“The obvious bets [for Apple’s “It’s Showtime” special media event this Tuesday] have been an iPod-enabled cell phone, and what I suspect is a gimmie: the already well discussed larger screened iPod combo with iTunes Movie Store download,” The Big Picture writes.
“Let’s fantasize a bit about what might be more intriguing options: Looking at their iMac line up, the 24 inch model with Front Row software got me thinking: Sure, that’s fine for a dorm room, but what about the rest of the TV consuming country? They want bigger and bigger screens,” The Big Picture writes.
“Here’s what I want: make me a 40″ version of an iMac. Bring this in so it only costs marginally more than other flat screens — figure $3500. (Eventually, roll out a 50 or even a 60-inch version for $4500 – $6000 clams),” The Big Picture writes. “Build in all of the Front Row software controls into a full function remote control — TV, DVD, music, etc. Then (just for laughs), build in a DVR or TiVo for that matter.”
The Big Picture writes, “Apple would have a break out hit, and take total control of the digital living room like no one else has been able to.”
Full article here.
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The Big Picture get the big picture.
Plus apple bluetooth keyboard and mouse…. across the room computing. Me like.
I think a 40″ iMac would be stupid! I guess they have never sat in front of the 30″ ACD…even that can be overwhelming…
I’d rather have 61 inches, and would settle for no less.
Uhhh, I’d hardly call the iPod-enabled cell phone an “obvious bet” for the event.
How friggin brilliant!
A complete Apple entertainment home. I’m game.
But will this turn Apple into one of those “too huge” companies that everyone despises?
Hey Ryan,
I think the point to a large screen like that would be to mount it on your wall and use it as a TV as well. Its not like you would be sitting right in front of the thing.
60″ Screen? No way, still far too expensive. Dentists
only at the mo.
The runaway hit would be the multifunction device aka iPhone. Every trendy in the world is gunna want one of those. It’ll be the phone to be seen with at every bus stop in London and even elsewhere.
New iPods and nanos.
Film downloads.
Apple is about lifestyle products for the masses…
The 30″ Cinema Display is overwhelming for the first 30 minutes you actually use one…then it’s indispensable.
Combine with resolution independence in Mac OS X Leopard and, well…it’s gonna happen.
Although I think the 30″ and larger iCinema Displays w/ Macs built in will be the aluminum enclosure. No reason for the Leon chin at that size, plus, I bet the plastics they use for iMacs just won’t scale that big.
MDN MW: “future”
but I thought size didn’t matter. Or are women lying to us? (well not me anyway)
Hmmm got same MW on two different posts?!?!?
Leno chin.
Sorry Leon.
THis guy obviously has not been an Apple fan long enough to know that Apple generally announces about 75% less than the rumor mills predict..
I 60′ Big Mac? Can we have Ronald McDonald sign onboard for this?
I’d love a 37″ iMac, and they might sell. But a bigger market would be to allow a retrofit to the huge numbers of people that already have a plasma or LCD, and that brings us back to the Mini. If Apple made an add on unit with larger hard drive and tuner with analog inputs or a stand alone with similiar specs, then yes they could easily set the standard.
I’ve been saying this for about 3 years now. Apple isn’t going to take control of the living room until they have a real display solution, which means 42 inches or more. If Apple really wanted to knock the movie store out of the park, this needs to happen on Tuesday. It would require 3 things: 1) Available movies – a no brainer; 2) A wall mountable display for the living room; and 3) a universal converter of some sort that allows television signals to play on the display. My gut tells me this is exactly what’s happening. What would make a whole lot of sense is for the display to also have an iSight camera built into it so a user (or the whole family) could video conference with other users/families right from their living room (just like Back to the Future II). All of this is easily within Apple’s reach. Of course there will be an updated iPod, too, but this pales in comparison.
Waiting with fingers crossed.
I was thinking about that a few days ago. What if the earlier rumors are right about the MacTV thing? That probably is the direction computers are going, but this is better than having a computer as a periphal that hooks up to your TV (Like what everyone wanted the Mac Mini to be). Can you imagine how cool it would be to have Mac OS X built into your TV, and just go to front row when you want to get rid of the computer aspect?
oh, yeah. A cablecard slot, too.
Totally daft idea. When I buy a 60″ TV I expect it to last 15 years or so. When I buy a computer, I expect 5 years at best – and more like 3. I’d never waste money on a 60″ iMac. Too many design compromises and too much to go wrong. Far better (and no more expensive) to buy a quality LCD or Plasma display from a manufacturer who knows how to make good TV’s and then plug a Mac Mini into it if I want Frontrow functionality. That way, I can upgrade the Mini every 3 years to keep pace with the ever increasing hardware demands of MacOS whilst retaining my high quality screen.
I’d be happy if Apple just got a clue and put a HDMI connector on their unit and rolled a decent set of PCR functions. If that would allow me to tape over the air HDTV. They have to get that before they can even think of putting it into a high dollar display. Roll the PVR and then worry about screen size. Heck the current Cinema display don’t even currently have a second input so they can pull duty as a HD ready display! This entire article is a fantasy and completely unrealistic.
And 60″ is only going to happen with rear projection. The current crop of LCD direct view in the 40-46″ range still isn’t quite ready for prime time if PQ and film like motion is desired. Refresh rates just are’nt quite there.
I think that Big Picture has more money than sense. Computers and televisions are designed for distinctly different user behaviors. Computing requires active user participation versus passively watching television. Does Big Picture really need to purchase the power of a desktop to satisfy his or her television viewing? A home entertainment center involves an small, integrated machine requiring simple programming with a sufficiently large hard drive to store content for viewing or burning at the user’s convenience. Something about the size of Mac mini, perhaps.
Besides, you can’t watch TV programming and compute on the same machine at the same time. It is better to get a large screen TV that functions solely as a TV, and get a desktop with one to two 20-inch, 24-inch, or 30-inch monitors. This way you and your honey can independently browse the web, send and receive emails, do online finances, make movies, burn CDs and DVDs, update the website, edit the monograph and Keynote presentation, AND watch TV at the same time.
Anyhow, I don’t subscribe to either cable or satellite TV programming and see no need for one, along as I have to subsidize programming I don’t watch or won’t watch.
Apple would have to tread lightly in coming out with their own branded HDTV media center. If they went after the whole market, they would create enemies of the high tech display vendors. And many of those vendors make other computer components needed by Apple.
Just using the 24″ screen iMac to introduce a media center product might work, as it is limited to a small market segment. But if Apple does that, they should announce plans to cooperate with all screen vendors, probably with something on the order of a Mac Mini. This will create a win/win game for Apple and its ecosystem partners.
I would also love to see Apple announce a part to be designed into third party displays which provide some real value added for the customer, while locking in the vendors into Apple’s home media architecture. Perhaps, such a chip, at a minimum, would merely define the model of the screen and its capabilities to better interface to Apple’s media center. Or it could be much more – but I have not given that a lot of thought as to what might make sense here.
I love the ideas of an enormous iMac– for the novelty factor alone. But as it was said above, computers are not future-proof enough to make a large iMac practical– unless, of course, the processor and stuff were modular and could be switched out later on– Apple would sell a new “brain” that you swap whenever you want. Seems pretty unlikely, though.
Apple to announce Dual Quad Mac Pro’s Sept. 12
Prepare to be blown away.
They will not; instead they will introduce new displays. How brilliant they will introduce a 40″ display that will be revolutionary. Why? Because those display’s will have an AirPort Video on board. Like all display’s will in the future. Think Simple!
Gimme Gimme! I will start saving my money now!