Filed under: iPod Family, Rumors, Apple
Putting the Pod back in iPod
It's no secret that Microsoft has been aiming its sights at capturing the emerging media center market. 
They've released a version of Windows called Microsoft Media Center and they are building into their Xboxes some media center functionality. But what about Apple? APC Magazine's Dan Warne believes Apple is about to enter the media center market. He makes the following points:
Years ago there was discussion about why Apple named the iPod the iPod. Why not something exclusively music-related as that's what its role seemed to be. What if Apple's been thinking long term this whole time and the iPod will actually become a "pod" you carry around between your physical locations. Apple appears to be putting into place all the elements necessary for a successful release of a media center. I know I would be waiting in line with credit card in hand.
They've released a version of Windows called Microsoft Media Center and they are building into their Xboxes some media center functionality. But what about Apple? APC Magazine's Dan Warne believes Apple is about to enter the media center market. He makes the following points:- Apple has just released an iPod with video playback functionality.
- Apple simultaneously released an iMac G5 with media center software called Front Row and a remote control
- Apple is now selling good downloadable videos via their iTunes store.
- the Mac mini shipped with a mysterious but unused Firewire bus speculated as being for an iPod dock in the mini's case.
Years ago there was discussion about why Apple named the iPod the iPod. Why not something exclusively music-related as that's what its role seemed to be. What if Apple's been thinking long term this whole time and the iPod will actually become a "pod" you carry around between your physical locations. Apple appears to be putting into place all the elements necessary for a successful release of a media center. I know I would be waiting in line with credit card in hand.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Caleb Dewberry said 12:33PM on 10-22-2005
interesting
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rboyce said 1:05PM on 10-22-2005
Of course, none of the current iPod models support FireWire syncing, so a hidden FireWire dock in the Mac mini won't help them a whole lot.
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Zach said 12:54PM on 10-22-2005
That certainly would be cool, but don't forget: the new iPod can't interface via Firewire AT ALL.
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narco said 1:10PM on 10-22-2005
Bring it on, Apple. I've been looking for a reason to completely scrap my TV and use my Mac only. I'm waiting for you with money in the bank!
Fishes,
narco.
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alex said 1:23PM on 10-22-2005
ahhhhh, this must be next weeks announcement.
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Bryant Mairs said 2:02PM on 10-23-2005
The Mini's no longer contain this unused bus. This bus was dropped from the Mini by the time the 1st revision came around that increased RAM and included wireless connectivity. I can't find anything with Google to back this up, though I'm positive I've read it in forums. Maybe someone can dig a little deeper and confirm this.
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Porchland said 4:08PM on 10-22-2005
Is this the big announcement for MWSF in January? That will be just over two months from now, there's usually at least one new piece of hardware or a major hardware upgrade, we just got new iPods, the nano and upgrades up and down the PowerMac and PowerBook lines, AND we're not expecting a Mactel computer until summer.
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Liz said 8:53PM on 10-22-2005
Yay! I sure hope so.
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Scott M. said 10:42PM on 10-22-2005
I always kind of assumed that "iPod" was a homonym abbreviation for " i-Portable-AUDio."
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Dan Warne said 12:02AM on 10-23-2005
Seems inevitable to me that Apple will make an all-in-one media center that works really WELL. Apple may have many weaknesses - arrogant corporate culture, etc - but it does make good products that excel in usability. If it can tie in its legendary ease of use to its iTunes/Fairplay monopoly, I don't really see that Microsoft has much of a chance of fighting back.
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Frank said 10:12AM on 10-23-2005
Next: An wireless-enabled device that copies your Mac's screen to your TV's screen and relays your remote's signal back to it, so you can run Front Row on your TV.
Let's leave the iPod for what it is; a personal audio device with limited video capabilities.
The FireWire-on-the-Mac-mini point is stupid; there is no useless firewire port on the planet. Get an iSight.
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