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Steve Jobs Suggests Blu-ray Not Coming to Mac Anytime Soon
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I guess Steve Jobs has his point, but I do think the spin is geared to heavily favor Apple at the expense of other industry players, as well as consumers in the long run.
I may be a contrarian, but if what has been happening to the music industry is any indication, I'd be slightly wary of wishing the same "advancement" for video media. Apple is probably one of the very few entities that benefited hugely via iTunes by promoting and spearheading the trend toward digital download music formats. But the music industry as a whole apparently has not fared as well, especially for the artists/producers. I for one have become less and less impressed with the lack of innovation in the latest music offerings; simply put, the economics of producing and delivering music has become skewed to favor very few folks, one of which is Apple. We think we're benefiting from convenience, but we may be losing out in terms of musical innovation. The commoditization of music and the ability to access songs for 99 cents or $1.29 may seem like a great thing in the short run, but in the long run, I'd bet there is a huge opportunity cost in fostering artists that we are failing to account for. Similarly, if Apple is hugely successful in video, who really benefits? It's definitely not a black and white argument like Steve Jobs makes it out to be.
I may be a contrarian, but if what has been happening to the music industry is any indication, I'd be slightly wary of wishing the same "advancement" for video media. Apple is probably one of the very few entities that benefited hugely via iTunes by promoting and spearheading the trend toward digital download music formats. But the music industry as a whole apparently has not fared as well, especially for the artists/producers. I for one have become less and less impressed with the lack of innovation in the latest music offerings; simply put, the economics of producing and delivering music has become skewed to favor very few folks, one of which is Apple. We think we're benefiting from convenience, but we may be losing out in terms of musical innovation. The commoditization of music and the ability to access songs for 99 cents or $1.29 may seem like a great thing in the short run, but in the long run, I'd bet there is a huge opportunity cost in fostering artists that we are failing to account for. Similarly, if Apple is hugely successful in video, who really benefits? It's definitely not a black and white argument like Steve Jobs makes it out to be.
I'm sorry, but Steve is just not making sense to me here. Here are a few points:
- Regardless of whether you personally have Blu-ray or not, money talks. Blu-ray has a faster adoption rate than DVD ever did.
- Blu-ray's are selling by the millions. Avatar is a perfect example.
- 1080p HD resolution is the future, not 720p. All cable TV from major providers is at least 1080i, with some (like FIOS) offering it in 1080p.
- 1080p resolution on Blu-ray is by far superior than 720p.
- The larger screen TV you have, the worse 720p is going to look. Everyone is getting bigger and bigger TV's today, so this is a factor.
- Blu-ray has lossless audio, not compressed, again a huge increase over the HD iTunes has.
- Just these two facts alone means that a 1080p movie would be roughly 25-50GB (the size of a Blu-ray disc). Your internet connection would be bogged down for days.
- You'd fill up your hard drive in a second. This is not going to change in the next 5 years.
- Blu-ray 3D is set to take off in a huge way over the next few years. 3D movies in digital form isn't even on the radar, and even if they were they'd have a tough time making them compatible with today's 3D HDTV's.
- The Mac, with Final Cut Pro, is a video editors dream. Yet they can't even watch the Blu-ray's the can create on the Mac. Ridiculous.
Look, I agree that physical media is on the way out. I actually think Blu-ray will be the last physical media we use. But that doesn't change the fact that Blu-ray will become the defacto standard to buy and rent physical media and it will be that way for at least 5-10 years.
I think it SUCKS that Apple won't support Blu-ray playback. I think they are jumping the gun with digital movies and TV. If they don't want to support a popular media over the next 10 years then I guess they can do that a piss some people off.
Obviously this is purely a business decision on Apple's part.
Ethan
- Regardless of whether you personally have Blu-ray or not, money talks. Blu-ray has a faster adoption rate than DVD ever did.
- Blu-ray's are selling by the millions. Avatar is a perfect example.
- 1080p HD resolution is the future, not 720p. All cable TV from major providers is at least 1080i, with some (like FIOS) offering it in 1080p.
- 1080p resolution on Blu-ray is by far superior than 720p.
- The larger screen TV you have, the worse 720p is going to look. Everyone is getting bigger and bigger TV's today, so this is a factor.
- Blu-ray has lossless audio, not compressed, again a huge increase over the HD iTunes has.
- Just these two facts alone means that a 1080p movie would be roughly 25-50GB (the size of a Blu-ray disc). Your internet connection would be bogged down for days.
- You'd fill up your hard drive in a second. This is not going to change in the next 5 years.
- Blu-ray 3D is set to take off in a huge way over the next few years. 3D movies in digital form isn't even on the radar, and even if they were they'd have a tough time making them compatible with today's 3D HDTV's.
- The Mac, with Final Cut Pro, is a video editors dream. Yet they can't even watch the Blu-ray's the can create on the Mac. Ridiculous.
Look, I agree that physical media is on the way out. I actually think Blu-ray will be the last physical media we use. But that doesn't change the fact that Blu-ray will become the defacto standard to buy and rent physical media and it will be that way for at least 5-10 years.
I think it SUCKS that Apple won't support Blu-ray playback. I think they are jumping the gun with digital movies and TV. If they don't want to support a popular media over the next 10 years then I guess they can do that a piss some people off.
Obviously this is purely a business decision on Apple's part.
Ethan
I do own many blue ray discs and a PS3 to play them. But I don't have any craving for a BD reader or writer on my 24" and 27" iMacs.
I also feel that in many cases (not all) 720p seems indistinguishable from 1080p when observed from 10 feet away. Also, case in point, watch a beautifully detailed movie like 'Cars' from 10 feet away, on a blu-ray. Amazing details. Now get close and see it from 2 feet. You will be blown away by the amount of detail that is there but you didn't know existed from 10 feet away!
That's how I feel away about this argument yes, 1080p downloads might not happen for a couple of years, but for watching it from 10 feet away, I am not going to miss it.
No BD? No Big Deal!. (I would like to SM that one!)
I also feel that in many cases (not all) 720p seems indistinguishable from 1080p when observed from 10 feet away. Also, case in point, watch a beautifully detailed movie like 'Cars' from 10 feet away, on a blu-ray. Amazing details. Now get close and see it from 2 feet. You will be blown away by the amount of detail that is there but you didn't know existed from 10 feet away!
That's how I feel away about this argument yes, 1080p downloads might not happen for a couple of years, but for watching it from 10 feet away, I am not going to miss it.
No BD? No Big Deal!. (I would like to SM that one!)
The new Mac Mini has HDMI out, which makes for a GREAT entertain hub. Hooking it up in lei of an Apple TV using HDMI would be perfect if only Apple would allot for Blu-Ray movie support. As such, you'd have to use Windows through Bootcamp on a Mac Mini attached to a 42+ plasma/LED television. It isn't a jump to assume adding HDMI isn't just for monitors, but for entertainment.
This is all about Apple positioning themselves with iTunes to control content distribution exclusively through AppleTV and reap the profits of such controlled media architecture. Steve Jobs has become Bill Gates. The only way to tell them apart anymore is one wears glasses and the other wears black turtlenecks.
I felt the same way. There has finally been a lot of rumors about one, and I think we may finally get it. Took long enough.
As for Blu-Ray, I agree with Jobs in the long run, but having an Apple TV with a DVD Drive, and upper model with a Blu-Ray drive would make them sell much better. It would allow people to either replace what they have, or when they opt to get a Blu-Ray player, they might buy the Apple TV instead. Having this compatibility is a major reason the Apple TV isn't more widespread.
When iTunes and iPod's showed up, it had a built in solution to the CD problem since they could be ripped right into iTunes. This workflow does not work with DVD's due to copy protection (and most people will not use Handbrake like I do), so they need a solution for their existing media. The Apple TV is just an add on to most people, and that is all it is. It needs to be more of a replacement. I never expect this to happen though. It will NEVER get an optical drive.
However, if the rumors are true about the Apple TV getting iOS, then it can reach mass appeal status due to the widespread use of iOS devices.
Just a question. Do movies actually look a lot better in Blu-Ray on a MacBook screen? I always assumed that I wouldn't notice too much of a difference unless they were side-by-side.
I'm with Jobs.. He's usually right, anyway
I agree that Blu-Ray is probably on the way out already. There's not really much more reason for it to pick up much steam. We've seen the big feature (1080p) and it's really good.. just not better enough. This is coming from someone who bought a PS3, by the way... and a few Blu-Ray movies. The convenience of all digital with Hard Drive can't be beat, though. Since I moved into my new place the PS3 is staying in the Garage. I think it would be good if those who want to do backups to Blu-Ray would have some way of doing that on their Macs, but I'm not here to speak on other peoples' behalf.
For me, Blu-Ray is done. I got excited for a bit, but it's not different enough from DVDs to warrant re-buying all my favourite movies. Digital is the future. I have no doubt about that.
The iPod, iPhone, iPad and my computers are helping me get rid of all my physical movies, CDs, magazines, newspapers, and books. My place looks way better without them all and I never have to get up to choose a new one.
Again, I think it would be nice for there to be some options on the Mac side for people who are dying for this stuff, but there is the option not to go Mac. We always new it was Steve Jobs' baby and I think that the inventor should get to choose the direction of his invention. We may not always agree, but we can choose not to buy what he's selling. I'd hate for others to dictate how I ran my business.
I agree that Blu-Ray is probably on the way out already. There's not really much more reason for it to pick up much steam. We've seen the big feature (1080p) and it's really good.. just not better enough. This is coming from someone who bought a PS3, by the way... and a few Blu-Ray movies. The convenience of all digital with Hard Drive can't be beat, though. Since I moved into my new place the PS3 is staying in the Garage. I think it would be good if those who want to do backups to Blu-Ray would have some way of doing that on their Macs, but I'm not here to speak on other peoples' behalf.
For me, Blu-Ray is done. I got excited for a bit, but it's not different enough from DVDs to warrant re-buying all my favourite movies. Digital is the future. I have no doubt about that.
The iPod, iPhone, iPad and my computers are helping me get rid of all my physical movies, CDs, magazines, newspapers, and books. My place looks way better without them all and I never have to get up to choose a new one.
Again, I think it would be nice for there to be some options on the Mac side for people who are dying for this stuff, but there is the option not to go Mac. We always new it was Steve Jobs' baby and I think that the inventor should get to choose the direction of his invention. We may not always agree, but we can choose not to buy what he's selling. I'd hate for others to dictate how I ran my business.
The less holes to stick something in the better for Jobs. That way he can control the user experience.
An Option? You want to "Think Different"? That was long time ago. These days apple is all about restriction and censorship. I guess 1984 is becoming like 1984 after all.
but isn't that the point of being in business?
At whose expense? It's a thin line...
hallelujah, you laid it all out properly. Apple needs to let consumers decide. give us options, we all dont need BD burners, but lead the superdrives read BD discs, and let consumers pay to upgrade to BD Burners, which can also burn CD/DVD's
this ought not be an issue, but apple is being cheap and monopolistic at the same time.
In other words, "I'm not going to let you bring in your HD video content from elsewhere when I can make you rent/purchase it from ME on iTunes." Thanks, SJ.
Just because you've found a way to make a lot of money doesn't mean you aren't stupid and/or greedy...
regardless of what jobs thinks. he should at least offer an option. i'll pay more to have a BRD on my mac... you can buy a 650$ pc and get it! what's more irritating is that you can't just go grab an external and hook it up. at least let us have that.
Apple is changing fast and frankly it's scary.
Apple is changing fast and frankly it's scary.
Hes right. It will be a downloading format vs Bluray. Bluray hasnt been adopted quiickly, its slow and will possibly be skipped over. Blurays are unreasonably expensive (movies/players), why push a DOA avenue.
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