Apple at Siggraph 2004

[Mikekmac]

Apples increasing presence in 3D and Film Production

The G4s were still good machines for Photoshop and Video Production, but not for 3D renderiing. I teach a Multimedia class, and we have several Dual G4s and they are great in Photoshop and Final Cut, but Maya brings them to their knees when it is time to render. I recently purchased 2 G5 dual 1.8s and we are seeing 3.5 to 4 times increases in rendering speeds. So the G5 fills in the last piece of the film production puzzle for Apple. It now has brute force in addition to Altivec. Add that to their awsome software, they should look impressive at Siggraph.

 

[Blark]

What was frustrating about Apple at last year's SIGGRAPH was that they had just announced these hot new machines at WWDC, and the anticipation of them at SIGGRAPH was palpable. People wanted to see them, even if they weren't available yet. Yet all Apple had was a tutorial booth where you could try Shake, running on G4s. This seemed like an enormous lost opportunity; but we must remember that at that point, not all Apple's ducks were in a row for the SIGGRAPH crowd: the machines were not available; there were no pro-level graphics cards for the G5; there were no apps tuned for the G5; and there were no optimizing compilers for the G5.

The only G5 on the floor was at Pixar's booth, where Pixar engineers were demoing renderman rendering a scene from Finding Nemo on the G5. It was faster (on most scenes) than then current Pentiums or Xeons.

You could also wangle (with some effort) a one-on-one with a Shake engineer and a G5 at a hotel suite. That was my first opportunity to really see the G5 closeup, and to ask detailed questions about it.

What the current rumour suggests is that Apple expects those aforementioned ducks to be in a row by this summer: there may be new pro-level graphics cards available (and Mac OS updates may have addressed some of the "OpenGL gap" by then; fingers crossed); IBM's XLC, GCC and Metrowerks newer compilers will have been available long enough that Alias, Newtek, Maxon, Kaydara, etc. may have G5 optimized versions by then; and there may be Dual 3 Ghz Power Macs that demonstrate unequivocal advantages over the Pentium, Xeon, and Opteron crowd.

We can only hope...

Blark

 

[phillymjs]

Predictions...

If I were a betting man:

1. Speed-bumped G5s announced before the end of February, "Fastest" model probably sporting dual 2.6GHz CPUs.

2. At the August show, Apple announces and demos the promised 3GHz G5 machines, with shipments to start in late August/early September-- possible preferential shipping to .edus since it's the start of school.

3. People who stupidly bought G5's just prior to these announcements will piss and moan incessantly on every Mac news site because their machine isn't a current model anymore.

I'm only 100% sure about #3.

~Philly

 

[Mr. Anderson]

Re: Predictions...

Originally posted by phillymjs
If I were a betting man:
3. People who stupidly bought G5's just prior to these announcements will piss and moan incessantly on every Mac news site because their machine isn't a current model anymore.

I'm only 100% sure about #3.

ha!! well, that happens regardless of what machine you end up buying.....

The only real difference or issues with that is when its a major upgrade (g4>g5) Then you only have yourself to blame for not following the rumors....

D

 

[etoiles]

Re: Mmmmmm interesting

Originally posted by silvergunuk
I hope Apple announces that they bought Luxology and Alias. Modo as a modeler and maya for animation, rigging and particle system and put it all in a package with a cut down version of renderman for a nice tidy sum of $2000.

LOL, anything else ? A little bubble bath and a back scrub maybe ?

I think it would already be fantastic if they released Maya Unlimited and Modo... Luxology already likes the G5/OSX a lot, not sure Apple has to buy them.

 

[MongoTheGeek]

Re: Predictions...

Originally posted by phillymjs
If I were a betting man:

1. Speed-bumped G5s announced before the end of February, "Fastest" model probably sporting dual 2.6GHz CPUs.

2. At the August show, Apple announces and demos the promised 3GHz G5 machines, with shipments to start in late August/early September-- possible preferential shipping to .edus since it's the start of school.

3. People who stupidly bought G5's just prior to these announcements will piss and moan incessantly on every Mac news site because their machine isn't a current model anymore.

I'm only 100% sure about #3.

~Philly

#1 I think the top will either be kissing 3 or 2.3 which has been lying (lieing) in alt-text on the Apple Front page for a month now. I think Apple is through with this speed bump diaper lining though and will just jump.

#2 Perhaps. August is late for schools though. They start end of August, and if this snow keeps up will run til august. I hope for power5's at WWDC.

#3 is totally wrong. Even if monday came with announcements of 4Ghz multicore DP G5's. I wouldn't mind. Yes I would do a little breaking of the 10th commandment but I needed it when I got it and I don't regret getting it.

 

[anodized]

Rev C G5 are suppossed to come out "within a year" so that should be by august.

 

[Frobozz]

Good news!

It's important that Apple make large announcements at non-Apple centric events. It's all about perception. If Apple is participating in the larger venues, they are saying they're relevant to a wider crowd. For the first time since it's introduction (or at least the later 80's) they are actually relevant to a wide crowd again. Scientists, Lawyers, Brokers, Artists, Engineers, etc. all use the Mac en mass.

It's nice to see the Mac gaining in mind share, and in some cases, market share. They are on their way up, my friends! I love it.

 

[crenz]

Re: Mmmmmm interesting

Originally posted by silvergunuk
I hope Apple announces that they bought Luxology and Alias. Modo as a modeler and maya for animation, rigging and particle system and put it all in a package with a cut down version of renderman for a nice tidy sum of $2000.

While that looks nice price-wise, I am not a fan of Apple being a major player in many different leagues (like Microsoft). I'm all for diversity...

 

[Paramedic]

Siggraph presence

This announcement by Apple only solidifies their lack of involvement in the Boston show, if it even happens..

Also, all this talk about Apple acquiring more software companies - not too sure about this. Apple is primarily a Hardware company that does create software to help sell it's machines. I don't think they're currently looking to grow in the other direction, right now.

 

[Peej]

So, we made it to the second page of replies on an Apple-attented event with nobody mentioning G5 PBs? Congratulations everyone!!

 

[Mr. Anderson]

Originally posted by Peej
So, we made it to the second page of replies on an Apple-attented event with nobody mentioning G5 PBs? Congratulations everyone!!

But we're talking high end stuff here - even a G5 PB would be underpowered to be a serious contender in 3D apps.

The XServe, XGrid and PowerMac Workstation are key here....

D

 

[iomar]

This is great! I will be there for sure! Can't wait!!!!!

 

[etoiles]

Originally posted by Peej
So, we made it to the second page of replies on an Apple-attented event with nobody mentioning G5 PBs? Congratulations everyone!!

thanks for spoiling it, it was too good to be true...

 

[winmacguy]

Originally posted by Mr. Anderson
There was a rumor about Apple buying Maya - Alias/Wavefront last year - caused a huge stir, actually. Enough of one that the President of Alias/Wavefront definitively said in an interview that it wasn't going to happen. Given that, and the fact the Renderman is now available for purchase, we might see a Apple 3D app based on Renderman before Apple buys up Maya.

It would make more sense, but a huge effort in development, since Renderman isn't a simple system. And they'd need a modeler as well.

D

That would be a pretty big deal. Imagine the whole of Weta studios being run on an Xserve G5 renderwall. I know they use IBM Opteron chips running Linux at the moment with G5s doing other stuff. They will however be looking at upgrading systems when they do a remake of King Kong next.

 

[mgargan1]

hmm.. maybe a new imac, or cube? That would be sweet of apple to have a new cube... or sphere. But everyone here as well as myself, knows that it's prolly not gonna happen.

 

[dave@utpb]

As a regular attendee of SIGGRAPH conference since 1990, I would be very happy to see a major Apple presence at Los Angles this summer in the form of their own booth. I do not believe they have had one since the '95 or '96 conference. As the SIGGRAPH conference has become a major showcase for production solutions in film and video, and especially when the conference is in Los Angeles, the ability to demonstrate a range of solutions to professionals is key. I'm sure Apple will have new things to show, but what is more important is that they will again let production companies know they are serious about this market.

Dave

 

[mdriftmeyer]

Originally posted by redAPPLE
i do not think SJ OWNS pixar and apple.

he is the CEO, but not the owner.

Steve Owns 80% of the stock in PIXAR. He never owned more than 10-15% in Apple when he sold all but 1 share during his removal. The 80% is not based upon common stock but overall assets of the company.

 

[lem0nayde]

Apple would need a serious 3D card too if it wants to enter the 3D animation/special effects market with any force. It looks like noone else is going to make one, so hopefully they've invested some time and R&D into getting that done.

To the person who said they hope Pixar makes another short, they have, it is called Boundin' and there is a preview of it here:

http://pixar.com/shorts/bdn/index.html

It looks fantastic. It was nominated for an Oscar this year (not sure how, it must have been released somewhere, Sundance maybe.)

 

[PaisanoMan]

Originally posted by mgargan1
hmm.. maybe a new imac, or cube? That would be sweet of apple to have a new cube... or sphere. But everyone here as well as myself, knows that it's prolly not gonna happen.

I think many readers don't understand that SIGGRAPH isn't an ordinary computer conference -- it's intended for industry professionals and academics.

Apple won't introduce a new consumer product (iMac) there.

 

[agreenster]

Originally posted by jrv3034
It would be awesome if Renderman showed up for the Mac. They've already said in the G5 promo video that they felt the G5 was the most powerful computer out there. Let''s seee them take advantage of that.

Renderman is already available for the Mac. It was showcased last year at Siggraph and compared speeds of the dual 2ghz G5 and a dual 2.8 Xeon. The G5 beat it in rendertimes by more than 30 seconds a frame. I used to have a screenshot of it....now where is that....

This (Apple @ 04 siggraph) comes as no suprise to me. Many large studios in the industry are switching to mac, primarily for OSX. I can name at least 4 major studios looking at upgrading from Linux/Irix/x86/SGI systems to OSX/G5 systems. (pixar being one of em).

 

[mstecker]

Why one-in-five "negatives"?

How could this possibly be a negative story?

Someone who voted this story a "negative" please come forward and explain yourself.

Or you will be asked to sit with a tin-foil hat on in the windows-time-out corner.

 

[coldsteel]

You are all losers

[banned]

 

[jadam]

Hah take that all us apple lovers!

 

[geerlingguy]

Originally posted by hokka
It's 56% to be precise [according to Page 32 of Pixar's 2003 financial report - http://www.shareholder.com/Common/Edgar/1002114/891618-03-1511/03-00.pdf ]

"Our Chief Executive Officer, Steve Jobs, beneficially owns approximately 56% of our outstanding Common Stock as of March 4, 2003. As a result, Mr. Jobs, acting alone, is able to exercise sole discretion over all matters requiring shareholder approval, including the election of the entire board of directors and approval of significant corporate transactions, including an acquisition of Pixar. Such concentration of ownership may also have the effect of delaying or preventing a change in control of Pixar, impeding a merger, consolidation, takeover or other business combination involving Pixar, or discouraging a potential acquirer from making a tender offer or otherwise attempting to obtain control of Pixar."

Ha! by the look of things SJ is not going to let the Apple past fiasco happen again! He has TOTAL control...

Is it safe to give Steve that much power???