New Time Capsules to Run iOS on A4/A5 Processors?

[Kelmon]

I'm not sure if this has already been posted (6+ pages of comments is too much for me to wade through) but I do hope that we'll be able to setup and administer an Airport/Time Capsule on an iOS device. I have no intention of giving up my iMac anytime soon but it would be convenient to be able to interact with my Airport Extreme without having to be in my office to do so. It would also be one less thing that would be needed so that giving up the computer itself would be possible.

 

[fpnc]

...But then there's the rest of us...Point being if the rest of the hardware is there, putting an HDMI port and an optical out port on it doesn't make it cost much more (very little actually) yet makes it much more versatile for those that might want to position it next to their TV instead of wherever they store their router now...

HobeSoundDarryl, would you like to revisit what you were strongly proclaiming 18 months ago when you insisted that Apple needed to ofter some form of Blu-ray and DVR support in the next Apple TV because you KNEW that was what the mass market really wanted?

Meanwhile, in that same thread (18 months ago) I proposed that the next Apple TV would be a simpler, steaming-only device, and then added that it would sure be nice if Apple also offered a standalone iTunes Server in a Time-Capsule-like format.

In any case, I do NOT expect that the next Time Capsule will offer HDMI and audio outputs (i.e. it won't add Apple-TV-like functions to its main purpose of being a file/media server). Probably the best we can hope for is that the next Time Capsule will have the ability to function as a full-fledged iTunes/media server that can be accessed both locally and over the internet (the latter being a personal cloud for your ripped CDs/DVDs and other files).

Then, beyond that, we could DREAM that they would offer that same iTunes server capability in a newly designed Airport Extreme (using the Extreme's externally attached storage). However, for a number of reasons I don't think Apple will allow that, the Extreme will probably remain a pretty standard wireless basestation and router with basic support for shared printing and storage.

They'll probably add support for AirPrint, so with one of the new Time Capsules or Airport Extremes you'll be able to print from an iPad/iPhone to just about any printer that is attached to either of those devices (i.e. no longer limited to HP's ePrint or needing a Mac to host the AirPrint service).

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

HobeSoundDarryl, would you like to revisit what you were strongly proclaiming 18 months ago when you insisted that Apple needed to ofter some form of Blu-ray and DVR support in the next Apple TV because YOU knew that was what the mass market really wanted?

fpnc, don't be picking fights and very selectively choosing old comments. I have never said they should build in Blu-ray & DVR support. What I have always said CONSISTENTLY is that TV would be better if it had enough openess in the hardware that should third parties like Elgato want to build add-on OPTIONS for those interested in features like BD and/or DVR, it should have that flexibility.

I ABSOLUTELY think it would be a mistake to force features like those on everyone, but I have always maintained that since there are pockets of people who wished the old (and the new) one had more versatility for their own needs, it should be opened up for software apps (to extend the software beyond where Apple wants to take it) and hardware (to extend the versatility beyond where Apple wants to take it). Both would be OPTIONAL extensions for each user, yet it would make the device much more appealing to anyone and everyone interested, selling more units, which would be good for Apple too.

I'm a believer in giving markets of buyers what they want. If some people would like to buy ONE box and also have the OPTION to add BD and/or DVR functionality, it would be better for Apple to have some way to also get their money instead of having them choose a BD and/or DVR with that money (they're spending) that happens to have some of the other features of TV. More TV units entrenched in homes becomes increasingly motivating to Studios to put more and more content on TV.

I've also always been arguing for a 1080p platform as a somewhat "future proof" version as that is the max standard (and will likely be it for a long time). A 1080p TV will play 720p iTunes "HD" just fine, but a 720p MAX (Apple capped) platform can't really cover this the other way.

So here's a chance for that to finally be realized as well, as apparently the A5 can output 1080p finally bringing Apple's set top box up to a max standard long in place, and pitting its output quality "head to head" against the "bag of hurt". A 1080p version gives all of that quality crowd what they want while still making it possible for the "720p is good enough" people to squeeze every bit of picture quality out of 720p video like iTunes rentals.

If it doesn't show up next week, then the wait continues for a 1080p platform TV or a good alternative should one pop up. If they would release the TV software so that it would run on a Mac Mini (new front row), I'd probably have already gone that way. Whether this box can ever work as a BD and DVR, I personally could care less, but I do think that if there are still sizable pockets of buyers interested in it covering those bases too, having the OPTION for them to get what they want is better than locking it down and locking companies like Elgato out.

I (personally) want a 1080p TV to replace the 720p-capped version I bought in 2007. Your "uncanny vision" of something close to what was released in version 2 still missed my personal target so Apple didn't get my money. With this batch of new rumors, there appears to be some chance for a third version which, if involving the A5, might finally give me the easy Apple UI running on hardware that can play back 1080 HD video I've been shooting on camcorders since about 2004-5, processing with Apple movie software as 1080 HD video and importing into iTunes at 1080 where it will play back just fine. I STILL need that last link in the chain between iTunes and the 1080p HDTV.

I want to give Apple some money next week if they deliver something great. iCloud? Lion? Rumors of those have not exactly lit me up but maybe reality will exceed rumors. However, THIS rumor... this rumor is something that will open my wallet immediately if it comes with 1080p... or even if we get new boxes exactly the same as the version out now but with 1080p instead of the "you're holding it wrong" type spins on why 720p MAX should be good enough. 720p caps chosen for me doesn't get my money.

 

[fpnc]

fpnc, don't be picking fights and very selectively choosing old comments. I have never said they should build in Blu-ray & DVR support...

I said that you had argued for "some form of Blu-ray and DVR support," I didn't quote you as saying that they [Apple] "should build in Blu-ray & DVR support." There's a subtle but notable difference in those two statements which you went on to highlight in the remainder of your post.

In any case, sorry if you were offended. However, I think you may be guilty of calling the "kettle black" here since in one of the previous threads on the future directions of the Apple TV you characterized a "very selectively" extracted portion of one of my post as "a big load of crap." Given that, I took a little guilty pleasure in pointing out that my "crystal ball" on the future of the Apple TV seemed to be working a little better than yours (in this particular case, I'm not claiming to have been 100% correct in all of my ramblings).

Well, case closed, I wasn't trying to pick a fight (as you put it), just recalling contrasts from the past.

 

[Gradivus]

Kill the Airport Extreme?????

I'd like to see the reverse. Give them the complete AppleTV treatment. Tiny $99 black boxes, no onboard storage. Put a bunch of USB ports on the back, all compatible with external hard drives or printers. Kill the Airport Extreme (or Time Capsule, depending on which name Apple wishes to keep.)

Tiny $99 black boxes. Check, though the colour is not important.

no onboard storage. Check

Put a bunch of USB ports on the back. Check, but you need a $10 USB hub

all compatible with external hard drives or printers. Check.

Kill the Airport Extreme. Errm? What you have just described matches the current Airport Extreme spec perfectly.

 

[twoodcc]

now this sounds pretty cool. i hope something like this happens

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

Given that, I took a little guilty pleasure in pointing out that my "crystal ball" on the future of the Apple TV seemed to be working a little better than yours (in this particular case, I'm not claiming to have been 100% correct in all of my ramblings).

Great. I never laid claim that the TV I described in those discussions would be the one I expected Apple to build. Apple builds things as they want their market to like them. If there are issues, we're "holding it wrong" or a format that provides higher resolution HD is a "bag of hurt", etc. If we don't like what they build as the "4th leg of the table" it later becomes a "hobby".

I bow to your brilliance in forecasting the TV that ended up being version 2. Because it failed to tap into the ONE benefit (1080p capability) that mattered to me personally, Apple did not get my money like it could have easily done "18 months ago". Because it was just as locked down as the first gen version, those wishing for options like BD and DVR functionality probably didn't buy one either as the version provided missed what they were hoping for too. So perhaps you and those who are happy with it as Apple dishes it out bought one and enjoyed it. Congratulations. Apple could have just sold a lot more of them if they had given it the ability to be extended by third parties (like I suggested).

So now, we have 3 working rumors of big things to be announced next week: iCloud, Lion and maybe some kind of Time Capsule-like home cloud device. The rumors surrounding iCloud seem nice but the flaw is in the cost of connecting to that iCloud anytime from anywhere (and this is not about what Apple wants to charge for iCloud). The iCloud begs for lots of streaming right when the owners of the pipes that connect to it are ramping up the tolls for bandwidth. That can't end well.

So far (IMO), Lion seems rather thin on the "gee whiz". I'd be expecting a big leap in features & benefits since Snow was mostly about underpinnings. Apple has had the time between Leopard and Lion to innovate features & benefits for Lion. Yet what has been shown so far seems thin (to me), apparently it's just about ready to be launched and developers are talking about it still having some ways to go to even be ready to launch. If it's about finished and rumors have been sparse about "wow" new features, is Apple doing a fantastic job of pinching off all rumor hints or is what we've already seen the potential lead benefits of what Lion is about?

Now some may be very excited about the above two, but I'm not feeling it myself based on all I've seen and read. However, just the hint of the possibility of a centralized iTunes server and maybe finally getting a 1080p-capable TV platform is very exciting (to me). Based on all I've seen & read about the big 3 to be rolled out next week, this is the one that has the best chance of getting my money on day 1. Perhaps the other 2 will look more appealing when fully revealed.

I already have an Airport and Time Capsule-like benefits with the attached drive. But I'd gladly pay a Time-Capsule like price premium for a centralized iTunes content server that might also double as a 1080p TV. Frankly, I'd be happy to pay the current Time Capsule price for the current TV with only a 1080p replacement chipset. Or I'd even pay up for a Mac Mini if Apple would roll out the TV interface as a new version of front row.

I'm sure I'll get to Lion and I'll wait to see if there is something truly "must have" with iCloud, but a central iTunes server seems like a great fit for lots of multi-computer households that use iTunes. I would think Apple could sell a lot of them.

 

[roadbloc]

Yey. Another thing to Jailbreak.

 

[frosty001]

has to be an iTunes server

All this talk of iCloud Music services is fine. However a simple solution for the masses allowing you to stream your own collection from your own server is much more of a game changer.

Much, much more.

For all of iTunes success the majority of music filling up iPods and iTunes library's are not iTunes purchases, so the ability to only have access to those purchases, is a nice little trick, but not game changing in the slightest.

Amazon, Google, Spotify and the rest cannot mimic the home server idea a new Time Capsule could offer. Apple has to do this.

i would happily pay a fee for this service too, but not the ability to just access iTunes purchases. It's less than 1% of my collection.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

I really think these rumors of a new Time Capsule device almost has to be that (iTunes server). And I bet the solution Apple has developed seamlessly blends home media NOT purchased via iTunes and purchased iTunes media in the iCloud so that one cannot really tell the difference when streaming the media.

That solves so many of the issues of the dream of it all being up in the cloud vs. the reality of how unlikely it would probably be for the music industry to approve potentially pirated media being made as accessible via an iCloud. That's why I think the "scan our libraries of non-purchased content" concept can't really play out. As someone else posted, if there is some kind of "Scan my library" component of iCloud that then fully unlocks access to master copies of everything in libraries, the pirates can somewhat "legitimize" the thievery by apparently paying only $25 for iCloud. I just don't see that happening.

On the other hand, your own local cloud for non-purchased content and the rest in iCloud with software making on-the-go access to both seamless and everybody gets most of what they want in the iTunes-biased cloud concept.

In the end, the biggest winners are probably AT&T and Verizon as Apple's take on a replacement Time Capsule and potentially $25/year probably will be dwarfed by all these "I want to stream everything from the iCloud" people burning through 3G bandwidth like never before.

 

[Awjvail]

I hope the current capabilities stay the same as well, though. And at the same or a lower price point.

I've only got one main computer so iTunes streaming isn't really important to me. What I need is the Time Capsule backup solution so that all my stuff isn't lost when my Mac craps out.

And I DON'T want it in the cloud. I don't feel like downloading 500gb of data when I want to restore my Mac.

 

[Lesser Evets]

But I'd gladly pay a Time-Capsule like price premium for a centralized iTunes content server that might also double as a 1080p TV. Frankly, I'd be happy to pay the current Time Capsule price for the current TV with only a 1080p replacement chipset.

I feel the same. Lack of 1080 on TV is the major flaw of the thing. I'd buy a new one for $99 if it came out with 1080. I'd buy a TimeMachine-AirPort-ATV for $299 if they get 1080.

Apple's lack of 1080 support shoves them back to 2005 territory. It's embarrassing--almost everyone has TVs that display 1080 high def. these days and soon everyone will have them. Yet Apple is still fooling with 720.

 

[zedsdead]

This is interesting. It will be the first iOS device not to use flash storage, or maybe it will have a hybrid setup.

 

[SockRolid]

The future of Apple TV? As in HDTV?

[...]
Separately, we've heard an unconfirmed tip that iOS 5 may finally be bringing wireless syncing to iOS devices, including the intriguing claim that the wireless syncing could be performed directly with the new Time Capsules, bypassing the need to sync with a specific computer. [...]

Two things: first, bypassing the need to sync with a specific computer is the best way to enable iPad to actually replace traditional computers (for consumers.)

Second, Time Capsule running iOS 5 would be more or less like Apple TV with a large amount of storage. It would be perfect for sending video, wirelessly, to multiple devices around the house. From iPhone / iPod touch all the way up to 60"+ HDTV screens.

Maybe that's what Steve Jobs meant when he said that the only way to change the stagnant TV set-top box industry is to "start from scratch, tear up the box, and redesign and get it to the consumer in a way that they want to buy it."

 

[SockRolid]

Bad 1080p = good 720p.

I feel the same. Lack of 1080 on TV is the major flaw of the thing. [...]

Yes, most 1080p content is better-looking that 720p content. It all depends on how good the signal is.

But do you really want to deal with the 2x data throughput requirement? Because 1080p requires about 2x the data just for that marginal improvement in quality. If your ISP is fast enough, then hey, knock yourself out. Many people's ISPs don't give them that kind of throughput.

 

[tuna]

I would just be excited because a router with an ARM Cortex processor in it will be much more powerful than the crap in the status quo linksys and netgear routers. I have owned 5 or more routers and not a single one could handle long term torrenting. They all freeze up sooner or later. Pieces of ****.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

But do you really want to deal with the 2x data throughput requirement? Because 1080p requires about 2x the data just for that marginal improvement in quality. If your ISP is fast enough, then hey, knock yourself out. Many people's ISPs don't give them that kind of throughput.

This argument has been hashed out 1000 times in other threads. Just because some want a 1080p TV doesn't automatically require that all ISPs everywhere must upgrade their hardware, nor that 1080p content must be forced on everyone, nor that iTunes must start offering 1080p content, etc, any more than putting the latest quad cores and graphics cards in new computers require all software everywhere be updated to take full advantage, or building combined 3G & 4G tech into iDevices requires 4G to be available everywhere one might go on the planet, etc.

If you are happy with 720p "as is", a 1080p TV will still be able to play your 720p content at it's fullest. Those of us that want the OPTION for 1080p playback can't make 720p capped hardware cover OUR desires. You lose NOTHING with a 1080p platform. Buyers like myself gets something applicable to our needs. And Apple sells more units to the crowd that doesn't agree that "720p is good enough".

To point though, in my own case, the #1 reason I want 1080p TV is because I've had >720p HDTVs for about 8 years now and I've been shooting precious home movies in 1080HD on consumer camcorders for about 6 years now. Apple gives us iMovie which can import it at 1080, edit it at 1080 and render a 1080 file. That file will go right into iTunes and play there just fine. It would be so nice if the LAST link between iTunes and my 1080HDTV could be an TV capable of passing those files along (rather than having to down convert them).

NOTE how I wouldn't even need access to the Internet at all (ZERO bandwidth requirements) for that to work, nor would iTunes have to rent 1080p content, nor would YOU have to deal with 1080p storage issues, etc. But even if Apple decided to allow the addition of 1080 content to iTunes, it would just be an OPTION, much like you can still choose between 720p and SD options for most of the video in the store now. Don't want to download the bigger file? Choose the 720p or SD version. Constrained Internet connection where you live? Choose the 720p or SD option version. Not enough hard drive space for the 1080p version? Ditto. Etc.

 

[sampdoria]

If the Time Capsules run iOS, there will be so much potential for media streaming. Especially once the jailbreak community gets a hold of it. I'm really looking forward to seeing how this is implemented.

All this talk of iCloud Music services is fine. However a simple solution for the masses allowing you to stream your own collection from your own server is much more of a game changer.

Much, much more.

For all of iTunes success the majority of music filling up iPods and iTunes library's are not iTunes purchases, so the ability to only have access to those purchases, is a nice little trick, but not game changing in the slightest.

Amazon, Google, Spotify and the rest cannot mimic the home server idea a new Time Capsule could offer. Apple has to do this.

i would happily pay a fee for this service too, but not the ability to just access iTunes purchases. It's less than 1% of my collection.

You can stream movies stored in the Time Capsule to iOS devices without jailbreaking and equally as important without iTunes. It requires an app called "Air Video" (free or paid version) installed on your iOS device and "Air Video Server (beta)" (this is free too) installed on your Mac or PC. I've been doing this for some time and now and it works very nicely with no problems!

Basically it lets you stream movies of any format (m4v, avi, mkv, etc) from wherever it is stored (the Time Capsule in this case) to any iOS device through wifi or remote access! And if you have an ATV, you can AirPlay it from your iOS device to ATV. All of this without intervening iTunes or jailbreaking. You do need to have "Air Video Server" running on your computer though and I do wish it did other media besides video, such as music, photos, PDFs, docs, etc. I've read "Orb" can do this, but it does not AirPlay and seems buggy (it gets bad reviews).

I would welcome from Apple the ability to stream media to iOS devices, locally and remotely, directly from the TC (or AEBS) without the need of iTunes or a Mac or PC running. You can still remote access from a Mac to the TC through afp protocol which I do a lot of as well. In the meantime, I get by with Air Video pretty nicely.

 

[Lesser Evets]

If your ISP is fast enough, then hey, knock yourself out. Many people's ISPs don't give them that kind of throughput.

Sure is fast enough. But, that's aside from the point: the tech of ATV is lagging the reality of the TV. Who doesn't want the best available? Apple should cater.

 

[fpnc]

We may be running a bit too far with these rumors concerning the changes to the Time Capsule and/or Airport Extreme. Given the range of reports that we've seen so far I don't think that there is any reason to expect a new Apple-TV-like device with attached storage.

At best, Apple may offer a newly redesigned Time Capsule with standalone media streaming capabilities for use within your local network. But, it could be too much to expect for Apple to provide a service that would allow you to stream your locally-hosted content out over the internet. I'd very much like to see such functionality but as with nearly all Apple rumors the reality will probably not meet with the loftier speculation.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

At best, Apple may offer a newly redesigned Time Capsule with standalone media streaming capabilities for use within your local network. But, it could be too much to expect for Apple to provide a service that would allow you to stream your locally-hosted content out over the internet. I'd very much like to see such functionality but as with nearly all Apple rumors the reality will probably not meet with the loftier speculation.

http://www.pogoplug.com/ I bet Apple could do this better.

New Time Capsules on A5 seem to be a miss-timed rumor if all they are are new TCs. An iTunes-centric iCloud would be a big let down if they can't resolve the non-iTunes-purchased content issue. I almost can't imagine that the music industry would approve any kind of access to one master copy of everything on our computers if there was not some solid way to verify it was purchased media- even if Apple gave them a couple hundred million each and all of the rumored $25/yr.

Apple should easily anticipate the big complaint about iCloud iTunes if it is limited to just iTunes-purchased content. Massive digital lockers for us all to upload our entire libraries don't seem to be the way (besides, then Apple would run the risk of hosting and facilitating pirated music if it's stored on their servers- something that will probably come to bite Amazon & Google's version of this soon). I doubt some "terms of service" could be structured to completely "hold harmless" Apple along these lines.

Now, pull all that together. Deliver an iTunes server option within this new TC replacement. Lots of multi-computer & iDevice households would probably be interested in a Drobo/Unraid simplified by Apple (besides only Apple can do one that can fully cover the protections for media demanded by the owners of the media purchased from the iTunes store). It seems to be a simple solution: a local cloud for non-iTunes purchased media (on a home server each person owns) and a central iCloud (on servers Apple owns) for purchased iTunes media blended seamlessly so that users can't even notice what bits of your media are streaming from each cloud. The legal issue remains "as is" now, with people making their own decisions about putting their non-iTunes-purchased media in their own cloud (Apple would have a literally (very long) arms reach relationship between a central iCloud and each user's local iCloud). Lastly, if this functionality is hardware dependent, it creates a pretty tangible reason for many to BUY NEW HARDWARE to replace AEBS and TCs in place now.

I could see all this next week to make iCloud have much greater appeal.

It is harder to see the TV possibilities mixed in as well. But then again, if it really is going to centrally store all of a households iTunes media in one place, adding an HDMI and optical audio port out and multitasking some software already running on the very same iOS hardware platform would not be complicated or costly.

Lastly, if A5 can push out 1080p it seems a waste to not leverage it in some kind of updated TV device. If not next week, then hope should build for the Fall.

Note: your prediction has a much better chance than the above non-prediction of panning out. However, just like that 1080p discussion from 18 months ago, something more like the above will draw money out of my pocket to replace the AEBS w/attached hard drive I use now. If it's just new TCs on different hardware (much like the "new" 720p capped AppleTV relative to its 720p capped predecessor), it seems my money would stay put (again). More simply, my money would be all over a 1080p AppleTV and/or a centralized iTunes server rolled out next week, next month or next year. I fully understand that I alone am not a market, but I doubt on THOSE 1-2 products that a market for them is only 1 person deep.

 

[jonnysods]

Pleeeeease let existing users run a software update if this is true.

 

[manu chao]

You can stream movies stored in the Time Capsule to iOS devices without jailbreaking and equally as important without iTunes. It requires an app called "Air Video" (free or paid version) installed on your iOS device and "Air Video Server (beta)" (this is free too) installed on your Mac or PC. I've been doing this for some time and now and it works very nicely with no problems!

I have done it myself but the actual streaming (ie, the intelligence, the processing, the actual code running that makes that possible) is done by your computer (which has to be on). Of course, your computer can pull the actual files from anywhere, including a NAS like the TC, and of course, the WiFi router over which your iOS devices connect can be a TC.

This TC as iTunes home server suggested by this rumour has one neat convenience nobody mentioned so far (maybe it is too obvious): If you use your TC already for TM and don't exclude your media library, all the files are already on your TC, ie, no extra space is needed for this.

 

[chercm]

Pleeeeease let existing users run a software update if this is true.

same feeling here too ....

 

[Brettatkinson]

I hope this is true!

Man i hope this is true. I just bought a AEBS. I really wanted to get a Time Capsule but was swayed by all the negative reviews. So if they roll out a new line of Time Capsules then i'm stoked and will return my AEBS.