Apple Event April 18th, 2004

[MacRumors]

Apple announced today that they have plans to participate at the NAB (National Association of Broadcasters) conference in April.

Of more interest, in a media invitation, Apple writes:

Moving pictures. Moving sound. Moving the industry. Please join Apple for a special presentation at NAB 2004 to see the latest Apple technology
The special event is to be held on April 18, 2004. One recent Page 2 rumor hinted at an "upcoming device" at the NAB show in April

[hobbes3113]

Apple announced (http://maccentral.macworld.com/news/2004/03/10/applenab/index.php?redirect=1078924658000) today that they have plans at the NAB (National Association of Broadcasters) conference in April.

In a media invitation, Apple writes:



The special event is to be held on April 18, 2004. One recent Page 2 rumor (http://www.macrumors.com/pages/2004/03/20040303034212.shtml) hitned at an "upcoming device" at the NAB show in April.

Any ideas on what the new devices will be? New Power Macs? Powerbooks?

[Stella]

PowerBook G5
:rolleyes:

[Chaszmyr]

As long as its not a G5 powerbook I will be happy :-P

(I just bought a PowerBook.. Performance isnt important enough to me on my laptop that i wanted to wait a month or two for a 100mhz speed increase, but if it was bumped to G5 i would be very upset)

[Mord]

woo yay thats just the time when i'll be coming into some money :)

[Macmaniac]

I hope they don't wait that long to release new desktop G5s, if its PB G5's then I will be happy! Come on Apple new Hardware!

[agentmouthwash]

maybe it's that ibox.

it says moving picture, moving sound and it's for broadcasters..

maybe it streams photos from iphoto, streams music from itunes,
and plays satelite radio feed, and dvds all through your TV / Stereo.

[agreenster]

Handheld Quicktime device

Or

Apple branded home entertainment device to synch with your mac.

NOT a G5 Powerbook

[tny]

Moving pictures. Moving sound. Moving the industry. Please join Apple for a special presentation at NAB 2004 to see the latest Apple technology
Somebody care to explain why this doesn't just mean Final Cut Pro/Sountrack and Logic Pro demos for broadcasters?

[Frobozz]

Apple announced (http://maccentral.macworld.com/news/2004/03/10/applenab/index.php?redirect=1078924658000) today that they have plans at the NAB (National Association of Broadcasters) conference in April.

In a media invitation, Apple writes:

The special event is to be held on April 18, 2004. One recent Page 2 rumor (http://www.macrumors.com/pages/2004/03/20040303034212.shtml) hitned at an "upcoming device" at the NAB show in April.

This is obviously the digital hub home media hardware that has been rumored. NAB is not the venue for computer hardware to be released (read: no PowerBooks, iMacs, or PowerMacs.)

[diego]

Apple announced (http://maccentral.macworld.com/news/2004/03/10/applenab/index.php?redirect=1078924658000) today that they have plans at the NAB (National Association of Broadcasters) conference in April.

In a media invitation, Apple writes:



The special event is to be held on April 18, 2004. One recent Page 2 rumor (http://www.macrumors.com/pages/2004/03/20040303034212.shtml) hitned at an "upcoming device" at the NAB show in April.


It looks like some sort of portable video device, but really hope it's new PowerBooks.

[el_aarono]

"Moving pictures. Moving Sound".... hmmmm sounds like a way to make

pictures and sound portable. Video iPod, maybe? If they do that, I suggest

that the ipod be turned sideways so the view screen would be in widescreen

format. I still wouldn't buy one though.

[agreenster]

Somebody care to explain why this doesn't just mean Final Cut Pro/Sountrack and Logic Pro demos for broadcasters?

True. Could just be software announcements/expos.

[arn]

I doubt apple would released PowerBook/PowerMac updates at this event... seems like it would more NAB specific.

arn

[Some_Big_Spoon]

Because you're on a rumors site, not Slashdot (http://www.slashdot.org)
Logic (like why in the hell G5 PB's at NAB..NAB for god's sake!) has no place here..

Moving pictures. Moving sound. Moving the industry. Please join Apple for a special presentation at NAB 2004 to see the latest Apple technology
Somebody care to explain why this doesn't just mean Final Cut Pro/Sountrack and Logic Pro demos for broadcasters?

[Wonder Boy]

i want to be the first to start the "international itunes" rumor, so here it is- i think apple will announce the "international itunes" store.

[takao]

yeah finally something new on the hardware site ....
i hope it isn't music/ipod/iTMS related please let it be some new _computers_
(after visiting the local apple store for the first time i want new imacs as soon as possible :D )

[stoid]

This will not have anything to do with the Macintosh except that it is Apple and it will probably work on or with your Macintosh.

[Gaffa Bug]

Wasn't there an earlier rumor that Apple may enter the movie projector market??? Maybe this is it.

[g30ffr3y]

im hopping on the ibox bandwagon for streaming content... but probably itll just end up being software updates to final cut or shake etc... but would they make such a big deal if it were just that???

[moosecat]

Moving pictures. Moving sound. Moving the industry. Please join Apple for a special presentation at NAB 2004 to see the latest Apple technology
Somebody care to explain why this doesn't just mean Final Cut Pro/Sountrack and Logic Pro demos for broadcasters?

That sounds most likely to me. People are focusing on "Moving pictures" and "Moving sound," without attention to "Moving the industry." The industry at NAB is broadcasting -- a video iPod (or updated CPUs) would not "move" that industry. (Unless a TV tuner were involved ... Hmm....)

[GigaWire]

I doubt apple would released PowerBook/PowerMac updates at this event... seems like it would more NAB specific.

arn

G5 PowerBooks would be big news to the NAB crowd that would have a mjor impact on mobile editing. The current PowerBooks are ok, but G5's would be amazing. One thing is for sure, it will not be a consumer grade device.

[iggyb]

Sounds like it just might be a software update....it is NAB after all.....

But, I'd love to hear something more exciting, like a COMPUTER UPDATE!

[***T-MC®***]

Sounds like it just might be a software update....it is NAB after all.....

But, I'd love to hear something more exciting, like a COMPUTER UPDATE!


...or maybe a totally NEW application/software for the NAB people!!!

[Namacste]

Maybe just wishful thinking since I need one so badly.

But seriously think of it: a new flat panel display with HDTV capabilities maybe?

It has been a long, long while since Apple updated these mothers.

[bousozoku]

Perhaps, a 3D movie camera and applications to leverage it.

[pb1212580]

First, it's a NAB (BROADCAST!!!) event.
The only apple device I'm family with that has LIVE MOVING PICTURES AND MOVING SOUNDS is the ISIGHT!

Though I don't see any MAJOR need in improvement in the iSight, it just MIGHT be an iSight update!

who knows... wireless isight?! the apple brand video wireless cam that cam zoon and store some pics on microhd or medias.

[sethypoo]

Could, perhaps, broadcasting=Apple Set Top Box?

Gasp!

:eek:

[orion123]

Perhaps, a 3D movie camera and applications to leverage it.

Oh yeah, that's totally it :rolleyes:

I'll put my money on either an HDTV panel with some sort of wireless display capabilities for movies/music/photos (bluetooth? 802.11g? both?) or just big-ish updates to FCP and other pro-apps.

With all the hubbub this created, I'm sure Apple will clarify the invite with something that either tones it down ("Exciting new technologies for the broadcast and film industries") or amps it up ("Come join us as we open your eyes to the future... again" "Steve Jobs will appear on CNBC at 1pm" etc)

[Dave_B]

Apple announced today that they have plans to participate at the NAB (National Association of Broadcasters) conference in April.

Of more interest, in a media invitation, Apple writes:

Moving pictures. Moving sound. Moving the industry. Please join Apple for a special presentation at NAB 2004 to see the latest Apple technology
The special event is to be held on April 18, 2004. One recent Page 2 rumor hinted at an "upcoming device" at the NAB show in April


Given the audience isn't this most likely to be a strong plug for MPEG4 and the Quicktime streaming server - hosted on an Xserve hooked up to an Xraid?

[Dave the Great]

I hope it's an update to FCP that allows native support for HDV - editing of mpeg 2 transport streams.

Also, new displays would be nice!

And of course a g5 PowerBook!!

[twinturbo]

I hope it's an update to FCP that allows native support for HDV - editing of mpeg 2 transport streams.

Also, new displays would be nice!

And of course a g5 PowerBook!!

Forget HDV, how about DVCProHD over firewire-THAT would rock the industry. Broadcast level HD editing on the desktop via firewire and cheap run-of-the-mill HD's. And the Varicam is a great camera, has awesome dynamic range, multiple framerates, etc. For the professional market you can forget HDV-that stuff is crap mega-compressed MPEG-2. They need to get DVCProHD over firewire Now and crush the Sony HDCAM juggernaut.

[noel4r]

I doubt apple would released PowerBook/PowerMac updates at this event... seems like it would more NAB specific.

arn

I agree, they would save it for a Mac Expo.

[rohanputter]

Hi,

I'm pretty bemused by some of the suggestions.

International iTMS: I wish but no way. They wouldn't announce it in the US and in any case, "moving video"??
Software: granted the most likely in some ways given the audience, but the only times Apple have really made big announcements like this have been big events like the iPod launch, iTMS launch... There just has to be some hardware.
Video iPOD: fits the statement, but it is obviously not likely given Steve's comments. Maybe a video iPod without screen but I doubt it too.
Set-top box: this has by bet. Apple has always made a big thing about the digital hub so the recent move to media centre's is right up Apple's alley. The've already done it in iLife, so combine that with your TVs and Airport extreme and you have a fantastic device. Apple would rule this market if it made them available for PCs.

Video Store: Stream videos using MPEG-4 to users over broadband. Essentilly an iTMS for video. I doubt it but it would be the perfect audience.

Anyway, thats my 2 cents...

[beerstine]

Since NAB is a professional-oriented show, I doubt it will be a consumer device.

If the description says it's aimed at broadcasters, I'd assume it's a pro product aimed at serving Apple's growing base of Television stations, high-end post production houses and independent producers who create television programming.

No ideas, but I would gamble (since this will be in Vegas) that it is High Def related.

[gorkonapple]

A Airport Extreme Enabled iSight with a bigger CCD?
A Apple Set Top Box?
A update for XRAID?

:D

[Wonder Boy]

Hi,
Maybe a video iPod without screen....


hahaha say what? what resolution would this video ipod without a screen have? :P

[cornfedgrowth]

Personally, i think everyone might be reading into this too much. Maybe i'm just pessimistic, but "Moving Video, Moving Sound, Moving the Industry" sounds a lot more like a tag line aimed at creating interest than a foreshadowing of future products. Pure speculation here, but i wouldn't expect anything more than a couple of software updates.
-Alex

I wouldn't mind seeing a G5 powerbook even though it is prolly the least likely thing to be announced.

[eSnow]

Probably nothing but a presentation of known Apple tech: iPod, iTunes, iPhoto, iTMS, Pixlet, Quicktime. Coupled with some pep talk about how invincible they are in the music download/portable player market.

"moving the industry", my ass. Reminds me of "way beyond the rumor sites".

[robotrenegade]

Sounds Big

[leftbanke7]

Three Words:

Us Festival 2

[rohanputter]

hahaha say what? what resolution would this video ipod without a screen have? :P

Sorry, I should have clarified, was just typing too quickly. Ages ago, Steve Jobs was quoted as saying that he didn't see the market for watching video on a small screen, rather having a device to plug into others. An ipod with video out and software support would work well. Take your movies with you and plug it in to a TV. Would obviously work with photos too.

[AtariMac]

I'm betting on a Final Cut Pro demo on Dual G5 Hardware. No new announcements.

[lind0834]

It just says "latest technology".. hopefully that means they'll update some hardware before it.. and do some demos.

"Moving Sounds"?? huh?

[Chupa Chupa]

A Video iPod would seem logical since its been a year since the 3G iPods were announced, and M$ is ahead of Apple with portable video. BUT, this is a broadcasters convention. What do they care about that? Nothing.

Some say it will be a TiVo like device. Again, this is a broadcaster's convention, and generally, broadcasters HATE TiVo devices because everyone scans over the ads causing revenue to go down.

No, I hate to be the spoil sport, but I'm guessing whatever Apple is announcing will be boring to those not in the broadcasting medium. In fact, I'd guess it will be either a FCP upgrade or maybe a Shake update or price decrease. Whatever it is, remember, Apple's presence at the NABfest is to convince BROADCASTERS to use Apple software.

[nightporter]

Maybe the Hint lies here...

NAB 2004

New Technologies for Digital Media
April*20,*2004 * • * 2:15PM* - * 4:00PM
Las Vegas Convention Center S219

xecutive Panelist(s)
Glenn Bulycz, Sr. Mgr. QuickTime Product Marketing, Apple, Cupertino, CA

[nightporter]

Hmmm, maybe it's software after all?

POST-PRODUCTION ARTISTS
Avid, Apple, Adobe, Discreet...these are just a few of the companies who annually unveil their latest offerings to the upgrade-hungry post-production, animation, special effects, and graphics professionals of the world at NAB.

[silvergunuk]

iTunes 5, itunes music Store Europe/asia/australia, New home device/iPod Generation 4

[Some_Big_Spoon]

I officially give you best quote of the new millenium.

Three Words:

Us Festival 2

[Sabbath]

A video iPod like device is the first thing to spring to mind, but I really don't thiunk theres a big demand for such a product right now. I can't think of when I would possible use one except for when travelling, but I may aswell use my powerbook rather than paying for a new product.

So I guess set top box is much more likely, it seems much more logical product. Could just be nothing of course.

[proglife]

Maybe just wishful thinking since I need one so badly.

But seriously think of it: a new flat panel display with HDTV capabilities maybe?

It has been a long, long while since Apple updated these mothers.

I think that's a great idea. Look how good plasmas have been to Gateway. That's a hot item right now, in the home entertainment market AND the computer market; both of which Apple are interested in having a big impact in.

I think the computer needs to come out of the "computer room". It's such a big part of people's lives now and we still sit at desks to use them just because that's the only place they could fit at first, and they used to be "work only" products. If Apple can TRULY make a successful digital hub that is placed in the living room and replaces the archaic television set, they'd be going in the right direction, IMO.

G5 Powerbooks would be nice, but I won't be able to afford one for years to come. Damn Republicans ;)

Video iPods? Useless in my opinion.

[nuckinfutz]

No

Video iPod
Audio iPod
Set Top Box
Powermac G5
Powerbook G5


Yes

Updates to Final Cut Pro, Shake and DVD Studio pro
Possible announcement of a new application(could be rumored Digital Audio Workstation).
Possible hardware but that's unlikely unless Apple is teaming with Aja again for something new.

[gekko513]

About the new 400GB Hitachi hard drive:
Dubbed the Deskstar 7K400, the drive is being tested by manufacturers and could be in digital video recorder (DVR) products available to consumers later this year, the source said.
Since this is a rumor site, I think me seeing a connection with this is not out of place. :cool:

[fwy]

Anyone know the link to register for the press conference? I'll be in vegas for NAB

can't find it on the apple site, did not get my invite as in previous years...

I went to the event last year, lot of fun to be there for the FCP4 release - keynote was sorta like a mini macworld

[THX1965]

I can only say it again - NAB is a yearly event for professionals in the TV, editing and post-production world. There won't be a consumer device. Period. Nothing even remotely consumer. And no new hardware either.

Currently Apple has only one product that belongs to NAB - Final Cut Pro. Last year we saw the unveiling of Final Cut Pro 4 together with AJA's IO BOX. And it was no coincidence that Apple's large booth was right next to it's big NAB rival - AVID.

It's likely that we see a sneak peak of version 5 of FCP. I am hoping that Apple's going to talk about their plans for a file-level shared storage solution. That's something they desperately need in order to compete with AVID. (That's the one big reason why larger editing companies are deciding against FCP and go for AVID)

AVID has an extremely sophisticated product, called UNITY, which allows editors to share media over fibre channel with no restrictions. So called "virtual workspaces" (volumes that can be adjusted in size at any time!) can be written to by editors at the same time. It's a real workhorse and it's the standard in the post-production world. In order to compete in the professional market, Apple needs a competitive product. And by the way, a system like that won't come cheap. AVID's solution can run up to 100 grand, depending on size.

[Doctor Q]

When was the last major update to QuickTime? If there is a new version coming, what might be in it?

[THX1965]

Sorry, got an error message and just found out that my previous post did get through...

[Dave the Great]

Forget HDV, how about DVCProHD over firewire-THAT would rock the industry. Broadcast level HD editing on the desktop via firewire and cheap run-of-the-mill HD's. And the Varicam is a great camera, has awesome dynamic range, multiple framerates, etc. For the professional market you can forget HDV-that stuff is crap mega-compressed MPEG-2. They need to get DVCProHD over firewire Now and crush the Sony HDCAM juggernaut.

Point taken; yes, DVCProHD would be sweet.

However, for semi-pros, support for HDV is still needed. Sony supposedly will be announcing an HDV cam (rumored 1080i, but HDV supports only up to 1440 instead of the 1920) at NAB and JVC should be coming out with v2 of their cams later this year.

And right now the solution for editing is pretty much PC based. The software that comes with the JVCs is for PC. There is the Aspect plugin for Premiere 6.5 (PC) and Pro. And soon to be (was told should be out in a day or two) MainConcept's plugin for Premiere Pro. Plus, uLead has native HDV support.

I know there is now the Heuris and also the Steve Mullen solution, but it is a lot of extra time and screwing around. Where native support would definitely make things a lot easier and a lot less time consuming.

I would actually have liked to seen HDV gone the Mpeg-4 advanced HD route versus Mpeg-2 and also supported 4:2:2.

[ibrainch]

I still don't get why everyone thinks there is a need for a set top box - my powerbook has all of that functionality already and it is very easy to connect to my tv (streams iTunes, iPhoto, etc. from iMac in another room).

I would really like to see an iPod/TiVo device that I can connect to my TV and record shows just like TiVO and then have it on the go for viewing with my laptop or TV whenever I want. For example, if I could record Sopranos on this device (might just be added functionality to iPod), I could then watch it on the plane through my Powerbook via Quicktime and firewire (I agree with Jobs that people aren't interested in viewing TV/Video on a 2" screen). This device would need to be seemlessly integrated with TV/Computer and internet and Apple is the perfect company to do this. This kind of device would change the way we think about broadcasting and could see Apple announcing it at NAB.

[MikeBike]

http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2001310000-2004103133,00.html

Samsung seems to have something aweful Apple like...
Looks good, hope Apple does it too.

[JamesDPS]

No

Video iPod
Audio iPod
Set Top Box
Powermac G5
Powerbook G5


Yes

Updates to Final Cut Pro, Shake and DVD Studio pro
Possible announcement of a new application(could be rumored Digital Audio Workstation).
Possible hardware but that's unlikely unless Apple is teaming with Aja again for something new.

I'm with nuckinfutz on this one -- no major hardware updates unless it's something along the lines of an Apple branded controller for Final Cut Pro or some kind of audio interface (made by emagic, branded by Apple, for use with Logic). Also, isn't Logic Pro being released kind of soonish? So that might be included with whatever other pro audio stuff they do.

Look for new G5's later this month, I think -- or early next month, but not at this conference specifically. And Lord only knows how long it will be before PB G5's are introduced, but I'm betting it's NOT going to be here, so don't hold your collective breaths....

[leftbanke7]

I officially give you best quote of the new millenium.

Thank you, thank you. *Bows*

[?Hater]

I replied to an appleinsider post about this a few months ago, but one of my good friends took photos with an orange plastic apple portable video player, definitely had no reason to lie, and told me this b4 any rumors of the sort were flying around. Because he so independently told me this (and completely in the dark of any rumors or word from apple), I definitely believe him. The kid was shooting promo photos with the thing, and said they came in a few colors. So, I would definitely expect something up this alley. Video iPod for sure.

[daveL]

I still don't get why everyone thinks there is a need for a set top box - my powerbook has all of that functionality already and it is very easy to connect to my tv (streams iTunes, iPhoto, etc. from iMac in another room).

I would really like to see an iPod/TiVo device that I can connect to my TV and record shows just like TiVO and then have it on the go for viewing with my laptop or TV whenever I want. For example, if I could record Sopranos on this device (might just be added functionality to iPod), I could then watch it on the plane through my Powerbook via Quicktime and firewire (I agree with Jobs that people aren't interested in viewing TV/Video on a 2" screen). This device would need to be seemlessly integrated with TV/Computer and internet and Apple is the perfect company to do this. This kind of device would change the way we think about broadcasting and could see Apple announcing it at NAB.
I can already suck digital content off my Tivo and play it on my laptop or burn it to dvd. Granted, it's a hack. Most people don't realize that DirectTv/Tivo is only 480x480 - not nearly DVD quality. Very few DirectTv titles have Dolby Digital. There are times when I think a class-action suit is in order. I've digressed :)

Anyway, Tivo is continually trying to tighten up their boxes to prohibit this type of stuff, due to DRM issues, of course. Apple would have to solve these issues. The success of iTMS is a good sign, but I'm not sure we are there, yet. One of the reasons I don't think the current crop of PVRs are coming under a lot of scrutiny is that HD is around the corner and will obsolete everything out there. When HDTV PVRs come on the market, in volume, I don't think it will be without some serious DRM in place.

In the final analysis, I believe you'll have to have a decent income, in the future, to actually be able to control the content you buy with something more than "watch/listen and it's gone" options. When was the last time you saw a boxing title fight on over-the-air TV? It's delayed a week or two even on the cable premium channels (HBO, etc.). It won't be too long before the Super Bowl will only be available on a pay channel. We are being held hostage! Revolt! I promise, if I'm elected, to put a bundle of DVDs in every slot!:)

OK, I admit it, I'm on the other side of martini hour :)

[Wonder Boy]

Sorry, I should have clarified, was just typing too quickly. Ages ago, Steve Jobs was quoted as saying that he didn't see the market for watching video on a small screen, rather having a device to plug into others. An ipod with video out and software support would work well. Take your movies with you and plug it in to a TV. Would obviously work with photos too.

i knew what you meant, just a little gentle ribbing.

btw thanks for being a good sport (people around here have been a little uptight lately)

[howard]

some guy said know consumer products are at NAB

well that could kick ass, cause it could be a pro audio app..and update to logic, i'm excited to see

[tntoak]

I'm with nuckinfutz on this one -- no major hardware updates unless it's something along the lines of an Apple branded controller for Final Cut Pro or some kind of audio interface (made by emagic, branded by Apple, for use with Logic). Also, isn't Logic Pro being released kind of soonish? So that might be included with whatever other pro audio stuff they do.

Look for new G5's later this month, I think -- or early next month, but not at this conference specifically. And Lord only knows how long it will be before PB G5's are introduced, but I'm betting it's NOT going to be here, so don't hold your collective breaths....


Considering that the listing from NAB that was referenced earlier referred to Apple under Post-Prodution, perhaps Apple has created a new workstation for video editing/compiling. That would fit into the video/audio/industry theme they were getting at in that announcement. I seriously doubt it will be anything aimed at the consumer market, because NAB isn't exactly a high-publicity affair. As far as rumors of a video iPod, new consumer hardware, etc., I'd expect that at Macworld rather than at NAB.

[tny]

I can already suck digital content off my Tivo and play it on my laptop or burn it to dvd. Granted, it's a hack. Most people don't realize that DirectTv/Tivo is only 480x480 - not nearly DVD quality.


Hmm. I've seen this elsewhere, but don't understand how you could represent an NTSC image - which is 640x480x24bitx29.97fps I believe - in 480x480. Is the aspect ratio off, or is it padded somehow?

[Illan]

this is my prediction for april 19:

New apple Displays. this line is overdue for an update, we may perhaps see the long rumored 30" display. remember that to take advantage of final cut pro you need a good display and apple has great displays

final cut pro update. final cut is being used to broadcast many programs(espn sportcenter is done with final cut pro) so it would be natural for an update for this software

powermacs update-since the powermac ARE ther tools we may see an update using the the new 970FX.

Powerbooks Update- is there is any it will be the new G4 processor that motorla announced.I suspect that Powerbooks G5 are going to be announced at the WWDC

portable video players? i really dont think apple will release one yet

ibox? Perhap will see the light of day.

Thats all for my predictions.

[invaLPsion]

It will be some kind of video entertainment device released at NAB I'm thinking.

I was going to say something else intelligent but I forgot what it was... Damn. :confused:

[azdude]

Regardless of the purpose of NAB, I think we'll see iTunes announcements.

1) April 30th is the birthday of the iTMS.
2) April 30th is Steve's deadline for meeting 100 Million Songs.

I anticipate Apple will use this April 18th date to announce their progress (and HOPEFULLY claim their own trophy... we haven't seen any official numbers since 25Million) in reaching the 100M goal.

Beyond that, it will likely be the FCP, Shake updates. I don't think we'll see iTunes 5 or the iPod 4 here at NAB --- those will be at a separate music event. (But we're due soon, right?)

[johnpaul191]

I replied to an appleinsider post about this a few months ago, but one of my good friends took photos with an orange plastic apple portable video player, definitely had no reason to lie, and told me this b4 any rumors of the sort were flying around. Because he so independently told me this (and completely in the dark of any rumors or word from apple), I definitely believe him. The kid was shooting promo photos with the thing, and said they came in a few colors. So, I would definitely expect something up this alley. Video iPod for sure.

ok, what would the consumer put on their video iPod? ripping DVDs is 1) illegal and 2) slow. i don't think people need to carry around their iMovies to watch constantly. watching recorded TV shows seems silly too, and with the impending broadcast flags might be short lived. it's possible Apple is testing such hardware in case someone comes up with a reason to NEED to watch movies on a screen much smaller than a 12" laptop.....

remember MP3s were commonplace before the iPod was released. Everyone had MP3s on their computer and needed a good solution for making them portable. not that many people have movies/video on their drives that they require in a portable player.

[TylerL]

My hopes?
QuickTime 7.
H.264 and HE-AAC support.
...With a Cocoa QT Player and a Win2k/XP Player built from scratch (by whatever team ported iTunes).

This is a professional event. Don't be looking for iPods or PowerBooks here.
...and it's probably too soon to hope for a major revision to FCP one year after the biggest revision it's ever gotten.

[ssnmx]

A video iPod might not be that crazy of an idea after all,
from a NY Times article:

"If you hadn't noticed, audio inventions are inevitably followed by corresponding video versions. Radio begat TV; audio tape begat videotape; CD's begat DVD's.

It was only a matter of time, then, before it occurred to somebody to invent, for want of a better term, the video iPod: a hand-held personal-entertainment gizmo with a color screen capable of playing movies.

That idea has certainly occurred to Microsoft. At the Consumer Electronics Show in January, Bill Gates demonstrated prototypes of something un-catchily named the Microsoft Portable Media Center. Creative Labs, iRiver, Samsung, Sanyo and ViewSonic all intend to unveil Microsoft-based video players by year's end."


It goes on to describe how two players already in the market work... and it seems like they both can get a little help from Apple ;)

I don't know if this would happen at NAB, but I think Apple should in the cooks for something like this. Check out the article.

-Susana

[ssnmx]

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/11/technology/circuits/11stat.html

[aswitcher]

Regardless of the purpose of NAB, I think we'll see iTunes announcements.

1) April 30th is the birthday of the iTMS.
2) April 30th is Steve's deadline for meeting 100 Million Songs.

I anticipate Apple will use this April 18th date to announce their progress (and HOPEFULLY claim their own trophy... we haven't seen any official numbers since 25Million) in reaching the 100M goal.

Beyond that, it will likely be the FCP, Shake updates. I don't think we'll see iTunes 5 or the iPod 4 here at NAB --- those will be at a separate music event. (But we're due soon, right?)

Good thinking. But, Ok, nothing for me to get too excited about.

[idkew]

i think jobs announced this to watch the rumor sites.

:)

[iMeowbot]

For what it's worth, Apple's exhibit is in the multimedia hall, and it looks as though they've booked more floor space at the show that just about anyone but Sony. Bloaty interactive Java map thingy at http://www.nabshow.com/vr2/FloorPlan-Launch-NAB2004.html

[aswitcher]

For what it's worth, Apple's exhibit is in the multimedia hall, and it looks as though they've booked more floor space at the show that just about anyone but Sony. Bloaty interactive Java map thingy at http://www.nabshow.com/vr2/FloorPlan-Launch-NAB2004.html

Well obviously they have to use this opportuntity to announce some stuff, maybe just that software, maybe something else. There is just so much expectation at present about what they need to get out.

[LostPacket]

AVID has an extremely sophisticated product, called UNITY, which allows editors to share media over fibre channel with no restrictions. So called "virtual workspaces" (volumes that can be adjusted in size at any time!) can be written to by editors at the same time. It's a real workhorse and it's the standard in the post-production world. In order to compete in the professional market, Apple needs a competitive product. And by the way, a system like that won't come cheap. AVID's solution can run up to 100 grand, depending on size.
I don't know much about video editing, but my guess would be that Apple will leverage current technologies to create a low-cost system to compete with the AVID solution that THX1965 mentioned. They did this with Big Mac where they managed to come up with a Top-3 super-computer for a fraction of the cost (granted, Apple didn't do it, but they helped).

They have the XServe, XServe RAID, XGrid and FCP. What's stopping them from revolutionizing the post-production process with distributed processing (using XGrid on a small Xserve/PM cluster), shared storage (XServe RAID cluster) and some kind of Applesque work-flow management system (either built into FCP or as an integrated stand-alone app). I'm sure AVID already has something like that, but I bet Apple can do it better and cheaper. Throw in some 30" displays and I think you've got a winner.

Heck, I bet Steve's already field tested it at Pixar :)

[jettredmont]

Hmm. I've seen this elsewhere, but don't understand how you could represent an NTSC image - which is 640x480x24bitx29.97fps I believe - in 480x480. Is the aspect ratio off, or is it padded somehow?

Horizontal resolution in an analog video format is variable, relying on the input precision as well as the output precision.

640x480 or 720x480 are the generally accepted reasonable resolutions for NTSC video, but, really, 480x480 isn't unreasonable. Also, remember that NTSC gives a substantially smaller bandwidth to color than luminance, and therefore generally the "color resolution" of a television will be closer to 200 lines across than 480, 640, or 720 ... a luminance+color (full pixel) resolution of 480 across can be pretty darned close to the original analog signal.

Note: while "square pixels" are nice, they are certainly not required. A 480x480 NTSC recording would have 4:3 aspect ratio pixels.

[aswitcher]

Heck, I bet Steve's already field tested it at Pixar :)

If they released the 30" with decent refresh rate, I think that would be a stir. I still think though that they will release the new screens with the next gen G5 PMs... but at this stage any hardware release would be appreciated ;) :p

[Savage Henry]

For what it's worth, Apple's exhibit is in the multimedia hall, and it looks as though they've booked more floor space at the show that just about anyone but Sony. Bloaty interactive Java map thingy at http://www.nabshow.com/vr2/FloorPlan-Launch-NAB2004.html

Perhaps they need all that room to demonstrate the new iHovercraft that I've been hearing about so much in these forums.:)

[Zyote]

I don't see how apple could honestly release a portable video device. or even a dvd setup box thing.

1 - It is still illegale to Rip DVDs to hard disk
2 - downloaded DivX, or SVCDs, or Xvid, etc, generally contain copyright content.
3 - What other video content might you want to play on something like this? Quicktime trailers?! hahaha.. sure..

Essentially all these companies getting on the video market have never thought about "legal" video content. sure, i guess apple could do some PVR type box, which might be good. Although i don't watch tv. As it's all junk anyway.

I'm betting this show will be able industry related software. FCP and such.

[Sabenth]

I don't see how apple could honestly release a portable video device. or even a dvd setup box thing.

1 - It is still illegale to Rip DVDs to hard disk
2 - downloaded DivX, or SVCDs, or Xvid, etc, generally contain copyright content.
3 - What other video content might you want to play on something like this? Quicktime trailers?! hahaha.. sure..
. and they said this about music that it would never become legal to download or be taken on by the masses ...



quick some one rub my nose in the dirt i think i just said somthing that made sense

[Zyote]

and they said this about music that it would never become legal to download or be taken on by the masses ...

quick some one rub my nose in the dirt i think i just said somthing that made sense

Okay, but how could apple possible market this?!

"Play all your DivX movies! *wink* *wink* with the new iWatchMovies"

there is just no legal content.. apple can't afford to piss off the movie/tv industry.

Music has been different, because Mp3s had been around much longer before Apple made an iPod. I seem to recall having mp3s in 1995-96. when did the iPod come out again?

I don't think the time is right for apple to be jumping on this market. it's to dangerous from a legal content viewpoint.

[billyboy]

Okay, but how could apple possible market this?!

"Play all your DivX movies! *wink* *wink* with the new iWatchMovies"

there is just no legal content.. apple can't afford to piss off the movie/tv industry.

Music has been different, because Mp3s had been around much longer before Apple made an iPod. I seem to recall having mp3s in 1995-96. when did the iPod come out again?

I don't think the time is right for apple to be jumping on this market. it's to dangerous from a legal content viewpoint.

What is illegal if Apple had permission to rip DVDs to DivX and flog them on their latest store? AAC format is ripped from masters and no one complains as long as the money is rolling in.

[Zyote]

What is illegal if Apple had permission to rip DVDs to DivX and flog them on their latest store? AAC format is ripped from masters and no one complains as long as the money is rolling in.

isn't that what the DeCSS is for? to provide legal grounds to prevent people from ripping dvd discs?

Did / do audio cds have a similar protection? i haven't heard of it if thats the case..

[iMan]

And the technology to make it come through!

This is most certainly about delivering movies/TV/broadcast to the people. It is about making the computer the central unit of your home - at last. It is how to use your computer (Apple branded of course) as the bridge between the content available on the net (music, information and entertainment - now also high quality videostreaming) and your everyday equipment; TV, Stereo, Home theatre, tablets, pods, mobile etc etc. - wireless. This is about moving the industry, as in how we distribute contents - everything interactive and for the user to decide where and when to watch.
It is the new tools to make movies and television for everyone - and distribute it. How will you make your televisionshow today?


I hope :)

[Trimix]

Nah, it is a portable video player-ipod.
It logs wirelessly into MTV and others delivering video clips at $1.29 to only an American audience, leaving us over here even more salivating

[Zyote]

Nah, it is a portable video player-ipod.
It logs wirelessly into MTV and others delivering video clips at $1.29 to only an American audience, leaving us over here even more salivating

soooo isn't gonna happen..

I'd love it if it did! i'd love a portable video player... espicially from apple. But i do not think apple are gonna do it.

[iMan]

soooo isn't gonna happen..

I'd love it if it did! i'd love a portable video player... espicially from apple. But i do not think apple are gonna do it.

Not yet anyway. At this point it has no purpose - everything Apple makes has some sort of purpose; to run around listening to music is one thing - who is wanting to see videos and such on the run...? Until at least the mobile nets (or genereal wifi) can offer capability to distribute good quality audio/video - like for on the move video conferencing Apple will stay away from the gadgetery.

[AndrewE]

What about the new undefined HD-DVD format? Gates have been suggesting that his video format should be included as one of the standards.

Does Apple have all the answers to edit in HD and have DVDstudio pro for HD-DVD? We may see the new HD-DVD format launched.

[Opteron]

What about the new undefined HD-DVD format? Gates have been suggesting that his video format should be included as one of the standards.

Does Apple have all the answers to edit in HD and have DVDstudio pro for HD-DVD? We may see the new HD-DVD format launched.

Blue-Ray DVD is next in line. HD-DVD is like the GD-ROM for the Dreamcast. It's a stop gap solution to tired us over until the next big thing.

[Morgo]

Nah, it is a portable video player-ipod.
It logs wirelessly into MTV and others delivering video clips at $1.29 to only an American audience, leaving us over here even more salivating

This wouldn't be anything new (interms of wirelessly delivering MTV/TV Content)...my 3G phone here in the UK allows me to watch MTV :D Comes as part of the 3G package with '3'.

[dontmatter]

the video-ipod thing is rediculous.

Here's why:

1. How do you legally get movies? iPod is risky enough for apple.

2. On what portable device (presumably more portable than a laptop) would you want to watch movies? Nobody wants to watch a movie on a screen that can fit in there pocket. Nobody wants to carry around a decent sized screen, as why not carry a laptop, or hell, just some dvd's and the world is populated with comptuers.

3. Other size- hard drive. there are three things you need to optimize, and you can never get more than two-you need a HD that isn't enormously expensive or physically large, you need a format that actually looks good, and most of all, you need to hold a large number of movies. The whole idea of a portable device is that you don't have to plan to be in some place with the right equipment and data to listen/watch to what you want, so unless you can choose whatever you fancy at the moment, why not just sit down and watch a movie? Nobody would have any interest in a 4 song ipod.

4. Portability issues with movies in general:
A) As stated, portable devices are for spontaneous use. But movies, or even TV if there is a market to bring TV into even more of human life, don't come in less than half hour size. Most people don't have random half hour, or two hour, more like, unscheduled times in their lives where they're in random places to watch a movie. and yeah, you might listen to music for two hours at a time but it is different than watching a movie because
B) You can't watch a movie while doing something else. You can't do it while jogging, working, getting from here to there by any method, having a conversation (esp. on phone) in the other ear, etc.
C) ipods are completely unobtrusive to your life, it just takes a wire going to each ear. video devices would not be.

5. Lastly, you usually only want to watch a movie once or twice. Look in itunes, and see how many times you listen to a given song. Or more than that, how many times an album or artist, because that is the packaget that you get things in and move them around, and get tired of. But, again for the spontanaity thing, spontanaity comes from lack of effort, but for a movie you would decide, I want to watch this today, at this time, put it in the device, watch it, take it off. You don't realy need to have a movie readily availble.


This is why, such a device will neveer be big, even if we have 30 Terrabyte buisness-card size hard drives, downloadable movie formats, and magical screens that fit in your pocket unless you're looking at them, all at a fraction the cost of a laptop.


I have no idea what apple will present at this event, if anything at all, but I can tell you, it's not this. My bet would be software, or MAYBE some really powerful/not to expenive for buisnesses cluster based machine and accompanying software to do highpower video work.

That would be very cool, though, esp. if they came up with an OS/applications designed to take advantage of clusters, whether for super computing, or something where multiple users can plug in, or just power-hungry tasks.

[iMan]

My bet would be software, or MAYBE some really powerful/not to expenive for buisnesses cluster based machine and accompanying software to do highpower video work.

This is very interesting thoughts... Apple - Pixar - rendering engines. Rumors that Pixar goes G5. Xserve clusters, and rumors of updated Xgrid...
might be something here...

[x86isslow]

Hi,

I'm pretty bemused by some of the suggestions.
...
Video Store: Stream videos using MPEG-4 to users over broadband. Essentilly an iTMS for video. I doubt it but it would be the perfect audience.

Anyway, thats my 2 cents...

A video store would be for South Korean and Japanese markets where bandwith is usually greater than 3MB/s, not the 768k DSL that a growing minority have in this country. imho there is simply not enough people with high-bandwith connections to have a viable market in this country.

[dontmatter]

This is very interesting thoughts... Apple - Pixar - rendering engines. Rumors that Pixar goes G5. Xserve clusters, and rumors of updated Xgrid...
might be something here...

heh...I find this really funny, as I have NO idea what I'm talking about with this stuff... I'm not even sure I completely know what rendering is, I just see it refered to a lot here. The VA tech super computer and the high power needed for video stuff just made me think, hmm, maybe combine the two, on a much more modest scale, and then when you want more power, you don't buy a whole new machine, just a few more x-serves to add to the cluster....

which actually, if you want me to totally talk out of my ass, made me think as I was making 5 am insomniac quesidillas, that if it's AT ALL possible, a super cool thing would be to have a system that allowed multiple people simultaneously on the same hub style computer/cluster with each person having an experience like it was their own computer. So, for a company that would buy 200 cheap PCs for 200 people, they could buy one cluster of xServes and 200 screens. Since 90% of the time people are using less than 1/3 of their processor power, you could have half the total processor power, and share it, and everybody running word would have all that they need, and whenever someone wanted to do something that took some actual power (say, graphics people in the advertizing devision, or people screwing around on their computers at work) they would have more than enough, b/c they could use all that was left over by the low power users. And the whole thing would cost nothing compared to piles of individual boxes, because each of those need to be capable of a lot more at their maximum than they normally need to do.

Better yet, for buisnesses, would be that instead of having computers get outdated, and buying a whole new batch with twice the power at the same price, you could keep the power you already have, and then just add the same ammount as you have, at half the price you paid for it. So you end up buying half as much to update. Or, you do it continuously, and you never need to pay the premiums for computers that won't get outdated or have to deal with underpowered computers.

And then, who knows how software liscences would work, etc...


but, this is to obvious, so there must be a reason it isn't the case. And it would invite far too much monitering of people's computer usage. But still, it would be insanely cool if companies didn't have computers but just a few racks full of xserves in some room and a bunch of cables going to moniters. And wireless mice and keyboards. And one computer to hire nerds to keep running in it's prime.

OK, I've spent way too much time on this.

Sorry to all for getting SO off the topic of the thread. I've been known to scoff at people going off about their wild ideas of future apple innovations, so...

mine are just cooler.

heh. No. Sorry for those that actually read this far.


eric

[Kingsnapped]

hahaha say what? what resolution would this video ipod without a screen have? :P
Maybe it would be as good as the monitor you plug it into?

[FriarTuck]

video eMate robot vacuum servers running on Intel chips

[sscoward]

snip-
It's likely that we see a sneak peak of version 5 of FCP. I am hoping that Apple's going to talk about their plans for a file-level shared storage solution. That's something they desperately need in order to compete with AVID. (That's the one big reason why larger editing companies are deciding against FCP and go for AVID)

AVID has an extremely sophisticated product, called UNITY, which allows editors to share media over fibre channel with no restrictions. So called "virtual workspaces" (volumes that can be adjusted in size at any time!) can be written to by editors at the same time. It's a real workhorse and it's the standard in the post-production world. In order to compete in the professional market, Apple needs a competitive product. And by the way, a system like that won't come cheap. AVID's solution can run up to 100 grand, depending on size.

I agree with THX1965, Avids Unity product is a serious reason for large postproduction houses and broadcasters not going for FCP. We are only going to see an incremental upgrade for FCP4 and Shake, but we are going to see a new product (Not FCP,Shake,DVDSP), maybe a new colorist tool? A Shake "Light" composition software to compete with After Effects and create an easy entry level for future Shake users?

Rumors speculate that there might be a hardware product, utilizing the optical ports on the PowerMac. I think we are going to see SAN software from Apple. In order for Apple to be a serious contender in the higher end server market, broadcast market and film postproduction market, they need this piece nailed. So a SAN solution that integrates on a project level within the applications and makes a total workflow management possible would strengthen Apples position in these markets. Imagine beeing able to create an AAF with FCP on the SAN, and pushing the project down trhu FCP for editing, Shake for compositing, Logic for sound & foley, a new colorist app for color correction and outputting the finished project on DVDSP?

[TVGenius]

I doubt it would be something the average consumer would have any use for. Apple needs to move into the video server/content management area. Use the xServe G5s as video servers, with the capability to export directly from FCP into the server.

Normally, technology announced at NAB has very little use for people not involved in television or radio. While big names like Sony, Apple, Panasonic, Microsoft, and IBM all exhibit there, the focus is clearly on professionals in broadcasting, unlike other trade shows such as COMDEX or E3.

The whole "moving" theme leads me to expect some kind of content management-type announcement, as in "moving" your pictures and sound from your FCP system into your G5 Xserve. Oh well, Apple was going to be one of my first stops this year at NAB anyway. Last year I was one of the very first group to use FCP 4.

[cspace]

I doubt it would be something the average consumer would have any use for. Apple needs to move into the video server/content management area. Use the xServe G5s as video servers, with the capability to export directly from FCP into the server.


yes, i agree with this. i also think the next FCP will make use of XGrid to farm out rendering to the local network where appropriate. apple now has the technology to become a legit player in video production.

[whooleytoo]

the video-ipod thing is rediculous.

How about these uses for a video iPod:

1) Carry pictures, videos of your family about with you.
2) Record, then watch your favourite TV show on the bus/train to work the next day.
3) Portable kiosks for museums, galleries etc.
4) Carry highlights of the sports game from last night, so you can argue over them, now with instant replay on demand.
5) The ability to choose your own in-flight movie.
6) Watch music videos as you listen to your music.
7) Lonely Planet guide.. vPod format.
8) iPod that plays videos would inevitably lead to iPod games (it would make little sense not to open such a media capable platform up to 3rd party development.)

[dongmin]

Unlike last year ("year of the laptop"), Anderson claims no specific theme this year but a focus on growth with three key drivers -- "portable mobility and wireless communications; the digital lifestyle and music, iPod, iPod mini and iTunes Music Store".

Moving pictures. Moving sound. Moving the industry. Please join Apple for a special presentation at NAB 2004 to see the latest Apple technology.

While the probability of a consumer product being introduced at a pro show is low, Apple usually reserves media invites for consumer-related announcements. This product has to be of more mass appeal than FCP. I'm convinced it has something to do with Quicktime and a portable device of some sort--whether this is a phone or video player, I can only imagine. Apple will present a vertically integrated solution with an consumer product at one end and a streaming-server-type solution at the other end. Apple is setting us up for something new, something WOW. I think a Archos-type video player is too obvious for Apple. I'm thinking anywhere wireless. Content on demand. Fits in your pocket.

[stuBCN75]

Just my opinion ...

but i should think it would be upgraded G5, upgraded raid drives and a an upgrade to FCP and/or SHAKE. Oh. and maybe be 30" or plus displays.

I cant imagine and brand new bit hardware.

Its exactly what the post houses and motion graphics people want. Faster kit running FCP, Combustion / After Effects / SHAKE. With this kind of set up you can compete with the SGI sets like Illusion, Edit etc.. Even with Fire and Flame if you had IO built in, allowing direct connection to a DigiBeta deck or HD deck, avoiding the need to spend out on a video card like a voodoo D1.

Firewire or s-video out is not much good, ok for previews but not for broadcast.

DV video is fine for a bit of fun or low budget stuff, but most of the big broadcaster require you deliver on DigiBeta not DV.

Apple need to be selling super beefed up kit, RAM is cheap! Hard drives too ( well cheaper than they were), there top spec machines should at least come with 2GB+++ Ram and much bigger hard drives.

Ah, well in my dreams

[clonenode]

Anyone wonder why Apple called it the "iTunes Music Store"? Get ready for the "iTunes Movie Store"!

[clonenode]

One other thing: has anyone looked at the "Share" command in iMovie '04 (this used to be called "Export"). You can now "Save your moive to a Bluetooth device."

Hmmm, does that just mean any Bluetooth phone or Palm that I own. Or could there be something else in the works?

Just thinking out loud.

[THX1965]

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/11/technology/circuits/11stat.html

nobody seems to get it here in this forum - the Microsoft video-player-to-go prototype that is mentioned in the NY Times ariticle was introduced at the CONSUMER (!!!) Electronics Show.

NAB is for pros.

[cubist]

[QUOTE=clonenode]One other thing: has anyone looked at the "Share" command in iMovie '04 (this used to be called "Export"). You can now "Save your moive to a Bluetooth device." ...[QUOTE]

Wow. I'm going to transfer a 500MB movie file over an 18Kb/s link so I can watch it on my Tungsten. Let's see... It'll take a little over two and half days.

[daveL]

Hmm. I've seen this elsewhere, but don't understand how you could represent an NTSC image - which is 640x480x24bitx29.97fps I believe - in 480x480. Is the aspect ratio off, or is it padded somehow?
The 480x480 frame is mpeg2 coming down the sat link. It has to be converted to NTSC, obviously, before you can watch it. I guess the 480 scan line is up-converted to 640 via interpolation or something similar. Depending on the movie length, I can frequently get 3 feature films on a single DVD. They look identical to the original on a TV, although I have noticed when I play them on my PB in fullscreen, they get fairly grainy.

I'm really curious how they are doing HD content. I have a feeling they are compressing the ***** out of it.

[fartheststar]

Guess: iPod with a color screen that can hold pictures.

[rohanputter]

Just a note about NAB and the projected audience. While this is a pro show, I don't think that definitely rules out a consumer device.

Before last year, WWDC was never a major consumer show and now it is. I think an announcement at NAB would be in keeping with Apple's new strategy of releasing update throughout the year. Also, isn't this where they released the iTunes music store last year or am I wrong about that. If I'm right, thats definitely consumer oriented.

Movie store?

[gwangung]

Just a note about NAB and the projected audience. While this is a pro show, I don't think that definitely rules out a consumer device.

Before last year, WWDC was never a major consumer show and now it is. I think an announcement at NAB would be in keeping with Apple's new strategy of releasing update throughout the year. Also, isn't this where they released the iTunes music store last year or am I wrong about that. If I'm right, thats definitely consumer oriented.

Movie store?

No way.

Apple runs WWDC; WWDC revolves around Apple.

Apple does not run NAB; they're a supporting player at best. No way are the NAB attendees going to be interested in an item that isn't squarely aimed at them.

[tny]

While the probability of a consumer product being introduced at a pro show is low, Apple usually reserves media invites for consumer-related announcements. This product has to be of more mass appeal than FCP. I'm convinced it has something to do with Quicktime and a portable device of some sort--whether this is a phone or video player, I can only imagine. Apple will present a vertically integrated solution with an consumer product at one end and a streaming-server-type solution at the other end. Apple is setting us up for something new, something WOW. I think a Archos-type video player is too obvious for Apple. I'm thinking anywhere wireless. Content on demand. Fits in your pocket.
Anybody remember those QuickTime jobs Apple was running several months ago?

[Docrjm]

hahaha say what? what resolution would this video ipod without a screen have? :P

0 x 0
naturally, viewable from any angle regardless of the ambient light. :p

[SPG]

I heard that Apple has figured out how to get HD onto firewire and keep it within the current IEEE spec compliance.
So?
So that means that your G5 or G4 is now a fully compliant HD server that can be hooked up via firewire to anything that can take a firewire signal and play HD like an HD settop tuner, BlueRay recorder, or I believe DVHS too. Heuris? already has software ready to go that will do this now that the firewire part is worked out.
I believe it was "MP@HL, using Transport multiplexing".

This may not be all of it, but this would be the foundation of HD playback on the existing mac.

[nuckinfutz]

Sounds like it just might be a software update....it is NAB after all.....

But, I'd love to hear something more exciting, like a COMPUTER UPDATE!


Won't happen. The G5's will be announced before NAB.

[pjkelnhofer]

I heard that Apple has figured out how to get HD onto firewire and keep it within the current IEEE spec compliance.
So?
So that means that your G5 or G4 is now a fully compliant HD server that can be hooked up via firewire to anything that can take a firewire signal and play HD like an HD settop tuner, BlueRay recorder, or I believe DVHS too. Heuris? already has software ready to go that will do this now that the firewire part is worked out.
I believe it was "MP@HL, using Transport multiplexing".

This may not be all of it, but this would be the foundation of HD playback on the existing mac.

Where did you hear this? If true it would be huge news, but I don't see how you could ever get HD across and 800 Mb/s without it being compressed.
Does most HD equipment already have firewire?

[SPG]

Where did you hear this? If true it would be huge news, but I don't see how you could ever get HD across and 800 Mb/s without it being compressed.
Does most HD equipment already have firewire?

Not at liberty to say exactly where I heard it, but it was someone who knows his **** and not one to talk ****. I don't want to get anyone in trouble in case they weren't supposed to be talking about this. Besides, they weren't talking to me directly anyway, I just popped in at the end of the conversation. I'm not up on all the HD details since I'm still working in SD, but I thought it might be relevant (at least more so than wild speculation about iTunes and PVP's).

[otter-boy]

Where did you hear this? If true it would be huge news, but I don't see how you could ever get HD across and 800 Mb/s without it being compressed.
Does most HD equipment already have firewire?

Just looking at some charts on the web, 720p is 818 Mbps and 1080i is 932 Mbps. This is too much for 800* Mbps firewire, but remember that Firewire can accomodate up to 3200 Mmps over optical cable. I believe Apple says this is possible over the connections included in all Firewire 800 Macs.

[pjkelnhofer]

Not at liberty to say exactly where I heard it, but it was someone who knows his **** and not one to talk ****. I don't want to get anyone in trouble in case they weren't supposed to be talking about this. Besides, they weren't talking to me directly anyway, I just popped in at the end of the conversation. I'm not up on all the HD details since I'm still working in SD, but I thought it might be relevant (at least more so than wild speculation about iTunes and PVP's).

It would make more sense than 90% of the things people are guessing at in this thread. NAB would not be the place for unveiling anything to do with a video iPod or iTMS. NAB is for TV Stations, Edit Houses, Movie studios, etc. Even if it is a product that is useful to consumers (like sending HD over firewire would be) it will something more important to professionals.

[machan]

i'll bet a coke on Final Cut 4.5. any takers?

(ps. video ipod? hahahaha, yeah right!)

[Dave the Great]

Where did you hear this? If true it would be huge news, but I don't see how you could ever get HD across and 800 Mb/s without it being compressed.
Does most HD equipment already have firewire?


What he is talking about is MPEG-2 TS (transport stream).

Yes, it is compressed. Same with DVHS, it uses MPEG-2 compression. And yes it can work across firewire.

Heuris came out with their software to allow transport streams to work on the mac with Final Cut Pro. Because, otherwise FCP can not read or work with the transport streams.

That is why I am hoping for a FCP update at NAB; so that FCP can work with HDV natively.

[Doctor Q]

i'll bet a coke on Final Cut 4.5. any takers?Sorry. Pepsi only during the iTunes promotion!

[SPG]

What he is talking about is MPEG-2 TS (transport stream).

Yes, it is compressed. Same with DVHS, it uses MPEG-2 compression. And yes it can work across firewire.

Heuris came out with their software to allow transport streams to work on the mac with Final Cut Pro. Because, otherwise FCP can not read or work with the transport streams.

That is why I am hoping for a FCP update at NAB; so that FCP can work with HDV natively.

Thanks, now that makes more sense with that context added.

Has MPEG2 been blessed as a HD format for use in next gen HD discs? H.264 and WMV9 are the current front runners if I recall correctly. I believe that the broadcasters are the ones pushing the MPEG2 format since they've already invested in it for HD transmission and that WMV and H264 are considered more suited to delivery on shiny discs. This would make sense since this is NAB.

[filmcutter]

Unity-like Xserve/Xgrid central storage is highly likely. As others have said, it's one of the largest obstacles high-end production facilities and studios face in switching to FCP away from Avid. Once you've used it, it's hard to live without.

Also, highly probable (or at least wishful thinking) is a bump of FCP to 64bit native. This would kick FCP into orbit and really be a major blow to Avid's low-to-mid level attempts.

Maybe make the whole Pro-line (FCP, Shake, DVDSP) 64 bit. Along with a G% speed boost, that would make for a pretty powerful video studio in a box.

Fingers crossed...

[jouster]

.....a super cool thing would be to have a system that allowed multiple people simultaneously on the same hub style computer/cluster with each person having an experience like it was their own computer. So, for a company that would buy 200 cheap PCs for 200 people, they could buy one cluster of xServes and 200 screens.

Congratulations. You have invented a mainframe/terminal system from ~1972.

[Doctor Q]

Congratulations. You have invented a mainframe/terminal system from ~1972.Nothing wrong with that. These days, they call it the "thin client" model and there are many boosters of the idea. Especially those in corporate computer support who enforce having a standard one-kind-fits-all installation on everyone's PC anyway. Java boxes as thin clients haven't caught on, but the idea of doing all your work (including administration of servers) via a web browser is the same idea. Essentially, a screen and a keyboard (and a web browser) are all you get.

Just as bellbottom pants and psychedelic clothes came back again, old ideas resurface regularly. Once people decide that thin clients aren't "personal" enough, there will be this grand idea to give each person their own disk space and operating system and applications, except it won't be called a personal computer. It'll have a new name and be touted as the next great idea.

[jouster]

Nothing wrong with that. These days, they call it the "thin client" model and there are many boosters of the idea. Especially those in corporate computer support who enforce having a standard one-kind-fits-all installation on everyone's PC anyway. Java boxes as thin clients haven't caught on, but the idea of doing all your work (including administration of servers) via a web browser is the same idea. Essentially, a screen and a keyboard (and a web browser) are all you get.

Just as bellbottom pants and psychedelic clothes came back again, old ideas resurface regularly. Once people decide that thin clients aren't "personal" enough, there will be this grand idea to give each person their own disk space and operating system and applications, except it won't be called a personal computer. It'll have a new name and be touted as the next great idea.

Heh, I know......I was just being a smartass.

And you are right; it's funny how everything is cyclical. I feel there is a good chance your proposed model will happen. We'll see.

dontmatter - sorreeee...I'm writing my senior thesis on computing history right now, and get a little crazy sometimes. Anything to stir up a conversation!

[Doctor Q]

I'm writing my senior thesis on computing history right now, and get a little crazy sometimes.That's a topic I find very interesting. What specifically are you writing about? (I think it's worth one more off-topic post.)

[dcr8]

Also, highly probable (or at least wishful thinking) is a bump of FCP to 64bit native.

Sorry, wishful thinking. OS X 10.3 is not a 64-bit OS. OS X does not have any 64-bit APIs, especially not Carbon. (FCP is Carbon). The 64-bit Mac OS X Application Binary Interface has not even been defined. There would have to be a whole lot of platform movement to make a true 64-bit app happen.

[Dave the Great]

Thanks, now that makes more sense with that context added.

Has MPEG2 been blessed as a HD format for use in next gen HD discs? H.264 and WMV9 are the current front runners if I recall correctly. I believe that the broadcasters are the ones pushing the MPEG2 format since they've already invested in it for HD transmission and that WMV and H264 are considered more suited to delivery on shiny discs. This would make sense since this is NAB.

Yes, MPEG-2 is still in the running.

I think Microsoft did a smart thing by getting a studio to release a DVD in HD using their codec - Terminator 2 SE. I think this helped show the committee that they were up to the task. I am actually a little surprised Apple did not get more involved in this, but they just seem to be so focused on the music thing - iPod, music store, etc. etc.

And actually, I would have liked to seen the HDV spec use H.264 instead of MPEG-2 TS.

[aswitcher]

I heard that Apple has figured out how to get HD onto firewire and keep it within the current IEEE spec compliance.
So?
So that means that your G5 or G4 is now a fully compliant HD server that can be hooked up via firewire to anything that can take a firewire signal and play HD like an HD settop tuner, BlueRay recorder, or I believe DVHS too. Heuris? already has software ready to go that will do this now that the firewire part is worked out.
I believe it was "MP@HL, using Transport multiplexing".

This may not be all of it, but this would be the foundation of HD playback on the existing mac.

Whoa. You have a source for this?

[simst3r]

I think it be some sort of media player like wm player but better!! :D since it talking about moving pictures and moving sound

[jaw04005]

Maybe just wishful thinking since I need one so badly.

But seriously think of it: a new flat panel display with HDTV capabilities maybe?

It has been a long, long while since Apple updated these mothers.

We are only going to see new Powerbooks at an event that Steve Jobs himself keynotes. He will want to be the one to announce them.

[bunkre]

maybe this is the big event?

http://66.216.122.95/_content/_reel/_movies/ispec.htm

:rolleyes:

[rjeffreyproctor]

Looking at this and the rumor of a new 4th Gen ipod with color screen and video output makes me go hrmmmmmmmm :-)

[TVGenius]

Regarding the post a few back about the size of Apple's space at NAB... looks to be the exact same size as last year, and it's in exactly the same location as before.

Once again and for all... there WILL NOT BE ANY iTUNES ANNOUNCEMENTS, DISPLAY UPDATES, VIDEO IPODS, or ANYTHING consumer-oriented released at NAB. NOBODY AT NAB GIVES A FLYING CRAP ABOUT IPODS! And I would say it's an extremely long shot even for anything G5 related... with the expection of some sort of workstation that's builit for video production... (ie., BNC ins/outs etc)

Those of us who go to NAB are looking at creating, editing, and distributing TV... not the latest $400 thing to stuff in your pocket so you can download Spongebob episodes off Kazaa and watch them on a two inch LCD. We want to get a $20,000 HD 1080i camera, shoot something with professional lighting and sound equipment and a 40 foot camera crane, edit it on an awesome NLE, and make it look sweet.

Whatever Apple is planning is likely to be either something new regarding FCP... as right now it is their only real product that relates to NAB. However, I believe we'll see something along the lines of a Unity-style file access system. One thing that keeps FCP from being more widely used in cinema and large facilities is the fact that it's pretty much set up for one person to work on a project. Trust me... we've done projects by Media Managing to a network server... it sucks and still only one person can do anything on it at a time. We've had projects where four people were in our edit lab, one editing, one doing CG and the other two capturing footage, and it was a pain in the neck.

Anyway... there's no point discussing anything that costs under $1000 (other than DVD Studio Pro) in this thread. You can't afford and don't need whatever they're releasing.

There. I said it.

[Mr Maui]

...

There. I said it.

Glad someone finally did! :D

[twinturbo]

Just looking at some charts on the web, 720p is 818 Mbps and 1080i is 932 Mbps. This is too much for 800* Mbps firewire, but remember that Firewire can accomodate up to 3200 Mmps over optical cable. I believe Apple says this is possible over the connections included in all Firewire 800 Macs.

Yes, these are uncompressed streams, but DVCProHD from Panasonic actually is only 100Mbps, which will easily fit down a firewire400 port. Apple and Panasonic announced two years ago that this functionality was coming, but I haven't seen the results of it yet, due to the fact that two years ago no Mac could decode four DV streams at one time (which is what's required to play back DVCProHD). Now we have the G5's which can do that, an I believe that's what the big FCP upgrade feature will include. Shoot with the Varicam, edit at home, broadcast HD. Nice :)

[tntoak]

I already posted something in the Pixar thread about the possibility of Apple announcing a XServe/Renderman package at NAB, but then I came across the following article from Apple Insider:

Apple Computer will take the wraps off the latest version of its industry-standard compositing and effects solution for film and HD during the annual NAB conference next month, reliable sources told AppleInsider.

Shake 3.5, as the company plans to call it, will boast new Warper and Morpher nodes along with improvements to playback caching, shape drawing, QuickTime integration and more, sources said.

read the rest here...

http://www.appleinsider.com/article.php?id=398

[invaLPsion]

Seems to me that we should start using this thread as the thread to discuss powermac updates, because I don't think they're coming any sooner. :(

[?Hater]

I don't really care if anyone thinks it's feasable or likely to happen, but in the event Apple came out with a personal video device, couldn't they use Pixlet to make movies distributeable over the internet?

"High-end Video Codec
Pixlet is the first studio-grade codec for filmmakers. Pixlet provides 20-25:1 compression, allowing a 75MB/sec series of frames to be delivered in a 3MB/sec movie, similar to DV data rates. Or a series of frames that are over 6GB in size can be contained within a 250MB movie. Pixlet lets high-end digital film frames play in real time with any 1GHz G4 or faster Panther Mac, without investing in costly, proprietary hardware."

Well, a 6GB DVD, compressed into 250MB pixlet...I would definitely purchase, download, and play it over and over on my iPod AV. Just throwing the idea out there for discussion, please shoot it down quick if you think it's an impossible idea, lol. Thanks.

[aswitcher]

Apple Resellers in Australia match US 23" screen $800 AUD mailback when purchasing it with a G5...offer ends 26 June...

So I don't expect much for April...

[invaLPsion]

Apple announced today that they have plans to participate at the NAB (National Association of Broadcasters) conference in April.

Of more interest, in a media invitation, Apple writes:

Moving pictures. Moving sound. Moving the industry. Please join Apple for a special presentation at NAB 2004 to see the latest Apple technology
The special event is to be held on April 18, 2004. One recent Page 2 rumor hinted at an "upcoming device" at the NAB show in April

Doesn't anybody think this sounds big? Screw updates at WWDC. NAB is the place! MOSR still bellieves the updates are coming here...

On a serious note, this should be the thread to discuzz the coming updates. This is a major event for Apple! Come on pro updates! :)

[wdlove]

Doesn't anybody think this sounds big? Screw updates at WWDC. NAB is the place! MOSR still bellieves the updates are coming here...

On a serious note, this should be the thread to discuzz the coming updates. This is a major event for Apple! Come on pro updates! :)

I agree with many others that there will be nothing big at NAB. We only have another week to wait. It would be unusual for Apple to do this on a Sunday. On the bright side, just think we will be one week closer to WWDC.

[Urdam]

If a Powerbook G5 and a color screen 60 GB iPod come out, then I'll be one satisfied customer...

[invaLPsion]

I agree with many others that there will be nothing big at NAB. We only have another week to wait. It would be unusual for Apple to do this on a Sunday. On the bright side, just think we will be one week closer to WWDC.

I don't think that the date matters too much. It's a presentation. The fact that it's a Sunday doesn't matter.

[windowsblowsass]

REMEBER LAST YEAR WHEN EVERYONE WAS SAYING ITS A DEVELPERS CONFERENCE WHY IN GODS NAME WOULD APPLE RELEASE A G5 THERE!?

Well now I hear the same just sub in broadcast for developers
not saying its going to happen just dont rule it out

[aldo]

Will this be broadcast live on Quicktime?

[thatwendigo]

REMEBER LAST YEAR WHEN EVERYONE WAS SAYING ITS A DEVELPERS CONFERENCE WHY IN GODS NAME WOULD APPLE RELEASE A G5 THERE!?

Well now I hear the same just sub in broadcast for developers
not saying its going to happen just dont rule it out

I can tell you one reason that it made a lot more sense that G5s were released at WWDC, rather than anywhere else. At their own conference, Apple can easily provide labs and workshops for programmers to get their hands on the new hardware and be shown some of the new features and options they could enable to enhance their products.

NAB is going to be Shake, FCP, and maybe some software revisions, but I don't see there being a G5 revelation there, unless it's going to be the 3.0s coming four months early. It's just way too short a product cycle to introduce a bump now, and then announce again in two months and deliver in three to four.