[im_noahselby]

iPod this, iPod that....

I've been following macs now for several years and I've noticed that Apple hasn't really come out with anything as innovative or captivating as the original iPod. Sure, we've seen 12" & 17" PowerBooks and funky looking iMac's, we've seen new iPods, iPod minis, and even an ITMS, but if you can look past these product lines for a moment, we've see very few exciting new ideas and innovations, over the last few years. More and more it seems Apple is drawing their focus to the iPod. (Which has proven to be a smart move for their company.)

The question I pose to you guys is this: what is the next BIG thing that you see coming out of Apple? Be it a new device or revolutionary new concept? Do you feel as though innovation has slowed or halted? Could Apple announce something that would change our lives as much as the iPod has in the near future? If so, what do you think it will be?

I'm curious as to what others thoughts are on this subject.

my thoughts:
-I doubt we'll see a revival of the "Cube" anytime soon. I have a feeling if Apple had been interested in going back there, we'd be there already. I would love to see them go there, don't get me wrong, but I just don't see this happening anymore.
-I can see Apple coming out with their own Office suite of applications. I have a feeling they're already half way there. Document, Keynote.... iWork anyone?
-iPod Photo, iPod Movie, ipod Flash, etc
-What about an Apple iPhone? Imagine a phone that allowed perfect syncing and worked flawlessly with your mac everytime. Could this be a possibility if Apple partnered with a cellular company, such as Nokia or Motorolla? I don't see this happening soon, but again, it is an interesting possibility and an area that I feel Apple could innovate in.

I feel as though innovation has slowed quite a bit. While Apple is doing a good job for their current product offerings, I feel as though they haven't shown us much that we haven't seen before.

I applaud Sony for some of their efforts in recent years. The PSP, while still not having proved itself, offers an exciting glimpse as to where portable gaming could be headed. Their wireless T.V., while not my cup of tea, is a good direction to be heading in. They are really pushing it, and while I have my own reservations as to whether or not I see it really taking off, it's nice to see that they aren't scared to try new things.

Apple took a chance with iPod and it really payed off for them, and I'd like to see them take similar chances again.

later,
Noah

[MrForgetable]

They will come up with something revolutionary soon. It wouldn't be revolutionary if we knew what it would be, would it!

[i_rooster]

[d4nth3m4n]

iSmell. smellovision for the 30" cinema.

[Spliff]

Originally posted by MrForgetable:


They will come up with something revolutionary soon. It wouldn't be revolutionary if we knew what it would be, would it!

Maybe with a system like that, iPhoto would finally feel snappy.

[Goldfinger]

Originally posted by Spliff:
Maybe with a system like that, iPhoto would finally feel snappy.

"Maybe" is the keyword here.

[macaddict0001]

It will definitly happen but no one knows when
apple firsts/early's/pioneers:
quicktake(digital camera)
powercd(portable cd player)
pippen(media centre pc)
newton(pda)
ipod(hard drive mp3 player)
mac(gui)
coloured computers(imac)
dual processor(G4 powermac)
30 inch screen
G3(at the time twice as fast as the competition)\

[Kenneth]

Originally posted by MrForgetable:


They will come up with something revolutionary soon. It wouldn't be revolutionary if we knew what it would be, would it!

Why not call it an Apple limo instead?

[Goldfinger]

Originally posted by macaddict0001:
It will definitly happen but no one knows when
apple firsts/early's/pioneers:
quicktake(digital camera)
powercd(portable cd player)
pippen(media centre pc)
newton(pda)
ipod(hard drive mp3 player)
mac(gui)
coloured computers(imac)
dual processor(G4 powermac)
30 inch screen
G3(at the time twice as fast as the competition)\

Apple had dual CPU waaay before the G4. The PowerMac 9500 with a dual 180Mhz PowerPC 604e and a blazing 45Mhz system bus.

[Eug Wanker]

I could actually see an outside chance of Apple coming out with a machine that OS X sees as having 8 processors... in 2006, or even 2005. It would be based off the POWER5, and would be a dual dual-core machine, with SMT.

It would thus only have two chips, but each chip would have 2 cores, and each core would be seen as two processors. ie. 4 actual cores with SMT = 8.

And it would be no bigger than the current Power Mac.

Originally posted by Goldfinger:
Apple had dual CPU waaay before the G4. The PowerMac 9500 with a dual 180Mhz PowerPC 604e and a blazing 45Mhz system bus.

Quad PPC 604 150 MHz

[Goldfinger]

Yeah well the DayStar is not an Apple

Eug, how does that "virtual" dual CPU works ? I understand dual CPU and dual core CPUs, but a dual core CPU that is seen as a quad CPU ? Is that something liek Intel's Hyperthreading ? I though that stuff didn't work.

PS: Intel must have the worst website in the industry. It's ugly and slow as hell. Probably runs on Pentium Pro's. It doesn't even complete rendering on Camino (well it keeps on rendering but waiting 5 minutes + is not what I want), wroks in Safari.

[Apple Pro Underwear]

Originally posted by MrForgetable:

I'D HIT IT!

[Thilo Ettelt]

- a Airport Express remote control
- iPod Wifi module
(or both together)
- Flash iPod (pretty obvious now)

More I don't know yet...


- Thilo

[macaddict0001]

Originally posted by Goldfinger:
Apple had dual CPU waaay before the G4. The PowerMac 9500 with a dual 180Mhz PowerPC 604e and a blazing 45Mhz system bus.

I realize that but i meant that it was the first time anyone had implemented dual cpu's across the line.

[Disgruntled Head of C-3PO]

So pretty much all these new innovate ideas you have posted is stuff that has been rumors for 5 years?

iPhone? What could Apple do with a phone that Sony Ericson can't? iPod movie has been debunked by Steve many times and I agree with him.

[Eug Wanker]

Originally posted by Goldfinger:
Yeah well the DayStar is not an Apple

Eug, how does that "virtual" dual CPU works ? I understand dual CPU and dual core CPUs, but a dual core CPU that is seen as a quad CPU ? Is that something liek Intel's Hyperthreading ?

Yes.

I though that stuff didn't work.

CINEBENCH 2003 v1
*************************************************

Processor : 3.2-GHz Pentium 4 with Hyperthreading
MHz : 3200
Number of CPUs : 2
Operating System : Windows XP Professional SP1

*************************************************

Rendering (Single CPU): 320 CB-CPU
Rendering (Multiple CPU): 378 CB-CPU

Multiprocessor Speedup: 1.18


Note that the Pentium 4 cannot be run in dual configurations. However, when HT is turned on, Windows and Cinebench see it as 2 CPUs and there is an 18% speed increase with this bench.

Some stuff will be slower with HT active, but most stuff that is well multiprocessor optimized will be faster with HT/SMT.

[im_noahselby]

Originally posted by Disgruntled Head of C-3PO:
So pretty much all these new innovate ideas you have posted is stuff that has been rumors for 5 years?

iPhone? What could Apple do with a phone that Sony Ericson can't? iPod movie has been debunked by Steve many times and I agree with him.

I think an Apple iPhone could bring many new innovations to the table.
-What if it acted as a bluetooth mouse, so you could travel with your PowerBook and always had a mouse at hand. While not everyone's cup of tea, this would certainly open up many new posibilities.
-Perfect iCal syncronization, including adresses. Try doing that with a SE phone (P910, not included..)
-iTunes, iPhoto, support. Give the market a taste of what makes the iPod so incredibly great!

I'm not really much of a cell phone guy, so I'm sure there are other people here who could bring better ideas to the table. There is room for Apple to take a slice out of this market, it's just a matter of when they will take the leap.

Maybe my ideas weren't that great, I don't know. I'm interested in hearing yours and other members thoughts, though. In all seriousness, what are others thoughts. Is Apple on the verge of something great? What are your ideas?

later,
Noah

[DeathMan]

You'd think streaming HD over airport would be a no-brainer. This would require some type of a remote.

I'm not sure they will enter the phone market. Seems pretty saturated. They would do camera's again before phones, but even with cameras, it seems like the market is pretty full.

I tend to think Apple next big thing would be a software package of some kind. Office? I don't know if it would be worth it. I think Superchicken had some good ideas with an educational suite of some kind. (in another thread)

Blogging with good integration with the built in webserver, and making use of some great open source tech, and iLife, could really be a powerful tool for helping people share what they create, and could have *Made on a Mac* all over it. There is reason to believe Apple may be interested in blogging.

I'm sort of bummed that Apple didn't buy Alias when it was for sale. They could have owned a complete front to back production environment. As it is, all they're missing is the modeling software, but man, can you imagine Maya as an Apple Pro product? Bet we'd see some optimization there.

I'm excited to see what comes in the future. Hardware wise...where else is there to go?

[ort888]

I think it's time for Apple to make a PDA.

[Cubeoid]

iCar!

[moonmonkey]

I would like to see a low cost digital picture frame, sub 200USD.
flash based, Battery powered, 10" screen.

[Eug Wanker]

Originally posted by ort888:
I think it's time for Apple to make a PDA.

Yeah, what the hell is taking them so long? Oh wait...

[Apple Pro Underwear]

Originally posted by ort888:
I think it's time for Apple to make a PDA.

I don't care about a PDA

but why not have vcards from address book be imported and the calender sync with ical?

if this is already possible, then the ipod is already a PDA*

(*I have the original ipod, so i would not know if you can do this or not )

[mitchell_pgh]

I would rather see Apple partner with some hardware companies to make amazing hardware that works together.

Get with Sony to make a set top media hub.
Get with Motorola/Sony to make an "Apple" cell phone.
Get with Canon to make a nice color printer.
Get with Palm to make a nice PDA.

If Apple isn't going to make it, partner with people who can and add amazing integration.

[- - e r i k - -]

Originally posted by Apple Pro Underwear:
if this is already possible, then the ipod is already a PDA*

(*I have the original ipod, so i would not know if you can do this or not )

Since the second generation iPod, yes. Not all that useful if you have a cellphone with the same capabilities though, the iPod has no input.

[Apple Pro Underwear]

speaking personally,

i would prefer to manage my contacts only via my mac. i think now that i have a ipod + a cellphone, i will not carry around yet another expensive gadget.

[Xeo]

Originally posted by im_noahselby:
-What about an Apple iPhone? Imagine a phone that allowed perfect syncing and worked flawlessly with your mac everytime. Could this be a possibility if Apple partnered with a cellular company, such as Nokia or Motorolla? I don't see this happening soon, but again, it is an interesting possibility and an area that I feel Apple could innovate in.

Have you seen the commercials from Kyocera? Phone features are a commodity that's (as seen in the commercial) are being made fun of. Companies are putting whatever they can into them to make theirs better than the competition. Apple would be smart to stay out of this market. It is a huge market, but it would take something extremely different to be worth trying.

Click to watch the commercials.

[paully dub]

Originally posted by Xeo:
Click to watch the commercials.

Those are funny!

If voice recognition software ever gets reliably good, though, look out. But then again Apple got burned with the Newton. I still remember that bit in the Simpsons...

[im_noahselby]

Originally posted by Disgruntled Head of C-3PO:
So pretty much all these new innovate ideas you have posted is stuff that has been rumors for 5 years?

iPhone? What could Apple do with a phone that Sony Ericson can't? iPod movie has been debunked by Steve many times and I agree with him.

>>>>>>>>

Originally posted by im_noahselby:
I think an Apple iPhone could bring many new innovations to the table.
-What if it acted as a bluetooth mouse, so you could travel with your PowerBook and always had a mouse at hand. While not everyone's cup of tea, this would certainly open up many new posibilities.
-Perfect iCal syncronization, including adresses. Try doing that with a SE phone (P910, not included..)
-iTunes, iPhoto, support. Give the market a taste of what makes the iPod so incredibly great!

>>>>>>>>

Originally posted by DeathMan:
I'm not sure they will enter the phone market. Seems pretty saturated. They would do camera's again before phones, but even with cameras, it seems like the market is pretty full.

Originally posted by Xeo:
Have you seen the commercials from Kyocera? Phone features are a commodity that's (as seen in the commercial) are being made fun of. Companies are putting whatever they can into them to make theirs better than the competition. Apple would be smart to stay out of this market. It is a huge market, but it would take something extremely different to be worth trying.

Apple iPhone:
http://www.macrumors.com/pages/2004/...16203103.shtml

Any other members have any new input for this thread? Keep those ideas coming.

Discuss...

Noah

[Athens]

If Apple came out with a solid phone that interconnected with Mac prodcuts well, like AirTunes, iPod, the Mac itself I would def get it.

Some might ask how would it connect with AirTunes, iPods, I am going to assume every one knows the advantages of connecting to the computer. I already use my current phone with bluetooth to sync my computer.

With AirTunes, wireless speaker phone.
iPod, removable storage for pictures, and stuff. Also contact syncing.

[dgs212]

Originally posted by paully dub:
I still remember that bit in the Simpsons...

"Eat up Martha."

Priceless (although I'm pretty sure it was a handwriting-recognition joke, not voice-recognition).

[Lancer409]

Originally posted by dgs212:
"Eat up Martha."

Priceless (although I'm pretty sure it was a handwriting-recognition joke, not voice-recognition).

damn i'm too late =P ...

was damn funny .. ended up throwing the newton at martin instead .. damn that smarmy martin prince .. pff

[Waterman]

I'll throw a couple ideas out there for discussion...

iPod Station
Diskless AIO Mac designed for Netboot for school computer lab applications and integration with Xserve or other G5 based systems. I think this is the reason Home on iPod was pulled from Panther... because it is a bigger feature than they thought at first, now that the iPod has penetrated into the mass market.

Dock in, Log in. The iPod Station from Apple.


Apple Groves
Mini-clusters of iPod Stations at major airport terminals. The Groves would only be available at airports where they have mini Apple Retail stores, so that someone can be there in the event of a system failure, but since the iPod Stations are all Netbooted from a server in the mini Apple Store imaging and administration can be done remotely. Perfect for the traveler on the go who needs to touch up that Powerpoint presentation before the sales pitch or anyone who wants to video chat with their family while they're away on a business trip.

The Apple Grove. Check in. Dock in. Log in.

The iPod syncs your home directory into an encrypted disk image on the iPod. These ideas exploit the "Pod-ness" of the iPod and justify 80GB+ iPods for the normal person.

[MindFad]

Wireless monitors, mice, and keyboards across the house would be cool. Kind of like taking your G5 anywhere. I wonder what kind of bandwidth it would take to drive wireless video like that in addition to the mouse and keyboard. Maybe even a wireless monitor with touch capability. Yum.

Meh.

Never mind.

I just want a Power Mac G5 and a PowerBook.

[ironknee]

there was another apple reference in the simpsons where someone asked about apple computers and the clerk kid said something like a what?

anyways, i put my money on a remote control something or another for itunes...

[Spheric Harlot]

Originally posted by - - e r i k - -:
Since the second generation iPod, yes. Not all that useful if you have a cellphone with the same capabilities though, the iPod has no input.

Um...no.

Since the FIRST generation iPod.

I have an original 5-gb iPod, and it syncs just fine with iSync.

One-way only, so my mobile is the far more useful PDA. And really, there's nothing useful a PDA would offer me that I can't do with my cellphone and the iPod.

-s*

[SkaGoat]

Ummmm.... Apple was not the first with a portable CD player... Sony was first by ten years... 1984 was when the first Discman was released (the D-50)

[d4nth3m4n]

Originally posted by SkaGoat:
Ummmm.... Apple was not the first with a portable CD player... Sony was first by ten years... 1984 was when the first Discman was released (the D-50)

damn lookie the size of that thing.

and who said anything about a personal cd player made by apple?

[SkaGoat]

Originally posted by macaddict0001:
It will definitly happen but no one knows when
apple firsts/early's/pioneers:
quicktake(digital camera)
powercd(portable cd player)
pippen(media centre pc)
newton(pda)
ipod(hard drive mp3 player)
mac(gui)
coloured computers(imac)
dual processor(G4 powermac)
30 inch screen
G3(at the time twice as fast as the competition)\

Macaddict did right there....

it's small for 1984....

[d4nth3m4n]

http://www.429bauhaus.no-ip.com/Appl...e_powercd.html

i DO remember this thing. my mom had one. and a quicktake. i was shot sh*t in 9th grade.

[Superchicken]

Originally posted by DeathMan:
I tend to think Apple next big thing would be a software package of some kind. Office? I don't know if it would be worth it. I think Superchicken had some good ideas with an educational suite of some kind. (in another thread)

Wow... someone liked my idea! Holy CRAP!

But yah I think that'd be great, that said, I think Apple should TOTALLY heir me to like... come up with cool concepts and crap... granted... they won't. But Apple needs to specialize for different markets. Modular computers IE eNote or something, a notebook comp more like the original iBook, but with a 12 inch screen, tougher case, no optical drive, high Mhz G3 proc, though perhaps a G4, built to be zippy for educational areas but not designed for power computing or to be able to be used for every market. But light and power efficient.

Modular home entertainment, think iPod plus "iPVR" though perhaps iTheater, iBox, or something else. Perhaps not TVs right away, but something more like a AIO Mac, only it isn't designed to be run as a computer, but rather convert your TV and DVD collection to it's HD, think about it. DVDs should be legal to rip so long as you do it with 1x ripping IE, don't rip the content but read the files and simply cut the chapters and make it so that you can configure it using your Mac, or a not as awesome piece of software on the PC
Add to that an iPod dock so that you can record even more, and even take more to your friend's houses.

iPhone, which not only would act as a cell phone, but also as a phone with your land line through a wireless base station, possibly integrated into the next AirPort Express base station.

Add to this possible thin client Macs for schools, and other locations. There are some great things, like portable thin client tablet/PDA like Macs. There's so much Apple COULD do, problem is people couldn't afford everything

[shabbasuraj]

2 button mouse PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Superchicken]

Originally posted by shabbasuraj:
2 button mouse PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

out infidel

[Kenneth]

Originally posted by d4nth3m4n:
http://www.429bauhaus.no-ip.com/Appl...e_powercd.html

i DO remember this thing. my mom had one. and a quicktake. i was shot sh*t in 9th grade.

The QuickTake was fun to use. I borrowed one when I was in high school. They did have a PowerCD sitting next to the PowerMac.

[macaddict0001]

Originally posted by MindFad:
Wireless monitors, mice, and keyboards across the house would be cool. Kind of like taking your G5 anywhere. I wonder what kind of bandwidth it would take to drive wireless video like that in addition to the mouse and keyboard. Maybe even a wireless monitor with touch capability. Yum.

Meh.

Never mind.

I just want a Power Mac G5 and a PowerBook.

The new wireless n standard should be able to handle the bandwidth.

Originally posted by SkaGoat:
Ummmm.... Apple was not the first with a portable CD player... Sony was first by ten years... 1984 was when the first Discman was released (the D-50)

I said apple firsts/earlys/pioneers
The powercd is substantial because it is still better than any portable cd player out there. Even now cd players are just starting to come with docks. None as of now can be used as cd drives for computers and none can store photos. Sure there are smaller ones but none can offer that kind of feature set. It even came complete with a remote control.

[SkaGoat]

Why do you need any of that for a portable CD player? It may be the only one like it... but there's a reason for that.

[roberto blanco]

the iphone (of course)!

- 2 gig internal harddrive
- mp3 player
- tri-band
- kickass-text messaging
- os x based ui
- 2 megapixel cam
- infrared/bluetooth/ip
- full ical, mail and adressbook sync and integration

[mitchell_pgh]

Eventually Apple is going to need to bridge the TV/Stereo to Computer gap. Microsoft and numerous other 3rd party groups are doing it, but it's still not "It Just Works" proof.

I'm not sure Apple will try to topple MS Office as pissing off Microsoft in this area could potentially kill the platform (I love Apple, but if they discontinue Office, eventually, I'll have to switch to a PC at work... and after a few years of no upgrades)

PDAs are on the way out. Cell phones have 80% of their core uses and laptop prices are getting in to the hands of people that once chose a PDA over a laptop due to price.

Home automation is an area Apple could expand into. I'm not exactly sure how they could so it, but I see some potential there... but who knows... I'm sure Apple is trying to stick with their core audience.

[hayesk]

Originally posted by macaddict0001:
The new wireless n standard should be able to handle the bandwidth.

I said apple firsts/earlys/pioneers
The powercd is substantial because it is still better than any portable cd player out there. Even now cd players are just starting to come with docks. None as of now can be used as cd drives for computers and none can store photos. Sure there are smaller ones but none can offer that kind of feature set. It even came complete with a remote control.

As a portable audio player it wasn't very good. It didn't come with a dock, the "dock" was permanently attached, if I remember correctly. It was crappy as a portable audio player. And there have been other portable CD-ROM drives that could do audio and video CDs since then.

[DeathMan]

I guess in my earlier post I should have been more clear.

Motorolla making an itunes enabled phone, is not an iphone. Its just an itunes enabled motorolla phone. An iphone would be apple-made, apple os, the whole bit. The ipod isn't a creative rebranded to apple. Yes, apple outsourced certain parts of the ipod, but its still safely and apple made gadget. I feel the same way about a camera.

On the other hand, it should be pretty obvious if apple was involved in the design and development of the phone was by apple, or if its just a rebranded thing. Motorolla's phones are ugly, and most cell phone interfaces are lame. So I guess we'll see, won't we.

I'm a little worried about what will come of this, but hopefully this phone rumor won't be the only thing happening at Macworld.