Apple is scheduled to hold a special media event tomorrow on the eve of PhotoPlus Expo.
“This being the PhotoPlus Expo, one would think along the lines of photography or a Pro announcement when contemplating Apple’s next move. While I do believe that Apple will be bumping the Power Mac and portable lines, I also think there will be a new product announcement. While esteemed colleagues around the Mac web are leaning towards software, my mind is thinking more along the lines of hardware; I predict that Apple is going to come out with a digital still camera. Not just any digital still camera mind you, but one that is completely integrated with the recent products to come out of Cupertino,” michaelangelo writes for AppleXnet.
“What would the specs on this camera be? No clue, to be honest. If Apple was to do it, it is doubtful they would go low-brow. It should be at least 5 megapixels, have 64MB of built-in storage, and the iPod nano rechargeable battery. An 8x optical zoom with a 12x digital zoom would round it out nicely,” michaelangelo writes. “While there is no way to tell if Apple really is coming out with this product until tomorrow, I would not be completely surprised to see it. Every product lately has been an extension of the digital lifestyle on which Apple has a stranglehold, and this product would be a logical extension of that. If asked for the odds of this happening I would say that they are decent. Keep an eye out for it, because if it doesn’t happen tomorrow, it may happen soon.”
This article is speculation, as the author states, but it is an interesting read. Full article here.
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It will be software but it WON’T be like photoshop. For apple to go head to head with Adobe would be crazy. Adobe’s Photoshop is too embedded in the industry.
What is a much greater chance is an all in one digial image management program. THIS is where the market is sorely lacking and what professional photographers most want. An image management program that does everything except precise editing but works seemlessly with photoshop to do everything that photoshop doesn’t do (or does poorly, like image browsing, mass editing, contact sheets, album design, etc..).
“Anyone who thinks digital zoom is of any use knows squat about cameras. Take it from a pro. There is no way Apple will introduce a camera – or Photoshop competitor for that matter – tomorrow.”
Eric, I agree that digital zoom should be a dirty word. However Panasonic’s ‘Extended Optical’ and Nikon’s D2X HSC mode are digital zoom done right.
As for the 12x zoom the author has hinted at that would give around the same number of pixels as an itunes movie, just 0.0347222 of a Megapixel or 213 x 160.
At 300 dpi that gives an image only 2/3″ wide!
Does anyone want to talk about camera shake now?
Furthermore there is a desperate need for a product that works in a similar fashion to ACR and Bibble but with Backup and cataloguing features all rolled into the one app. Apple could be aiming at filling this hole.
I’ll buy;)
I’d like to see iPhoto work a little more like ACDSee does. As a photo management app, it’s weak. Using it makes me wish ACD didn’t leave the Mac market… but with Apple giving away a good-enough competing product for free, I wouldn’t want to waste money developing for the Mac either.
So… ACDSee abilities for iPhoto is my hope.
I’d like to see iPhoto work a little more like ACDSee does. As a photo management app, it’s weak. Using it makes me wish ACD didn’t leave the Mac market… but with Apple giving away a good-enough competing product for free, I wouldn’t want to waste money developing for the Mac either.
So… ACDSee abilities for iPhoto is my hope.
I’d like to see iPhoto work a little more like ACDSee does. As a photo management app, it’s weak. Using it makes me wish ACD didn’t leave the Mac market… but with Apple giving away a good-enough competing product for free, I wouldn’t want to waste money developing for the Mac either.
So… ACDSee abilities for iPhoto is my hope.
If this has any base at all maybe an updated iSight with the same specs as in new iMac, maybe its smaller and easier to transport for us Powerbook users.
Apple releasing a camera to compete with Nikon, Canon, Olympus etc, all the big camera brands. Is as dumb as Creative, Rio, iRiver etc competing with Apples iPod.
Everyone should stick to what there good at. We all can’t do everything. Teamwork. Apple, Dell, etc. makes the computers, Nikon or Canon etc. makes the cameras, Epson, Agfa, etc make the scanners, blah blah. Put em all together and you have a niffty little set up.
“The invitations were black and contained an image of a large camera lens”
http://www.appleinsider.com/article.php?id=1331
The announcement will be for a new version of Final Cut, and that old incomprehensible SONY guy will be on hand to show off their new videocam that shoots H.264-compressed QT movies that are ready for the iPod right out of the camera.
Foolish and unnecessary to take on Photoshop or build a camera.
Apple is not bringing back the QuickTake.