Today's Apple rumor: home video streaming device on the 12th

Ok, so in addition the new iMacs Steve is expected to announce on the event-that-may-or-may-not-happen on September 12th, and the updated Nano, the official announcement of movies on iTMS, we can also expect to see a standalone dedicated movie streaming device running an "updated version" of iTunes (not Front Row). Speculated to be a new movie-enhanced version of the Airport Express (or some like device). Kind of reminds us of the iHome rumor, or the Apple HDTVs rumor, but this one somehow seems a little more subtle and plausible. We've doubted their entrance into unexpected types of consumer electronics before (see: Hi-Fi), so who knows, maybe you'll watch iTunes-downloaded movies on your video iPod (or iPod with video) as well as your TV, and without the need for a Mac mini cum media PC we've all been pining after, too.

[georgedakota @ Sep 4th 2006 8:22PM]

i am getting tired as hell hearing about apple rumors. They havent announced anything interesting in over a year and when the ipod finally arrives is it going to be anything more than just a music and video player? by the time we get wireless headphones,bluetooth,hd radio or xm radio or something interesting instead of video and music everyone else will be way ahead of them. i dont care about video, all i want is a music player.

[Rick @ Sep 4th 2006 8:28PM]

there was a story on a bionic eye, now if Ipod could port to that thing - that would be news. Otherwise, yawn

[10layers @ Sep 4th 2006 8:32PM]

This is exactly what we have been predicting in the article Apple movie downloads soon, what about the TV?".

Apple has been driving iPod sales with music sales. We think that they will be driving some new device sales with movie sales. In addition, we do not think that movie downloads will go mainstream until it is convenient to view them on the best device: your home entertainment system. This is what Apple has been redying before launching movie downloads. Apple want the picture to be complete.

[10layers @ Sep 4th 2006 8:34PM]

Sorry, the link to the "Apple movie downloads soon, what about the TV?" article is http://10layers.com/2006/09/apple-movie-downloads-soon-what-about-the-tv/

[Brendan @ Sep 4th 2006 8:41PM]

@ georgedakota, if all you want is a music player, then why are you pissed off? Cause the iPod plays music. I though the MacBook Pro, the MacBook, and the Mac Pro were interesting. Be patient my child.

[dunk @ Sep 4th 2006 8:46PM]

@george... so because you don't care about video the media should just stop reporting on it? oh wireless headphones -- sure, bluetooth -- maybe, xm/sirius/hd will never happen. you might want to adjust your expectations accordingly or continue to find yourself "tired as hell"

[Jona @ Sep 4th 2006 8:46PM]

This could be fantastic and a little saddening at the same time. I was hoping that the new Nintendo would be the living room connection to my iMac and Macbook.

[Evan @ Sep 4th 2006 9:03PM]

"We think that they will be driving some new device sales with movie sales."

Exactly. iTunes was created specifically to drive iPod sales. Apple makes relatively little profit on the songs they sell. It's always been about the hardware.

[Adam @ Sep 4th 2006 10:02PM]

I just got a new airport express... It came in the mail yesterday...

I am thinking of a four letter word..... anyone have a guess?

[Dull @ Sep 4th 2006 10:04PM]

& Star Wars original trilogy DVD's are be released on September 12th.

[j-dawg @ Sep 4th 2006 10:22PM]

After the announcement no the twelfth, streaming media in the home will suddenly become a high priority for three percent of computer users. Media servers will quickly become obsolete as the Apple HollyWave becomes the hot item on the block, fueling sales of JBL "Creature" speakers and iPods for months to come. Flamewars on the internets will ensue.

It's amazing to me how Apple so strongly influences people in fields they otherwise wouldn't care about. MP3 players were blah until Apple came up with the iPod--and overnight, MP3 players went from being geeks-only to being the gotta-have-it thing. Although it's nice having an MP3 player, I recently broke mine, and the switch back to my old CD player has been surprisingly pleasant.

Yet if it weren't for Apple, I'd never have bought an MP3 player in the first place, and millions of others would never have had worn the now-ubiquitous headphones, and we'd all be happy.

The same way, if these rumors are true, millions of poeple will suddenly need to have streaming audio in their houses, just like they needed MP3 players, just like they needed video-editing suites, and just like they needed colorful computers.

Apple is exceedingly good at convincing people they need stuff they don't, but I'm not falling for it this time. Keeping my TV and my PC separate is fine by me, primarily because I'd rather have a physical DVD or an actual CD than an iTunes-bought copy.

Call me a luddite, call me conservative, but the PC is not meant to be a part of my TV experience.

[Matt E. @ Sep 4th 2006 10:28PM]

@adam: starts with f, ends with uck? Firetruck? I'm stumped!

Just return it man, if nothing new ends up coming out you can always get another one.

[h0mi @ Sep 4th 2006 10:29PM]

A sub $1000 laptop, a video ipod with a larger screen (PSP size or bigger?), and a $500 mac mini (or a mac version of WME) are what I'm interested in.

[G Money @ Sep 4th 2006 11:14PM]

J-Dawg, INNOVATION is the reason Apple gets you to buy things you otherwise didnt need, didnt have, or think you didnt need, or have.

Apple is innovative, thats how they get you to buy these things you have lived your whole life without.

[Dukey @ Sep 4th 2006 11:44PM]

Haha man you said cum.. thats not cricket.. proof read man.

[Michael @ Sep 4th 2006 11:45PM]

I say bring on the future, my only question is, what's the cost? Any TV top device over $300 probably won't sell that well. Especially if it's only purpose is to bring you streaming media you also have to pay for separately.
Also please Apple support Divx/Xvid with this thing if it's true.

[LOL @ Sep 5th 2006 12:04AM]

Definitions for rumor: = gossip (usually a mixture of truth and untruth) passed around by word of mouth OR A piece of unverified information of uncertain origin usually spread by word of mouth. Unverified information received from another

If you read this same above story after the event, you will realise how much time you wasted believing in it...

[get-an-education @ Sep 5th 2006 12:19AM]

@Dukey
"Cum" is Latin for "with." Get an education, man.
;-)

[Dukey @ Sep 5th 2006 12:42AM]

LOL i have a education but i also have a sense of humor... here is a question for you who the f**k writes reviews in Latin??? and also who has the ordasidy (oh my a big word) might wanna google that one... to make a comment like that, you must like to put people down.. you keyboard warrior you... i'm sorry if you where teased as a kid... it must be terrible.

[haha @ Sep 5th 2006 1:04AM]

dukey might want to get a new education. the first one didn't take...

[get-an-education @ Sep 5th 2006 1:06AM]

@Dukey
Notice the wink on my last line? It was an attempt to make my comment lighter. Still, I agree with you that using Latin words is *almost* never a good idea.
Oh, by the way, I think you meant "audacity." "Ordasidy" is not a word.
Later, man.
:-D

[Dukey @ Sep 5th 2006 1:08AM]

Bite me lol

[j-dawg @ Sep 5th 2006 1:43AM]

G Money,
Innovation is not creating a new MP3 player. They were around before the iPod.

Innovation is not creating a home AV-streaming device. They exist already.

I'm not denying that Apple is innovative, because they are, and their quality and customer service are outstanding. But Apple is great at getting people to buy things that no other company can make people want, and it's not because the other companies aren't innovative.

[Farkinstein @ Sep 5th 2006 3:53AM]

This story is bogus and contradicts itself like all of Apple Insider's fake sources. If you want real Mac news you go to Barefeats.com, iPodhub.net, thinksecret.com, macworld.com, macuser.co.uk

[go-back-to-school @ Sep 5th 2006 6:22AM]

Hey Dukey, learn to spell before flaming other people. "You were teased", not "you where teased" Where were you teased eh?

[Wry Cooter @ Sep 5th 2006 1:17PM]

If it can't stream the entire mac desktop, I will not be that interested.

[SubGenius @ Sep 5th 2006 3:42PM]

j-dawg, the iPod wasn't innovative?

The interface wasn't innovative?
The click-wheel wasn't innovative?
using FireWire wasn't innovative?
Putting a rechargeable battery in standard wasn't innovative?

Apple's marketing helps but it isn't the main reason people bought iPods.

[Joe @ Sep 5th 2006 3:50PM]

My bet (and hope) is still for a 6th gen Video iPod (not iPod with Video) to be released on 9/12 along with the new movie downloads from Disney (and others?). I've been waiting to replace my 2nd Gen iPod since they released the sad 5th Gen iPod w/video. If the 6th gen iPod is anything like the rumors out there (full, widescreen iPod with touch screen click wheel), I'll be first in line (assuming my wife doesn't kill me first)!

[The Other Jason @ Sep 12th 2006 9:34AM]

Yeah... Have fun with your crappy Apple DRMed movies too! Thats just what we need... movie studios falling in love with another POS like Blu-Ray that only provides better DRM for the studios and not enough quality for the end user.

Who in the world wants to buy movies for an iPod? No one wanted them for the PSP which was 1000x cooler than any iPod Apple will ever put out.... oh and if you want to attach a device to your TV to watch movies you download from the internet there are and will always be better options than any portable device...

Why do Apple freaks think its some new revolutionary and innovate idea to have a video iPod? Companies have been making devices that play MANY MANY more media types for YEARS!!!! Almost EVER DAP on the market today will play video in tons of different formats... All your going to get from Apple is a DRMed up MPEG 4...

Have fun...

[HDFanatic @ Nov 2nd 2007 10:38PM]

I do not understand the nagative comments towards the Airport Express. No, it does not support wireless-G, but it does support WPA security. Also, the configuration utility runs on OS-X and Windows only. One of my laptops is Linux-based, so it makes configuration a little awkward.

I use the device at home to stream iTunes digital audio to my stereo and extend my wireless network via WDS. I also use it when I travel to create a wireless network in the hotel room. How handy is that?

I do not think that adding wireless video streaming to a device like the Airport Express will be that valuable or innovative unless it is in an HDTV format. You can buy other devices today for standard wireless video streaming.