Slim to none.EricNau said:Darn, I just bought a Airport Express about 20 days ago!
What are the chances of Apple letting me bring it back and trade it in for a new, updated one?
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Airport Express With Video?
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puckhead193 said:kool, but why.... does one need that
Think about it. Wireless video streaming. Mac in one room, TV in other room, and you can use your Mac to play trailers, movies, recorded stuff, etc on any TV in the house just by sticking the Airport Express by it.
What you can do with Video Express
Here's what it can be:
- A video ipod connected to the video express connected to the TV -
With FCP and imovie able to use "low" res image to edit movies, a possible use will be to edit on the fly on your tv as a second screen. without any wires. That will be nice. DV captured on the mac via firewire will be on the fly outputed to the TV via video express.
That leads to the ability to use the TV as a screen replacement for
-mac mini (more people has TV screen then LCD display) instant market share. we can even have extended space on tv for virtual keyboard.
-itunes music/video store purchasing using a custom bluetooth mouse/device that works over airport express and interacts on screen which leads to
-watch itunes video stream live from net. (since the stream comes directly within the express itself - computer transfer over air is not necessary, thereby minusing the issue of heavy data streaming) or share your itunes music via rendovous on TV. So someone in the living room is listening to your music either from the mac mini/powerbook.....or even the ipod/video ipod connected directly to the video express.
-video ipod connects directly to the video express as a data storage for offloading video or data directly from the net. 2 advantages. First your video download from the net immediately gets captured, secondly you can play it off by controlling from your powerbook/mac mini over express. No heavy data transfer over airways..and when you need the video ipod, you just grab it and go..and you have your video inside as well. you play it at your friend's place or bring to school. Now you can buy or rent DVD via itunes store. totally eliminating the physical store. And on the drive you can have so many movies.
- with multiple video ipod/ipods connected to the video express, we created a Video Disk Array of sorts.. the more you have the more space you will be able to get. For Digital video editing. Since all you need to do..is send instructions over to the express via air...For heavy manipulation. maybe you still have to connect it directly to the machine. but for low res edit..maybe its possible.
- one more thing...download TV programmes from TV itself and convert to an video ipod comptabile stream and watch on the go...your TV programmes...like TIVO...but here..its ON THE GO.
Here's what it can be:
- A video ipod connected to the video express connected to the TV -
With FCP and imovie able to use "low" res image to edit movies, a possible use will be to edit on the fly on your tv as a second screen. without any wires. That will be nice. DV captured on the mac via firewire will be on the fly outputed to the TV via video express.
That leads to the ability to use the TV as a screen replacement for
-mac mini (more people has TV screen then LCD display) instant market share. we can even have extended space on tv for virtual keyboard.
-itunes music/video store purchasing using a custom bluetooth mouse/device that works over airport express and interacts on screen which leads to
-watch itunes video stream live from net. (since the stream comes directly within the express itself - computer transfer over air is not necessary, thereby minusing the issue of heavy data streaming) or share your itunes music via rendovous on TV. So someone in the living room is listening to your music either from the mac mini/powerbook.....or even the ipod/video ipod connected directly to the video express.
-video ipod connects directly to the video express as a data storage for offloading video or data directly from the net. 2 advantages. First your video download from the net immediately gets captured, secondly you can play it off by controlling from your powerbook/mac mini over express. No heavy data transfer over airways..and when you need the video ipod, you just grab it and go..and you have your video inside as well. you play it at your friend's place or bring to school. Now you can buy or rent DVD via itunes store. totally eliminating the physical store. And on the drive you can have so many movies.
- with multiple video ipod/ipods connected to the video express, we created a Video Disk Array of sorts.. the more you have the more space you will be able to get. For Digital video editing. Since all you need to do..is send instructions over to the express via air...For heavy manipulation. maybe you still have to connect it directly to the machine. but for low res edit..maybe its possible.
- one more thing...download TV programmes from TV itself and convert to an video ipod comptabile stream and watch on the go...your TV programmes...like TIVO...but here..its ON THE GO.
I seriously doubt [insert obligatory Intel rumor disclaimer here] that Apple is going to release a vPod. The built-to-be-portable iPod is just functionally counter-intutive to watching feature length movies on its tiny screen. And movies require about 1 1/2 hours (or more) of your undivided attention. Even with shorter content (music videos or TV programming - maybe) that require less time to watch, streaming video is going to be much harder on that tiny hard drive than songs. I don't know off the top of my head what the specs are for the hard drives that Apple uses in its iPods, but I would be surprised if it could handle sustained video content.
If video content is really on Apple's plate this time, then a video enabled airport express makes much more sense. A computer's hard drive (and processor) could obviously handle the streaming chores, and Apple has already seeded the concept of an airport express connected to your living room stereo via iTunes, which is also video enabled. Your TV is likely right next to your stereo, hooked up to it, or at least physically near enough to it.
But the whole movie download concept just doesn't sound like a great idea, at least not yet. If Apple gets into this, I like to see them do it in a big, unexpected way, which to my mind means getting H264 encoded HD movies into the pipe. There are a couple of problems here. One is H264 HD (which looks amazing, by the way) currently requires a lot of processing power to decode. You're pretty much looking at a G5 machine to do it. Second is download size, which for any movie is huge, especially HD. Dial-up is out. DSL is probably doable, but will still take a lot of time depending on your DL rate. High speed cable might be okay, but it's still going to take a lot of time.
If a movie download service is going to catch on, it would have to be presented along the same lines of usability as music downloads are today. In other words, it would have to offer an obvious advantage over the current mass-consumption model of renting/buying DVDs. Offering HD content would be one advantage, but then again, back in the early days of videotape, Sony's Betamax format looked better than VHS, but VHS won the format war. Laserdisc quality (video and audio) was much better than both videotape formats, but it never caught on with the average consumer. So HD content is, at best, only one part of a solution. The other is bandwidth. Right now, you can download a song in seconds. It's the holy grail of consumerism: instant gratification. Movie downloads, on the other hand are huge, GBs in size. You would need a lot of bandwidth to suck it all down, and its going to be slow even on broadband connections. Nothing like the ease of downloading music is today.
When internet access speeds are commonly 20 or so megabits/sec then an online movie download service would probably make sense. Or if someone comes up with a miracle compression technology that can squeeze an HD movie to a size small enough for today's broadband connections. In any event, when the technology exists (or comnination of technolgies) to d/l a HD movie in, say 10 minutes (remember, this is the general public whose dollars you're after for this market, not geeks or fanatics), then you might have something. Until then, DVDs will likely remain the overwhelming technology of choice for watching movies.
It wouldn't shock me if Apple put out a "video capable" iPod for music videos, but thats as far as I see video going for iPods. Things could get very interesting soon if a video capable airport express came out with software that easily allows, for starters, iDVD, iPhoto, and DVD player (with surround sound) content to stream to your living room TV. That puts a few intrinsic pieces of the big picture(tm) into place.
If video content is really on Apple's plate this time, then a video enabled airport express makes much more sense. A computer's hard drive (and processor) could obviously handle the streaming chores, and Apple has already seeded the concept of an airport express connected to your living room stereo via iTunes, which is also video enabled. Your TV is likely right next to your stereo, hooked up to it, or at least physically near enough to it.
But the whole movie download concept just doesn't sound like a great idea, at least not yet. If Apple gets into this, I like to see them do it in a big, unexpected way, which to my mind means getting H264 encoded HD movies into the pipe. There are a couple of problems here. One is H264 HD (which looks amazing, by the way) currently requires a lot of processing power to decode. You're pretty much looking at a G5 machine to do it. Second is download size, which for any movie is huge, especially HD. Dial-up is out. DSL is probably doable, but will still take a lot of time depending on your DL rate. High speed cable might be okay, but it's still going to take a lot of time.
If a movie download service is going to catch on, it would have to be presented along the same lines of usability as music downloads are today. In other words, it would have to offer an obvious advantage over the current mass-consumption model of renting/buying DVDs. Offering HD content would be one advantage, but then again, back in the early days of videotape, Sony's Betamax format looked better than VHS, but VHS won the format war. Laserdisc quality (video and audio) was much better than both videotape formats, but it never caught on with the average consumer. So HD content is, at best, only one part of a solution. The other is bandwidth. Right now, you can download a song in seconds. It's the holy grail of consumerism: instant gratification. Movie downloads, on the other hand are huge, GBs in size. You would need a lot of bandwidth to suck it all down, and its going to be slow even on broadband connections. Nothing like the ease of downloading music is today.
When internet access speeds are commonly 20 or so megabits/sec then an online movie download service would probably make sense. Or if someone comes up with a miracle compression technology that can squeeze an HD movie to a size small enough for today's broadband connections. In any event, when the technology exists (or comnination of technolgies) to d/l a HD movie in, say 10 minutes (remember, this is the general public whose dollars you're after for this market, not geeks or fanatics), then you might have something. Until then, DVDs will likely remain the overwhelming technology of choice for watching movies.
It wouldn't shock me if Apple put out a "video capable" iPod for music videos, but thats as far as I see video going for iPods. Things could get very interesting soon if a video capable airport express came out with software that easily allows, for starters, iDVD, iPhoto, and DVD player (with surround sound) content to stream to your living room TV. That puts a few intrinsic pieces of the big picture(tm) into place.
It's because the USB port on the current Airport Express is only for printers. One could connect an iPod dock via USB but only for charging and not for data or syncing.Whyren said:
How about offering DVD quality h.264 content? It could be a good tradeoff between bandwidth (d/l time), storage and quality.VanNess said:
EricNau said:
Theres nothing stopping you from doing this now... its just not integrated into apple software (and likely never will be, at least not without some HEAVY DRM).
video airport would be really useful imo, just think about it, have you ever been at trade show or a meeting where you have had to present? Wouldn't it be great to not have to lug around a 20 foot vga cable "just in case". plug in the airport express, plug that into the projector, and away you go! if both audio and video are going to it then that solves the problem of the audio lagging behind the video surely? come on apple, allow for dual desktop on it! this is what I have been waiting for!
Media Center
Looking at all the rumors and some recent patents as well as Steves comment on "not a stand-alone video device" i think what they might be aiming for is a handheld media center! Current solutions use a computer,buggy programming an d then a useless remote control with a lot of buttons. How about integrating the media center into the control? So you have a handheld device able to control media streams from and to computer , TV .... with the additional capability to store and play some of these, a neat interface to do so and so on
Looking at all the rumors and some recent patents as well as Steves comment on "not a stand-alone video device" i think what they might be aiming for is a handheld media center! Current solutions use a computer,buggy programming an d then a useless remote control with a lot of buttons. How about integrating the media center into the control? So you have a handheld device able to control media streams from and to computer , TV .... with the additional capability to store and play some of these, a neat interface to do so and so on
Keyspan Express Remote
Actually, the USB port on the Airport Express is not only intended for printers.
Rod Rod said:
Actually, the USB port on the Airport Express is not only intended for printers.
Ethics, perhaps?
At an average of 8 GB or so per DVD, "virtually for free" would cover the first handful of DVDs, then you'd need to start bying additional large disk drives.
Other than the ethical issues involved with stealing the studios' intellectual property, you mean?EricNau said:
At an average of 8 GB or so per DVD, "virtually for free" would cover the first handful of DVDs, then you'd need to start bying additional large disk drives.
i hope this box can record tv, i'm in the market for a HDD video recorder... at the moment I can only think of PSP with the new Sony video recorder that can transfer files to a PSP. Please Apple...!! iPod Video and a HDD recorder box. please so I can watch my favorite shows that i miss while i'm at work.
so I can watch my favorite shows that i miss while i'm at work.802.11e
Just wanted to point this out.
http://www.macworld.co.uk/news/index.cfm?RSS&NewsID=12801
fun funn
Just wanted to point this out.
http://www.macworld.co.uk/news/index.cfm?RSS&NewsID=12801
fun funn
I was actually just about to buy a Mac mini specifically for my TV, but if this comes out then there will be no need to. I'm sure a lot of people will hold off on buying "media center" computers if this does come out, which makes it a bit iffy, but I really do hope it's true.
I'll have to try it out first. The whole point is to play NES ROMS on my TV, but if there is any sort of lag then it'll be useless. I was going to eBay my current Airport Express (especially since I don't even use it), but I think I'll wait.
Fishes,
narco.
I'll have to try it out first. The whole point is to play NES ROMS on my TV, but if there is any sort of lag then it'll be useless. I was going to eBay my current Airport Express (especially since I don't even use it), but I think I'll wait.
Fishes,
narco.
You listen to sound through your dell monitor???? Very weird. I find a good set of speakers works much bettereva01 said:
It's simple
No video ipod. Just a small device like airport express to hook up to your tv and receive h.264 MOVIES from the updated iTunes store or similar software. I bet Apple's worked out a deal with Hollywood, who's seeing their sales and distribution erode.
What about the remote? How about an ipod with bluetooth. Yahoooo
At least I can return, wrapped to the Apple store, the airport express I ordered 2 days ago.
No video ipod. Just a small device like airport express to hook up to your tv and receive h.264 MOVIES from the updated iTunes store or similar software. I bet Apple's worked out a deal with Hollywood, who's seeing their sales and distribution erode.
What about the remote? How about an ipod with bluetooth. Yahoooo
At least I can return, wrapped to the Apple store, the airport express I ordered 2 days ago.
So three pages before anyone hit the nail on the head......
On Oct. 12, a Vpod will be introduced that works just like an iPod & iTunes, although now you can download video, maybe even movies. But the best part is:
A SEPERATE "AIRPORT" device will be released that does the following:
1.) Allows you to download TV content to this "airport hub." Yes, exactly like a Tivo, only a fraction of the size. And no subscription costs.
2.) The wireless feature is to connect to the Internet to update the "TV Guide" (whats on).
3.) The hub can transfer TV shows you want to your vPod. If you want to watch them on the screen, fine...or....
4.) Use an A/V adapter to show them on ANY tv with RCA input jacks. Bingo! No legal problems from the industry because it can only be viewed on someone elses TV, not recorded. Everyone talks movies, but right now TV is very hot with all the good shows on.
Finally, Tivo will no longer exist.
On Oct. 12, a Vpod will be introduced that works just like an iPod & iTunes, although now you can download video, maybe even movies. But the best part is:
A SEPERATE "AIRPORT" device will be released that does the following:
1.) Allows you to download TV content to this "airport hub." Yes, exactly like a Tivo, only a fraction of the size. And no subscription costs.
2.) The wireless feature is to connect to the Internet to update the "TV Guide" (whats on).
3.) The hub can transfer TV shows you want to your vPod. If you want to watch them on the screen, fine...or....
4.) Use an A/V adapter to show them on ANY tv with RCA input jacks. Bingo! No legal problems from the industry because it can only be viewed on someone elses TV, not recorded. Everyone talks movies, but right now TV is very hot with all the good shows on.
Finally, Tivo will no longer exist.
maybe they ahve been working on it for a long time so that they could work out the licensing agreements. If you think about it maybe they wanted to realase this with tiger, cause of h.264, but companies are licensing it to apple now so that it can be realased. If anything there will be a lot of pixar movies on the store.Daveway said:I thought the possibilties of this happening were explained many months ago.
H.264 would be great for this and YES this does have purpose. I'm only concerned about licensing issues that Apple may have to apply if any kind of copyrighted content will be streamed.
My guess is the AE video will use Bluetooth 2.0 EDR to let you stream H.264 video to your TV. Bluetooth 2.0 EDR supports data rates of 2.1 Mbits with a range of up to 100m over something like 90 channels. The current Mac Bluetooth boards should be good for about 20m+, enough to get from your Mac to the AE in the living room.
The actual video stream should be around 1-1.5 Mbits. If you don't have a computer you can use any IPod connected to the AE as a buffer when downloading video/music. How do you download content to your AE without a mac? Use the new Apple cell coming out on 1010 supporting Bluetooth 2.0 EDR and UMTS. Apple could also include 802.16-2004 (Wimax standard that is ratified) and start building a mesh-network together with Intel, Cingular and T-Mobile (http://www.wi-fiplanet.com/news/article.php/3549846). We'll see soon...
The actual video stream should be around 1-1.5 Mbits. If you don't have a computer you can use any IPod connected to the AE as a buffer when downloading video/music. How do you download content to your AE without a mac? Use the new Apple cell coming out on 1010 supporting Bluetooth 2.0 EDR and UMTS. Apple could also include 802.16-2004 (Wimax standard that is ratified) and start building a mesh-network together with Intel, Cingular and T-Mobile (http://www.wi-fiplanet.com/news/article.php/3549846). We'll see soon...