“I’m surprised that there was less outrage over Apple’s Front Row software, which is a complete Media Center rip-off (albeit one that offers only a subset of Media Center features). Joe Belfiore, the general manager of Microsoft’s eHome division, is in New York this week for Digital Life for the soft-launch of XP MCE 2005 UR2, and he’s surprised about a completely different issue. ‘I was surprised that it took them as long as this to do a feature like Media Center,’ he said. Indeed. But this lengthy gestation–Media Center has been out for over three years now–suggests that Apple isn’t all-powerful. Furthermore, Apple is only now dealing with issues Microsoft first solved four years ago–IR interfaces, for starters–and has yet to figure out all the issues involved with TV tuner cards, TV recording, and so forth. In short, they have a long way to go before they can ever catch up with Media Center. Most tellingly, perhaps: Why is Apple’s interface so text-based? It looks sad next to Microsoft’s highly-visual approach. Which, frankly, is what you want with digital media content. Just a thought,” Paul Thurrott writes for WinInfo.
Full article here.
Advertisements:
The New iPod with Video. The ultimate music + video experience on the go. Buy it now at the Apple Store. From $299. Free shipping.
The New iMac G5 – Built-in iSight camera and remote control with Front Row media experience. From $1299. Free shipping.
Long before Microsoft began pushing Media Center computers, before most Wintel PCs even had sound cards, Apple made a Mac with a built-in TV tuner. Macintosh TV, introduced by Apple in 1993. More info here.
Like the GUI, the mouse, FireWire, Wi-Fi, ad infinitum: Apple leads. Microsoft tries to follow. As usual.
So, Apple was not “slow” with the new Front Row, more like “waiting for the right time.” The Front Row interface is instantly familiar to iPod users for a reason. Obviously, Apple has a way to go, but if you think Steve Jobs doesn’t have a grand master plan, you’re wrong. We’ve only seen pieces so far. By the way, if you want TV tuners and recording and so forth for your Mac, take a look at Elgato’s offerings here.
Related articles:
Podfather: iPod porn is going to be huge – October 14, 2005
Cringely on Apple video experiment, future 802.11n Apple Video Express, Sony TVs in Apple stores – October 14, 2005
Using QuickTime Pro to create videos for playback in new Apple iPods – October 13, 2005
Apple’s new iMac G5, iTunes 6, iPod video designed to bait Hollywood – October 13, 2005
Apple video iPod+iTunes could create mass audience for video on the go, despite studios’ misgivings – October 13, 2005
Watching episode of ABC’s ‘Lost’ on 2.5-inch iPod screen surprisingly compelling – October 13, 2005
Analyst: Apple has just produced ‘the tipping point’ for entertainment content – October 13, 2005
Fortune: With video iPod, iTunes 6, iMac G5 and Front Row, Apple ready for ‘a good holiday season’ – October 13, 2005
Analyst: Unlike Microsoft, Apple has the advantage by not licensing their technology – October 13, 2005
BusinessWeek: Microsoft fumbles while Apple turns the needlessly complex into the beautifully simple – October 13, 2005
Video report: Apple CEO Steve Jobs discusses new iPod, iMac and earnings report – October 13, 2005
NBC TV shows up next for Apple’s iTunes? – October 13, 2005
Analyst: Real and Microsoft deal ‘doesn’t change the dynamics for Apple in any way, shape or form’ – October 12, 2005
Apple’s video play likely to unsettle movie, TV, advertising and retail markets for years to come – October 12, 2005
Analyst: ‘media companies will call Apple to strike deals, Front Row is Media Center done right’ – October 12, 2005
Analyst: Apple rewriting media distribution rules, more people will consider switching to Mac now – October 12, 2005
Apple and Disney usher in new media era – October 12, 2005
Apple posts QuickTime of ‘One More Thing’ special media event – October 12, 2005
Apple’s Front Row with Apple Remote and iMac G5: media center done right – October 12, 2005
Apple introduces new thinner iMac G5 with built-in iSight video camera, ‘Front Row’ media experience – October 12, 2005
Apple releases iTunes 6 with 2,000 music videos, Pixar short films & hit TV shows for $1.99 – October 12, 2005
Apple unveils new 5th generation iPod, now plays music, photos, and video – October 12, 2005
“XP MCE 2005 UR2”
Umm… could there be more acronyms associated with this title please?
It’s not the quantity of features, it’s the quality of them.
Apple couldn’t “figure out” IR remotes and TV tuners?
Have some integrity man. They didn’t SELL a TV tuner, but that doesn’t mean they’ve been trying for years and unable to “figure it out.”
Don’t give the guy hits.
First off, that’s Elgato, MDN, not Elgatp…
I agree with Steve that the slide they showed comparing the Apple remote with that of M$ MC controls demonstrated the simplicity behind Apple’s approach to the Media Center.
Wouldn’t including a TV tuner allow people to capture their favorite shows for free? Where is the value in a one time sale of hardware when you can get recurring sales of downloads?!?!
I would like to see the remote get upgraded next year to Bluetooth, so you don’t have to maintain a visual line with the device you’re controlling. this would allow you to store a mini out of sight or change the song from another room. I’d like to see what functionallity Apple could develop by using a scrool wheel and screen on the remote, mimicing the mini more than the shuffle.
http://plextor.com/english/products/TV402UMac.htm This uses the same software as the EyeTVs from Elgato. But there is no remote control to beable to not use a mouse to change channels and choose content.
Why copy a dud like Media Center? There’s a reason it has gone nowhere in 3 years.
Apple will do it different and it will work. It won’t just be Media Center without the viruses and spyware.
Childish. More iFud.
ANYONE can rush a crappy product to market. It takes time to get it right.
Just ask buymusic.com
The market hasn’t been ready for media PCs, as sales have shown. To Microsoft’s credit, they were ahead of the game, but as usual, their “can do everything” approach only brings complexity to a system that should be fun and exciting. Apple’s approach is baby-steps. The market doesn’t understand full convergence, but that day is coming.
I’d honestly rather stick to VHS than suffer through using MS’s Media Center. Sure, Apple’s offering might be a little light in the feature department, but for one, it’s early, and two, it actually works. You can bet your bottom dollar that in the months to come, Apple will have complete solution for the living room that is far more enjoyable to use than anything by MS. In fact, just using these Apple products is often more entertaining than the content they deliver. Using MS products make it so by the time your content is queued, you’d rather just go to bed.
copy? what didn’t they think about the same copy operation system from Apple? you know Windows is F***ing copy from mac os x. now, they talk about media app like fron row is copy? why interface is so texted? they don’t really understand the link between ipod and itunes, other apps in ilife in terms of interaction pack. the text you talk about is ipod interface inspiration, you idiot!
Apple used to ship TV tuner cards in its Macintosh computers almost ten years ago. The reason there isn’t a TV tuner inside the iMac is because of lack of worldwide standards. Today people get their TV from a number of sources including, traditional TV, cable TV, Satellite TV, digital airborne TV, etc. The technical problem to solve here is how to address all these sources and connect easily to all of them. The business problem is how to do it without upsetting the content providers. Apple is trying to create a viable economic model for digital media whereas Microsoft tried to focus only on the technical aspects. Microsoft so far has failed because it has not analized the business impact and because their technical solution is complex for the normal user. This does not mean that Apple will succeed because consumers will have to demonstrate that a market exists for digital video content but it is a better approach.
“Furthermore, Apple is only now dealing with issues Microsoft first solved four years ago–IR interfaces, for starters–and has yet to figure out all the issues involved with TV tuner cards, TV recording, and so forth.”
October 1993: Apple Computer announces Macintosh TV, which combines an Apple Macintosh, television, and CD-ROM.
I was associated with an internet radio provider who got themselves listed in the Windows Media Center directory when it first came out. My recollection is that there didn’t seem to be any significant upswing in listeners reorted from broadcasters arising out of that particular association. Hopes were high initially but frankly, nothing notable seemed to ever happen.
Interestingly, some of those same internet radio broadcasters also had the good fortune to become listed in the iTunes Radio directory. For those lucky few it was like going to broadcaster heaven. They consistantly reported a phenomenal deluge listenership from their iTunes Radio directory listing.
I think part of the reason we’re not seeing TV tuners is because Apple is gearing toward delivering more “on demand” content. Sometime in the next 5 or so years, “cable TV” will all be internet based anyway. The step from analog cable to digital cable has revolutionized the way that cable companies can deliver content, and just like the telephone companies, cable will slip into the internet, instead of running side by side down the same wire.
Why would Apple want to give people another reason to watch broadcast TV when they are setting themselves up to be the next big source of video content?
“My DVR can record a couple of weeks worth of my favourite programs”
“What if you want to watch a show from last month or last season?”
“Ummmm”…
With the iTMS, you will be able to watch all the same shows, plus back catalog of TV classics, when you want, commercial free and only pay for what you use instead of paying $40-80 per month for hundreds of ad-filled channels you don’t watch, that have hardly anything worth watching on? For that money, I could purchase 20-40 episodes of the programs I want to watch and watch them when and as often as I want to watch them, commercial free, and I own it.
Apple is choosing to not include DVR capabilities in FrontRow for the same reason they choose to not put an FM tuner in the iPod. Broadcast’s days are numbered. The cableco’s got greedy.
How far has Media Center gone in these past 3 years? Nowhere. As in Not Anywhere. It’s back there with the Tablet PC, MSN TV, and the rest of eHome. Front Row not only looks nice, but it is simple, and its also part of Apples best selling all-in-one desktop Mac- so who wouldn’t want it? I think it will be a very good competitor
The question of how to address the different TV technologies is a simple one addressed by different hardware for different technologies.
I wouldn’t compare FrontRunner and Media Center, though. Media Center’s primary benefit is the TV interface. Which is not great, in my opinion.
My thoughts exactly: If Microsuck’s Media Center is so great, why hasn’t it taken off yet?
I think we certainly don’t know all the pieces yet of Apple’s plan. It could be a good one.. it could be the wrong one.. But they’re starting it in motion, and that’s good.
Microsuck has tried and failed thus far…
Screw the cable, satellite companies and tuner cards. That’s so old school. It’s a matter of time before Wi-Max will allow Apple to send video on demand and you won’t need them. They’ll broadcast from their Apple Stores and you’ll be able to subscribe to the TV channels you want rather than buy a fixed package with idiotic tiers. Next year should be a good one for Apple & Intel.
That being said. I think there is a huge market for Front Row even without PVR functionality. Browsing my photo and iTunes collection on my TV screen would make me happy. The interface is simple (ala iPod) and that is why it works.
A friend bought and set up a MS media center for a party. By the time the party began, he had figured out how to select songs, but such things are shuffle and EQ took 20 min to find. Maybe this was due to a lack of familiarity with WMP, but should that function be easy to find?
Also, I don’t exactly know why you need a TV tuner card or TV recorder when those boxes already exist. It seems to me that Apple’s approach is not the same as Mircosoft’s integrate everything into your computer, but to increase their own conent delivery and to organize the stuff you bought. Why compete with TiVO and every DVR out there with the same thing? The TV show thing has it’s own niche because it is different that on-demand or DVR. It may not win, but it’s a great first step.
Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.
My VCR is still blinking 12:00. So how in the heck can I use M$ Media Center.
Hmmm, I really don’t think that MS should be going around talking about people trying to copy them. Perhaps they were too busy copying os X to stop and think about what they are saying. Furthermore, after looking at both I wouldn’t exactly call front row a copy of media center. Front row just appears to be a nice interface for your iapps and not the basis for an entire operating system. It’s kind of like how the itunes widget is a different interface for operating itunes via dashboard. I personally like the text list. For example, if I want to try and find a file in a finder window I prefer a text list as opposed to a thumbnail view of files. It is much faster and efficient to scan a list than to look at each thumbnail.
Computers are not designed to take over the TV arena. TiVo has done a good job because it does not feel like a computer. I’ve never had to do a software update, fix a software incompatability, install software to get it to do what I want, put on a Firewall, check for viruses, etc. Nobody wants to have to deal with these issues in the entertainment center. These devices need to work and be as stable as your DVD player. Apple isn’t fighting for the entertainment spot here, I think they are testing the waters with the iMac. If it goes well, the Mac Mini is the one that they will want to put in the living room because it is small and will be able to hook up to a normal TV and an HD TV.
Where does XP MCE fit? If it’s in the living room, it plays TV, but it can’t be much of a computer, but if it’s in the office, who wants to watch TV in an office chair – I like my sofa better. TiVo handles this because it is only one thing – it does TV and it does it will. Having one device do everything is not all that it cracks up to be.
When the electric motor came out, people originally thought that each house would have one motor that you would hook up to many different appliances in your house. But, as they got cheaper, people started getting multiple motors for specialized purposes. Go look around and see how many motors you have. I predict this same thing will happen wiith computers – we are going to have many specialized computers, like TiVo, doing certain tasks. As time goes on, they will all start to talk to each better.
The thing is, Microsoft is a software company. They will never be like Apple, a hardware company and a software company. Microsoft will never get any hardware design correct, they cant’t get the software designed correct since day one. So Microsoft should stick with what they know best, try and make software that works, and copy the looks “only” of software that works with the systems it was designed for, Apple.
Don’t go to his website! It only gives him hits so he can charge advertisers more money! He’s smart like a fox. He knows the more wrong he gets it the more money he makes? What’s to lose?
There is a clear difference with MS media center and Apples front row. It’s about 37 buttons different. Apple’s works and is totally integrated where Microsofts is an add-on.
John… you forget about xbox
Apple has yet to figure out TV tuners, IR, remote…??!
Some of us remember the Performa 5300 series back in 1995 that had all that features – even boot into TV with a push on the remote.
Who is this jerk anyway? Oh, I actually have blogged about one of his lies before:
link
Hey Brando, the ConvertX for Mac IS a great product, with more capabilities than the ElGato 200 at a hundred dollars less (and especially easy to use now that TOAST 7 burns directly from your archive without any additional encoding). But if you need a remote for it, the Plextor FAQ says there are two:
1. KeySpan (http://www.keyspan.com/products/homepage-Remotes.spml)
2. ATI (http://www.ati.com/products/remotewonder/index.html)
As for why no TV card in the new iMac? First, it would compete directly with iTunes video — makes no economic sense for Apple to provide it. Second, there’s no room for it in the iMac – hell, they can’t even fit a modem in it anymore. And third, people seem to be missing the fact that what’s being tested here not a computer as a home entertainment center, but the iPod. What Steve J. wants to know is if people will be willing to download Desperate Housewives to iTunes, load it on their iPods, amble down to the livingroom and plop it in the universal dock, to play it back on the TV. Because iTunes syncing with the iPod is so easy, this might work, especially with the added ability of using the same setup for your home entertainment music, photo shows, iMovie, etc. Remember, the new Apple remote works with the iPod, too. Personally, though, I don’t think the video quality will suffice at the current resolution on any screens larger than 19 inches, and even then, it’s VHS EP quality at best. Hard to say if it will catch on….
good call, John.
Windows Media Center is a turd and everyone knows it. It was a good idea, but nothing more.
Just as with the iPod, Apple has taken an existing good idea and implemented it.
Rob, If you go to the united states patent office I think you will find that Microsoft was not the inventor, but the assignee.
“I’m surprised that there was less outrage over Ford’s vehicles, which are a complete rip-off of Chevrolet’s” said a GM spokesman.
Obviously, if you are going to have two different devices performing roughly the same tasks, there are going to be similarities. Just because Microsoft has a “Media Center” doesn’t mean nobody else is allowed to tackle the same tasks and, inevitably, end up with something similar. Aren’t a lot of the TV functions in Media Center just copies of TiVo’s ideas?
Microsoft Media What? Anybody out there actually see this thing? I’ve never seen it anywhere, albeit I’ve never looked for it either. It must be in the clearance bin at Best Buy or something…
“Media Center has been out three years now…” Oh really, who’s got one, nobody I know. And this from the biggest most dominant PC maker in the industry. Where’s the marketing been. Er, um, maybe it’s the interface design (or lack thereof) that hasn’t moved conusmer or this dud.
If Microsoft already supposiedly solved all this years ago, how come we’re not all using them now? How come the “wunder-machine” isn’t as popular as other electronic offerings, say like the iPod for example?
Thurott is an idiot, too.
P.S. I go back to the funniest post I’ve read in over a year here (and I’m quoting Macdailynews staff):
F$%*king start something f$%*ked you f@#*ker!
Well guys, theres more to come! On October the 19th another press conference from Apple hosted in new york where apple will unveil its latest pro innovations. New Powerbooks and Powermacs are coming!! get ready. Read mac world.
The Media Center PC is not an original idea… Commodore had such an idea WAY back in the early ’90s called the CDTV (Commodore Dynamic Total Vision). Media Center is a rip off of Commodore’s innovations of old!
http://www.cdtv.org.uk/
Isn’t it ironic…don’t you think. Right below the Apple copied MS is the report that XP will be receiving Widgets, oops, I mean Gadgets. What a fookin pile of shite Wintel and their fanboys can be.
Seriously. Apple makes a super advanced OS and some truely amazing hardware like the iMac and iPod. And what does nimrod use to question if Apple will be capable of pulling of the Media Center concept.
The IR remote!
Give me a break if Apple’s future hinges on its ability to make a stinking remote control with 6 buttons work then heavon help all mac users. Hell I saw a build your own remote project TOy and hte Discovery Channel store last christmas. Maybe I should send one of those to Ives.
Talk about M$ convergence of peecee and entertainment.
Every time I go out to a movie and try to avoid the physical line by using the ATM style ticket purchasing machines, I remember why I loathe Mafia$oft: Half the time the damn machine malfunctions. You can watch the little pathetic beast reboot into some variant of Winblows and try hopelessly to right itself.
But hey! At least with these little crappy boxes at the box office, M$ can claim huge “market share” numbers.
Fsking Mafia$oft.
Rock on Steve!
Ok guys. Stop using the argument that Media Center must obviously suck because of its lack of popularity. I know of a certain computer manufacturer and an operating system that is quite nice but has a very small marketshare.
There are plenty of reasons to ridicule the Media Center, so at least try to stick to valid ones.
Media Center is a joke. It will not consistently run for more than a few days before the video starts losing frames. ($300 ATI card that was on the hardware compatibility list). Then factor in the constant stream of patches that are required to keep it running. Finally, because of its reliance on controlling the cable box, when you send a channel change command from the remote, it goes to the PC first, then the PC translates the command via an IR flasher to the cable box one digit at a time. Bottom line, to change a channel requires about five seconds while this mess executes. Simply changing channels was EXCRUCIATING!
I fixed it all with Format C:\
Mark my words: Apple will never release a TV tuner. Because TV is old school. And Thurrott and MS are looking at the wrong place.
The future is the Internet. Video content delivered over the Internet, anytime, anywhere you want, for home devices, portable devices, or pocketable devices. Personalized, RSS-type subscriptions. With fatter pipes and bigger storage (local or remote), this future will come.
Think radio. Think iTMS. Think iTunes.
Think TV. Think iTMS Video. Think iTunes Video.
It’s already started.
Why is Apple’s interface so text-based?
—
Damnit! I want pictures instead of song titles!!!!
hahahah… Text base interfaces aren’t what people want?
Has the dude ever seen a Tivo?
Much rather have Text I can read from across the room, than an icon which I first have to learn.
And who says they want to emulate the media center. They may just come up with software that can work with exsisting DVR’s and let the DVR’s take on that end of the media center development. That lets Apple avoid every variation and combo of DVR, Cable, and Satellite solutions out there. This is where Microsoft bites off more than they can chew.
Now, if Apple would just let me use my mini I have in the living room already….
That’s funny Paul, I have a PowerMac 5260 with a TV Tuner, cable input, and IR remote control and it was built in 1996. Last time I checked, nine years is longer than four years, right?
SO, WHO was first with a multi-media computer?
Apple released Macintosh TV back in October of 1993!
It was a BLACK all-in-one machine with a TV-Tuner card built-in. had a 32mhz motorola 68030 CPU, 160MB hard drive, 1MB VRAM, 16mhz system bus.
It did not sell and was discontinued in early 1994.
Thank you Mactracker for the info!
More info from Apple History:
http://www.apple-history.com/?page=gallery&model=tv&performa=off&sort=date&order=ASC
Thurott is yet another Microsoft SHILL. Ignore him, please.
Somebody said “ANYONE can rush a crappy product to market. It takes time to get it right.” And a lot of other people have been claiming that ‘broadcast is dead’, so that’s why Apple’s Front Row is feature poor relative to some other options out there.
Well, I think both are wrong. First, Apple didn’t include a TV/radio tuner or DVR abilities for the simple reason that they’ve committed themselves to hardware DRM with Intel, and there is absolutely no sense in creating a class of PPC machines that would be ‘unsecured’ AND have all the capabilities that they intend to use as selling points when the Macintels arrive.
The risk of course is that by waiting for a self imposed ‘start point’ (meaning there is no real technological reason why they can’t do all this now), they could wind up behind the Market 8-Ball. On the otherhand, since it appears M$ is their only competition, and since Vista will be coming out around the same time as the x86 turnover is in full swing, Apple is probably playing the odds that they can manage any extra demands that their new iMac/iPod/iTMS capabilities will create. We’ll see about that.
Second, once the full financial weight of all these on-demand ‘pay as you go’ services finally hits people, I think there will be a new appreciation for broadcast. Commercials are out of control now (thank you Ronald Reagan), but if the paid commercial-free model starts to get traction, commercial service will probably re-adjust back to something like how it was before it became so onerous (roughly 2mins of ads per 15mins of programming). And the fact that it’s FREE means people will use it. If Apple really does want to be a digital hub, and not just a digital cartel, then they’ll have to adjust.
Problem is, I think they want to be a digital cartel. With music, they’ve been a relatively benign cartel – allowing ripping and burning with modest restriction. But the new video offerings are completely restricted, which reflects how much they’re going to have to cow-tow to the providers just to get their hands on the content. To me, this is a little like selling your soul to the devil for a career – and as Keanu Reeves showed us, that path is fraught with unexpected perils.
M$ might make Vista’s media software with an interface just good enough, with hardware just flexible enough in aquiring content, and have the entire package just free enough from restrictions that the public picks them. Sounds crazy, but M$ is the company that’s been fighting against the most stringent of restricitions that the Hollywood companies want for video, not Apple (see the whole HD-DVD vs BluRay debate).
I’m not making a prediction, just a warning; call it Karma, call it a bad read of consumer desires, what have you – but Jobs could easily wind up wondering how this all went wrong if he’s not careful.
Paul must have gotten his newest check in from microslop…
With a note from Bill : Paul, remember where you get this from… up the FUD or I’ll send Dancing Monkey Boy (TM) over to adjust your attitude with a folding chair!
I really don’t care one iota what Microsoft does or doesn’t do. Myself and a lot of other millions of people are going to stick with Apple and a lot more millions are going to come to it as well…
So long as Apple carry on as they are I will be deliriously happy thank you.
Front Row is not about merging the PC with the television. It is not the same thing as MS Media PC which focuses heavily on the PC/TV connection. Unlike Media PC, Front Row has little to do with broadcast television and more to do with managing and enhancing your media experience. Presently, it is providing the users of iLife apps a better way to experience their media (away from the keyboard). The Mac will not converge with the television, just as Jobs predicted. But comercial video entertainment will move to non-television venues such as iPod and the personal computer. There is really no need for the all-purpose personal computer to become the all purpose media device. When I have access to video on demand who cares about recording the next episode of Desperate Housewives. Microsoft is all about the Swiss Army knife. Apple is about the toaster. Which do you use more often?
I really hope this Apple TV show download service takes off, because if I’d hate to think how much some of you are paying a month for your entertainment services… between cable (say ~100), tivo ($13), netflix ($10), DVD’s, movies, plus whatever else, it must add up to a sh*tload of doe. How’s the mortgage btw?
If this Apple idea (or similar) goes somewhere, we can ditch that other crap, and have a stack of cash ready for spending on more or less instant downloads instead.
Woo hoo. Better invest in hard disc and blank dvd (or later) disc manufacturer stocks!
As an aside, there was talk yesterday about how long it takes to download a tv show… I hope they decide to break up a movie into portions, so you can say start downloading (i.e. buffer) the first 30 minutes, then whilst you’re watching the movie, the remaining portions of the movie downloads and then it auto-magically starts playing the next segment – this will get around any really crappy “takes too long to download” issues. Of course, I’m sure they’ve already thought of it.
Microsoft has had a Media center for over 2 years now? Wow, must be burning up the charts in sales. Thurrott needs sleep, he must be tired of being an idiot.
“Why is Apple’s interface so text-based?”
How else are you going to view playlists of your info?
It must really suck to be a peecee slob these days.
With all the rocking and rolling Apple is doing, I feel more smug now than ever!
I almost feel sorry for the unwashed masses that actually read and believe Thurrott’s shit.
Don’t give this moron any hits.
“Why is Apple’s interface so text-based?”
Maybe they figure we are literate.
“Why is Apple’s interface so text-based?”
So they can be accused of copying Microsoft’s DOS circa 1981 ??
Btw, MDN must be asleep… over at Macworld (and also hardmac), there is an announcement of yet another Apple press conference next week, where “pro” products will be revealed.
Microsoft Media Center tries to make up for the fact that Windows doesn’t have a free interoperable set of Media software for the creation of content such as Apple iLife. So for Apple to make a program for the easy viewing and listening to content is a natural progression. So it took a little time but it is here. Perhaps if Atari or Amiga included something like that for their computers way back when, they would still be around. Can’t we just enjoy the progress as it comes to being??? Thurrott needs to lighten up!
Copied? Speak to yourself.
M$ media centre got the ideas when Steve introduced the concept of ‘Digital Hub’!!!!
Let say if even M$ introduced the so called ‘Media Centre’first, they can never set the trend. See how many new things they had introduced, how many of them is really shinning brightly?
I must say that the ONLY thing that they had set the trend is the 2 buttom mouse and the scroll wheels.
These are FREE additional features that 90% of the people will never use. UNLIKE MICROSOFT you will not have to go out and buy an additional computer to perform the tasks thus SAVING $$$$.
and the future may make it more interesting….
Folks, also remember that this is just the first itereation of Front Row. And, currently, it is only available with the new iMac’s.
SJ had a lot up his sleeve, of this I am sure. We aren’t the only ones who know that the future of entertainment delivery is the internet. Many of you have pointed out great examples – and I am sure the Apple developers have thought of those and then some.
It is a great time to be a Mac user
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”smile” style=”border:0;” />
Onw gripe – I wish they would come up with a spiffy icon for DVD. The shiny disk is just drab – and that’s not like Apple.
It doesn’t surprise me that Apple has been called out by my good buddy Paul on this blatant rip off of the stellar Windows Media Center.
Afterall, it was yours truly that accurately reported on the fact that Microsoft actually wrote the Apple OS.
MW = pool. “Everyone, into da pool (of money that Apple is making, and Micrsoft isn’t)!!”
Everyone is copying designs. What’s the big f’ng deal. Get rid of that big mouth Ballmer
Thurrott:
“Most tellingly, perhaps: Why is Apple’s interface so text-based? It looks sad next to Microsoft’s highly-visual approach. “
Well I just had a look at all the screen shots of Window Media Center in his Supersite and the menus are ALL text based. I don’t understand what he’s on about. And they’re 2D. There isn’t one 3D menu like Front Row’s top menu.
Typical FUD.
Thurrott:
“I’m surprised that there was less outrage over Apple’s Front Row software, which is a complete Media Center rip-off (albeit one that offers only a subset of Media Center features)”
Just had a good look at the Apple website and a good think about what Apple has done.
Its is clear from the Apple screen shots & functionality they have not copied Media Centre at all. Front Row is just giving you the ability to what control your Mac through a different display. And 3 of the 4 menus items re replicas of the iPod menus: Music, Photos and Video, then add to that the ability to control you computer DVD player. So to a Mac user and an iPod user, it just makes sense. It’s just a little extension of the iPod/iTunes/iLife/Mac convergence.
Contrast this philosophy with Media Centre, which is primarily about convergence of the Windows PC with Cable (or other) television. In fact cites a top ranking MS executive in one of his articles that this is THE big thing.
So there is a stark difference between the 2 and a reason for the different look, feel and functionality. And a reason why the Apple offerings are so much more elegant and intuitive.
MDW: “Exposed” as in FUD exposed again.
I cant believe I ate the whole thing!
Apple Front Row software copies Microsoft Media Center (He-He: apple steals from MicroShit) Oooh, Brrrgh, (cough, cough) YES your Honah, APPLE now will admit that it stole precious and cute ideas from microdick (Oops I meant Microdick). Apple now admits to being at the forefront of this stealing conspiracy. Yes your honna, we is definitely stealin’ from that brilliant innovator companie mcrocrap or whatever. Apples is a steeler yur honnah, yes indeedy everythin’ was micro’s ideah in the frist palace. Wen will yu gys reallizze thatt anywayy?
OOPS, I guess I wasn’t supposed to spill the beans on all that stuff. OK, I take it all back. MS never never never never never never never never never never never ever ever ever ever ever ever took an idea from <small>apple</small> EVER. You Hear that, EVER, and just in case you thought otherwise ms never EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER… (I forgot what I was supposed to say) sorry mr. gates….i gess ime fired huh…. well shoot i did what yu sed… didnt i? yu sed to just copie appls stuf and my pension wood bee ok huh, im yur best progrmer aftr all…c’mon mr gates… you said…
why does elgato’s stuff cost 3x more than the pc equivalent?
The average mac owner earns more than the average pc owner…….they gotta!
Remember when Steve said we would see something from Sony and Apple in the future.
Sony Wega with iMac inside.
Imagine the implications for the rest of the industry
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”wink” style=”border:0;” />
I don’t think Apple EVER wants to be where Microsoft is right now with their Media Center!! Check out this video, where Media Center keeps crashing & crashing & crashing. And there’s MANY more videos where this one came from… this is just the tip of the iceberg!
The History of Microsoft
http://live.watchmactv.com/?p=78
Also, YOU DO NOT WANT TO MISS the origin of CTRL-ALT-DELETE.
Bill Gates has no sense of humor. He’s at the end of this hilarious clip, and he’s not amused with the truth.
http://www.milkandcookies.com/links/28888/
Do you think that Apple would EVER want to emulate crap like this?!
Believe me when I say, Apple is the LEADER in innovation here. They are not following Microsoft in the slightest.
Front Row is a big non-event. Once the Steve Job’s distortion field fades I think we’ll all be wondering what the fuss was. It’s a partial implementation of Windows MCE, which in itself attracted very little consumer interest. iVideo ain’t going to change that.
MDN Magic Word: crap as in “Front Row is crap”
I wish Apple would concentrate on improving the basic performance of MacOS before adding new features like Front Row. MacOS X can be seriously sluggish and the threading performance sucks. Windows and Linux are way ahead in terms of responsiveness. Get the basics right before adding on pointless bells and whistles.
Who gives a fsuck if it hs a TV card in it, isnt the whole point about it that you can download video over the internet. I dont see M$ doing that so what is there to copy? And as far as I can see the “media center” interface for Front Row has nothing to do with the Windows Media Center……
Why is it IR? I don’t even see it listed as IR and sure I could have missed it in the streaming video. It’s not like it couldn’t be bluetooth (which would make all the sense in the world). If it’s IR it is so you don’t get it for older machines and upgrade. Personally I like the way they reused the shuffle control button. I was hoping apple would put the scroll-wheel/touch-wheel control to the side of the trackpad in the next laptops so we could scrub and have easy media control. This remote is good though. Esp since people will have 20″ ‘most popular room in the dorm’ iMacs w/ it. Front Row is fine. It’s not a Media Center rip-off.
Media Center doesn’t totally suck either. Sure, you can crash it pretty quick, but it does the job and if you need a pc desktop or laptop (read desktop replacement) it basically gets you a dvr. Of course the whole deal is it’s third party on top of third party on top of M$, but Apple should kill it completely….not leave that little bit about importing video unturned.
Hopefully the new powermacs have either coax in for cable and/or just the same simple RCA jacks they had almost a decade ago…But…but all television will be internet…yeah and the revolution will not be televised…and the company that will bring it to you will be…is it now? No. I watch tv w/ regular cable it’s cool, you can try it some time there are like only 125 channels and about 10 good ones. I’d like to just be able to record it w/ my expensive Apple hardware (I’d pay more for the feature from Apple). Country by country and area differences? Puh-leeeze..hand me the 110-120 60hz only power supply (nominal) rev a iMac G5. Yes, Apple can easily localize hardware. But….but….if it records tv then we won’t know about the ipod.. Huh? I don’t have an iPod that plays video, but I bought a video. I bet a lot of people have bought them and watched them in itunes. That doesn’t exactly test the new ipod…but..but.. no buts.
Apple is offering commercial free video downloads for less than they cost in the store..on sale/offer. Even if I could record w/ my mac I would still go w/ making some store purchases. Maybe not as many..maybe more since I’d spend more time using the nice integrated system and really appreciate the no commercial part. Not to mention that bit about owning and having a nice legal library.
Apple needs to bring it w/ the whole thing and not wait on third parties to get their hardware encoding set to what the ipod takes.
MDN: why give this guy any airtime at all? He’s comments are completely nonsensical. By linking to him you give his site hits and therefore a reason to exist. Frankly, who cares??!
Two words: “Six Buttons”
What a dumbass…bet he doesn’t even know what day of the week it is.
Front Row is a big non-event. Once the Steve Job’s distortion field fades I think we’ll all be wondering what the fuss was. It’s a partial implementation of Windows MCE, which in itself attracted very little consumer interest. iVideo ain’t going to change that.
—
Okay.. Windows MCE is a proposition for making the COMPUTER the center of the living room.
First mistake.
MCE is friggin expensive to set up and .. like all things MS…. not as easy to use as it should be (set up, not the environment)
Second mistake.
Windows MCE runs Windows.
3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th…
You get the point..
Lastly.. FrontRow is coming on ALL iMacs.. it’s not optional.. it’s free and it comes on all iMacs. You’ll see it being used whereas the Windows thing is just for tools like Thurrott.
Have you SEEN the monster stack he bought to set up his MCE? FUGLY!
Watch the Commodore CDTV infomercial to see where Microsoft got its idea for the Media Center PC…
http://www.commodore.ca/gallery/video/videos/CDTV_infomercial_1991.rm
Don’t let the MS fanboys tell you the Media Center PC is something of originality, because it’s not!
Having a TV tuner in your computer is a far different challenge than trying to work with a host of different STBs. Whoopdeedo, so Apple had a TV tuner 1993. What does that have to do with today’s digital cable, HDTV, STB menu systems, etc.? Nothing.
Now, I will give Apple credit in stepping out with Front Rox and testing the waters. But MS does deserve it’s credit for being out there several years ago. I’m confident that Apple will have a better solution in time.
But MS does deserve it’s credit for being out there several years ago.
The ultimate credit needs to go to Commodore for dreaming up such a concept WAY back in the early ’90s with the CDTV!
Microsoft only reinvented the idea with the technologies made available today.
Odyssey67, many of your previous posts have been very thoughtful and I’ve found them an interesting read. I wrote earlier that I don’t think Apple will ever again release a TV tuner or PVR (for broadcast TV content).
So in response to your post, I think Apple believes that the broadcast TV model can also mostly be replicated on the Internet, so there will be plenty of video streaming content that will come free (with or without ads embedded). This will be in addition to the pay and own (no ads), and subscription (netflix-like) models. Content producers don’t always have to monetize the video content, if there are related things to monetize, in which case the video content becomes a marketing/branding tool.
Of course, this expects that bandwidth, both wired and wireless, will increase. And that wireless networks and chips will be optimized to use less power, thus the Intel (WiMax) deal, so that the iPod someday will be able to connect directly to the Internet.
Note that more and more high-end TVs have Firewire in addition to HDMI or DVI. It’s taken a long time but it shows that CE companies are expecting content for the TV to come from paths other than the TV RF or the cable/satellite set-top box. The disruptive event in the US is coming soon when TV broadcasting turns off the analog signal and moves to digital. That would be the moment for Apple to provide an alternative, if the broadband bandwidth is ready by then.
if Enderle were a dog (I wouldn’t give him that much) and he sh*t on the carpet (wrote a crappie/trollish article), I wouldn’t give him a doggie biscuit. In other words I wouldn’t click through to his article. No, no, no! I would be fair and consistent. That’s how dogs learn; consistency. Enderle is like a small child or unruly pet who draws on walls with crayons or chews on your Airwalks (who knows if Enderle is fit for this comparison but..).
Listen, all I’m saying is you gotta teach the dog not to sh*t on the carpet.
(oh man!! this is no joke –magic werd: training!)
My Media Center is bigger than your Media Center.
http://www.big-boys.com/articles/gatesconan.html
“…but if you think Steve Jobs doesn’t have a grand master plan, you’re wrong.”
Boy, the owner of this website really does believe that Jobs is God. Scary.
When the iPod came out it took a long time for most to realise it was the software, not the hardware.
I wonder how long it will take them to realise that this time it’s not the software, it’s the content.
Steve Jobs quoted from Time
““We’re going to sell millions of these to people who want to play their music, and video is going to come along for the ride. Anyone who wants to put out video content will put it out for this. And we’ll find out what happens.””
Boy, the owner of this website really does believe that Jobs is God. Scary.
Not as scary as MS fanboys thinking Bill Gates is God!
I’ll try to keep this short. Where do I begin? MCE is typical Microsoft–GUI stolen from the Mac, and this bloated OS doesn’t work. That text-based GUI on Front Row that Thurott is referring to is the proven, easy-to-use, reliable iPod GUI. Apple is just getting started. When its planets of standards (H.264, Blu-ray, 802.11n) aligned, watch out. The new Apple set-top box or Mac will blow MCE on a PC and the XBox 360 away.