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

[MaryM]

Meh. I'm fine with Blu-Ray not being on my various Macs. I rarely watch a physical dvd anymore (despite owning several hundred), unless it comes from Netflix. And with Netflix streaming, I rarely get the physical media. Miss a tv episode? I watch it the next day online.

Honestly, I don't see the point of bothering with it. Most of my dvds come from the 4-for-$20 deal at Blockbuster... no point replacing them with much pricier Blu-Ray discs when I don't watch them enough to justify it. Not to mention, if you're going to watch something Blu-Ray, why on earth would you watch it on your computer? Unless you've got a 30-inch cinema screen, wouldn't you be better off watching it on a larger television to get the full effect?

 

[deus_ex_machina]

Yeah, I agree with you on the clutter. I try to keep it organized. When my clutter starts to get out of hand, my wife puts a quick stop to that. She hates that I still buy CDs. I've had numerous discussions as to why I still buy CDs, but I can never bring her to understand why I do it. I just tell her "It's art." Maybe if I use the album covers to decorate my office, that would help her understand? Probably not.

Actually that's a great idea

 

[KnightWRX]

I would rather a Mac Mini had toy helicopter blades and a remote control so I could make it fly around the room than a blu Ray player.

It really would be just as pointless. Why there are 30 pages of people whinging about this I do not know.

Because my egocentric friend, some people are not like you. What you find pointless, others find useful.

 

[JollyRogers]

Wow. Living in the sticks bandwidth is an issue. Since I can't watch BR on my mac, I can foresee switching back to my homebrew PC's. Thanks for not having an option Bye Bye. No new Mac Pro for me.

 

[leekohler]

Steve is right on this. Blu-ray will be short-lived for precisely the reasons he stated. I have a Blu-ray player, and quite honestly I only own two Blu-ray discs. My regular DVDs look good enough on it. The only real benefit of the Blu-ray player is streaming Netflix.

 

[dexthageek]

Which is why I wrote: "Not having proper media for use on the TV in a DD format is what this topic is mostly about."

Thank you for reinforcing what I just stated.

GL

I was agreeing with you

I only want to see software that allows Blu-Ray playback on a Mac. I can get my own external Blu-Ray drive cheaper then Apple would sell it for anyway.

 

[iSamurai]

so stubborn, adamant...

I'd pay $50 extra for a bluray drive. just put the option there and let us choose. like the glossy/matte screen option that apple eventually had to offer (even though I prefer glossy screens giving others the option is good).

not everyone has fast and unlimited internet connection and that will not change in the near future, so not everyone will be downloading high definition movies within the next 5 years. and even if i download a movie i don't want 25GBs to sit in my hard drive so that maybe if I want to watch it next year I can pull it out again. you might say i can stream that instead. but i don't want to pay for something that i can't own physically.

if an iMac's typical life cycle is 3-4 years, bluray WILL NOT die out and be short lived even in a decade or so. Apple's been shipping computers with DVD drives for ages now anyway.

so is bluray a closed format like flash? no.

 

[sishaw]

Steve is right on this. Blu-ray will be short-lived for precisely the reasons he stated. I have a Blu-ray player, and quite honestly I only own two Blu-ray discs. My regular DVDs look good enough on it. The only real benefit of the Blu-ray player is streaming Netflix.

Blu-ray movies and some of the better made TV shows look beautiful on a high-def screen, plain and simple. Yes, 10 years from now they will be superseded by HD downloads, no doubt.

I plan to watch a lot of movies on Blu-ray between now and then, unfortunately, not on my iMac, and NOT using a Mac mini as a media server. Steve is wrong on this one because he's not taking into account the desires of consumers now.

What about now, Steve??

 

[sishaw]

I was agreeing with you

I only want to see software that allows Blu-Ray playback on a Mac. I can get my own external Blu-Ray drive cheaper then Apple would sell it for anyway.

Yes, this would be an acceptable compromise. Not as nice as built-in, but acceptable.

 

[yg17]

Meh. I'm fine with Blu-Ray not being on my various Macs. I rarely watch a physical dvd anymore (despite owning several hundred), unless it comes from Netflix. And with Netflix streaming, I rarely get the physical media. Miss a tv episode? I watch it the next day online.

Ahhh, the old "I won't use it, so no one else will use it" mantra.

Honestly, I don't see the point of bothering with it. Most of my dvds come from the 4-for-$20 deal at Blockbuster... no point replacing them with much pricier Blu-Ray discs when I don't watch them enough to justify it.

I've seen this argument before, and it is completely bogus. You do npt have to replace any DVDs you already own with Blu-ray. Blu-ray players play DVDs. It's not like DVD where there was no backwards compatability with VHS. I'm sick and tired of the "I don't want to spend the money to replace my DVDs argument" because it is a bunch of crap. Keep your DVDs, and buy new movies on Blu-ray.

Not to mention, if you're going to watch something Blu-Ray, why on earth would you watch it on your computer? Unless you've got a 30-inch cinema screen, wouldn't you be better off watching it on a larger television to get the full effect?

The same argument could've been said about DVDs 10 years ago....why on earth would you want to watch them on a computer? Some people travel and like to bring movies with them. I'm going on a trip soon and will want to watch some movies on the plane and in my free time in the evenings. All my movies that I've bought in the past few years are on Blu-ray, so I've been spending the past few days ripping and encoding a few that I would like to watch. But it sure would be a hell of a lot easier if I could just stick the Blu-ray disc in my MacBook and watch them. But I can't, because Steve would rather I buy the 720p compressed garbage that barely qualifies as HD from iTunes.

I don't want Blu-ray playback capabilities on my Mac to replace my 40" 1080p TV and surround sound system. I want Blu-ray playback capabilities on my Mac because a 40" TV and surround sound system don't fit in the overhead compartment or underneath the seat in front of me.

 

[leekohler]

Blu-ray movies and some of the better made TV shows look beautiful on a high-def screen, plain and simple. Yes, 10 years from now they will be superseded by HD downloads, no doubt.

I plan to watch a lot of movies on Blu-ray between now and then, unfortunately, not on my iMac, and NOT using a Mac mini as a media server. Steve is wrong on this one because he's not taking into account the desires of consumers now.

What about now, Steve??

He's rarely taken into account the desires of consumers. That's nothing new.

 

[Mac'nCheese]

Steve is right on this. Blu-ray will be short-lived for precisely the reasons he stated. I have a Blu-ray player, and quite honestly I only own two Blu-ray discs. My regular DVDs look good enough on it. The only real benefit of the Blu-ray player is streaming Netflix.

But what about those of us who want to edit our hd videos of our kids, pop in a br disc and burn some hd video for our family? Why are these discussions so centered on movies and not what so many people use their macs for: video editing and burning?

 

[dgree03]

Ahhh, the old "I won't use it, so no one else will use it" mantra.



I've seen this argument before, and it is completely bogus. You do npt have to replace any DVDs you already own with Blu-ray. Blu-ray players play DVDs. It's not like DVD where there was no backwards compatability with VHS. I'm sick and tired of the "I don't want to spend the money to replace my DVDs argument" because it is a bunch of crap. Keep your DVDs, and buy new movies on Blu-ray.



The same argument could've been said about DVDs 10 years ago....why on earth would you want to watch them on a computer? Some people travel and like to bring movies with them. I'm going on a trip soon and will want to watch some movies on the plane and in my free time in the evenings. All my movies that I've bought in the past few years are on Blu-ray, so I've been spending the past few days ripping and encoding a few that I would like to watch. But it sure would be a hell of a lot easier if I could just stick the Blu-ray disc in my MacBook and watch them. But I can't, because Steve would rather I buy the 720p compressed garbage that barely qualifies as HD from iTunes.

I don't want Blu-ray playback capabilities on my Mac to replace my 40" 1080p TV and surround sound system. I want Blu-ray playback capabilities on my Mac because a 40" TV and surround sound system don't fit in the overhead compartment or underneath the seat in front of me.

So much truth in this post!

It azz backwards thinking to not support Blu-ray and just "wait for the future".. there are SOOOOOOOO many variables before we can get decent HD downloads its mind boggling.

 

[law guy]

This continues not to make sense

So you can pop by MacMall and buy a blu-ray for your MacPro yourself, but Apple just can't do this installation OEM? There's no technical issue there.

It's hard for me to believe that this is about any licensing issues (which Steve doesn't bring up in his latest exchange) and it's annoying that Apple isn't providing the capability based on a bet of where digital download trends are going. In fact, it looks like Apple is trying to push that reality by not providing an OEM blu-ray option. It actually would be useful for media back-up for off-site storage. Yes, there are SSD options, but blu-ray drives are now cheap (you know you're in the main stream when the living room players are on sale for $99) and discs are inexpensive and easy to store.

With HDMI, the new Mac Mini would have been the ultimate living room all-in -one small footprint "media PC" when teamed up with a bluetooth keyboard if it had the blu-ray built in. As it is, Apple's solution is to buy an Apple TV to go with it and then rent or buy from the iTunes store. But at least you can sit that Mac Mini on top the $99 Sony blu-ray player that you got on sale and just switch between HDMI inputs.

Steve, come on:

no blu-ray in the Macs (at least OEM, feel free to do it yourself at least in a MacPro)
no flash on the iPhone / iPad (at least from Apple, 3rd party solution available)
and the antenna is supposed to do that, buy you can buy a case for your super slim iPhone 4... or (in a nod to those Apple lovers in cold climates) wear gloves.

Of those, I give the flash position has some credibility, but how about working with Adobe to improve their code and make Apple mobile devices the preferred and optimal and perhaps even recommended platform for Adobe programs?

And in terms of standards, Steve, blu-ray is certainly a widely adopted standard. Further, your Disney shareholders would be excited to see sales of blu-ray increase because people can now play Disney's ABC studios blu-ray discs of LOST (or Monsters Inc.) on their MBP during that long flight to Hawaii.

 

[ranReloaded]

If there are external blu-ray drives that work for the Mac (data storage only), why can nobody write a blu-ray player app? Guess they would either have to pay huge royalties to some "blu-ray consortium" (?), and therefore make it a paid app?

 

[cmcloyd]

Amongst the emails that Steve Jobs has been responding to, he also responded to an inquiry by a MacRumors reader Siva about future of Blu-ray on the Mac. While Blu-ray has been a long requested feature for Macs, Apple has described Blu-ray licensing as bag of hurt and hasn't made any moves to incorporate the drives into their desktop Macs.

That seems unlikely to change in the near future if Steve Jobs' recent email replies are any guide. Siva emailed Jobs about being disappointed that the recently revised Mac mini didn't include a Blu-ray drive. To this, Steve Jobs replied:Siva responded that even though this may be true in the long run, he argued the medium term benefits were substantial, including high density backups and high quality video. He also argued that high-end video formats have had a much higher uptake and points out the lack of DRM was in part what made MP3 take off. Jobs' final response, however, offered little hope:

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

When discussing blu-ray on the mac platform in general there are 4 things one must consider, (1) sony will not share blu-ray related tech with apple thus preventing blu-ray technology from being incorporated into macs, (2) blu-ray is still a lot like the dvd was when it was first released. what i mean by that is that there is still no official bit rate or any of that so of course steve jobs doesn't want blu-ray in his products, to do so would cause a spike in support issues and a decrease in customer happiness with how their system functions. (3) apple has invested a lot of money into the itunes store. most people dont understand that it is extremely difficult to get a contract with a company that has distribution rights. brokering such deals takes a lot of tie and money and if you dont do it right you lose a ton of money. (4) I imagine apple cant add blu-ray, doing so would be like spitting in the faces of all the companies apple has contracts with for content on the itunes store. while im sure there is nothing expressly written in the contracts that apple cannot have blu-ray it is sort of implied. because of all of this apple feels that it isn't worth the pain and suffering plus all the lost money on such matters.

if this doesn't help you just remember that apple was one of the key developers of blu-ray technology. so if apple doesn't have tech they helped make in their machines then there is probably a really good reason. However, there are many companies that sell blu-ray drives for the mac pro and there are also hacks on the web for upgrading machines that use laptop super drives to laptop blu-ray drives. so if it is such a big deal, GET ON GOOGLE AND DO IT YOURSELF!!!! apple doesn't make drivers so naturally they say that blu-ray isn't compatible with mac osx. at the same time let me say that apple also said my 2007 mbp 17 in only supports 4gb of 667mhz ddr2 ram when it can actually support 6gb of 800mhz ddr2 ram.

 

[rockosmodurnlif]

Steve is right. Free will win people over. As far as I know, iTunes isn't free. Follow your own advice Mr. Jobs.

 

[KnightWRX]

The problem with wait for the future is that the computers you will use in that future aren't the computers you buy now.

Buy now, use now. In the future, I'll have a different computer to use, so make that one usable "For the Future".

 

[dexthageek]

If iTunes offered decent HD movies, Blu-ray would still be needed :

- iTunes requires me to wait for the movie to download. This will take longer than driving to the store on my Internet connection.

- iTunes locks the movie to my device, making it a pain to switch devices, lend to a friend. DRM is bad when applied the iTunes way.

- My Internet provider caps my download usage, which would severely limit the number of decent HD movies I can purchase any given month.

- All this for the same price as a Blu-ray, which gives me a physical copy, with extras, additional soundtracks (my GF doesn't understand English very well and I hate watching American movies in French).

- Speaking of physical copy, I would need to backup the iTunes purchase in order to prevent its loss in case of hard drive failure. I would also need something to store it, like a hard drive. Decent HD movies would take up a lot of space. Hard drives aren't reliable, optical media lasts for years and years.

So no, there's still a few obstacles other than just the movie quality of iTunes. Some of these obstacles aren't 5 years away from being fixed (Internet connectivity being the most glaring one).

I've had a 10 mbps Internet connection for 70$ per month for the last 5 years. I very much doubt 1000 mbps is coming in the next 5.



Yes, especially when you hold it in your hand.

Let me clarify, I did not only mean iTunes. I have never purchased a movie from iTunes and I don't plan on purchasing any in the future. If any company could offer decent HQ video streaming it could reduce the need for a blu-ray player. I have a blu-ray player and I love it, I get amazing picture connected to my Samsung LCD.

Netflix comes the closest to HQ Streaming. I believe that Netflix HD streams are of higher quality then any iTunes HD video I have seen to date. However, I also rent Blu-Ray movies from Netflix as well

There is no denying the fact that digital downloads, not just movies, but software, games (Steam - HL2 is a 3GB download), require an ever increasing amount of bandwidth. ISPs should NOT be allowed to apply these caps and still call it Unlimited. Better yet get rid of the caps.

If apple chooses not to offer their machines with Blu-Ray drives fine, but at least let the software (or third party) take advantage of its features.

 

[KnightWRX]

When discussing blu-ray on the mac platform in general there are 4 things one must consider, (1) sony will not share blu-ray related tech with apple thus preventing blu-ray technology from being incorporated into macs,

Uh ? What are you on about ? Anyone who pays the licensing fews to the Blu-ray consortium has access to all implementation documentation.

The rest of your post is garbage.

There is no denying the fact that digital downloads, not just movies, but software, games (Steam - HL2 is a 3GB download), require an ever increasing amount of bandwidth. ISPs should NOT be allowed to apply these caps and still call it Unlimited. Better yet get rid of the caps.

My ISP doesn't call it unlimited. They say 100 GB for 70$ per month, 10 mbps.

 

[Redline13]

BD 3D is going to be huge.

I think you are vastly over estimating the number of people who are interested in purchasing the necessary equipment and willing to subject themselves to wearing ridiculous looking 3D glasses.

Blu-ray is largely an enthusiast format and 3D Blu-ray is going to end up a niche within a niche.

 

[aaaaaaron]

everyone who is in the "down with blu ray" crowd can come over my house and watch the Dark Kight on blu ray with me, and finally see what bluray is all about. Or if that makes you uncomfortable, because blu ray is a dead format and all, you can all crowd around my 13 inch macbook and watch a digital download version, and enjoy it that way.

Mac Mini should have blu ray, what's that point of hdmi with out blu ray? I don't need hdmi to watch my 480p downloads on my tv, USB 1 will probably do.

Downloads may be the future, but blu ray is now, and that's how I want to watch my movies, store my photos, and back up my hard drive.

 

[Lord Vader]

Make it BTO and see how it goes.

 

[videoholic]

Steve is right on this. Blu-ray will be short-lived for precisely the reasons he stated. I have a Blu-ray player, and quite honestly I only own two Blu-ray discs. My regular DVDs look good enough on it. The only real benefit of the Blu-ray player is streaming Netflix.

Or you can just say that you need a new tv or glasses. It's a huge difference in my theater at home.

 

[videoholic]

everyone who is in the "down with blu ray" crowd can come over my house and watch the Dark Kight on blu ray with me, and finally see what bluray is all about. Or if that makes you uncomfortable, because blu ray is a dead format and all, you can all crowd around my 13 inch macbook and watch a digital download version, and enjoy it that way.

Mac Mini should have blu ray, what's that point of hdmi with out blu ray? I don't need hdmi to watch my 480p downloads on my tv, USB 1 will probably do.

Downloads may be the future, but blu ray is now, and that's how I want to watch my movies, store my photos, and back up my hard drive.

ABSOLUTELY!!!! I cringe at the thought of downloading a movie in the next 5 years.

Download +Movie=COMPRESSION COMPRESSION COMPRESSION


If you can't tell the difference, GET SOME GLASSES!!!