iTunes 4.9 NOW AVAILABLE!

[feakbeak]

I think we're gonna have to get used to this for a while.

The last really exciting announcement from Apple was the initial PowerMac G5 rollout. Dual processors, two independent 1 GHz front side busses, 64-bit processing, etc. The announcement was so refreshing it knocked us onto our feet in applause.

Since that time, however, there has been nothing that matches or tops it. 30-inch LCD, the new iMac, color iPods, PowerBook G4s, Mac minis, etc. are all nice but nowhere as much of a leap as the PowerMac G5 was back in 2003.

Alas, spectacular new product introductions like the PM G5 don't happen every year or even every two years. Still waiting for dual core and dual dual core PMs to resuscitate a flagging spirit.

The mind-blowing PM update shouldn't have happened. It only happened because Apple had begun to lag far behind on the hardware side of computing. The PM G5 was a huge leap because they were catching up.

Technology does have the occiaisional significant step forward but by and large the market moves forward in small, predicitable steps which cumulatively result in significant advances over the period of a few years. People can't expect to have monumental leaps in hardware or even software very often - these things take time to develop.

 

[Tulse]

I just don't feel all that burning of a need to carry around Adam Curry or Al Franken's latest musings on my iPod. Maybe I just haven't found the right content.

I highly recommend Coverville -- interesting and cool cover songs. Each show is about 30 minutes, and there's a new show roughly three times a week.

 

[aaronsullivan]

The G5 release was spectacular? I guess it was cool. My first impression was what a huge lumbering garbage can of a thing. I mean it looked heavy duty, but it was heavy and clunky and hurts to use and the nice bay door opening from the G4's disappeared. Nice to get faster processors, but a HUGE downgrade in elegance. Can't wait till they leave that design behind.

I liked the iMacs immensely. Really great product.
Plus, the software end has been very interesting, especially on the high end with the new Shake and HD products and how about GarageBand. I've used that WAY more than I thought I would. Great stuff.

I like software better, sometimes, anyway, as it makes my hardware continue to be more and more valuable.

Keep it coming, Apple.

 

[Sharewaredemon]

I like software better, sometimes, anyway, as it makes my hardware continue to be more and more valuable.

Me too!

I really like that I get to use Apple's software, it's quite a joy.

Though I do actually like the look of the G5 (our opinions can differ).

 

[griz]

Playlist

Still no playlist folders. Apple saving this for iTunes 5.0?

The playlists don't appear in iTunes. No need for it. View and play your podcasts from the podcast directory. All podcasts are downloaded into a Podcast playlist on your ipod.
I guess if you subscribe to 40 or 50 podcasts, it would be nice to split them up on your pod. But you can't really listen to that many podcasts and stay current anyhow. I never have more than 5 or 6 on my pod at any time. I then delete then and get new ones. I listen to them on my commute every day.

 

[Angelus520]

I'd also like to comment on complaints about podcasting. They will iron themselves out as podcasters realize that iTunes is the place to be and they better make it work if they want to ride the wave. That's part of the power of Apple implementing something like this. This is another great, surprising, move by Apple and shows how Steve and the crew are continually adept at forward thinking.

Who wants video iPods, though? What's the point? Someone fill me in. I saw video on PSP and thought, "neat, what's it for?" And who is paying $25 a pop for lower quality tiny movies you can ONLY watch on the tiny screen. I guess some commuters or travelling business people could use it to keep up on crap television, but I don't think anything that is worth viewing should be watched on such a tiny screen.

Is that worth $600-$700? I just don't see it. Maybe there is some hidden demographic out there I'm not seeing.

Now, if you could hook it up to a tv and watch it at a high quality and you could download shows off of iTunes for cheap commercial free viewing... we'd be getting somewhere, but file sizes are a huge problem for something like this. Give me a set top box to accomplish this.

Here's the description of the Archos AV400 80GB from Amazon, which could be where a video iPod is heading, like a TiVoToGo but only better. This could be the big product announcement next week. The iTunes phone is a foregone conclusion but something big like this would be worth a major unveiling.

Amazon.com Product Description
The 80 GB Archos Pocket Video Recorder AV480 is the ultimate handheld digital video recorder that offers TV recording and a portable home entertainment center in one pocket-sized device. Watch videos and view photos on the large color LCD screen, listen to and record music, and transfer photos from your digital camera and data files from your PC. It features a TV Cradle, an external speaker for enjoying music and video without headphones, and a built-in Compact Flash reader for transferring photos directly from digital cameras.

The AV480 has an 80 GB hard drive, which can record up to 320 hours of video content from a TV, VCR, or cable/satellite receiver using the TV cradle. It plays MP3 and WMA digital audio files (included protected files) as well as WAV audio.

Once the TV Cradle is connected to a TV, VCR or cable/satellite receiver, you won't have to reconnect the cables again--just dock the AV400 and you're ready. The Recording Scheduler directly controls the tuner inside your VCR or cable/satellite receiver to automatically adjust the channel and record based on the time and duration of the schedule. The Scheduler will also synchronize with Yahoo TV Guide (where available) from the Internet so you can prepare your recordings for the week or month in advance.

What's in the Box
Archos AV 480, TV cradle with audio/video connections, remote control with 2 AA batteries, protective case, USB 2.0 cable, stereo headphone, manual, AC adapter/charger with US/UK/EU plug

Product Description
She works fulltime like the rest of us but never misses an episode of Oprah. What gives? This 80GB video player from Archos makes recording TV and tailoring entertainment to your schedule easier—and more portable—than ever. It starts with the convenient one-time setup TV cradle. Record up to 320 hr. of video directly from TV, VCR or a cable/satellite receiver. Take the player with you on the go and watch recorded shows or videos, view digital photos and enjoy music too. It's powered by internal rechargeable Li-Ion batteries but comes with an AC charger/adapter too. Available storage capacity may vary. 1Hx4-9/10Wx3-1/10D".

 

[Sharewaredemon]

The playlists don't appear in iTunes. No need for it. View and play your podcasts from the podcast directory. All podcasts are downloaded into a Podcast playlist on your ipod.
I guess if you subscribe to 40 or 50 podcasts, it would be nice to split them up on your pod. But you can't really listen to that many podcasts and stay current anyhow. I never have more than 5 or 6 on my pod at any time. I then delete then and get new ones. I listen to them on my commute every day.

He's talking about being able to have a folder for regular playlists with playlists within them.

Like you can do for albums in iPhoto(?).

 

[jared_kipe]

Anybody getting this error message saying your computer is not authorised?

****, does this mean it will break my Hymned music?

 

[lpshean]

The G5 release was spectacular? I guess it was cool. My first impression was what a huge lumbering garbage can of a thing. I mean it looked heavy duty, but it was heavy and clunky and hurts to use and the nice bay door opening from the G4's disappeared. Nice to get faster processors, but a HUGE downgrade in elegance. Can't wait till they leave that design behind.

Well... i personally think the PM G4 looked tacky. ( Except the transparent speakers that came with the whole set-up.. that was really cool )

IMO, the PM G5 looks so much more refined and professional.

 

[Westside guy]

i really thought with all the fanboy heat and possible lost revenue with the architecture switch, apple would really step it up and represent with a huge iTunes/iPod refresh/new model announcement...

quite unspectacular.

The fanboys make a lot of noise on forums like these, but I doubt they have any impact at all on Apples' bottom line.

 

[Westside guy]

****, does this mean it will break my Hymned music?

That's an affirmative - at least, I saw one post to that effect over on Slashdot.

 

[Mitthrawnuruodo]

The playlists don't appear in iTunes. No need for it. View and play your podcasts from the podcast directory. All podcasts are downloaded into a Podcast playlist on your ipod. ...

I think he was referring to regular and smart playlists and the ability to organize those in folders, like you can with Calendars in iCal and Photo albums in iPhoto...

Not everything is about Podcasts...

 

[Porchland]

The playlists don't appear in iTunes. No need for it. View and play your podcasts from the podcast directory. All podcasts are downloaded into a Podcast playlist on your ipod.
I guess if you subscribe to 40 or 50 podcasts, it would be nice to split them up on your pod. But you can't really listen to that many podcasts and stay current anyhow. I never have more than 5 or 6 on my pod at any time. I then delete then and get new ones. I listen to them on my commute every day.

I don't think he was talking about podcasting. I think he meant that Apple didn't add a feature for playlist folders like the album folders in iPhoto.

I was really hoping for this one too. I've actually gotten to the point of basterdizing the names of my playlists so they'll show up higher on the mainmenu. 1 June 2005 mix. 2 Current Tracks. It's ridiculous to have to do this when Apple has already added the exact same feature to a similar application.

I suspect iTunes 5 may come out before the end of the year. There's no sense announcing iTunes 5 with iLife 6. That would be silly.

 

[manu chao]

Yeah, I was a bit disappointed by this as well. I would be much more tempted to get a 40 GB. It seems trivial but at 3/4" thick, the 60 GB iPod is significantly thicker. It doesn't seem like much on paper, but when you hold it in your hand it has a different feel. I'm also holding off because I'd also have to buy a new dock and case and I'm not ready to drop $500 for a thicker iPod with very few new features (photos and color screen). I'm thinking the next revision will be a more feature-rich update and my current iPod will work just fine for now.

As for managing your iPod when you have about 2000 songs too many I would recommend syncing by playlist rather than song and then use one or more smart playlists to keep your song count limited. I have found this to be quite managable so far.

As for my 'tar - I got it last week just before I went out of town on vacation for a long weekend so I haven't been posting much. I lifted the 'tar from Microsoft's Photodraw's clipart. I really liked it and use it on my webpage and thought it would make a good 'tar here.

Yap, the 'new' 20GB model is now .06" (0.63" vs. 0.57") or 1.5 mm thicker than the old 4G 20GB iPod, so in size we are back to the 3Gs roughly (don't know the exact figure). They are still 4Gs (plus colour screen and physically bigger battery) but not with a better power management as the 2G Minis were.

 

[mxpiazza]

The fanboys make a lot of noise on forums like these, but I doubt they have any impact at all on Apples' bottom line.

true, but regardless of fanboy opinion, an announced and planned architecture switch IS going to affect their bottom line and overall sales, which is why i felt that this version of iTunes and a new iPod refresh/line/model were so important to the company and its followers...

and i don't think apple scored big on this one, but who knows.

 

[broken_keyboard]

and i don't think apple scored big on this one, but who knows.

It's hard to say. Podcasting could be the next big thing and make iPod sales take off again...

 

[griz]

I don't think he was talking about podcasting. I think he meant that Apple didn't add a feature for playlist folders like the album folders in iPhoto.

I see. And I was incorrect anyhow. Apparently you can drag Podcasts into your own playlists to better organize them. I just wish apple gave the additional Podcast features to all iPods.

 

[Lacero]

Podcasting is going to supplant traditional radio. I can see the writing on the wall for commercial-based radio.

 

[CubaTBird]

any evidence of video ipods in this update? hrm..

 

[mxpiazza]

It's hard to say. Podcasting could be the next big thing and make iPod sales take off again...

do you really think that the podcasting interface on iTunes will be enough to encourage people to want to listen to podcasts, want to obtain them through iTunes, and want to buy an iPod to listen to them...? i think Apple is banking on a lot, here, if its putting all of its eggs in this basket, at least for this iTunes/iPod refresh.

 

[ibook30]

true, but regardless of fanboy opinion, an announced and planned architecture switch IS going to affect their bottom line and overall sales, which is why i felt that this version of iTunes and a new iPod refresh/line/model were so important to the company and its followers...

and i don't think apple scored big on this one, but who knows.

All true in my opinion.
But- of course, the gamble is a short term slump in sales to open up wider market share.
In the mean time, itunes / ipod will be a necessary avenue to keep eyes focused on Apple. This release will bring more attention to podcasting, which is still a "trend". Much like parachute pants. Given enough love, and attention, podcasting could become a long term way to relay info. And advertisers would love to insert their name to a broadcast that is (potentially) kept for...who knows how long. Similiar to product placement in movies, this is the direction more and more marketeers are going towards. I expect a lot of hype on itunes,, and probably more talk about Apples role in the DVD tech debates. Anything to keep Apple front of mind for consumers. Then ,,, when Mactels start rolling out, there will be a public who is interested.

 

[CubaTBird]

so wait.. my photo is not obsolete!!! yay!!!! no video ipod... i don't think.......

 

[iMeowbot]

Is there podcasting support for 2G 20GB iPods? The iPod software updater didn't upgrade my old iPod.

The latest updater only has new software for newer iPod models (basically all the ones with click wheels). Podcasts are working fine with the older iPods, iTunes knows enough to file them as regular songs and playlists.

 

[broken_keyboard]

do you really think that the podcasting interface on iTunes will be enough to encourage people to want to listen to podcasts, want to obtain them through iTunes, and want to buy an iPod to listen to them...?

Yes. At the very least it will cause more people to give it a try, and if there is a show they really like they may buy a iPod just for that show.

 

[iMeowbot]

Yes. At the very least it will cause more people to give it a try, and if there is a show they really like they may buy a iPod just for that show.

And it works both ways. Podcasts aren't "invisible" any more, having them out in the open where normal people can see should encourage more content to appear.