Hackintosh.org

Apple TV has already been hacked to run on an Intel based Mac. There is actually a web site called AppleTVhacks.com. Basically they say AppleTV uses a shrunk version of OSX and a new version of FrontRow. They hacked the Finder file so it doesn't check for the AppleTV hardware and were up and running.
I don't know the immediate benefit for doing this but I guess it is to further figure out how AppleTV works internally so that it can be modified to do additional things like DVR.
I just thought it was amazing that someone has already done this. The site is afraid of Apple legal coming down hard on them, so they do not post the hacked Finder file but it seems others have been able to access it.
Personally I don't see the point. You could have easily created a Linux based TV server if you are really into complete control of the system. I know many have done this already so you don't have to reinvent the wheel. I think AppleTV is for the majority of people who don't want to hack or don't know how to hack.

Analyst suggests Apple get out of cell phone business

I read a recent news blurb on Schwab.com where a prominent financial analyst suggested that Apple was foolish to enter the cell phone market at this time. He said that the current cell phone market is consolidating and that the cell phone will become a commodity real soon with small profit margins. He commented that unless Apple has three or four models in the works the hype around the new iPhone would end up fading away in about 6 months, just like it has done with other cell phones. When asked what Apple brings to the table, he said that the success with the iPod is based on popular advertising primarily and that will not be enough in the cell phone market. His suggestion was that Apple sell the rights of the iPhone to Samsung. Coincidentally, the day these comments were released, Apple's stock dropped almost 2.5%.

Complete my Album

Gentlemen, what do you think of the new iTunes feature "Complete my Album"? For individual songs purchased in the last 180 days on the iTunes music store, people can opt to buy the complete album at a reduced price which gives credit for the songs already purchased. I think it's a great idea! I'm sure it won't revive album sales, but it will allow people to buy the rest of an album without having to pay for songs twice. Good idea, or ho hum?

Apple TV to have DVR capability?

Gentlemen, I saw an article that suggests there is anectodal evidence of a DVR capability in the future for the Apple TV. Specifically, there are some Automator Actions which suggest the Apple TV will have that ability. Would that be cool or what? Check it out:

Future DVR ability?

(BTW, Apple TV is back on the Apple Store's best seller list at number 10 after an absence)

What Happened to Special K's post?

Stitch, what happened to Special K's post?

Pink Zune?

Gentlemen, I heard that Microsoft, in a bid to accelerate sales of its much hyped Zune, will release a pink version. Will this have the desired effect? What's your take?

Apple ranked 7th most admired company by Forbes survey

For the first time, Apple has made it in the top ten of all companies on the Forbes list. One reason given was that Apple reached $1 billion in sales faster than any retailer in history in 2004. Then they topped that in 2005 by $1 billion in sales in one quarter. Soon the average Apple store will be selling as much as an average Best Buy. Then comes two new products, the iPhone and Apple TV.

"Our stores were conceived and built for this moment in time - to roll out iPhone," CEO Steve Jobs told Fortune. Will they be selling as much as a Walmart Superstore soon. Walmart's margins are small while Apples are quite high. I will have to check the numbers. But anyway, WOW!

Mossberg's Apple TV Review

With all we've been discussing on Macnight, it seems only appropriate to put the link to Walt Mossberg's glowing review of Apple TV here:

Mossberg

Photos from the Motherland

Stitch, take a look at a few photos from the Motherland. I cannot overstate the innovative energy I absorbed while on our pilgrimage. Indeed, upon my return several people have commented on my "Apple glow"...

The Mothership

Apple TV is shipping

They are here! Apple TV, the oddball iTunes add on is shipping. I am hopeful for the success of Apple TV but am still puzzled by some of its features.

Apple TV plusses:
1) Stream video to a high definition TV.
2) With new Quicktime, can convert DVD's and other content to Apple TV format for streaming to TV.
3) Music and Photos too.
4) Watch downloaded TV shows in iTunes on your TV.

Problems with these features:
1) Requires high definition TV yet the content does not utilize this to its fullest. No 1080i support or even 720i support. Just an almost 720i quality but currently iTunes only downloads shows at 640x480 quality which is even lower resolution than 720i. Apple could change this soon, and will probably do that.
2) New Quicktime Pro conversion is all good, but will have to see how quickly the conversion takes place. I saw a post where someone said that people will be getting movies from Netflix, ripping them into iTunes with the new Quicktime, and then returning them immediately. The movie industry must be nervous.
3) Yes, yes music and photos. I would call these bonus features. The music could be good since you could hook Apple TV to your stereo system. But then you need your TV on to control it. Awkward. It reminds me of how cable TV has music stations. Like 30+ stations. But using your TV to control your music is not right.
4) TV shows. Once again, I think the pay per show model is destined to fail. I think that is a nitch market. I will put up with a few commercials so I don't have to pay. I would hate to pay $1.99 for 1/2hr show which ends up being a dud. If it turns out to be a bad show, you can't channel surf.

In the end, I am sure Apple will fix many of these problems. I just think for now the market for what they currently have is limited. One upbeat assesement by an analyst said that iTunes is already in about 50-60 million homes, while Window media center is in about 4 million. And many of those were just because it was bundled. As with any bundled software, a lot of it is never used. So this does give Apple a Trojan horse for pushing Apple TV.

The Apple Company Store!

Stitch, the Apple Company Store is so incredibly cool! I bought a ton of stuff, including two shirts that said:

1. Cupertino, 839 miles and 180 degrees from Redmond

2. I visited the Mothership

Naturally I had to buy the coffee mug with the simple, elegant Apple logo! It was fantastic. We had lunch at BJs, which is right there in Apple's parking lot. Stitch, you can actually feel the innovation taking place!

Palm may be up for sale

I just read that it is speculated that Palm may be up for sale. And Nokia and Motorola are the two potential buyers. The article pointed out what Le said that Palm is a small market company with its line of Treos. And that they don't offer push email directly. Although they do offer it through outside vendors such as Microsoft. The funny thing was that at the end of the article the analyst commented that the Apple iPhone may have forced this sale. Based on the fact that the cell phone market is getting more and more crowded and a weak player like Palm would profit more now from a sale than to wait for more competitors such as Apple. It is also rumored that Google is working on a phone of their own. But they are denying it now. It is getting interesting. It will come down to, what do you really want your phone to do. How much are you willing to pay. And how good the user experience is. At least Apple leads the way on that last front. The others will depend on the customer response.

I've got to start using that crystal ball for more productive things!

How will Nokia and Blackberry compete with the iPhone?

I was thinking how the other phone makers will be able to compete with the iPhone. It took Apple over 3 years to develop the iPhone so the competition is already 3 years behind. Plus Apple already had OSX to start with. Of course the competition could use a Linux based phone. But if you have ever used Linux you will know that this is an OS for the brave. Sure it is free and can do a whole bunch. There are many developers who donate their free time to add to the code of Linux and Linux based software. While most of the software tends to have many features it always seems like a work in progress. While Linux lovers tolerate this because it is free and can be changed by anyone, it is also what holds it back. So if phone manuf. use Linux they have to finish it, or pay someone to finish it. So it as flashy and seemless as OSX and the iPhone. This I don't believe is an easy task. So in the end I think this huge advantage will blast the iPhone far ahead of the competition that they will have to invest heavily in R&D to keep up. It may even force a merger down the road to do this. Hmmm Nokia buys Blackberry or vice versa. And then there is Samsung and LG. A collaboration. ..... end of speculative post.

Macs and iPods better than some hifi CD players

There are some audiophiles who feel that Macs and iPods can compete with some high end brands of CD players. Interesting...

Better than CD player!

Apple CFO optimistic!

Gentlemen, it is no surprise that the Apple CFO would be very optimistic. He reiterated that Apple TV and iPhone will change the landscape yet again, and he did not mention anything about Leopard slipping its ship date. There really isn't a ship date - they said Spring, which could mean a lot of things! He said Apple would not be licensing OSX (no surprise) and they have no intention yet of changing the large cash reserves they maintain (I'm all for that!). I think we're in for a banner year!

Apple CFO

San Francisco (and Cupertino, the Motherland)

Just a heads up Stitch. Le and myself will be on vacation for a week beginning this Saturday in San Francisco. Yes, I am returning to visit the Mother Ship! So for one week, Le and Lo will be absent from Macnight, but fear not, for we will return with new vigor and sweet Apple in our hearts! Yes, we will trek to the Motherland of Cupertino, and we will take in the radiance and beauty! Make no mistake, we shall prosper as a result of our journey.

Move to Iceland

This is it. Check it out.

Link to It.

Morgan Stanley estimates 8 million iPhones will be sold in one year.

An article on MacNN.com said that Morgan Stanley estimates over 8 million iPhones will be sold based on current trends and a survey which shows that about 19% of the market wants to buy a converged device and about 23% are at least somewhat interested in buying an iPhone. Here is my post on MacNN.com going through the numbers.

These are investment analysts that are trying to predict the market for the iPhone. It is not going to be an exact science. Let's look at the numbers and try to make some reasonable conclusions.

Article numbers:
140 mil - Number of "converged" devices sold in past 2 years.
7 mil - Number of "converged" devices sold by Blackberry
19% - Percent of people who own/want conv device.
23% - Percent of people who are extremely/somewhat interested in buying an iPhone

Conclusions:
The percentage of people who currently own a conv device has to be less than 19% since this includes "want" to buy also. Lets say it is 15% now. Since the current market for converged phones is 140 mil over 2 years lets say it is half that in one year. So the current market of converged phones is 70 million in one year. So the total market per year for cell phones is (70/.15) = 467 million. If only about 10% of the people who say they are interested in the iPhone actually buy one then that would be (23%*0.10) = 2.3%. That is 2.3% of the total market not just the converged market. This would mean that Apple could sell about (0.023*467) = 10.7 million iPhones in one year. This is 2.3 times more than the goal Apple is shooting for. So Morgan Stanley is being more conservative than my estimates. Then there is the potential ace in the hole. Apple already has about 23% of the market at least somewhat interested in buying an iPhone. This can only grow more when the iPhone is heavily advertised and all of your friends have one to show off. In reality, no one can know how big the market is going to be for the iPhone but it is potentially very very big.

Rumor - Touch sensitive Apple displays!

With the recent hooplah surrounding the Beatles deal, I'm more careful about getting too excited about rumors. This rumor suggests there may be new touch sensitive displays coming out from Apple to compliment the touch sensitive iPhone. It could happen to be a new killer feature of Leopard! Unfortunaltey, I heard the latest Leopard build released to developers was still a "work in progress", so they suggest not to expect Leopard until June. I hope they're wrong!

Rumored Displays

Vista has Speech Recognition going for it

David Pogue, a Mac guy who write for the New York Times, posted an interesting and complimentary article about Vista's speech and dictation abilities. It sounds like Microsoft got this aspect right and is well ahead of the Mac. I haven't heard if Leopard will have this!

Vista Speech Recogition

Wished for Blogger feature

I was hoping that with this new update to Blogger that they would have added the feature to know that new postings or comments have been added since the last time you viewed the blog. I don't think this would be too technical to do. They could store the date and time you last viewed and then flag new comments.

It seems as postings are added, and the older postings drop down the list. People stop the discussions on them. So we end up only being good for about 2-3 comments per posting. Unless McFan and Le go at each other. Then we have banter. Oh well, maybe in the next update.