Apple's Latest - New iMac, iPod, etc.
So, Apple had another one of their press events today. As was widely expected, they finally announced an iPod with video support. I've read some of the coverage and material, and have watched the event. I'll skip most of the obvious and concentrate on a few of my observations.
The new iMac's big hardware feature (aside from its thinner, more angular profile) is that it has a built-in iSight camera. The feature I found more interesting personally, however, is that it's also the first (to my knowledge) Apple computer to have PCI Express built in. It's interesting that the iMac should get this before the desktop line. It's about time, however, that Apple started adding this, as it's been available on PCs for a while now, and the additional speed it provides will be increasingly important for GPU-intensive software.
FrontRow is a very nice front end for viewing content full-screen. The experience is pure Apple, with the way the existing contents of the computer screen move out of the way as the FrontRow UI slides on, the unique sound effects for the different types of content that can be viewed, the way things animate as you go into a media type with the text sliding up and the icon moving and scaling, the iPod-like menu system, and the simple, elegant remote control.
The FrontRow interface looks ideal for viewing things on TV. Sure, you can view them on your computer screen, and in a dorm room that might even be interesting, but for most people, getting the content on the TV is really where it's at. Now, the new iMac has video (VGA, S-Video, and composite) output, which is fine if your computer is near your TV, but it often isn't.
Further, while it's cool that the new iMac has this feature, there isn't any (technical) reason this application couldn't be available for other computers. As far as I can tell, though, it's not (yet, at least). My guess is this is because Apple wants the iMac to be able to hold the spotlight with this feature exclusively for now.
However, all this leads me to believe that we're just seeing the start of Apple's living room plans. It would be possible to put a Mac mini in your component rack (some people already have) and control it with the remote and FrontRow. However, that still has the problem of trying to use a computer that is connected to a TV instead of at a desk. Instead, I think the real opportunity is with a device that was rumored last week. I was really expecting it to be the "One more thing" as I heard reports of the video features coming from the event. The devices I'm referring to is a version of the AirPort Express with video output capability. Such a device (which I have to expect is in the pipeline) could come with a copy of FrontRow for any Mac and allow them to connect to it to send video and audio to a person's TV over a wired or wireless network.
PhotoBooth is also a cool little app. It certainly has the Apple Polish(tm) we've come to know, with the countdown before taking a picture, the white screen flash, and especially the Polaroid-style image dropping into the space at the bottom. This is an app that could pretty easily have been a third-party shareware application (if it were, it could have had this much polish, but it probably wouldn't have). It's interesting seeing Apple do a small app like this. Like FrontRow, there's no reason this shouldn't work on other Macs.
As for the new iPod, I'm not terribly fond of its shape. I prefer the previous generation, which had a curved front as well as back. I understand the change to maximize the screen real estate, and I've always been a fan of the thinner iPods, so I'll reserve final judgement until I can see and hold one myself.
I also noticed the new iPod doesn't have the previous generation's remote control port. According to the tech specs it seems to only have USB. Based on the way the front looks, it might share materials with the iPod nano. I wonder if it will have the same propensity to pick up and show scratches (which is something I have personally experienced with my own nano). As to its video features, I'm glad they're there so everyone can stop talking about them. I have feelings that are similar to what Steve has said in the past, which is that I don't believe watching video on a screen that size will be a compelling experience. I think the PlayStation Portable is about as small as a screen can be and be good for video. At least it's still a music player first and foremost.
Regarding Disney, there were some interesting quotes from Steve like "I know these guys", and he mentioned that he has had the "great fortune to be working with" them. He also said he'd "gotten to know Bob Iger really well in the last few months". Iger also made a remark about Pixar (and that they weren't announcing a deal with Pixar today). All this, and the previous changes at Disney lead one to believe that work has been going on to repair the Pixar/Disney relationship.
Finally, I like the idea of being able to buy TV shows the day after they're broadcast for a couple bucks. Obviously, I'll still use my TiVo(s) to record things, but it's a nice option to have for things that are missed, pre-empted for weather coverage, etc. But come on, only 5 shows? That needs serious expansion to actually be interesting.
The new iMac's big hardware feature (aside from its thinner, more angular profile) is that it has a built-in iSight camera. The feature I found more interesting personally, however, is that it's also the first (to my knowledge) Apple computer to have PCI Express built in. It's interesting that the iMac should get this before the desktop line. It's about time, however, that Apple started adding this, as it's been available on PCs for a while now, and the additional speed it provides will be increasingly important for GPU-intensive software.
FrontRow is a very nice front end for viewing content full-screen. The experience is pure Apple, with the way the existing contents of the computer screen move out of the way as the FrontRow UI slides on, the unique sound effects for the different types of content that can be viewed, the way things animate as you go into a media type with the text sliding up and the icon moving and scaling, the iPod-like menu system, and the simple, elegant remote control.
The FrontRow interface looks ideal for viewing things on TV. Sure, you can view them on your computer screen, and in a dorm room that might even be interesting, but for most people, getting the content on the TV is really where it's at. Now, the new iMac has video (VGA, S-Video, and composite) output, which is fine if your computer is near your TV, but it often isn't.
Further, while it's cool that the new iMac has this feature, there isn't any (technical) reason this application couldn't be available for other computers. As far as I can tell, though, it's not (yet, at least). My guess is this is because Apple wants the iMac to be able to hold the spotlight with this feature exclusively for now.
However, all this leads me to believe that we're just seeing the start of Apple's living room plans. It would be possible to put a Mac mini in your component rack (some people already have) and control it with the remote and FrontRow. However, that still has the problem of trying to use a computer that is connected to a TV instead of at a desk. Instead, I think the real opportunity is with a device that was rumored last week. I was really expecting it to be the "One more thing" as I heard reports of the video features coming from the event. The devices I'm referring to is a version of the AirPort Express with video output capability. Such a device (which I have to expect is in the pipeline) could come with a copy of FrontRow for any Mac and allow them to connect to it to send video and audio to a person's TV over a wired or wireless network.
PhotoBooth is also a cool little app. It certainly has the Apple Polish(tm) we've come to know, with the countdown before taking a picture, the white screen flash, and especially the Polaroid-style image dropping into the space at the bottom. This is an app that could pretty easily have been a third-party shareware application (if it were, it could have had this much polish, but it probably wouldn't have). It's interesting seeing Apple do a small app like this. Like FrontRow, there's no reason this shouldn't work on other Macs.
As for the new iPod, I'm not terribly fond of its shape. I prefer the previous generation, which had a curved front as well as back. I understand the change to maximize the screen real estate, and I've always been a fan of the thinner iPods, so I'll reserve final judgement until I can see and hold one myself.
I also noticed the new iPod doesn't have the previous generation's remote control port. According to the tech specs it seems to only have USB. Based on the way the front looks, it might share materials with the iPod nano. I wonder if it will have the same propensity to pick up and show scratches (which is something I have personally experienced with my own nano). As to its video features, I'm glad they're there so everyone can stop talking about them. I have feelings that are similar to what Steve has said in the past, which is that I don't believe watching video on a screen that size will be a compelling experience. I think the PlayStation Portable is about as small as a screen can be and be good for video. At least it's still a music player first and foremost.
Regarding Disney, there were some interesting quotes from Steve like "I know these guys", and he mentioned that he has had the "great fortune to be working with" them. He also said he'd "gotten to know Bob Iger really well in the last few months". Iger also made a remark about Pixar (and that they weren't announcing a deal with Pixar today). All this, and the previous changes at Disney lead one to believe that work has been going on to repair the Pixar/Disney relationship.
Finally, I like the idea of being able to buy TV shows the day after they're broadcast for a couple bucks. Obviously, I'll still use my TiVo(s) to record things, but it's a nice option to have for things that are missed, pre-empted for weather coverage, etc. But come on, only 5 shows? That needs serious expansion to actually be interesting.
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