Next gen iMac to have two "compelling" new features

Sad Professor

A couple of new features rumored to be in the cards for Apple's forthcoming iMac refresh will up the value proposition for prospective buyers in the market for an all-in-one desktop system, AppleInsider has been told.

One of those features is said to have long been on the wish-lists of many Mac users while the other is expected to cater to the semi-professional audio/video crowd. This is according to cryptic tips from people often familiar with the Mac maker's future product initiatives, but who declined to elaborate because they were not authorized to discuss the matter in detail.

Still, both features have been characterized as significant announcements in their own right, leading some industry-watchers polled by AppleInsider to wonder whether the former of the two will finally see the Cupertino-based company embrace technology once described by chief executive Steve Jobs as "a bag of hurt."

Either way, the new iMac offerings are expected to follow a trend set this spring with the introduction of new MacBook Pros, by which Apple simultaneously shaved retail costs while offering more value through added features such as better battery technology, higher-quality displays, and improved I/O functionality.

Full article here.

oooooo, I wonder what this could be...

Any ideas?

conchubhar1

feckin afforadble to most people?

im still feeling the loss of weight for my macbook from 2 years ago! altho it is amazing

oneofakind32

You would think apple would be looking at ways to incorporate multi-touch into there desktops, after all they have it almost all the other products at this stage! I couldn't see them going touch screen anytime soon though!

thecommander

Bluray & Unibody design

fjon

Definitely Bluray I'd say.

chrislad

Blu Ray and partial touch screen.

thecommander

chrislad wrote: »

Blu Ray and partial touch screen.

Don't think multitouch will work aswell as people think it will on a desktop. Ive used touchscreen controllers and it just doesn't work well for day to day use. Stretched arms out across a desk moving around screen is very tiring.

I'll probably be proven wrong though.

Dorsanty

It would be nice to see the beginnings of Blu Ray adoption. At least then the next MacBook Pro refreshes should get it too.

Touch screen desktops. Ugh. Tiring, not many use cases, serious smudging. Oh no wait Apple invented the mouse, how about a mouse innovation for desktops by providing a large trackpad area for desktops rather then a mouse??? Far easier, more use cases, less smudges on screen.

MACHEAD

Dorsanty wrote: »

Oh no wait Apple invented the mouse, how about a mouse innovation for desktops by providing a large trackpad area for desktops rather then a mouse??? Far easier, more use cases, less smudges on screen.

My mouse doesn't create any smudges on the screen at all!!

(Sorry I just couldn't resist that)

pvik00

It'll probably be Bluray, although the concept of optical disks as they are implemented today are pretty obsolete. They are really only beneficial from Hollywood's point of view ($$$).

People want affordable legal downloads/video on demand, not expensive pieces of plastic. Same analogy as already happened with CD's.

I'm sure that there's plenty of people who will still embrace Bluray technology, but then again, we consume almost everything the global industry throws up for us.

If you doubt what I say then try to recall when was the last time you inserted a DVD into your drive since you installed your OS. You see, technology has already gone in a direction where it's clearly visible that optical drives are the past.

Mizu_Ger

pvik00 wrote: »

It'll probably be Bluray, although the concept of optical disks as they are implemented today are pretty obsolete. They are really only beneficial from Hollywood's point of view ($$$).

People want affordable legal downloads/video on demand, not expensive pieces of plastic. Same analogy as already happened with CD's.

I'm sure that there's plenty of people who will still embrace Bluray technology, but then again, we consume almost everything the global industry throws up for us.

If you doubt what I say then try to recall when was the last time you inserted a DVD into your drive since you installed your OS. You see, technology has already gone in a direction where it's clearly visible that optical drives are the past.

I have to disagree with this. The problem with downloads is that they are not always cheaper than buying a CD or DVD (the last 3 albums I bought were for €7.99 each on CD the equivalent cost €9.99 on iTunes and these were new releases) and also DRM is a major problem (imagine buying a DVD or Blu-ray and only being able to play them on 5 machines, neither format would ever take off).

Also, I had my camcorder at a friend's wedding recently. When I transferred the footage onto the computer I burned it to (alot) of DVD-Rs for people to watch. I didn't send it out to people over the internet in some digital format (and I don't know of anyone who has ever done that). It's just not as convenient as using physical media.

Anyway, I hope they put a Blu-ray option in there. My PC is almost dead and I have the cash saved up for an iMac and am just hanging out for the next update. Nehalem cpu's, large HDD, blu-ray etc etc and (hopefully) a price drop and I will be happy!:)

silvine

I am not really bothered with Blu-ray. I just download everthing and use an external drive.

I'd like to see them implement a touch screen though. Although it'd probably push the price back up.

thecommander

silvine wrote: »

'd like to see them implement a touch screen though

I cant see the point of a touchscreen on a large display unless it is installed horizontally or close to that angle. Reaching across a desk to manipulate icons on a screen etc would become very tiring very quickly.

faceman

There are alot of rumours about Blu Ray.

My money is on GPS though.

K.O.Kiki

It won't be BluRay. Physical media is slowly dying anyway.

More likely either a touchscreen, or... hype.

pvik00

K.O.Kiki wrote: »

It won't be BluRay. Physical media is slowly dying anyway.

More likely either a touchscreen, or... hype.

You're right, it's dying and will die eventually.
But I think it will still be BluRay as that's what the herd demands.

Sad Professor

I do think there's a place still for Bluray. Full hi-def legal downloads are a long way off, possibly post-demise of the Hollywood studio system. Besides, more downloads means more backups means more hassle when they all fail. I'd rather just buy the bloody disc.

I don't really feel the need to watch Bluray movies on a 20/24 inch iMac. But I guess it would nice to have the option.

J-blk

So would BluRay be the "long on the wish-lists of many Mac users" feature or the one that is "expected to cater to the semi-professional audio/video crowd"?

Either way, I'd be pretty underwhelmed by its' addition - I'm with Pvik00 on this one, digital media FTW, but yes, it has a long way to go yet until it can fully replace physical media for the average consumer...

Sad Professor

On the subject of which, when is Apple ever going to add movies to the Irish iTunes store? Has anyone heard anything?

Pete4779

Sad Professor wrote: »

Full article here.

oooooo, I wonder what this could be...

Any ideas?

A mouse with two buttons?

Sad Professor

Macs have come with a multi-button mouse for about 5 years now.

J-blk

Sad Professor wrote: »

On the subject of which, when is Apple ever going to add movies to the Irish iTunes store? Has anyone heard anything?

Not a peep unfortunately and I just don't see it happening any time soon... Though in fairness, with the fairly pathetic download caps most ISPs here still have, that would severely limit the appeal of downloading digital media (especially in HD).

I have a US account and TBH, getting video from iTunes is just not "wife friendly" at all yet, with all the stupid limitations and various problems that crop up (try explaining HDCP for starters to a non-techie...). Music from iTunes on the other hand is getting much closer to rivaling the not-so-legal route of obtaining tunes but video could take even longer to get to that point...

Paddy@CIRL

When are these new iMacs expected to be announced ?

Sad Professor

Paddy@CIRL wrote: »

When are these new iMacs expected to be announced ?

Based on recent update cycles, I would say early next year. This article suggests sooner - but I doubt it.

ironictoaster

I'm glad I read this, I was gonna treat myself to one of these but, I think I will wait out now.

Dorsanty

As for potential release points, is Snow Leopard due to release quietly or to one of Apple's Keynotes? If there's a Keynote then there could easily be a 'one more thing' thrown in at the end.

If they have a good one in the bag then I believe a certain Steve would take the stage to announce it. He's due his comeback but obviously will wait so he can announce the coolest stuff of the year. When do Apple normally do their product refresh for the Christmas market?

Dont be at yourself

Going by past years, there'll be an iPod event in September, where we'll see the new iPod range, the new iTunes and possibly a new tablet device.

Sad Professor

Dorsanty wrote: »

As for potential release points, is Snow Leopard due to release quietly or to one of Apple's Keynotes? If there's a Keynote then there could easily be a 'one more thing' thrown in at the end.

It was already announced at WWDC in June with a September release date. However, the iPod rebate ends on September 8, so there'll probably be a media event for the new iPods shortly after. I suppose Steve could go back over Snow Leopard then. But they'll probably already be accepting pre-orders at that point.

J-blk

I doubt they'll make any further fuss about Snow Leopard at this stage - next thing we know, it'll be available to order (already available from pre-order from Amazon) from Apple directly and that'll be it. I don't see it getting any mention at all at the iPod event and an iMac refresh won't come until later on (at which point they may go over some of the new main features since Snow Leopard will be the default OS then).

Bonavox

K.O.Kiki wrote: »

It won't be BluRay. Physical media is slowly dying anyway.

More likely either a touchscreen, or... hype.

Physical media won't die for a long while yet. My moneys on Blu-Ray also, and not as likely the touchscreen. I think the latter is more hope than anything else though!

Talisman

The obvious update would be to change the display from LCD to LED like the Cinema Display update last year.

A Blu-Ray update would mean the introduction of HDCP which means the Mini Display Port has to go and be replaced by HDMI. It would be difficult to see Apple kill their Mini Display Port so soon after it's introduction.

thecommander

Talisman wrote: »

The obvious update would be to change the display from LCD to LED like the Cinema Display update last year.

A Blu-Ray update would mean the introduction of HDCP which means the Mini Display Port has to go and be replaced by HDMI. It would be difficult to see Apple kill their Mini Display Port so soon after it's introduction.

Displayport supports HDCP.

ZENER

Wasn't it Xerox who first introduced the Computer Mouse in 1981 ?

Ken

Dorsanty wrote: »

. . . . Oh no wait Apple invented the mouse , how about a mouse innovation for desktops by providing a large trackpad area for desktops rather then a mouse??? Far easier, more use cases, less smudges on screen.

banquo

I think Xerox were earlier than that. Think it was '73. Could be completely off though. But afaik it was Apple who invented the mouse.

I'd bet against blu-ray. I'd say LED screens.