GarageBand, Mini iPods, Xserve... Tomorrow?

[balconycollapse]

Actually a bracelet mp3 player would be an excellent idea hokka! "what's that on your wrist"...a 100 dollar apple music player of course talk about another entry into fashion but only if it were small like a usb drive and bluetooth headphones i don't think it would be small enough and i wouldn't want to look like one of those "nerds" with calculator watches. Apple is always one for word play so we'll see. garage (car) band (music) could be a car based music system integrated with itunes and ipod. Or a short version of "gay reggae band" who knows what that could be. Peace love and hardonme.

 

[the_mole1314]

IT'S OFFICIAL!

Grange Band is an iApp that gets me Starbucks, warms up my car, and converts 2.98 Windows users to Apple per day.

I think Grage Band is ALL of what we have said (minus the Starbucks) in one package.

 

[DHagan4755]

From C|Net:

Security during set-up for the show is tight, as always, with Apple's booth obscured by a huge black tarp on all sides. Posted at the main entrance are two rather generic banners for the iPod. Tucked neatly behind each of the 15-foot banners, however, is another banner that is rolled up and whose contents are obscured from view, presumably a banner containing details of at least some of what Jobs has up his sleeve.

 

[Photorun]

All this talk and hype mere hours before MWSF and nary a G5 Powerbook whining weenie wanking about there not being one and/or there will be one with unrealistic specs? Wow!

 

[uberman42]

A-Ha

Originally posted by Photorun
All this talk and hype mere hours before MWSF and nary a G5 Powerbook whining weenie wanking about there not being one and/or there will be one with unrealistic specs? Wow!

See how Steve's distortion field has done to our thinking. We talk of mini pods while the big questions have been swept under the rug. Diabolical mastermind.

I think a G5 powerbook can still be had. It is about time to snap the Win PCs wedding tackle.

 

[QCassidy352]

Originally posted by gmapes
MAc not in the PDA Busuness? Are you kidding me they started it with the Newton!

Newton still blows away the ipaqs and palms. Just needs the same updated technologies.

Are they in the Music business? Now they are? There were tons of mp3 players out there, but apple changed that with the IPOD!

Why is there pda functionality in the IPOD? Why did Jobs want to buy Palm? Why is INKWELL in the OS, Why is Ical and Address book being developed so feverishly, and whyis there ISYNC?

Apple know there is a need for these types of devices and they can reshape the market just like they did with the IPOD!

So come on now, saying apple is not in the PDA business holds no merit!

Apple considered going the PDA route with the newton - and decided that it wasn't a good idea.

Apple was not always in the music business, but now they are. The same thing could certainly happen with the PDA market, but Jobs has said many times that Apple is not interested in making PDAs or tablet PCs.

PDA functionality in the ipod is an extra. No one buys an ipod to use as a PDA, nor did apple think that they would.

I don't know why Jobs wanted to buy Palm, but it never happened. That should tell you something.

Inkwell, iCal, and isync are there because Apple knows that users want those features because they have third party devices. The Mac OS has printer support - does that mean Apple is getting back in to the printer business to compete with HP, Canon, and Epson?

Of course Apple acknowledges the PDA market, and because mac users have PDAs, Apple technology often is related to PDA type devices. But not only has Jobs said they are not making a PDA or tablet PC, I think he is absolutely right to avoid these products.

MP3 players were out there, but were a niche market when ipod came along. CDs were still dominant, and even minidiscs had some followers. The ipod was the first really good MP3 player. Could apple make a good PDA? Sure, but there are already good PDAs in a way that wasn't the case with MP3 players prior to ipod.

How far do you want apple to go? Want them to make portable video players, TVs, PDAs, and cell phones? No, no no. Apple is a computer company. They already do more than most companies by developing both hardware and software. Now they do music too. Continued diversification is not a good idea, IMO. Do one thing, do it well. Be the best at what you do. Don't try to be all things to all people.

 

[SPG]

Here it is, the much anticipated new portable music device that matches the retro sounding name of "Garage Band"

…A…A
One of the sweetest portable turntables you'll ever hope to own -- designed by the turntablist crew at Vestax, and essential for the modern crate digger! This sweet little baby is a pleasure to use -- very well made, slimmed-down, and durable -- easy to plug in anywhere with its own AC power source (120 volts), or even more portable with 6 D cell batteries! The turntable plays at 33, 45, and 78 rpm -- and it's also got a pitch control so you can check for beats. The unit has its own speaker -- a nice little one for discreet play while checking out records -- but there's a sweet headphone jack that's nice and loud, making the table a really great one for private listening, especially if you don't want anyone to hear the great records you're checking out! Additional features include a solid plastic lid that snaps firmly in place; stereo RCA output plugs, for connecting to a mixer; and even a mono line in jack too! Pretty darn sweet -- and a great investment when you go out record-digging -- one that's bound to save you a lot of money in the long run!

http://www.dustygroove.com/misc.htm#64751

 

[j33pd0g]

Originally posted by jcroft
Why would Apple aid bands in making CDs when Apple is in the business of competing with CDs?

A CD is a tangible item. I bought my mac do to create just that. It's on a CD before it becomes an mp3, or an AAC. No CD and you got nothing to rip. You can't sell an mp3 at a bar, or where ever your show is. You could, but how many people do you know who bring an iPod or ITMS with them?

Hey, maybe Apple should get rid of CD burners. No one uses those anymore.

 

[doc]

Nobody has mentioned...

Nobody has mentioned that Garage Band could quite easily not be a piece of software for the actual mac but instead for the ipod.

what reason is there that apple couldn't offer a payware app for the ipod that switches on high quality recording?

if i were a spotty teen thrashing a guitar with my mates, and i could record the whole thing on my ipod, i'd be happy as pie. equally if i was a professional musician and i could record high quality sample out in-the-field, i'd be grinning too.

i reckon for £25, i'd probably buy this app for my ipod to record all sorts of things.

 

[autrefois]

Originally posted by SPG
Here it is, the much anticipated new portable music device that matches the retro sounding name of "Garage Band"

Groovy!* Moving down in speed from GHz to RPMs. But how much is it going for?!?



* (Groovy...records...no pun was intended, honestly)

 

[wankle]

Re: Nobody has mentioned...

Originally posted by doc
Nobody has mentioned that Garage Band could quite easily not be a piece of software for the actual mac but instead for the ipod.

what reason is there that apple couldn't offer a payware app for the ipod that switches on high quality recording?

if i were a spotty teen thrashing a guitar with my mates, and i could record the whole thing on my ipod, i'd be happy as pie. equally if i was a professional musician and i could record high quality sample out in-the-field, i'd be grinning too.

i reckon for £25, i'd probably buy this app for my ipod to record all sorts of things.

Because it takes more than software to record music. You need lots of hardware to get music into an iPod in any kind of usable form. Mics, all kinds of things. Maybe it could be a hardware/software combo pack to record straight to the iPod, but I seriously doubt that. It makes a lot more sense to record into a computer.

 

[doc]

Re: Re: Nobody has mentioned...

Originally posted by wankle
Because it takes more than software to record music. You need lots of hardware to get music into an iPod in any kind of usable form. Mics, all kinds of things.

mics (and "all kinds of things") can be picked up cheaply and i'd very much doubt that anyone that has the budget and knowhow to purchase a guitar would have so many problems sourcing a mic

It makes a lot more sense to record into a computer. [/B]

not if you're in a garage or in a field and don't have a laptop

anyway, i was getting bored reading through so many similar thoughts on cut-down versions of logic et al. and thought i'd diversify. it does beg the question as to when (not if) apple will start payware for the ipod - but i guess that's another thread.

 

[wankle]

Re: Re: Re: Nobody has mentioned...

Originally posted by doc
mics (and "all kinds of things") can be picked up cheaply and i'd very much doubt that anyone that has the budget and knowhow to purchase a guitar would have so many problems sourcing a mic

My point was that simply a piece of software is not enough. Even if you have all the "normal" audio gear, you still need more hardware to get it into the iPod, that was my point. It takes a lot more than a $30 App, even if the person has a full PA system for gigs.

not if you're in a garage or in a field and don't have a laptop

anyway, i was getting bored reading through so many similar thoughts on cut-down versions of logic et al. and thought i'd diversify. it does beg the question as to when (not if) apple will start payware for the ipod - but i guess that's another thread.

That's an interesting thought. I don't think there's much of anything that the iPod can do without some extra hardware, making the "payware" part of the equation an afterthought. It's all about the accessories, and the software that comes along with them doesn't matter much. I can't think of a single thing that the iPod can do with just software, except games and PDA-esque stuff. After all, at that point, it's just a hard drive most of the time.

 

[splashman]

GarageBand is stripped-down Soundtrack?

Originally posted by HenMaster6000
Haven't Read all the posts, so excuse me is this has already been suggested. GarageBand could be a stripped down version of Soundtrack being bundled with the Final Cut Express 2.0 we've heard about. Makes sense, but will they come out with Garage-Livetype? Who knows, but it doesn't seem like "Garageband" is an iApp because it doesn't have an i like all of the others do.

Um, Apple stripped down FCP and called it FCE. If they are stripping down Soundtrack (I don't believe this for a second), why wouldn't they call it Soundtrack Express? A completely new name would be unnecessarily confusing.

 

[elgruga]

Originally posted by bobindashadows
I must say that was one of the unin! telligible posts ever? I think, he saying that IPOD business?! no! PDA, palm iPhone good can get them.

In all seriousness, I think I get what you're saying - Apple needs to keep the PDA features out of the iPod and put them into an iPhone/Newton.

This post wins award for funniest of the year (well its only five days old - sorry to damn you with faint praise)
I am rotfl, big time. Thanks!

all our ipod are belong to us comes to mind......

 

[splashman]

Re: My guess: GB not a mass-market product

Originally posted by greenstork
Of course it's not a "mass-market" application, the mass market isn't in a band creating music. It would however, cater to a niche of hobbist musicians whether it's an iApp to edit/mix tracks or to upload to iTunes. It fits right in with Apple, enabling the hobby artist to use computers to polish their product. That's exactly what iMovie and iDVD do for home movies and it strikes me as a perfect product for Apple, right up their alley. Even iPhoto enables people who have very litttle technical skills to migrate their digital photos to their computer to organize, edit, and print, all from the comfort of your computer chair.

Okay, let me think about this. How many people that I know own and use video cameras? Hmmm. Virtually every family with kids has one. Now, how many people do I know that write/record their own music. Hmmm. Let's see. There's me. My friend Chris. Another friend Jeff. Two friends of his, including the guy who runs the studio. And . . . Hmmm.

Apple is all about simplifying very technical programs to enable the average joe to tackle projects like moviemaking and recording/sound mixing. If Apple can make a technical prject like editing/mixing audio tracks easy enough for the non-techies, bravo!

Apple can do anything they want. The question is what they will do.

The only thing I've heard so far that makes any sense is the .Mac extension for uploading/sharing tracks. That would be a great new perk for .Mac subscribers.

 

[elgruga]

garageband

If this is an app or a piece of hardware to record songs at home and mix etc. in the way of the istuff model - I will buy NOW!

I just wrote this cool song (yeah, well my kids like it, so neener neener) and I need something better than Audacity, but way less complex than ProTools.

Please, Steve, make my day!

 

[wankle]

upload to the music store? are you high?

The one thing that everyone talks about is "uploading things to the iTunes store" as if this is something people would actually do. Getting a song and a deal with the iTunes Music Store is NOT easy, and the average person doesn't ever ever need do that.

Apple will never ever produce a consumer app to upload music to the iTunes music store. There are probably a few dozen companies in the entire world that need to do that. Uploading to .Mac maybe, but never ever the iTunes Music Store.

Apple does not need to get a bunch of **** garage bands in the iTunes music store, they're not interested in publishing your cousin Dirk's goth band Dårkßlüd, and they will NOT write an app that interfaces with the store for anyone but close partners. Get a grip!

 

[elgruga]

Re: upload to the music store? are you high?

Originally posted by wankle
Apple does not need to get a bunch of **** garage bands in the iTunes music store, they're not interested in publishing your cousin Dirk's goth band Dårkßlüd, and they will NOT write an app that interfaces with the store for anyone but close partners. Get a grip!

I hope you are happy now that you have SMASHED my dreams of being an indie garageband on ITMS.

Hell, I am almost getting barre chords and my singing lately has not caused the cats to yowl at anything like the volume they used to....

 

[Squire]

Re: Re: My guess: GB not a mass-market product

Originally posted by splashman
The only thing I've heard so far that makes any sense is the .Mac extension for uploading/sharing tracks. That would be a great new perk for .Mac subscribers.

Yeah, they already do that (in a way) with iPhoto and .Mac. Isn't that what the slides program is for? Possible. It's definitely not a way to get amateurs into iTunes. Somebody mentioned it 5 pages ago and I'll say it again: Steve has already bashed another online music store for allowing the sale of tunes from anyone willing to pay 50 bucks. He then went on to say how iTunes is full of quality tracks.

If Garage Band is an app for folks on a budget to just play around with and create music, I think it's great. Like others have said, not for the masses but a lot of people will like it.

Squire

 

[Doctor Q]

Originally posted by hob
AppleWorks is a total piece of junk, IMHO - it's just trying to imitate Office, and does it badly... either they should drop it all together, or they should make it bring something completely new to the table altogether...

AppleWorks was the competitor to MS Works, not MS Office. But I agree it is way past its prime.

Originally posted by hokka
Could Garage Band being a actual "Band"? as in a bracelet? the new miniPod as a bracelet?

Did anybody read the Sherlock Holmes story "The Adventure of the Speckled Band"? Maybe Garage Band will turn out to be what Sherlock Holmes discovered that band to be. Starting in 12 hours, we'll know, and we won't have to play Sherlock ourselves any more. Until the next day, when we start all over again.

 

[elgruga]

DarkBlud

Where are these DarkBlud guys playing next?

can you get me on the guest list?

 

[Pirate_Will]

fair enough...

but,

What if mac thought about breaking into its own internet only record company? Bear with me please. OK there are a LOT of really bad bands on garageband and alike. but apple could use marketing information from the reviews of a site like that (it is my understanding that such info is pricey). AND maybe they might get a couple of decent bands.

IF (big if) they did get a few decent ones, they could still sell their music tracks at 0.99c a pop (they will make a LOT more profit out of this 99 cents than, say well any signed band). Advertise the artist themselves (cuts out an expensive middleman), and if it flops, the only thing they have lost is a bit of webspace.

Seemed fairly reasonable to me. Particularly if a musician had to subscribe to such a service. Do you have any friends who want to be famous musicians? I recon the ones i know would be willing to fork out as much as £10 or $20 a quarter for a shot at fame.

 

[iomar]

Well, I just bought Apple Server over the holidays. I hope I can get a free upgrade if there is going to be new version of the server software.

 

[Squire]

Re: fair enough...

Originally posted by Pirate_Will
but,

What if mac thought about breaking into its own internet only record company? Bear with me please. OK there are a LOT of really bad bands on garageband and alike. but apple could use marketing information from the reviews of a site like that (it is my understanding that such info is pricey). AND maybe they might get a couple of decent bands.

Fair enough.

Possible... with some sort of filtering system in place. Whether or not Garage Band is part of this is still uncertain. We won't see every wannabe on sale in the iTunes Music Store, though.

Squire