Another Apple event, another stressful week of trying to guess what’s up Steve’s sleeves. With the unveiling of "fun" and "new" Apple products on the horizon, let's take a look at how Apple has changed our lives in the video world, and how they just might change it again.
It began with an iPod. People always knew the iPod would one day be able to hold more than just music. In October 2004, the release of the iPod Photo confirmed their beleifs. Soon after, with the iPod Photo having been integrated into the iPod line, there was only one place to go: video had to be the next step. After months of speculation and longing for the ability to watch movies and TV on your iPod, on another fateful October day just 12 months after the iPod Photo's release, video lovers' dreams came true with the addition of video playback on the new new iPod.
But that wasn't enough. No, Apple not only integrated video into our iPods, it integrated video into our Macs. While Front Row wasn't exactly revolutionary, it was a step in the right direction for an entertainment-centric world. Apple picked up two of the top prime-time shows, Lost and Desperate Housewives, and from there, it had nowhere to go but up. From Spongebob to SciFi to South Park, from (Steve) Carell to Comedy Central to Commander in Chief, from MTV to Monk to The Munsters, a wide array of TV shows which just keeps on growing is available to download and watch on the most popular MP3 player that ever was.
Yes, Apple certainly changed the way we manage our media. And with February 28th looming, Apple just may do it all again.
Some predict the real iPod video, as I mentioned a couple of weeks ago. Some believe that an iTunes Movie Store will pop up, selling full-length feature films, starting with the Dsiney/Pixar movies. Some are even hoping for a tablet Mac, which I’m sure Apple is saving for April 1st. But the new product everyone’s sure is coming is the new Mac Mini Media Center. It’s sure to sport the new and improved Front Row, as well as come packaged with DVR capabilities, which some are even labeling as a “TiVo-killer”. Sadly, however, AppleInsider has reported that the built-in iPod Dock, which I was personally hoping for, has been scrapped. Could this new Mac Mini be the media center that’ll blow Windows out of the water? Will our video dreams come true? We can only hope. That, and wait a few more days.