Apple Software & Mac Hardware news

[jwinslow]

Same here, on my MacBook Pro, I've used the USB once. And I didn't have to use it then. With all the wireless means of connecting, it's largely a dinosaur with the exception of very large files. And I expect that ultimately wireless will handle the large files as well.

You know, the kinds of things that media professionals do and will not be able to do any other way with the ancient telecom technology and monopolies at play. It sure is ironic to see them abandon the demographic that helped kept them afloat for years.

I think Macbooks have been great. First they ditched the Macbook line under the guise of quality. Now the Macbook Pro line is going the way of the dinosaur too, it just isn't being acknowledged as such.

This is a less powerful, more sexy/magic Macbook.

 

[exhawg]

http://appleinsider.com/articles/15/03/12/apples-all-new-macbook-draws-taunts-from-asus-dell-lenovo

Maybe it isn't so great.

 

[jlb1705]

I don't and never will trust "the cloud" for important data, whether for storage or for transfer. And wireless data transfer is inherently more insecure than a hard connection.

Very true, and I didn't mean to say that USB should go away completely - just that most people won't really need more than one port at a time.

You know, the kinds of things that media professionals do and will not be able to do any other way with the ancient telecom technology and monopolies at play. It sure is ironic to see them abandon the demographic that helped kept them afloat for years.

I think Macbooks have been great. First they ditched the Macbook line under the guise of quality. Now the Macbook Pro line is going the way of the dinosaur too, it just isn't being acknowledged as such.

This is a less powerful, more sexy/magic Macbook.

Time will tell what happens with the MacBook Pro. I don't think it's going away. Rather, since the introduction of the Air line they have used that to try out extreme hardware changes that eventually see their way to the Pro line in a less extreme form. That's what I think will end up happening.

 

[jwinslow]

Very true, and I didn't mean to say that USB should go away completely - just that most people won't really need more than one port at a time.

Apple wanted it to go away, they just failed at that pursuit (unlike most trendsetting from cupertino).

Time will tell what happens with the MacBook Pro. I don't think it's going away. Rather, since the introduction of the Air line they have used that to try out extreme hardware changes that eventually see their way to the Pro line in a less extreme form. That's what I think will end up happening.

I hope so. It's a phenomenal product. Let's hope they simply brought back the MacBook line for good (it never should have left).

 

[matcar]

I believe their base Macs are more suited to what you do Jwins. Doing that on a MacBook pro seems underpowered.

 

[jwinslow]

I believe their base Macs are more suited to what you do Jwins. Doing that on a MacBook pro seems underpowered.

In theory but I also need to be mobile. I've found when I own two recent systems I rarely use the desktop.

My overall trepidation comes from the woeful Final Cut Pro launch and alienation of so many creative professionals. Apple does a lot of things well but they also shove their approach down your throats and strive to choke out old ways. Sometimes this innovation is good, other times it is painful (yet still usually successful).

 

[matcar]

In theory but I also need to be mobile. I've found when I own two recent systems I rarely use the desktop.

My overall trepidation comes from the woeful Final Cut Pro launch and alienation of so many creative professionals. Apple does a lot of things well but they also shove their approach down your throats and strive to choke out old ways. Sometimes this innovation is good, other times it is painful (yet still usually successful).

I'm sure you are correct on all counts. Part of their success seems built upon stridently following a plan, no deviation, and their cult follows anyway.

I still feel that wireless transmission will ultimately satisfy even very large transfers, but agree we aren't there yet.

 

[Dryden]

Apple does a lot of things well but they also shove their approach down your throats and strive to choke out old ways.

Of all the things Apple has forced down consumers' throats in the past 20 years, I'm probably most pissed off about the loss of Cover Flow in iTunes 11.

 

[jlb1705]

Of all the things Apple has forced down consumers' throats in the past 20 years, I'm probably most pissed off about the loss of Cover Flow in iTunes 11.

Not me. I freaking hate Cover Flow. It's one of the first things I get rid of when I jailbreak my phone.

 

[Dryden]

http://www.wsj.com/articles/apple-in-talks-to-launch-online-tv-service-1426555611

Apple Plans Web TV Service in Fall
In talks with programmers to offer a slimmed-down bundle of about 25 channels

...

Meanwhile, Apple has been talking to Walt Disney Co., CBS Corp., and 21st Century FoxInc., among other media companies. The idea is to offer consumers a “skinny” bundle with well-known channels like CBS, ESPN and FX, while leaving out the many smaller networks in the standard cable TV package. 21st Century Fox and News Corp, owner of The Wall Street Journal, were until mid-2013 part of the same company.

...

 

[jlb1705]

http://www.wsj.com/articles/apple-in-talks-to-launch-online-tv-service-1426555611

Apple Plans Web TV Service in Fall
In talks with programmers to offer a slimmed-down bundle of about 25 channels

...

Meanwhile, Apple has been talking to Walt Disney Co., CBS Corp., and 21st Century FoxInc., among other media companies. The idea is to offer consumers a “skinny” bundle with well-known channels like CBS, ESPN and FX, while leaving out the many smaller networks in the standard cable TV package. 21st Century Fox and News Corp, owner of The Wall Street Journal, were until mid-2013 part of the same company.

...

Sounds pretty good in theory. Will probably suit a lot of people but not me. Looks like it won't have the right combo of channels to allow me to cut the cord. At minimum I would want a package that has ESPN, Fox Sports, NBC Sports, BTN, FX, USA, TBS and BBC America. That'll never happen without true a la carte.

 

[Dryden]

Sounds pretty good in theory. Will probably suit a lot of people but not me. Looks like it won't have the right combo of channels to allow me to cut the cord. At minimum I would want a package that has ESPN, Fox Sports, NBC Sports, BTN, FX, USA, TBS and BBC America. That'll never happen without true a la carte.

Yeah, I'd need AMC in the deal and at least the basic toon channels for the kids. But the good news is this is another step towards true a la carte, or at a minimum forcing the major players in the industry to offer a slimmer plan, or HD without having to "qualify" by buying a minimum bloated package.

Something's gotta give, because if you go $30 for this, $15 for HBO Now, $8 for Netflix, plus whatever other subscription services you use, you're still not *really* saving any money.

 

[Dryden]

Although, I have to say, if Continuity works to send March Madness from my TV to my Apple Watch while I'm in the bathroom taking a dump, I may have to rethink my stance on being anti-all Apple ecosystem, just on the principle I want to avoid vendor lock-in.

 

[jlb1705]

Yeah, I'd need AMC in the deal and at least the basic toon channels for the kids. But the good news is this is another step towards true a la carte, or at a minimum forcing the major players in the industry to offer a slimmer plan, or HD without having to "qualify" by buying a minimum bloated package.

Something's gotta give, because if you go $30 for this, $15 for HBO Now, $8 for Netflix, plus whatever other subscription services you use, you're still not *really* saving any money.

Yep.

I'm on Time Warner cable and I take a look at satellite every year or so. I'd have to get on the highest or second highest package with one of those providers just to get the handful of channels I just listed. I'd save money for a few months on the promotional price, then I'm back to the bloated bill or worse once that expires.

 

[jlb1705]

Although, I have to say, if Continuity works to send March Madness from my TV to my Apple Watch while I'm in the bathroom taking a dump, I may have to rethink my stance on being anti-all Apple ecosystem, just on the principle I want to avoid vendor lock-in.

I still don't have the Apple TV that I had decided to get - mainly because I don't yet have the actual TV that I'd plan to hook it up to. I was at least glad to see the price drop. My understanding is that none of these dongles or boxes are entirely seamless, but that Apple TV is the closest thing to it if you're already on a Mac/iPad/iPhone.