Apple Special Event Chatcast Extavaganza

Scott'll be posting any news we glean from today's event, nicely and neatly in a separate post for those of you who detest our chatcasts, and Engadget has Ryan Block on the scene, but for those of you who love reading us ramble on, drooling over the day's announcements and being as snarky as snark can be, here's the place where you'll find all our babblings. Enjoy.

Begin chatcast:

Pregame chatter...
12:30 PM
Damien Barrett: The Apple Store is still up...
David Chartier: I don't think it usually goes down this far outside game time though
Damien Barrett: don't know
C.K. Sample, III: yeah
C.K. Sample, III: usually it goes down 15 mninutes before
David Chartier: do they hold events like this on the Apple Campus often?
C.K. Sample, III: not that I'm aware of
Damien Barrett: not usually on Apple Campus...no
C.K. Sample, III: it's a bit out of the ordinary
C.K. Sample, III: which makes me think it is going to be movie related announcements
Damien Barrett: I agree with C.K.
David Chartier: as in: it isn't a big enough deal to do it elsewhere?
12:35 PM
Damien Barrett: but why would Engadget be invited if Apple's not releasing or pimping a gadget?
C.K. Sample, III: there's the rub...
Damien Barrett: but it could also be they've finally finished the product that was supposed to be the "one more thing" product at MWSF but got bumped
David Chartier: Kevin Rose said something in the TWiT podcast that made me optimistic that it's at least something important: he's been able to peg it in the past when events are off campus because he has some kind of insider
David Chartier: but since it's on the campus, it's a lot harder to leak this stuff
Damien Barrett: I'm not the only one who felt that this year's MWSF Keynote felt less solid than those in the past, as if things were changed at the last minute
David Chartier: I felt like the software portion got bumped and squished in order to squeeze in the MacBooks
David Chartier: He might as well have said "eh, and iWork... yea that's neat too."

Check out the rest after the break...

Continued...
Damien Barrett: and then there's the whole thing with Microsoft moving their "Origami" announcement from Thursday to tonight...why would MS do this unless they are trying to steal some of Apple's thunder...
Damien Barrett: not to mention, they also formally announced the Vista version details...
David Chartier: yea, but they still don't have a clue when it's getting released
Damien Barrett: and to really steal Apple's thunder, they'd have to release a product that competed with Apple's...
David Chartier: that "guess Vista's release date" contest they're running is just too... unsettling
Scott McNulty: some think that Apple and MS are working together on Origami
David Chartier: maybe Microsoft is just trying to get into the game of creating buzz about anything. For way too long they've told the public about products years in advance, so there isn't much excitement when they land
David Chartier: the public just seems to go "oh hey it's here - finally. Nice work guys."
C.K. Sample, III: what's all this fascination with folding paper, anyways
C.K. Sample, III: hello it's the digital age
Scott McNulty: e-ink!
David Chartier: yea, who choses their code names over there?
Damien Barrett: well, Microsoft's marketing dept. hasn't exactly shown itself to be all that savvy...
Damien Barrett: hence that brilliant parody of the iPod box if redesigned by MS
Damien Barrett: which is funny because it's completely spot on
David Chartier: it'd be interesting if M$ and Apple were working together on something though
Damien Barrett: well, nobody's really ever made a splash with eBook readers. There are some out there, but they're not selling well.
Damien Barrett: if someone could build an e-book reader that was as easy to use as an iPod, and with a really nice display and battery life...it'd probably sell.
Scott McNulty: Sony's latest ebook reader has a great display
Scott McNulty: and they are going to have a 'book store' as well ala iTunes/iPod
David Chartier: maybe Scott was on to something; that truly flexible, electronic paper has been floating around for a while now.
David Chartier: Maybe one or both of these companies are going to whip out an actual product. The term "tablet" would almost be too bulky with something like that
12:45 PM
C.K. Sample, III: nah
C.K. Sample, III: no way
Damien Barrett: well, the other problem with e-books is that the content delivery mechanism hasn't ever matured
Damien Barrett: but Apple's iTunes store could easily handle e-books as well
David Chartier: good point. Probbaly part of the reason iTunes rocks so much
C.K. Sample, III: too much DRM in the ebook space
Damien Barrett: there's DRM everywhere, unfortunately
C.K. Sample, III: competing DRMs
Scott McNulty: DRM is everywhere
C.K. Sample, III: in ebook space
C.K. Sample, III: is what I meant
Scott McNulty: well, I'll be buying Sony's new reader
C.K. Sample, III: they don't have one DRM to rule them all, like with iTunes
Barb DyBwad went offline before accepting your invitation.
Scott McNulty: that is, if I don't spend all my money on whatever Steve is going to be announcing
David Chartier: yea, DRM needs to get smoothed out or standardized somehow if it's going to spread significantly
Damien Barrett: that's something the movie industry hasn't realized yet
David Chartier: they can't hide with "security in obscurity" for much longer
Scott McNulty: Apple store is down
Damien Barrett: ah ha! That's a good indicator for a new product
David Chartier: woohoo, not just movies!
Damien Barrett: not just iTunes Movies
Fabienne: yay hardware
C.K. Sample, III: so where are we getting our dirt from?
C.K. Sample, III: engadget of course
C.K. Sample, III: but who else has someone there?
Damien Barrett: there are several other places, as well tho.
David Chartier: macrumors?
Damien Barrett: http://www.macrumorslive.com
12:50 PM
Damien Barrett: lots of ppl are using the comments in last "Yet Another" post to post info...
C.K. Sample, III: https://www.engadget.com/2006/02/28/live-from-the-steve-jobs-keynote-fun-new-products/
Scott McNulty: I hope the new stuff isn't crap
12:55 PM
Scott McNulty: that's all I'm saying
David Chartier: yea, it's a bargain bin Mac mini to compete with eMachines
David Chartier: $299! $50 rebate!
Scott McNulty: if you sign up for 2 years of AOL
Scott McNulty: Who I love
Scott McNulty: All hail AOL
David Chartier: oh gawd.. don't remind me, I used to have to sell that stuff @ Circuit City
Damien Barrett: MacRumors says there's only 150-200 ppl in the Town Hall Event
Scott McNulty: it is a small venue
C.K. Sample, III: 4 minutes!!!
Scott McNulty: I wonder if a webcast will be available later
Damien Barrett: my guess is no
David Chartier: not if it's going to be more fodder for an updated bloopers reel...
C.K. Sample, III: i think if they unveil new products
C.K. Sample, III: like hardware
C.K. Sample, III: then yes
C.K. Sample, III: if not
C.K. Sample, III: then no
David Chartier: I think the webcast is one of those important but "back stage" elements of their viral marketing
Damien Barrett: iLounge also has a live feed...
David Chartier: it's gonna be iAppliances, I just know it
Jan has joined this chat.
Jan: thanks
C.K. Sample, III: what's the link Damien?
Damien Barrett: http://www.ilounge.com/
David Chartier: "Your refrigerator's door will open, just like butta'"
Damien Barrett: it's just the same stuff as Engadget

1:00 IT IS GAME TIME!
1:00 PM
Damien Barrett: ok, any last minute guesses?
Jan: hi y'all
Scott McNulty: Apple switching to Windows!
David Chartier: maybe the rest of their lineup is already Intel ready?
Damien Barrett: My money is on a Movie Store via iTunes and an iPod Bookm Box of some type...maybe with wireless speakers.
David Chartier: I don't see what the holdup is anyway, especially if they're using nearly industry-standard hardware throughout the machines now
C.K. Sample, III: Dave can only IM via Gtalk, so I'm going to channel whatever commentary he has to add
David Chartier: MacRumors: "Spotted...
Jon Rubinstein, Senior Vice President of Apple's iPod Division, Greg Joswiak, Apple's vice president of hardware marketing, and other execs."
David Chartier: neat, MacRumors links Engadget as a live feed
David Chartier: but engadget just died on me
Damien Barrett: me too
Scott McNulty: same here
David Chartier: er, I mean: I love my AOL overlords
Jan: tee hee
C.K. Sample, III: iLounge just died too
Damien Barrett: guess that's what happens when 100,000 people all click refresh at the same time
David Chartier: MacRumors still up
Scott McNulty: Or perhaps Apple has put a hex on all live coverage
Damien Barrett: 100K is a guess...
1:05 PM
C.K. Sample, III: iLounge is back up
C.K. Sample, III: oh man
C.K. Sample, III: we're down too
Damien Barrett: ergh
Scott McNulty: looks like most of WIN is down...
C.K. Sample, III: oh, but we shall rise from the ashes!!!
David Chartier: lol, everything's down but MacRumors; kudos to them
C.K. Sample, III: any news yet?
Jan: everyone is being seated
Jan: johathan ives is in front row
Jan: music by u2, green day, others
Jan: all re macrumors
David Chartier: I wonder what Ive's salary is
Scott McNulty: macrumors is getting that from iLounge
David Chartier: I can't get into iLounge
Jan: me neither
C.K. Sample, III: iLounge works and then it doesn't
Jan: engadget is back up
C.K. Sample, III: yay
1:10 PM
Jan: speaker(who?) says they've got some fun things and some medium scale things
The AIM service could not send the message: A message or picture is too large to be transmitted.
C.K. Sample, III: 10:07am PT - Good morning, thank you for joining us this morning. We've got some fun things and some medium scale things.
C.K. Sample, III: All of us want all of them, we hope our customers do too. Let's start with the Mac, biggest thing these days, transition to Intel. We're ahead of schedule, we're converting entire product line to intel over this calendar year
Jan: they're ahead of schedule in transitioning to intel
C.K. Sample, III: via engadget
David Chartier: *crosses fingers for new Macs*
Jan: converting the entire product line to intel over this calendar year
C.K. Sample, III: we're still down
Jan: new mac mini, based on intel single-porocessor and dual-processor
C.K. Sample, III: macrumors is getting its info from Engadget now
C.K. Sample, III: cool
Jan: that's steve on stage talking
David Chartier: still can't get into engadget
David Chartier: or anything but MR
Jan: new mac mini is 2.5 to 3.2 times faster
Jan: and has same exact form factor
Scott McNulty: dual core Mac minis...
Scott McNulty: very cool
C.K. Sample, III: i hope they are media centers
Scott McNulty: though they will be faster than my iMac
Damien Barrett: please, please...a Media Center!!!!
C.K. Sample, III: if so I am sooooo grabbing one
Damien Barrett: c'mon, Apple, I know you can do it! Build a Media Center into the Mac mini!
Jan: something about Front Row software re iLounge
Scott McNulty: mac minis have front row
Scott McNulty: perhaps they will update Front Row
David Chartier: well what's missing: TV I/O?
Scott McNulty: where does the remote go on the mac mini
Scott McNulty: that's what I want to know
Damien Barrett: on your coffee table
C.K. Sample, III: Dave Caolo: ha, steve said, "medium scale things, but our customers want all of them"
Dave Caolo: you may officially let your hopes sink
Dave Caolo: woo, intel mini. Already I'm wrong!
Jan: the dual core processor on the new Mac mini is the same kind of cpu that powers the iMac and MacBook Pro.
Jan: the IR sensor is on the right of the disc slot
Jan: Mac mini features gigabit Ethernet, a total of four USB 2.0 ports
C.K. Sample, III: this is all from MacRumors via iLounge?
Jan: yes
C.K. Sample, III: Dave Caolo: ah, i like the shared music library addition of frontrow. iTunes server in the basement!
Jan: re macrumors: you can listen to iTunes running on other machines on the same subnetwork via Front Row
C.K. Sample, III: cool we're back up
David Chartier: I wonder if this sharing music bit could translate into something iPod based?
David Chartier: iPod bonjour?
Jan: From Engadget: You can continue to use the Mac mini without hookups, and you can hook it up to televisions.
The AIM service could not send the message: A message or picture is too large to be transmitted.
Jan: but not cellphones
C.K. Sample, III: New Mac mini
Based on Intel
Intel Core Solo, Intel Core Duo versions
2.5x - 3.2x faster
Same exact form factor
via iLounge
The AIM service could not send the message: A message or picture is too large to be transmitted.
David Chartier: I wonder what actual A/V I/O cables and ports it offers
C.K. Sample, III: Front Row software
IR sensor on right of disc slot
Six button Apple remote
C.K. Sample, III: -- New Features --
Shared Music - Bonjour technology, allows devices to find themselves automatically over a network, access music library wirelessly.
Shared Photos and Video - Same idea only for photos and videos.
David Chartier: iLounge: Can stream iTunes TV shows.
C.K. Sample, III: i hope it does HDMI so I can hook one up to my cable box and my 32" LCD
C.K. Sample, III: w00t
C.K. Sample, III: Dave Caolo: so you dont need to cram the mini w/all your media.
David Chartier: oh wow, this new software will be released as an update to all Front Row machines
Jan: Steve demos browsing iTunes running on Phil's MacBook Pro
Jan: so if you've got a mac mini attached to a tv in one room, you'll be able to see the media that's on every machine in the house
Jan: ck - i think we're repeating ourselves
Scott McNulty: that is the wonder of the chatcast
C.K. Sample, III: 600 bones for the mini
Jan: the mac mini comes with Tiger, iLife 06, Remote and Front Row
1:25 PM
Jan: Airport Extreme, Bluetooth
Jan: DVI video out, SPDIF
Scott McNulty: what is SPDIF?
Jan: and analog in and out. via engadget
Jan: price on the duo core is $799 via macrumors
Jan: it has 1.67 gHz, 80 GB drive, and superdrive
Jan: and is available today
David Chartier: nice, I was getting worried with all that "announce now, available in a month" silliness
C.K. Sample, III: available today as in walk into my local apple store....
Jan: jobs is now discussing ipod and itunes numbers
C.K. Sample, III: or order and have it arrive 10 weeks later
C.K. Sample, III: ?
David Chartier: order and ship w/in 1-2 business days
Fabienne: are we updating the chatcast post?
Fabienne: it doesn't seem to be very up to date right now
C.K. Sample, III: yep
C.K. Sample, III: I am
Fabienne: ok
Fabienne: ok it just updated for me, the servers must be slammed
C.K. Sample, III: yep
C.K. Sample, III: wheeeeeee
Jan: the entry level mac mini system is 1.5 gHz solo core system. 667 MHz bus, 512 RAM, 60 GB SATA hard drive, combo DVD-ROM/CD-RW drive
Fabienne: spdif is for digital audio
Jan: and goes for $599
Jan: steve announces leather ipod cases
Fabienne: same thing as aes/ebu, high ohm-age cables for digital audio
Jan: cases are in black for video ipod and nano
C.K. Sample, III: whatayamean cases?
Scott McNulty: very odd
David Chartier: leather cases, y'know the kind you put iPods in?
Damien Barrett: if they have the Apple logo on them, they'll sell
1:30 PM
Jan: the cases are $99 each. too steep for me.
Fabienne: do we have an image of those yet?
Fabienne: wow crazy pricey!
C.K. Sample, III: yeeps
C.K. Sample, III: that's a lot
David Chartier: these sound kinda silly; no screen or control access
Damien Barrett: heh, no markup on those...jeez
C.K. Sample, III: that's a 6th of a Mac mini!
David Chartier: it's 1/3 of an iPod
Jan: iLounge: 40% of all autos sold in US this year will have an iPod connectivity option
C.K. Sample, III: isn't that old news from the last event?
Jan: iLounge: Steve is saying that now it's time to add In the Home
David Chartier: ok, I have class to catch. have fun boys and girls
C.K. Sample, III: NICE
C.K. Sample, III: by David
Jan: iLounge: announces iPod Hi-Fi
Fabienne: bye david
C.K. Sample, III: WHAT
Jan: It's home stereo reinvented
Fabienne: really?
David Chartier has left this chat.
Jan: It looks like a center channel speaker with iPod dock on top. via iLounge
Fabienne: does that mean there will be an ipod revision update?
Jan: it comes with inserts for every iPod
Fabienne: dude i could be right
Fabienne: oh maybe not then.
Jan: it has two buttons
Jan: one is volume control
Jan: could it be a boombox?
Scott McNulty: it would be cool if it works with the apple remote
1:35 PM
Jan: steve pulls the black grille off the device
Jan: to reveal three speaker drivers
Damien Barrett: guess Apple wasn't selling enough Airport Expresses
Jan: it has an integrated power supply, rather than a brick
C.K. Sample, III: very nice
Fabienne: nice nice
Jan: you can power it off six D size batteries if you want.
Jan: so it'll play several hours outside
Fabienne: boom! box.
C.K. Sample, III: they should have slapped a rechargeable laptop battery in it
Jan: in the center is a 130mm dual voice coil woofer
Scott McNulty: sadly I have no use for a boombox
Jan: it has great bass that doesn't distort when cranked u
Jan: and a universal dock connector
Jan: all ilounge via macrumors
C.K. Sample, III: any word on price yet?
Jan: not yet
C.K. Sample, III: bet it's like a friggin' bose radio
C.K. Sample, III: OVERPRICED
Damien Barrett: $too much
Fabienne: yes i have a price
Fabienne: via engadget: we're gonna price it at $349. It goes on sale... today.
Jan: box has ipod integration
Jan: there's a software update for ipods that puts a speaker menu item in the main menu
Jan: it's controlled with the apple remote
C.K. Sample, III: i gotta say...
C.K. Sample, III: so what?
Scott McNulty: yeah, it is pretty boring...
C.K. Sample, III: or does this hook up wirelessly with your existing system via airport
Jan: ipod screen can go black and just show album art
Scott McNulty: no word on that
C.K. Sample, III: b/c if it is just a boombox, here goes apple fighting with the 3rd party production lines that are already out there offering similar products
Jan: price is $349. available today.
Fabienne: via engadget: we have two 80mm mid range drivers in sealed acoustic suspension. we have a 130mm dual voice coil woofer with a ported bass reflex design, we get great base on this thing that doesn't distort when you crank it up
1:40 PM
C.K. Sample, III: dumb name
C.K. Sample, III: iPod hi-Fi
C.K. Sample, III: pff
Jan: blast from the past. the 'rents had a hi-fi
C.K. Sample, III: yeah
Jan: way back when
Fabienne: steve says (via engadget): I'm an audiophile, and I'm getting rid of my stereo
C.K. Sample, III: yeah, but....
C.K. Sample, III: does it do video too
C.K. Sample, III: ?
Fabienne: no word yet
C.K. Sample, III: like the current iPods?
Jan: it has an aux input in the back for plugging in the shuffle
C.K. Sample, III: b/c if not this is soooooo dumb
C.K. Sample, III: no way steve is really an audiophile
Jan: steve is pumping the audio quality of the hi-fi
C.K. Sample, III: if he were the iPod earphones wouldn't suck so badly
Jan: says he's getting rid of his own stereo
Jan: in favor of this thang
Scott McNulty: Did he say 'thang'?
Jan: no
C.K. Sample, III: he actually started singing
Fabienne: heh no that's jan's interpretation
C.K. Sample, III: SHake your thang
C.K. Sample, III: do what cha gotta do
C.K. Sample, III: Dave Caolo: wow six D cell batteries!
Jan: i wonder how big it is
Jan: i can't see myself lugging around a big ole boombox
C.K. Sample, III: Dave Caolo: D cells aren't cheap and they'll get sucked dry in no tome
Dave Caolo: tiime, even
1:45 PM
C.K. Sample, III: 0:35am PT - You can have the screen go black and and just display the album art. Great for newer iPods. via engadget
C.K. Sample, III: but what about the video?
C.K. Sample, III: I can't see spending $349 on a boom box
C.K. Sample, III: that doesn't work if my iPod breaks
Scott McNulty: neither can I
C.K. Sample, III: especially if it doesn
C.K. Sample, III: t do video
Damien Barrett: how big is this boom box?
C.K. Sample, III: and when I can get a friggin MAC MINI for a little more
Fabienne: it allows other audio in via mini jack if i'm not mistaken
Jan: engadget says the iPod cases are "really, really nice"
Fabienne: yes it has an aux input on the back
C.K. Sample, III: still: dumb. overpriced. thumbs down from me
Jan: and you know engadget doesn't give out compliments lightly
Jan: It's over
C.K. Sample, III: that's it!
Jan: steve walked off stage
C.K. Sample, III: LAME
Jan: a lot of ruckus about nothing
Jan: maybe something else was planned and fell through?
C.K. Sample, III: i mean, the mac mini is COOL
C.K. Sample, III: but...
Fabienne: wow i wanted an ipod update
Fabienne: *sad*
Jan: so to summarize
C.K. Sample, III: no PVR functionality
C.K. Sample, III: pfff
Jan: there was the single core and dual core mac mini,
Fabienne: intel based mac minis
Jan: right
Jan: front row with bonjour
1:50 PM
Jan: ipod cases
Jan: and the new iPod Hi-Fi
Fabienne: and a hifi boombox type thing with speakers plugged or batteries
Fabienne: yes
C.K. Sample, III: the front row with bonjour is the coolest thing
C.K. Sample, III: but...
Fabienne: well i am sad, i leave you all
Fabienne: bye
Fabienne: tschuss!
C.K. Sample, III: i bet it'll be buggy as hell for a few months
C.K. Sample, III: bis spater
Scott McNulty: bye!
Fabienne has left this chat.
Scott McNulty: I wanted that fake video iPod that no one promised me!!!
C.K. Sample, III: final thoughts everyone?
Scott McNulty: they were, in fact, 'medium level' announcments
C.K. Sample, III: yes
Scott McNulty: but were they that 'fun'?
C.K. Sample, III: no
C.K. Sample, III: I think the fun was supposed to be the boombox
C.K. Sample, III: but... WAY to 1980s
C.K. Sample, III: too
Scott McNulty: Apple has gone retro!
Scott McNulty: Bring back the multicolored logo!
C.K. Sample, III: i really wanted a palmtop or iTablet
Jan: i've been waiting for a new case, but i'm disappointed by these
C.K. Sample, III: but then again, I always want those
C.K. Sample, III: yeah
Jan: apparently, they don't give you access to the ipod's controls
C.K. Sample, III: save some money and get a nicer 3rd party case
C.K. Sample, III: Damien? any thoughts?
1:55 PM
Scott McNulty: Apple.com is updated
Jan: ah, now we can see the boombox
Jan: it's 17 in x 6.6 in x 6.9 in
Jan: and rectangular
C.K. Sample, III: dumb
C.K. Sample, III: alright
Jan: it looks more like something you'd leave in the living room than carry around
C.K. Sample, III: I call this chatcast officially over.
C.K. Sample, III: everyone post away!!!
Jan: bye bye
C.K. Sample, III: thanks for joining us!!!