Intel iBooks, Video iPod, Digital Entertainment in April?

[MacRumors]

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

Macworld.co.uk reports on Needham & Co analyst comments about what they expect from Apple in the coming months.

While much of the information appears speculative, the analyst claims that a video iPod will indeed arrive soon:

According to our sources, the screen on the video iPod will occupy the entire front of the current iPod with a touch-activated scroll wheel. Assuming the same form factor as the current iPod, this move will increase the size of the screen three-fold.

This corresponds to recent rumors that a touch-screen iPod is in the works. This technology would also tie in recently revealed Gesture user-interface patents from Apple. The same analyst also predicted an "actual" video iPod in the first half of this year. While some fan-created video iPod images have recently surfaced, we have received some confirmation that actual prototypes of similar devices have been seen at Apple.

Meanwhile, he revives rumors of the Mac mini home media server:

"Our sources indicate that this product was not finished in time for Macworld"

The Mac mini as a digital hub was first rumored back in November 2005. The specs at that time included Front Row 2.0, "TiVo-Killer" DVR, iPod Dock and a 3.5" hard drive. The target date for this media appliance remains in question.

[itsa]

is touch screen really all that new of an idea?

[iMeowbot]

Originally Posted by itsa

is touch screen really all that new of an idea?

The two or more finger stuff that has been appearing recently is a big change. Tablet-like surfaces were always limited to fishing out a single pair of coordinates and would get confused if more than one finger or pen was present.

I do hope that the next Mac mini isn't so tricked out with bell and whistles that the price is affected. They're more interesting when you can fit more boxes into the budget.

[steve_hill4]

Originally Posted by iMeowbot

The two or more finger stuff that has been appearing recently is a big change. Tablet-like surfaces were always limited to fishing out a single pair of coordinates and would get confused if more than one finger or pen was present.

I do hope that the next Mac mini isn't so tricked out with bell and whistles that the price is affected. They're more interesting when you can fit more boxes into the budget.

How about Apple releasing this hub alongside the Mini? I know it's unlikely, but it would still allow those looking to switch on a budget to get a cheap Mini and those wanting the hub to pay not too distant prices to an iMac and get something just as powerful.

As for the two finger work, well Apple have been using two-fingered scrolling on their portables for a while already. Few others have even bothered realising the potential of this easy to use function and preferred to stick with single finger, dedicated area scrolling.

Research money spent in one area can help functionality in another.

Edit: As for that optimus keyboard, oh yeah. On the few occasions I play games, I can't always remember the positioning of much more than the basic controls. I usually have to pause and look them up, this would mean a simple look away mid game at which keys are lit with what and back into it I go. Also functional for so many other apps.

[iMeowbot]

Originally Posted by steve_hill4

As for the two finger work, well Apple have been using two-fingered scrolling on their portables for a while already. Few others have even bothered realising the potential of this easy to use function and preferred to stick with single finger, dedicated area scrolling.

The potential is seen, but Apple bought up the rights to the one technology that currently makes it affordable to put in consumer equipment. That's the down side of patents, some companies like Apple have little or no interest in licensing them out to others.

[r_howie]

Intel iBooks, pretty please.

[iEric]

Wooo spiffy. Now I'm going hold on and wait for a mac mini and a newer video ipod.

my pc just broke and i think the mac mini rumored there is pretty nice.

[fanbrain]

I can't imagine how greasy the screen would get if it had the same sheen as the current (and past) crop of iPods. Yuck. Interesting idea though. May be a boon to photographers for storing photos and viewing them on site.

[jrhone]

Originally Posted by fanbrain

I can't imagine how greasy the screen would get if it had the same sheen as the current (and past) crop of iPods. Yuck. Interesting idea though. May be a boon to photographers for storing photos and viewing them on site.

not really....the screen would be too small....about the same size as the screen on the camera...it probably wouldnt be compatible with tha many many RAW formats, and most photogs that need this kinda thing carry a powerbook....

[craigatkinson]

Originally Posted by jrhone

not really....the screen would be too small....about the same size as the screen on the camera...it probably wouldnt be compatible with tha many many RAW formats, and most photogs that need this kinda thing carry a powerbook....

Most photographers shoot in JPEG. It's a waste of time shooting in RAW. If it could display JPEG then it would be a great tool for semi to pro photographers. The only photographers who would need a RAW format would be commercial photographers. Carrying around a laptop to a photo shoot is not always convenient.

[sinisterdesign]

Originally Posted by craigatkinson

Most photographers shoot in JPEG. It's a waste of time shooting in RAW.

dude, you're obviously NOT a photographer. neither am i, but i am a designer & the more i learn about RAW, the more i know that anyone that calls themselves a photographer will shoot RAW.

[Avicdar]

Originally Posted by craigatkinson

Most photographers shoot in JPEG. It's a waste of time shooting in RAW. If it could display JPEG then it would be a great tool for semi to pro photographers. The only photographers who would need a RAW format would be commercial photographers. Carrying around a laptop to a photo shoot is not always convenient.

RAW is the most popular shooting format for photographers from semi pro all the way up the chain. There is simply no better way to get maximum control of image quality.

People with little digicams and such will have no use for RAW. Your statement about commercial photographers being the only ones interested in RAW is probably a few years too late.

[mvc]

Originally Posted by craigatkinson

Most photographers shoot in JPEG. It's a waste of time shooting in RAW. If it could display JPEG then it would be a great tool for semi to pro photographers. The only photographers who would need a RAW format would be commercial photographers. Carrying around a laptop to a photo shoot is not always convenient.

Wow, I am simply speechless at this seamless combination of arrogance and ignorance.

[jrhone]

Originally Posted by craigatkinson

Most photographers shoot in JPEG. It's a waste of time shooting in RAW. If it could display JPEG then it would be a great tool for semi to pro photographers. The only photographers who would need a RAW format would be commercial photographers. Carrying around a laptop to a photo shoot is not always convenient.

Sorry, I am a pro photographer with many credits and magazine covers to my name...In my community NO ONE SHOOTS JPG.....I dont know a pro who shoots jpg....Why? Its lossy compression. It has a narrow dynamic range and you are stuck with your in camera settings....With RAW things light white balance, color spce, sharpening, tonality, all that can be optimized after the shoot and its a 16 bit format where jpg is 8 bit...Who said anything about convenient? Ever see a sports photographer carry around 3 cameras, 4 lenses, a laptop and 6 spare batteries? He is there to get the money shot and not worried about convenience....sorry, for the pro, it would never work...there are a few out there already that are selling horribly.

[NicP]

Originally Posted by craigatkinson

Most photographers shoot in JPEG. It's a waste of time shooting in RAW.

LOL, thats the stupidest thing ive ever heard. I suppose its a waste of time using ALAC or FLAC then too?

[coyote]

Originally Posted by craigatkinson

Most photographers shoot in JPEG. It's a waste of time shooting in RAW. If it could display JPEG then it would be a great tool for semi to pro photographers. The only photographers who would need a RAW format would be commercial photographers. Carrying around a laptop to a photo shoot is not always convenient.

That's just silly. I'm a fine-art photographer and shoot in RAW because it gives me the unaffected data from the sensor, and allows me to store the raw image without processing. The big advantage of that it allows you to 'remix' your images in the future starting from the base data.

It's nonsense to say that only commercial photographers wound be interested in RAW. Any passionate photographer who is doing more than point-and-shoot should consider shooting RAW.

[AvSRoCkCO1067]

Originally Posted by jrhone

not really....the screen would be too small....about the same size as the screen on the camera...it probably wouldnt be compatible with tha many many RAW formats, and most photogs that need this kinda thing carry a powerbook....

What kind of camera do u use that has a 3.5" widescreen display?

[jrhone]

Originally Posted by AvSRoCkCO1067

What kind of camera do u use that has a 3.5" widescreen display?

I use a Nikon D2X with a 2.5" LCD....that extra inch wont do much for me.

[dubnluvn]

Originally Posted by jrhone

not really....the screen would be too small....about the same size as the screen on the camera...it probably wouldnt be compatible with tha many many RAW formats, and most photogs that need this kinda thing carry a powerbook....

Most photographers shoot RAW+JPEG...thats exactly what I, and others, are looking for. I kinda thought that was what I was buying when I got the 5G Video iPod..bummer...

[GrannySmith_G5]

Clearly if a touch screen ipod is introduced it will not have the same screen as the current ipods. touch screens are inherently made to be touched. I have followed Apple rumors long enough to just know that this is real and will be happening. Since the cat is out of the bag I expect to hear a consistent trickle of details before the release.

[amateurmacfreak]

Originally Posted by GrannySmith_G5

Clearly if a touch screen ipod is introduced it will not have the same screen as the current ipods. touch screens are inherently made to be touched. I have followed Apple rumors long enough to just know that this is real and will be happening. Since the cat is out of the bag I expect to hear a consistent trickle of details before the release.

Ok, yeah, so I feel stupid about my previous scratch comment.
I think this will be cool, and I think it's going to happen. But I'll want a new one then. And... haha, that's not happening since I just bought a 5G and want a nano.
I think this could be more of a higher level thing? PDA and all the media stuff right together? B/c that would be so awesome.

[maya]

Originally Posted by amateurmacfreak

Ok, yeah, so I feel stupid about my previous scratch comment.
I think this will be cool, and I think it's going to happen. But I'll want a new one then. And... haha, that's not happening since I just bought a 5G and want a nano.
I think this could be more of a higher level thing? PDA and all the media stuff right together? B/c that would be so awesome.

If it does become some sort of PDA gadget, I want it in anodized Al, like the iPod Mini.

[Roads0]

"You can't just ask customers what they want and then try to give that to them. By the time you get it built, they'll want something new." -Steve Jobs.

These rumors are just proof of Apple's dedication to the consumer. Stop complaining that you just got your iPod. We are lucky to have such a company.

The media center Mac mini would be amazing. Then we could all through our Tivos out cause Tivo has abandoned the Mac user by not supplying Tivo2go to Macs. It would be awesome if it had a progressive scan dvd player seperate from the computer also.

[boncellis]

Originally Posted by Roads0

"You can't just ask customers what they want and then try to give that to them. By the time you get it built, they'll want something new." -Steve Jobs.

These rumors are just proof of Apple's dedication to the consumer. Stop complaining that you just got your iPod. We are lucky to have such a company.

I feel precisely the same way. I also expect Apple to offer, if not a revamped, an updated slate of videos offered in iTMS.

I was thinking about this last night, and something came to me: I think I would buy certain episodes of Newsradio from iTMS even though it's been off the air for several years. Apple was wise to add the "classic TV shows" to iTMS, and I think it could grow to rival TV networks if they drag their feet too much. Why wouldn't a company like NBC want to keep making money (even if it's not great money) off of Newsradio when it's sitting more or less dormant? I imagine a certain number of years have to pass before a show would become available, but better to move now while people have some memory of the series.

[Felldownthewell]

Originally Posted by fanbrain

I can't imagine how greasy the screen would get if it had the same sheen as the current (and past) crop of iPods. Yuck. Interesting idea though. May be a boon to photographers for storing photos and viewing them on site.

Pros carry a PB with them on site so that the customer can see the image full screen. It also enables the photographer to do some minor editing (color correction, sticking in a product so the customer can get some idea of how it looks...) which an Ipod couldn't do (And if it could I would give a few ribs for it).
As for the guy who said most people shoot in JPEG....no. RAW is what pros use. From the Cannon 1Ds Mark II to the 5D to the 20D, Sinar 22megapixel backings, and high end Nikons all shoot RAW. I suppose those who use little digi cams for taking myspace pics shoot in JPEG, but anything higher than that? RAW.

My 3g 15GB is fried, but my PSP will hold me over till the new Ipod comes out, I can't wait.