Rumored Mac's to use Blu-ray...

[Bryancd]

Apple set to ship Macs with Blu-ray support - report

By Slash Lane

Published: 10:00 AM EST
Apple Inc. at this month's Macworld Expo will will outline a high-definition video strategy that will see its weight thrown further behind Sony Corp's Blu-ray DVD format as opposed to Toshiba's HD-DVD, according to one Wall Street analyst.

In a report issued to clients early Thursday morning, American Technology Research analyst Shaw Wu cited sources who say the Cupertino-based Mac maker, which already occupies a seat on the Blu-ray consortium, is set to begin shipping some of its computers with support for the next-generation DVD format.

"We believe this is a key announcement as current Macs ship with the DVD format and Sony gains a strong ally in Blu-ray," the analyst told clients. He added that Disney, for which Apple chief executive Steve Jobs is a Director, is a firm supporter of Blu-ray, while rival Microsoft Corp. has placed most of its eggs in the HD-DVD basket.

However, Wu hedged his bets somewhat, saying there is "a smaller chance Apple may use a combo Blu-ray/HD-DVD drive to ensure full compatibility and not get involved in the format wars."

Apple, which markets a complete line of HD content creation tools for consumers and professionals, announced in March of 2005 that it had joined Blu-ray Disc Association. Since then, however, the company has observed much of the ongoing battle between Blu-ray and HD-DVD from the sidelines, choosing to remain indifferent in the fight for control of the next-generation high def format.

The Mac maker during the first quarter of 2008 is expected to introduce a significant overhaul to its Mac Pro professional workstations, which are expected to be among the first systems from the company to include drives capable of supporting the Blu-ray format, sources close to AppleInsider and other Apple news publications have said.

Meanwhile, in his report to clients Thursday, Wu also cited sources who indicate that an Apple sub-notebook and iTunes rentals will also take center stage at the upcoming Macworld Expo in San Francisco, set to kick-off with a keynote by Jobs on January 15th.

"We believe Apple will re-enter the sub-notebook market, but this time use NAND flash as primary storage to improve battery life, reliability, and reduce weight," he wrote. "Our sources indicate that the possible names of this new product include 'MacBook mini' or 'MacBook slim'."

On the iTunes front, the analyst said his sources also indicate that Apple will look to aggressively grow this business with digital movie rentals.

"Whether these movies expire based on time and/or usage is unclear to us, but we do believe that rentals are a significant change in its philosophy with its current iTunes download business model," he wrote. "The positive implication from this is that Apple enhances its video experience and makes it more compelling to move and/or stick with the iTunes + iPod + Mac + iPhone + Apple TV ecosystem."

Additionally, Wu said he's also picking up hints of potential smaller announcements related to speed bumps to current Macs and the iPhone, including "an external HDD storage/dock/streaming device that can work with MacBook mini as well as Airport Extreme."

Further down the line, the Wall Street analyst expects that Apple will address two major shortcomings of its Apple TV set-top-box product, mainly that it does not allow for a direct internet connection to access movie and web content, and that it also lacks a "TV tuner."

"Our sources indicate that Apple is working on fixing these weaknesses to make Apple TV a much stronger product," he advised clients. "We are unsure of the timing of these enhancements but believe we will likely see these later in 2008 or perhaps 2009."

The analyst maintained his Buy rating on Apple stock with a price target of $210 per share.

[Rico]

I wouldn't have either HD-DVD or Blu-Ray in any type of computer that wasn't easy to swap out the drive (like Macs).  There really is no compelling reason for Apple to do this.  Who wants to watch a movie staring at their computer?  Now if you could rip that huge Blu-Ray disc and move it to your TV (Apple TV currently couldn't handle that) then they have something.  I think it would make a ton more  sense to integrate some type of HD drive in their next version of Apple TV more than stick it in their computers.

[Bryancd]

I actually think it will probably be a build to order option as opposed to standard. I would think it would really jack the prices to put in a Blu-ray driver.
As far as Apple TV, first they need to follow through with direct internet connectivity and a DVR function. I don't think Apple TV needs to be a DVD player, I think it's better as a streaming media device and DVR.

[Rico]

I kind of agree Bryan.  But have you ever tried to even stream a DVD size file on a home network?  Takes awhile not to mention how long it would take to move HD content.  I'm really surprised Apple is thinking of doing this.  I really don't see the market.  Anyone who really wants HD now (like me) has already gotten a nice big HDTV and some type of HD player (either HD-DVD or Blu-Ray).  Again, it is kind of a waste of money to get this for your computer until they drop in price more.  Better to take that extra money and just buy a set top player.  What really started to put DVD drives into PC's was computer software, not movie DVD titles.  And we are a long way from seeing even computer games on HD or Blu-Ray discs.

Also, I really think watching video on the computer is good only in short amounts.  I've been trying to catch up on this new cop show called "Life" online and find watching 45 minutes or so of video while at my computer is about all I can take.  When I want to relax with a movie, time for the couch.  Now when they can seamlessly integrate it all with no loss in time or quality, sign me up.

[Bryancd]

I agree and wireless streaming high def. video  are the keys to the kingdom. They'll get there, sooner than later, allowing us to manage our content on a desktop where it's easier to do than say with a remote on your TV, and then to be able to access that content and play it on the big screen wirelessly.

[Rico]

Wired I am fine with and can see pretty easily - at least local streaming.  Wireless quite a ways off I think.  In any case I agree, the future will be here sooner than we think.  But I want my flying car first!  ;)

[Blackride]

This is Apple. They try to give people all kinds of toys in my opinion. We are also not sure what kinda discount Sony may be giving them to get Bluray into another market.

[jedijeff]

Here is an article I was reading today about Wireless HD to the TV. Local wireless to your TV from device, but interesting, and could be around by the end of the year

Companies vie to cut the cord to the flat-panel TV

By Peter Svensson, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

2008-01-03 00:51:00
     



   

NEW YORK - Flat-panel TVs look lovely on a wall - the cords hanging from them, less so.

After a few years of false starts, the industry finally seems close to tackling that problem. At least three duelling wireless technologies for high-definition TVs will be on display at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, which starts Monday. Manufacturers promise that sets incorporating these technologies will be in stores before the next holiday season.

The heavyweight entry in the field is WirelessHD, a consortium that includes the biggest Asian names in electronics, including Sony Corp. and Toshiba Corp.

It's an unusual group, in that the home entertainment industry hasn't generally been a leader in wireless technologies - most of them have been pioneered by makers of cellphones or computer networking gear.

But the consortium is set to announce Thursday that Intel Corp. is joining the group, which could broaden the reach of the technology from home entertainment applications to computers. Intel has been a champion of wireless technologies including Wi-Fi, and more recently, WiMax, a longer-range cousin.

The WirelessHD group is also announcing that it has completed the blueprints for chips that can beam HD audio and video from set-top boxes, DVD players and digital cameras to TV sets. The chips can be made small, and the intention is to have them built into devices, rather than be supplied in add-on adapters.

The technology uses a virgin band of the radio spectrum, around 60 gigahertz. That lets it avoid interference from other wireless networking gear and allows for extremely high data transfer rates, according to John Marshall, chairman of WirelessHD. Unlike other wireless TV solutions, WirelessHD won't need to compress the signal, which can result in a loss of quality.

To satisfy concerns by the Motion Picture Association of America, the organization of Hollywood studios, WirelessHD has intentionally limited the range of the technology.

"What WirelessHD has done is that we've made sure that the technology can cover a whole room - even a large room, up to 10 metres - but we've used techniques that make sure that it can't leak into the apartment next door," Marshall said.

That also means the signal won't reach from the living room into other rooms in the same home.

Jim Williams, chief technology officer of the MPAA, said in a statement that the group was "encouraged by WirelessHD's commitment to foster content protection in the wireless, digital age."

The chipmaker that is best positioned to take advantage of the specification and supply transmitting and receiving chips is SiBeam Inc., a privately held Sunnyvale, Calif. startup that has been part of the WirelessHD group since its founding in 2006.

The other big electronics companies in the group are Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. (known for its Panasonic brand), NEC Corp., LG Electronics Inc. and Samsung Electronics Co.

Wireless streaming of HD video has been talked about for years, and several companies have announced products that have failed to show up, sunk by technical problems. At last year's show, Philips Electronics NV revealed a kit consisting of two antennas for streaming video, saying it would be on sale in 2007. It hasn't been heard of since.

Chip designer Pulse-Link Inc. is another past victim of optimism: it said in 2004 that it would be shipping chips that send HD signals wirelessly in 2005.

"It's just not that easy. And it took us a whole lot longer than we thought it would," Pulse-Link's president and chief operating officer, said Wednesday.

This year, Pulse-Link is ready. At CES, Westinghouse Digital Electronics will be showing an LCD TV with a built-in Pulse-Link receiver chip.

The 47-inch LCD flat panel won't be aimed at the home market, but at retail and public displays. It will go on sale in the second quarter and will come with a transmitter box that takes a standard HDMI, or High-Definition Multimedia Interface, signal and beams it up to 40 feet (12 metres).

The price has not been set, but John Araki, a vice president at Westinghouse Digital, said each end of the wireless link adds about US$100 to the cost. Consumer models could show up later this year if all goes well.

Pulse-Link's wireless technology is so-called ultra-wideband, or UWB. It allows for fast transfer speeds at short ranges, but not as fast as the 60 GHz WirelessHD technology, so some compression of images is necessary, but Watkins said it won't be noticeable.

Other companies, like Tzero Technologies Inc., are also creating chips that send video signals over UWB.

Lastly, LG Electronics of Korea will be at CES demonstrating LCD and plasma sets that will use run-of-the-mill Wi-Fi as the wireless link. Wi-Fi is a tried and true technology for data networking, but is less than ideal for streaming video. It's the slowest of the three wireless alternatives, and requires the most compression when used for HD video.

Hewlett-Packard Co. already makes two models of Wi-Fi enabled HDTVs, but the wireless link only connects them to home PCs, not with set-top boxes or the rest of the entertainment centre.

Starting early this year, LG will be selling two Wi-Fi enabled LCD models, at 47 inches and 52 inches, and two plasma models, at 50 inches and 60 inches. The LCD models will include a wireless transmitter with a 15-metre range. The transmitter will be optional for the plasma models.

Prices have not been announced.

Of course, none of the new technologies will let an HDTV go completely wireless: there's still the power cord. People are working on wireless power as well, but we'll have to wait much longer for that.

[space_invader64]

I think the best reason to do this is for the new consumer level hd camcorders.  What's the point in owning one if you have to lose all that HD goodness and burn to a standered def DVD?  Apple makes lots of money from people wanting do edit video.  And Disney is a bluray format of which Steve Jobs is on the board of directors.  The down side is the format war.  At somepoint we will have to have a universal writer on the computer and reader for the TV.  Then it would be apealing for me to jump into the world of HD.

[Blackride]

I think the best reason to do this is for the new consumer level hd camcorders.  What's the point in owning one if you have to lose all that HD goodness and burn to a standered def DVD?  Apple makes lots of money from people wanting do edit video.  And Disney is a bluray format of which Steve Jobs is on the board of directors.  The down side is the format war.  At somepoint we will have to have a universal writer on the computer and reader for the TV.  Then it would be apealing for me to jump into the world of HD.

Very Very good points on Apple,HD video editing/camcorders and Disney.

I have one thing to say about standards: The great thing about standards, is that there are so many to choose from!