New Apple Device in April?

[Sol]

iSticks 3

A smaller iSub and the current iSticks paired to the bubble speakers Apple sells could be a viable Dolby Digital solution, one that can provide an all-in-one solution comparable to the iPod. Imagine the next generation of Apple Displays if the display itself was a mono speaker that would be used as the central speaker in this sound system. Watching films would definatelly be a unique experience on a Mac then.

 

[docpsycho]

NOT BOSE!!!!

That what I was going to say. Could this be the rumored Apple/Bose alliance?

For those in the Higher end of sound equipment. ie not the cheap stuff at best buy and short circut city.

"NO HIGHS, NO LOWS..... MUST BE BOSE!!!!!!"

would love to see something from Boston Acoustics or API (Athena, Energy, Mirage)

a Quality Speaker for a Quality computer

 

[Game_Hunter]

Riddles in the sand...

Hello all,

I'm new. Be nice. It seems to me the best solution there can be to the quandry of this fabled new item is to be gained by adding a few persistent rumors together. I've seen a lot of smoke about some new set top box and here is a little something about an optical port add-on accessory item. Add them together with a pinch of "iTunes and iPods are the new Apple cash cow" and I smell this:

Apple will be releasing a home stereo component which connects to your computers' iTunes libraries allowing you to play them over your home stereo. The dongle/transmitter will connect to the rarely used optical out leaving your precious few USB, Firewire, and audio out ports untouched and available to your current accessory array.

Pure conjecture but if the shoe fits. The only problem I see with this guess is that it would be unlike Apple to create such a device if it had an awkward control interface. Apple has always put the interface as a high priority and with only the output of an audio signal no interactive iPod style control method could be implemented. Probably not what it is but it was a fun idea I had and wanted to share.


Christopher Rydberg (aka Game_Hunter)

 

[aswitcher]

This one is easy...it's a new set of Apple Speakers.

Well thats not a bad guess, especially if a new form factor iMac is on the way.

 

[Photorun]

Hopefully it's a device to stun yourself silly over the total lack of new Apple CPU hardware.

I'm predicting that sometime in the next 20 years Apple comes out with a new product, any takers?

 

[wdlove]

Hopefully it's a device to stun yourself silly over the total lack of new Apple CPU hardware.

I'm predicting that sometime in the next 20 years Apple comes out with a new product, any takers?

\

Now that is what I would call a safe prediction. It seems that everyone is on edge over the long dry spell.

 

[FlamDrag]

Hopefully it's a device to stun yourself silly over the total lack of new Apple CPU hardware.

I'm predicting that sometime in the next 20 years Apple comes out with a new product, any takers?

It's people like you -- with your unrealistic demands -- that make ruin web sites like this and stir everyone into a frenzy. 20 YEARS? We just got new computers last year and you're already hoping for something in the next two decades? You'll probably be upset if you have to wait 20 years and you ONLY get a dual 2.5 Ghz out of it too huh? What could you possibly need all that power to do? Safari? E-mail? Geez, I guess you can't please some people. </thick sarcasm >

 

[chriscorcoran]

It would be very intresting to see what will use the optical audio port on the powermac. Bose headphones and/or Spreakers for the mac branded by Apple would be nice. I dont know if an interface for gradgeband would really appeal to a large consumer audiance so i really dont see Apple releasing something like that.

Maybe it could have something to do with Apples "mystery box" that will intergrate into our home theater systems?

What do u think?

-Chris

 

[Gaffa Bug]

For those in the Higher end of sound equipment. ie not the cheap stuff at best buy and short circut city.

"NO HIGHS, NO LOWS..... MUST BE BOSE!!!!!!"

would love to see something from Boston Acoustics or API (Athena, Energy, Mirage)

a Quality Speaker for a Quality computer

How about a pair of Gershman Acoustics GAP 828's???

 

[lind0834]

Whoops.

Ok, so they won't be called Sound Sticks II.. how about Apple Pro Speakers Extreme.

The Airport Extreme is still the most recent aweful name Apple has come up with. I was hoping they'd use Extreme on more stuff... but it's to bad, i'm a fan of cheese

 

[nate13]

iPod speakers?

maybe a pair of iPod / iPod mini speakers!!! (white, round, powrefull but with optional battery slots for prevention of draining battery life)
still i am, as is everyone, hoping for a G5 update but its unlike apple to release it unannounced...
maybe little speakers that look like tiny g5s!!! fooll all your non educated friends that you have a cluster!!! lol
fingers are crossed...

 

[solvs]

I suggest you not read Page 2 then.

arn

Good one.

 

[DoubleA100]

Digital Audio Lifestyle device

Apple is overdue for another "lifestyle" device that has already existed for PC users.... I predict that apple will come out with a device that you can hook up to your home stereo that plays your digital music collection through your home-stereo via. blue tooth. It will be navigated in much the same way you navigate throught itunes, but with a super user-friendly remote. The PC ones that are out now (I think creative makes one) are what you would expect from a PC device - clunky, ugly, poor navigation, etc. Last month's Rolling Stone reviewed like 5 of these devices and they all seemed like things that Apple could take and make 100x better. We'll see though but that's one I'm hoping to see from apple, and I don't think the prediction is too far off...

http://www.popjunkie.net

 

[Sped]

Caught up on optical out

I think everyone is trying too hard to connect a new product with the optical out. Optical outs are nice for home stereo equipment because they reduce the necessary audio cables to one simple, elegant solution. I assume that is all Apple is doing here. If you have 5.1 source from a movie, game title, etc., then you can ship this directly to your home stereo with one simple cable.

Regarding a new Apple branded device, I have no clue. But, if Apple wanted to sell a home stereo component that linked your Mac with your stereo to play music and show photos, the best way to join the two would be via airport and not the optical out. Someone mentioned bluetooth but there isn't enough bandwidth there for the task and the range would be too short. I like bluetooth but it should be used to eliminate USB 1.1 and other low-bandwidth cables.

While we are on the subject, has anyone seen Roku labs Soundbridge? It has native rendezvous support for iTunes - pretty cool to see companies using Apple technologies more and more.

Sped

 

[hob]

Even this seems unlikely to have such a wide spread. If a secondary device is released then I hope Apple didn't create it. Let it be a third party product. They need to focus on getting the G5s moving, otherwise Apple will look like a fool come July - the promised one year mark.

I can see this being a potential "Air sucked out of the room" event, just like when Stevie announced the price of the iPod mini...

Yes, yes, I can see it now "We were... errr... having some problems with overheating... so this is the... err... annoucnement of the 3GHz PowerMac G5 Cube" and something 3x wider than the current G5 and resembling a Borg Cube pops onto the screen...

Sorry... I just love trainwreck tv

 

[wdlove]

For those in the Higher end of sound equipment. ie not the cheap stuff at best buy and short circuit city.

"NO HIGHS, NO LOWS..... MUST BE BOSE!!!!!!"

would love to see something from Boston Acoustics or API (Athena, Energy, Mirage)

a Quality Speaker for a Quality computer

It would be nice if Apple added high quality speakers along with the Mac. Maybe with the update Cinema Display to compliment the G5, they could offer built in Bose speakers.

 

[aswitcher]

I can see this being a potential "Air sucked out of the room" event, just like when Stevie announced the price of the iPod mini...

Yes, yes, I can see it now "We were... errr... having some problems with overheating... so this is the... err... annoucnement of the 3GHz PowerMac G5 Cube" and something 3x wider than the current G5 and resembling a Borg Cube pops onto the screen...

Sorry... I just love trainwreck tv

In 2003 strangely enough a large number of Cube PCs appeared, and were promoted on there form factor. Australian PC mag just had an article on them all. Again looks like apple were some years ahead of the competition...

 

[Sol]

Silent and mobile Cube

In 2003 strangely enough a large number of Cube PCs appeared, and were promoted on there form factor. Australian PC mag just had an article on them all. Again looks like apple were some years ahead of the competition...

I imagine that none of the Cube PCs are fanless. The fanless PC is something that was abandoned by Apple after the Cube was cancelled. With a focus on music these days, Apple should sell a silent Mac again.

Cube PCs in general could be a good mobile computing solution at least for large office environments. Just add batteries and a handle.

 

[aswitcher]

I imagine that none of the Cube PCs are fanless. The fanless PC is something that was abandoned by Apple after the Cube was cancelled. With a focus on music these days, Apple should sell a silent Mac again.

Cube PCs in general could be a good mobile computing solution at least for large office environments. Just add batteries and a handle.

No, all had fans, just cut down boxes.

Well a near silent box because of clever fan use as the G5 has attempted would seem the way to go. Although if they get liquid cooling working for the PowerBooks, then maybe that can be used to create an almost silent machine. Should be easier to put the plumbing into a larger box like a cube.

 

[Koodauw]

If this is true, can we anticipate optical ports on the next powerbook revision? If they are all about the music, why not add the wheel on the ipod to the powerbook as well? That way you can spin!! Combined with the optical port, the powerbook would be the party to go! Add booze and shake it (Repeat as necessary)

I actually like the idea of built in scroll wheel. Although where would you put it? I originally thought of in the palm rest, next to the track pad, but that would get in the way. Very interesting idea though.

 

[hayesk]

It would be nice if Apple added high quality speakers along with the Mac. Maybe with the update Cinema Display to compliment the G5, they could offer built in Bose speakers.

Apple used Bose for the 20th Anniv. Mac, but the iMacs and eMacs come with Harman Kardon speakers, I would imagine they would stick with HK.

 

[jefke]

Powermac G5 or new iBook

Hi

I'm looking after my first apple laptop.
I live in Europe and an iBook costs here 1200 Euro = 1450$. You see that it is a lot more. Now I'm waiting on the new iBook.

When will the powerbook G5 or iBook arrive?

A student from Europe

 

[iMan]

What could it be???

Just saw that Apple has one of the largest appearances at the NAB multimedia hall.
Now is certainly a good time for speculations, so here goes: NAB is a fairly large show (!) so this should be an item for general interest (if only one?). I would suspect something that made impact with the general public then - and something that suits NAB - an extension of the digital hub: the Apple solution for the Home Theatre. I see the Apple "big screen" (either a large LCD or a projector), a customized Apple/Bose soundsystem to plug in the G5 optical, a remote control thingie to access your mac from the couch, some kind of gadget that centers the mac in your multimedia life (like the Eyehome). And of course iTheatre Film Store - the new movie downloadable service from Apple

Anyway - I feel Apple is going more mainstream: the big announcements are increasingly appearing at "regular" shows and at Apples pace rather than at specific Mac-shows. The days of the Mac-only shows may have seen its glory...

I feel something big is coming for NAB. What do you others think?

 

[iMan]

Hi

I'm looking after my first apple laptop.
I live in Europe and an iBook costs here 1200 Euro = 1450$. You see that it is a lot more. Now I'm waiting on the new iBook.

When will the powerbook G5 or iBook arrive?

A student from Europe

he he, if we all knew
Both are up for revision in not too distant future - I would suspect the PB will see minor speed upgrades this spring. Afraid iBook will not until summer (but then who knows...)
The real upgrade we are waiting for is the PB G5 though Unfortunately that is at best in the fall it seems...

You can get crazy if you focus on buying at just the right moment I would wait for the PB now though... unless you need it now/soon - then just buy it, and ignore it when the first revision hits

 

[Sped]

Next digital lifestyle toy

Just saw that Apple has one of the largest appearances at the NAB multimedia hall.
Now is certainly a good time for speculations, so here goes: NAB is a fairly large show (!) so this should be an item for general interest (if only one?). I would suspect something that made impact with the general public then - and something that suits NAB - an extension of the digital hub: the Apple solution for the Home Theatre. I see the Apple "big screen" (either a large LCD or a projector), a customized Apple/Bose soundsystem to plug in the G5 optical, a remote control thingie to access your mac from the couch, some kind of gadget that centers the mac in your multimedia life (like the Eyehome). And of course iTheatre Film Store - the new movie downloadable service from Apple

Anyway - I feel Apple is going more mainstream: the big announcements are increasingly appearing at "regular" shows and at Apples pace rather than at specific Mac-shows. The days of the Mac-only shows may have seen its glory...

I feel something big is coming for NAB. What do you others think?

I love the way my mac provides one-stop shopping for my music, photos, and information (internet portal). The problem that I find and many of my friends do too is that I am separated from my family when I access all this great digital media because the computer is structured to provide one person data at a time. For example, computer screen sizes are generally no larger than 17" which allows a maximum of maybe 5 people to gather around and see digital photos/video. Although speakers designed for computers have improved dramatically since the days of the Apple IIe internal speaker, for the most part you don't see home users with 5.1 home theater quality speakers connected to their computers. Not that it isn't possible, you just don't normally keep you computer in the living room beside your entertainment system.

It's been mentioned before, but I would like Apple to create a device that brings all the digital media I have on my computer and makes it accessible to the rest of my family simultaneously. The only way to do that in my opinion is to stream data from the computer to that new device. 802.11 is a logical choice for this and fits in with Apple's airport technology although I think ethernet connectivity would be a plus for those who have wired home networks. I don't think the new device should have massive storage on its own but should rely primarily on the user's Mac for content. If the device had PVR capability it probably should have its own storage since some folks with older Macs undoubtedly don't want the majority of their hard drive used.

The other technology I would like to see taken advantage of is high definition. This new device must be capable of displaying a 720p/1080i signal. I don't want to see my 4 megapixel photos on 480i. Also, I don't want to have a PVR unless I can record HD. I just got a HDTV, and for those of you who haven't seen HD, I can only say it is simply incredible.

While we are talking about new technologies for this device, I want an HDMI connection. If you don't know, HDMI will allow you to connect a digital media device like a DVD, satellite receiver, etc. to a TV or home stereo receiver with a single cable. This will reduce the current 3 cables necessary for component video and up to 11 cables necessary for 5.1 sound to one single cable.

Lastly, is the user interface. This is where Apple should spend their own capital. The aforementioned technologies are off-the-shelf and Apple shouldn't spend any R&D to improve them. Apple should simply take these existing technologies and wrap them in a package that is uniqely Apple and an interface that won't scare my wife or parents.

Kind of a long post, but I would easily drop $1000 to get this device if it was as slick as an iPod.