New Apple 'Communicating Device'?

[xj9000]

if this thing has nothing to do with the announcement on the 28th it will be a good month before it is released (if that). Why would apple announce a radically new music service, to only a week later release a new device?

My guess is that IF this has nothing to do with the 28th announcement we won't see it until mid-may... and remember apple still has stuff in the bag for WWDC, and iBooks to release before august also.

 

[pyrotoaster]

Arn knows something we don't know...

I'd put my money on something like Macwhisper's 8-inch mini-tablet. Very al la Newton.

 

[eric_n_dfw]

Originally posted by xj9000
if this thing has nothing to do with the announcement on the 28th it will be a good month before it is released (if that). Why would apple announce a radically new music service, to only a week later release a new device?

My guess is that IF this has nothing to do with the 28th announcement we won't see it until mid-may... and remember apple still has stuff in the bag for WWDC, and iBooks to release before august also.

My guess:
A firewire camera/microphone and updated Cinema Displays with a Firewire 800 hub in them. This would include a new verstion of the ADC which pumps FireWire 800 down the same (albiet crowded) cable as the current DVI/Power/USB cable does. Fighting interference might be a problem, but I'm sure it could be done.
iChat get's updated with videoconferencing capabilities. (and maybe Yahoo! Messenger, please )

The new display would also have FireWire 800 & 400 ports (1 of each?) on the back or side so you could plug your video camera right into it.

Lastly, this will have no relation to the music rumors and may be release at a separate time.

 

[segastyle]

common inputs...

the ONLY inputs a cinema display and any other mac have in common are the usb ports.

cinema displays have an adc IN. powerbooks have a dvi OUT. perhaps the powerbooks dvi slot can take input as well?

well, a web cam sounds possible, but i hope that's not the case. what i've been hoping for by apple is a small video recorder/player similar to the one coming from rca in june. theirs runs on a version of windows. i'd rather have run that could easily interact with macs like the ipod so i can burn dvds or video cds...

 

[mgescuro]

Apple Camera

From what I hear, it's an Apple Web Camera, but really very high quality. Nothing more than that. It is integrated into iChat. Unknown if it is USB or FireWire though.

 

[jettredmont]

Originally posted by jethroted
What I want to know is if it's a communicating device, and it's not a pda or cell phone, then what else could it be?

A walkie-talkie?

 

[wrylachlan]

iPod II

What about an iPod with the ability to connect to a monitor or projector and play back Keynote presentations? The device I'm seeing is a Firewire to ADC or DVI converter. The iPod itself won't be able to play video, it's screen is too small, but it can play it externally.

 

[network23]

Yeah! Imagine if you had one "main computer" and then multiple users could log in to the main computer from "dumb terminals" and "share time" on the main computer. That would be revolutionary. If this were 1961. But it's not.

PCs (as in personal computers, as opposed to mainframes) are cheap. Everybody gets their own (or two, or three).

Except, Macs are not cheap and this may be Apple's way of providing a cheap computer to the masses! I've got two "house" Macs and an Audrey (which I have to work real hard at to get it to play nice with the Macs) and would like to add another, but all I can afford right now is a used Mac of some capability in the $3-400 range. I'd much rather use that to buy an external thin client (sounds much better than dumb terminal) that works with OS X than a used Mac that may not.

 

[Scott.Melendez]

Question...(new iPods rumors)

If the rumor is true, does this mean the new iPods will be available immedately or just announced? (Newbie here...)

 

[eric_n_dfw]

Re: Question...(new iPods rumors)

Originally posted by Scott.Melendez
If the rumor is true, does this mean the new iPods will be available immedately or just announced? (Newbie here...)

yes

 

[Scott.Melendez]

Umm...yes to which one?

They will be available immediately? So on the 28th I can run down to CompUSA and get it?

Thanks.

 

[Scott.Melendez]

Umm...yes to which one?

The iPods will be available immediately? So on the 28th I can run down to CompUSA and get it?

Thanks.

 

[eric_n_dfw]

Re: Umm...yes to which one?

Originally posted by Scott.Melendez
They will be available immediately? So on the 28th I can run down to CompUSA and get it?

Thanks.

Sorry - I was beening a wise-cracker. Nobody knows - if they did, it would not be a rumor. (And the person who said it would probably had broken an NDA and would be in trouble with uncle Steve.)

 

[Scott.Melendez]

Ah..

A little slow today...

Thanks for your quick response!

 

[eric_n_dfw]

Re: Ah..

Originally posted by Scott.Melendez
A little slow today...

Thanks for your quick response!

'salright.

Back to your question - Apple's record is all over the place on this. They rarely - if ever - anounce anything before you can order it, but once anounced, sometimes it's available right away, sometimes not. Often times, if multiple versions of the item are anounced, the top-o-the-line models have a wait time on them while the lesser models are available right away.

 

[Escher]

Originally posted by Scott.Melendez
They will be available immediately? So on the 28th I can run down to CompUSA and get it?

Scott: Well, Think Secret is reporting that there will be special event at Apple Stores (and possibly retailers) on Friday evening, May 2. I don't think you will be able to buy a new iPod at the announcement on April 28, but hopefully starting with the May 2 in-store events.

Escher

 

[mk_in_mke]

portable camera by Apple

It's a portable camera:

Stay home: communicate using IChat

Go out: capture images

Come back home: download them using the USB ports...

Question is: Look, design and Capacity...

 

[noel4r]

i'm not expecting too much from this. probably, just a web cam. although, that would be nice.

 

[beatle888]

Re: SVideo?

Originally posted by eric_n_dfw
Since when do Apple display's have SVideo connectors?

oh wait your right. hehe sorry.

 

[pyrotoaster]

You want a camera? It's been done (yes, by Apple).

I'm talking about the Quicktake digital cameras Apple made in the Newton era. They took poor Quicktime pics, although it was revolutionary for their time.

I doubt Apple will just release a camera, although it would be cool if they built one in as a feature, in a device like a mini-tablet.

 

[Wonder Boy]

Re: iPod II

Originally posted by wrylachlan
What about an iPod with the ability to connect to a monitor or projector and play back Keynote presentations? The device I'm seeing is a Firewire to ADC or DVI converter. The iPod itself won't be able to play video, it's screen is too small, but it can play it externally.

that would be hot

 

[eric_n_dfw]

Re: iPod II

Originally posted by wrylachlan
What about an iPod with the ability to connect to a monitor or projector and play back Keynote presentations? The device I'm seeing is a Firewire to ADC or DVI converter. The iPod itself won't be able to play video, it's screen is too small, but it can play it externally.

How about an iMac/iBook style video out port?

 

[berlinm]

Remote control?

Maybe it's some kind of rendezvous remote control? One that could control your DVD playback and your iTunes library? This would be a great advancement to bringing the computer up to the main device in your living/tv room. Remember the Gateway 2000 computers that had the 36" tv/monitor? They had a remote that acted like a mouse. It was a little cumbersome but you didn't have to go up to the computer to work it and you could do whatever you wanted with the remote. I'm not saying make the new remote like a mouse, but think of the time saved and how many more people would put computers in their living room if they had a 23" widescreen LCD with a remote that could control the entertainment aspects of their computer? Just a thought...

 

[pyrotoaster]

MacUnderground thoughts...

Here's a piece of my speculation from MacUnderground. You can read the whole thing there.

I'm guessing that we're looking at something al la Macwhispers 8-inch mini-tablet, with Bluetooth and AirPort Extreme connectivity. With any luck, it would utilize Rendezvous for fast syncing (not that I have anything against iSync).

Obviously, Inkwell would be the main source for input, although I wouldn't rule out a USB port, which would allow users to add a keyboard. I also wouldn't be surprised if Apple tossed in a Firewire port for super-fast wired transfers.

Think low-end iBook, minus the whole book part.

 

[bigduke6]

Enough Already

In the past two weeks I've read from "reliable sources" about new iBooks, new eMacs, new iPods, a new music service, Apple buying this and not buying that, and now this little story. Maybe Apple should sent a little more times bringing there current product line up to par before attempting to add a bunch of new stuff. And for the ones who believe the current line is the best out there pull your head out of the sand and stop listening to the Iraqi information minister.

iBooks (which I have and love) need to be brought up to take advantage of OS X. eMacs needs a good CRT screen, 12 AlBooks need to be shipped with open mittens and please don't even get me started on the PowerMacs. Apple is starting to go from a "excellent computer" that you MUST have to a "pretty computer" that I will check out in the store then go home and work on the old stuff.

My two cents and some change.