Last night Apple launched 3 new products (as we briefly noted). A new versionof iTunes, updated iMacs and as expected, a video-enabled iPod.
New iMac G5
They’re faster and thinner (and the 20″ version is cheaper than itsprevious incarnation). They now include an iSight (video camera) builtinto the unit and come with new software “Front Row” which include anIR remote, looking suspiciously like an iPod shuffle which attaches tothe side of the iMac (the IR receiver is allegedly hidden behind theApple logo).
Already considered a design classic, the new iMacs look even better, butin reality though Apple have added more power for the buck, they’rejust iMacs. However the real innovation is Front Row which is designed to directly compete with Microsoft’s Media PC, and it does this by using Apple iLife applications being simple to use and control(the Microsoft Media PC has 24+ buttons, the Apple remote has 6).
Front Row gives extremely simple access to content stored on the iMacincluding music through iTunes, videos (including the newly availablevideo content that’s available through iTunes), photos stored in iPhotoand DVD’s though iDVD. The remote works up to 30 feet away from theunit.
Currently Apple are not saying whether Front Row will be available asan upgrade for existing Mac users, however the new universal iPod dockdoes have an IR receiver on the front and the remote is available as aseparate purchase so an educated guess would be that it will be.
The iSight is a nice addition (the add-on version costs over GBP 100),but it’s a fantastic webcam. It obviously works with iChat (Apple’s IMsystem) allowing video conferencing with up to 3 other people, andthere’s now Photo Booth which allows snap-shots to be taken and thenmanipulated by adding effects etc.
Both the 17″ and 20″ come with 8x SuperDrives which are now dual-layer(DVD+R DL/DVD+-RW/CD-RW), they have a PCI-X bus (faster than the oldPCI bus) and PCI-X video cards (17″ is a Radion X600 PRO and the 20″ aX60 PRO XT). Both come with 512MB RAM expandable to 2.5GB, the 17″ witha 160GB SATA disk and 20″ with 250GB. CPU speeds have been upped to1.9GHz (17″) and 2.1GHz (20″). UK pricing starts at GBP 899 (inc VAT)for the 17″ and GBP 1,199 for the 20″.
Since there’s no base unit (everything is built into the actualdisplay) the amount is space they require is minimal. They’d look justas good on a desk as in the living room.
Video-capable iPod
The 5th generation iPod is here, though probably not what manyexpected. It’s just a prettier, thinner version of the iPod Photo witha larger screen (now 2.5″). The iPod’s lines are now much closer tothat of the new iMacs (excepting the click wheel and of course it nowgenerally available in black as well as white).
The screen is crisp, clear and remarkably bright, though it’s only320 x 240 resolution, which is good enough to watch music videos andsuch like, but rather small compared to other devices on the market.However album art, podcasts etc. with some aspect of video (or photo)content does look very good. Though Apple have probably alreadydeveloped a widescreen video iPod, why launch it now just to give thecompetition a chance to catch-up? The new iPod is a step change overexisting versions and everyone is again going to have to compete withit.
Currently video can only be imported through iTunes (like photos),however this is likely to be a move to appease the movie studios.Whether they’ll be an upgrade to iTunes to import (noncopyright/encrypted) video content is yet to be seen, it might nothappen for a while. The iPod plays MPEG4 and H.264 video content.
If the iPod is plugged into a dock, the video can be sent to anexternal display like a TV, but it’s still only sent at 320 x 240 whichlooks pixelated.
There are a few extras in-line with the nano, such as extra clocks,being able to lock the unit, more games etc. A real improvement is thecalendar application which suits the new display perfectly.
Pricing is GBP 219 for the 30GB version and GBP 299 for 60GB (both incVAT).
iTunes 6
iTunes 5 was launched with the iPod nano, and a month later there’s nowiTunes 6 to go with the 5th generation model. The main new advance isvideo content, there are now around 2000 music videos available on theiTunes music store (unfortunately there’s still a huge pricedifferential between the US and UK with a music video costing $1.99 inthe US and GBP 1.89 in the UK – with the UK getting panned on price, as usual).
Since Steve Jobs (CEO of Apple) is also CEO of Pixar (the animationcompany that made Finding Nemo, The Incredibles etc) there’s 6 PixarShorts also available for purchase on the iTunes store (same price as amusic video).
In the US there’s also terrestrial TV shows available from ABC and theDisney Channel (Lost, Desperate Housewives and others). Why may TVshows available as downloads when you can buy DVD sets? Because itgives revenue for PVR opportunities i.e. it’s unlikely someone willdownload every episode of Lost, but they will download and pay for theepisode they missed last night (and can watch it on their hour commuteto work), iTunes makes it incredibly easy to do this, rather thanworking out how to set your PVR, and then getting the content off it.Though content can be watched through iTunes, it’s likely more peoplewill use it with their iPod.
It’s somewhat odd that Apple are working with Disney as Pixar have beenvery publicly rowing with Disney over distribution agreements fortheir films. What people forget is that Pixar are contracted to make 6new films for Disney, so assuming that’s one a year that’s 6 years tosettle the arguments (even lawyers can work to those timescales). It’sjust a matter of money, Pixar want more and Disney don’t want to payit. By the time 6 years are up it’s likely they’ll be buddies again andboth with have reached a happy compromise.
The video aspects of the iTunes store, though limited at the moment,are a major break-through (even ground-breaking) especially with thecurrent shows being available. Disney obviously have a huge amount ofcontent they could make available if all the legal intricacies can besorted. Once one studio cracks, they’ll all follow suit.
It shows how successful iTunes is considering that arch rivals Realand Microsoft have just made an agreement to share technology etc andjoin forces rather than fighting with each other to try and expand the25% of the market they JOINTLY command.
There’s some other new features of iTunes, gifting which allows anyoneto give away a track, albums, music videos or their playlists to anyother registered iTunes user (i.e. the gifter purchases it and it’smade available to another user for download).
Just for You is in beta, whereby iTunes suggest purchases based onprevious behaviour – a suggestion engine.
One of the most request features for podcasts has been user ratings andthis is now available, so like a podcast you can now rate it and themore ratings it get, the higher up the listings it goes.
Considering Apples future
Apple’s future has definitely been shaped by the iPod (they sold 1mNanos in 17 days – how many returned was, not surprisingly undefined) which is molding how the company moves forward.
Macsare becoming companions for iPods rather than the other way around. Keyto all of this is content and iTunes is definately leading the way with75%+ market share (globally) and higher in specific markets (UK it’sover 85%).
If Apple can crack the video market, they’re going to dominate for along time, and though the 5Gen iPod is a step in the right direction,it’s just that. Though Apple never pre-announce products you can besure the 6Gen and even 7Gen iPods are already designed and waiting in thewings and they’ll be full blown widescreen systems.
Macs are going to change as Apple move away from IBM Power processorsto Intel CPUs, but that’s an internal change and they’ll stillergonomically beat the pants of almost everything else out there.
After weeks of frantic speculation that a video-capable iPod was on the way, Apple have sure enough announced the very thing at their event in the California Theatre in San Jose and BBC Television Centre in the UK.
New iMac G5. A bit faster, but the big thing is FrontRow. It’s Apple’s Media Centre-killer. The new Apple Remote, a svelte 6 button remote control that looks like a shuffle, controls any media you have on your iMac. Makes the MS Media Centre 26+ button remote look very wrong – too tech. Simplicity reigns. iSight camera is built in. Parallel output to bigger screen, projector. Price is very tempting starting at $1,299 (17″ £899 inc vat, €1379) (20″ £1199, €1799).
Video-capable iPod. Next gen iPod with 30% thinner than current generation player but with a bigger 2.5″ colour screen. 320×240 QVGA (quarter VGA), but not wide screen as rumoured. Video playback supports MPEG-4 and h.264 playback. 30Gb & 60Gb. S-vdeo out through the doc, but video will appear pixelated on full size TV screen. The 30GB should go for $299 (~£219~€349), and the 60GB for $399 (~£300~€469). They’re on the Apple online Store and will be shipping next week.?
“It’s never been done before, where you could view hit TV shows and buy them online the day after they’re shown,” Jobs said. While this may be true that people have not been able to _Buy_ it, but let’s not forget that the BBC has the iMP trial running, where you can get shows straight after they’re shown – but for nothing.
There is a dilemma with the pursuit of mobile living that we’re all familiar with. The constant need for recharging.
Theirs is a contact-less charger, so there’s no worry about different connectors. It uses electromagnetic induction to pass electricity from a charging plate to any suitably equipped device that’s placed on it. Think cordless kettle or electric toothbrush.
Beyond that they have to persuade the device manufacturers to include their SplashModule in devices, but without the charging SplashPads out there, why would they? The same is true to the venues installing SplashPads, without a pool of equipped mobile devices.
They’ve expanded their range of pads to include one that charges two devices and a single unit too, which is a smaller, travel-friendly version. In the current trend for personalisation, decorated/pattered covers can be fitted to the front.
Nokia has announced the Eseries phones, a new range of devices designed for swivel action execs and be-suited business bods.
The devices are the first in the industry to support remote device management based on OMA DM*, letting IT managers remotely control and protect corporate data on the device and fiddle about with phone configurations. Or just have a good nose about.
Nokia E61 (right)
Nokia E70 (left)
UK-based software developers Xara, have announced an update to their sophisticated vector graphics program Xara X, adding new functions and renaming it Xara Xtreme.
In this latest version, the Xara Picture Editor has been updated and a new Live Effects tool allows Photoshop and Xara plug-in effects to be applied to photos and vector graphics.
Linux, Mac and Open Source versions planned
Moir table-thumped “We’re going to a place that Microsoft and Adobe cannot go. The Open Source world is the acknowledged largest threat to established giants such as Microsoft. We felt it was necessary for us to shake up the graphics world a bit, and making one of the most powerful, easiest to use graphics applications Open Source should do the trick.”
Just like the Smash aliens falling over laughing at the sight of humans mashing potatoes, one day people may look back in amazement that people used to walk around the streets with bits of wire hanging from their lug’oles.
Using CSR’s BlueCore3-ROM (BC3-ROM) and proprietary BlueCore Host Software (BCHS) – whatever they are – Samsung’s phones can wirelessly stream MP3 music via Bluetooth to the latest Bluetooth stereo headsets, like their very own SBH100.
The integrated BlueCore Host Software helps reduce the power consumption of the Bluetooth device by implementing all of the Bluetooth lower power modes such as deep sleep, letting uses take full advantage of all handset features without draining battery life.
The SGH-E750 and SGH-E760 handsets are expected to be available on GSM networks worldwide in Q4 2005.
With the corporate might and phenomonal R&D budgets of Nikon and Canon continuing to create cameras that dominate the dSLR (digital Single Lens Reflex) market, smaller brands are discovering the benefits of pooling their resources to produce rival products.
The partnership will draw on Samsung’s digital image processing technologies, brand recognition and digital convergence technologies while Pentax can offer an established dSLR brand with a huge range of interchangeable lenses. It can’t hurt that Samsung currently are one of the biggest players in LCD screens production.
Samsung’s recent Pro815, an advanced prosumer compact digital camera, attracted praise for its innovation while Pentax’s *ist dSLR range has won many friends, although failing to match the popularity of rival Nikon and Canon products,
Continued growth is predicted for the world-wide digital camera market, with pundits expecting the tally for 2005 to be around 82 million unit sales, soaring to 89 million in 2006.
BPI, the UK record label industry association has released its third-quarter report revealing that it’s boom time for the Brit digital music industry.
Digital is also claiming a bigger share of the Top 75 singles chart, growing from 15.9 percent when the combined chart launched in mid-April to 25.5 percent at the end of August.
Once again, the death of vinyl has been exaggerated with the 7-inch physical singles market registering 80 per cent growth with 800,000 sales.
“While the record label model of investing in the best new music talent remains the same, the emergence of innovative new digital services means that the record companies can offer consumers even greater choice as to how to access their music.”
Hardcore outdoor types with lantern jaws will be whooping in their Goretex trews at the prospect of getting their hands on the new rugged Archer Field PC Pocket PC by Juniper Systems.
Also bundled in the package is Microsoft ActiveSync 4.0, Terminal Services Client, Microsoft Windows Media Player 10 Mobile, MSN Messenger and Pocket Internet Explorer.
Like a big flashing sign above the listener’s head saying “Mug Me!” the distinctive white headphones of iPods continue to attract the unwanted attentions of ne’er-do-wells in the street.
Figures from the Metropolitan police revealed that the practice of purloining iPods increased more than fivefold since last November 2004, with incidents rising from ten a month to 52 in May this year.