Intel Viiv Platform... and Apple?

[Jesus]

I'm confused. What makes you say we've forgotten?

People have not been metioning it at all, an some about the use of a simple remote for a computer, when we have one already. We already have so much of this plaform already. all we need now is x86 to complete it.

 

[Morky]

There is no Tivo unit that supports HD Cable yet....

Time-Warner provided me with a very Tivo-like HD-DVR.

 

[jmck]

Actual meaning of "viiv"

vi =6
iv = 9

Viiv = 69 -- meeting of television and computer for mutual satisfaction...

 

[petej]

What is amazing about this is that Apple is not mentioned anywhere in the press release or the website. This either means that Apple completely disagrees with the viiv concept. Or they are just keeping quiet as usual. What I find interesting about the website is talking about plug-in TV tuner cards. This clearly indicates that the intention is for the possibliity of one device that will be customised by broadcasters to their market / services. I also find that this could perhaps be aligned with the anandtech review of the Yonah chip which was tested on a motherboard that they were not permitted to identify. This did however support onboard graphics and a single slot x16 PCIe. Why a single slot I wondered when reading the article, what sort of PC would that be. Now I think I know. I did wonder whether the 'apples to apples' comment later on in the article may have been a bit of a subtle pointer.
http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/showdoc.aspx?i=2627

If nothing else, this is good fun wondering what is going to happen next and who or what to believe. My only worry about viiv is that it may give too much control to the content providers and we may gain more seamless on-line content / recorder functions but loose some ability to do things with the content such as skip adverts and archive to a medium of choice.

 

[SmegFirk]

It's a marketing badge. As with a Centrino badged pc, if manufacturers put x, y and z components in their computers, intel will let them put the viiv badge on it.
Nothing more.

 

[~Shard~]

Really? I didn't know about that! What exactly sets apart the new iMac G5 screens from the old ones (and the 20'' ACDs)? Brightness, viewing angle, colours? AFAIK, the resolution of the 20''er is still 1680x1050...

I second the wish to know the difference...

The iMac's 20 inch display is now brighter, and it has twice the contrast ratio of the 20-inch cinema display. Now you know. 😎

 

[FocusAndEarnIt]

You know what, we are just going to have to wait. Apple surprised us with Intel and a multi-button mouse. Who knows? But, I guess, this might be FrontRow 2? Not sure. Or maybe FrontRow 2 and this Intel Media thing somehow combined together?

Who knows.

 

[rosalindavenue]

I started this thread last May, before the intel switch; saying "Gee, looks like Intel is going to incorporate DRM-- good thing Apple's not an intel customer." Oops. I'm a pragmatist, and I suspect that Mr. Jobs knew he couldn't get the content providers on board without this, but this has to be a big reason for the intel switch.

 

[Bonte]

but don't get too hung up on the whole HMDI thing - HDMI is nothing more than DVI and audio wrapped in the same cable for 3 times the price (over-simplistically).... 😉 It is great for a lot of people, but for some people it definitely wouldn't be as necessary depending on their setup/requirements.

And needed to play future encrypted HD content, other connections or a bridge cable get lower quality. For all i know HDMI is a key component in the HD DRM.

 

[Super Dave]

Video content on iTMS, video capable iPods, more media-centric iMacs, FrontRow - we're only at the tip of the iceberg, and it's going to be fun to see what Steve Jobs labels 2006 "The year of..." 😎

I think it will be "The Year of Apple Owning Everyone Else."

David😎

 

[Super Dave]

vi =6
iv = 9

Viiv = 69 -- meeting of television and computer for mutual satisfaction...

IV is actually 4, but it was funny until I realized.

David😎

 

[Super Dave]

The iMac's 20 inch display is now brighter, and it has twice the contrast ratio of the 20-inch cinema display. Now you know. 😎

Yep. 1:400 for the Cinema Display and 1:800 for the iMac to be precise.

David😎

 

[Yebot]

VIIV (pronounced 'five')

I'm ok with the embedded DRM in viiv-chips as long as it places no restrictions on non-DRM content. (i.e. CD's & DVD's ripped from your personal collection.)

 

[dogcowabunga]

IV is actually 4, but it was funny until I realized.

David😎

VI IV = 6 4, as in "Will you still need me, will you still feed me?" once Apple enters the market with its own multimedia device.

 

[ifjake]

VI IV = 6 4, as in "Will you still need me, will you still feed me?" once Apple enters the market with its own multimedia device.

ha! i like it.

 

[lind0834]

Apple can't expect everyone who wants to watch movies on demand to buy a new mac mini.

I think they can. It might take a while to build up a good user base, and make it truely profitable, but they can expect what ever they want. 2 quick examples:
- 1. If people want to listen to iTunes protected music portably they will be expected to (but not forced) buy an iPod.
- 2. If people want to watch HDTV they will be expected to (but not forced) to buy an expensive TV.

If Apple really wants to do this, just price it right and people will buy into it. Maybe price it like a game console where they take a hit on hardware costs, but gain on selling movies.

BUT..
I think the whole Mac Mini Intel thing isn't going to happen that quickly. I predict that come January we will have a Mac Mini with a G4 and enhanced Front Row capabilities.. no DVR that quick.

 

[ioinc]

And so many wondered why Steve jumped over
to Intel..........

To include about 90% of the people that post on macrumors when this was only a rumor back in June.

 

[MarcelV]

Is this really Apple like....

I am surprised everyone thinks this is so Apple like... I just don't see it. yes, Apple will come with a media experience, but will it be Viiv? Why? All other Wintel brands will come up with a Viiv solution, so what will make consumers to choose Apple over the others? That's the real question. What would prevent consumers to use content not purchased thru a video iTunes equivalent. I am sure they want to keep that controlled, just like they do with iTunes. And wasn't the embedded DRM in Viiv based on MS Windows Media standard? That goes against Apple's Open Standard philosophy.

Apple will break into this market. No doubt about that. Just not sure it will be Viiv.

 

[AidenShaw]

That goes against Apple's Open Standard philosophy.

Yes, like Apple's "open" DRM with the Orwellian name of "Fairplay"? 😱

 

[Fender2112]

Funny how nowadays any Intel rumor becomes a Macrumor. 🙂

That's funny. Ironic, but funny. 😛

 

[technocoy]

don't know

I want it, really really bad.

I know apple can do it.

I know it would be awesome.

that being said, if this thing comes out from apple...

IT BETTER DAMN WELL PLUG INTO MY 30" CINEMA DISPLAY!!!!

you hear that apple. it needs to function with the 2500.00 display i just purchased from you.

and you need to make my powerbook work with more than 1 gig of RAM (off topic, but it needed to be said 🙂 )

 

[MarcelV]

Yes, like Apple's "open" DRM with the Orwellian name of "Fairplay"? 😱

No DRM is an open Standard. But AAC is, h.264 is. Apple's DRM is as prorietary as Windows Media. But it's just a wrapper around an Open Standard. But what little I have read about the Viiv platform, I believed it had Windows Media decoding included. No software needed.

 

[RHMMMM]

and you need to make my powerbook work with more than 1 gig of RAM (off topic, but it needed to be said )

They work fine with more than 1GB and have for almost a month now. When was the last time you ran software update? Get the latest Airport update and you should be fine.

 

[otter-boy]

yes and more . . .

It's a marketing badge. As with a Centrino badged pc, if manufacturers put x, y and z components in their computers, intel will let them put the viiv badge on it.
Nothing more.

It most definitely is a marketing badge . . . one that is meant to coincide with features included in Windows Vista (Intel has stated this several times, just search for VIIV at news.com(.com)).

It seems that the branding is really there for computers running MS Windows, but that the technology will also be a big boon for Mac computers (which won't need the extra branding anyway). There are so many choices of Windows PCs, and there needs to be a way to differentiate the ones capable of good multimedia from the vast majority of ones that are total crap when it comes to audio/video. I'll be surprised if Apple uses the VIIV branding, and even then it'd probably just be buried in the documentation or packaging in an unassuming way.

I read either today or yesterday that the first VIIV computer will be by AOPEN, the company that made the poorly reviewed Mac Mini rip-off. Again, just rumors, but that is what I read. I'll try to get a link to that article when I get the time.

got it: http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=28131

 

[firestarter]

This Is Not Something That We Want!!!

Why does Intel want people to standardise on a certain 'VIIV compliant' hardware mix and Intel Chipsets?

Because they'll control the hardware from their BIOS chips - this stuff will NOT involve the computers operating system.

This is NOT a technology that enhances OSX - it's precisely the opposite - a power play by Intel against Microsoft (or any other OS manufacturer).

Why do I think it doesn't use the OS?

1/ Why stipulate very definite hardware requirements if you're not writing specific drivers for this?

2/ A good number of current PC laptops and 'media computers' already allow you to play DVDs, CDs etc. without fully powering up the computer. This is a natural progression of what's in the PC world right now.

So wake up people - this isn't something that's good for Apple or good for us. That's why Apple's name isn't mentioned in the release!!