Steve Jobs Suggests Blu-ray Not Coming to Mac Anytime Soon

[Atlantico]

As such, the issue as Apply may then see this is not that (BD's) DRM is "Bad", but rather that Apple is fine to have DRM so long as it is Apple's DRM. That's the vertical integration (and control) aspect.

From there, it is my speculation that a possibility is that Apple has considered proposing to the BD Standards Board for them to accept FairPlay (Apple's DRM product) as an alternative (or replacement?) for their in-house DRM product.

Nice theory and it could be plausable if not for one tiny thing, and I realize you don't have the crucial answer that could make it make sense, but: why FairPlay? That Apple is a complete sucker for vertical integration is very true, but only when it makes sense. (like the A5 for the iPad)

FairPlay (yes it is an ironic name for a DRM scheme) doesn't seem to add any particular value or influence for Apple. FairPlay isn't supported outside Apple as far as I know, so it isn't something Apple is trying to prolifirate (on the contrary).

In other words, how exactly would Apple profit if FairPlay was supported by BD? I don't see it.

Yes, there's a difference. As a customer, I have the right to complain about a poor product.

But as merely customer, I also recognize that I don't have the right to know all of the detailed reasons whys the manufacturer has chosen whatever particular set of trades that he chose for that product (or customer service).

Fine, that would normally be quite reasonable, except this is a Mac rumors forum (although fast becoming iOS rumors forum) and if there is any place where it is appropriate to as the question "why is it like this", it would be here - and we both seem to agree that I as a customer have every right to complain in any case.

However this decision of Apple to shun BD is far more illogical and weird than most gripes one could have with any company. Even if your theory is correct, because I'm pretty sure Apple supports the DVD DRM even though it wasn't made by them.

Likewise. Insofar as the picture, having a copy of Wisdom of the Netherlands probably won't at all help, since you didn't recognize the pattern, nor the point.

If having that book does not help, why mention it? Furthermore, what would make you think this book is a normal thing to own? Also, why should I have recognized that pattern?

I can only assume that the point was some attempt at a toilet humor. I've seen better.

BTW, if BD won't be introduced with the next Mac Pro upgrade (assuming there will be a Mac Pro upgrade) despite Steve Jobs being gone (retired or whatever) then I think it is safe to say that BD won't come to the Mac.

I don't think BD will be introduced while Steve Jobs is at the helm, for whatever reason, he talks about this tech like it killed his mother. There's no reasoning with people like that.

 

[xbjllb]

I don't think BD will be introduced while Steve Jobs is at the helm, for whatever reason, he talks about this tech like it killed his mother. There's no reasoning with people like that.

He will be gone soon enough, and Apple-Mattel will come out of the Dark Ages and leave the frisbees and iToys to lesser manufacturers who can do it cheaper, better, and without Job's psycho aversions.

There is a middle line between being a fad toymaker and THE cutting-edge computer maker, and Jobs fell off that tightrope years ago.

Hopefully he won't be climbing up again.

 

[mBox]

He will be gone soon enough, and Apple-Mattel will come out of the Dark Ages and leave the frisbees and iToys to lesser manufacturers who can do it cheaper, better, and without Job's psycho aversions.

There is a middle line between being a fad toymaker and THE cutting-edge computer maker, and Jobs fell off that tightrope years ago.

Hopefully he won't be climbing up again.

Mr. Ballmer is that you? LOL!

 

[toke lahti]

This was nearly a year ago... Steve meant it when he said "No time soon".

Ok,
if "no time soon" has already gone, maybe next upgrade...

 

[toke lahti]

However, if we're going to take a broader view on things, all of those iPads and iPhones also don't have built-in optical drives...how are they selling these days, and in comparison to the non-Air Macintosh computers

Apple is also selling lots of replacements for mouse and at the same time mouses.
Optical drives don't have to dead, even if they are not so important to many people and devices.

What is unknown (by us here in MR) is the potential lifecycle cost impact(s) on OS X for a feature that has been reported to have a "Bag of Hurt" in legal provisions and for which some (seemlingly significant) percentage of the customer base doesn't have a compelling need for.

I think the licensing fees are pretty much known.

 

[DisMyMac]

He will be gone soon enough, and Apple-Mattel will come out of the Dark Ages and leave the frisbees and iToys to lesser manufacturers who can do it cheaper, better, and without Job's psycho aversions.

If you think Tim Cook is better... His last name is (nearly) a palindrome. He doesn't happen to enjoy women. The iPhone could bring us a cashless world. Their logo is a bite from an apple (forbidden sin). The Apple-1 price was... look it up.

All of these were signs in Revelations. The best way to understand this is by 2001's "Hal", a machine that turned against humanity. I believe the movie wasn't just science fiction - it had a crucial message that Arthur C. Clarke desperately wanted to tell.

None of this mattered to me until Apple became so big, by some measures the #1 company in the world...

 

[rhett7660]

If you think Tim Cook is better... His last name is (nearly) a palindrome. He doesn't happen to enjoy women. The iPhone could bring us a cashless world. Their logo is a bite from an apple (forbidden sin). The Apple-1 price was... look it up.

All of these were signs in Revelations. The best way to understand this is by 2001's "Hal", a machine that turned against humanity. I believe the movie wasn't just science fiction - it had a crucial message that Arthur C. Clarke desperately wanted to tell.

None of this mattered to me until Apple became so big, by some measures the #1 company in the world...

Oh lord really?

 

[AidenShaw]

Mr. Ballmer is that you? LOL!

Wouldn't Ballmer hope that Apple continues the obsession with Itoys and continues to neglect the pro market for computers?

If you think Tim Cook is better... His last name is (nearly) a palindrome. He doesn't happen to enjoy women.

Perhaps having a gay CEO will be good for Apple - for much of the time that the logo was a rainbow apple, the company stood for cutting edge machines.

Now the logo is monochrome, and the computers are pretty but boring.

Oh lord really?

Let me fix that for you...

Oh Lord, really?

 

[toke lahti]

well judging by the record sales of macs (and no blurays) vs the declining pc market (which has bluray) yeah I would say the majority don't care about bluray support. They may want it or wouldn't mind it, but it's obviously not a deal breaker...

also reports of dvd still outselling bluray (5-1 last i heard), the fact that dvd/bluray sales as a whole are down, while downloads of movies (via itunes and the like) are up also conflict with your notion.

Do you really think that macs would sell less if there would be bd as bto?

Dvd/bd sales are down because and less than box office sales.
Reason is pretty simple: new movies were quite boring.
Otherwise both could not go down.
Downloads are up only because they are a drop in an ocean. It's pretty easy to double to two drops, but it doesn't still make a difference.

 

[toke lahti]

so find a slot loading bluray drive that will fit inside the macbook pro and maybe you will see why apple does not give you the option... they don't even exist! Not really a misconception anymore eh?

If apple would order one million units, slim bd-drives would be very cheap.
Apple does same thing with many "high-end" components, like screens, flash, etc.

 

[JAT]

The iPhone could bring us a cashless world.

Because they cost so much we won't have cash?

 

[toke lahti]

So let's start the clock for 4K in that "lab" phase now, we may see something that doesn't cost as much as a small car by 2020. And given the bitrates of 1080p Blu-Ray can reach 50-60 megabits, let's assume 4x that and allow for a more efficient codec than H.264 in the future and make it only 2x, and we probably are looking at another physical format beyond Blu-Ray. As far as OTA delivery, the bandwidth already can't handle 1080p so what do we do, another repartitioning of space, a new standard past ATSC, a new transmission codec, more dealing with the FCC for spectrum? Good luck.

So, have you followed how broadcasting tech has advanced in Europe?
First we got mp4(h.264), which doubles the efficiency. Now we just had dvb-t2, which also doubles the efficiency (just like dvb-s2 & -c2).
So maybe it's just US that is stuck in that 90s' ATSC tech...
Technically this is so sad that we are still dealing with interlacing and overscanning after a decade of fully digital content production.

Anyway, the "format beyond bd" is already here, it's called bdxl and maybe they even start to distribute movies with bdxl2 or what ever the third version will be.
But the main point is that there is much more and important things in video quality than megapixels. Quite the same than with cameras. Megapixels don't tell much anymore.
Next video standard needs wider gamut and deeper bit depth. Replacing YCbCr with rgb would also be wise. Maybe they should just adopt DCI.
Resolutionwise going from ntsc to 1080p is about 8x, when from 1080p to 4k is only about 4x. Considering that in most cases that would be unnoticeable in common use with natural content, it will not be enough for a new standard. It will come when all aspects are wrapped up in new packet that won't add much to the price or hurt the bag as much as bd in the beginning.
Maybe sony has learn't to be a bit more patient in its greediness...

 

[toke lahti]

4. Digital Copies. Most new major blockbuster Blu-rays include Digital Copies of the film. They recognize that with portable devices you need files, not discs. People don't care about quality as much when you become more portable. The convenience of not having to carry around a package of Blu-rays outweighs the quality loss.

Yep,
I have Finnish account in iTunes. Our iTS offers zero hd movies to us. I can't even redeem my digital copies of bd purchases with mac, since I'd need to have British account to iTS. Surprisingly I can get digital copy with windows...

5. Screen Size. True 1080p requires at least 1080 lines of resolution as well as specific view distance from the screen. Most computers don't even meet these standards. I wouldn't even care about watching Blu-ray on anything less than a 27'' iMac... otherwise it's nearly pointless.

If your screen has more resolution than your ntsc-dvd, then you will benefit "better-than-ntsc-resolution" format. So is your screen's resolution bigger than 720x480?

 

[joeprat]

Call him greedy, call him stupid but Steve is the boss

 

[toke lahti]

I know RED has said that they want to see 2012 as the year of 4K in the home and that they'll make a 'consumer' 4K projector if no one else does so we'll see what happens...

Judging from how fast they are getting Scarlet ready, if they start developing that 4k projector next year, it will be out before x-mas 2019!

 

[DisMyMac]

Because they cost so much we won't have cash?

Heh. While we're on the subject, the beast's mark will be in people's palms, or on their foreheads... again, with the iPhone thing - that vision may have been of people holding it up to their temple/forehead.

I don't even go to any church, by the way, this is all kook stuff you can find on the internet. Still it's enough to make me worry a little.

 

[AidenShaw]

I don't even go to any church, by the way, this is all kook stuff you can find on the internet. Still it's enough to make me worry a little.

You had some of us worried as well - as long as you realize that it's "kook stuff" and you're just making a point, that's easy to deal with.

If you actually believed the "kook stuff", then it would be harder.

Like when BRLAWYER says "Everyone is DEAD!". Long time members realize that's just his shtick and smile.

 

[wonderspark]

I'm glad Steve hates Blu-ray. Since I've found the "secret method" to playing Blu-ray movies direct from disc in OSX, I don't have to watch any warnings or wade through any menus. Straight to watching movies in 60 seconds.

Plus, I don't have to touch iTunes or pay any money! Bliss!

Also, I heard (on good authority) that the world isn't ending in 2012, so unfortunately, you're all going to have to keep paying your taxes and bills, and treat people with respect. Sorry. Hahaha

 

[AidenShaw]

I'm glad Steve hates Blu-ray. Since I've found the "secret method" to playing Blu-ray movies direct from disc in OSX, I don't have to watch any warnings or wade through any menus. Straight to watching movies in 60 seconds.

What about the "rest of us" who aren't in the secret priesthood - shouldn't playing a BD movie on our Apples be no more complicated than sliding the BD disc into the BD player that the factory put in our Apples because we checked the BD option on the BTO menu?

 

[wonderspark]

What about the "rest of us" who aren't in the secret priesthood - shouldn't playing a BD movie on our Apples be no more complicated than sliding the BD disc into the BD player that the factory put in our Apples because we checked the BD option on the BTO menu?

Yes, we all should be able to do this, but The Steve has spoken.

 

[AidenShaw]

Yes, we all should be able to do this, but The Steve has spoken.

Yes, all we can do is look forward to when the "Apple after Jobs" era begins - when reason rather than ego guides the company.

 

[linux2mac]

He will be gone soon enough, and Apple-Mattel will come out of the Dark Ages and leave the frisbees and iToys to lesser manufacturers who can do it cheaper, better, and without Job's psycho aversions.

There is a middle line between being a fad toymaker and THE cutting-edge computer maker, and Jobs fell off that tightrope years ago.

Hopefully he won't be climbing up again.

The Cray Supercomputer of the 1990's must have been one big iToy. LOL

iPad 2 More Powerful Than 1990s Supercomputer
http://blogs.wsj.com/tech-europe/2011/05/11/ipad-2-more-powerful-than-1990s-supercomputer/

Perhaps having a gay CEO will be good for Apple - for much of the time that the logo was a rainbow apple, the company stood for cutting edge machines.

Now the logo is monochrome, and the computers are pretty but boring.

So would you call the new Macbook Airs a step a backward? What a silly idea for computers to lack an optical drive.

 

[takao]

The Cray Supercomputer of the 1990's must have been one big iToy. LOL

iPad 2 More Powerful Than 1990s Supercomputer
http://blogs.wsj.com/tech-europe/2011/05/11/ipad-2-more-powerful-than-1990s-supercomputer/

that article is just too funny:
first:

An iPad 2 is as powerful as 1990s supercomputer.

and then they quote the actual article:

Apple’s tablet would compete with the eight-processor, 1985-era system despite being just a sliver of the size.

last time i checked an early 1980s designed, launched in 1985 cray 2 is by no means a 1990s super computer

looks like the WSJ journalists have reading problems

 

[JAT]

Perhaps having a gay CEO will be good for Apple - for much of the time that the logo was a rainbow apple, the company stood for cutting edge machines.

Now the logo is monochrome, and the computers are pretty but boring.

It would be pretty hard to stand out any other way today. The industry is far too well-understood and standardized, unlike in the 1980s. What they need is better consumer focus for the computers. They've arguably been working on our interests for iDevices (consumers, not hackers), but not so much computers. Maybe this latest round of graphics cards suggests a change in that.

Heh. While we're on the subject, the beast's mark will be in people's palms, or on their foreheads... again, with the iPhone thing - that vision may have been of people holding it up to their temple/forehead.

I don't even go to any church, by the way, this is all kook stuff you can find on the internet. Still it's enough to make me worry a little.

Kook is right.

For reference, generally in the Bible:
The number 7 signifies divine or heavenly things.
Things repeated 3 times are done for emphasis.

So, The number of the beast is 6 (falling short of divine to indicate God's enemy) repeated three times for emphasis.

I just can't find anything there (Rev. 13:16-18) that screams "it's the iPhone" to me. Frankly, all the hype over "666" over the last 2000 years is kinda funny. It's just a symbol. Maybe we should be cautious if 2012's iPhone is called the "iPhone 666".

 

[Bubba Satori]

Choice is good.