Media Event, iMac, iPod Details and Notes

[Yvan256]

I thought the same thing. Too bad iPorn.com is already registered.

So is ipodvideoporn.com!

But you can still be l33t and register ipodvideopr0n.com instead.

 

[Evangelion]

If it's really Micheal Jackson who has the rights to the Beatles music, then why is his music on the iTMS, but not the Beatles'?

MJ has rights to re-publish Beatles-songs. As in, he has the rights to remake them and such. If he wanted to make his own version of "Help!" (for example) he could do it. But rights to the Beatles-songs performed by The Beatles belong to Apple Corps. And considering the bad blood between Apple Computer and Apple Corps, I'm not one bit surprised that The Beatles is missing from ITMS.

 

[Sbas]

Hi - I had the same problem (see prev post). Try this: go to the stream site where it shows SJ with the nano. Then hit reload. That did it for me - boom, the red curtain appears.

HTH,
S.

Thanks! Will try it when I'm home!

 

[twentyeight7]

Yes it is. the new iMac is about 1.5 inches thich (actually, it's thicker in the middle), while PowerBook is 1 inch thick. Right there, you have 50% advantage on the iMac. And that's HUGE. Not to mention that is also otherwise bigger than the PowerBook is, so there's lots more room for components and cooling inside iMac than in PowerBook.

and no battery!

 

[Yvan256]

*cough* MSN and ICQ may be the items of choice in Europe but in America AIM is the norm. Here it's impossible to find someone with ICQ or MSN buddy lists.

Cultural differences I guess.

Weird, because here in Canada I got almost no one on ICQ, 99% of the others on MSN, and nobody at all (or even heard of one) on AIM.

 

[EvilMole]

The things introduced today in themselves may seem like no big deal. The REAL BIG DEAL is the Media convergence of TV and Computer. Yes Microsoft has the Media Center, yes others have done a video playback handheld device, but none have been able to do anything with them until now.

Interesting definition of "not being able to do anything with them". With a Media Center/PMC combination you can record any program you like, in a non-copyprotected format. You can watch it, transfer it to a portable device, burn it to CD and/or DVD. I wouldn't call any of that "not being able to do anything", would you?

 

[Porchland]

Areas for improvement.

Wireless streaming of video to HDTV. This is a must, the Frontrow software is made for this, not the iMac.

Add movie rentals to iTunes. I want to download movies and watch them when I want to. Eliminate the lag with rental servies like Netflix and Blockbuster.

Add all this software to other Macs, or at least let the rest of us purchase it.

Turn the remote control into a Shuffle.

I could realistically see all of these things -- except maybe the last one -- come in the next year.

Apple's usual MO is to bring out a product or feature and then rapidly expand it over the next year to 18 months: Adding color to the iPod, starting with a decent library of music and ramping it up week by week, etc.

I think we'll see a new ABC show or two every week and then shows from the other networks and cable networks over the next six months. Apple now has leverage with ABC to get very favorable terms with the other networks.

I can also see this being a fantastic tool for the networks to move new viewers to a show that maybe missed the first episode or first 10 episodes and wants to catch up. It's a great bridge between DVD and next week's episode.

 

[Damek]

the day the 2006 ipod video is released, it is mine.
andreas

Same here. And same goes for the 2nd gen Intel iMac, unless of course there's a 2nd gen Intel Mac Mini coming out around the same time that features Front Row. Yeah, this probably won't be until 2007, but I wasn't planning on upgrading my computer until around then anyway... Definitely the iMac if there's one with a bigger screen resolution (HDTV capable). But that's not a biggie.

 

[Steamboatwillie]

In reading this thread, the following things occurred to me:

1. Apple should seriously consider building a wireless implementation of FrontRow as a set-top box and allowing DVD ripping in iTunes (MS plans to add ripping with DRM in Windows Vista).

Yes yes yes. I totally agree. Also make sure it supports HDTV and the various flavors of surround sound.

 

[EvilMole]

Apple should seriously consider building a wireless implementation of FrontRow as a set-top box and allowing DVD ripping in iTunes (MS plans to add ripping with DRM in Windows Vista).

AFAIK that's for HD-DVD only, using the "managed copy" system that the HD-DVD spec allows. However, as everyone but MS and Toshiba is supporting Blu-Ray, a format that retains the same DRM conditions of today's DVDs, it probably won't happen.

 

[jholzner]

I like the new iPod, just hope that it isn't too wide.

Well, if you read the top of this forum you will see that it is the same dimensions as the one it replaced. I think the screen being bigger makes it look wider.

 

[jholzner]

Ok ... so new iPod is actually the same H & W as the older iPods? That's very interesting! The screen really makes it look wider than it really is then.

No firewire support? How odd!

Something I don't think many have mentioned. There is no longer a remote jack, and the headphone jack is off to one side now. That means all the iPod accessories that run off the top jack have to be redesigned, like the iTrip, iTalk, etc. I rather like my iTalk!

Other than that, since they did keep the width the same, kudos for the increased battery life and improved thickness.

-OA

Yep, and the iTrip was released yesterday that will work with the new iPods...that's what I call fast! Only problem I see is that you can't charge it in your car while your using it so on long road trips that can be a problem.

 

[Porchland]

Apple could, technically supply a higher res and then they'd be downsampled for the iPod. The iPod screen need not limit what you can download.

IIRC, this is what iTunes/iPhoto does for photos that you download to the iPod.

I was surprised that the TV shows are not 640x480, i.e., suitable for TV, particularly since Steve demonstrated the iPod as a TV feeder and that the big buzz about H.264 is the scalability from HD all the way down to 2-inch screens.

Maybe it's more about the bandwidth.

 

[bishop99]

WSJ revealed DIS/AAPL content pact weeks before!

I wish I had brought this up earlier, all the Disney news was in the market from October 1st, check out the headlines from Page one of the Wall Street journal that day:

Better Mousetrap
In Shakeup, Disney Rethinks How It Reaches Audiences

Iger Seeks High-Tech Delivery Of Movies, TV Shows;
Theater Owners Worry

'Housewives' on a Handheld
By MERISSA MARR
Staff Reporter of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
October 1, 2005; Page A1

It was all right under our noses!

 

[njmac]

Indeed, Steve knows how to talk to an audience.

But that Disney CEO? He says too many things at once and uses way too many buzzwords. Hey, dude, this is a public presentation, not a board meeting where you have to impress others with how many buzzwords you can fit into a single sentence.

I couldn't watch him, I just had to fast-forward his part.

You are so right about that Disney CEO. I should have done a fast-forward too, his drivel was painful.

 

[sfhc21]

i´m very disapointed.
i need a laptop because i´m travelling a lot.
mine is too old now.
i will buy one in mid november.
i hope it´ll be an updated powerbook.
if not, good bye apple!!

If your laptop is too old, go ahead and buy one now. Minor speedbumps do not make that much of a difference and are certainly no reason to leave Apple. Good grief...

 

[sfhc21]

What do you expect? Downsizing would mean that the iPod has to decode into the original resolution before it can downsize the video... This would need a lot or processor power which an iPod doesn't have... and even if, the battery would be drained within a very short time. The 320x240 are a compromise...

Yep. But I think the iPod should handle videos the way it does photos...convert the videos to the proper size before it gets transfered onto the iPod. Then allow the option to include the full-res version. The iPod itself plays the converted 320x240 version. But if playing to a TV, it plays the 720x480 version. And on your computer, you can watch the full-res version as well...and hopefully one day be able to stream it to your TV.

Until that happens, I have no need for these iTunes Store videos...but I am pleased Apple has the ball rolling on this. It's sure to only improve as time goes on.

 

[Porchland]

I wish I had brought this up earlier, all the Disney news was in the market from October 1st, check out the headlines from Page one of the Wall Street journal that day:

Better Mousetrap
In Shakeup, Disney Rethinks How It Reaches Audiences

Iger Seeks High-Tech Delivery Of Movies, TV Shows;
Theater Owners Worry

'Housewives' on a Handheld
By MERISSA MARR
Staff Reporter of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
October 1, 2005; Page A1

It was all right under our noses!

Bob Wright at NBC Universal has made similar comments in recent weeks, i.e., that the company planned to have content available for download before the end of the year. Seems like, though, he was talking more about movies than TV.

The content possibilities are endless. Can you imagine bridge episodes of popular shows? Extra story lines from "Desperate Housewives"? Clues to "Lost"? Outtakes from sitcoms? I hope Apple weaves some free content in with the paid downloads a la the free music download of the week. Maybe add a show that's been running all season and make the first episode free to get people interested.

Exciting stuff.

 

[mheidt]

Some people can't imagine putting a desktop in front of the sofa.
I actually have no TV but a PowerMac G5 2.7, 23"Cinema Display and EyeTV (DVB-S).
It's perfect. Especially with a Widget you can control eye TV. Streaming to other computers like the powerbook...no problem...

The only thing that I was missing was a remote for all iLive apps and the Dashboard.

And now I'm dissappointed, because Front Row isn't Bluetooth but IR and cannot be used on my PowerMac. I assume that there is no API like they have for spotlight either in order to "FrontRowize" other apps like my TV-Widget. Hoping for the future...

And last but not least:
The resolution of the iMac isn't 1920x1080.
So where is the point for an iMac, especially because digital streaming resolution beneath HDTV really sucks and cannot replace the traditional TV.

 

[corbin_a2]

i´m very disapointed.
i need a laptop because i´m travelling a lot.
mine is too old now.
i will buy one in mid november.
i hope it´ll be an updated powerbook.
if not, good bye apple!!

Give me a break! Talk about overreacting! If you need a Powerbook so bad then buy one! If your computer is "too old" then the current Powerbooks will be a welcome upgrade for you. If you want the newest then you are making a choice to stick it out. You must not value the Apple platform much if you are willing to switch just because the Powerbooks wern't updated yesterday.

 

[neoelectronaut]

The eMac shall be missed. I sold 4 eMacs over the weekend alone to families that thought the iMac was too pricey and didn't want the Mac Mini due to it's lack of built-in display.

 

[Butts M Biggilo]

Wah, Wah, Wah

Well.. The new iMac looks awesome and provides great upgrades, but that ipod is sad, sad, sad.

What I’m waiting for is the new Powermacs & Powerbooks. Are they just going to start selling them or are we to expect another media event before their release? Perhaps a blue curtain with "Oops we forgot something."

Jesus, I think the ne iMac is faster than the powermac series. DDR2, pciexpress, who is going to buy a Pmac now.

I’m whining yes, no? My dual gig is dying... It takes 4 presses of the on button before it goes on. Aye... The freelance is building up, like cottage cheese on a French whore...

Butts

 

[Whyren]

The eMac shall be missed. I sold 4 eMacs over the weekend alone to families that thought the iMac was too pricey and didn't want the Mac Mini due to it's lack of built-in display.

I wonder how long it'll be before Apple releases a simple and small display for the Mac Mini like this one for the GameCube.

 

[swingerofbirch]

So much for the year of HD!

 

[Butts M Biggilo]

How many posts do u need

to become a regular?
Butts