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Apple 'Home Appliance'?
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as usual this is just a rumor, but you know the more i think about apple coming out with a consumer electronic it makes more sense. how about an entertainment center like device that would act as your tivo, mp3/cd/dvd player, maybe be compatible with a gaming comsole like playstation, and be able to use internet access. i'd get one in a heartbeat!
of course this thread is just a rumor and my idea is a logistical nightmare to get all that incorporated, but what if...
of course this thread is just a rumor and my idea is a logistical nightmare to get all that incorporated, but what if...
Once again i say. You must be refering to the iBox rumor.
I think ibox is a pretty crappy name but apple should release or partner with someone for a home theater compenent that will allow people to play their iTunes protected AACs. With rendezvous support for iphoto and obviously itunes. and their trailer website .... that'd be sweet.
Re: iClock
I like this concept quite a bit. However, the alarm clock has been done well, and while Apple could improve it, it'd be hard to do it "better" than most of the others out there.
I'd love to have what you describe though.
I like this concept quite a bit. However, the alarm clock has been done well, and while Apple could improve it, it'd be hard to do it "better" than most of the others out there.
I'd love to have what you describe though.
I just got an iPod, and the awesomeness of being able to carry around all my music etc. while playing games or reading a sycned eBook is just phenomenal. I would pay good money for a news/book orientated Apple version of the Zire 21. An Apple cell phone would also be nice, it would be best if they teamed up wit another brand like Nokia or Motarola (puahaha) though.
Apple's style
It is not Apple's style to release a swiss army knife product. That is Microsoft's style.
--SPECULATION--
If Apple releases a consumer product, destined for the home entertainment center, I can pretty much guarantee that it will be an iLife component. Take the iLife suite (iPhoto, iMovie, iTunes, iDvd) and toss it into a consumer box with a streamlined interface and I think you pretty much have the picture.
A box that will be marketed probably as a replacement for your CDROM player primarily. Connected to your TV and network, you can use your remote to buy songs and jack your iPod into it to carry them around.
While playing your music, it can show you a slideshow of your pictures (ala iPhoto) or perhaps [more controversial] even move between captured video clips (ala iMovie).
If iMovie functionality is included [different models?], you should be able to suck in video from your camcorder and burn DVDs all with your remote as well.
Inputs: CD-ROMs (suck in your music library), digital film (suck in your pictures), firewire (suck in your movies), wireless (talk to your computer)
Outputs: Audio (listen to your tunes), Video (interact with the box, see your pictures, your movies, compose a disk for burning), iPod dock, wireless
Other: Hard-drive? Or do you snap in your iPod for storage?
Cost? Without DVD-burner, maybe $499 With DVD-burner, perhaps $799
It is not Apple's style to release a swiss army knife product. That is Microsoft's style.
--SPECULATION--
If Apple releases a consumer product, destined for the home entertainment center, I can pretty much guarantee that it will be an iLife component. Take the iLife suite (iPhoto, iMovie, iTunes, iDvd) and toss it into a consumer box with a streamlined interface and I think you pretty much have the picture.
A box that will be marketed probably as a replacement for your CDROM player primarily. Connected to your TV and network, you can use your remote to buy songs and jack your iPod into it to carry them around.
While playing your music, it can show you a slideshow of your pictures (ala iPhoto) or perhaps [more controversial] even move between captured video clips (ala iMovie).
If iMovie functionality is included [different models?], you should be able to suck in video from your camcorder and burn DVDs all with your remote as well.
Inputs: CD-ROMs (suck in your music library), digital film (suck in your pictures), firewire (suck in your movies), wireless (talk to your computer)
Outputs: Audio (listen to your tunes), Video (interact with the box, see your pictures, your movies, compose a disk for burning), iPod dock, wireless
Other: Hard-drive? Or do you snap in your iPod for storage?
Cost? Without DVD-burner, maybe $499 With DVD-burner, perhaps $799
Industrial Design
Someone said Apple is a computer company... true, but they are arguably more successful as an industrial design company. Not only does their incredible industrial design make their own products viable in the marketplace, but they have become probably THE most influential industrial design company in the world. Remember how many colorful translucent products of all types came out right after the original iMac???
I think Apple should use these exceptional talents to "change the world" in regards to household appliances (and cars, and architecture, and furniture, and airplanes, and sporting equipment, and toys, and .... ) by teaming up with the most advanced companies in each respective arena. Every product that is touched by Apple's industrial design will ROCKET to the forefront of public perception, and probably with record profit margins as well.
Someone said Apple is a computer company... true, but they are arguably more successful as an industrial design company. Not only does their incredible industrial design make their own products viable in the marketplace, but they have become probably THE most influential industrial design company in the world. Remember how many colorful translucent products of all types came out right after the original iMac???
I think Apple should use these exceptional talents to "change the world" in regards to household appliances (and cars, and architecture, and furniture, and airplanes, and sporting equipment, and toys, and .... ) by teaming up with the most advanced companies in each respective arena. Every product that is touched by Apple's industrial design will ROCKET to the forefront of public perception, and probably with record profit margins as well.
Well, it wouldn't be to hard to make a removable panel on the rear of the unit that exposes parts that are subject to greater rates of failure. The DVD drive and the hard drives in my G5 can be pulled out and swapped without screws. The same goes for the new Xserve G5s.
So, if you had a problem, you could order a replacement part from Apple and swap it out yourself. The other option is, to have a home repair service as part of an AppleCare deal for your TV. A guaranteed repairman at your door within 24 hours of your problems. Most electronics retailers will sell a warranty that provides this sort of service, why should Apple be any different?
As long as the interface is good, I'd love to see these devices get integrated into the TV. I hate having a bunch of components taking up space. The only reason I do it now, is that the integrated units suffer from poor interface. Apple, with its attention to detail, could provide a really slick integrated unit. That coupled with easy part swapping and excellent support would make a really attractive purchase to those looking to upgrade to HDTV, such as myself.
Re: look what i found!
I also found a 3rd trademark that Apple registered in January with the same discription. SCULPTURE - "Computer software for use in authoring, editing, encoding, decoding, playing, storing and organizing audio data." Garage Band was registered about 5 months before it was used, so who knows how soon these will used, if ever.
I also found a 3rd trademark that Apple registered in January with the same discription. SCULPTURE - "Computer software for use in authoring, editing, encoding, decoding, playing, storing and organizing audio data." Garage Band was registered about 5 months before it was used, so who knows how soon these will used, if ever.
Originally posted by virividox
isuck - a vaccum
iblow - hair dryer
hahaha!! That was great!
Now whats that about a vaccum and hair dryer?...
quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by JohnGillilan
I just recently bought a new JVC car stereo b/c it has a 1/8" aux input on the front panel.
Hey John,
What model did you get? I'm looking for the same thing so I can plug in my iPod as well.
Thanks!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by JohnGillilan
I just recently bought a new JVC car stereo b/c it has a 1/8" aux input on the front panel.
Hey John,
What model did you get? I'm looking for the same thing so I can plug in my iPod as well.
Thanks!
What type of appliances might Morphpad and Ultrabeat be?
"Pad" implies a hand-held device, but what hand-held device would be used to "morph" something? You can morph images, but that's too specialized a purpose for an appliance. Morpheus from The Matrix? Nah. So I'm drawing a blank on what a Morphpad would be, other than how you say "mousepad" when you have a stuffy nose.
Edit: On second thought, MorphPad is the right name for a digital photo frame. I'll bet that's what it is.
Ultrabeat? Sounds like a music device. Actually, it sounds to me more like a software product name, like GarageBand.
"Pad" implies a hand-held device, but what hand-held device would be used to "morph" something? You can morph images, but that's too specialized a purpose for an appliance. Morpheus from The Matrix? Nah. So I'm drawing a blank on what a Morphpad would be, other than how you say "mousepad" when you have a stuffy nose.
Edit: On second thought, MorphPad is the right name for a digital photo frame. I'll bet that's what it is.
Ultrabeat? Sounds like a music device. Actually, it sounds to me more like a software product name, like GarageBand.
L
littlejim
Guest
I hope that if they do release something, you can replace the batteries without sending it back to Apple!
thhe newton was cut because apple was going down and inorder to become profitable they needed to cut theese things out only for budget reasons no one ever beat the newton in its time
A friend of mine at the ad agency that Apple uses worked on the TV commercial for Apple's upcoming product.
I heard that they considered announcing the product and airing the commercial during the Super Bowl, but they didn't want to steal any thunder from the iTunes/Pepsi ad.
The product is known as the iBrator and you can view the commercial here: iBrator TV Commercial
I heard that they considered announcing the product and airing the commercial during the Super Bowl, but they didn't want to steal any thunder from the iTunes/Pepsi ad.
The product is known as the iBrator and you can view the commercial here: iBrator TV Commercial
We all have Stereos and TVs. Which appliances could be made better, and how?
We can choose from the screen, DVD player, VCR (analog), CD stacker, Tape decks, turntables... and PVR/Tivo style systems. There's lots of possibilities.
Now for guess work and dreaming. We don't know much. Steve doesn't want the computer burdened with TV functions, by which I believe he sees the stereo as unique with it's own digital needs. He also wants to reduce the mess of wires behind the stereo.
Personally... I think the VCR is such a common item and easily understood, it's an ideal thing to replace. People put in a tape, select a channel, press record (or play) - a DVD-RW product could do the same very easily. A digital TV tuner of course, and digital and S-Video outputs.
I think this is possible as it:
1) reduces devices in your cabinet (VCR & DVD get combined)
2) serves the exact customer served by a VCR
3) The device is standalone. It doesn't need a Mac.
4) iTunes & iPhoto would be natural additions, with sync to a Mac (or PC)
Other functions may be ways of moving analog stuff to CD or DVD (eg Videos, or Tapes & Records)
I must admit I'd really like to see a modular option, but that involves working with other vendors and I doubt Apple would do that. For instance, Apple could sell a basic iBox (really just an iPod for your stereo) and then if you bought a 3rd party DVD-RW drive, LaCie hard disk, and digital TV tuner - you would have the same functionality of the DVD-VCR device I mentioned.
Unfortunately while it would simplify the wires (just firewire to connect), and would be different to a computer (but using computer technology where relevant), it requires an open approach to integration which doesn't seem too Apple recently.
ps. great play on words earlier!
iSore - You thought other appliances looked bad, this goes one better
iCeBox - "a great idea but used to freeze up from time to time"!
(I think this was serious though!)
We can choose from the screen, DVD player, VCR (analog), CD stacker, Tape decks, turntables... and PVR/Tivo style systems. There's lots of possibilities.
Now for guess work and dreaming. We don't know much. Steve doesn't want the computer burdened with TV functions, by which I believe he sees the stereo as unique with it's own digital needs. He also wants to reduce the mess of wires behind the stereo.
Personally... I think the VCR is such a common item and easily understood, it's an ideal thing to replace. People put in a tape, select a channel, press record (or play) - a DVD-RW product could do the same very easily. A digital TV tuner of course, and digital and S-Video outputs.
I think this is possible as it:
1) reduces devices in your cabinet (VCR & DVD get combined)
2) serves the exact customer served by a VCR
3) The device is standalone. It doesn't need a Mac.
4) iTunes & iPhoto would be natural additions, with sync to a Mac (or PC)
Other functions may be ways of moving analog stuff to CD or DVD (eg Videos, or Tapes & Records)
I must admit I'd really like to see a modular option, but that involves working with other vendors and I doubt Apple would do that. For instance, Apple could sell a basic iBox (really just an iPod for your stereo) and then if you bought a 3rd party DVD-RW drive, LaCie hard disk, and digital TV tuner - you would have the same functionality of the DVD-VCR device I mentioned.
Unfortunately while it would simplify the wires (just firewire to connect), and would be different to a computer (but using computer technology where relevant), it requires an open approach to integration which doesn't seem too Apple recently.
ps. great play on words earlier!
iSore - You thought other appliances looked bad, this goes one better
iCeBox - "a great idea but used to freeze up from time to time"!
(I think this was serious though!)
Maybe, but he's right, Gateway Plasmas are crap. Only consumer suckers are buying them thinking they got a great deal on a new 'it' technology.
As far as the new apliance, people it's the Apple projector that was reported at AVSforums. I thought it was mentioned here a few weeks ago and yet no one has drawn the conclusion
hmmm "home appliance"
could be everthing ... something with music ? perhaps new instruments for garageband ?
or something with video editing ? something related to ipod ?
well a dishwasher would be a surpirse
could be everthing ... something with music ? perhaps new instruments for garageband ?
or something with video editing ? something related to ipod ?
well a dishwasher would be a surpirse