look like it can operate independently of a desktop and the content isn't widescreen!

Why bother hooking something up to a large screen TV when the majority of big screens are now almost universally 16:9 just to play a lower res 4:3 image? Especially at the price Apple is charging. For $4 I can get movies on demand from my cable operator at better quality, and I won't pay $4 if the presented image isn't widescreen. Even ABC can stream Lost in 16:9.

A media PC fills the same amount of space and offers DVR functionality, DVD playback and basic PC capability.

Videophiles want HD and if it's not HD they at least want widescreen. Until iTunes offers at least one of those it's going to be a simple device for only the easily pleased.

[DrFrankTM]

Just a thought about the iTV thingy. Could you stick a mac Mini on top, like the extra HDD for it you can buy? Then you could use it like a tv???

It seems to be the same surface, but half the height, so I don't see why you couldn't put a Mini on top if you wanted, but I think the whole point is that, if you have this box near your TV, you won't need a Mini there (and vice versa). The interest of having the same form factor is that a bunch of accessories designed for the Mini will be directly transferable to the new set-top box. For example, I wouldn't be surprised if you could connect an external hard drive like the NewerTech miniStack, for example, and access your media from the hard drive without any computer in the loop. Of course, the box *will* pull content from other computers too - PC or Mac -, but I see many uses for that USB port.

[Whyren]

Well, not sure about the new iTunes interface, but I got used to the unified look. The icon'll take some getting used to though. It reminds me too much of iTunes 2's icon, which also had a blue note...odd choice.

[awal]

I haven't seen many people mentioning it, but I'd actually say that the New Shuffle is the one thing that I'm most excited about. As a runner, it's an absolute home run. No more fumbling with armbands--just clip and go.

Now, was the New Shuffle and the other "big announcements" enough to get me excited about this event, probably not. Anyone who buys an iPod before the new vPods come out is probably making a mistake (IMO).

[DrFrankTM]

in it's current form I find it utterly pointless. It's not a PVR, it doesn't look like it can operate independently of a desktop and the content isn't widescreen!

Why bother hooking something up to a large screen TV when the majority of big screens are now almost universally 16:9 just to play a lower res 4:3 image? Especially at the price Apple is charging. For $4 I can get movies on demand from my cable operator at better quality, and I won't pay $4 if the presented image isn't widescreen. Even ABC can stream Lost in 16:9.

A media PC fills the same amount of space and offers DVR functionality, DVD playback and basic PC capability.

Videophiles want HD and if it's not HD they at least want widescreen. Until iTunes offers at least one of those it's going to be a simple device for only the easily pleased.


For one thing, I'd be surprised if you can't access content stored on a USB external drive connected to the iTV without involving any (other) PC.

Secondly, who said the only content you'll be able to watch is what you buy on the iTMS?

I obviously don't know the details yet anymore than anyone here, but Apple pretty much announced the iHome today. I have a feeling this is going to be pretty big...

[Squidly]

The whole iTV preview / preannouncement thing is just bizarre. Not that it doesn't look interesting... but that it is very "un-apple-like" to do such a thing. Giving out so many details... including the price... Is this a trend?

I belive it was done to prop-up the movie sales. Let the world know that there will be a way to get the content out onto their televisions in the future.

[tonyvz]

stream is up.

watching now.

[milo]

This iTV sounds like a lot of work to watch a movie, wait for it to download, then if you want to watch it at a friends house you have to take the iTV with you? Why do all that when there's Netflix or even a free torrent (if you love to wait)? Or buy it at Walmart the day it's released and own the box and all. Todays technology seems a bit backwards sometimes.

You don't have to wait for it to download. If you have a fast enough connection, you can start watching while it's downloading, within 30 seconds of starting the download.

[ftaok]

in it's current form I find it utterly pointless. It's not a PVR, it doesn't look like it can operate independently of a desktop and the content isn't widescreen!

Why bother hooking something up to a large screen TV when the majority of big screens are now almost universally 16:9 just to play a lower res 4:3 image? Especially at the price Apple is charging. For $4 I can get movies on demand from my cable operator at better quality, and I won't pay $4 if the presented image isn't widescreen. Even ABC can stream Lost in 16:9.

A media PC fills the same amount of space and offers DVR functionality, DVD playback and basic PC capability.

Videophiles want HD and if it's not HD they at least want widescreen. Until iTunes offers at least one of those it's going to be a simple device for only the easily pleased.
Who says the iTV is limited to 4:3? Who says the iTV can only do 640x480? The thing isn't even out yet. We only got a little sneaky peek.

We do know that the iTV will play media that is streamed from another computer, preferably a Mac. All new Macs can play HDTV material. All new Macs can record HDTV using stuff like EyeTV and Migila's stuff.

Why couldn't the iTV play the HD material that people already have on their Macs? Perhaps the delay (Q1 2007) is due to the finalization of 802.11n so that home networks have the capacity to stream 1080p material from a Mac to the iTV.

Just because the iTMS is selling shows and movies at 640x480 doesn't mean this device is limited to that resolution.

[BrianMojo]

Nevermind.

Anyway, the "new" icon sure seems like a step back to me...

[Axeon]

This new iTunes 7 is by far one of the strangest looking iLife applications... what the hell is this??? Does anyone else think this is the future of Aqua for Leopard? (Notice how the smooth scrollbar style now matches the Apple and Spotlight logo styles as well)

[Carl Spackler]

If this thing has HDMI and Component Video, it is fully capable of displaying HD content. I'm sure whatever you pull into iTunes will play over the "iTV." I've found that not all podcasts are iPod ready. The Yoga Today podcast downloads as a .mov file, and I believe has a higher resolution than 320x240. Can't you currently add any video to iTunes, assuming you have the right codec to play it back? iTunes is just a interface for Quicktime, right? I bet the "iTV" plays the media in it's native size.

er...i meant, pondering, but is suppse podering is not far off.

[DrFrankTM]

Who says the iTV is limited to 4:3? Who says the iTV can only do 640x480? The thing isn't even out yet. We only got a little sneaky peek.

We do know that the iTV will play media that is streamed from another computer, preferably a Mac. All new Macs can play HDTV material. All new Macs can record HDTV using stuff like EyeTV and Migila's stuff.

Why couldn't the iTV play the HD material that people already have on their Macs? Perhaps the delay (Q1 2007) is due to the finalization of 802.11n so that home networks have the capacity to stream 1080p material from a Mac to the iTV.

Just because the iTMS is selling shows and movies at 640x480 doesn't mean this device is limited to that resolution.

Amen.

[BrianMojo]

Holy crap.

This application looks terrible!

[ArcaneDevice]

Who says the iTV is limited to 4:3? Who says the iTV can only do 640x480? The thing isn't even out yet. We only got a little sneaky peek.

We do know that the iTV will play media that is streamed from another computer, preferably a Mac. All new Macs can play HDTV material. All new Macs can record HDTV using stuff like EyeTV and Migila's stuff.

Why couldn't the iTV play the HD material that people already have on their Macs? Perhaps the delay (Q1 2007) is due to the finalization of 802.11n so that home networks have the capacity to stream 1080p material from a Mac to the iTV.

which is why I said "in it's current form."

iTunes has been out long enough to offer a basic 16:9 image. That's a ridiculous oversight for a "movie" store. I'm using a widescreen monitor and I still can't use the whole screen, why bother hooking iTunes to a 50 inch TV?

If they wanted to make a statement then they should have implemented HD now. Even if it takes 2 hours to download a movie. Offering 4:3 at sub-DVD levels for $15 is pathetic.

There's nothing at the iTunes TV or movie store that's worth hooking up to a big screen TV. Not when you can just get your own PVR for better quality or buy a DVD for better quality and the extras and then just rip the content to a mdeia PC drive. In the case of the iHub you still need to have a Mac running elsewhere. The iTV should be the server - not the other way around.

This is just a desperate attempt to stem the fallout of not announcing anything of significance. Steve can wake me up when they finally do something worthwhile with it. There's nothing here for the home theater user in this box.

[Stella]

I'm shocked!

Apple commenting on unreleased products!

[DrFrankTM]

As far as I'm concerned, iTunes 7 is a step in the right direction. One of the thing that annoyed me the most in iTunes 6 is that my podcast were mixed with my music. When playing music from the library, I'd always hit a podcast after a while. iTunes 7 fixes that problem. The free album covers are neat. It's the one thing that will finally make me get an iTunes account. I think I liked the iTunes 6 color scheme more than the new one, and I'm wondering about the fonts. For some reason, I don't like the "feel" of the new version. I guess I was just used to the other one. I'm sure I won't mind once I'm used to it. And finally, gapless playback is really sweet! I don't know what took them so long.

[prady16]

I'm shocked!

Apple commenting on unreleased products!
yeah.......very unlike them.....
please don't kill me for comparing this to microsoft's announcement of zune.....

[amac4me]

yeah.......very unlike them.....
please don't kill me for comparing this to microsoft's announcement of zune.....

I was surprised that Apple gave a peek into a future product. Very strange but welcomed.

[Apple Shmapple]

Anyone who buys an iPod before the new vPods come out is probably making a mistake (IMO).

Which is where the frustration sets in for those of us waiting since last Winter for an updated iPod.

They're going to go over a year without a new generation coming out. And to make matters worse, they're trying to sell people that 4:3 screens are somehow relevant to ANYTHING anymore. 4:3 screens are garbage.

[Carl Spackler]

I'm shocked!

Apple commenting on unreleased products!

Perhaps it's not unlike leaking casting possibilites. It's a new area for Apple and I wonder if they aren't looking for feedback. They could also be cutting off people from buying another brand that might come out sooner.

If they are, and they're listening, I woudn't mind seeing a Blu Ray drive in this thing. Others have speculated that you may be able to run content off an external drive. I like this too. That way, if a friend wantd to come over, we could listen to music on his iPod.

[whooleytoo]

This new iTunes 7 is by far one of the strangest looking iLife applications... what the hell is this??? Does anyone else think this is the future of Aqua for Leopard? (Notice how the smooth scrollbar style now matches the Apple and Spotlight logo styles as well)

Very strange. The uppercase LIBRARY, STORE, DEVICES and PLAYLISTS is a bit ANNOYING too.

[peharri]

The whole iTV preview / preannouncement thing is just bizarre. Not that it doesn't look interesting... but that it is very "un-apple-like" to do such a thing. Giving out so many details... including the price... Is this a trend?

The question you're all asking is "Why was the iTV announced", whereas the real question is "Why didn't they wait to announce the movie store".

Either way, the iTV is really the big announcement. It's going to redefine how we watch TV. The movie store is a part of making iTV work. It was necessary to announce iTV so we know how everything falls into place. The movie store... that could have waited, I'm sure people would have figured out ways of getting movies streamed to iTV even if iTunes didn't sell movies.

[macenforcer]

What is funny to me is Apple is the video leader. They created the way movies are made pretty much. Pixar and Disney, isn't jobs on the board of directors at disney? All this and they are so far behind in the living room. I mean Windows media center has been out for ages and it is light years away from anything apple has now or in the future. Comon apple, get it together.

[ftaok]

which is why I said "in it's current form."

iTunes has been out long enough to offer a basic 16:9 image. That's a ridiculous oversight for a "movie" store. I'm using a widescreen monitor and I still can't use the whole screen, why bother hooking iTunes to a 50 inch TV?

If they wanted to make a statement then they should have implemented HD now. Even if it takes 2 hours to download a movie. Offering 4:3 at sub-DVD levels for $15 is pathetic.

There's nothing at the iTunes TV or movie store that's worth hooking up to a big screen TV. Not when you can just get your own PVR for better quality or buy a DVD for better quality and the extras and then just rip the content to a mdeia PC drive. In the case of the iHub you still need to have a Mac running elsewhere. The iTV should be the server - not the other way around.

This is just a desperate attempt to stem the fallout of not announcing anything of significance. Steve can wake me up when they finally do something worthwhile with it. There's nothing here for the home theater user in this box.
ArcaneDevice,

You're right. You did say "current form", but you're referring to the iTV. What is the current form of the iTV? No one really knows. What we do know is that it will do HiDef (inferred from the inclusion of Component and HDMI connections).

You also mention that the iTMS is providing movies and TV shows that aren't optimal for widescreen HDTVs. That is true, but the current iTMS selection is geared towards viewing on the iPod, not presentation on HDTVs. Why should Apple have offerings that greatly exceed the capabilities of the devices that it's intended for. Futureproofing?

We'll see what Apple has in store for the iTV in a few months. I would suspect that they will offer HiDef movies, maybe not 1080p to save on bandwidth, but perhaps 720p. All speculation for now.

[Cougarcat]

I have mixed feelings about the new iTunes.

Yay:

--Gapless playback!!! (Does this work on older iPods?)
--New iPod screen. This thing is awesome. If you have an ipod, sync it to check this sucker out. Firmware upgrading, tabs to sync Photos and Contacts, and a slick color coded bar that shows how much stuff of what kind (Music, Movies, Files) you have.
--They integrated Cover Flow. (But Nay if Apple just stole it from the guy.)
--Cover flow in the store. Cool.
--Cover art.
--Next to Podcasts it will tell you how many unlistened Podcasts you have, just like Mail.
--List view is pretty cool, though I doubt I'll use it.
--The little arrows only show up when you click on a song

Nay:
--The GUI team at apple is smoking something. WTF happened to the scrollbar?? Not Aqua?? And selecting albums has this weird glass-like appearance. It doesn't match anything else. This looks like a screwed up version of Apple's pro interface. I hope iTuno can fix up this mess ASAP. if the rest of iLife '08 looks like this I will cry.
--Icon. As it's been said, looks like iTunes 2.0.
--All caps headings, in iIunes and in the store. Annoying.
--The flashy, pulsating Burn button is gone. (sure, it took up excessive space, but it was cool.)
--Browse button is really small and at the bottom. (And it's slower as well, at least on my PB.)
--No rental store (Not expected, but I'd only be interested in iTunes movies if I could rent 'em for $2-3.)

[milo]

What is funny to me is Apple is the video leader. They created the way movies are made pretty much. Pixar and Disney, isn't jobs on the board of directors at disney? All this and they are so far behind in the living room. I mean Windows media center has been out for ages and it is light years away from anything apple has now or in the future. Comon apple, get it together.

Except that Media Center hasn't really caught on. Apple seems to be waiting for the .n wireless standard to get locked down, their iTV depends on it. Apple is already selling millions of downloads. Is there any evidence that Media Center has media use that's anywhere even close to that?

Apple lagged in mp3 players as well, how did that turn out? Is being first really more important than doing it right?

[whooleytoo]

To add to other complaints about iTunes 7, it's very buggy for me. I've been unable to do two iTMS searches in a row - the second time the search box isn't clickable. I have to quit and relaunch to search again.

After performing a search, you have to click in the song list before you can use the scroll wheel/scroll ball, previously you just needed to mouse over the relevant view.

And the UI is, well, blech. Looks like it was designed by 11 different people who spoke 11 different languages. Parts of the UI use the new "gray" popup menus, parts use the old aqua buttons. The scrollbar controls are unique to iTunes. The selection in the source view uses black, instead of the selection colour from the Appearance control panel.

Roll on 7.1! ;)

[blazewon22]

So why should I get excited to pay $13 to download a movie to my iPod only when I can buy the DVD at Best Buy and RIP it for the same price. Sure by current standards this is illegal (which makes no sense, I can rip a music CD but not a movie that I own?), but as always enterprising young hackers will find a way to crack the copy protections.

The price point is too high for this to be successful. If it was transferable to another medium maybe, but not in its current forum. Hell its cheaper to buy a Slingbox.

[cmw39]

Sorry if I'm being a bit daft, but can any UK users pipe up -- why, oh why are there no movies for us? :eek:

And can anyone get the QT file of the actual press conference to work on the apple site? Is it available in the US? Can anyone in the UK get it?

Interesting aside - was in the Apple Store on Regent St, London tonight at 1800 (when the announcement started in Calif.) and none of the staff seemed aware of what was happening... i would have thought Apple could have done some fantastic theatre by having a bit of a showcase in stores to show off this stuff. Maybe I'm cynical, but i guess it's to do with everyone stopping buying 'old' iPods as soon as the new breed are announced...:rolleyes:

[pengu]

I guess these two things may have been posted before, but there are too many to read every post, and search didnt find anything...

Firstly, why do we have no more Music Videos option along with music, movies, tv shows under library

also. FrontRow now no longer recognises the tv shows (mp4's i've tagged using Lostify and added to itunes) that it previously worked brilliantly with.

is this a sign of things to come? the only way is the apple way? i dont buy music videos from apple, i definitely dont buy tv shows or movies from them..

[dalvin200]

Sorry if I'm being a bit daft, but can any UK users pipe up -- why, oh why are there no movies for us? :eek:

And can anyone get the QT file of the actual press conference to work on the apple site? Is it available in the US? Can anyone in the UK get it?


yep.. i saw the keynote QT Stream at about 8pm (an hour after the keynote actually finished) last night.

no probs at all with the streaming, nice and smooth..

and yes, me in UUUKKK ;)

[j-huskisson]

Sorry if I'm being a bit daft, but can any UK users pipe up -- why, oh why are there no movies for us? :eek:

No movies for us and still no television shows for us... We'll probably get them in 6 months, as usual with an America online centered company :/

Another note - what's with these price conversions? Do we have to pay twice as much as America for everything? Someone should tell Apple it's nearly 2 USD to the Pound, not the other way around

[whooleytoo]

BBC Newsnight last night had a special report on iTunes & the music (and now, movie) industry, which was pretty scathing. I've always been opposed to Apple not licensing Fairplay, but still this went a lot further than my criticisms, yet seemed very vague on details.

It basically focused on how Apple was trying to lock customers into buying its own devices and services, presenting the current music industry as a battlefield between a 'self serving' Apple, and the rest. It drew little attention that almost every label and music service wants/requires/demands DRM, and seemed to present it almost as an Apple invention.

A very negative portrayal of Apple in a very high-visibility programme.

[Josias]

Well, I guess I "unfortunately" will be forced to go with a Nano!:D
http://img53.imageshack.us/img53/3640/billede1wj8.png

Is it possible to buy a FW400 or FW800 cable for syncing the Shuffle just like the Nano and iPod?

This is sweeter than WWDC!;)

For most people. I'm more likely to buy an iPod instead of a MacPro, and iTunes 7 is just roxzroz!;)

[Chundles]

Well, I guess I "unfortunately" will be forced to go with a Nano!:D
http://img53.imageshack.us/img53/3640/billede1wj8.png

Is it possible to buy a FW400 or FW800 cable for syncing the Shuffle just like the Nano and iPod?

This is sweeter than WWDC!;)

For most people. I'm more likely to buy an iPod instead of a MacPro, and iTunes 7 is just roxzroz!;)

No current iPod uses Firewire for syncing. All of them use USB and USB only for syncing. The nano and iPod can charge via Firewire but not transfer data.

The new shuffle requires the included dock for charging/syncing because it uses the headphone port for data transfer and power.

[MikeDTyke]

I'm not so sure we've heard the end of the ipod story for this calender year.

Remember last year when they introduced the nano in Sept and the the 5G in Oct. Don't beat me, i took those months from Wikipedia as i couldn't be a*sed to remember.

I wondered why they'd introduce the cheaper (smaller return) model before the more expensive one. (Not common retail thinking). But then realised if you were the sort of customer who wanted more than a nano you would have waited and it made sense for Apple to ramp up prod of the nano earlier as it would make the bulk of sales of the xmas period.

Now this Sept, Apple refreshes all the ipods, making small incremental improvements but more importantly making them much more competitive in price. I see room at the top end $350-$500 for the next step up. I think the boys in ThinkSecret are right in that the iPhone will appear at MWSF07. But there's a definite possibility of an ipod that can show all those pixels on the new iTunes store downloads.

Wouldn't surprise me if another special event rolled around in the next 2 months.

M.