Adobe Launches Media Player 1.0 for Mac and PC

[Porco]

As a brit this interests me, as hopefully it will mean iPlayer downloads from the BBC on the Mac, and new downloads available from the likes of ITV and C4 whose catchup services have been Windowss-only so far. So far iPlayer has been the 'new realplayer' for me, stopping and re-buffering every so often.

Of course I would still be using Elgato's far-superior-in-almost-every-way EyeTV when I haven't forgotten / not realised that I want to record something on the BBC.

The only thing that could mess it up is if they've done any exclusive deals with Microsoft I guess...

 

[dr_lha]

Apple will buy Adobe.....

So inevitable people have been saying it for years, and yet... it hasn't happened.

 

[mambodancer]

A big advantage for Apple is still...

These are all great until you lose your internet connection.

Without that connection Adobe Media Player, Joost, Hulu, Netflix...are all useless.

I want to be able to take my music AND my movies and TV shows with me and be able to watch them where ever, on whatever and when ever I can.

The iPod, iPhone and AppleTV using iTunes allow me to do this.

It appears that the networks are terrified of the internet and of Apple and especially of me and all the rest of us. Why I can go to Hulu and watch a show for free (with commercials) when those same shows (Heroes, Battlestar, etc) were pulled from iTunes and for which I had gladly paid $1.99 without commercials is beyond me. It can not be a monetary decision on the part on NBC. Their decision could only have been out of fear of Apple and control for them.

 

[Brianstorm91]

So, from here on out, you want Apple to provide you with ALL of your media needs?

That's precisely what I want; once place with everything that I need, how I want it.
I want all of my food to come from one shop, all of my media content to come from one store, etc.
It's just easier, and when there's only a single source, things are better organised.

 

[mambodancer]

Just another thought...

When the iTunes store first appeared I was really excited about the possibility of buying content from any country around the world. How cool would it be to download and listen to bands from across Europe, the Middle East or Asia? How cool would it be to download and watch great shows from the BBC, Japan or Russia?

So much for that dream.

Licensing needs to get with the 21st century and the digital era. Until then, this really isn't the World Wide Web!

 

[asdavis10]

Apple will buy Adobe.....

Their more focused on buying MacBU from M$. I don't think they will ever buy Adobe.

 

[137489]

Come on guys, compatible with "PCs and Macs" is totally misleading. Software is usually compatible with operating systems, not hardware. This one is compatible with Mac OS X, Windows and Linux. And btw. 2 things:

Mac is a PC
PC is not the same as Windows

LOL - I love how the world has turned to think of PC (Personal Computer) to mean Windows OS. and Mac is not a personal computer If that is the case what is a computer that runs Linux -oh yea a server that is what most people/companies use Linux for anyway; not to run apps, but just serve as a web server or file warehouse..... Good point, but I think with all the bashing and the fact this is still a Microsoft world (but the tide is turning quickly) we may never separate PC from Windows OS.


Off topic:

Truthfully PC is not a PC anymore anyway per say. 30+ years ago we had dumb terminals that ran software that was stored on a main frame, then came the personal computer, and where are we headed now....

PC's that are a little more than dumb terminals running web-based applications or Citrix applications that are housed on servers (or atleast that is the way in corporations - most home users still have their own apps). And the fact that you cannot take apart or upgrade a "retail" computer yourself without voiding the warrently really does not make it personal now does it?

If MS fully had their way - that is the way the word would be. One of their "bright" ideas was to not sell software anymore, but to have a monthly paid subscription service to use their software over the internet and all files would be stored on their server (in order to genrate recurring revenue [are they really that hard up for money or just getting greedy]). Ok to make sure we had backups - but what if my subscription expired? Would I lose my files after a period of time. Plus it would cost me more in the long run. I paid $400 for office Xp almost 6 years ago, and I am still running it on my wife's older computer today. A monthly subscription at say $30 a month would have cost me $2,160 over the same time-frame. Not what I call a bargain or personal is it?

 

[err404]

That's precisely what I want; once place with everything that I need, how I want it.
I want all of my food to come from one shop, all of my media content to come from one store, etc.
It's just easier, and when there's only a single source, things are better organised.

I want all of my media from Apple too, but I want others to offer it also. To that end this is a good addition to the market so long as the companys don't start making exclusive deals on content.

BTW - I like the MS use of the name Media Player, since it's a name that leave no question about it's purpose, where as iTunes is not an intuitive app to open for accessing my Video collection. However I agree with MS on this partial because it is the OS integrated player. For Adobe to use the same name for a third party app is, well tacky.

 

[err404]

A monthly subscription at say $30 a month would have cost me $2,160 over the same time-frame. Not what I call a bargain or personal is it?

I'm sure MS is looking at subscription models but 30 a month for an office suit?? now that is really pulling a number out of your a...

 

[morespce54]

And next, they fix slow-as-hell dreamweaver. I wish.

Yea, I heard Dreamweaver 5 on Mac will be blazing fast! It's should come out in 2002... Oh wait...

 

[asdavis10]

That's precisely what I want; once place with everything that I need, how I want it.
I want all of my food to come from one shop, all of my media content to come from one store, etc.
It's just easier, and when there's only a single source, things are better organised.

It would definitely be more convenient, but overall the consumer would suffer. Yes it sounds good to have iTunes be your one media distributor since they are now the #1 music provider. But if they were the only distribution channel, what is to stop them or the media houses from raising prices. Without some strict federal regulation this couldn't work. Competition ALWAYS benefits the consumer. You may have to shop around some more, but you will be able to find the better deal. Now I do think that Adobe's media player is a poor app. Its basically a browser thats connects you to a server. You can't take any content with you. And that is what people want. Content anywhere.

 

[clevin]

Misleading? It is the same line that Apple uses.

For most people in the world a PC runs Windows and a Mac runs OS X (many don't know even what OS X is).

And even tho what you say, that PC is not the same as Windows, is technically correct, for the great majority of people PC is a synonym of Windows.

I think thats exactly the problem, apple is distorting the definition. There is really nothing good about it.

Back to Topic, its always good to have options, but I will have to try out first before making judgement about software quality (so far Im not happy it asks for admin password ).

first impression

1. need admin password -
2. does not follow OSX UI Guideline, app is a bit slow -
3. video quality is about same as hulu.com?
4. free shows +++

need more exploration...

 

[72930]

Their more focused on buying MacBU from M$. I don't think they will ever buy Adobe.

That would be useless, the only good thing about the MacBU is that they're allowed to see the protocols etc that allow compatible apps.

 

[twoodcc]

it looks pretty cool. i love iTunes, but i might try this out.

 

[Master Atrus]

Good Product

Overall I like the Adobe Media Player. Personally I like the fact that I can download free shows, put with with a little advertising and be good.

My major complaint though is the UI. I don't like when companies build a software that "feels" Windowish. When I'm in the Mac world I expect buttons to be on the LEFT, when I'm in Windows I expect it to be on the RIGHT. Come on Adobe ... you know better.

 

[kwfl]

for those who say adobe medial player sucks because it lacks many features, like ipod/iphone transfer. When first iphone came out, didnt it suck? apple sucks too to the moment in many stuff in the iphone.

so it is a new product, dont expect it to be as developed as the carbon iTunes

 

[clevin]

My major complaint though is the UI. I don't like when companies build a software that "feels" Windowish. When I'm in the Mac world I expect buttons to be on the RIGHT, when I'm in Windows I expect it to be on the LEFT. Come on Adobe ... you know better.

no, its not windows-ish, it does not follow windows GUI guild line neither. adobe is trying to play "platform-neutral".

However, I would rather they do it more "platform dependent". This type of force breaking of host system GUI is generally associated with slow-ness of the app(iTunes, QT, Safari for windows, Songbird, ZUNE 2 app are all examples). Its not good.

 

[137489]

I'm sure MS is looking at subscription models but 30 a month for an office suit?? now that is really pulling a number out of your a...

Not really - it was in an article a few years back when MS started looking at this. When I have time I will see if I can still dig up the article. I am sure it will not fly with all the other options out there, which is probably why they have not gone through with it yet

 

[slffl]

Wow, this thing SUCKS!!! as far as content goes. Yes I know they will get more, but if it's mixed in with all of these crappy shows and clips, it's going to make it even harder to find the good stuff. Thumbs down for navigation and content.

 

[morespce54]

...Up next: the Adobe video games console.

LOL
You could be surprised!

 

[137489]

That would be useless, the only good thing about the MacBU is that they're allowed to see the protocols etc that allow compatible apps.

And if Apple ever did MACBU from MS, you can totally forget about the few good apps that MS has ever making it to the Mac platform.

 

[arkitect]

*Sigh*
I hate this…
UNRESTRICTED System Access…

 

[sleepingworker]

Netflix's issue was that Apple would let them license FairPlay for use in their own store. Is that what you're talking about?

Confused about the Netflix issue. Will this move by Adobe in anyway allow Mac users to watch Netflix's content online?

 

[Yvan256]

Just out of interest, did Apple ever bring out an Intel
machine with a 1.33GHz or lower processor? Even the
original Mac minis were 1.5 and 1.66 GHz...

The original G4 Mac minis were 1.25 and 1.42 GHz.

 

[FaasNat]

It just seems to me that Adobe is now trying to do everything instead of just focusing on what they used to do best. The famous saying comes to mind:

"Jack of all trades, master of none."

I just wish they would focus more on their professional apps instead of stuff like this.

Sounds like a certain fruit company.. Apple even dropped "Computer" from its name. Granted iTunes and the iPhone/iPod are great, but I don't want to be seeing that delay OS releases as it did with Leopard (hmmm, didn't SJ make fun of Vista being delayed in one of the MWSFs?).