Ask questions to The Digital Bits team (Bill Hunt, Jeff Kleist et.al.)

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

Honestly, I expect to see Apple dump the computer business entirely in the next 10 years. Before the iPod, they needed to keep those people happy, now with JoeSixPack overpaying 5x instead of the nerd/professional's 3x for their products, they just don't need them any more, and physical media interferes with their profits.

The real reason Jobs is anti-Blu-ray:

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/0...e-living-room/

They're going to give AppleTV another go.

Yeesh.

[MerrickG]

Originally Posted by PeterTHX

The real reason Jobs is anti-Blu-ray:

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/0...e-living-room/

They're going to give AppleTV another go.

Yeesh.

The 360 might have beaten them to it. I criticized MS E3 presentation as having little to do with the hardcore gamer, but I do see potential in the 360 and PS3 serving the role that Apple wants the Apple TV to fill. The stuff with ESPN on 360 could be quite cool.

The problem with the original Apple TV was that it was just too expensive.

[aygie]

Originally Posted by merrick97

The 360 might have beaten them to it. I criticized MS E3 presentation as having little to do with the hardcore gamer, but I do see potential in the 360 and PS3 serving the role that Apple wants the Apple TV to fill. The stuff with ESPN on 360 could be quite cool.

The problem with the original Apple TV was that it was just too expensive.

Agreed. The concept of the AppleTV was good but (as you said) the PS3 does the same thing but has the added bonus of BD + games.

If Apple want to get into the TV its simple, Mac Mini with BD, support for the majority of codecs, without the Snow Leopard OS and instead have a custom UI like the ATV one and sell it for $250-$299.

[Jeff Kleist]

The word in the street is that they want to basically add an hdmi port to an iPod touch running their newand put it on your tv. Of course, no USB no eSATA, because having ports is aesthetically ugly. Everything has to be streamed from the NAS or the net.

Now honestly, I STILL can't figure out the purpose of GoogleTV. So that market is still wide open

I can see that the Droid X is everything the iPhone could be. User replaceable battery, built like a tank, user upgradeable memory, native divx/Mkv support and even hdmi out.

Apples moving into TVs, count on it. They need to get something out before google gets into every new tv made

[aygie]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

The word in the street is that they want to basically add an hdmi port to an iPod touch running their newand put it on your tv. Of course, no USB no eSATA, because having ports is aesthetically ugly. Everything has to be streamed from the NAS or the net.

Now honestly, I STILL can't figure out the purpose of GoogleTV. So that market is still wide open

I can see that the Droid X is everything the iPhone could be. User replaceable battery, built like a tank, user upgradeable memory, native divx/Mkv support and even hdmi out.

Apples moving into TVs, count on it. They need to get something out before google gets into every new tv made

For sure.

I think GoogleTV is, from what I can tell, a normal TV with a browser built in and accessible at the same time as your TV channel, so that you can flip to youtube, Hulu etc.

EDIT: Jeff, you tried the iPhone 4 compared to the Droid X? I'm interested which one runs better...

[Jeff Kleist]

I think GoogleTV is, from what I can tell, a normal TV with a browser built in and accessible at the same time as your TV channel, so that you can flip to youtube, Hulu etc.

EDIT: Jeff, you tried the iPhone 4 compared to the Droid X? I'm interested which one runs better...

I have tried iOS4 and my friend's original Droid.

I don't think Android is quite ready for primetime, it still feels clunky to me. I'm specifically talking about the hardware. If Motorola can bring it in at the same price point with something that doesn't fall apart, supports standard video formats and flash, and even includes HDMI to boot, why can't apple? Easy- because form over function is their design philosophy.

I'm a believer that Android will get its act together in the next 3 updates in terms of the clunk, and that because they're actually willing to license their OS, use open licensable DRMs and other technologies, and work WITH the other children instead of sitting up on Olympus, that it will be the CE OS of choice, be it phones, TVs, cable boxes, whatever.

Apple in the meantime will still enjoy milking their flock for all they're worth, but the second they're forced to share their DRM and are blocked from threatening content owners and app developers, their time on top is done.

[Q?]

So I was wondering about Collateral.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0369339/technical
Cinematographic process
Digital Intermediate (2K) (master format)
HDCAM (1080p/24) (source format)
Super 35 (source format)

Does source format mean it was shot with Digital cameras and Film?

[fitprod]

Originally Posted by Q!

So I was wondering about Collateral.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0369339/technical
Cinematographic process
Digital Intermediate (2K) (master format)
HDCAM (1080p/24) (source format)
Super 35 (source format)

Does source format mean it was shot with Digital cameras and Film?

Yes...

fitprod

[Q?]

Originally Posted by fitprod

Yes...

fitprod

For some reason I thought it was shot only with digital cameras, thanks.

[fitprod]

Originally Posted by Q!

For some reason I thought it was shot only with digital cameras, thanks.

I originally thought that as well, but maybe they had some problems with certain shots that the HD cameras couldn't handle yet. (Maybe it is address in the Audio Commentary, I haven't listened to it yet.)

It was the first film he shot with HD cameras, so anything is possible.

fitprod

[frank_t]

Originally Posted by PeterTHX

The real reason Jobs is anti-Blu-ray:

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/0...e-living-room/

They're going to give AppleTV another go.

Yeesh.

here's the thing:

I'm willing to pay $10/month (maybe even a little more) to be able to watch - with limited commercials, HD programming streamed to my rendering device (TV, laptop, iPhone) on demand. Why only $10/month? because I also have to spend another $50/month for the internet connection to the house. I've already cancelled "cable" (I had FIOS tv) completely because it was expensive and we just didn't watch all that much.

I'm also wiling to part with significant $$$$ for the best blu-ray can offer for those films that I desire to own and add to my collection. There are so many on my to-buy list right now, but I have an agreement with my significant other to get through those titles I've yet to open before I start spending again! If I could have the best audio/video and sacrifice all extras, I'd do it. the value to me is the film itself. everything else is just icing on the cake.

and for God's sake, stop with the BD-J stuff. Although my Oppo and PS3 handle it just fine, I'm tired of those I convinced to take the plunge complaining about long load times and the constant firmware updates. Some have even sold their players and refuse to bother any more.

anyway -- this isn't entirely relevant to the topic at hand except that Apple et. al. want us to move to an all-digital pay-on-demand type of service. as long as it's flexible, affordable, and I can still own the damn physical media for the stuff I want to collect (we're human after all, we like to collect things!), then I'll bite. otherwise, i'll just go without. it's amazing how little effort it took to wean a family of 6 off of FIOS TV. that's another $100 back in my pocket every month, some of which is redirected to blu-rays

[Jeff Kleist]

Jobs wants to replace the cable company, he doesn't have any interest in a Hulu+ style service. Current guesstimates are that he's going to be charging $40-80 a month

[MerrickG]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

Jobs wants to replace the cable company, he doesn't have any interest in a Hulu+ style service. Current guesstimates are that he's going to be charging $40-80 a month

I suspect there is going to be a huge fight between Apple and MS on this. The advantage that MS has is that so many people already have a 360.

Sony could get into this game too.

[Jeff Kleist]

MS isn't that interested in the broad cable. They're far more interested in the top 25%

If they had any brains for example, they'd copy the ESPN partnership with a channel nerds might actually want, like Sci-Fi (reminds me of the days they'd advertise bowflex on there)

[chris0]

Heads up everyone: Tron is going to be on HDNet Movies at 5pm Pacific and again at 8:15. I know there are a few fellow Tron fans here so I thought I'd give a public service announcement.

[huntifosi]

Originally Posted by chris0

Heads up everyone: Tron is going to be on HDNet Movies at 5pm Pacific and again at 8:15. I know there are a few fellow Tron fans here so I thought I'd give a public service announcement.

Thanks! Saw the ads, didn't want to miss it!

[MerrickG]

Jeff,

Is bluray 3D dead before it even got started?

[MerrickG]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

MS isn't that interested in the broad cable. They're far more interested in the top 25%

If they had any brains for example, they'd copy the ESPN partnership with a channel nerds might actually want, like Sci-Fi (reminds me of the days they'd advertise bowflex on there)

Plenty of people who watch sports also play 360. But yeah, getting broad will be better. The 360 really is MS golden opportunity to get a market before apple.

I workout 5 days a week and do intense cardio and weight training, which is my main thing I do. Bluray and games always come after that.

[Jeff Kleist]

Is bluray 3D dead before it even got started?

Not in the slightest

They've already sold about $60 million in 3DTVs and players, and many stores are selling out on a regular basis

No one is even thinking about making a non-wealthy early adopter push on 3D until next Christmas Within 2-3 years it'll be a pretty standard feature and glasses will be $40-50. The encoding process for MVC is still very slow, and they're still learning new tricks. I think everyone would rather spend the advertising dollars and the super big push when they can give you something below $2000 with 25-30 legitimately good titles.

Plenty of people who watch sports also play 360. But yeah, getting broad will be better. The 360 really is MS golden opportunity to get a market before apple.

Every month you pay close to $10 for ESPN out of your cable bill. That's what Disney charges your cable company per subscriber. I'd be far more likely to have my own cable subscription if 30% of the package wasn't going into a sports channel pocket. And if I see an XBL rate hike I will be seriously cheesed that I'm being forced to pay for ESPN.

Mind you, Cable a-la-carte, as fair and appealing as it is, doesn't work in the long run for diverse selections of channels. Making sure that base level of support is there is important.

However I wouldn't mind an opt out of the expensive stuff that a huge majority of people want anyway. How many would actually cancel ESPN? 5%? 10 tops? Hell, if they let me replace it with a premium channel I might be more enthusiastic, they cost the same.

I workout 5 days a week and do intense cardio and weight training, which is my main thing I do. Bluray and games always come after that.

No wonder you're so cheesed about Kinect. To be fair, the workout program on the EyeToy was actually pretty fun. If Ubisoft manages to make something along those lines they should have a winner on their hands. It gave a good workout with a lot of variety all with Kinect like stuff, and ironically was called Kinetic

[MerrickG]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

No wonder you're so cheesed about Kinect. To be fair, the workout program on the EyeToy was actually pretty fun. If Ubisoft manages to make something along those lines they should have a winner on their hands. It gave a good workout with a lot of variety all with Kinect like stuff, and ironically was called Kinetic

I prefer the social environment of the gym itself.