Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
'It's Showtime': September 12th, 2006
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
psxndc said:
I doubt it, but you never know. "Showtime" as a phrase has been around a lot longer than the cable channel. But it definitely does emphasize this event as one that's centered around movies.
Movies
I'm not sure that this is an entirely novel thought, but I thought I would test my psychic abilities a little.
The mac mini seems like the target for movies here, not iPods. There's a lot of talk about Airport express and how that might be the killer hardware, but there's more to it than that. Apple is competing against rental stores and netflix to watch movies. No one is just going to want to watch movies on an iPod, they are going to want it on they're TV. So why not have a network box that saves and plays the movies that is attatched to your TV? The mini is already positioned to do exactly that. No keyboard or monitor, maybe just a remote to run Front Row.
Download the movie to the mini, watch it on TV at your convenience. Mac video on demand. Start doing that with TV shows and all of a sudden, Tivo has got a serious contender, too.
The hard bit will be having full-quality movies sent to your home, VOD style.
The new iPod is a phone. There may be a video ipod, but I doubt that it's a main target for the movies.
I have this wonderful feeling that it'll be even cooler than this, but this is what I am expecting.
Dr. Z.
I'm not sure that this is an entirely novel thought, but I thought I would test my psychic abilities a little.
The mac mini seems like the target for movies here, not iPods. There's a lot of talk about Airport express and how that might be the killer hardware, but there's more to it than that. Apple is competing against rental stores and netflix to watch movies. No one is just going to want to watch movies on an iPod, they are going to want it on they're TV. So why not have a network box that saves and plays the movies that is attatched to your TV? The mini is already positioned to do exactly that. No keyboard or monitor, maybe just a remote to run Front Row.
Download the movie to the mini, watch it on TV at your convenience. Mac video on demand. Start doing that with TV shows and all of a sudden, Tivo has got a serious contender, too.
The hard bit will be having full-quality movies sent to your home, VOD style.
The new iPod is a phone. There may be a video ipod, but I doubt that it's a main target for the movies.
I have this wonderful feeling that it'll be even cooler than this, but this is what I am expecting.
Dr. Z.
berkleeboy210 said:
Ya, but not movies. They get certain distrobution rights that may cover some kind of download service (they have PPV/VoD broadcast rights, for example). They may be able to get a decent library of downloadable movies for a price that works for Apple... the fact there are Showtime shows on iTunes certainly shows they are willing to work with the iTMS, and the OP may be on to something...
In any event, unless it's HD (720p is fine) I'm not interested. For that matter, when they give me Lost in HD (and a good way to get it to my TV) I'll check out the TV shows.
iTunes Movie Store should be rental only.
If you really love a movie, go out and buy it. This way, you have the physical copy to carry around with you where ever you want to watch it (living room, friend's house, car, ect)
I think the notion that Apple is trying to get is like this senerio:
Somebody who is bored on a Friday night with nothing better to do, who does not feel like driving out to the local video rental store. Howabout being able to download it on your computer for $4.99 for a 5 day rental.
I would probably pay that. Apple figures if you want decent quality, hook your Mac Mini up to your HDTV and play it off there. If not, just watch it on your Mac.
If you copy it to an iPod, the movie will expire in 5 days as well. Or, it will expire next time you connect your iPod to iTunes. (people HAVE to do that!)
We'll probably see Front Row 2.0 as well.
Just some thoughts....
If you really love a movie, go out and buy it. This way, you have the physical copy to carry around with you where ever you want to watch it (living room, friend's house, car, ect)
I think the notion that Apple is trying to get is like this senerio:
Somebody who is bored on a Friday night with nothing better to do, who does not feel like driving out to the local video rental store. Howabout being able to download it on your computer for $4.99 for a 5 day rental.
I would probably pay that. Apple figures if you want decent quality, hook your Mac Mini up to your HDTV and play it off there. If not, just watch it on your Mac.
If you copy it to an iPod, the movie will expire in 5 days as well. Or, it will expire next time you connect your iPod to iTunes. (people HAVE to do that!)
We'll probably see Front Row 2.0 as well.
Just some thoughts....
mrgreen4242 said:
I would love that too, but im not convinced its feasible. 720p movie trailer downloads account roughly to 50mb for every minute. therefore, a 120min feature film would equal to 6GB. thats a lot of bandwidth, and the shoddy superdrives in current macbooks are only single-layer (grunf!).
But if its real, and they manage it for ~$14, man, ill start (re)building my movie collection! dont really care for 1080p (actually, i do, but then 12gb per film is just too much for me to bother downloading)
i guess if thats the case, 160gb 2.5" sata hds will be the absolute bare minimum, plus a stationary external hd with some 500+gb to cope with the new digital library AND time machine
MacFan782040 said:
I really hope this is what they're thinking, because it describes my reasons for wanting an iTunes Movie Store. I don't buy movies much, because I generally don't watch movies more than once. I like to rent movies, but I find it annoying to have to leave, drive to Blockbuster, look through the shelves, often to find that they are out of the movie I wanted to watch. Being able to fire up iTunes, search or browse for a movie, and immediately download it for viewing would be great. I don't care about buying movies, only rentals. Blockbuster already charges around $4 or something, so I hope Apple can at least match that price if not beat it.
BenRoethig said:
Well, based on past experience here - no matter what is announced, there will be people on this forum complaining that it isn't enough.
We'll have to wait and see how it (whatever "it" is) plays in Peoria over time.Personally I'm hoping for the AV streaming device; and if it ties in with my Tivo that'll be a big plus.
Mitthrawnuruodo said:Yeah... yeah... Movies for the American audience...
...I don't even get TV shows...
Precisely... at least a gesture to the international audience would be good.
UK stations offer TV online... but all through WMP that Macs can't use.
Of course Apple need to do more than just impress general Mac users like you guys. Like with the iPod, if they want big success, they're going to have to get to grips with an entirely new scene, culture even, and bring it's adherents something new.
As someone who considers film as influential in his upbringing as his family and friends even, I'm looking for Apple to honor the spirit of film rather than just crank out downloadable movies like the lack-luster businesses who suck all the art and atmosphere out of the DVD market.
Forget music, this is the big one. Apple are dealing with the most powerful art form on the planet, they'd better do it justice.
I'll reserve judgement until I see what they have to offer les fanatiques du cinema, but I'm optimistic.
As someone who considers film as influential in his upbringing as his family and friends even, I'm looking for Apple to honor the spirit of film rather than just crank out downloadable movies like the lack-luster businesses who suck all the art and atmosphere out of the DVD market.
Forget music, this is the big one. Apple are dealing with the most powerful art form on the planet, they'd better do it justice.
I'll reserve judgement until I see what they have to offer les fanatiques du cinema, but I'm optimistic.
My Predictions
I have 3 predictions:
Movie Story
Updated Airport w/ video
One More Thing: Mac Media Center/Hub
I have 3 predictions:
Movie Story
Updated Airport w/ video
One More Thing: Mac Media Center/Hub
Isnt it pretty reasonable to assume that this will really just be iPod related/iTunes movie store related because macrumors did not get an invite but iLounge did. ABC News is even talking about the news iPods and Movie store. This thread has really gone crazy with people talking about the airport express and such. It has been a year since the iPod nano has been updated so we can be CERTAIN that their will be new nanos.
While I agree, I disagree. I am not totally sold on wireless video networking. Filesizes are very large and god forbid it get interfierence with while you are watching a movie. Audio is OK because of very small birate. An airport "media center" is just not a good solution in some cases.milo said:
you know, just to throw some gasoline on the fire, maybe we're finally getting the Mac Mini PVR. That rumors been MIA for a while.
Hi all.
If you look at Apple's iMac site today before the next announcement, you see "consistency" with the expected message of a 23" HDTV iMac and a video streaming enabled AirPort Express.
The product is currently positioned as a hub for your entertainment experience. If you are a leading edge user, you have already hooked a kickin' audio system via hardwire or AirPort Express.
You already have remote control.
You already have, and share internet, printing, and even distributed content to computers in other rooms, presumably some of which are kickin' stereo enabled, all of which have access to your pool of media content.
Therefore in a real way such an announcement would be a relatively small harwdare upgrade while upgrading perception, desire and buzz emmensely.
They need a "significant hardware sales driver". Is this it?
Rocketman
If you look at Apple's iMac site today before the next announcement, you see "consistency" with the expected message of a 23" HDTV iMac and a video streaming enabled AirPort Express.
The product is currently positioned as a hub for your entertainment experience. If you are a leading edge user, you have already hooked a kickin' audio system via hardwire or AirPort Express.
You already have remote control.
You already have, and share internet, printing, and even distributed content to computers in other rooms, presumably some of which are kickin' stereo enabled, all of which have access to your pool of media content.
Therefore in a real way such an announcement would be a relatively small harwdare upgrade while upgrading perception, desire and buzz emmensely.
They need a "significant hardware sales driver". Is this it?
Rocketman