Interview with Schiller, Tevanian, and Bereskin

[MacRumors]

Infoworld published an interview with Phil Schiller, Avie Tevanian, and Ken Bereskin from Apple regarding some of Apple's plans. No significant new news, but some vision of Apple's look into the near future...

Regarding home networks: "Every client is a server and every server is a client. I want your music and my music to be seamless wherever it is. I want your photos and my photos to be seamless wherever they are." - Schiller

And... on Apple and PowerPC: "The OS is, by its very design and nature, quite portable and we've always said that we've got the capabilities in there to do whatever we want whenever we want to. But the plan remains Power PC today." - Schiller

Article Link: Interview with Schiller, Tevanian, and Bereskin

 

[reyesmac]

I know they can pull it off

I just hope that I don't have to spend $99 for a .mac account in order to have this experience.

I do like the idea of serving web pages and files off your own computer to the world. Todays computers can handle it if they are on a fast enough connection. Plus it would exploit the superfast bus that the new Macs will have in the future. If Apple can create an application or service that the PC world cannot emulate with their current or cheap hardware, that will be another selling point for the Mac.

And now that phillips will make more Mac compatible products, this can't happen soon enough.

 

[scem0]

I agree with you, I hope apple doesnt become MS2 and start charging for every single thing...

 

[j763]

Next year, I will expect that most of Apple's focus will be on Rendezvous, Airport and Bluetooth.

I can't wait to see the Rendezvous printers from HP, Lexmark and Epson! I hope they'll have an Airport Card slot in 'em too. The Phillips announcement was also exciting, but I think that Apple will need to get another couple of companies signed on for that, such as Sony.

Apple should really start pushing Rendezvous. I think that will be easier for them to do once the Phillips products come out -- it will show them how good Rendezvous could be in their products.

...And hopefully Apple bring out *much faster* airport.

 

[rugby]

One problem with Apple's digital hub strategy is that the sound quality on ALL their computers sucks. No 5.1 or 6.1, no THX, nothing. How in the hell does Apple expect you to use your computer to control your multi-media experience when their "pro" speakers are total crap?

 

[gotohamish]

Originally posted by rugby
One problem with Apple's digital hub strategy is that the sound quality on ALL their computers sucks. No 5.1 or 6.1, no THX, nothing. How in the hell does Apple expect you to use your computer to control your multi-media experience when their "pro" speakers are total crap?

I share your disappointment with the lack of supported surround sound - but perhaps this has a lot to do with the ongoing R&D with Philips?

Also, the pro speakers are not "total crap" in my opinion - okay they're not B&O, but show me a computer with better ones for free!

 

[al256]

Re: Interview with Schiller, Tevanian, and Bereskin

Originally posted by Macrumors
And... on Apple and PowerPC: "The OS is, by its very design and nature, quite portable and we've always said that we've got the capabilities in there to do whatever we want whenever we want to. But the plan remains Power PC today." - Schiller

Wow, Apple seems so open about their ability to switch to X86. It's just so strange to hear them say this, but then again I don't think Motorola chips will always stay in macs either.

 

[avkills]

Sound?

Originally posted by rugby
One problem with Apple's digital hub strategy is that the sound quality on ALL their computers sucks. No 5.1 or 6.1, no THX, nothing. How in the hell does Apple expect you to use your computer to control your multi-media experience when their "pro" speakers are total crap?

Your argument is only valid on the actual output type shipped with every Mac (only Stereo). OS X supports multi-channel audio and nearly every professional audio app for the Mac will let you mix surround sound.

You should not judge sound quality by the type of output being used. I guarantee you that a $200 surround sound system playing a song from a PC with built in 5.1 output will not sound better than me playing a song from my iBook in stereo through a set of $1000 studio monitors.

If you don't like the way your sound "sounds", maybe you should invest in "real" audio hardware, not cheap-ass computer speakers.

Phillips using Rendevous should be very cool, as I expect they will have ethernet ports on the receivers, thus allowing you to stream from your tower. Multichannel audio should not be a problem.

-mark

 

[G4scott]

Re: I know they can pull it off

Originally posted by reyesmac
I just hope that I don't have to spend $99 for a .mac account in order to have this experience.

You won't have to pay for .Mac to be able to use this on your home network, but you will have to have the latest version of OS X, and that may or may not come cheap...

Once again, Apple is doing what they do best: Focusing more on how to make the user experience more worthwhile...

 

[iJon]

Re: Sound?

Originally posted by avkills


Your argument is only valid on the actual output type shipped with every Mac (only Stereo). OS X supports multi-channel audio and nearly every professional audio app for the Mac will let you mix surround sound.

You should not judge sound quality by the type of output being used. I guarantee you that a $200 surround sound system playing a song from a PC with built in 5.1 output will not sound better than me playing a song from my iBook in stereo through a set of $1000 studio monitors.

If you don't like the way your sound "sounds", maybe you should invest in "real" audio hardware, not cheap-ass computer speakers.

Phillips using Rendevous should be very cool, as I expect they will have ethernet ports on the receivers, thus allowing you to stream from your tower. Multichannel audio should not be a problem.

-mark

Its more like playing games. I have a pc with a 6.1 audigy surround sound system with eax hd technology. Games are unbelievable on this machine. Music I cant tell the difference because mp3 aren't 5.1 surround sound encoded. but games really shine with that piece of hardware.but i guess it really doesn't matter because games suck on a mac. just my opinion anyways.

iJon

 

[rugby]

Re: Sound?

2 points:

1) DVD movies with 5.1 sound
2) DVD-Audio with 5.1 sound

These two will sound much better on a cheap PC and 5.1 card with appropriate speakers like the Z560's than on any Mac with analog stereo output.

I'm no audio expert, but I can definitely tell a difference between 5.1 surround and plain old stereo sound.

Originally posted by avkills


Your argument is only valid on the actual output type shipped with every Mac (only Stereo). OS X supports multi-channel audio and nearly every professional audio app for the Mac will let you mix surround sound.

You should not judge sound quality by the type of output being used. I guarantee you that a $200 surround sound system playing a song from a PC with built in 5.1 output will not sound better than me playing a song from my iBook in stereo through a set of $1000 studio monitors.

If you don't like the way your sound "sounds", maybe you should invest in "real" audio hardware, not cheap-ass computer speakers.

Phillips using Rendevous should be very cool, as I expect they will have ethernet ports on the receivers, thus allowing you to stream from your tower. Multichannel audio should not be a problem.

-mark

 

[synergy]

Originally posted by gotohamish


I share your disappointment with the lack of supported surround sound - but perhaps this has a lot to do with the ongoing R&D with Philips?

Also, the pro speakers are not "total crap" in my opinion - okay they're not B&O, but show me a computer with better ones for free!

At least you did not mention Bose.
B&O are just decent sounding speakers in a pretty enclosure.
Enclosures like that don't give you the best sound though.
Try B&W 8 series to hear what I am talking about.

 

[springscansing]

Re: Sound?

Originally posted by avkills


Your argument is only valid on the actual output type shipped with every Mac (only Stereo). OS X supports multi-channel audio and nearly every professional audio app for the Mac will let you mix surround sound.

You should not judge sound quality by the type of output being used. I guarantee you that a $200 surround sound system playing a song from a PC with built in 5.1 output will not sound better than me playing a song from my iBook in stereo through a set of $1000 studio monitors.

If you don't like the way your sound "sounds", maybe you should invest in "real" audio hardware, not cheap-ass computer speakers.

Phillips using Rendevous should be very cool, as I expect they will have ethernet ports on the receivers, thus allowing you to stream from your tower. Multichannel audio should not be a problem.

-mark

Well said. Maybe they ought to buy some REAL hardware and can it. At this point 5.1 is only good for movies anyway really...

 

[springscansing]

Originally posted by synergy


At least you did not mention Bose.
B&O are just decent sounding speakers in a pretty enclosure.
Enclosures like that don't give you the best sound though.
Try B&W 8 series to hear what I am talking about.

I just wanna second you on taking a pair of B&Ws over the top Bose surround system anyday. Music is recorded in stereo mostly still. I mean.. who wants to listen to an orchestra or a band that's behind them anyways? I've never been to a concert where this was the case.

As for games... I donno, I just bought a ps2. If you wanna play games and games are all that's important to you, go get a ps2 or a PC. I only use my mac for audio work.. and one text mud (achaea). hehe The games it does have are great, but selection is limited (but improving).

And by the way... an Audigy is a total piece of crap and should definitely not be considered pro audio equipment. If you want hi quality sound, you certainly should not be using one.

- Springs

 

[avkills]

Re: Re: Sound?

Originally posted by rugby
2 points:

1) DVD movies with 5.1 sound
2) DVD-Audio with 5.1 sound

These two will sound much better on a cheap PC and 5.1 card with appropriate speakers like the Z560's than on any Mac with analog stereo output.

I'm no audio expert, but I can definitely tell a difference between 5.1 surround and plain old stereo sound.

I'd rather watch DVD movies with a great stereo system than a POS 5.1 computer speaker system. Just my opinion. I've had this argument many times over at the MacAddict forums. Go to a professional audio store (not circuit city, fry's, etc..) and listen to some real speakers, then make your decision. Anyone who buys audio equipment at Bestbuy, CompUSA or any similar store needs their head examined. I can tell the difference also, but I also know that the weakest link in any audio system is either the speakers or the amps.

Sure it would be great to have surround and 5.1 output built in, but there are much more important things that Apple needs to work on. Third party vendors can make the additional audio hardware.

iJon actually has semi valid point, in that games is where the surround would actually be better, since your brain could localize where sounds were coming from, very close to the real world. Very handy when you need to know where shots are coming from etc etc. Although, I disagree with you iJon that games suck on a Mac. The current crop of dual 1.25 towers plus a Nvidia GeForce4 Ti 4600 show impressive enough framerates. Most Mac laptops play games much better than PC laptops. I get great framerates in UT on my iBook 700 + radeon, for a laptop anyways. Blah! Whatever...rock on.

 

[springscansing]

Originally posted by rugby
One problem with Apple's digital hub strategy is that the sound quality on ALL their computers sucks. No 5.1 or 6.1, no THX, nothing. How in the hell does Apple expect you to use your computer to control your multi-media experience when their "pro" speakers are total crap?

If you want "pro" sound, you're certainly not going to use "pro" speakers from any -computer- manufacturer. For pro sound, go pick up a good pair of powered monitors (easiest) and a good audio card.

 

[avkills]

Thank you.

Originally posted by springscansing


If you want "pro" sound, you're certainly not going to use "pro" speakers from any -computer- manufacturer. For pro sound, go pick up a good pair of powered monitors (easiest) and a good audio card.

Amen to that.

I have a pair of Peavey Keyboard monitors at home (I have a MIDI rig) and I had my company get me a pair of Tannoy powered Reveals for the edit suite. I'd really like to trade, heh heh. I may end up buying myself some Tannoys, because they sound extremely good for near fields. I wish AR was still around, I bought a pair of their bookcase speakers (Partners) for my stereo about 10 years ago and they still kick some booty today. I recently added a Infinity Subwoofer, which really increased the enjoyment of movies. I would love to buy another pair of the AR's for surround speakers. Oh well.

-mark