Slashdot Mirror
New iMacs (and iPods)
Dilaudid writes "According to
this story at MacWorld Apple has just announced three new iMac models - all with Bluetooth and AirPort Extreme. More importantly there are new iPods too. Cool." The iMacs got a speed bump up to 1.25GHz, and the iPods were capacity-bumped up to 40GB.
...with prices in Dollars?
From Apple.com to avoid having to convert British pounds into prices that would be for the wrong market anyway...
Why do I h8 apple?
*cries*
;)
Good thing I have an iRiver discman though
-----Article:
>>>Apple upgrades iMac range
By Jonny Evans
Apple today introduced new iMac configurations featuring up to a 1.25GHz G4 processor and faster 333MHz DDR memory as standard.
Three models of iMac are now available as standard from the company: the 1GHz 15-inch screen Combo drive (CD-RW/DVD-ROM) iMac; the 17-inch model (with SuperDrive), hosting a 1.25GHz processor; and the 17-inch SuperDrive Plus model, which offers 1.25GHz, and ships with AirPort Extreme and Bluetooth built-in.
The 15-inch iMac costs 999; the 17-inch SuperDrive costs 1,449; and the 17-inch SuperDrive Plus costs 1,713. Prices include VAT.
All models are AirPort Extreme and Bluetooth ready, though the highest-end model is the only iMac with these features pre-installed. Other features common across the range include: 80GB hard drives (high end, 160GB); 10/100Base-T Ethernet; 56K internal modems; and Apple Pro speakers.
The new iMacs have three USB 2.0 ports and two FireWire 400 ports. They do not offer the new FireWire 800 standard.
The 15-inch model has an NVidia GeForce4 MX graphics card installed with 32MB dedicated DDR video memory - up from a GeForce2 MX. The two 17-inch iMacs offer NVidia GeForce FX 5200 Ultra graphics cards with 64MB DDR memory installed. Previously the 17-inch models featured the GeForce4 MX.
With Mac OS X 10.2 and Apple's iApps (iPhoto, iMovie, iTunes and iDVD), the software bundle includes: QuickTime, iCal, iChat, iSync, DVD Player, AppleWorks, Mac OS X Mail, Internet Explorer, Mac OS X Chess, Otto Matic, Deimos Rising, FAXstf, Acrobat Reader, and the Apple Hardware Test CD.
Apple has also introduced new iPods with a maximum 40GB storage:
>>>40GB iPod launched
By Macworld staff
Apple has introduced a 40GB iPod for 398.99 including VAT.
The new version replaces the 30GB iPod, although the price is unchanged. The 40GB model can hold 10,000 songs, and weighs 176 grams.
The 15GB version has also been replaced by a 20GB version, with pricing fixed at 299.
All iPods include earbud headphones, an iPod power adaptor, a FireWire cable and a 4-pin-to-6-pin iPod FireWire adaptor.
20GB and 40GB models include the iPod Dock, a carrying case and wired remote.
The link to the actual article is:
w sI D=6857
http://www.macworld.co.uk/news/main_news.cfm?Ne
Sometimes I wish I was a plumber, then I'd know how to deal with other people's shit.
Why can't Apple make a less expensive headless box? All thier lower-priced units have some sort of monitor attached (e/iMac). Why not have an iMac-class system without the screen? Their product line seems to be all or nothing (G5 tower or iMac with integrated monitor).
Get these (relatively) unimpressive updates out of the way to make room for the real ones at Apple Expo in Paris.
You tell me how "whilst" differs from "while," and I'll stop calling you a pretentious jackass.
Did anyone else notice that with this announcement came a speed drop of the Dual 1.42 Ghz PowerMac to 1.25 Ghz???
I thought you were saying that the new iPods had BlueTooth and Airport Extreme support, heh.
Now, that would rock. Apple, are you listening?
It's been a while since the iPod came out, and it still seems to be one of the best MP3 players out there. So what's next? Seems like more storage doesn't make a difference at some point (ooh 15,000 songs instead of 10,000).
warning: epoll_wait is not implemented and will always fail
Only the 1,713 17-inch SuperDrive Plus has BlueTooth and AirPort Extreme pre-installed. The cheaper models are just "AirPort Extreme and Bluetooth ready."
To this day I still can't forget the comment Taco made when he posted the initial IPod announcement:
No wireless. Less space than a nomad. Lame.
Oh well, I guess opinions change.
Seriously though, the ipod is great...
Maan
All current models are pretty old and especially the 15'' (introduced November last year). The rumour is that Motorola has trouble churning out the latest G4 in any significant quantities. Or maybe they'll go G5 :) Anybody got any info?
Before you freak at the prices, those are in pounds, not dollars. 1,713 works out to about $2,715 at today's rate.
Still not a bad price, considering what you get. I'll probably settle for more RAM for my iMac rather than replacing it with one of these, but it's an awfully nice machine.
New iPods
New iMacs
The two smaller models are just Bluetooth and Airport ready, that means you have to purchase the add-on cards for 50$ respectively 99$ (according to Apple Store).
Make sure you order your internal Bluetooth module with your iMac, it can't be added later on (you'll need to use an external Bluetooth-USB-Dongle...).
Slashdot once again displays its inability to perform even the most basic fact checking. The new iMacs do not come with AirPort Extreme or Bluetooth. They have internal slots you can fill in a CTO configuration.
... an iCluster of these ...
Is there anyone out there who has actually filled up a 20Gb Ipod and would want a 40Gb version?
I'm not trying to knock Ipods- I'd actually really like to know if anyone does have that many MP3s etc. I think my entire CD collection would fit several times over in that much space.
I love it when my beloved mac rumor community misses stuff like this ipod. Chaos mint knew about an ad campaighn but no numbers 'The apple rummor community was caught napping with its trowsers down'
In case the site is slow, here is a mirror.
Martin Studio Slashdot Policy
A programmer is a machine for converting coffee into code.
Funny, there are a ton of other 40GB MP3 players that have been on the market for a little while.
This one is a bit cheaper than the iPod:
Archos
So, you might argue that the iPod is the smallest 40GB player out? Wrong again. Check this one out:
Rio Karma
Not that it's a BAD player- it's just not as Revolutionary as the Mac fanboys claim. :-)
Those iMacs don't look so bad... even if they're next to impossible to upgrade. :-)
Stewey
There are 10 kinds of people in the world. Those who understand binary and those who don't.
Also announced along with larger capacity ipods (20 and 40 to replace 15 and 30 GB models with no other changes in HW or SW stated) and faster iMacs (the 1.25 Ghz 17" now packing a 160 GB HD) there is even more significant news.
The real news here is that since April 28th when the iTunes Music Store opened, there have been more than 10,000,000 songs downloaded by the US Apple consumer base runing OS 10.1 and iTunes 4. Very impressive in my opinion. The 10,000,000th song was "Complicated" and was sold on September 3rd. Apple stated they are selling 500,000 songs per week.
The first week Apple stated they sold 1,000,000 songs so that plus half a million a week after corroberates the 10 MM song claim and shows a steady rate.
It would be interesting to know how BuyMusic.com is doing with their knowck off...especially after all the bad press and sites like BoycottBuyMusic.com and DontBuyMusic.com have exposed some shady dealings with artists, consumers, and their advertising.
And Apple a day keeps Windows at bay
I only came here to do two things; kick some ass, and drink some beer...looks like we're almost out of beer.
No, there's no actual proof that they're ever going to make one, but c'mon, isn't it the obvious next step? Record your entire classroom lecture for study purposes, record the next Phish show, record your own demos -- with a simple little multitracking app, it could kill portable 4-tracks. Or, plug your iSight into a video in and turn it into a video camera.
Also, with a mic in, you'll be able to use Apple's speech recognition software to give it voice commands -- no more fuddling around with menus, just speak into the mic: "iPod, play Smashing Pumpkins, album Gish" or something like that.
c-hack.com |
Actually, Best Buy has been selling iPods for a while. They started carrying them when the current Gen. 3 models (slim design, "dock connector") debuted several months ago. You're correct, though: It's only recently that they've been test marketing Apple desktops at select Best Buy stores, presumably in an effort to prepare for a company-wide push.
-A.
What did the walrus say to the penguin? "No soap, radio."
Interesting that these machines use Bluetooth. My Thinkpad has bluetooth built in and I've just picked up a Bluetooth phone (Nokia 6310i). Bluetooth is *really* slick. I love not having to get my phone out of my bag to check contacts or sync with my address book. I can send SMS messages from my computer via Mobile Master again without having to locate my phone or punch text into a keyboard not designed for it.
I'm now very seriously considering getting a car speaker set for my vehicle and I'm certain my next PDA will have bluetooth. My next laptop will probably be a Powerbook and I hope they have bluetooth built in by then because I'm going to want it. It's one of those nifty technologies you wonder why you didn't bother with before.
Oh, if you do have a Nokia phone, their Nokia Connection Manager software is a bit hit/miss as to whether it will work with a given bluetooth device. Doesn't work with my T30 but I've been able to work around it. YMMV.
I've got 80+ albums at an average of $22 each or so (a lot of import CDs from Japan), so maybe $1,760 worth of music resides on my iPod... my then $399 now $299 10gb iPod is cheap insurance against my music collection getting stolen in my car, for example, while simultaneously allowing me to access *all* my music in a simple fashion.
Then there's the fact that my iPod is *also* a backup of my PowerMac, which is worth much more to me than $299; the peace of mind of having a portable bootable backup is immeasurable, short of spending 2 years recreating all the data on my PowerMac.
Sure, there are other hard drive based mp3 players, but none that allow me to boot my PowerMac, and none that allow me to copy my entire music collection onto it in 6 minutes.
GPL Deconstructed
Guess I know now. They were clearing out the 30s to be replaced by the 40s at the same price. Ah well. It holds more than enough music to keep me engaged.
Out of curiosity though, did anyone get lucky and order a 30, then get notice that they'd receive a 40 at the same price? That they aren't selling the 30 at all right after the announcement makes me think they waited until they'd completely exhausted inventory before the release.
You could have looked up http://www.xe.com/ucc and done the conversion yourself in less time than it took you to complain about it.
Consider it a reminder that you don't live in the center of the universe, and that there are actually people living elsewhere on this spinning rock that are just as entitled to have their currency represented as you are!
D'OH!!!!
And here I am with an out-dated 30GB ipod....
Maybe it's time for those pitchforks and flaming torches again....
If you go to the Apple Store, there are three base models of iMacs to choose from. The top model has the AirPort Extreme and Bluetooth built-in.
I thought you were saying that the new iPods had BlueTooth and Airport Extreme support, heh.
Now, that would rock. Apple, are you listening?
Wow, I'll bet Steve Jobs is reading your Slashdot post right now thinking "wireless! Damn, why didn't I think of that!".
"*pple : proudly going out of business for 25 years!"
Cheaper model Macs would ruin Apple.
Thing is, if you keep prices high, you keep the status symbol thing. They don't want everyone running around with iPods.
Look at how the image of owning a Porsche has fallen since they introduced low-end vehicles like the Boxter. It's not nearly as impressive to see one when the road is full of them, it's just another car. Folks are actually more impressed by a Nissan Z roadster these days.
If Rolex made a $20 watch, how do you brag "look at my Rolex!"? You dont, and that's about the only real reason to buy a Rolex.
I don't need no instructions to know how to rock!!!!
Could you please just make a PDA already?
If anything, it will force other PDA makers to keep up with you and we call can have better products.
The surprise isn't how often we make bad choices; the surprise is how seldom they defeat us.
Both of those are ugly as sin and lacking in basic features. No FireWire. No AAC support, either encrypted or unencrypted; oh-so-useful WMA instead. No on-the-go playlists. No synching with iTunes. No support for storing contacts and calendar items. The list goes on.
Nobody said the new iPods were revolutionary. (The first one was, of course.) Rather, they're simply better products than the competition.
The new Imacs have grown an analogue audio in port.
...to help me at my freelance gig where I copy a 17 Meg file from one folder on the hard drive to another folder.
I have experience in copying files of all sizes and can provide references! What's the pay-scale?
What are they thinking? This is what everyone wants.
This is what everyone is screaming for! (at least I am)
I mean, what with Sony being paranoid with their MD format, the market is screaming for a digital recorder that you can actually use.
Why is this so hard for Apple to understand.
-- I drank WHAT!!??!! , Socrates
eDigital's been selling their Odyssey 1000 player for a very long time, which is almost the size of an iPod, stores 20GB, and though it doesn't appear to have a line-in, it does have a built-in mic to record your lectures. Also, its mic does the voice-recognition thing so you can cue up your Phish shows without having to press any annoying buttons. Battery lasts 12hrs, and it also sports an FM tuner.
I am beginning to wonder when apple will be brave enough to release what has to be the "killer" 802.11 application for mp3 players - personal streaming.
l
;)
Just imagine how cool it would be to share your music and playlists with any other ipod user within range. Tired of your own collection? Try listening to Bob's ipod 4 seats behind you.
The register has also thought about this - http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/39/28467.htm
What do people think? I would love this, but there are - erm - interesting legal aspects..
10M songs? Yeah, but it's only 0.99 per song, so that's less than $10M. IIRC, Apple keeps about a third of that, so ~$3M.
How much did it cost to program, to feed the lawyers to get all the contracts, to set up the servers/bandwidth needed? (And the Apple Store is *fast*- they didn't skimp here.)
I can't imagine this is going to have a big positive impact on Apple's bottom line, unless (and it's a big unless) the publicity they are getting sells more Macs/iPods. I wouldn't be surprised if this is the sole reason they are bothering.
"Seven Deadly Sins? I thought it was a to-do list!"
Argh, still no radio built in. I need an AM/FM radio and don't want to always take 2 devices with me, how much would it cost to add a radio and satisfy the wish/requirement of many?
It has kept me from buying an Ipod until now. Once Irivers IHP-100 gets a larger harddisk (min. 15GB) I'll buy one of those.
Surprised no one has mentioned it yet, but I think the next 'big' thing in the iPod line is adding a good screen and video capability.
A number of computer manufacturers are using the marketing con, of "'insert technology name here' ready". For example "bluetooth ready". In most cases taking a closer look at the specifications reveals that the computer does not come with the technology mentioned, but simply has a slot that will accept the device. So in the case of the iMac, you are going to have to buy the bluetooth card, unless it says something like 'bluetooth included'. I know of a couple of friends being caught on this one.
Jumpstart the tartan drive.
Look, I am as big an Apple fan boy as the next guy, but minor product updates on the front page of slashdot? I think Hemos has been hit by the Jobian Reality Distortion Field.
Assuming that a Apple user only downloads songs legally through iTunes MS.
The 40GB ipod would hold $10,000 dollars worth of songs. That's a little too much change to be carrying around in you pocket don't you think. You could get mugged for that kinda dough.
Mugger: hand me you wallet.... no wait, Say, that's one of em new 40GB iPods ain't it, whats that iPod worth.
Guy being mugged: I'd say about 5 grand, it's only half full.
Mugger: Screw the wallet, hand me that iPod.
Man, I was really hoping to see a G5 in there. Too hot? Or would that spread the limited G5 supply too thin? BTW US dollar prices are: $1299 $1799 $2448
Maybe partying will help...
It'll cost you about $35 to add FM capability to your iPod.
GPL Deconstructed
I believe they understand the market fairly well.
Of the 10 iPod users I know not one is interested... a couple would like to see an FM tuner but none want recording ability.
Not when said NVRAM devices still cost several times more per MB than a hard drive does.
Apple can cram 40GB into this device for far less than it'd cost for an NVRAM device of the same capacity.
IE is bundled with 10.2, Safari is bundled with 10.3.
"Reality is just a convenient measure of complexity" -Alvy Ray Smith
I've been waiting for this... not because the extra speed is so great, but because I want a 17" 1ghz iMac at a more reasonable price than $1800. I've read on mac rumors sites that the channel is flooded with inventory (I think Insight had several hundred units in stock), so when will the price drops come to help clear out inventory? Macmall has the new models, and "add to cart for new lower price!!!" on the 1ghz model. I was stunned this morning to see an amazing... $22 price drop. Although now that it's a little later in the day, it's down to $1594, a $200 price drop. That's more like it.
clicky clicky...
In fact, there are 8 iPods in the top 20 best sellers. The question is would the new models kick the competitions out of the top 10 altogether.
5 663
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t g/browse/-/300330/ref=br_bx_c_1_5/002-8192629-304
I see your point. But I amvery much active in the music arena. Not just listening but writing, performing, scoring,....
.02
I have already found the iPod to be great in the editing and scoring field. It allows me to carry entire scores and move them from home to the recording studio for laydown onto film.
Yet having the ability to be able to record a practice, or live instruments, along with the portability of the iPod would make it ideal.
I know that several hundred would be sold here at UCLA film just for that reason alone.
I just think lots of people would find that a useful feature if it was there. recording voice memos, phone numbers while you are driving. I think there would be many uses othere than just music....
Just my
OK, Problem one appears to be that are are using a box that doesn't ship for 3-5 weeks. That tends to make them slow. So in reality I'm guessing that it will take you ($delivery_date + $unpacking_time + $boot_time + 5min) to install Acrobat 6.
Also, are you sure you are qualified for a job that requires you to copy a file form one folder to another? Maybe you should practice the following: "Would you like fries with that?" and "Do you want to SuperSize that?"
Have a nice day
'Do you feel better now'
No, I don't really feel better...I can't express the depths of my dislike for those who feel the need to endlessly disparage my choice of computing platform...
This is a heartfelt plea...I have dealt with morons like the parent poster for over a decade. It never ends. I don't know what drives these people(or is it you?) to perpetually carp on about us 'Mac-Heads'...I have never gone out of my way to insult linux-users or Windows-users and have only done so sparingly, in response to trolls. How insecure is the rest of the computing population that they feel compelled to ridicule people who choose to use a Mac -- insulting them at every turn, and then accusing them of being elitist or some other B.S.
I use a Mac because I get my work done -- regardless of what it cost me...and that is my choice -- and a good one that has clothed, fed, and housed my family for many years in the past, and many years to come.
What part of the fabric of society has frayed to the point that abuse of a minority is fashionable...Grow up, back off, and let's just try to get along somewhere in the middle.
Thank you for listening...
We apologise for the fault in this post. Those responsible have been sacked. -- Signed RICHARD M. NIXON
10M songs? Yeah, but it's only 0.99 per song, so that's less than $10M. IIRC, Apple keeps about a third of that, so ~$3M.
Forget about the money Apple is making from the store, and notice that it is a great big Get Out Of Jail Free card for Apple.
The Apple platform is so great for digital media because it provides a set of powerful and easy tools for manipulating digital content. With a moto like "Rip, Mix, Burn," and products like the MP3-playing iPod apple was about half a step from Napster's legal trouble.
With the iTunes Store, Apple has turned into the best way for the music industry to market their wares online. Legal trouble averted. Cool thing is that they have made three million dollars doing this. Double Cool!
Apple Store has previous generation ten gigs for as low as $170
I actually bought a second-gen 10 gig from Target for $199.99 when they clearenced them when the 3rd-gerneration ones came out.. Drove around to 3 targets until I found one that had several, bought all 5, resold the other 4 for a profit. I love iPods.
I have blog like everyone else
No base iMac comes with either of these options. Only CTO iMacs do. The fact that Apple just so happens to conveniently put a maxed-out CTO on their store page does not make it stock. You can't buy this iMac at the local Apple Store, nor can you add Bluetooth later if you don't buy the CTO.
Please, moderators, check the information yourself before moderating down because ignorant replies don't bother to check the facts themselves. There are only two stock iMac models; two SKUs that Apple sends out. Anything else is CTO.
Instead of increasing the disk capacity of the iPods, they should include bluetooth or WIFI.
This would allow one to listen to live stream with their iPod. This could also be used to use the iPod as the computer headset so you can ear the system sounds while listening to your music.
Another use (which the RIAA would certainly not approve) would be to allow one to stream it's music to somebody else (make it to one device at a time with not recording feature, so the "industry" is not to grumpy about it) listen to ones tracks.
Why not just pick up a Qube II off of e-bay?
;)
It'll run Woody just fine and some minimal upgrades would give you a pretty decent box for simple file serving/mp3 storage pretty cheap. Dual NIC interfaces, extra PCI slot for wireless, etc. etc.
And it *is* totally silent. At least mine is.
Check out http://www.shon.org/qube/ for more info (although his is running NetBSD).
Your wallet must get very heavy. You also must have a very strong belt, or use both a belt and other means to hold your pants up..
I'd hate for my notes to weigh that much..
bork bork bork!
And if anybody could do it well and end-to-end then it would be Apple. Anybody who's ever used Rendezvous in iTunes can attest to how easy and freaking cool it is to listen to other people's music in their libraries over the network.
But the tradeoff would be that doing that much streaming would either increase the size of the ipod (big no-no) or make the battery life seriously dip off (another no-no)
I wouldn't hold my breath, however cool it would be.
Does anyone else find it funny that apple lists a VW New Beetle as an iPod accessory? Wait until I tell my wife...
:q!
Anyone else notice that the new iMac configurations are shipping with Tony Hawk Pro Skater 4? Right on.
Just follow the day, and reach fo
One possibility would be to use bluetooth as a "splitter" for multiple, wireless headsets. It would be great to keep the ipod safely away in a backpack or coat pocket, while a bluetooth remote controlled the tracks (and duplicated the display) and a bluetooth headset played the music. a friedn could them easily "authenticate" their bluetooth headset for the iPod and share the tunes, er, itunes.
I only came here to do two things; kick some ass, and drink some beer...looks like we're almost out of beer.
It's especially unfortunate that you don't like being called an elitist, when everything from Apple's ads to pricing is pitched at elites. You don't think it's the Volkswagon Beetle of computers, now, do you? (I'm referring to the cheap VW Bug of yesterday, obviously, not the expensive mutation built today for elites--and featuring an iPod deal right now, LOL!)
I bought my Mac for various reasons, and people can think whatever they please. But one thing is certain: Apple designs and markets its machines for a niche audience, not for Everyperson, and that strategy invites invidious response just as all expensive goods do. Why pretend otherwise?
Unless you're running RAID, it is highly unlikely that you will fill the bandwidth of Firewire 400, let alone Firewire 800. The fastest 7200 RPM hard drive on the market does 55 MBps tops, just 5 more than 50 MBps, and not even close to 100 MBps. I guess its good to have headroom for firewire hard drives or something, but seriously, its not even going to come close.
Let alone what the iPod has in it. A 3600 RPM drive if you're lucky. Probably not. 20 MBps? 10? My roommate says he can transfer at 2 MBps; highest report are 7-8 MBps.
The space unintentionally left unblank.