“Apple CEO Steve Jobs turned 51 on Feb. 24. While the mercurial man behind the Macintosh may have received gifts last week, he’s apparently poised to give the Apple faithful a few this Tuesday,” Nathan Alderman writes for The Motley Fool. “Will the ‘fun new products’ that Apple has promised to unveil at a Feb. 28 media event be more of the same, or will it be the next step in Apple’s transformation from niche computer maker to mainstream home-entertainment company?”
“Last fall, Apple unveiled new iMacs with Front Row, a program that lets users access a computer’s iTunes music and movies via remote control. The software has since spread to its new MacBook Pro portables. With its big, glossy interface, Front Row seems made for TV screens in living rooms everywhere — and as Apple’s tiniest, least expensive product, the Mac mini seems tailor-made to run it. Adding fuel to the rumormongers’ fire, current Mac minis have reportedly reached ‘end of life’ status in Apple’s retail stores, an event that has previously proved a surefire signal that new models are on their way.” A new Mac mini could make a big splash, Alderman writes. “Sure, a TiVo is cheaper, but its hidden costs include a subscription fee for programming, whereas current video-recording products for Mac use a free Web site called TitanTV. With wireless networking built in, and seamless access to users’ iTunes libraries for music, downloaded shows, and possibly movies, a new Mac mini could easily become a simple, hassle-free home media server. And if it takes off the way the iPod has, it might leave TiVo and rivals such as NDS and Cisco’s Scientific-Atlanta quaking in their boots.”
Full article here.
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Related article:
Apple to hold special media event tomorrow – February 27, 2006
There will be no DVR from Apple and here’s why: A DVR would directly compete with Apple’s iTunes business of selling TV shows through iTunes. Why make something that creates video files for free, when you sell them for $2 a pop?
I expect the Mac Mini will be a “multimedia hub”, but don’t expect it to be a DVR unless you’re willing to due a 3rd party add-on like EyeTV.
Pog… That’s about the same thing I said in the sixth post, but yes, I agree.
Hey does anyone know if any of he sites are doing live play by play?!?
I own for Tivos and have growingly become disenchanted with them..
One of the Tivo’s has serious problems with lagging video (any action paced shows skip now and then). Only two of the Tivos are newer and have Series2 capabilities (sharing, internet, etc) and all cost me $200 to $300 for lifetime subscription!!
I’d gladly replace them slowly with an Apple solution!!!
Christopher
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> There will be no DVR from Apple and here’s why: A DVR would directly
> compete with Apple’s iTunes business of selling TV shows through
> iTunes. Why make something that creates video files for free, when you
> sell them for $2 a pop
I don’t agree with this at all. There are plenty of other media organisations that make a very successful business from selling premium content whilst allowing recording of regular content. I’m thinking in particular of Sky TV in the UK that sells a TIVO-like device (Sky+) for recording their broadcasts, whilst also having pay-to-view premium movie and sports content. I’m sure there are similar packages in the US and elsewhere. All it means is that ITMS has to stock some decent video material, rather than old TV shows that you can watch easily on TV – or provide higher quality material (eg. HDTV) rather than regular quality. By buying from ITMS you are also gaining access to the material to view when you want, rather than having to wait for it to appear on a TV network. This is a perfectly good business model if Apple chose to follow it and are willing/able to provide decent video material on ITMS. Note – if Apple *don’t* do this, someone else will (eg. Microsoft) – so it’s also not a case of either/or. If Apple don’t control the DVR competition to ITMS, someone else will.
SirRom,
You had me believing until you said Bose. Most audiophiles I know don’t hold Bose in very high regard, if they have any regard at for Bose at all. Besides, I can’t see an Apple/Bose device selling for only $100.
Realty Check,
It must be a sign of Armageddon… I agree with you. I don’t see any inherent conflict between an Apple PVR and the iTunes store.
Content acquired thru the iTunes store are things most people want to keep (presumably). PVRs are predominantly used for time-shifting, not for holding content indefinitely.
theyre going to have to put in a much bigger harddrive i would think perhaps the size and heat issues from the new intel chips would allow that in the same size as the old mac mini.
and i would think that to process large amounts of video, that a dual core processer would be required.
what u guys thnk about that? or you think theyll go with a single core?
Realty Check,
It must be a sign of Armageddon… I agree with you. I don’t see any inherent conflict between an Apple PVR and the iTunes store.
—-
Well, you can agree with RealtyCheck, he’s pretty smart. Welcome to MDN brah.
I stand by what I said before, Apple can pitch a $500-$600 Mac with the possibility of DVR for a monthly subscription, or allow non-Mac mini owners to buy shows ala carte
Subscription’s perfect for video.. lame for audio..
I’ve always agreed with SJ on that one.. I don’t want to watch most movies more than once.
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We will all be underwhelmed (again) by today´s product announcements….unless you really think you need an iPod boombox and some other iPod accessories.
Fun!
Read my lips, NO DVR from Apple.
DVR on Mac is not making Elgato rich so don’t hold your breath waiting for Apple to try and make this niche go mainstream.
Also, Hollywood execs don’t want recordable anything and Mr Jobs IS the brightest star in Hollywood.
I agree with others here who have mentioned that there will be no DVR for Mac. To the STUPID analysts that will drive the stock lower by predicting what WON’T happen as though it WILL – SHUT UP! Look at the current model. iTunes does not allow you to download free tv shows. You have to buy them. Do you think the networks would allow their shows on a Mac if Apple then turned around and said, “One more thing…now you can record those same shows for FREE on your new Mac mini DVR!” Duh. Ain’t gonna happen analysts. Please get a clue!!!!!!