New tech company 'Apple' set to showoff new mp3 player, internet TV box

[HotHotHeat]

While Apple will only say that this is a “special event,” the image above makes it clear that just as with their events every September, this one will be mainly about music — or at least the iTunes ecosystem. At this event, Apple is widely expected to unveil (or at least talk about) their new iTV device — the next-generation Apple TV. And they may have a thing or two to say about an iTunes television show rental service.

And of course, you should also expect new iPod touches at this event. Maybe some with the shiny “retina” displays and front and back cameras — perfect for FaceTime.

As always, let the Beatles/iTunes speculation begin now as well — though you probably shouldn’t count on it. I also wouldn’t hold your breath for the CDMA (maybe Verizon, maybe T-Mobile) iPhone at this event. You’ll have to be more patient for that.

The big wildcard may be: will we hear anything about iTunes in the cloud?

Looks like a promising company.

[silentsim]

AppleTV...errr iTV and a new iPod nano maybe a whole new ipod family (refresh on all of them)

Boom!

[HeartsOfFire]

Wot is this contraption? This 'moving picture box?' You expect me to believe common people would BUY this claptrap! Ha! By jove, that's a laugh! You're just as ridiculous as those fools and their motorized carriage... what-what-what was it it they called that contraption? 'the Automobile?' Have you EVER heard of such nonsense in your life, my good man?!



(Incidentally, when googling '19th century english gentleman' under 'images,' I laughed when Edward Cullen came up as one of the results.)

[FanIn80]

I wonder if this new company will ever go public? I bet their stocks are going to go through the roof some day...

[Azure]

I feel sorry for the companies trying to keep up in the Mp3 player market right now.

[Kipper is King]

No way this iPod thing will catch fire like the Zune.

Nonetheless, the whole FaceTime thing means I will likely buy one of those useless doohickeys. It will be a nice upgrade over my 1st gen.

[FanIn80]

Apple will broadcast its September 1 event online using Apple’s industry-leading HTTP Live Streaming, which is based on open standards. Viewing requires either a Mac running Safari on Mac OS X version 10.6 Snow Leopard, an iPhone or iPod touch running iOS 3.0 or higher, or an iPad. The live broadcast will begin at 10:00 a.m. PDT on September 1, 2010 at www.apple.com.

http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2010/08/31alert.html

[REDVAN]

I know I'm in the minority... but I've stuck with iPod classics (and an iPhone 8GB).

If they release a touch with more than 160GB capacity then I'll MAYBE consider it next time I need a new mp3 player.

I actually do have a full 160GB classic right now that I would NEVER trade for a 62GB touch/phone. I'm no DJ, but I love having the ability to chose amongst my 25000+ songs.

[McG]

apples eh? aren't they the folk that had some high falutin' pressed vinyl deal with those young ragamuffins...you know...the mop tops... what?!? yes. them. the beatles.

and now they make electrical whatchamicallits and mp doo hickeys?

[QuadCityImages]

Isn't this the company that promised Apple Records that it wouldn't go into the music business...? Oh yeah, I guess they already lawyered their way out of that one.

[Burninator]

I hope there is something happening with the Apple TV. Although the talk of 99cent rentals is pretty lame IMO. That's too expensive and it should be the cost to own the content. But the rumors of streaming Apple TV content to other Apple devices is very intriguing.

[Bring_Back_Shantz]

Wow, this is good news.
My ipod touch is on the verge of crapping out, and I was seriously thinking of going to buy a replacement this week.
Guess I'll wait and see what the deal is with an update before I buy a new one.

[Russic]

God I want a sub $150 apple tv. I'd buy it just so I don't have to use my PS3 for video streaming on my tv downstairs.

The idea of tv show rentals is great, but with only 2 companies out of the gate (ABC and FOX) pickings could be slim and I also wonder if canadians could get in on that action.

[Russic]

Originally Posted by Burninator

I hope there is something happening with the Apple TV. Although the talk of 99cent rentals is pretty lame IMO. That's too expensive and it should be the cost to own the content. But the rumors of streaming Apple TV content to other Apple devices is very intriguing.

There's no way that offsets the $$ brought in by advertisers though, so i have to doubt the broadcasters would ever go for that.

[FanIn80]

The thing with the 99 cent rentals, is that the other Networks (NBC, etc) will be watching closely to see how much Fox and ABC make from this. Hopefully it takes off quickly, so the rest can get on board.

Also, yeah, I'm not sure about the Canadian side of things. Although we can already buy ABC and Fox shows on iTunes, so I can see the rentals launching here as well. It's not a content issue, just a subscription one.

[Burninator]

Originally Posted by Russic

There's no way that offsets the $$ brought in by advertisers though, so i have to doubt the broadcasters would ever go for that.

You are probably right. The current pricing of Apple TV does not compete with subscription based TV. So maybe it could work.

I would love to see the rumours of the iOS based Apple TV come true. Then Center Ice or the NHL can make an app and I can kill my cable.

[Russic]

I heard something on macbreak weekly that compared the amount of revenue generated via iTunes vs regular tv and the amount through regular tv was much much higher. Took the wind out of my sails a little as I don't see why the big networks would want to draw people away from their cable shows. Hopefully there's a variable I'm missing.

Edit: if I was out of the Calgary market an NHL game center app would kill my need for cable. Alas, i needs the sports channels.

[Burninator]

Yeah the whole black out thing is really disappointing. So if they do have new software and hardware for the Apple TV what is the chance the existing Apple TV gets a software update? I'm guessing pretty slim.

[Russic]

I'm guessing zero. In terms of just getting movies onto the current apple tv, both the iPad and iPhone 4 are much more capable. That thing is such a fairy when it comes to power/capability. Hopefully the new one is in fact as cheap as they're saying.

[Barnes]

Apple is streaming the event live from their website via http streaming. You need Safari on a Mac, iPhone, iPod touch or iPad to view it.

Probably a hint as to what is to come. They haven't streamed an event in 8 or so years.