New Goodies From Apple (1 Viewer)

Here's a quick rundown of what's been introduced by Steve Jobs at Apple's event today:

New versions of the G5 iMacs, both 17" & 20" displays. Thinner than the current models, slightly faster, iSight camera built-in. Same prices as current models.

FrontRow Bluetooth Mac remote control device. Hard to say much about this without more info. Supposedly looks like a Shuffle and lets you control music & video on your Mac. Bundled with the new iMacs, apparently also available seperately for current owners.

New iPods - yes, they do video. Larger screens. Thinner. Same capacities (30 GB, 60 GB) as current models, and same prices. Available in good ole' iPod white - and black (a la iPod nano - expect these to be scarce for several weeks).

iTunes 6. What, didn't they just release iTunes 5 a few weeks ago?? Obviously, adds video support. Don't know if there's any other features that would entice current iPod owners. Available for download today.

Apple finally made its inroads into the HTPC arena.

With iTunes 6 you can download videos and TV shows.

This should get interesting.

Mike

That's right - there's a few ABC shows available (including "Desperate Housewives") for $2 an episode.

Music videos (over 2000 available at launch) are $2 apiece as well.

Why does Apple feel the need to make very big updates on their models every few months?

And apple.com has been updated with the new stuff.

One correction right away (now fixed in my 1st post) - the new iPods come in 30GB & 60 GB capacities (not 20 & 60 as I said earlier).

New iMacs look to be very close to the size of the previous models, expect they are thinner. The built-in iSight does not take up as much space as I thought it might - it's just a little opening in the top center above the display.

The FrontRow remote looks like it docks on the right side of the new iMacs.

New iMacs now come with the Mighty Mouse introduced a few months ago.

Looks like the new iMacs do not have a built-in modem (the previous models did). They now have a little USB add-on modem available (for $50) for those that need dialup.

FrontRow is a combination of remote (which DOES look exactly like an iPod Shuffle) and software. The software is designed to be used from across a room with the remote to access music, video, etc.. Features large icons, text, etc.

Another new piece of software now bundled with the iMacs (not sure if available separately) is Photo Booth. Designed to work with the iSight to create a virtual photo booth from your iMac. Looks like a quick way to touch up stills snapped from the iSight w/ various effects.

To me, the usefulness of the FrontRow and Photo Booth stuff seems limited.

Gosh damn.

More on iTunes 6 - seems to be mainly a video-oriented upgrade.

You can do video playlists, and now you can send gifts (of music or video from iTMS) through iTunes.

Video content includes 2000+ music videos (both new & classic), selected ABC & Disney TV shows, and award-winning Pixar shorts (you know, the same ones we all have on our various Pixar DVDs).

TV shows mentioned are "Desperate Housewives", "Lost", "That's So Raven" & "Night Stalker". Episodes available the day after air date.

Now available in iTMS - a Complete Stevie Wonder digital box set - over 500 songs.

New iPods are noticeably thinner. Apple is claiming improved battery life as well - up to 20 hours.

Includes all new features (world clock) introduced in the nano. And you can get it in black!!

I'm impressed they crammed a bigger screen and a better battery into less space. Disappointed that the rumored 80 GB model didn't surface.

Also announced - the Universal Dock ($40), which works with ALL models with dock connectors (including mini & nano). Pretty much the same as the old Photo dock (incuding S-Video out) - with the addition of a remote receiver for the new Apple Remote ($30) (see description above in iMac post).

Dangit, within a span of 1 year I'm on my 2nd ipod because of the upgrade itch (non-photo to photo with better battery life). Now I wanna do it again. That thin size really looks great, and it's $50 cheaper! arghh

Forgive my ignorance - I find that my primary use for my PSP is to watch movies, especially when I travel. However, I find the volume level of UMD movies especially low, even when I turn the volume all the way up and put the audio level at +2 (I don't have noise-cancelling headphones). I would gladly sell my PSP on eBay and pick up a new iPod which does video, provided that you can somehow rip your own DVD's to the unit. While I would likely download a few tv shows from the iTunes website, I would be primarily interested in watching my own movies on the unit (e.g., Star Wars, Indiana Jones, South Park, etc.).

Does anyone know if you can rip your own DVD's to the new iPods, or can you only watch videos that can be downloaded from Apple's website?

Thanks!

The last step in rolling your own iPod video is described by Apple using Quicktime Pro.

First you will need to rip the DVD to your HD, using freeware that is probably against forum rules to mention. I am not sure what the middle step is (possibly transcoding from MPEG2 to H.264) though you might need a program like HandBrake to do it.

I don't doubt that within weeks there will be 3rd party software to do the whole thing for you in one step. All the pieces already exist, it is just a matter of putting them together.

Ted

Another correction - the Apple remote is IR, not Bluetooth as I stated above.

Does anyone know if iTunes 6 has any new overbearing copy protection? Don't want to upgrade myself into a corner. Also, has anyone had any serious problems with it? Many of the people I know got f'ed in the a by the original iTunes 5 upgrade.

I can't even get it to run. I got a QuickTime installation error (Error code: -3), and iTunes 6 wouldn't run without the latest version of QuickTime. I had to uninstall everything and go back to 4.9 (5 crashed whenever I tried to access the Music Store).

The iPods appear to have lost a really useful feature -- FireWire support.

There are a number of iBooks and iMacs that have FireWire, USB 1, and no way to add USB 2. Waiting for iTunes to synchronize 30GB or 60GB of songs over USB 1 would not be my idea of fun.

No, FireWire support continues, you just don't get the wire with it. You have to get it separately. That's how it's been for at least a few months now.

http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPL...plm=M9127G%2FA

Thomas, I don't know about the new iPods released today, but I can speak from experience that the Nano does not support FireWire synchronization.

EDIT: According to Macworld.com the new iPods no longer support FireWire synchronization either.

I had this problem initially too. Download the installer from http://www.apple.com/trailers Run it and let it install everything. Then (even though it doesn't tell you it's necessary), restart your computer. Quicktime won't finish installing until the restart. After that everything should work fine.

I know the Nano didn't support FireWire, but stripping new iPods of FireWire support is just plain stupid.