'It's Showtime': September 12th, 2006

[dongmin]

Quoted from an older thread that has been left behind:



Somebody cast doubt on the HDMI thing, I don't know - just seemed like the easiest option to get video into an iMac. You don't have to worry about all the different methods of getting TV (free to air, digital, cable) because if you have a HDMI-enabled receiver it would just plug into the back of the iMac. You'd need to use the receiver's remote to do all the channel changing but Apple could offer some sort of recording program. EyeHome could do something with it too? I'm no expert, just trying to look at a simple solution for a complicated, fragmented problem.

I'm also not sure about the bittorrent thing. It's nice in theory, but even with bittorrent, movies will take a while to download. The problem with that is that you can't watch a bittorrent movie until the whole thing has downloaded, whereas with traditional quicktime downloads, you can start watching as soon as you have a decent enough buffer. And iTMS is all about instant gratification.

 

[milo]

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.

There's nothing crazy about the airport express. Appleinsider was the source on that, and they tend to be one of the most reliable rumor sites. And a video version of the airport would absolutely be ipod/itunes related. There's no question that we'll see new nanos, but an updated airport (especially if it had a remote and ran front row) would fit in perfectly.

Whether wireless can support video streaming is a question of implementation and bitrate of the material. As much as people want to see an HD solution, I think ntsc at around DVD quality is much more likely - using h.264 you can do that with pretty reasonable file sizes.

 

[psxndc]

continuing my train of thought

If this is a product called showtime, that could be a Bad Thing (tm). A media application that has the same name as the movie channel? Sounds like grounds for a trademark lawsuit to me. Mighty Mouse is a little harder to cause consumer confusion: one's an computer mouse, the other is a cartoon character. But a movie software application and a movie channel? hmmmmm....

-p-

 

[rdowns]

Since my 3G 15GB iPos is about full, I want a new iPod.

Any my stock account loves the movement - AAPL closed up $3.10 today.

 

[BrianMojo]

Come on Apple, show us the HD. In a time when everyone's standoffish about HD because of the format wars Apple adopting the technology would mean you would never have bought into the wrong technology -- and eventually I imagine it would become the standard.

Come on Apple, push the technology forward like you know you should. Please?

 

[acslater017]

I expect upgrades to the laptops, iMac, and Mini. Also, there is a good chance of introducing either a iPhone or a iHome.
iTunes Movie Store is certain, although it would be interesting to note how apple goes about selling movies (like the resolution, download times, pricing etc.)

haha wasn't the iHome that supposed elevator photo thing?

 

[Gundampilotspaz]

I want my Core 2 Duo Macbook!

 

[nomad01]

Who also owns the trademark "Mighty Mouse", which Apple licensed. I think he might be onto something. More then likely, the product is called "Showtime".

Or... the iSHow?

My money's on a new iPod Hi-fi. How cool would that be? Huh? Huh??

I am quite excited though. It doesn't seem like a new video iPod is on the cards just yet but maybe some other new gadgets are about to make thei debut.

I do like the idea of the metal nano too.

I'll be hooked to Macrumors next week anyway!

 

[age234]

I really hope Apple comes out with a new app for this, because video in iTunes completely sucks.

 

[suzerain]

9.99

Um, gee. I wonder if the studio with the $9.99 downloads will be Disney...

 

[donlphi]

Does anybody think there will be a blu-ray announcement?

I know Sony is running a bit slow, but how great would it be to actually burn your HD Movies onto a Blu-Ray Disc for storage?

I won't hold my breath, but it would be nice.

 

[thejadedmonkey]

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.

Seeing that I just got Batman Begins for $5 from Blockbuster, I think $4.99 to rent it a bit extreme.

 

[milo]

Does anybody think there will be a blu-ray announcement?

Doubt it. The hardware is extremely expensive, nobody is excited about it, and there's still a pretty big risk that bluray won't even catch on, whether it's beat out by hddvd or if neither catches on. At this point, bluray would likely just get a big yawn from the public.

 

[appleguy]

No not ads

Steve's debuting a new series of "I'm a Mac" TV ads

"I'm a Mac" the movie 2hrs of a abuse hearled at PC users

 

[jasper77]

ok, just made a quick mockup of what i would like to see announced next week

and make shure it also works with video_ts folders and avi/divx files (maybe via a front row API for third party developers like VLC?)

this would perfectly complement that itunes movie store

 

[MovieCutter]

I'm going to venture a guess and say we'll see something named the iPod Showtime or Showtime as a product name.

 

[milo]

ok, just made a quick mockup of what i would like to see announced next week

and make shure it also works with video_ts folders and avi/divx files (maybe via an front row API for third party developers like VLC?)

this would perfectly complement that itunes movie store

You nailed it, that would be perfect. That's EXACTLY what they should do.

 

[w00master]

ok, just made a quick mockup of what i would like to see announced next week

and make shure it also works with video_ts folders and avi/divx files (maybe via a front row API for third party developers like VLC?)

this would perfectly complement that itunes movie store

I think this is totally feasible, but one question that many of you haven't addressed is: "Do you see this interaction and interface happening for the Windows users?"

I know we're all Apple fans here, but in order for the iTunes Movie Store to be successful, it will have to include "them."

w00master

 

[Sean7512]

I'm not picky...All I want is a new iMac of some sort, whether it be 23" or 50", I just want a iMac, PLEASE!!! I'm crossing my fingers...

Although, a Movie Store could be SWEET!

 

[blueflame]

now make this device you speak of also abble to use time machine, and back-up your computer to it, and its a real winner!
ANdreas

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.

 

[Peace]

ok, just made a quick mockup of what i would like to see announced next week

and make shure it also works with video_ts folders and avi/divx files (maybe via a front row API for third party developers like VLC?)

this would perfectly complement that itunes movie store

Only one problem with that..

You can already do it with iTunes sharing.Just have a Mini next to the TV.
And it would be hard to go to one room and start the movie then go to the other room and start watching it.

If there is a media device it will be set-top box or Mini style that sits next to the main TV.

 

[TheManOfSilver]

I think this is totally feasible, but one question that many of you haven't addressed is: "Do you see this interaction and interface happening for the Windows users?"

I know we're all Apple fans here, but in order for the iTunes Movie Store to be successful, it will have to include "them."

w00master

I agree completely. iTunes was ported to Windows to sell more iPods, and music. The iMovie Store (or whatever) will be included for Windows to sell more video iPods and Airport AV (or whatever it will be called). The living room box will have to play nice with PCs in order for this whole thing to have the same impact as the iTMS/iPod.

It may just be time for Front Row to be ported to Windows too. Wouldn't that just chafe Gates' butt?

 

[jasper77]

I think this is totally feasible, but one question that many of you haven't addressed is: "Do you see this interaction and interface happening for the Windows users?"

I know we're all Apple fans here, but in order for the iTunes Movie Store to be successful, it will have to include "them."

w00master

that's the question of course maybe it will be the killer application to convert windows users to mac

or windows users can connect their pc's to a tv with a few cables, so that they also can play the movies from the movie store on their tv's… but in that case the pc must be next to the tv.

 

[donlphi]

isn't the resolution going to be terrible. I don't see these movie downloads working with a hi-def TV. The television shows are pretty pathetic on my old 42" panasonic. 320x240 is going to look terrible on a beautiful sony 1080p television...

this whole idea sounds like a lose lose situation.

You are going to be transfering these choppy looking movies, which will look great on the current ipod video, but lame as heck on a any screen larger than 5 inches.

what's the point? Who wants to buy that? I'd rather rent a movie from netflix or if I really like it, buy the movie at best buy and rip it onto my hard drive, and drop it into my iPOD and watch it later.

I hope there is more than just a new VCR or DVD player.

How about an on demand service through the device, which lets you watch it for one price or copy a lower resolution version of it to your iPOD for another price.

I don't know, but it seems like we are barking up the wrong tree.

Bring on the new processors for the macbook pro!

 

[milo]

Only one problem with that..

You can already do it with iTunes.
And it would be hard to go to one room and start the movie then go to the other room and start watching it.

If there is a media device it will be set-top box or Mini style that sits next to the main TV.

Did you read the post? iTunes doesn't do that, right now apple doesn't have an airport with *video* output. And look at the picture again, that mockup has a remote that talks to the airport, you don't have to leave the room.

You miss the whole point of this. Why would you want to have an expensive box next to the TV when you could just have a tiny airport, and let your computer do the heavy lifting from another room?

isn't the resolution going to be terrible. I don't see these movie downloads working with a hi-def TV. The television shows are pretty pathetic on my old 42" panasonic. 320x240 is going to look terrible on a beautiful sony 1080p television...

You're assuming they won't up the resolution when they start doing movies. What makes you so sure they'll do that?