“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
Wonder what will become of the Burst fiasco….? Hope Steve-O and the gang from the legal department worked something out.
I desperately want a TiVo or ReplayTV. This rumor of an Apple-branded PVR has me holding off that purchase.
Sounds like “fun.”
Forget the Mac mini, here is what you’ll get in the way of fun. Remember you heard it from me first!!
The new “iPod Boombox” is not what you think. Instead it will be wireless satellite speakers based on Airport Express. Each speaker will sell for $100 and have an integrated WiFi point so they will only need to plug into the wall outlet. Each speaker will have full stereo, so you do not need to buy them in pairs unless you want to. An added accessory will be the long-awaited WiFi dock for the iPod so the speakers can recieve input from the iPod or iTunes. Remember the low-key addition in iTunes 6.03 of the ability to stream to multiple speakers simultaneously? The new Universal dock will be updated to support a remote that is not infared so you can control it from anywhere in the house. Another addition will be a small dock-connected WiFi transmitter for the iPod itself (so you don’t have to use the Dock), in which case the iPod will function as the transmitter and remote in one unit. Oh, and did I mention that each speaker will be approximately the SIZE of the current Airport Express? They will work with Bose to get great sound from a very portable design that everyone will want. These speakers will also double as a WiFi point for your computer.
SirROM
I want to see Front Row 2.0 (for all users – not just bundled with new Macs), an Intel Mac mini, and the long-rumored iPod BoomBox. Those are my predictions. Oh, yeah, and the red iPod to keep Bono happy.
There will NOT be an Apple branded DVR built into a Mac Mini..
Think about it… Apple is in the business of SELLING content on the iTMS..
Why on Earth would they ever include a standard feature on a Mac (dvr,) that will record content for free while they are trying to sell that same content for $1.99.
They’d be shooting themselves in the foot…It WON”T happen..
Mike
Whatever Apple is playing for tomorrow… it better be pretty friggin cool. This MS Origami thing is getting a lot of buzz.
MDN word: decided
I have decided to not hold my breath.
I have a High-Def DVR Mac. It’s called “any Mac with firewire and a big enough hard drive”.
http://macteens.com/index.php/features/fullstory/how_to_make_your_own_home_theatre_mac_htmac/
TV recording will not be out of the question, but would be Elgato territory still.
Don’t take these speculations seriously. They know nothing real.
And the Mac Mini is a low-end cheap Mac, no more no less.
Origami’s buzz will last about 5 minutes. Apple’s goes on and on.
Mike, a lot of people can’t be bothered editing out commercials and I don’t think you can get rid of those watermarks in the bottom corners easily. A PVR mac mini would be sweet but unfortunatly, I don’t think it will happen either. The point of the mac mini is to be cheap and sellable to the average person. I’ve also heard that DVD-recorders will never have digital tuners built in because of copywrite so I don’t see how the powers that be would allow a computer to have the ability.
Tim –
Not for nothing, but I own an actual Tivo-brand Tivo w/ a built-in DVD-R. So that’s apparently not a problem.
hmmm… it hurts TiVo…
forget that.. let’s talk about the effect it may have on Windows!
Attaching a Mac to your TV means the home users all of a sudden are picking up Macs (so they should)..
If this takes off like the iPod.. ummm.. I think it’s safe to say, the marketshare numbers will see a bump
Amazing potential… they have to do this.
“Why on Earth would they ever include a standard feature on a Mac (dvr,) that will record content for free while they are trying to sell that same content for $1.99.”
so they can convince you to spend $600 instead of $1.99?
both systems will be in place… non-mac mini users will buy shows one at a time.
No highs no lows…
It must be Bose.
Please say it ain’t so
This just came out. — Jobs to be named head of security at the White House —
A joint commitee is asking the President to name Steve Jobs head of security at the White House after successfully eliminating all new product information leaks that plagued Apple when he was rehired to manage the then troubled company. The senators and congressmen expressed confidence that he would be able to aply the same tactics at the White House which has been at center of numerous scandals lately. As proof they mentioned that with less than 18 hours to go before Apple’s media event, no one has a clue as of what will be announced tomorrow morning, much to the frustration of Apple enthousiasts.
LET THE GAMES BEGIN!
…i just want a new newton
See the MacRumors article about the Newark office purchase. Heavy security– important stuff going on.
Watched the iPod launch video today one more time. Steve and company KNEW it was going to be big, yet they remained calm, understated. Same as now, methinks.
Steve has made it obvious that his plan was to make Apple one of the 10 largest internet companies on the planet. Apple’s well on its way, but tomorrow is the day it all becomes manifest. [clouds part, sun shines down, trumpets blair…]
No secret knowledge. A dram of speculation, a barrel of hope, and a shitload of expectation.
Don’t forget not every tv show or movie is available on iTunes. So a pvr mini would be cool for recording whatever you like.
They promised fun things tomorrow.
The biggest fun thing in computing would be to be able to run Windows programs on an Intel Mac without the Windows OS. Just load the program on the HD and double click it. The Mac OS does the rest.
The world needs both iTunes Media and DVR recording. One is for when you forget, the other for when you remember.
BTW, some would prefer not to have a DVR and just buy the handful of shows they want. $600 is about 300 shows. Probably more than the average person would want to buy.
if someone really wants a PVR/DVR, they can buy one for about a hundred bucks…
If someone really wants a Mac Mini, they can buy one for about five hundred bucks..
The two will never officially merge.. Third parties solutions yes, but an actual Apple branded Dvr won’t happen…
Just remember… tomorrow is Mardi Gras aka Fat Tuesday.
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pc apologist wrote:
“Not for nothing, but I own an actual Tivo-brand Tivo w/ a built-in DVD-R. So that’s apparently not a problem.”
tivo doesn’t support HD broadcasts does it? I think the buzz about an
apple pvr/dvd-r is about HD. No/Yes?
A Basic MacMini for $399 with all the specs listed above and you won’t be able to keep them on the shelves.
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
Funny Joy of Tech comic.
http://www.geekculture.com/joyoftech/joyarchives/719.html
Joyfully brought to you by the Real, Original MacDude
(often imitated, never succesfully duplicated)
> 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!!!!!!