CDs and DVDs are too ubiquitous for Apple to suddenly drop support for them, but if both technologies came out today I doubt Apple would support either one. IMO, Apple is pushing their distribution method and giving the cold shoulder to Blu-Ray because using the iTMS further pulls people into Apple's walled garden which in turn sells more hardware and makes it more difficult for customers to leave. I mean, if someone's 'digital life' incorporates an iPad, iPhone,
TV and uses iTMS heavily there has to be a very, very big incentive for them to leave for a competitor's product.
Can Apple be a leader of the pack when it comes to distribution via physical media? No. Can Apple be a leader of the pack when it comes to distribution via the internet? Yes. This is the same reasoning why I think Apple has put the development of the iDevices ahead of 'traditional' computers the past few years because the potential for major growth is in these mobile computing areas.
Apple is also trying to get away from 'old media' in other ways as well. Although more superficial than anything is Apple dropping the CD-based icon from iTunes. More telling though is what Apple has, or more accurately has not, done for DVD Studio Pro and iDVD. DVD SP has been at version 4 since 2005 and no one would know iDVD is still a part of iLife going by the Back to the Mac presentation recently. Apple doesn't want you to burn your home movies to DVD they want you to share them to other iDevices. Of course this necessitates owning said devices which brings me back my 'walled garden' point from earlier.
Lethal
Why should I or any other Apple customer and creative professional concern myself with Apple's marketing strategies and even defend them on the sole basis of their being insanely successful?
What's good for Apple isn't necessarily good for us and our business!
Although the answers might shatter my longtime Apple loyalty, these are the only questions that really matter to me:
- Does Apple still present the best hardware and OS solutions for my work?
- Will Apple keep on investing in hardware and software for creative content creators (video, graphics, music), or will that support be neglected even further than it already has?
Apple's openly declared non-commitment to BluRay, their stubborn resistance to offer more choices for their high-end users, the stagnant development of FCS and their reluctance to implement new technology (except of course for proprietary Apple stuff) let me seriously doubt that!!!
Apple's half-hearted "Back to the Mac" ploy didn't erase these doubts one bit...
I found Cook's lame argumentation very telling: He basically said that Mac sales are still way too good for them to drop the Mac business. But the uninspired Lion presentation then offered absolutely no proof that they are really trying to put serious efforts back into the Mac. This was not even applause-worthy.
They are probably thinking: Why putting more efforts into a money making machine that obviously sells by itself, even when built with yesterday's components?
Unsurprising the highlight of the show was again a brilliantly (re)designed ultra-portable laptop aimed at low end users and business travelers.
The dumbification of iLife also went one step further. While you still barely got half of the editing functions of iMovie 06 back, this toy for dummies at least can now generate trailers. WOW!
It seems iLife 11 has the sole purpose to lure computer illiterates to the Mac and to force anybody with aspirations that go beyond bare basics into buying FCE, FCS, Aperture and Logic. They know well it's not even worth 49 bucks...
All Apple has to do is simplifying and pricing down their formerly known as Pro Solutions for these less demanding customers (aspiring amateurs) while leaving the professional content creators with their annoying and expensive demands in the hands of Adobe, Avid & Co. and let them roast in Windows hell!
Apple is no longer in need to produce "the best computer in the world" when the best tablet, the best phone and the best media player will do just fine...
