It would be nice if Apple can finally get back to the true-custom build it had once, where you could select the type of CPU, GPU, etc, on all the systems. 
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Apple's Plans: New Products or Establishing Existing Ones?
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Audio Interface that JUST WORKS
I would love to see Apple come out with their own audio interface that works with the system! Right now ProTool is just crummmy.
I would love to see Apple come out with their own audio interface that works with the system! Right now ProTool is just crummmy.
much better apple tv
faster better mobile me
faster better OS X (will come with snow leopard)
lighter faster MB
lighter faster MBP
better ipod UI
improved iphone UI
much better iwork
more features in cinema displays
much much better mac mini
more movies in itunes
updated MBA
bring back imovie 6
yep, i think apple has lots to do. some will come soon, some will come later, in some products they are inexcusably far behind.
then some new stuff:
13 inch MBP
tablet or subnotebook
consumer photo editing software in iwork or iphoto
apple television set
one more thing
faster better mobile me
faster better OS X (will come with snow leopard)
lighter faster MB
lighter faster MBP
better ipod UI
improved iphone UI
much better iwork
more features in cinema displays
much much better mac mini
more movies in itunes
updated MBA
bring back imovie 6
yep, i think apple has lots to do. some will come soon, some will come later, in some products they are inexcusably far behind.
then some new stuff:
13 inch MBP
tablet or subnotebook
consumer photo editing software in iwork or iphoto
apple television set
one more thing
Innovator and leader in all things tech...bow to the Jobs!
Apple Inc. as a whole has been an industry leader for design and their business model has always carried them through every rough patch. I feel that Apple has a pretty good idea of where it wants to go and how to get there, all thanks to the leadership of Steve Jobs. I remember when Apple was really rocky there in the mid 90's until steve returned. Refreshed the notebook line up and never looked back. Who can imagine a world without an ipod or an iphone right now?! Seriously, a simple audio device that has transformed a company into a household name. Its almost as common as Pepsi any more.
The companies motto has driven staff and us 'the populous' rapid for new innovative products. What could be the next big product? Apple tv has been slow for adoption but doing well. The apple hifi was a wash despite being well recieved amoung users. I really think that apple will find another niche to expand their product line to and then look out. Whether it be a touchscreen macbook or a tablet (see my other comments about this so called tablet). Apple will continue to supply their loyal customers with a well groomed and complete package.
End rant/
Apple Inc. as a whole has been an industry leader for design and their business model has always carried them through every rough patch. I feel that Apple has a pretty good idea of where it wants to go and how to get there, all thanks to the leadership of Steve Jobs. I remember when Apple was really rocky there in the mid 90's until steve returned. Refreshed the notebook line up and never looked back. Who can imagine a world without an ipod or an iphone right now?! Seriously, a simple audio device that has transformed a company into a household name. Its almost as common as Pepsi any more.
The companies motto has driven staff and us 'the populous' rapid for new innovative products. What could be the next big product? Apple tv has been slow for adoption but doing well. The apple hifi was a wash despite being well recieved amoung users. I really think that apple will find another niche to expand their product line to and then look out. Whether it be a touchscreen macbook or a tablet (see my other comments about this so called tablet). Apple will continue to supply their loyal customers with a well groomed and complete package.
End rant/
Why buy your whole collection again? Plenty DVD rippers out there, HandBrake for example. Soon enough, there will be a simple option - just pop in your DVD and HandBrake or a similar app will rip it, simplifying the ripping process (no complicated menus for the technological illiterate - just pick a target size) and it'll tag it for you as well.
iTunes Store lets you watch what you want - paying for cable gives you a whole bunch of stuff you don't want to watch. It comes no where near $300 a month when it comes down to stuff you actually want to watch.
The Apple TV isn't a substitute for cable TV to me (although it is for others) - it is an addition. Movie rentals and being the odd TV show you might have missed is the main attraction for me.
Really? A movie is playable within 30 seconds for me. Unless you can extremely fast or have a really quick car, I doubt you'll beat 30 seconds
And the convenience factor? You'd rather walk or drive somewhere than just sit on your sofa? Look up convenience in the dictionary.Most ISP's give a 200GB a month fair usage. 7GB a day - plenty for your figure of 2 hours worth of quality TV time, and movies. HD content will alter that drastically though.
Logic is only software as of now (logic 8 is actually incredibly buggy and lacks some essential features that make it rather useless to any professional angeneer).
An audio interface is hardware with audio input and output, dedicated processors and a connection to the recording computer. There's also control surfaces that emulate analog gear (knobs, faders, buttons) to control the software.
I'm pretty happy with my Tascam FireOne. Uber cheap but does the job very well.
i'd love to see new and exciting innovations, within their existing product line.
here here.....who not improve AND expand? I have always associated Apple with innovation....
don't want to see that change now...If you read the previous comment properly then you would understand that the point is that you can't LEGALLY get DVD's etc onto your computer. You have to ILLEGALLY rip them...
Really? A movie is playable within 30 seconds for me. Unless you can extremely fast or have a really quick car, I doubt you'll beat 30 seconds
And how long does it take from the "buy now" to having a fully downloaded, ready to play movie?
In Australia, most households get around 10-20GB a month. Not many people can use 7GB a DAY... Some can (with unlimited plans)...
I think Apple tv will take off when Apple come up with something new... A great new feature like... I don't know... Or they will turn it into a music hub that wirelessly connects to your computer and you connect it to speakers and your TV... Like AirTunes...
I think we will see innovation in the current product line, with perhaps some major overhauls and redesigns.
Apple love wireless networking and I can see them doing a lot with it... In the next few years, I would expect them to add wireless sync capabilities to the entire iPod/iPhone line, perhaps starting with the iPhone and touch. Apple tv needs to be rethought, perhaps expanding more into Apple TV and monitor system (eg built in TV tuner). I would love to be able to use an Apple TV to record TV, like a hard disk thing and then transfer that content back to my computer for iPod etc.
I can also see a new Mac Mini emerging soonish. Apple really need to lift up their game in this segment and soon. iMac will just keep going strong. Thinner, bigger screens, faster processors etc. Mac Pro will do the same. I can also see Apple expanding their MacBook/Pro line. MacBook becomes a cheaper option ($899-$999) with lower specs and a new MacBook Pro 13 inch comes in to offer a portable powerhouse for business customers. It would be similar power to the larger models, 13 inch LED, about 2kg with superdrive, 250GB HDD and would replace the air.
New products - can't see apple doing a tablet... I think it is more likely that they turn the MacBook into a smaller (10-11 inch) netbook but with proper specs (The C2D processors in the air), 2GB memory, 120-160GB HDD and an external superdrive option. Full keyboard etc starting at $699 or $799. Designed to be a second Mac so maybe some wireless syncing capabilities to get work off one Mac, into the other.
The only other new product could be a new external 6ish inch multitouch display remote control that is designed to be used wirelessly with any mac. Control your MAc, content and type on a virtual keyboard. Would be a great addition for the Apple TV.
Apple love wireless networking and I can see them doing a lot with it... In the next few years, I would expect them to add wireless sync capabilities to the entire iPod/iPhone line, perhaps starting with the iPhone and touch. Apple tv needs to be rethought, perhaps expanding more into Apple TV and monitor system (eg built in TV tuner). I would love to be able to use an Apple TV to record TV, like a hard disk thing and then transfer that content back to my computer for iPod etc.
I can also see a new Mac Mini emerging soonish. Apple really need to lift up their game in this segment and soon. iMac will just keep going strong. Thinner, bigger screens, faster processors etc. Mac Pro will do the same. I can also see Apple expanding their MacBook/Pro line. MacBook becomes a cheaper option ($899-$999) with lower specs and a new MacBook Pro 13 inch comes in to offer a portable powerhouse for business customers. It would be similar power to the larger models, 13 inch LED, about 2kg with superdrive, 250GB HDD and would replace the air.
New products - can't see apple doing a tablet... I think it is more likely that they turn the MacBook into a smaller (10-11 inch) netbook but with proper specs (The C2D processors in the air), 2GB memory, 120-160GB HDD and an external superdrive option. Full keyboard etc starting at $699 or $799. Designed to be a second Mac so maybe some wireless syncing capabilities to get work off one Mac, into the other.
The only other new product could be a new external 6ish inch multitouch display remote control that is designed to be used wirelessly with any mac. Control your MAc, content and type on a virtual keyboard. Would be a great addition for the Apple TV.
Why would you want Apple to release an audio interface for a software (Logic) that you think is buggy and useless for Pros?
The fact that you use a Tascam FireOne shows that you are not a Pro.
Anyway, do you know that Apple and Apogee are partners and that Apogee sells the Symphony systems that are build to work with Macs and Logic?
Also, if you like control surfaces, you should check the Euphonix Artist series, also build for Logic (and other DAWs).
And to wrap it up Euphonix is working with Apple and Apogee to better integrate hardware and software for the 3 companies.
Instead of wanting Apple to do everything from the refrigerator to the running shoes (oops, they are doing that too, don't they?), let Apple focus on software and computers and let other experts do the peripherals.
OS X Improvements critical
I fully agree that Apple and its customers would both highly benefit from improvement of existing products rather than development of new toys.
Foremost, OS X is in dire need of performance, ergonomic and efficiency improvements if Apple at all wants professional users (and laypeople) to continue using it. Having used Leopard for half a year now on a 8 core 3GHz, 8 GB RAM, 2x 1TB Mac Pro, I can only say that this is OS X's worst ever incarnation. Full of bugs (still), more unstable than Tiger or Panther and lacking lots of conveniences that Windows has that make workflows efficient and fast (like, say, the taskbar with a button for each open window, the ability to scale windows from every point on the frame or the ability to fully manage files from every open/save menu). Worst of all: Leopard is darn slow even on high end Mac Pros. Just yesterday, I had to realize that Windows XP on Boot Camp (which uses only 2 cores/2 GB RAM) performs much faster than Leopard on the same machine (using 8 cores/8 GB RAM). With performance, I mean responsiveness in opening windows, booting any software (not just MS products) etc. Isn't that ridiculous.
What Apple now needs is to trim OS X into an OS that is efficient, responds/performs quickly and focuses on performance and stability rather than unnecessary gimmiks (like transparency). It has to beat Windows XP and Vista in all criteria. We can only hope that "Snow Leopard" holds up to that promise and doesn't turn out to be a masked three-legged Pussycat like Leopard sure is. Enough of targeting children and adolescents - Apple, please grow up (or ripen). Otherwise, I see no future for OS X but an increasing need for the reverse switch: Run Windows on Macs.
I fully agree that Apple and its customers would both highly benefit from improvement of existing products rather than development of new toys.
Foremost, OS X is in dire need of performance, ergonomic and efficiency improvements if Apple at all wants professional users (and laypeople) to continue using it. Having used Leopard for half a year now on a 8 core 3GHz, 8 GB RAM, 2x 1TB Mac Pro, I can only say that this is OS X's worst ever incarnation. Full of bugs (still), more unstable than Tiger or Panther and lacking lots of conveniences that Windows has that make workflows efficient and fast (like, say, the taskbar with a button for each open window, the ability to scale windows from every point on the frame or the ability to fully manage files from every open/save menu). Worst of all: Leopard is darn slow even on high end Mac Pros. Just yesterday, I had to realize that Windows XP on Boot Camp (which uses only 2 cores/2 GB RAM) performs much faster than Leopard on the same machine (using 8 cores/8 GB RAM). With performance, I mean responsiveness in opening windows, booting any software (not just MS products) etc. Isn't that ridiculous.
What Apple now needs is to trim OS X into an OS that is efficient, responds/performs quickly and focuses on performance and stability rather than unnecessary gimmiks (like transparency). It has to beat Windows XP and Vista in all criteria. We can only hope that "Snow Leopard" holds up to that promise and doesn't turn out to be a masked three-legged Pussycat like Leopard sure is. Enough of targeting children and adolescents - Apple, please grow up (or ripen). Otherwise, I see no future for OS X but an increasing need for the reverse switch: Run Windows on Macs.
Businessweek's Arik Hesseldahl raises some questions about what the strategic direction Apple will pursue in the next 6 to 24 months.While Hesseldahl has no hard answers, he suggests Apple might do well to further establish their existing product lines rather than trying to branch out into new territory.The thoughts reflect some comments by our own readers who have felt that Apple has been neglecting their core business of Macs and may have spread themselves too thin with the troubled launch of MobileMe.
Article Link
Wow Harsh - but everuthing you're ranting about is what snow leapord is supposed to be about.
Amen to that.
It appears efficiency and speed of the OS have taken a backseat to gadgets in the minds of the developers.
While I certainly wouldn't want to go back to OS 8/9 , I still miss the simplicity and snappiness.
As for improvements, imho Apple should start and throw in more goodies, such as faster graphic cards, more RAM, no hidden nuisances like Airport cards missing in some models .
And the MBP needs a decent screen, for christ's sake, and a stronger case; oh, and a 12" model, while we are at it
.New Product ideas...
I agree, it is time to fortify the base products, but since a boy can dream...
1) Yes, a tablet.
2) Home phone appliance, based on ichat, a real web based video phone for fixed desktop use. Throw in an ipod dock and a speaker phone. a simple to setup and operate beast. No other apps, just a video phone, like at the 1964 worlds fair. An Apple product that grandma would buy two of.
3) How about a straight, voice controlled desktop computer. "Computer, open my email, show me the weather map, and get my friend a beer," kind of thing.
Remember that goofy navigator video?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBUTpwJU_f8
But a little less annoying.
4) How about a taking a MacBook Air CPU board, a new Toshiba 240Gb ipod drive and a DVD drive, and shrinking the MacMini by a factor of 2, or 4, and taking the down price with it. The MacCoaster. Its time to go after the low low budget switcher crowd.
5) Since I am day dreaming here, how about going after Bose, or Bang and Olufson, or a High end television manufacturer? When the market turns up in a few years, there will be a pent up consumer demand for the top end goodies that drive our empty lifestyles. Apple could attempt to make themselves a name like Sony, or Toshiba.
Well, thats enough. Like I said, a boy can dream, can't he?
I agree, it is time to fortify the base products, but since a boy can dream...
1) Yes, a tablet.
2) Home phone appliance, based on ichat, a real web based video phone for fixed desktop use. Throw in an ipod dock and a speaker phone. a simple to setup and operate beast. No other apps, just a video phone, like at the 1964 worlds fair. An Apple product that grandma would buy two of.
3) How about a straight, voice controlled desktop computer. "Computer, open my email, show me the weather map, and get my friend a beer," kind of thing.
Remember that goofy navigator video?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBUTpwJU_f8
But a little less annoying.
4) How about a taking a MacBook Air CPU board, a new Toshiba 240Gb ipod drive and a DVD drive, and shrinking the MacMini by a factor of 2, or 4, and taking the down price with it. The MacCoaster. Its time to go after the low low budget switcher crowd.
5) Since I am day dreaming here, how about going after Bose, or Bang and Olufson, or a High end television manufacturer? When the market turns up in a few years, there will be a pent up consumer demand for the top end goodies that drive our empty lifestyles. Apple could attempt to make themselves a name like Sony, or Toshiba.
Well, thats enough. Like I said, a boy can dream, can't he?
This has already been raised. Apple would then loose money because people after OS X will just buy a $600 Dell or HP laptop with OS X, not a $1200 MacBook, which is where all the profit comes from. There's also compatibility issues, hardware drivers, all sorts of problems... It's not going to happen...
ALSO - just had a look at earlier posts: OS X is really cheap - around $100-$150. Apple will make virtually no money selling software this cheaply. the price will have to go up... Bad news for Mac users.
Continue to perfect Mac as a company with solid products and support. Get more Macs into the hands of customers and grow the product.
It is in Mac tradition to innovate and show just how wonderful their engineers are from time to time. It will cost you a bit to buy those products but they are usually worth it.
I don't know why we needed another update to the nano though.
It is in Mac tradition to innovate and show just how wonderful their engineers are from time to time. It will cost you a bit to buy those products but they are usually worth it.
I don't know why we needed another update to the nano though.
There is some soundness in what he says, but Apple is becoming known for bringing in products straight out of left field, that people look at and go 'Why didn't I think of that?'
People like Arik Hesseldahl.
People like Arik Hesseldahl.
Yes..!
We don't need touch screen and all that for Macs. True, a separate tablet Mac would be seriously cool, but concentrating on improving the existing product types would be better. The notebook and desktop keyboard and mouse system is perfect, in my opinion. It allows for indirect manipulation of the interface (so you can see everything) and means you can be a lot more accurate with selecting things.
But basically I'm saying we don't need change for no good reason. Multi-touch on smaller devices is awesome (iPhone and a tablet etc.). Faster, cheaper, better. That's the way.
We don't need touch screen and all that for Macs. True, a separate tablet Mac would be seriously cool, but concentrating on improving the existing product types would be better. The notebook and desktop keyboard and mouse system is perfect, in my opinion. It allows for indirect manipulation of the interface (so you can see everything) and means you can be a lot more accurate with selecting things.But basically I'm saying we don't need change for no good reason. Multi-touch on smaller devices is awesome (iPhone and a tablet etc.). Faster, cheaper, better. That's the way.
Okay...point taken.
You don't need a fully downloaded movie to start watching - you stream it. Works perfectly, even on a 2Mb connection. HD content, if streaming, you'd want at least an 8Mb connection. But, for SD content, go from clicking Rent/Purchase to watching in under 30 seconds.
Are you familiar with the Apple TV at all? It already does that - connect your big speakers and your TV to it, and play music wirelessly from your PC or use the Apple Remote to select music from within the Apple TV menu. Displays the album artwork too.
I recommend you read:
http://www.apple.com/appletv/whatis.html
I only explained to an earlier poster what an audio interface was. I use Cubase, MOTU interfaces and Mackie controls ocasionally. My home setup used to be more "pro" before but then I sold the MOTU and the big preamp to get the Tascam because I didn't really need them at home.
I really want Apple to focus on Logic, but the lack of multi-track editing (crucial for drum tracks) and a bug with multitake recordings that randomly shifts takes around in time and you can't fix it unless you unpack the whole thing which nullifies the comping feature... This has been knoen for a year and Apple still didn't fix it.
Anyway, I'm still waiting for a Logic bug fix update.