[mbperk]

Will Apple make a digital camera and/or video camera.

It seems everytime SJ shows the digital hub stradgey he shows these products. I remember that they showed the Rio products before the iPod. And I thought when this was released they would produce their own products in each category, well except the PDA. Do not get me wrong I would love nothing more than a Apple PDA, but they seem very, very against making one for the time being.

I realize that we now have the software that covers the hardware parts, so will we now see the hardware, if so when?? Or will they just leave it where it is using the Sony's, Cannon's, etc..?

[-Q-]

Originally posted by mbperk:
<STRONG>Will Apple make a digital camera and/or video camera.

It seems everytime SJ shows the digital hub stradgey he shows these products. I remember that they showed the Rio products before the iPod. And I thought when this was released they would produce their own products in each category, well except the PDA. Do not get me wrong I would love nothing more than a Apple PDA, but they seem very, very against making one for the time being.

I realize that we now have the software that covers the hardware parts, so will we now see the hardware, if so when?? Or will they just leave it where it is using the Sony's, Cannon's, etc..?</STRONG>

They'll probably leave it where it is unless they can see some sort of fundamental way to change how it works (like, for example, a camera that uses an iPod harddrive so you can store pictures there instead of on a small flash memory card).

But the success of the iPod makes it likely they'll look at offering other peripheral pieces (and they did sell the QuickTake years and years ago...)

[OldManMac]

Apple is not going to get into the digital camera business. The market is already saturated with established players, and it would be an economic disaster for Apple to get into that field. Many Mac owners already have digital cameras (I just ordered a Nikon Coolpix 885), and Apple would have to spend far more than they would ever get back to develop, market and ship such a unit. Apple wouldn't have a prayer against Nikon, Canon, HP, Kodak, and some of the other big names.

[Jefe]

I hope not. Apple is smart enough to leave things like that to companies that have experience (Nikon, Canon, Fujifilm, etc.)

I really can't imagine what Apple could offer to the digital camera market that would make it competitive. Unles we Apple users really have gotten to the point where we'll buy anything with the apple logo on it.

[The Ginger Rat]

Already did- Apple Quicktake 300 (?). Oh, about 7-10 years ago, give or take. Never competed successfully, not against the likes of the consumer electronics giants. I would be very surprised if we ever again see an Apple digital camera, as the ones out there are pretty good; very little tweaking of interface or integration is needed, so Apple couldn't justify it, iMHO.

Apple has not been historically successful with its non-Mac products. The iPod is the first attempt at a consumer electronic device in years. This is why the announcement, and the success of the iPod(assumed from info gleaned on Internet, will likely find out confirmed numbers on Jan 16), are actually quite significant. The iPod is particularly clever because it has so much potential.

Cellular phones is a huge market, with a high upgrade rate. It would be suicide for Apple to actually enter the market, but I wonder if they have made any inquiries about an alliance (with Nokia, natch, to tweak Motorola ) to interface phones with the Mac. Or something to tap into the area without huge development or production costs.

[Group51]

Originally posted by The Ginger Rat:
<STRONG>Already did- Apple Quicktake 300 (?). Oh, about 7-10 years ago, give or take. Never competed successfully, not against the likes of the consumer electronics giants. I would be very surprised if we ever again see an Apple digital camera, as the ones out there are pretty good; very little tweaking of interface or integration is needed, so Apple couldn't justify it, iMHO.

Apple has not been historically successful with its non-Mac products. The iPod is the first attempt at a consumer electronic device in years. This is why the announcement, and the success of the iPod(assumed from info gleaned on Internet, will likely find out confirmed numbers on Jan 16), are actually quite significant. The iPod is particularly clever because it has so much potential.

Cellular phones is a huge market, with a high upgrade rate. It would be suicide for Apple to actually enter the market, but I wonder if they have made any inquiries about an alliance (with Nokia, natch, to tweak Motorola ) to interface phones with the Mac. Or something to tap into the area without huge development or production costs.</STRONG>

There is already Mac software from Nokia to synch with the 9210 smart phone.

[The Ginger Rat]

Originally posted by Group51:
<STRONG>

There is already Mac software from Nokia to synch with the 9210 smart phone.</STRONG>

Interesting you mention this, as I was just reading about this phone/organizer on Cnet!

EDIT: No mention about Mac compatibility on 9210 web page, just Windows and Lotus. Hopefully that will be updated.

[ 01-15-2002: Message edited by: The Ginger Rat ]