Two New iPods, Four New Mac Configurations

[ccrandall77]

I care. My 30 gig is full, and I have 20 gigs in iTunes that have no place to go. I would love an 80 gig pod. New colors don't mean as much to me, but the size is crucial. I can easily fill an 80 gig iPod.

I only have a 19GB collection so far. And I understand why people with large music collections really care about increases in iPod capacity. However, I dumped my 40GB 4G iPod for a Mini and now a Nano. By managing playlists, I've found that I don't miss carrying my entire collection. 80GB is like having enough music to play for over a month straight, so I don't think over the whole user base there are many instances where people are saying "Man, 60GB just isn't enough... I wish they had a 80 or 100GB iPod."

I think the thing to remember is that most people do not have more than 10-20GB of music. So that's why there's so many people with the "Who Cares?" attitude about 80GB iPods. And I think Apple is aware of that and probably will only upgrade to an 80GB if it doesn't drive the price any higher or if it's not any cheaper to stick with a 60GB drive.

Now, if video is somehow integrated into the iPod (whether the video plays on the iPod or can be hooked up to another monitor/TV to replay video), then I think capacity will matter to the wider userbase.

 

[Lynxpro]

UBS (financial company) is predicting a Media Center/Tivo-like product.

Awesome. I wish Apple would've bought up TiVo and sacked their management team. Getting an HD H.264 supporting standalone TiVo into the marketplace that also synched and integrated with the iLife suite would totally rule.

Plus, it would have an Airport card slot in it, CableCard, and Firewire/USB 2.0 standard. Not to mention ethernet, which the current series lacks without dongles.

Hellz, if Apple had bought up TiVo and along with it the intellectual property of ReplayTV (from D&M Holdings, who recently sold off the Rio product line IP), they'd have a stranglehold on the DVR/PVR intellectual property. That team-up between Archos and Dish Network would be as good as dead.

It should be noted that the reason cited by Jobs about not entering the DVR market a year ago was the fact that the cable industry supposedly controlled all the shots and distribution of software was an issue. Enter 2005, and Comcast and TiVo struck the deal to offer the TiVo platform to the Motorola DVRs that Comcast uses in mid-to-late 2006 since the UI the Motorolas were using sucked so badly.

Point is, there is a market and a means of distribution now to supplement the revenue stream from the stand-alone hardware DVRs.

I'm also looking forward to an iPodCast application addition to iLife 06.

 

[PharmD]

Is anyone else kind of nervous about tomorrow?

Are our expectations too high?

Have we built this up, so much so, that nothing less than a dual core 3GHz will make us happy? Are we expecting a completely new product?

What happens if this, like every other ****ing non-ipod-update, is a complete dissapointment? Do we all just sit back and wait for January?

I will be so dissapointed if tomorrow yields single core 2.9 powermacs, single core 1.75 GHz g4 powerbook, and a slimmer ipod 40 and 80gb models.

But I'd hinge the odds, of such a Wednesday, at about 40%.

---

I realize that its just a electronics release. It bares no wait in real life... but as a hobby, its one of my larger.. and I'm hedging my bets for tomorrow, for fear Apple will let us down... again.

I think our expectations are indeed too high. It's good to hope, but I'm keeping them low so as to be wowed should Apple bring the house down.

 

[Lynxpro]

hand in your geek membership.... you have just commited one of the 10 sins of nerdhood.....
but if you are that sheltered...
leo leport is the guy on G4-TechTV that hosts "screen savers" and a couple other shows (or used to before the horrible merge of G4 into the TechTV world)
he is an avid mac usuer, and the man with the apple plan who relays the good word to people like us

Hand in your membership.

Leo still does *Call for Help* up in Canada on Roger's owned (G4)TechTV. It can be seen here in the States on the abomination called G4 (murderers of TechTV) usually at 6am Pacific weekdays.

He also does TWiT and plenty of other popular podcasts.

However, I'd say an Intel based PowerBook is still a few months away until at least FCP runs on it decently, and some other pro apps. Photoshop will take some time.

 

[ajwitte]

Is anyone else kind of nervous about tomorrow?

Are our expectations too high?

Have we built this up, so much so, that nothing less than a dual core 3GHz will make us happy? Are we expecting a completely new product?

What happens if this, like every other ****ing non-ipod-update, is a complete dissapointment? Do we all just sit back and wait for January?

I will be so dissapointed if tomorrow yields single core 2.9 powermacs, single core 1.75 GHz g4 powerbook, and a slimmer ipod 40 and 80gb models.

But I'd hinge the odds, of such a Wednesday, at about 40%.

---

I realize that its just a electronics release. It bares no wait in real life... but as a hobby, its one of my larger.. and I'm hedging my bets for tomorrow, for fear Apple will let us down... again.

I'd be happy with an announcement like that... I've been waiting for a new PB and will buy within 8 hours if they are announced.

"Just" an iPod with video would be a major disappointment to some of us.

 

[Peace]

Awesome. I wish Apple would've bought up TiVo and sacked their management team. Getting an HD H.264 supporting standalone TiVo into the marketplace that also synched and integrated with the iLife suite would totally rule.

Plus, it would have an Airport card slot in it, CableCard, and Firewire/USB 2.0 standard. Not to mention ethernet, which the current series lacks without dongles.

Hellz, if Apple had bought up TiVo and along with it the intellectual property of ReplayTV (from D&M Holdings, who recently sold off the Rio product line IP), they'd have a stranglehold on the DVR/PVR intellectual property. That team-up between Archos and Dish Network would be as good as dead.

It should be noted that the reason cited by Jobs about not entering the DVR market a year ago was the fact that the cable industry supposedly controlled all the shots and distribution of software was an issue. Enter 2005, and Comcast and TiVo struck the deal to offer the TiVo platform to the Motorola DVRs that Comcast uses in mid-to-late 2006 since the UI the Motorolas were using sucked so badly.

Point is, there is a market and a means of distribution now to supplement the revenue stream from the stand-alone hardware DVRs.

I'm also looking forward to an iPodCast application addition to iLife 06.

If Apple were to buy a company that does video it should be Elgato systems

 

[dizastor]

Sorry to sound repetitive but what about a tablet mac? They filed for a patent on the design of one about 6 months ago. This would definitely be something that they'd hold a press conference over while measly mac speed bumps or an ipod in different colors probably isn't.

Keep repeating it, maybe it'll come true some day. Why not all of the stuff we've been talking about in one device? Tablet mac, Tivo-like device, and video iPod all rolled into one... my birthday is coming up next month... if a mac tablet comes out... that's all I want.

 

[applemax]

Has anyone noticed that the Q42005 webcast has been quietly removed of Apple's site? suSPICIous!!!!

 

[Nereus]

I'd be happy with an announcement like that... I've been waiting for a new PB and will buy within 8 hours if they are announced.

I have been waiting for a new PowerBook since May (mostly because I could afford it by then), so I truly hope Apple release an update. I'll order it right away after the announcement

 

[jason3142]

well? what? when?

What time is this event GMT?

I thought it was going to be 18:00 but my knowledge of the world clock must be out

I so want a sexy NEW product....

.... and not a G5 as I only bought one last week

 

[Peace]

After listening to TWIT's podcast I have to say the red curtain has little to do with "movies" because Leo LaPorte got an invite also..He doesn't do movies.He does computers and software.

I'm more inclined to believe the "red curtain" has more to do with a new product release..

 

[cbigfoot1987]

i agree

After listening to TWIT's podcast I have to say the red curtain has little to do with "movies" because Leo LaPorte got an invite also..He doesn't do movies.He does computers.

I'm more inclined to believe the "red curtain" has more to do with a new product release..

My fathers company who does automation and some autocad on macs and got an invite too my dads boss just told all of the company from the satilite phone on their new citation jet. on the way to the confrence. the cool thing is i will beable to watch it "live" on ichat if he can get online in the theatere and allows them to use their computers!!!!

and for those of you who want to know his ichat address i will NOT tell you

 

[ccrandall77]

After listening to TWIT's podcast I have to say the red curtain has little to do with "movies" because Leo LaPorte got an invite also..He doesn't do movies.He does computers and software.

I'm more inclined to believe the "red curtain" has more to do with a new product release..

On the one hand, you'd think a big media gathering would indicate a totally new product or significantly upgraded product will be released tomorrow. On the other hand, I could see it just being something as lame as a stupid Madonna iPod or maybe even the announcement of a video iTunes store (although that may turn into something cool ala vPod in the future).

So, rather than waste my company's valuable time speculating, I think I'll shut up now and wait patiently for tomorrow's announcement.

Talk to you all tomorrow.

 

[Mr Maui]

Has anyone noticed that the Q42005 webcast has been quietly removed of Apple's site? suSPICIous!!!!

It's still there as far as I can see ... AudioWebcast Q4 '05 Financial Results 2 pm PDT 4pm CDT 5pm EDT.

 

[Chrispy]

It's still there as far as I can see ... AudioWebcast Q4 '05 Financial Results 2 pm PDT 4pm CDT 5pm EDT.

That was a dead link for me...

 

[Peace]

Ok Kidz..The server is being throttled due to too many "pre-cast" hits.The link might been gone for a few minutes here and there up to the time of the call..

If you really want to get some skinny I'd keep my eye on CNBC..

 

[Mr Maui]

Ok Kidz..The server is being throttled due to too many "pre-cast" hits.The link might been gone for a few minutes here and there up to the time of the call..

If you really want to get some skinny I'd keep my eye on CNBC..

Good Call!

 

[BigDaddyTitan]

Just a thought

I wouldn't be too surprised if we see:

1. More flash based iPods. Different sizes/ colors/themes (whatever).
2. The final acknowledgment about the MacMini revisions.
3. iLife06.
4. PowerMacs and PowerBook updates (nothing wild, though).
5. Hopefully an update to iWork to make it a decent competitor to Office. A spreadsheet would be SO nice.

I think we get way too hyped sometimes. Don't get me wrong, I want to see Apple kick some serious butt. I just don't think the will take over the world THIS year.

FYI: My wife and I have every intention on making the big switch to Mac as soon as the Mini becomes officially updated.

 

[Diomedes]

If the iPod storage bumps are true, I wonder if they will be USB-sync only. I was disappointed the nano did not support FireWire syncing...after making the Mac my main computer, I have quite a bit invested in FireWire devices. Is Apple's switch to USB a foreshadowing of its overall drop of support for FireWire?

And as far as computers...I think, despite all of Apple's proclamations that it will continue to support PowerPCs, that there will probably not be a whole lot of innovation in PowerBooks or PowerMacs until Intel Macs arrive. If they can't deliver a G5 PowerBook or a 3 GHz PowerMac, my guess is any updates will be evolutionary, not revolutionary.

If I were a gambling man, I would bet Apple is going to deliver a one-two punch in the form of Intel pro machines-OS X 10.5 to counter Vista. Apple will probably start making a major foray into corporate America with its new generation of pro machines.

Of course, being the visionary company that Apple is, perhaps they will want to "preview" any new technologies in the forms of pro machine updates.

I'm easy to please at this point — a 80 or 100 Gb black iPod would delight me immensely.

 

[Mr Maui]

If the iPod storage bumps are true, I wonder if they will be USB-sync only. I was disappointed the nano did not support FireWire syncing...after making the Mac my main computer, I have quite a bit invested in FireWire devices. Is Apple's switch to USB a foreshadowing of its overall drop of support for FireWire?

Doesn't Apple own the patent on Firewire? I thought they did.

 

[hattey]

almost 3 pm central and the music store has still not been updated for the week... i have never seen this sort of tardiness from the store before.... something is about to change

 

[digitalbiker]

almost 3 pm central and the music store has still not been updated for the week... i have never seen this sort of tardiness from the store before.... something is about to change

This happens every time there is a holiday on Monday. Which there was on the 10th. Columbus Day! Also the financial report is today, so usually things happen after the report.

 

[hattey]

This happens every time there is a holiday on Monday. Which there was on the 10th. Columbus Day! Also the financial report is today, so usually things happen after the report.

oh yeah... that holiday that every other college got except mine... lol... almost forgot about that...
still kind of strange... i am an avid tuesday music buyer, have been for a couple years now, and have never seen anything this delayed

 

[agentkow]

still kind of strange... i am an avid tuesday music buyer, have been for a couple years now, and have never seen anything this delayed

What about one month ago when the Nano was introduced on a Wednesday with the iTMS update?

 

[hattey]

What about one month ago when the Nano was introduced on a Wednesday with the iTMS update?

yes iTMS was updated.. .on tuesday, followed by a wednesday overhaul with 5.0 (only minor changes to the actual music store, new search method, couple of cosmetic differences to the layout)