Apple Event Scheduled for March 7

[alfa147x]

You mean landscape mode, right? That makes sense... I mean, my iPad is almost always locked in landscape.

You're right. I meant landscape.

 

[alfa147x]

Mine was almost always in portrait mode, except when playing a game/watching a movie, haha

I'm pretty stoked about an A5 or A5X powered ATV. I'm not the biggest XBMC fan, but I'm starting to get frustrated at Boxee over the BBox. I have my old HTPC resetup with XBMC and it's just a PITA, but for a low-powered ATV, I'd be willing to try it full time.

Have you tried Plex?

 

[bearxor]

Have you tried Plex?

Yes, but I use a BBox right now. Willing to ditch the BBox at some point, but not happy that Plex is a front/back end system. Probably willing to overlook it though.

 

[KeithP]

This is true, but perhaps a bit short-sighted. A quad-core tablet is SIGNIFICANTLY more future-proof than a dual core one, even if it was clocked faster.

I am going to respectfully disagree with that.

Future proofing is a nice idea that never really works out. By the time you expect the future proofed item to payoff, other things have changed to the point the rest of the hardware is obsolete.

We are going to see storage, display and wireless (cellular and wifi) improvements over the next 1-3 years. You won't care if your 2012 iPad has a quad core chip because the rest if it will be so lacking by comparison. And those future multi-threaded apps will also be taking advantage of the rest of hardware in these new machines, the CPU is just one piece of the puzzle.

As always, IMHO.

-KeithP

 

[akugami]

Here is the promo image vs iPad 2

Could be a render.

Look at the top image. Look at the glowing highlight of the thumb. Notice that the thumb is on the black bezel. How the hell does it get that type of lighting from a black bezel? Even if it's reflected light, it's nowhere that bright.

Not saying the iPad 3 rumors are false, just saying that image is false.

 

[TuxDave]

Look at the top image. Look at the glowing highlight of the thumb. Notice that the thumb is on the black bezel. How the hell does it get that type of lighting from a black bezel? Even if it's reflected light, it's nowhere that bright.

Not saying the iPad 3 rumors are false, just saying that image is false.

CG? Probably not.
Added a secondary flash to the camera to highlight the underside of the hand? Probably.

 

[alfa147x]

Most of Apple's product images are renders. But from looking at that image and the space between the icons you can tell it's in landscape. You're right you can't use that image to justify saying it has a retina display.

 

[scootermaster]

I am going to respectfully disagree with that.

Future proofing is a nice idea that never really works out. By the time you expect the future proofed item to payoff, other things have changed to the point the rest of the hardware is obsolete.

We are going to see storage, display and wireless (cellular and wifi) improvements over the next 1-3 years. You won't care if your 2012 iPad has a quad core chip because the rest if it will be so lacking by comparison. And those future multi-threaded apps will also be taking advantage of the rest of hardware in these new machines, the CPU is just one piece of the puzzle.

As always, IMHO.

-KeithP

Understood, but you kind of missed the point. With consumer electronics of this sort (and I'm including laptops here) there are three aspects: 1). Specs (processor speed, storage, resolution etc) 2). "Toys" (added components or functionality that's not the main usage. Think webcams on laptops or GPS on smartphones) and 3). Applications/uses (obvious).

My point is this: We're running out of toys, and for what people traditionally use tablets for, we're reaching toward the end of useful specs (not there yet, but getting there).

Which is to say, if you want an eReader/web browser, what is hyper clocked octocore going to do for you? What will propel future tablet sales?

Look at the iPhone progression: 2->3G added 3G (toy) and was faster/bigger (specs). 3Gs added video (toy) and was faster (spec). 4G added some extra sensors (toys), another camera (toys), retina (toys) and was faster (spec). 4Gs added siri (app), and was faster.

My point was that we're running out of toys. How much more functionality can they build into a 9mm slate? I mean, sure, one day we'll get built in pico projectors and conference video calling and blah blah blah, but realistically now...what else can they do? They can make them smaller, make them faster (spec) and what someone else mentioned astutely, make them last longer. Perhaps batteries are "the final toy".

Look at laptop computers for a cue: Between, say, 2004 and 2010, Apple built all sorts of toys in to their laptops: backlit keyboards, webcams, different ports, different types of burners, unibody, magsafe, etc etc. I'm pretty sure other than liquid metal or built in 4G (will this ever happen?) they've run out. Now they're just worried about making it faster, smaller, lighter.

It's not novel to say the future is applications because, well, that was decided a long time ago. The point is that for certain applications the future is already here. Take a look at home audio/recording. PCs "conquered" home audio, oh, about 5 years ago. Any horrible eMachine PC you bought at CompUSA had enough processing power to do like 16 track digital audio. That's like 2k worth of off board gear in the late 90's. (Now, yes, I know you're paying for things like DACs, etc, but those are toys, not specs). My point is that that application is "done". There's just nowhere to go with it. If you own an computer made in the last couple of years, and you want to set up a recording studio, it won't be specs that make you upgrade. It won't even be toys. It'll be applications.

We're allllllmost there with video, but perhaps not quite.

Anyway, this got a little long winded. But my overall point is that Apple will continue to innovate, and impress us with what a tablet can do. But for people already happy with what a tablet can do (and frankly, this probably includes most people, and even most "power users"), I would say a Quad core iPad3 with Retina will last them a long, long, lonnnnng time.

 

[BlueWeasel]

<--- thinking of buying my first Mac laptop and leaning toward the Air.

Would this event mention the upcoming 2012 Air updates?

 

[akugami]

CG? Probably not.
Added a secondary flash to the camera to highlight the underside of the hand? Probably.

Nope. Considering how bright the lighting on the underside of the hand is, then looking at the rest of the image, the lighting does not match up. Again, the image is fake but I'm not saying the iPad rumors will be fake. We'll just have to wait 8 days and see.

 

[alfa147x]

Nope. Considering how bright the lighting on the underside of the hand is, then looking at the rest of the image, the lighting does not match up. Again, the image is fake but I'm not saying the iPad rumors will be fake. We'll just have to wait 8 days and see.

Wait. You're saying that iPad 3 rumors are fake or that rumors stemming from this invite are fake?

 

[TuxDave]

Nope. Considering how bright the lighting on the underside of the hand is, then looking at the rest of the image, the lighting does not match up. Again, the image is fake but I'm not saying the iPad rumors will be fake. We'll just have to wait 8 days and see.

Pretty good fake then. =\

 

[alfa147x]

There is no way Apple isn't releasing a new aTV next week. Amazon no longer sells the current one

Link

 

[vi edit]

I still don't know what to expect from the ATV3. I really couldn't care less about 1080p support. It'd have to take a lot more than that to consider it worth upgrading or my existing one or adding another to my home.

 

[alfa147x]

I still don't know what to expect from the ATV3. I really couldn't care less about 1080p support. It'd have to take a lot more than that to consider it worth upgrading or my existing one or adding another to my home.

I was all pumped up and ready for it. Then I got an amazing deal on a 2011 Mac Mini. Now it's going to be cool to see what's new but I won't be buying... Unlike the iPad

 

[scootermaster]

I still don't know what to expect from the ATV3. I really couldn't care less about 1080p support. It'd have to take a lot more than that to consider it worth upgrading or my existing one or adding another to my home.

The whole 10.8 screen sharing thing? Maybe it's not gonna be as cool as I'm imagining, but if it is, why wouldn't that, like, obsolete all other media tank/HTPC type things?

I mean, if you can have, say a Macbook Air in your office/bedroom, hooked up to a Thunderbolt drive full of movies, screen shared with an HDTV in the living room over wireless N, and then use your iPad or iPhone to remotely control the iTunes?

Yeah, I'll take that.

 

[ponyo]

I still don't know what to expect from the ATV3. I really couldn't care less about 1080p support. It'd have to take a lot more than that to consider it worth upgrading or my existing one or adding another to my home.

I really don't either but I assume same CPU/gpu as iPhone/ipad2/iPod touch. 1080p. App store and app support would be nice. Siri.

But I won't buy to upgrade til it's JB and supported by XBMC.

 

[MrX8503]

I wonder if this ATV3 is what Steve Jobs was talking about cracking the TV market. If it is it'll have to do way more than 1080p.

 

[vi edit]

If Apple really wanted to wow me, then they'd take a stripped down mac mini and turn it into a dedicated DVR system. It'd have a coax in that I could add my cable connection to, give it my zipcode and/or provider and it would provide a full guide management system. From there the remote would have siri enabled that I could talk into and tell the system to go out and find me any station that was playing basketball games. Or find Farris Beuhler's Day off on Netflix and play that for me. Or record tonight's Bulls game for me. It'd have a 500 gig drive in there so you've got hours of recording ability. Built in iTunes server that I could a drop a DVD or BR-D into and rip to the drive for future viewing. The ability to extend the TV signal or recorded TV to an iPad, Mac, or iPhone, as well as play back recorded content.

That's what I want. I don't want it in some overpriced TV. Give me a legitimate TiVo replacement without the ridiculous monthly fees with the ability to blast the content back and forth between my Apple devices and and a nice, accurate voice recognition system to speed up searching and I'm happy.

Do it for say...$299 and I'm even happier.

I'm basically looking for a media center in a box..but with an Apple spit shine on it.

 

[Puddle Jumper]

The whole 10.8 screen sharing thing? Maybe it's not gonna be as cool as I'm imagining, but if it is, why wouldn't that, like, obsolete all other media tank/HTPC type things?

Windows has had wireless screen sharing via Intel WiDi for years now and I can't remember the last time I heard of someone using it as a substitute for a dedicated HTPC.

 

[bearxor]

If Apple really wanted to wow me, then they'd take a stripped down mac mini and turn it into a dedicated DVR system. It'd have a coax in that I could add my cable connection to, give it my zipcode and/or provider and it would provide a full guide management system. From there the remote would have siri enabled that I could talk into and tell the system to go out and find me any station that was playing basketball games. Or find Farris Beuhler's Day off on Netflix and play that for me. Or record tonight's Bulls game for me. It'd have a 500 gig drive in there so you've got hours of recording ability. Built in iTunes server that I could a drop a DVD or BR-D into and rip to the drive for future viewing. The ability to extend the TV signal or recorded TV to an iPad, Mac, or iPhone, as well as play back recorded content.

That's what I want. I don't want it in some overpriced TV. Give me a legitimate TiVo replacement without the ridiculous monthly fees with the ability to blast the content back and forth between my Apple devices and and a nice, accurate voice recognition system to speed up searching and I'm happy.

Do it for say...$299 and I'm even happier.

I'm basically looking for a media center in a box..but with an Apple spit shine on it.

Too backwards thinking. The future isn't TV delivered through your cable provider and Apple won't waste time on it.

But you're just dreaming anyways, right?

 

[alfa147x]

Steve Jobs was all about starting from scratch. I doubt they're going to support traditional cable.

 

[KeypoX]

Windows has had wireless screen sharing via Intel WiDi for years now and I can't remember the last time I heard of someone using it as a substitute for a dedicated HTPC.

Windows/others has many things for years before Mac 'invents' them.

On another note, I would like a new MBA with ivy bridge, and ATV that can run XMBC 1080p, though raspberry pi can run xbmc 1080p and runs linux...

I really want mba with ivy, hdmi, and a detachable screen that becomes an ipad.

 

[TheStu]

Windows has had wireless screen sharing via Intel WiDi for years now and I can't remember the last time I heard of someone using it as a substitute for a dedicated HTPC.

Yea, that is probably because although I am pretty dialed into technology, I couldn't name one tv hookup box thing that works with that tech, nor could i name a single computer that has it.

Conversely, any mac that can run Mountain Lion will support AirPlay, all you need is an aTV2 or better. AppleTV 2 is $99, and you will probably be able to get it for cheaper when the new one comes out (if your needs are satisfied by 720p). That is the difference right there.

Windows has a lot of features and doodads that OS X doesn't. The same goes for PCs, but that doesn't mean that ANYONE actually uses those features.

Do I fully expect Samsung or HP to release a little hook it up to your TV box that you can stream to from your laptop? Yes, I completely do. Once Mountain Lion and Apple TV 3 come out. Because then Apple will have demonstrated that the tech can be done right, if you actually make both products available and advertise the feature.

 

[TheStu]

Windows/others has many things for years before Mac 'invents' them.

On another note, I would like a new MBA with ivy bridge, and ATV that can run XMBC 1080p, though raspberry pi can run xbmc 1080p and runs linux...

I really want mba with ivy, hdmi, and a detachable screen that becomes an ipad.

If you can point me to a video where anyone from Apple publicly stated taht they 'invented' whatever, please do. Usually they say that they have finally done it right. Or that they finally figured out a way to paint things*, but generally, I don't recall them saying 'We invented phones bitch!'.

However, you're first point is totally right. Whatever the thing is, it probably already existed in the world in some carnation or another. However, Apple is usually in the right place at the right time to give it to us at a reasonable price, and they generally make the tech more accessible.




*That was the iPod Nano 5th gen video, 'we finally found a way to make really great looking coloured al-u-min-ee-um (Jony Ive)'