Apple Software Updates (this and next) Tuesday

[Macophile]

Re: simply true

Originally posted by eric67

both system (full audio CD and iTMS) are NOT opposed , but simply complementary

I think this is a really good point. There's an all-or-nothing approach that some people have towards CDs vs. iTMS, that it must be one or the other for everyone in every case for every song. That's not necessarily true. There are people who regard the original CD as clutter once they've ripped the songs they want. There are also people who love the tactile experience of handling a disc and flipping through liner notes (and who greatly miss the flip necessary to play the other side of a vinyl LP). Most people fall somewhere in between. It's kind of an equation involving how much you like a particular artist, how often you think you'll listen to the album or the song, and the restriction that most of us have of a finite amount of space -- on our computers and in our homes -- in which to store items that we may not desire as strongly at a later date as we do right now.

Frankly, it's nice to have options.

 

[Jeff Harrell]

Originally posted by greenstork
I would love an Apple Office Suite too but I just don't see it happening. As of right now, it would be illegal for Apple to make a program that could read/write Office 2003 files under the DCMA.

Time for rumor control.

Chapter 12 of title 17--that is, the law that was passed by Congress under the DMCA--makes it illegal to circumvent access control or copy prevention measures that effectively control access to a work protected by that statute. However, it also includes specific exceptions for compatibility. Reverse engineering of an access control mechanism for the purpose of compatibility is not illegal.

Perhaps more people should have read the Office 2003 DRM thread that ran last week. It spells bad news for any altearnative to MS Office.

Perhaps, and I say this with all due respect, people should get their legal advice from legal counsel, or by reading the statutes themselves, rather than by trafficking in rumor and innuendo.

Just a suggestion.

 

[mainstreetmark]

Re: Re: What... no powerbooks boo!

Originally posted by nitropowered
... And Also, I think Apple will announce Panther at Paris for a 10/3 release date.

I doubt that. It would mean immediatly that all these rumor sites will be expecting Leopord or Cheetah or Tony The Tiger (or whatever's next) to be released next October 4th. And osXI to be released in a November. You know how these rumors get started...

Is there a way to get a list of what labels iTMS has sucked up so far? I'd like to see if they're even getting close to the stuff I'd buy.

 

[tizza]

I don't see why an iOffice announcement might not happen. Appleworks is so old now, and what better why to break ties with M$ !!!

 

[timdorr]

I can *guarantee* it's not iTunes for Windows (or iPCTunes as it's known internally). The latest internal build is nothing more that a glorified web browser with an iTunes interface. If you're worried about it being done in time, just remember amazing things can happen at the last moment

I didn't think about the possibilty of Appleworks or iTunes euro. Ill ask my friend about that

 

[FriarTuck]

I wouldn't mind some additional improvements to Keynote along with the other software updates already mentioned.

Keynote looks great, but it still has a way to go in some areas.

I'd really like it to be able to play a single soundtrack across all slides.

 

[jj2003]

Re: Re: What... no powerbooks boo!

Originally posted by nitropowered
Yeah, 10 mil songs by 5% of the computing world.

Hmmm... the ones that at the moment can buy songs from the iTunes Music store are hardly 5% of the computing world.

US billing address, OS X 10.1+ and few other factors do not compute to that figure

 

[zync]

hmmm...

Someone mentioned the use of OLED displays as a joke but actually there's been rumor of Apple taking an interest in OLEDs. While I doubt that we'll see them next week, it might not be too far off. I think Panther will be announced on 10/3 because it seems to be full of Apple humor. Is there an event on 10/3? A Jobs keynote perhaps? I think we'll see updated Powerbooks next week because the year of the laptops is waning fast and the 15" especially is overdue for an overhaul. Someone also mentioned an iBook update. Seems likely actually, especially since it looks unexpected. As for the software updates this week the only logical thing would seem to be iLife app updates, anything else would probably be saved for the keynote next week as well.

 

[natebailey11]

I've heard rumblings from some people in Apple Education that the 15" is in fact being discontinued. I know this topic came up in a thread a few weeks ago and was quickly dismissed. Has anybody else heard anything about this? If that's true, I think that would rank in the top 5 worst decisions ever made by Apple. I personally have waited 4 months for a new 15" and I know I'm in good company. The 12" is too small and the 17" too big... at least for what I'm doing.

Anybody have insight?

 

[DHagan4755]

I suggested some months ago the 15-inch was going to be discontinued, leaving just the 12-inch and 17-inch PowerBooks. I thought it might move into the iBooks when they go G4.

BUT! Apple will likely update the 15-inch PowerBook soon. Think Secret says so and they're pretty accurate.

 

[mvc]

Originally posted by DHagan4755
I suggested some months ago the 15-inch was going to be discontinued, leaving just the 12-inch and 17-inch PowerBooks. I thought it might move into the iBooks when they go G4.

BUT! Apple will likely update the 15-inch PowerBook soon. Think Secret says so and they're pretty accurate.

There is just NO way Apple will discontinue the 15" form factor, it is the ideal size for most people, and I believe the strongest seller. What they ought to do is bump up the screen resolution to something more like their competitors - that would make it much more practical to do actual work on.

I would suggest that would be a more productive improvement than any processor upgrade short of a G5. But somehow, I don't see it happening

 

[nitropowered]

yup, the 15" is perfect. My 12" ibook is way too small (the res is only 800x600 but still, even if it was 1024 or 1280, its still small) and the 17" is way too big to be a practical mobile computer. And when i said 5% of the computing world, i ment to say less than. Even if 5% did use OSX, i doubt all would use iTunes to buy music (rethinking, i would assume around 5-15% of those who do use OSX which would turn out to around less than 1% of the total computer population) I haven't bought stuff from there yet but i plan to after i get the new 40gig ipod.

 

[Stike]

Re: Photopro 1.0

Originally posted by esheep2001
so now Photopro 1.0.

next week SJ will announce Apples After Effects killer and demo it on the new G5 Powerbook, then all will be well with the world.

ever the optimist
e.

Photo Pro? Apple wouldnt shoot against Adobe

And After Effects? It is already killed, the app is called Shake

 

[fluidinclusion]

I think I know what the 'surprise' announcement will be.

I'm quite surprised that no one has suggested any truly "unexpected" ideas. I think there is a great chance that the announcement will relate to iChatAV.

HOWEVER, it will relate to the recent news regarding AOL, etc. I believe that cross-platform AOL/iChatAV software is coming, which will not only set a standard for other software to interoperate, but it will also allow Mac users to not be left out in the cold when they want to videochat with Windows users.

 

[whooleytoo]

Re: I'll bet iTunes for Windows

Originally posted by madrobby
iTunes for Windows it shall be. Would be perfect timing with the new iPods... and an updated iSync so I'll get a working calendar on my Nokia...

Sorry to go off-topic, but what's your phone model? iCal works fine with my Nokia 7650, but you do have to edit a .plist file to switch iCal synchronizing on.

Mike.

 

[cubist]

Originally posted by Jeff Harrell
... However, it also includes specific exceptions for compatibility. Reverse engineering of an access control mechanism for the purpose of compatibility is not illegal...

Then how did Lexmark use the DMCA to harass people making printer cartridges compatible with their printers?

The problem with stupid laws like the DMCA is that slimy businessmen get sleazy politicians to enact laws with vague language that slick lawyers twist anyway they like. So people who bought Lexmark printers have to pay big money when the two cents' worth of ink in their cartridge runs out. That's what lawyers call justice.

 

[MacIke]

Re: Re: love it

Originally posted by Mudbug
this is the way it needs to be to keep it fair among tracks - that way no track has any more importance than another. Sure it's 15 seconds, but if it's the only track on the album you want, then it should be worth it, right?

Wrong... it works with long sons. You cannot buy long songs seprate. You have to buy the whole CD. Example: American Pie and others. Not to mention if there are more then about 12 songs on a CD they only sell partial CDs so I cannot but 9.99 CD with 20+ songs on it.

 

[TMJ1974]

Originally posted by tizza
I don't see why an iOffice announcement might not happen. Appleworks is so old now, and what better why to break ties with M$ !!!

I am as big of an Apple fan as anyone here, HOWEVER, some of you need to really be careful what you wish for.

Internet Explorer has been axed, and while I like Safari....there are many sites (school most importantly) that will not work with Safari. Yes, there may be hacks...but I can't afford to rely on hacks. When I'm taking a test online, I need either IE or something that is 100% compatible. I don't like it, but I don't run the school.

Almost all of the presenatations are complicated PowerPoint files, for which I need PowerPoint, not something that is "mostly" compatible.

I liked Adobe Premiere, ooops Apple drove it away. Did any of you catch Adobe's comments to CNet this week.....they consider Apple a bigger competitive threat than Microsoft. Let's get real for a minute.....no matter how good an Apple photo program is, no matter how much you and I may like it....PHOTOSHOP will be the industry standard. Whether it's as good (as an Apple photo program) on the Mac or not, it's the best on Windows, which is 95% of the market.

The iTunes music store for Windows is a much better approach...take what's good on the Mac and share it with other 95%....I'd like to see more of this, rather than driving away companies that have put time and money into Mac products.

I true to support Microsoft as absolutely little as possible, but, sometimes they are the only common denominator between 2 people.

Just a thought.........

Tim

 

[Keith Purfield]

I don't know if it just was updated, but Software Update popped up and I'm currently updating Java to version 1.4.1. SU says,

The Java 1.4.1 Update 1 adds the following enhancements:

• Improved Java applet support for Safari and other web browsers that support the Java Internet Plug-In.
• Improved drawing correctness and performance.
• Changes to Java 1.3.1 that provide support for Oracle11i client applications on Mac OS X.
• Improved stability, memory usage, and correctness.

For more details on this update, please visit: http://www.apple.com/java/

[edit]Oh yeah. Whenever I go to a page with a Java game on it with Safari, Safari crashes. I'll see if this update fixes it. Hopefully, it will.[/edit]

 

[NoPrideELF]

I found that article about the Universal price drops. Interestingly enough, It mentions iTMS. Again, if it's only a couple bucks difference, i'd say the immense physical strain that inserting a cd into a slot loader takes is probably worth the benefit of actually owning it.

Universal price drops

 

[timdorr]

It's not going to be a 15" powerbook...sorry. Why not? Cause it's the only G4 laptop that still boots OS9, and it's still selling for just that reason.... Unfortunately, OSX users are still in the minority (barely).... Note: This is just from personal observations, not from my contacts within Apple, so I could be wrong

 

[Keith Purfield]

Okay. It finished installing (probably a little while ago, but it was going horribly slow).

Good news is that Safari doesn't crash on the Java games.

Bad news is that you still can't play them. It just shows the Java mug with arrows around it.

 

[GregA]

Re: maybe Appleworks?

Originally posted by wheet
... It certianly isn't beyond imagination, though, that they would make a suite that tied together Appleworks, Keynote, iCal, Mail, iSync, Safari, and so on, into a tight package of business apps -- like iLife for the workplace.

And to make it extra-unexpected - release it for Mac, Windows, & Linux.
With so many companies taking up Linux why not become THE preferred desktop suite....?

 

[Sol]

Four predictions

Considering that most Apple software has been updated allready I would say that minor new versions of the iApps will be released by next week. I also hope that Final Cut Express 2.0 will be announced since the original FCE is based on Final Cut Pro 3.

iTunes for Windows is rumoured (by this site) to be behind scedule. It is far more likely that Apple would announce the iTunes Music Store for Europe before they make the software available for Windows. After all, the show is taking place in Paris.

Now, here are my two wildcard predictions:

AppleWorks will be updated for OS X.3 and it will offer innovative integration with the .Mac service. Any Apple word-processor would likely be re-branded as part of this package since it is an established name.

x86 emulation will be offered by Apple in order to fill the gap left by Virtual PC on the G5 PowerMacs. Nothing would drive the point home that the G5 Macs are trully next-gen like an emulated Windows that runs circles around a Dell PC. Apple could make this emulator exclusive to the G5 processors so that the maximum performance could be squeezed out of it. Microsoft could then have the x86 emulation on G3s and G4s all to themselves, which they do allready since Real-PC turned out to be vapourware.

 

[cocoa_nut]

Unexpected Announcement

I think I read somewhere that Apple contributed much of the code for the "virtual machine" that Connectix used in VPC. Many folks complained bitterly when VPC 5 ran so much slower under OS X than it did under OS 9. As I recall, Connectix engineers blamed Apple's "virtual machine" for OS X saying that it was very immature at that point in time. I also remember that in 1997 the Rhapsody OS that pre-dated OS X was supposed to run both on PPC hardware as well as Intel hardware. We all know that OS X includes the Classic compatibility layer known as "Blue Box" in Rhapsody . On Intel hardware, Rhapsody was supposed to include a "Red Box" compatibility layer that permitted Windows applications to be run in a manner somewhat similar to the way Classic operates on PPC. Then there is the open source project Darwine that seeks to marry the Wine project (open source APIs that mimic the function of Windows without running a real Windows OS) with BOCHS (a hardware emulator akin to VPC but much slower at this point in time).

So you see what I'm getting at, you mix a little Wine and "Red Box" (Windows act-alike APIs) with BOCHS (x86 hardware emulation) with Apple's VPC-like virtual machine and come up with a method to run .exe files on Apple hardware.

Now, I know many folks have expressed the opinion that Apple will never do such a thing because they (Apple) learned the OS/2 lession. To paraphrase, "If Apple provided a means to run Windows apps, all developers will immediately stop developing for the Mac."

Why then do we presently have Office X? VPC has existed on the Mac for years, and yet even with a tiny marketshare, we still have Office, Illustrator, Photoshop, TurboTax, Quicken, VectoWorks, even IDL (via X11) and LabView (barely). These developer are still developing for our small market.

Then there are fine companies like Lempke (GraphicsConverter), Omni (OmniOutliner and OmniGraffle), Bias (Peak and Deck), and Emagic (Logic), that are either Mac only or who's customers are predominately Mac users. I'm guessing that these guys won't abandon Mac development if Apple releases an .exe compatibilty layer.

So I'm hoping for an "Unexpected Annoucement" that Apple has crafted an .exe compatiblility layer like Classic or X11 that will be fast enough to permit the operation of applications like MS Project, AutoCad, Cadence, or Pro-Engineer, all of which are not presently available for Mac OS X.