Is it possible that an Intel based Mac will be available sooner than expected. It would really help with Christmas buying season.

You know, after reading about the delays with Intels newest core(the ones Apple wants, but won't be ready for at least another 3/4s year) I wouldn't be surprised if they just jumped on the train early.

I don't think x86 Macs just yet, more because there isn't enough software ready yet than because it couldn't be done.

Since any new iPod would be counterproductive this close to the Nano launch (unless its finally a Video iPod) I'm going to bet its either a new iTMS feature or store localization or... some type of Apple Media Center product that will transform any OSX mac running 10.3 or above into a Tivo/Media server type device. I know Steve keeps saying that ain't gonna happen, but its just too good a fit with the existing strengths of the OSX platform for me to fully believe that.

Finally, maybe some type of game publishing/developing agreement, similar to Microsoft's acquistion of Bungie will be announced. Games are the one place, in terms of mainstream applications, where a persuasive argument for using Windows actually exists. Now that the platform is going X86 however it should be much simpler to run Windows games on Mac, or at least to code cross-platform.

Appleinsider posted something to the effect that a video iPod is going to be coming out very soon. Could this be it?

Look at the invite... a movie screen curtain.

Look at the venue... a movie theatre.

Do the Math....

Since you brought it up, maybe this event is related to a recent article (from today, actually) at AppleInsider: http://www.appleinsider.com/article.php?id=1304 Though, personally, I hope it's something bigger.

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DaiMac wrote:
Since any new iPod would be counterproductive this close to the Nano launch (unless its finally a Video iPod) [...]

That red curtain is disturbing. Reminds me of the creepy dream sequences in Twin Peaks with the backwards-speaking dwarf.

I'm going to throw in a vote for Tivo-like capability for the newly upgraded mac-mini (& other macs), along with the announcement of video content availability via iTunes or other software. Apple didn't release the first iPod for some while after iTunes came out, and the market was ready for it, with LOTS of people already used to downloading music & listening to it on their computers. My guess is Apple spends a little time cultivating a market for video content consumption on computers & home-media-center devices, before jumping to a vPod kind of device. ROKR aside, Apple has a streak of hits with the iPod, and that's valuable; any mis-step would be costly in terms of public perception, and I think there's a substantial risk that a video iPod released now would essentially flop.

Agree !

Finally and definitely a 40 and 80 GB iPod with ~3.5" screen per several rumors and analyst reports. And definitely video content sales on iTMS per WSJ rumor from summer. And iTunes 5.1.

But will the surprise be an Airport Express with H.264 video decoder and video out so that compressed video can be sent to the large HDTV in the living room from the Mac?

Then in two weeks, new Macs with larger hard drives for storing the video library! Talk about the halo effect!!!

Actually I'm under the impression that Apple will release the updated mac mini.

I really hope that if apple introduces a video iPod that it will not just tout the feature of playing video. A vPod would just be incomplete without also being able to make use of at least some regular computer functionality, like serfing the web and checking email or something. But I think that Apple's next little device isn't going to be something as simple as an iPod that plays video, or just a little tablet mac that runs regular apps. Maybe a VERY compact tablet mac that can store lots of video content. One area that the PC world can definitely improve is in the tablet pc realm, and apple could certainly use both a tablet-style mac and everybody wants a video iPod, so why not come up with something that could help both worlds? Make the first truely mobile tablet mac that can also store lots of video and audio?(sorry but tablet pcs really are not that mobile. I don't consider a device to be truely mobile if it still has large moving parts. Palm pilots and cell phones are truely mobile, but that is just my humble opinion.)

The upcoming announcement of an Apple video store was confirmed by unnamed sources. It was supposed to be announced at Paris Expo, but due to a delay, Apple had to schedule this event. The delay was related to the slogan that Apple Marketing concocted. For reasons that are not obvious to everyone, especially Apple Marketing, Steve Jobs went ballistic and demanded that the slogan be changed to something other than "Tired of your old movies? Let us rip you a new one."

The real key with something that either bridges the gap between the iPod and a full Tablet (oh wait, it was called the Newton bitd) or an actual tablet is price point. Apple has finally gotten computers in the $500-1200 range that are good machines (versus, say the relatively crappy beige boxes in that range in the mid nineties), and the high end iPod costs almost as much as a low end mini now. I don't think a Tablet that costs over $600-800 is really a good idea. If they could capture a price point much closer to the iPod, which is admittedly considered quite high compared to other HD-Based MP3 players with the same capacity, they would have a device that would not only appeal to mac heads, switchers, and Newton diehards but to the general iPod buying public and as a utility in all sorts of industries. You're talking a portable computer for less than $1000 that can run tons of Unix and net apps and has the MacOS, iTunes, iPhoto, iMovie etc? I would buy an 80GB one the second I could. Put it at 599 with a decent vid card (64MB at least) and it would sell like hotcakes. Keep it small too; I'm thinking along the lines of some of the really small windows sub-notebooks I've seen maybe 7x10x1 in or even a little less. No CD drive, on the top have 2 USB ports, dock connector, and AV out. I'd love to see it have some advanced AV features (think TOSlink!) but as long as they don't skimp on the vid card some type of small monitor out port ala the iBook would be fine, or even just RCA, go ahead and make it TV centric out of the box.

Alternately if its going to be another iPod, perhaps with a nicer screen, that retains roughly the same form factor and can do video now, I won't be as excited. It will still be a great device to have and to play with, but what I really want it for Apple to get back into that sub-notebook mobile device market that it more or less started back in the day. I think the iPod cachet and the superior design skills of Apple would win over alot of people who might have been thinking windows media center PCs or something equally crappy beforehand, again not to mention the business/research applications.

No matter what, I'm fairly sure it will succeed, if not with the market dominance of the iPod than likely with the same fanatical devotion to the Macintosh platform that so many of us posess.

http://www.Cinematology.com is launching soon with content for just such a Video iPod: DRM-free H.264/AVC Mp4 downloads!

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Anonymous wrote:
Actually I'm under the impression that Apple will release the updated mac mini.

Just throwing in my 2 cents. I am thinking it might be a Mac Mini with LCD display

Steve starts with a cool new vPod then asks, "How will you manage all this information?" On the new iDeck of course! It sits in the living room (that's where everybody wants to be) and serves up all your media goodness, with and without wires. vPod is the perfect remote, of course.

Then, with the obligatory, "one more thing", he introduces iFilckx (that's the best they could get) and... well, mash NetFlix with Tivo and you get the idea.

It could happen!

I think this will be the long awaited upgrade to the PB and Powermac line with the dual core PPC processors heading into the Christmas shopping season. This however will be the teaser...The MAIN announcement might be a software relase called iPodcast. Remember, Apple just got the rights to this term? I'm imagining something as simple as "point and click" recording/hosting on .mac (coincides with the 1 GB storage upgrade) with support for audio AND video. Of course, to watch this video you can use our new AirPort Extreme AV with support for wireless H.264 streaming to your home theater. But if you don't have time to sit and watch your favorite video Podcasts, you can take them with you on our new, reinvented Newton!- Thinner than iPod mini, large, full color touch screen, OS X Mobile, iLife Mobile, 802.11x, Bluetooth 2.0, Quicktime 7, and iTunes 5, and a clickwheel interface...a video iPod, and THEN SOME! I can dream can't I?

Video iPod?! How totally useless and unimaginative; a completely non-Apple concept. No one watches video on-the-go.

BUT...

Steve could introduce the new Apple Media Store for streaming subscription video, purchased video and audio, as well as free video "Podcasts" of television broadcast programs.

Then he'll introduce an all new device to utilize this service...

A HD compatible media device for the home with...
• Blue-Ray compatible DVD-RW (saving video)
• Tuner (with TiVo-like abilities)
• Airport (streaming video/audio from iMac, also iMac data backup)
• iPod universal dock for quick and easy transporting of video files and playing the iPod through the TV or stereo (that's what the adapter is for in the nano box) ...and you thought the 60Gb iPod was a waste of space.
• Universal media remote in the style of an iPod. Very simple and easy to use way of controlling all functions and replacing the 30-button insanity on everyone's coffee table.

This media device, coupled with ANY TV/HDTV monitor and audio system, will be the one, easy-to-use, unifying device people have been dreaming about. Download (stream) any video at any time. It could easily alter how we use TV. Now you don't have to wait to see a movie on HBO or AMC, watch it on YOUR terms. You can rent it and get it NOW! Broadcasters will be racing to make their programs Podcast-like and downloadable for free.

Steve has never failed to shock the industry and awe the public. A lame video iPod just isn't Steve's style. When will you creatively challenged people ever learn?

I don't see Apple releasing a living room media device unless its based on Intel technology. Most importantly the TPM which is required to provide adequate DRM to satisfy the movie studios. Now is there any reason they could not already have such a device ready? Not that I am aware of. It wouldn't be a full blown computer, so having it intel based would not be as big of a deal. I have to agree that the movie curtains and movie theater venue do kinda hint that there is some video/movie theme. If a video iPod allowed you to store SD resolution video and play it back on a full sized television or monitor then that could be useful. At least for professionals. And there would be plenty of gadget guys who would jump on it for the neato factor. It would also give Apple a chance to play around with offering some amount of video content before releasing a full blown movie service.

So I think the video iPod is most likely. But I don't think the media hub device will be it yet. And I don't think we'll understand the true genius of the video iPod until the media hub stuff is released down the road. I also agree that updated powerbooks and powermacs are due. Perhaps those will be announced first. And then, one more thing...

on tablets.

LOUSY technology if you've ever played with them. The whole concept is a waste of engineering time. They're slow, clunky, and at best awkward to use.

How about an iBook whose keyboard actually works correctly when you type on it and doesn't jump the cursor all over the place and insert letters in odd locations.

That would be a novel idea.

(but I think everybody else is right that it will be an iPod version capable of video, a new video store (iVids?), and everything that goes with it.

My call is on new PowerBooks. Supplies of PowerBooks have been dwindling and on the Apple Store, you're looking at 2-4 week backlogs on certain models. It could quite possibly be an Intel based PowerBook.

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Tiger wrote:
on tablets.

LOUSY technology if you've ever played with them. The whole concept is a waste of engineering time. They're slow, clunky, and at best awkward to use.

How about an iBook whose keyboard actually works correctly when you type on it and doesn't jump the cursor all over the place and insert letters in odd locations.

That would be a novel idea.

(but I think everybody else is right that it will be an iPod version capable of video, a new video store (iVids?), and everything that goes with it.

its going to be something you can't even imagine. its going to blow your mind. just wait and see.

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Tiger wrote:
How about an iBook whose keyboard actually works correctly when you type on it and doesn't jump the cursor all over the place and insert letters in odd locations.

That would be a novel idea.

I would never go to the video store again. And quite gladly!

That would be nice.

I highly doubt it WILL be this, but it was rumoured to be activated on the 3rd, but no luck so far.

I can dream can't I ...

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Tiger wrote:
How about an iBook whose keyboard actually works correctly when you type on it and doesn't jump the cursor all over the place and insert letters in odd locations.

In such a setting, it's got to be something related to entertainment.

The iPods just got some major new product introduction so nothing big on that front should be expected. However, they would not use a theather unless they had an artist performing. I've read of a Madonna iPod (like the U2 one) somewhere so that may be part of it. Hopefully that wont be all of it (although Madonna is unlikely to play second fiddle to something else)

The "One more thing" teaser is suggesting something big. (at least bigger than a pink iPod). So, an Apple device that can store tons of data (i.e. video), talk to your Mac wirelessly and connect to you TV would seem about right. This, coupled with a download service for video renting, would probably make sense. Throw in a DVD/CD drive and a remote and you have the beginings of an entertainment center that's starting to be interesting.

There would be little need for a video device to be mobile so a Video iPod may still not be a reality. Videos need a larger screen so the device would beed to be tethered to the TV set (or be able to easily dock with it). I can see an interesting option though, for an iPod like device but it would be to download the movie at the video store and bring it back home. This would garanty that the movie you want is always available and also allow for a limited play time (using some for of DRM). It would also eliminate the need to return the media. Long term, this could reduce the size of a video store to that of an ATM.

Anyhow, this is all just speculation. Who can tell what Apple has up its sleeve this time ?

It's the Beatles

It would be fun if Apple did a re-release of some of the most famous old macs of all time: The SE, Classic, IIci, LC, Quadra 630, one of the 610(0)s...

It will never happen, though.
Apple has surprised us enough times for us to know that we can't really predict what will be coming up next. I think we'll just have to wait and see.

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Guest wrote:
I highly doubt it WILL be this, but it was rumoured to be activated on the 3rd, but no luck so far.

I can dream can't I ...

6100 is an excellent form factor.
Room for a high performance Intel or G5's cooling needs, 3.5in hard drive, high-end GPU and lots of RAM.

That's true, they could take the form factor back, and put new components inside, make the case white plastic and bingo: A 2.5 Ghz G5, 512 MB (min.) of RAM, a PowerMac G5 Superdrive and a 160 Ghz or such 3.5" HD, Mac OS X Tiger all in the 6100 Case. Call it the flatMac or something? Just what would they do with the floppy slot?

Maybe nobody watches video-on-the-go because as of yet portable video-players haven't been very good.

Or maybe lots and lots of people do watch video-on-the-go, but with laptops instead of portable video-players.

Either way, if Apple's accouncement is an iMovie store, it could be revolutionary.

Only one more day to go! (CET time zone)

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Just what would they do with the floppy slot?

a possibility with processors getting smaller and faster a palm pilot has 10 times the power of the fist mac and there is a new palm with a 4gig hardv drive [please steve if you need a design i have one for you

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les aptt wrote:

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Just what would they do with the floppy slot?

That's where I'd put the front Firewire, USB, A/V jacks

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Anonymous wrote:
a possibility with processors getting smaller and faster a palm pilot has 10 times the power of the fist mac and there is a new palm with a 4gig hardv drive [please steve if you need a design i have one for you

Take a look at this:
http://news.com.com/2300-1044_3-5892961-1.html?part=rss&tag=5892961&subj=news

Now imagine something conforming to the iPod/iBook color scheme, without the inherent gateway fuglyness and weighing a few pounds less, maybe a smaller screen, I would want something like that.

As long as the onscreen keyboard worked well, and the stylus was flawlessly accurate (that's a dealbreaker)

Wow. That new gateway tablet really is ugly. I wouldn't get one no matter how good the features are.

A video iPod would be exactly up my alley. Working in the film and television industry I want video I can carry with me wherever I go, especially my demo reel of work.

Imagine for a minute what a portable video device would do:

1. Download all relevant news clips to watch on the bus to work

2. Drop into your video rental store or even a podcast vending machine and rent a rights managed movie and download it on the spot, no late fees, low cost distribution costs which will mean cheaper movies

3. It'll all but kill netflix through being able to have so many rentals per month downloadable. The video iPod would make perfect sense for downloadable movies because it will be harder to crack any DRM encryption technology

4. a video iPod can be watched in the car for the kids, or you can dock it at home to your media center and plasma HDTV, a 60GB HD would hold at least 2-3 HDTV quality movies at a time based on the MPEG4 Part 10 H.264 AVC quicktime codec

5. A video iPod on it's own would not probably be watched on the small screen, but would be a more portable device you could take with you to plug in to larger displays. No TV no problems, play your marketing/promo video to clients over lunch at a Starbucks. It's the perfect business tool, much better than carrying a laptop to a meeting

With the co-location of the UK's media event at BBC we can be sure the news will enter the days of pod casting. With Apple's securing of DRM licenses, video podcasts already online and music videos available online, the hints in Steve Job's words hint that not only would it be a video iPod, it would have to do something spectacular. I am certain that Apple has a new video based iPod that will revolutionize the way the world sees videos/tv/news etc. The technology will be new, the accessory market Apple has been changing the licensing fees for which indicates the new iPods will be cornering new media markets.

Apple has always been a multimedia centric business. A video iPod would be right in line with their business strategies. Hmm, maybe that's why the final cut pro and Mac OSX updates have been planned for this quarter, they're waiting to introduce the new video iPod connectivity tools.

Apple introduced the black iPod Nano. This strategy would make sense, as a white video iPod would make the images look washed out and you'd lose color detail in the video. I suspect the move to black is to be able to allow the dynamic colors of video to be more easily seen on an iPod. What's more the new screens in the iPod Nano seem to indicate they're messing around with the materials to find the best screen for video playback, as on earlier iPods people rarely looked at the screens. But with video they'll be watching it a lot of the time.

Just my 2 cents from the film industry in Los Angeles.

http://zwebendesign.com/apple.com/powerbook.html

Check it out

hi guys, i'm in europe, in how long from now can the news release be expected?
cheers

hi guys, i'm in europe, in how long from now can the news release be expected?
cheers