What's Next At Apple

pinqkandi writes "Business 2.0 is running a fascinating article on what might be coming up in Apple's future. Besides speculation, some interesting statistics are included, such as how the iPod should create equal revenue to the Mac for Apple in 2006, if not surpassing it. A good read for the Apple lover or loather."

Comments

Duplicate!

[Matt Clare]

I read this last week!

http://apple.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=05/03/2 4/ 1638226&tid=3

It's true, Slashdot has turned into another Apple rumour site.

Re:Duplicate!

[squiggleslash]

In fairness, last week you couldn't actually read this (Business 2.0) article (except for the first page.) They've turned off the "subscribers only" thing. There were a number of complaints last time that you couldn't read the article.

Re:Duplicate!

[NeedleSurfer]

I came to realize in life that there aren't any real Apple zealot, there are mostly people constantly feeling the need to defend themselves against anti-mac zealots, people who will say the wrongest of all thing covered in insult and assumption at the very mention of Apple or Mac. The mac basher crowd is so active one can become paranoid and start defending his choice anytime something could be said against the platform because they fear the basher and they love other consummers. Seeing that those consummers might end up with an inferior platform because they believed the anti-mac zealot claim the mac defender roam online publication in search of people like the parent of this post who probably got himself a huge rash when he read the word Apple on Slashdot, another news about Apple?? Insult immediatly followed: "It's true, Slashdot has turned into another Apple rumour site" hopping that by his comment Slashdot editors will cut back on Apple news, in fear of being labeled as Mac lovers, the communist equivalent of the web, Slashdot wouldn't want that he thinks.

Actually my friend just got a Mac, his first, and he actually likes the mac bashers. Thanks to them he is forced to learn about his computer because they constantly want him to look like a sub-tech with his Mac by asking rethorical questions and passing comments like the one in the parent, because he wants to answer those questions, because he wants to know if what they told him is true and he actually has been had and bought the wrong machine. Each and every time he comes back and laugh at all the bullshit he is told and feels good about himself, he finally understands computers...

What's next on /.

[Lev13than]

Lev13than writes "Slashdot recently ran a fascinating article on what might be coming up in Slashdot's future. Besides speculation, some interesting statistics are included, such as how long it takes a dup to get as many comments as the original post, if not surpassing it. A good read for the /. lover or loather."

Next for Apple?

[DavidLeblond]

I imagine they'll just keep doing the same thing over and over again...

Kinda like Slashdot.

Advertising

[JackAtCepstral]

I don't know about other markets, but here in Pittsburgh, I see no Apple TV spots other than for the iPod. I don't get it. They have the greatest consumer-level desktop environment in the world, but they're not pushing it at all. It's as if they're relying solely on word-of-mouth advertising. I really think there needs to be more "power of OS X" type TV commercials to push this kick-ass system.

WiPod

[bbzzdd]

The Wireless iPod is a certainty. I can't wait. Looks like Apple has filed patents for wireless podjacking support; sharing playlists over WiFi.

Tightening the DRM noose

[ajb2718]

They will continue to take away rights. iTunes version 4.7.1 only allows streaming to 5 unique users per day, it used to support any 5 simultaniuse users.

Re:Tightening the DRM noose

[HarryZink]

> They will continue to take away rights. iTunes version
> 4.7.1 only allows streaming to 5 unique users per day,
> it used to support any 5 simultaniuse users.

Yes, you are right - you can thank DVD Jon, and others, for that, for a) complaining about DRM (yet doing absolutely NOTHING about Windows DRM), and b) complaining that them hacking it is Apple's fault, for making it too easy. ...and then you're worried that Apple is forced to tighten their DRM (yet, still maintaining it as open for the consumer as they can)

Please, lay blame where it belongs, and it's not at Apple's feet!

Re:Tightening the DRM noose

[Watts Martin]

Yes, absolutely.

This is an interesting paradox I'm not sure the "hack to free the music" crowd has entirely thought through. You may feel that any DRM is too much DRM, and I respect that, but I may feel that a given DRM is livable enough for my purposes--like Apple's scheme for iTunes. I do own my music (unlike, say, Napster's subscription model), and I don't consider the restrictions on burning and sharing sufficiently onerous.

However, if you--in this case, "you" being "DVD Jon," or people with similar mindsets--decide that because you don't like that restriction, the proper response is not to simply avoid iTunes but to break iTunes' DRM, you put Apple in a position where they have to slap duct tape over the hole you've made. The chances are that the "duct tape" they're using makes their DRM scheme fractionally more restrictive. And if you keep at it, eventually Apple's countermeasures will leave me with a product which no longer meets my needs. You will at that point have forced me to either stop using the iTunes store, or to join you in the DRM arms race. Your attempts to "protect my freedom" will, from my point of view, have had the opposite effect.

I understand the philosophical objection to DRM, and I'd prefer it if the iTMS was closer to Magnatune (in both lack of restriction and choice of downloadable music formats). But I'm not convinced that monkeywrenching is the ideal response -- or ultimately, even a very good one.

Why vPod won't succeed

[G4from128k]

As appealing as a proposed video iPod might be, I doubt it would sell in large numbers. The difference between music and video is that music can be a background activity. One can work, read /., jog, talk with friends, drive a car, etc. whilst music is playing. In contrast, video requires too much visual engagement -- some super-multitaskers might disagree, but even that small group is unlikely to watch video as much as they might listen to music.

Whereas large numbers of people can imagine themselves using an iPod everyday and at many times of day, much fewer people can see themselves using a vPod and for much fewer hours per day.

Games?

[Anonymous Coward]

Knowing Apple suing left and right for speculations, I must post anonymously.

Hopefully and probably, I am not the only person contacted by Apple's HR for job "feeler" ("Do you want to work for Apple?").

Because I only post my resume's on Gamasutra, I'm speculating that Apple is beginning to search for programmers and developers specific to games.

Could Apple be jumping onto the bandwagon towards game softwares?

Re:Is piracy a barrier?

[timster]

Hey, it says "Don't steal music" right on the plastic wrap.

Re:Apple and Orange

[gowen]

Fool. Everyone knows you can't compare Orange and Apple.

Re:PVR is...

[emmetropia]

Some folks are already on top of this, using the macmini *as* the pvr. http://www.centerstageproject.com/

Re:Personally...

[Queer Boy]

A video iPod is completely plausible, especially if they bundle the xVid codec or some licensed variant of VLC with it

Dude, have you not ever heard of QuickTime? Your statement makes zero sense in the scheme of things.

If people want to watch TV shows so bad on the go, why haven't pocket TVs been more popular?

Re:Top 5 : What's Next At Apple

[MullerMn]

What's the differnt between fanboy and twat?

Oooh! I know: most of us wouldn't stick our cocks in a fanboy?
What do I win?

What's NeXT at Apple?

[Anonymous Coward]

Um, ins't that the company that bought Apple in 1997? Or am I being redundant?