Filed under: iPod Family, iTS, Airport, iTunes
vTunes?
We are all frothing at the mouth for whatever will be announced on October 12th. Will it be a video iPod? Will it be faster Power Macs? Will His Steveness reveal his true identity to a stunned audience?Well, Josh at Dreamhost (a company that hosts roughly 14 bazillion websites) doesn't think any of those things will happen and he has no idea what will happen. He does know that if he were Steve Jobs he would unveil vTunes. vTunes is for video what airTunes is for music. It would all you to stream video from iTunes over a newly unveiled Airport Express that would hook up to your TV allowing you to watch that content on your big screen tv (and we all know the kind of content you will be watching, perv).
Interestingly enough Josh can already do this using a hacked XBox, so he knows it is possible. So, gentle readers, if you were Steve Jobs what would you be announcing on October 12th?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Sean said 12:24PM on 10-07-2005
If were Steve:
I would turn backwards, drop my pants, bend over, and point to my rosy butt and ask the Record Companies to place their lips right on the sweet spot. Then, I would describe how Apple is now signing artists for distribution - solely through iTunes, no CD's. Explain how using GarageBand, Logic, etc... they can create and mix their music in their garage (just how Apple started!), then upload it to iTMS and set the price. Explain this frees the artist from having to fill up a CD - a release of music can be any length, from 1 track to 100 tracks. Explain how you can release to the entire world at once, with no overhead cost. Explain that you will get 50% of the cost paid by the user, instead of 6%.
Oh, and I would also then turn the presentation over to Paul and Ringo, who will announce that Apple has bought Apple, and that they will be taking over the management of the new eLabel. They will also bring out Michael Jackson's severed head on a stick, and explain how Steve himself bought all of the Beatles rights, and how they are all now on iTunes. The first 100 downloaders will also get to flog Aerosmith for remaking Come Together.
For the finale, I would announce that there will also be "Video Podcasts" of live performances from hundreds of bands who will release their live performances. Hook up a couple of cameras to a streaming Quicktime server, upload it right to iTMS, and allow people to follow their favorite bands concerts.
- Sean
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Sean said 12:30PM on 10-07-2005
If were Steve:
I would turn backwards, drop my pants, bend over, and point to my rosy butt and ask the Record Companies to place their lips right on the sweet spot. Then, I would describe how Apple is now signing artists for distribution - solely through iTunes, no CD's. Explain how using GarageBand, Logic, etc... they can create and mix their music in their garage (just how Apple started!), then upload it to iTMS and set the price. Explain this frees the artist from having to fill up a CD - a release of music can be any length, from 1 track to 100 tracks. Explain how you can release to the entire world at once, with no overhead cost. Explain that you will get 50% of the cost paid by the user, instead of 6%.
Oh, and I would also then turn the presentation over to Paul and Ringo, who will announce that Apple has bought Apple, and that they will be taking over the management of the new eLabel. They will also bring out Michael Jackson's severed head on a stick, and explain how Steve himself bought all of the Beatles rights, and how they are all now on iTunes. The first 100 downloaders will also get to flog Aerosmith for remaking Come Together.
For the finale, I would announce that there will also be "Video Podcasts" of live performances from hundreds of bands who will release their live performances. Hook up a couple of cameras to a streaming Quicktime server, upload it right to iTMS, and allow people to follow their favorite bands concerts.
- Sean
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Jay Contonio said 12:29PM on 10-07-2005
Umm, what Sean said.
Along with an 8" tablet mac =)
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kc! said 1:10PM on 10-08-2005
You know what, this makes a lot of sense. I think Apple will take things one step further and anounce a new wireless networking standard (based of 802.11n) which will allow video to be easily broadcast. This coupled with an updated Airport basestation, and (hopefully) some sort of media-center or media upgrade to the Mac mini and our video/movie wishes could all be fullfilled. Oh, and maybe even a little software application to control the stream of video as well?
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Justin T. said 12:40PM on 10-07-2005
I've been saying this for a while now, but here's what I think is going to happen.
Jobs obviously and company have obviously been doing a lot of thinking about how people interact with their media, right? And they really excel when they come up with brilliant user interfaces. That's their cachet. So, the next big thing is going to be an entirely new platform masquading as a remote control for your entire life. It'll be a tablet. And only a tablet. It will have no hardrive or storage of any kind. Just 802.11g functionality, batteries, and a touchscreen. It's a thin client, really.
I wrote a whole bunch about this on an arstechnica forum a few months back. Instead of rehashing the whole thing, look here:
http://episteme.arstechnica.com/groupee/forums/a/tpc/f/174096756/m/507002044731/r/945005044731#945005044731
http://episteme.arstechnica.com/groupee/forums/a/tpc/f/174096756/m/507002044731/r/173004144731#173004144731
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Karl Otto Henriksen said 12:44PM on 10-07-2005
I would show a spaceship with three wheels in the front. And a macine that made all my family and friends use a mac. And I would make a tv that did not have hallmark. And then I would eat supper. And then I would... I think I would go skiing i Canada. Yeah.
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DerekJ said 12:46PM on 10-07-2005
All I want is for my ibook to convert my DVD's into H.264, and wirelessly stream them to my new vPort. That's all people.
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umijin said 12:59PM on 10-07-2005
Uh - totally wrong nomenclature.
AirTunes -> AirVids
or AirMedia
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umijin said 1:03PM on 10-07-2005
If I were Steve
.... I'd be announcing that he will make Tiger run adequately on my year old 12"G4. :-P
.... I'd be announcing a Mac handheld or Tablet that doesn't call itself Newton
.... I'd be announcing real upgrades to the PB line, not speed bumps.
.... I'd be announcing a free fix/replacement for nanos with the scratch bug.
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Ethan Kaplan said 1:22PM on 10-07-2005
Apple has a great thing going with H.264 video. If anyone's seen the HD demos (like the Serenity trailer), you know its absolutely nuts. Fun trick: hook your Powerbook up to a Plasma through an HDMI or DVI input. The video is amazing.
So, I hope on the 12th, regardless of anything else, that he announces that we will be able to buy and download video (in various resolutions, lenghts, etc) and that we will be able to take them with us on a video iPod (4 inch HD screen). As well, we will be able to get a device which is exactly like an Airport Extreme, except besides an optical audio out (which works great btw), it also has a combo dongle based HDMI, Component and Composite video output.
This device would include an onscreen interface to iTunes on your source machine with Apple UI goodness, so that I could, on my plasma, browse my iTunes video and audio collection to pull up TV shows, movies, video, etc.
I would be a lot less in the money department if this came to pass next week.
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Peter Koritschan said 1:29PM on 10-07-2005
I like Justin T.'s remarks on ars technica.... sounds very tempting and even pretty realistic...
In any case, an iLife remote control would be something fantastic! (used with "AirMedia") :)
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John Laur said 1:42PM on 10-07-2005
I would go out on stage, sit down on the floor and eat a really big submarine sandwich. Then I would leave and the show would be over.
Apple really does need to pull out all the stops right now. Sales of all of their machines are slumping waiting on the Intel chips and it's going to get worse all through next year. They need to launch something that will be a big drive. Maybe all of these products that everyone is speculating on will come out every copule of months between now and this time next year to keep them on everyone's radar.
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peekytoe crab said 1:44PM on 10-07-2005
I think Mr. Jobs will announce Apple's answer to Windows Media Center. Be it a new OS, and/or hardware upgrades. Simple, easy, brilliant.
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Sean said 2:01PM on 10-07-2005
John Laur wrote:
"Sales of all of their machines are slumping waiting on the Intel chips and it's going to get worse all through next year. "
What are you basing this on? Last quarters sales were higher than expected, and Apple hasn't released any information to the contrary for this quarter.
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Devon Hubbard said 2:16PM on 10-07-2005
Apple will introduce technology based on their old ahead-of-its-time set top box project, Pippin; creating a digital solution for consumers to rent or buy videos for download and watch on the growing number of home entertainment systems. The Mac will truly become the center of the digital hub Jobs started talking about over 7 years ago. I also think the iPod is not a good avenue for watching movies. Music videos as a novelty item for the younger demographics maybe, but not mainstream movies. In an era of movie theater attendance falling and home entertainment on the rise, I just dont see Apple trying to make the iPod a video entertainment device. I cant imagine Jobs trying to watch a video on an iPod and being excited about the iPod heading in that direction.
Another thing that makes me think this is a move they might make is Jobs history. Apple has done a phenomenal job with the online music business. They have been a catalyst for consumers, record companies , and the technology sector to see the business model does work. But lets not forget that Jobs has even more friends and connections in the movie industry via his years at Pixar.
cheers,
dEVoN
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prae said 2:57PM on 10-07-2005
This guy has an excellent article about this on his website...
http://www.happenchance.co.uk/archives/2005/10/the_apple_event.php
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Nishi said 6:04PM on 10-07-2005
I definitely don't think that Jobs would be unveiling a Video iPod. It's too early for that, Nano just came out. It is having some problems with regards to recalls have been made.
What would I do!! Would be to bring in a tablet PC, just along the lines of what "Justin T" said in his comments.
The Apple event is just a couple of days away, lets wait and watch as to what happens.
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Penginkun said 3:31PM on 10-07-2005
They're going to unveil something (hence the curtains). It COULD have something to do with video-A Mac Media Centre for example-but it won't be an iPod. So far the arguments I've heard against the iPod video have been more cogent than the arguments for.
My own personal belief is that Apple is going to unveil the very first consumer Mactel system. Steve will be up there with that grin on his face as he announces the system is available to order today, and will be shipping by Christmas, six months ahead of schedule. It will be a PowerBook, featuring a redesigned case. I'm going to guess it'll be carbon fibre or something like that, something "insanely cool" with an "insanely fast" CPU. It will cost 25% less than the current G4 series, so it'll be "insanely cheap," too. It will feature HD-compatible widescreen monitors on the entire line, too.
Sales will go through the roof and Dell will have to declare bankruptcy because nobody wants their crappy Inspirons anymore.
Plus, each system will ship with a puppy or kitten, or you can upgrade to a pony for an additional charge. This is to distract your child(ren) while you play with your new computer.
Guess we'll find out Wednesday, huh? I've got my fingers crossed...
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jounginator said 3:50PM on 10-07-2005
I think it'll be a 42" LCD display with Mac Mini built in. Make it maybe an inch thicker than a normal plasma screen and stick the slot loading DVD player in the upper right side like G5 iMacs do now. Throw in wireless everything (bluetooth, -11G) and a few hooks to hang it on the wall.
Add power and a cable or satellite connection and BAM. Your digital life, baby.
Too bad 1.0 will be sooooo expensive.
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D said 4:14PM on 10-07-2005
"4 inch HD screen" - what, at 480 pixels per inch?
Also, the originator of all the AirPort AV rumours was a poster on slashdot who claimed to work at apple, As Seen on TV:
http://apple.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=148958&cid=12485267
S/he was talking about it in May. Might as well give props when they're due.
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