“Already dominating the digital music market, Apple hopes to broaden its reach into video — and the living room,” Troy Wolverton reports for TheStreet.com. “CEO Steve Jobs on Wednesday announced three updated products, all with the video theme, including, as expected, a pair of new iPod models that will play movies and music videos. But Jobs didn’t stop there, introducing an updated version of Apple’s iMac desktop computer that enables owners to launch and play digital videos, DVDs and music using a remote control.”
“And he announced a new version of the company’s iTunes music store that will allow customers to purchase videos, including first-run television programs, including the hit ABC series Desperate Housewives, and short films from the Jobs-headed Pixar,” Wolverton reports. “Prior to Wednesday’s announcement, Van Baker, an analyst with Gartner, was skeptical that Apple would launch a video iPod because of the lack of potential movie content. But following the presentation, Baker said he was impressed by the content that Apple lined up, particularly the deal with Disney.”
“Although the amount of content that Apple has in iTunes won’t be enough long-term, Baker says it’s a good start and predicted that other media companies soon will be calling Apple to strike their own deals,” Wolverton reports. “Baker also was impressed with the new remote-control software. Baker envisions Apple possibly putitng the same software, called Front Row, on other models and incorporating a TV tuner on those computers for a full multimedia experience. Contrasting Front Row with Microsoft’s rival offering, Baker said ‘Front Row is Media Center PC done right. It’s simple.'”
“Apple representatives declined to say whether Front Row would be made available for other Apple computers. The new remote control will work with both the iMac and iPod accessories, but Apple wouldn’t say if it would work with other Apple computers,” Wolverton reports.
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 camera and remote control with Front Row media experience. From $1299. Free shipping.
Related articles:
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
Nobody post yet
I like the new iMac a lot to bad I bought my 4-5 months agos.
For this video downloading to really take off, the quality will have to increase.
Check out Apple’s new iPod ad here:
http://www.apple.com/ipod/ads/
That excellent video is 640×480 pixels at 2.3 mbits/sec H.264 compared to iTunes current 320×240 at 600kbits/sec.
That kind of higher downloadable quality would really start a buzz.
As far as the general “Front Row” experience goes, I’d like to create a playlist of a music selection followed by a few cartoons and then a feature film all of which play like a real theater experience . This would be ultra cool but alas I don’t think Front Row is quite there yet, but you gotta start somewhere.
Glad to see Apple’s Digital Hub strategy starting to take shape!!
iPod Video?
Tooo small. What for? On its own ….. Useless.
Front Row?
Why?
Useless. Why not use your DVD player.
I can’t wait to replace my 65 in. HDTV with a 20″ iMac!!!!
Does anyone else feel these updates are useless.
Note I am not saying they will not sell as I feel they will. Just note that they are all addons to existing equipment. Freebies for those who don’t have existing equipment.
Front Row is not done right because it’s missing one very important feature that media center does have, a DVR function. If Apple can put in a video capture card along with DVR functions (like snapstream’s beyond TV) and a high quality TV out then it will be done right. Until then it’s just another Apple neat little feature that comes up just a bit short.
for the “Mac Media Center”. I imagine a dongle that connects to firewire and DVI, with inputs for TV signal and outputs to TV and audio. Plug it into your Mac mini or G5, and connect your cable connection or satellite, and your TV & stereo, and run it as a substitute for TiVo and DVD player. Bluetooth keyboard & mouse, or remote control, makes it all easy, and you can pull up iTunes or iPhoto, or watch TV in real time or recorded, or watch DVD or listen to CD, or use as a regular computer with your TV screen as monitor.
This is so obvious that I just know, somewhere in Cupertino, it is already up and running. So release it already!
I expect the next big thing will be an update to Airport/Aiport Express to stream video from our Macs to the TV in the living room.
And the remote control will work with both of those as well.
Macgoog, we all know you dont have a 65″ HDTV
No one will substitute an imac for a TV……This is just the setup for the next media/mac style device….I liked the basic interface…add more TV menus and capability….. or develop a device that plugs into your media center like a DVD player does and works like an enhanced DVD recorder with an easy to use on screen display….just a thought
Front Row looks awesome. It’s too bad Apple hit it off with such poor quality video. Opting to sell the video at 320×240 is really dumb–especially considering they’re advertising watching that stuff on a 20″ iMac. It looks like crap on my 17″ powerbook. I might have actually bought some episodes (or, *gasp*, an entire season of a show) if it didn’t look like total and utter crap on my screen. I’m not going to pay $2 for something that will only look good on a 2.5″ screen and not my powerbook at fullscreen. If Apple doesn’t rectify this, it really is going to be a flop. Most people don’t have iPods with video support yet, so their first experience of the video will be on their computer where it looks like crap in fullscreen. Doh!
Yes there is. THEY STILL PLAY MUSIC!
I am suprised how many people keep harping on hte lack of a TV tuner. Just a few months ago MS allowed the Dells and HPs of the world toload the Media Center edition on PCs without TV tuners. THe major media center builders kept saying the component costs were to high when the tuners was added and consumers were opting to just buy a standard PC.
Now Apple comes out with an elegant execution on everything except the TV PVR thing and everyone is up in arms. Go figure.
My guess is it is intentional. Why would i buy Lost of of hte iTVS if i can just record the darn thing for free? Its ommision was with a purpose.
PS. the movie trailer viewer is genius.
I like everything I see… one thing that bugs me..
they took the name Front Row, which I was gonna use for my own little website…. bleh!
Greg says: “Front Row is not done right because it’s missing one very important feature that media center does have, a DVR function. If Apple can put in a video capture card along with DVR functions (like snapstream’s beyond TV) and a high quality TV out then it will be done right. Until then it’s just another Apple neat little feature that comes up just a bit short.”
I’m still waiting for the “Mac Media Center” says: “I imagine a dongle that connects to firewire and DVI, with inputs for TV signal and outputs to TV and audio. Plug it into your Mac mini or G5, and connect your cable connection or satellite, … and run it as a substitute for TiVo and DVD player. … This is so obvious that I just know, somewhere in Cupertino, it is already up and running. So release it already!”
I think we’re going to have to wait for hardware DRM/Macintels for that. I know it’s not necessary, and if the outcry for those features becomes great enough Apple might release those features sooner, but I think they’d be such a hit that it might undercut the big new product rollouts being planned.
Nevertheless, I do think a DVR and TV tuner version of FrontRow is coming, but it might not be in the iMac form-factor (at least not this one). I always thought the old G4 iMac form-factor was just begging for TV/DVR functionality, what with that swiveling screen and all. Especially at the 20″ size, it was perfect for media viewing in small spaces (like a college dorm or most center city apartments).
I read that Apple recently patented a removable screen version of the beloved ‘desklamp’ recently. Extrapolating, I suspect that could be the version we see an ‘uprated’ FrontRow on. But again – if the present iMacs start flying off the shelves, who knows what might happen in January.
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”raspberry” style=”border:0;” />
I see this being good for college students. Not only do you get a kickass operating system, but you basically get a whole media center (sans a couple things) in a really sleek looking package. And considering most dormrooms that I have ever been in contain only a 13″ TV, even the 17″ model looks awesome!
Add the El Gato Eye TV and it will have the DVR functionality. And, if they are really on top of it, the FrontRow software will integrate with El Gato’s. But, a TiVo is still cheaper than this and all of the MediaPC’s out there by at least $800.
I think the Mac Mini is the form factor that the MacMediaCenter will come in. All they need is component outs and a TV in with some good DVR software and they’re done. Sell it for $600 and offer the TV listings with it and that will sell very well.
Not sure what people are complaining about. You have more disk space, a slightly different design, black as an option, and video capability all for the same price. I for one am glad it’s not an addition to the line.
I like that the video iPod IS the ipod. This will put it in more hands, allowing a lot more downloads, leading to more content deals in the future.
Now what’s the problem?
Oh yeah, I like that the ipod now has constant video out. You know – shows the menu, thumbnails, etc on TV.
Who’s got a guess on Steve announcing 1 million videos downloaded? 1 week? 1 month?
WHy are people complaining about hte lack of a TV tuner?
The fricken iTVS will sell you the shows you wanted to record off tv. So a tv tuner would total kill a revenue stream for Apple. Now Apple needs to add a subscription model on a TV series and finally shows like Arrested Development and others that are great shows but are not “mainstream” enough will have a second life.
Once again apple is cutting out the middle man in a sluggish industry.
Actually, I’m pretty pleased. While sitting in meetings yesterday, I downloaded the two-part Lost pilot. Never got into the show, but a friend promised beer if I would try it out. So, here I sit in a coffee shop watching the episodes and enjoying them. Quality is more than acceptable, and the experience–which is what APple is all about–is excellent, and it is likely to get better. Ordered my 60gb video iPod. Yeah, I know there will be an 80gb, and then a 120, etc. More fun. And I like what chi guy says: look for who gets cut out by Apple: see where the disintermediation takes you, and ask whether there is money in that direction. I think there is. I think Jobs has done it again.