Yep, you are right. Apple should definitly stay focused. If they just make it as an value add to there displays at no additional costs its great, otherwise they should better find a 3rd party supplier for a card
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Apple HDTV Tuner?
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Yep, you are right. Apple should definitly stay focused. If they just make it as an value add to there displays at no additional costs its great, otherwise they should better find a 3rd party supplier for a card
If not an actual HDTV tuner, I would AT LEAST like them to include RGB and/or YUV component inputs on their high end Cinema displays. I'm saving up for either a G5 tower at some point in the future or a Cinema display. As a college student with a relatively limited budget who's interested in HD, having a screen that could be used for both TV and computer display would be awesome. The 23" screen is already large enough to display even the highest HD resolution (1080i) with no downscaling. I'd like to buy the display, but if I still need to buy a separate TV to watch HD... well, I just can't swing it now. If it just had the right inputs, I could buy a separate tuner (as will likely be the case anyway, at least in the beginning).
--Cless
--Cless
It is reasonable for Apple to go ahead and do something like this. The incremental cost of an HDTV tuner is pretty minimal compared to the cost of a 23" panel. I beleive Philips introduced a single chip HDTV tuner/decoder chip solution about 6 months ago.
Adding component video inputs could also be interesting, but adding a second DVI input is probably a better solution. Most HDTV equipment is switching to DVI interfaces going forward.
Adding component video inputs could also be interesting, but adding a second DVI input is probably a better solution. Most HDTV equipment is switching to DVI interfaces going forward.
Apple had a max of 23 different models of computers at one time during this period. That's dillution. They had different models that were pretty much identical as far as customers could tell.
Apple isn't doing this now. They have enough products to fill markets that demand them. They have a high end tower, a high end home machine, and a 'discount' machine for edu (that the low end home market demanded). They've got a low end laptop and a high end laptop with enough monitor sizes to fill demand.
Moving into different areas doesn't dilute the core product line. Apple doesn't confuse desktop buyers with an iPod. Microsoft has proven that they can be very successful with ver divergent products. If MS was afraid of losing focus, they'd stick to software. The do, however, make very nice mice and good keyboards. They make networking products that I've not use, but that I've not hear anyone complain about. They make a Game console that turned out quite nice.
I don't think losing focus is a big concern. Apple's hardware is strong and getting much stronger. The iPod rules the music market as does ITMS. I think they could get away with Monitors that double as HDTVs. This is different from Gateway.. a failing PC company that is branching to Home Entertainment as a last ditch effort to stay in business. Apple's at the top of their game. They have cash, profits, and quite a bit of consumer confidence from the iPod.
I'm not sure why Apple would increase the cost of their monitors in this way but they often do things I don't expect. They have, in the past, introduced new technologies at new price points so it's entirely possible that they've figured out how to add HDTV tuners for significantly less than $399 (the price of an external HDTV tuner for a standard HD capable TV). I'd expect that this would only be offered as a version of the 23" Cinema display (if it's true). heck, maybe they do have a 30" in the works.
let Formac Studios produce the HDTV tuner
If the Formac Studio DTV can be made and sold for $300 today as well as an external HDTV tuner for a standard HD capable TV can be made and sold for $400 , I say go for it. However, standard resolutions for Apple Monitors would have to increase across the product line. There is no point to HDTV if you can't watch it at its most highest resolution picture detail. Yes Apple increase your standard resolution and size of your monitors to a minimum 19" 2056 X 1536 and bring HDTV to your customers. Heck , you might as well make the eMac a 19" model now . you could offer a 19 " G5 2 GHZ Superdrive model as a highend model for just under $1500 . You could have a lowend 19 " G4 1.33 GHZ combo drive model for schools to buy for under $1000 . Maybe keep a super low end OS 9 bootable 17" G4 1 GHZ combo drive model for a Walmart exclusive machine for $600 ( I know , that idea is good for a laugh. No way in hell Apple would do that . )
If the Formac Studio DTV can be made and sold for $300 today as well as an external HDTV tuner for a standard HD capable TV can be made and sold for $400 , I say go for it. However, standard resolutions for Apple Monitors would have to increase across the product line. There is no point to HDTV if you can't watch it at its most highest resolution picture detail. Yes Apple increase your standard resolution and size of your monitors to a minimum 19" 2056 X 1536 and bring HDTV to your customers. Heck , you might as well make the eMac a 19" model now . you could offer a 19 " G5 2 GHZ Superdrive model as a highend model for just under $1500 . You could have a lowend 19 " G4 1.33 GHZ combo drive model for schools to buy for under $1000 . Maybe keep a super low end OS 9 bootable 17" G4 1 GHZ combo drive model for a Walmart exclusive machine for $600 ( I know , that idea is good for a laugh. No way in hell Apple would do that . )
I'm with you yamabushi. I also have a cable jack in my Den, unused at the moment just waiting. Also have a nice Anthro desk just waiting to be put together for the new G5 in the future. It will just fit in front of the wall where the cable jack it located. It would be awesome with a nice 23" Cinema Display.
Re: let Formac Studios produce the HDTV tuner
17" at 1280x1024
20" at 1680x1250
23" at 1920x1200
typical PC LCDs..
17-18.1" at 1280x1024
20" at 1600x1200 (Apple's is higher)
23" at 1920x1200 (sony P232)
720p 1028x720
Edit: The following is wrong.. but I'm not fixing it because of the next two posts.
1080i 1280x1080
Apple's 17" lcd can display the highest quality HTDV signal just fine.
the 17" can only do 720p
He's an HDTV primer..
http://www.nbc.com/nbc/footer/HDTV.shtml
I think eMac will stay 17".. but I'd like to see apple enable dual head support by default and maybe allow for higher rez on the tube.. just so it's available.
Apple's resolutions on their monitors are very standard.
17" at 1280x1024
20" at 1680x1250
23" at 1920x1200
typical PC LCDs..
17-18.1" at 1280x1024
20" at 1600x1200 (Apple's is higher)
23" at 1920x1200 (sony P232)
There are two HDTV standards...
720p 1028x720
Edit: The following is wrong.. but I'm not fixing it because of the next two posts.
1080i 1280x1080
Apple's 17" lcd can display the highest quality HTDV signal just fine.
the 17" can only do 720p
He's an HDTV primer..
http://www.nbc.com/nbc/footer/HDTV.shtml
A resolution that high would make the machine virtually unusable for most tasks. 19" LCDs have viewable space of 13" by 15" at 4-3 aspect ratio. That would be a pixel density of 136 pix/inch on the horizontal (118 vert). Web graphics are optimised for 72-75dpi. Everything would look way too small. All your text would be 55% smaller.
I think Apple could probably hit those price points and I think they will move the entire desktop line to the G5 asap (by late summer) but a 19" eMac would be a questionalbe chioce. I think it would be a nice machine but it introduces two big issues. First off, flat tubes are heavy.. The eMac weighs over 50lbs. A 19" eMac of the same quality would be extremely heavy. Second, eMac is still the edu machine. The current one is already big, but you can still manage to see over it of around it in a lab. It it gets too big, it becomes worthless edu because you can't use it in digital classrooms (lecture style rooms). Finally, apple is very concious of how much heat their machines generate when they need to fit in edu. In a room of 20 machine, adding 100watts of heat per machine is like putting a small space heater in the room.
I think eMac will stay 17".. but I'd like to see apple enable dual head support by default and maybe allow for higher rez on the tube.. just so it's available.
Re: Re: let Formac Studios produce the HDTV tuner
a quote from the URL you referenced..
The 720p format makes a picture with 720 vertical lines, each with 1280 pixels horizontally -- so in computer display terms, it has a resolution of "1280 x 720". 720p uses progressive scanning, like computers, which sends a complete picture 60 times per second. 720p provides the smoothest possible motion rendition, but it does not have as much resolution as 1080i.
The 1080i format makes a picture with 1080 vertical lines, each with 1920 pixels horizontally -- so in computer display terms, it has a resolution of "1920 x 1080". 1080i uses interlaced scanning, like traditional TV, which alternates sending odd lines and even lines and thus sends a complete picture 30 times per second. 1080i provides the highest possible resolution, but has the same motion rendition as traditional TV.
So, HDTV is 1280x720 or 1920x1080. The 17 inch CANNOT display native 1080i. This is why the 23-incher was a big deal when it came out, because even the originaly 22 incher (1600x1200?) couldn't even do it.
Put me down for someone who would seriously think about a 23incher (or 30 incher) if there was a mac hd tuner w/ tivo-like capabilities...
-a
a quote from the URL you referenced..
The 720p format makes a picture with 720 vertical lines, each with 1280 pixels horizontally -- so in computer display terms, it has a resolution of "1280 x 720". 720p uses progressive scanning, like computers, which sends a complete picture 60 times per second. 720p provides the smoothest possible motion rendition, but it does not have as much resolution as 1080i.
The 1080i format makes a picture with 1080 vertical lines, each with 1920 pixels horizontally -- so in computer display terms, it has a resolution of "1920 x 1080". 1080i uses interlaced scanning, like traditional TV, which alternates sending odd lines and even lines and thus sends a complete picture 30 times per second. 1080i provides the highest possible resolution, but has the same motion rendition as traditional TV.
So, HDTV is 1280x720 or 1920x1080. The 17 inch CANNOT display native 1080i. This is why the 23-incher was a big deal when it came out, because even the originaly 22 incher (1600x1200?) couldn't even do it.
Put me down for someone who would seriously think about a 23incher (or 30 incher) if there was a mac hd tuner w/ tivo-like capabilities...
-a
Re: Re: Re: let Formac Studios produce the HDTV tuner
I don't know how I miss-read that.. I was flipping back and forth between tabs when I replied.
I still don't think we should be hoping for significantly higher resolution LCD monitors. I don't want to use a non-native resolution for everything but HDTV. If Apple added this to a monitor, it'd still primarily be a computer monitor.
So, I guess there is actually two good reasons for limiting this to the 23"... the ability to hide the additional cost in an already expensive monitor and the issue of resolution. If Apple did this and only supported 720p, people would pan it as a half-assed attempt.
I don't know how I miss-read that.. I was flipping back and forth between tabs when I replied.
I still don't think we should be hoping for significantly higher resolution LCD monitors. I don't want to use a non-native resolution for everything but HDTV. If Apple added this to a monitor, it'd still primarily be a computer monitor.
So, I guess there is actually two good reasons for limiting this to the 23"... the ability to hide the additional cost in an already expensive monitor and the issue of resolution. If Apple did this and only supported 720p, people would pan it as a half-assed attempt.
I think there should be a way to put a broadcast HDTV signal onto an Apple HD Cinema display, perhaps in the form of an HD All-in-Wonder card for a Mac. But I understand there is a frame rate problem that would need to be solved, and it is unclear to me how difficult it would be for the manufacturers of such cards to solve the problem.
Old HD Cinema Review
It is not clear if this product is presently shipping, but a search on EDP100 shows it at a "great value" of $8,000. So are my dreams of an HD All-in-Wonder card for an HD Cinema display unrealistic, or am I comparing Apples with oranges?
Great Value for Wide Cinema Display
Old HD Cinema Review
It is not clear if this product is presently shipping, but a search on EDP100 shows it at a "great value" of $8,000. So are my dreams of an HD All-in-Wonder card for an HD Cinema display unrealistic, or am I comparing Apples with oranges?
Great Value for Wide Cinema Display
This isn't a tuner, it's a HD-SDI -> DVI converter. Ie, you would plug a D5 deck or some such into it - it's a commercial grade product.
Ideally, I'd love something more like the all-in-wonder - a card with a tuner on it with capture abilities. Getting that to a reasonable price is going to be a trick, though.
-a
My concern if it is presently possible to even get a broadcast HDTV signal onto an Apple HD Cinema display, or if the frame rate is an expensive problem to solve. I just found an HDTV Tuner that has both DVI and firewire outputs. ($700) Could I buy one of these and connect it to a Mac with an HD Cinema display, or would I discover after a long struggle that there is an insurmountable incompatibility? I think it is premature to be seeing an Apple Display with a built in HDTV tuner. Maybe we'll find out tomorrow.
What in the world is so prohibitive about frame rates to the displays? There's three frame rates for HD: 24 frames per second, 30frames per second, and 60 fields per second. The only one non-native would be 24fps, since the refresh rate of LCDs is 60Hz (effectively, it's different than CRTs in method and appearance.) So they vSync 24fps or tune down the display's refresh rate somehow.
Look at it this way, MacOS X will play a movie whether it's 2fps or 120fps on any display. And there are plenty of LCD HDTVs out there. This doesn't seem like an insurmountable problem. HDTVs themselves are basically large computer monitors of one type or another anyway.
--Cless
Look at it this way, MacOS X will play a movie whether it's 2fps or 120fps on any display. And there are plenty of LCD HDTVs out there. This doesn't seem like an insurmountable problem. HDTVs themselves are basically large computer monitors of one type or another anyway.
--Cless
Steve Jobs from MacWorld Magazine...
Do you have any other thoughts about where your competitors are taking their strategies? For example, Windows Media PCs are computers attached to TV sets.
Well, we've always been very clear on that. We don't think that televisions and personal computers are going to merge. We think basically you watch television to turn your brain off, and you work on your computer when you want to turn your brain on.
Are there some complementary aspects to it?
Well, they want to link sometimes. Like, when you make a movie, you burn a DVD and you take it to your DVD player. Someday that could happen over AirPort, so you don't have to burn a DVD -- you can just watch it right off your computer on your television set. But most of these products that have said, "Let's combine the television and the computer! have failed. All of them have failed.
I don't understand why you'd want to mouse around on your TV set.
The problem is, when you're using your computer you're a foot away from it, you know? When you're using your television you want to be ten feet away from it. So they're really different animals.
Over the years, the media and analysts have always focused on market share. But although Mac market share is relatively small, Apple is profitable and is making products that affect the entire industry.
Apple's market share is bigger than BMW's or Mercedes's or Porsche's in the automotive market. What's wrong with being BMW or Mercedes?
So you're very comfortable with Apple as it is today.
I think we're having fun. I think our customers really like our products. And we're always trying to do better. But I think we're leading the industry and we're having a good time.
Do you have any other thoughts about where your competitors are taking their strategies? For example, Windows Media PCs are computers attached to TV sets.
Well, we've always been very clear on that. We don't think that televisions and personal computers are going to merge. We think basically you watch television to turn your brain off, and you work on your computer when you want to turn your brain on.
Are there some complementary aspects to it?
Well, they want to link sometimes. Like, when you make a movie, you burn a DVD and you take it to your DVD player. Someday that could happen over AirPort, so you don't have to burn a DVD -- you can just watch it right off your computer on your television set. But most of these products that have said, "Let's combine the television and the computer! have failed. All of them have failed.
I don't understand why you'd want to mouse around on your TV set.
The problem is, when you're using your computer you're a foot away from it, you know? When you're using your television you want to be ten feet away from it. So they're really different animals.
Over the years, the media and analysts have always focused on market share. But although Mac market share is relatively small, Apple is profitable and is making products that affect the entire industry.
Apple's market share is bigger than BMW's or Mercedes's or Porsche's in the automotive market. What's wrong with being BMW or Mercedes?
So you're very comfortable with Apple as it is today.
I think we're having fun. I think our customers really like our products. And we're always trying to do better. But I think we're leading the industry and we're having a good time.
If Apple do make any form of HDTV tuner (in-screen, in-mac, seperate product), they would have to make sure that it is compatible with Australian DTV Standards, American DTV standards, Britsh DTV standards etc.
And for peoples information, there are 3 types of HDTV in Australia.
576p - Used for the Seven and SBS networks
720i (I think it's interlaced, it may be 720 Progressive) - Not Used
1080i - Used by ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corperation), Ten and Nine Networks
And for peoples information, there are 3 types of HDTV in Australia.
576p - Used for the Seven and SBS networks
720i (I think it's interlaced, it may be 720 Progressive) - Not Used
1080i - Used by ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corperation), Ten and Nine Networks
Moo: We get what Steve said. We're not talking about a set-top thing like Windows XP Media Center Edition. We're talking about a display that's SO FREAKIN EXPENSIVE that we expect it to do more than just be able to accept ADC. I don't want an HD tuner, but some YUV and/or RGB component inputs would be nice. So if we wanted Apple's expensive display to double duty, we could.
--Cless
--Cless
I agree with Cless. I want to be able to justify the expense of a HD Cinema display by having the option of watching HDTV. If that were not possible, I would feel my 1920 x 1200 display was crippled somehow.
If I understand correctly, having an RGB or YUC input would introduce an analog step between the digital broadcast signal (in the case of a tuner) and the digital display, which would be less than ideal, but workable.
I asked in an earlier post whether a firewire signal from an HD Tuner could be displayed, but as far as I can tell, even a program like Final Cut Express or Final Cut Pro cannot accept a firewire HD signal.
Not that I want to buy Final Cut Pro and a special PCI card just to accept input from an HDTV Tuner, so I can watch HDTV on an HD Cinema display. I want to know how much it takes to make the connection at the moment so maybe I can predict when it will be possible to do it more conveniently in the future.
So far it doesn't look encouraging. So much for the "HD" part of the HD Cinema display, as far as I am concerned.
If I understand correctly, having an RGB or YUC input would introduce an analog step between the digital broadcast signal (in the case of a tuner) and the digital display, which would be less than ideal, but workable.
I asked in an earlier post whether a firewire signal from an HD Tuner could be displayed, but as far as I can tell, even a program like Final Cut Express or Final Cut Pro cannot accept a firewire HD signal.
Not that I want to buy Final Cut Pro and a special PCI card just to accept input from an HDTV Tuner, so I can watch HDTV on an HD Cinema display. I want to know how much it takes to make the connection at the moment so maybe I can predict when it will be possible to do it more conveniently in the future.
So far it doesn't look encouraging. So much for the "HD" part of the HD Cinema display, as far as I am concerned.
Wouldn't it be better to look for a HD Tuner with a DVI (or ADC) output?
Of course that may be another part of the iBox rumour. A HD-TV Tuner so you can watch Digital TV or stuff from iLife, on a HD screen. (AND a low end SD digital TV tuner with analog outs, for watching digital TV or iLife on your current TV set).
I expect that the DVI output of an HDTV Tuner would be intended for HDTV compatible televisions with DVI inputs that can accept 1080i, 720p, etc. I doubt that connecting the tuner via a DVI/ADC adapter to a 1920 x 1200 HD Cinema display would work.
Also, if the Mac could accept an HD Firewire signal, which might not be possible, perhaps a program for a digital HD video recorder could then be developed.
Also, if the Mac could accept an HD Firewire signal, which might not be possible, perhaps a program for a digital HD video recorder could then be developed.
This is just a question of getting the LCD to recognize the format + display it correctly, right? I don't think that there would be a huge cost adding whatever chip that the DVI plasma sets have. I think you're right about the current HD cinema, but in the future?
Sure it's possible, it's just a question of cost vs. market. HD is a lot of data - lots of HD space. Personally, I'd opt for the DirecTV HD DVR (even at about a grand) before I put something in my mac. With EyeTV type products not flying off the shelves at a much lower price point, It's not really an attractive project from a money-making standpoint.
I don't think there's a HUGE market for this type of thing, but I bet there are a lot of people who would love a HDTV and would love a giant Cinema display, and can't really afford and/or justify either. Getting a 2-for-1 could be a good way to push people over the edge.
I know that LCDs are the latest and greatest thing but....
I am not convinced that LCDs are good enough yet to handle the demands of displaying HDTV or as well as a good old CRT is . CRTs still produce color more faithfully . Sure LCDs are cool and takeup much less space , but they still need about 5 more years of improvements before I will be convinced to use them for HDTV.
As for the eMac , a 19" CRT would not be too big for a classroom . I own a 15 " CRT iMac and a 19" tv/vcr combo right next to each other in my bedroom . The iMac sits right on top of my two drawer metal filing cabinet which is about 27 " away from the side of my bed . The 19" tv/vcr combo is about 22 " away from the left of the iMac sitting on a 1 drawer piece of furniture that's the same height as the 2 drawer file cabinet. . Comparing them side by side I noticed the space required on my iMac for the speakers , cd-rom drive , and headphones jacks would easily fit the space under the screen of my 19" tv/vcr combo . Infact 2 main reasons that my 19" tv/vcr combo has a bigger case under the screen is because they used bigger speakers and vcrs are so big and and cumbersome.
As for tiny items or text on a website , there is this item available on macs called a control strip where you can change the screen solutions and color settings, change the sound volume , open certain programs , choose printers, ect. so even on a 19" 2056 X 1536 display you don't need a magnifying glass to see the items.
I am not convinced that LCDs are good enough yet to handle the demands of displaying HDTV or as well as a good old CRT is . CRTs still produce color more faithfully . Sure LCDs are cool and takeup much less space , but they still need about 5 more years of improvements before I will be convinced to use them for HDTV.
As for the eMac , a 19" CRT would not be too big for a classroom . I own a 15 " CRT iMac and a 19" tv/vcr combo right next to each other in my bedroom . The iMac sits right on top of my two drawer metal filing cabinet which is about 27 " away from the side of my bed . The 19" tv/vcr combo is about 22 " away from the left of the iMac sitting on a 1 drawer piece of furniture that's the same height as the 2 drawer file cabinet. . Comparing them side by side I noticed the space required on my iMac for the speakers , cd-rom drive , and headphones jacks would easily fit the space under the screen of my 19" tv/vcr combo . Infact 2 main reasons that my 19" tv/vcr combo has a bigger case under the screen is because they used bigger speakers and vcrs are so big and and cumbersome.
As for tiny items or text on a website , there is this item available on macs called a control strip where you can change the screen solutions and color settings, change the sound volume , open certain programs , choose printers, ect. so even on a 19" 2056 X 1536 display you don't need a magnifying glass to see the items.
I'm not talking about using the Mac as a PVR at all. I'm simply talking about using the Cinema display as an HDTV monitor. Just displaying an image. No more, no less. Not "displaying an image in a window on the MacOS X desktop." Not "recording HD streams to my hard drive to watch later." Just "displaying the TV."
And, I'm not convinced that color reproduction on CRTs is any better than on LCDs, especially quality ones like the Apple displays. In fact, I had always understood LCDs to have more faithful and consistant color reproduction than CRTs. As far as I was concerned, the only remaining advantage of CRTs over LCDs is the refresh time, making CRTs more suited for fast-paced action games. And from what I understand, this gap is quickly lessening.
--Cless
One of the problems as I understand it, as far as getting a broadcast HDTV signal to an HD Cinema Display, is that a de-interlacing function must reside somewhere. Perhaps the next version of the Cinema displays will have such a function for signals coming into some kind of HDTV input.
What I don't understand is that Final Cut Pro, which requires a 350 Mhz G4, can take an NTSC Firewire signal and display it. It seems then that a dual 2Mhz G5 should be able to accept an HDTV Firewire signal from an HDTV tuner and display that on an HD Cinema Display.
As far as market goes, on the PC side there seems to be a market for All-in-Wonder cards, and myHD TV cards.
What I don't understand is that Final Cut Pro, which requires a 350 Mhz G4, can take an NTSC Firewire signal and display it. It seems then that a dual 2Mhz G5 should be able to accept an HDTV Firewire signal from an HDTV tuner and display that on an HD Cinema Display.
As far as market goes, on the PC side there seems to be a market for All-in-Wonder cards, and myHD TV cards.
HDTV tuner in 30" Cinema Display
Maybe some of these rumors about a 30" LCD being added by Apple as their new high-end Cinema Display collection are actually true. This would mean...
a. that the resolution of the 30" would be very high, making HDTV look really good
b. including an HDTV receiver in a 30" makes really good sense
c. movie editors doing NLE on a Mac, whether with Apple FCP4 or AVID for Mac, not only need plenty of real estate for the windows of their elected application (a 23" is barely big enough, and a 30" would really solve a lot of problems
d. wall mounting a 30" makes sense, a thin metal frame is better than the wide plastic we have today, mounting three (3) 30" Cinema Displays abreast on a studio wall would be awesome - one in the middle with an HDTV tuner, two more with one on each side (no additional tuners necessary, but is it an "option") would be Surround Sight, shades of Cinemax.
e. digital movie editors often need to be able to display their product on a TV (besides just viewing the images on a computer monitor) to check the expected output to a TV set, especially color and framing of the images.
f. Watching broadcast/cable TV and DVD discs displayed on a HDTV 30" monitor would be outstanding.
g. Like analog TV moving to HDTV, the Mac with its new digital monitors should follow the same digital path, it only makes sense.
Taking a contra position, I have had Formac TV tuner capability for about a year and a half now and I've never felt the need to use it or even hook it up. This is slowly changing. Now that I'm doing more DV editing, including VHS and Hi8 transfers via Formac Studio, my interest in incorporating TV into my computer system is shifting. When I bought the Formac Studio with TV, I didn't know i could have saved some money and got it without that capability, or I would have. Another influence is the recording of TV programs to Hard Drive instead of tape; I'm gradually getting bug. Wow, random access to TV programs instead of looking for a scene on a 2 hour tape.
I'm even attracted to Elgato's eyeTV 200 and the eyeHOME (MacAddict, Mar2004, page 10; review of Mac Expo 2004 Multimedia Devices) and thinking about how I might make them part of my overall system. I'm also mindful of a recent suggestion (less a rumor, more a prediction) that Elgato's next step is to offer an HDTV FireWire 800 version of their eyeTV line (first USB, then FireWire400, next FW800), and that seems to make sense as the next step.
But it all comes back to the rumor of a new 30" Apple Cinema Display (with receiver?) and high enough resolution & contrast ratio to handle top-end HDTV.
Hmmmm!
Bet it would to be expensive!
What do you think?
Hold it right there, let's do an instant replay using our eyeTV200: "...maybe they do have a 30" in the works."
Maybe some of these rumors about a 30" LCD being added by Apple as their new high-end Cinema Display collection are actually true. This would mean...
a. that the resolution of the 30" would be very high, making HDTV look really good
b. including an HDTV receiver in a 30" makes really good sense
c. movie editors doing NLE on a Mac, whether with Apple FCP4 or AVID for Mac, not only need plenty of real estate for the windows of their elected application (a 23" is barely big enough, and a 30" would really solve a lot of problems
d. wall mounting a 30" makes sense, a thin metal frame is better than the wide plastic we have today, mounting three (3) 30" Cinema Displays abreast on a studio wall would be awesome - one in the middle with an HDTV tuner, two more with one on each side (no additional tuners necessary, but is it an "option") would be Surround Sight, shades of Cinemax.
e. digital movie editors often need to be able to display their product on a TV (besides just viewing the images on a computer monitor) to check the expected output to a TV set, especially color and framing of the images.
f. Watching broadcast/cable TV and DVD discs displayed on a HDTV 30" monitor would be outstanding.
g. Like analog TV moving to HDTV, the Mac with its new digital monitors should follow the same digital path, it only makes sense.
Taking a contra position, I have had Formac TV tuner capability for about a year and a half now and I've never felt the need to use it or even hook it up. This is slowly changing. Now that I'm doing more DV editing, including VHS and Hi8 transfers via Formac Studio, my interest in incorporating TV into my computer system is shifting. When I bought the Formac Studio with TV, I didn't know i could have saved some money and got it without that capability, or I would have. Another influence is the recording of TV programs to Hard Drive instead of tape; I'm gradually getting bug. Wow, random access to TV programs instead of looking for a scene on a 2 hour tape.
I'm even attracted to Elgato's eyeTV 200 and the eyeHOME (MacAddict, Mar2004, page 10; review of Mac Expo 2004 Multimedia Devices) and thinking about how I might make them part of my overall system. I'm also mindful of a recent suggestion (less a rumor, more a prediction) that Elgato's next step is to offer an HDTV FireWire 800 version of their eyeTV line (first USB, then FireWire400, next FW800), and that seems to make sense as the next step.
But it all comes back to the rumor of a new 30" Apple Cinema Display (with receiver?) and high enough resolution & contrast ratio to handle top-end HDTV.
Hmmmm!
Bet it would to be expensive!What do you think?