Digital Media Device?

[MacRumors]

News.com reports on Apple's potential new product:

The product, which is expected to be shown off during a keynote speech by CEO Steve Jobs at Macworld in San Francisco on Tuesday, will come with 802.11g and Bluetooth wireless capabilities and serve to make the Mac a more appealing "digital hub" than Windows XP PCs, according to sources.

[bentmywookie]

I will be spending all of today praying for an Apple Tablet that will just blow away everyone (including Bill Gates).

I'm too excited!

[drastik]

W00t! I love Macworld time. I am literaly chomping at the bit for this one. I feel like something huge is gonna happen.

Arn, will you run the macworld updates as per usual? I am going to be stuck at work again.

[smashedapart]

GAH! This is getting rediculous!!! I'm getting antsy, too much speculation about what could potentially be the coolest thing since the iPod. My bank account is currently on oxygen with a morphine drip, though...so whatever they come out with had better be cheap.

-- smashedapart

[CTYankee]

Wow, such specific detail...

You are really reaching not posting stuff like this. Its along the lines of, "New product with user interface and advanced features. Stores and manipluates data." Wow, I gotta have one?!

[wjdennen]

An interesting sidebar...

Intel's PVP (personal video player)

[arainert]

I really, really hope that it isn't merely an iTablet.

I think the idea of a video iPod also seems very silly.

But...

The ideas buried within those are interesting.

I had been hoping for an Apple component that could hook up to both an A/V receiver as well as an Ethernet cable (Bluetooth and Wireless don't hurt but if you're going to be transferring large media, you want to stay away from Bluetooth).

It's form factor could be sleek and it could serve as a media hub but not overwhelm your living space like the monoliths MS is pushing.

Anyway, reading about all the tablet rumors got me thinking... what about something that does serve as a media "server" but that uses this Tablet as the interface for it - allowing you to control the audio, images, etc... on your network (a true DLD for a Digital Lifestyle), load up photos/movies and pass it around to people for viewing (an iFrame kind of approach), as well as simple functionality using inkwell (iTablet), easily also use it as a great A/V remote interface to control the rest of your equipment with a GUI (like those fancy Harmon Kardon remotes).

MS's Tablet approach is not ready to be received yet, but Apple could focus on the interaction as a way of more gently introducing the metaphor of pen-based interaction for users. Eventually, if someone wanted to, they could get a Bluetooth keyboard from the device. I think the key is - people don't necessarily want to check their email, use excel, etc.. on a Tablet just yet, but they might like to surf the web, etc...

A Tablet doesn;t have to be "a complete computer you use with a pen" but it can be an easy way for you to maintain, display and control you Digital Lifestyle artifacts...


So, I really think that a pure Tablet, Camera, Phone, PDA would really be pointless and can't possibly be the big intro in the "most important year" for Apple.

At least I hope not...

my 2 cents...

[thebladerunner]

from that article...
____
Analysts are agog over the forthcoming personal video player, or PVP, that chipmaker Intel and ReplayTV maker SONICblue are working on. Intel will show off several prototypes of the Walkman-sized PVP, with a 4-inch screen and storage for more than 10 hours of movies.

The Intel PVP won't be the first such device. France's Archos released its $399 Jukebox Multimedia, with a 1-inch screen, last year.

Analysts also admit pent-up reverence for the finally emerging wireless "smart displays" such as the ViewSonic airpanel and Philips iPronto. Both are the first of a slew of such products using touch-screen technology Microsoft announced at last year's CES, under the name Mira.

Instead of tethering computer users to a desk, smart displays allow folks to wander the house or office with a screen that links wirelessly with the computer.
____

So, according to news.com, Apple's new device incorporate both types of devices into *one* device:

- Personal Video Player / Video iPod

- Wireless connectivity (Bluetooth and 802g) for sync and wireless surfing.

Excellent...

[Tue12]

Any of the devices mentioned so far will be a total flop. They are all devices in search of a need that simply doesn't exist.

[julzmon]

Logic tells me that it will be this device....
A box with firewire, airport. You will be able to hook it up to TV and Stereo to play music and video from your computer off the airport. and be able to hook up your camera through firewire.

I think this is it

[jayscheuerle]

Originally posted by thebladerunner
Intel will show off several prototypes of the Walkman-sized PVP, with a 4-inch screen and storage for more than 10 hours of movies.

Gee, that sure beats watching a DVD on my TV in stereo...

iPod works because the sound quality doesn't decrease with the small form factor.

PVP's won't because a tiny picture translates into a much worse viewing experience.

I wish I got paid a lot to come up with bad ideas..

[jayscheuerle]

Originally posted by julzmon
Logic tells me that it will be this device....
A box with firewire, airport. You will be able to hook it up to TV and Stereo to play music and video from your computer off the airport. and be able to hook up your camera through firewire.

I think this is it

I didn't think Airport had enough bandwith to transmit full screen audio/video....

[arainert]

I really hope julzman nailed it. Something that is relatively simple but can really change the way you deal with digital media AND stay out of the 400 dollar price range. AND it could be small enough to fit into those silly 6 inch acrylics everyone was yammering on about.

Maybe I'm thinking too simple but this sounds like something that would give a lot of bang for the buck...

Much more so than a damn 3 inch video screen that I can nestle up to after a 3 hour DVD ripping session - which brings up the point that ripping the DVD might actually take longer than the battery life of such a device.

[dongmin]

yeah, where's the demand, for a PVP or DLD or whatever people are calling it?

Tivo is great, I admit. It takes a common activity, recording TV in this case, and does it much much better. Just like the iPod.

But do people really want to watch TV on the go? In the subways, so that you can get mugged? While jogging? Walking in the park?

The only way I'd buy one is if it worked as a video phone, working in conjuntion with Rendezvous and iChat. So that I can carry this devices anywhere within an Airport network and be able to video-chat, like I do with a cellphone. My take:

Useless:
1. digital picture frame

Mildly useful:
2. TV on the go
3. web-pad

Useful:
4. portable video-phone/video-conferencing device

For everything else, we already have cell-phones and PDAs. Would people really be willing to pay $600-800 for TV-on-the-go? I doubt it. But if you combined all 4 of the above features plus all the PDA and iPod functions, it could be a big seller.

[Hmm]

Originally posted by smashedapart
so whatever they come out with had better be cheap.

I can almost guarantee that whatever it is, it won't be cheap.

[chubakka]

the 802.11g... 4 to 5 times faster (theoretically than 802.11b)...

maybe the device will be a media control center between the tv/stereo and the computer... also can show photos and iMovies.... there's lots of possibilites.

[thebladerunner]

Originally posted by dongmin

Useful:
4. portable video-phone/video-conferencing device

For everything else, we already have cell-phones and PDAs. Would people really be willing to pay $600-800 for TV-on-the-go? I doubt it. But if you combined all 4 of the above features plus all the PDA and iPod functions, it could be a big seller. [/b]

I think the Video iPod doesn't rule this out and will include this for later

* Think of the upcoming iChat2.0 (rumored to have video-conferencing) and the fact Apple is now the supplier MPEG4 players for NTT Docomo phones in Japan.

* 802g could also allow it to work as a wireless phone in your office (VoIP) and use your fix line.

I think the iPhone could be a simple add-on to the Video iPod. And since you have Bluetooth, no need to hold a large device when making calls. There are enough already enough Bluetooth headsets out there....

[Frobozz]

This CNET article is one of the best, and most believable. Their comments towards the end are of particular interest. They talk about things analysts have seen in the lab, and include computers with 3D displays! I know this is surely an experimental device but it sure is cool. Additionally, they speak of the IBM 970 based computers... which is yet more ammunition for a summer release of the G5.

Overall, this show should be good. I am personally waiting for a Radeon 9700 aftermarket card for my DP 1 GHz Quicksilver... and am glad I will have, essetially, a top of the heap computer until the 970's later this year.

You know what no-one has really been talking about? Apple's software and hardware partners. In MWNY they brought on a lot of good people to show off the power of OS X, and even the CEO of Sony/Ericsson for bluetooth support. What about the CEO of Quark showing it off on OS X? I think the first 3/4 of this year will pan out something like this:

Jan/Feb.: We get the iPod 2, speed bumps on pro machines, updates to iApps, bluetooth support, and a trandition to cordless and optical 2 or 3 button mice.

March/April: xRAID and and some speed bumps to the portable lines.

July/August: G5 announcements or release. OS X 10.3, and a full conversion to bluetooth.

[drastik]

I don't see the portable video as a viable solution on its own. These things have never made money and they have been trying it in different formats for years. Portable DVD players with six inch screens are common products, but I've only known one owner of such a thing. Portable hi-8 decks were a disaster, and I'm sure the watchman Tvs sell to ten year olds, but thats about it. I just don't see the market for one of these things. Battery life is going to be super short, no one needs one for any reall purpose, and apple has gotten trouble with Gee-wiz stuff before. It would be a dumb move.

Now, if this thing is a TiVo type deal, that might bve different, but I still see no need for a four inch color screen. What are you going to watch on it? I've used eight inch screens, and they are almost worthless. Ever try to edit your video on your cameras screen. Give me a break.

[frankenm]

So there will obviously be an 802.11g airport device coming. My question is if that will have a better range than the current version. I know it promises to offer more bandwidth, but what about range?

I definitely think we are in store for a wireless device that connects to TV & Stereo. You'll be able to play iTunes right into the stereo wirelessly, and use iPhoto and other video apps and have them sent to the TV.

In order to do this, we'll all have to pay the upgrade fee for the new iApp bundle. That kinda sucks, but it will be worth it I'm sure. We need to keep the best computer company in business. =)

[Timothy]

Speaking for the Pro-PDA crowd, this rumored device sounds interesting, BUT...if this is all it does, I will be mildly dissapointed, and probably won't be spending any money on such a product.

The iPod makes sense because, even though it was expensive, I am a music fanatic, and this fundamentally changed the way I listen to music. I use my iPod everyday. It is now vital piece of technology in my life.

I already own a Tivo, and that too, was a life-changing piece of tech. It's great; if you don't have one yet, get it, and you won't look back. The only thing left, for me, related to the Tivo is the ability to burn a DVD to back up or save programs. I expect this will happen in the next couple of years, combinbing a DVD-R drive into the Tivo unit. That will solve that...

Do I want portable video? I think it would be nice as an added feature to a feature-rich PDA. How often would I use it? At most, perhaps 1-2 month. I'd not use it to watch feature length movies...I can see saving my iMovies and pictures of my kids, small presentations, etc. But, I wouldn't spend much money on a device that didn't do much more than this. As a secondary feature to a much more useful item, such as included on a PDA, that would be great! And, I'd spend $600-$900 on a great Apple-branded Ultra Computing device. But, I'd expect such a device to completely replace my iPod, and any VidPod.

But, the fundamental question is how much more I would spend on essentially a video-enabled iPod? Given that the use of images and video would be a relatively rare use for such a device compared to how often I use the MP3 player, I'd not spend more than $100 more for a video-enabled iPod.

I fear the wow factor will be cool for such a device tomorrow, but that sales will be dissapointing.

APPLE...WE NEED AN ULTRA-PORTABLE COMPUTING DEVICE. THOSE OF US COMMITTED TO YOUR PLATFORM ARE LACKING THIS KEY PIECE OF DIGITAL LIFESTYLE TECHNOLOGY!!!

[MacKid]

Originally posted by jayscheuerle


I didn't think Airport had enough bandwith to transmit full screen audio/video....

It doesn't…………

[contempt]

Although a portable video player would be cool, it would be downright stupid. I watch videos on my Clie and people can do it on their PocketPCs as well. Why just a device that does only one thing.

I really think julzmon is on to something. An Apple branded PVR! ReplayTV already allows for sharing shows via ethernet with other users. Imagine using your current TV to not only watch and record shows, but wirelessly transmit programs from your computer, have iphoto slideshows on the tv, play audio, etc. With full 802.11g support and bluetooth, that would be killer. I'd trade-in my Replay for that. Beats the hell out of Microsoft's Entertainment PC. And if it could only be priced at $199!!! wow!

Then maybe there could be the option for a portable video ipod that you sync via bluetooth. That's a bundle I would purchase.

Also, let's not forget that the last prediction News.com made was NO SUPERDRIVE in the upcoming powerbook g4s which they were wrong about.

[djniche]

this device i think should be some kind of tablet that allows the digital hub to be use at 100%.
To view photos directly from it or from another computer through rendevou technology. The same would be to have an ipod or juke box throught itunes. I would love to use this tablet as a controller to access my imac from my living room or anywhere in my apt to accesss all my media files. Movies, music and photos. I can see this being what apple is getting ready for us.

what do you think???

[Kid Red]

Originally posted by dongmin


Useless:
1. digital picture frame

Mildly useful:
2. TV on the go
3. web-pad

Useful:
4. portable video-phone/video-conferencing device

You are forgetting an iPod type device that could sync with iPhoto and store photos, sync with iMovie and store video, and play all the same on your TV along with plug into your stereo and play tunes synced from iTunes with visuals on the tv.