Tidbits: X1900 ATI Video Card, MXM in iMac, Parallels for Mac Pro, Multifunction Device Patent [Archive]

MacRumors

Sep 7, 2006, 04:14 PM

http://www.macrumors.com/images/macrumorsthreadlogo.gif (http://www.macrumors.com)

A few tidbits from around the web:

• Several readers have noted that the first Mac Pros with the ATI X1900 Graphics Card started shipping earlier this week. Photos of the graphics card can be seen in this thread (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=230151&page=6).

• Macsimumnews (http://www.macsimumnews.com/index.php/archive/graphics_card_in_24_inch_imac_are_apparently_upgradeable/) reports that the new 24" iMac incorporates a Mobile PCI Express Module (MXM) connector for its video card. The use of this standard connector potentially means that the video card in the newest iMac is upgradeable.

• Parallels announced (http://www.parallels.com/en/news/id,9598) today that the Release Candidate of their virtualization software has been released. Notable improvements in this version include Mac Pro support and early Windows Vista Beta support.

• A MacNN blog entry (http://www.macnn.com/blogs/?p=98) details a recent Apple patent which describes a multi-functional handheld device which can take the place of a number of other devices.

Disclosed herein is a multi-functional hand-held device capable of configuring user inputs based on how the device is to be used.

kskill

Sep 7, 2006, 04:18 PM

the new imac keeps getting better and better
what a good month for apple :D

HecubusPro

Sep 7, 2006, 04:19 PM

• Parallels announced (http://www.parallels.com/en/news/id,9598) today that the Release Candidate of their virtualization software has been released. Notable improvements in this version include Mac Pro support and early Windows Vista Beta support.

Excellent. I'm looking forward to using Parallels on my new MBP.

slu

Sep 7, 2006, 04:23 PM

Hopefully the upgradeable video card in the new iMac will get some peoples' panties out of bunch around here.

That machine is really sweet and I wish I had the cash and a reason to get one.

quagmire

Sep 7, 2006, 04:24 PM

Unless Apple went back to the rev a and rev b of the iMac G5's design it will still be hell to open the case to upgrade the GPU.

mdntcallr

Sep 7, 2006, 04:25 PM

Imac with upgradable video card? neat!!. the cpu is upgradable also.

was debating lower end tower or 24" imac. could be a deciding factor.

though more cpu power on tower.

dernhelm

Sep 7, 2006, 04:27 PM

So there are patenting iPod transformer edition?

dernhelm

Sep 7, 2006, 04:29 PM

Hopefully the upgradeable video card in the new iMac will get some peoples' panties out of bunch around here.

That machine is really sweet and I wish I had the cash and a reason to get one.

Amen. I'll be purchasing the 17" version in the next couple of weeks - wish I could afford the 24", though. That machine really looks awesome.

Bibulous

Sep 7, 2006, 04:31 PM

Being able to upgrade the new iMac's might make people fell better about the built in 24" screen.

esaleris

Sep 7, 2006, 04:31 PM

I hope they made replacing the hard drive easier too. It's one of the reasons I love the MacBook - user servicability.

kenaustus

Sep 7, 2006, 04:31 PM

On the iPod side, it will be interesting to see if Apple timed the filing to have its publication around the time it released an actual product. If not then the multi-function iPod will be the basis for a mass of new rumors before every Keynote until it's released.

Personally I think APple would love to have it on the market before the Christmas shopping season starts.

mazola

Sep 7, 2006, 04:35 PM

I hear Zune will be available in brown. BROWN!

Squareball

Sep 7, 2006, 04:35 PM

shadowx

Sep 7, 2006, 04:36 PM

Amen. I'll be purchasing the 17" version in the next couple of weeks - wish I could afford the 24", though. That machine really looks awesome.
which 17'' version?? If you can save a little more for the 20'' I think it is worth it - the quality of the 20'' screen is far superior imho to the 17'' (well, at least the last rev, maybe the new one's are better??)

CyberB0b

Sep 7, 2006, 04:38 PM

user removable hard drive (as the macbook has) is more important if you ask me. although all machines have user removable hard drives if you have a sledgehammer.

justflie

Sep 7, 2006, 04:48 PM

Wow. The multi-functional handlheld makes so much sense.

PDA, Phone, iPod, GPS (remember the Leopord 'maps' program rumor?), maybe even a Airport AV remote?

So it breaks down like this. Want an iPod/CellPhone/GPS/Kitchen Sink, get the new 6g iPod. Want one that just plays music and nothing else? 2g Nano with new enclosure and 8 to 10gigs of storage.
FOR REAL! That thing looks like it could do just about anything and everything I would want. I'm holding out for a new ipod and/or phone for tuesday as i'm in the market for both. However, don't companies usually file patents a year or at least two in advance of an actual product? that would royally suck. I somehow managed to make it through my undergrad career without a cell phone but I promised my girlfriend to buy a phone if apple releases one. Please don't disappoint me Steve!

PS is there only a live webcast to london or will there be one for the rest of us also?

firestarter

Sep 7, 2006, 04:50 PM

Bear

Sep 7, 2006, 04:57 PM

Wow Macsimumnews - congratulations Captain Obvious!!

There's a graphics card upgrade as a BTO item on the 24, so of course the graphics are upgradable!!There is a difference between in factory upgrades and what you can upgrade afterwards. PowerBooks had BTO video upgrades, but they were different motherboards, so not really upgradeable afterwards.

rtdunham

Sep 7, 2006, 05:02 PM

Wow. The multi-functional handlheld makes so much sense. PDA, Phone, iPod, GPS (remember the Leopord 'maps' program rumor?), maybe even a Airport AV remote?

does anyone remember a skilllfully rendered image of what one forum member thought the iPod phone might look like? it had this sort of multi-function keys, they seemed to float on the surface but would appear only depending on what "mode" the device was in.

if anyone can track that down, or the creator sees this, it's a great job and would be worth lposting here again, as it's very pertinent to this thread.

Fatal Darkness

Sep 7, 2006, 05:04 PM

http://www.macrumors.com/images/macrumorsthreadlogo.gif (http://www.macrumors.com)
• Macsimumnews (http://www.macsimumnews.com/index.php/archive/graphics_card_in_24_inch_imac_are_apparently_upgradeable/) reports that the new 24" iMac incorporates a Mobile PCI Express Module (MXM) connector for its video card. The use of this standard connector potentially means that the video card in the newest iMac is upgradeable.

I wouldn't get too excited about this. The PCIe PowerMacs used a standard connector and you were supposed to be able to upgrade your video cards in those too; but Apple was the only source of video cards and they refused to sell outside of bto and thus no upgrades. How they haven't been sued over advertising a $3K machine as being upgradable and then refusing to allow it to be upgraded is beyond me.

Lessen learned: never buy an Apple computer with any kind of expectation of future upgradability. Steve's upgrade policy is buy a whole new computer.

drdan

Sep 7, 2006, 05:08 PM

That patent application pretty much blew my mind.

'nuff said.

Saving my shekels and watching my stock.

ipoddin

Sep 7, 2006, 05:13 PM

Hopefully the upgradeable video card in the new iMac will get some peoples' panties out of bunch around here.

Key word here is "potentially" upgradable gpu. Until we know for sure, no use getting all excited yet.

albeik

Sep 7, 2006, 05:14 PM

Anyone tried the Parallels update yet with the latest Vista beta?

I used this version:
vista_5600.16384.060829-2230_x86fre_client-lr1cfre_en_dvd.iso

But keep getting the following error everytime:
http://albeik.com/vista_parallels.png

Anyone have an idea?

BornAgainMac

Sep 7, 2006, 05:32 PM

I would like the option to get the high end iMac using Integrated graphics so they don't put in something that sucks that will cost me ~$150. Then I can upgrade the video card after my Mac purchase and keep upgrading for the life the box if I want. Or if I didn't need to have a real graphics card, then I didn't have to pay for one.

I wouldn't get too excited about this. The PCIe PowerMacs used a standard connector and you were supposed to be able to upgrade your video cards in those too; but Apple was the only source of video cards and they refused to sell outside of bto and thus no upgrades.

I didn't know that. Wow, that really sucks. I guess PCI-X on the older PowerMacs isn't going to be any better. PCI-X sounds like some experimental hack expansion that never caught on. The name probably scared off vendors from supporting it. "Universal PCI Plus" would be been a better name.

kresh

Sep 7, 2006, 05:37 PM

aegisdesign

Sep 7, 2006, 05:49 PM

I didn't know that. Wow, that really sucks. I guess PCI-X on the older PowerMacs isn't going to be any better. PCI-X sounds like some experimental hack expansion that never caught on. The name probably scared off vendors from supporting it. "Universal PCI Plus" would be been a better name.

The PCI-X macs had AGP slots for the graphics card. You could buy 3rd party AGP cards though you still had to get Mac specific cards. You don't use PCI-X for graphics cards.

The PCIe PowerMacs DID have graphics cards available despite what the original poster wrote but AFAIK only from Apple. Go to the Apple store online and search for 6600 and you'll get the PCIe G5 card as an option. For the MacPro they've the X1900 and the Nvidia 7300 cards. You can't put MacPro cards in the G5s though.

Eidorian

Sep 7, 2006, 05:59 PM

I wouldn't get too excited about this. The PCIe PowerMacs used a standard connector and you were supposed to be able to upgrade your video cards in those too; but Apple was the only source of video cards and they refused to sell outside of bto and thus no upgrades. How they haven't been sued over advertising a $3K machine as being upgradable and then refusing to allow it to be upgraded is beyond me.

Lessen learned: never buy an Apple computer with any kind of expectation of future upgradability. Steve's upgrade policy is buy a whole new computer.We're on EFI now and stock video cards do work on Mac Pros. Sadly, only under Windows. Half the battle...I know...

patseguin

Sep 7, 2006, 05:59 PM

yoda13

Sep 7, 2006, 06:12 PM

If the graphics card is truly upgradeable on the iMac and upgrades can be found, I will be purchasing the 24" model fairly soon, I think. I need a new monitor, still using the 15" that I bought with my quicksilver PM, so this would save me some money. I could keep the computer for three years and then sell the whole lot of it then, but in the meantime, perhaps I could stay reasonable with graphics performance while I own it.

greenstork

Sep 7, 2006, 06:19 PM

You heard it here first, that multifunction device is the next "revolutionary" digital device from Apple, with the potential impact of the iPod. It will be a remote control for your digital life, linking your Mac to your living room in conjunction with some sort of streaming device. It won't be an iPod and I'm guessing that it won't be intended to leave your house, but I could be wrong on that.

Your computer currently houses your digital life -- photos, home videos, music, and now movies from the new Apple store. The problem is that you can't view them easily from your television, not unless you want to over-geek a little. There really is no interface besides your keyboard and mouse, requiring you to sit in front of your computer. For that reason, the computer has stayed relegated to the office and the television to the living room. This multifunction device will change all that, the pieces are starting to fit together.

Apple & Intel developing the UDI connector cables, fully compatible with HDMI:
http://www.appleinsider.com/article.php?id=1586

Apple rumored to be releasing a streaming media device:
http://www.appleinsider.com/article.php?id=2016

And now a multifunction device that could be used as a remote, and happens to feature a picture of a menu where you can select photos, music, video, GPS, etc. and another where you can select devices.

Top it all off with a rapid upswing in Apple's share price in recent days. It was even up 4% on a down day on the Nasdaq. Amazon.com released their video download service today and what did their stock do? Dropped 3%.

FreeState

Sep 7, 2006, 06:52 PM

... I'm guessing that it won't be intended to leave your house, but I could be wrong on that. ...

...a remote, and happens to feature a picture of a menu where you can select photos, music, video, GPS, etc. .

Im guessing if its produced you are wrong. It has a phone and GPS. I can't imagine needing GPS to get around my house....

Elijahg

Sep 7, 2006, 06:53 PM

Unless Apple went back to the rev a and rev b of the iMac G5's design it will still be hell to open the case to upgrade the GPU.
Yup.
We had 6 new 17" iMac Core Duos, and one of the DVD drives wasn't plugged in properly. It simply wouldn't show up in System Profiler, and I couldn't boot from it.
I took apart the iMac and there are little clips, sticky EMI shields, pieces glued on... Hell to fix or do any upgrading on...

greenstork

Sep 7, 2006, 07:04 PM

Im guessing if its produced you are wrong. It has a phone and GPS. I can't imagine needing GPS to get around my house....

Maybe it will be a phone & GPS, but I couldn't imagine that any sort of usable remote control would function as something that leaves the premises.

I just think it has to be a remote because why open a video store without a solid link from computer to television. Who wants to order movies that they can only watch on their computer monitor or iPod? A few users sure, but that's not going to appeal to the masses. Apple needs that connection to a TV, it is essential to the success of a movie store, Apple wants to tap a broad market not a niche segment. And you just can't expect people to navigate their movies that play on their television from their computer, Apple needs a remote or some sort of interface. It just makes sense.

Kingsly

Sep 7, 2006, 07:46 PM

Even half of these features and I can die happy:

FreeState

Sep 7, 2006, 07:55 PM

Maybe it will be a phone & GPS, but I couldn't imagine that any sort of usable remote control would function as something that leaves the premises.

I just think it has to be a remote because why open a video store without a solid link from computer to television. Who wants to order movies that they can only watch on their computer monitor or iPod? A few users sure, but that's not going to appeal to the masses. Apple needs that connection to a TV, it is essential to the success of a movie store, Apple wants to tap a broad market not a niche segment. And you just can't expect people to navigate their movies that play on their television from their computer, Apple needs a remote or some sort of interface. It just makes sense.

Yes and no... wild speculation follows:

Im guessing here, but I remember reading something about Apple patenting MobleMe (?). Could this be it? Recently there was a report that Intel was working with Apple in new creative ways... this could very well be a new device that does all of the above and connects to Apple's media stores via WiFi and allows you to purchase movies that are streamed... no computer needed. Hence you can take the device out of the home and stream movies to a TV in a hotel etc. (you would need the remote to control the airport Express - with Intel Processor - or however it is connected to the TV). The remote would be tied to a device that you take with you...

[Edited to clean up typos]

jaduffy108

Sep 7, 2006, 08:11 PM

[QUOTE=Macrumors]

• Macsimumnews (http://www.macsimumnews.com/index.php/archive/graphics_card_in_24_inch_imac_are_apparently_upgradeable/) reports that the new 24" iMac incorporates a Mobile PCI Express Module (MXM) connector for its video card. The use of this standard connector potentially means that the video card in the newest iMac is upgradeable.

### MXM...YES!..now put it in the MBPs!!!!!!!!!!!!! I've written Apple several times suggesting that the competition (alienware) is offering this, etc. This could mean a much broader selection in GPUs for the laptops. Then again if Apple did that, what would I whine about?:eek:

ajkrause

Sep 7, 2006, 08:21 PM

mrman5917

Sep 7, 2006, 10:22 PM

Vista RC1 does not work with the latest Parallels beta, however, Beta 2 does seem to work according to reports on the Parallels forum.

mrgreen4242

Sep 7, 2006, 10:30 PM

If the 24" iMac does feature a replaceable video card it would sort of fill the gap between the iMac and MP... I mean, I would rather have a headless $1000-1500 box with standard desktop parts, but everything in the iMac would be upgradable then (HDD, RAM, CPU, GPU) and it's (technically) sub $2k WITH the 2nd biggest LCD on the market.

Pretty incredible deal. The 24" Dell LCD is over $700 itself, which puts into a pretty good perspective.

aafuss1

Sep 8, 2006, 12:44 AM

You do need to use the card to release the built-in stand on the 24-inch model so the stand can be removed and replaced with an optional VESA mount arm.

The access card is included with the VESA mount kit. The Service Manual has the details of this procedure.

So-there's a VESA kit for 24" (but can't find it yet), and with kit you get a "access card" tool just like what AASP's use-if only they sold a black stick to non-AASP's.

SRSound

Sep 8, 2006, 01:49 AM

I just wish Apple would come out with a version of the UX180P (http://www.mobiletechreview.com/sony_ux180/Sony-Vaio-UX180P.htm)

I would buy it in a second!

Yvan256

Sep 8, 2006, 02:03 AM

MXM...YES!..now put it in the MBPs!!!!!!!!!!!!! I've written Apple several times suggesting that the competition (alienware) is offering this, etc. This could mean a much broader selection in GPUs for the laptops. Then again if Apple did that, what would I whine about?:eek:

And if they can do it for laptops, they should be able to do it for the Mac mini too.

pjo

Sep 8, 2006, 08:30 AM

• Macsimumnews (http://www.macsimumnews.com/index.php/archive/graphics_card_in_24_inch_imac_are_apparently_upgradeable/) reports that the new 24" iMac incorporates a Mobile PCI Express Module (MXM) connector for its video card. The use of this standard connector potentially means that the video card in the newest iMac is upgradeable.

### MXM...YES!..now put it in the MBPs!!!!!!!!!!!!! I've written Apple several times suggesting that the competition (alienware) is offering this, etc. This could mean a much broader selection in GPUs for the laptops. Then again if Apple did that, what would I whine about?:eek:

Speaking of which, could this be a reason for the delay in announcing the merom MBPs?

mrgreen4242

Sep 8, 2006, 09:16 AM

And if they can do it for laptops, they should be able to do it for the Mac mini too.

Now that would be interesting. Except that since the mini and the MacBook share their architecture that would mean that we'd have to see it in the MacBook, and I am willing to bet the farm that it'll be a MBP only option.

Plus, I'm betting that any GPU on one of these cards is faitry expensive, new, and somewhat powerful, meaning it's not mini friendly. Would be neat though.

TBi

Sep 8, 2006, 10:25 AM

Now that would be interesting. Except that since the mini and the MacBook share their architecture that would mean that we'd have to see it in the MacBook, and I am willing to bet the farm that it'll be a MBP only option.

Problem with MXM is that it connects on top of the motherboard (logicboard). The MB and MBP are too thin to actually support a MXM module.

diotima1212

Sep 8, 2006, 11:22 AM

Is it just me getting totaly nervous because of the macnn Story?
This seems like so much more everybody hoped for, and even though probably a first generation device will house only half of the features coverd in the patent, it seems like the device many people have been waiting for the last ten years.

Look only at the description of the touchscreen and it's features, it seems very much revolutionary, and thinking of other patents and recent rumors (the google earth-like integration in osx etc.), one can hardly NOT think that the new ipod will be so much more than an ipod or a phone, but really the NEXT generation handheld device...

Even if it is just phone, GPS, ipod and pda, the price will probably be more than $500, but if a decent text input is possible, I would order it without any hesitation.

TBi

Sep 8, 2006, 11:34 AM

Look only at the description of the touchscreen and it's features, it seems very much revolutionary, and thinking of other patents and recent rumors (the google earth-like integration in osx etc.), one can hardly NOT think that the new ipod will be so much more than an ipod or a phone, but really the NEXT generation handheld device...
Or it could just be a patent that covers so many things that if anyone else tries to sue apple they can hit them back with this patent :)

diotima1212

Sep 8, 2006, 11:45 AM

Or it could just be a patent that covers so many things that if anyone else tries to sue apple they can hit them back with this patent :)

Could be the case, obviously, even more es Apple had some bad experiences...
BUT: Is there still hope? I would think so...

And as I said, I would be happy with just the input and two or three of the proposed functions...

Marx55

Sep 8, 2006, 01:33 PM

Imagine the Apple SMART phone with built-in Mac OS X mobile.

That will absolutely rock for wireless computerless presentations. Just make your Keynote or PowerPoint presentation, transfer to the smart phone and use it as a wireless remote control to give your presentation.

They will sell millions on corporate, education and domestic markets with a huge halo effect for Macs!

bikertwin

Sep 8, 2006, 02:18 PM

These were my thoughts yesterday:

Bikertwin's comments in other thread (http://forums.macrumors.com/showpost.php?p=2805945&postcount=183)

Did you see the mention of the mini-DVD drive?

Macmaniac

Sep 8, 2006, 03:43 PM

I am shocked so few people have commented on this story. The patent is quite remarkable. Its like a blank touch screen which can become an iPod,phone, camera, etc which is incredible!

asphalt-proof

Sep 8, 2006, 04:45 PM

tny

Sep 8, 2006, 04:45 PM

Vista RC1 does not work with the latest Parallels beta, however, Beta 2 does seem to work according to reports on the Parallels forum.

I can confirm that Vista Beta 2 (Public Beta) does work in Parallels on a MacBook. There seems to have been differences in implementation of ACPI between Beta 2 and RC1 . Note that RC1 just came out, so the Parallels folks haven't had time to work with it yet.

TBi

Sep 8, 2006, 05:05 PM

ARS Technica (http://arstechnica.com/journals/apple.ars/2006/9/8/5226) mentioned something about maybe a new cube. With the iMac 24" using MXM cards it is conceivable that if there is a new cube it will use MXM.

rtdunham

Sep 8, 2006, 05:27 PM

I doubt that this patent would apply to anything that they are going to release on the 12th. Think about it... would they take the chance of applying for a patent at the last minute, right before release of the product, and have that patent pre-empted by someone else? I really doubt it. I believe that this is something that we will see, if ever, much later on.

i think if you read the reports you'll see that apple filed for this patent in march. its being released days before sept 12 might in fact simply represent good planning and good timing. or not.

FreeState

Sep 8, 2006, 07:05 PM

I am shocked so few people have commented on this story. The patent is quite remarkable. Its like a blank touch screen which can become an iPod,phone, camera, etc which is incredible!

I so agree... Im so excited for this... way more than anything else Apple has put out for a while. If anything even close to this comes out Tuesday I have my credit card ready and my fingers twitching. :p

Fatal Darkness

Sep 8, 2006, 10:51 PM

The PCIe PowerMacs DID have graphics cards available despite what the original poster wrote but AFAIK only from Apple. Go to the Apple store online and search for 6600 and you'll get the PCIe G5 card as an option.

Which were the exact same cards the PowerMacs shipped with. (Unless you had the one low end model with the LE card) these were not upgrades, more like replacement parts. Neither the 7800GT nor the Quadro FX4500, the only other cards that would work with the machines, have ever been available outside of BTO. This screwed over a lot of people who bought in good faith that they'd be able to upgrade later; not to mention that whole Aperture fiasco.

Not only that, but with earlier PowerMacs you could also buy the Bluetooth and Airport cards at any Apple store and pop them in yourself, but they decided to take away that ability with the PCIe/970MP PowerMacs too.

Multimedia

Sep 9, 2006, 01:51 AM

Which were the exact same cards the PowerMacs shipped with. (Unless you had the one low end model with the LE card) these were not upgrades, more like replacement parts. Neither the 7800GT nor the Quadro FX4500, the only other cards that would work with the machines, have ever been available outside of BTO. This screwed over a lot of people who bought in good faith that they'd be able to upgrade later; not to mention that whole Aperture fiasco.

Not only that, but with earlier PowerMacs you could also buy the Bluetooth and Airport cards at any Apple store and pop them in yourself, but they decided to take away that ability with the PCIe/970MP PowerMacs too.Someone recently posted here that ATI Plans To Offer A 970MP PowerMac Compatible PCIe Card Soon. I hope it's true 'cause I'm sitting on two of them. Don't see leaving my Quad G5 before Apple offers 8 cores in a Mac Pro. The 4 core Mac Pro is NOT significatly faster than the G5 Quad for what I run all the time.

GreatOne08

Sep 9, 2006, 06:45 PM

I love parallel!:D

4np

Sep 10, 2006, 08:07 AM

Mark my words, this 'multifunctional device' is the true 'iPod Video' device we have all be waiting for. The patent shows an iPod like device with full touch screen and a small antenna. This resembles earlier iPhone-like patents which also showed a device sporting a full touchscreen and the true iPod video which is rumored to have a full touch screen as well. I have always suspected the true video iPod and the iPhone to be the same device (because of the touchscreen similarities); and now this patent pops up as well...

I think this 'multifunctional' device will be the next generation iPod; being able to play audio and video, having cellphone capabilities and -probably- some PDA type functionality. This patent also mentions GPS, Radio, Remote, Camera and Game functions as part of this device.

We also know apple has switched from portalplayer to another manufacturer which would require another iPod OS; perhaps some lightweight version of Leopard? Have a look at the patent images:

http://images.macnn.com/macnn/uspto/upsto_060907_2and3.gif
The multifunctional device (image 1)

http://images.macnn.com/macnn/uspto/upsto_060907_9thru13.gif
The multifunctional device (image 2)

http://images.macnn.com/macnn/uspto/upsto_060907_14thru17.gif
The multifunctional device (image 3)

http://www.simons-rock.edu/~patrick/images/iphonepatents.png
The 'iPhone' patents

http://cache.gizmodo.com/images/touchscreen2.gif
The 'iPod Video' patents (multi-touch screen)

http://www.powerpage.org/archives/images/apple/patent/ipod-proximity-patent.jpg
Apple's proximity detection patents

Greenstork also mentioned some previous stories that might very well relate to this 'multifunctional', 'true iPod video 6G' device:
The pieces are starting to fit together.

Apple & Intel developing the UDI connector cables, fully compatible with HDMI:
http://www.appleinsider.com/article.php?id=1586

Apple rumored to be releasing a streaming media device:
http://www.appleinsider.com/article.php?id=2016

I'm positive this is the long rumored 'true video iPod' and/or 'iPhone', along with a lot of new functionality. Steve Jobs has been very enthousastic about the 'iPhone' to his inner circle. Wouldn't you be very enthousiastic if you knew this device was coming? :) I certainly would be...