Apple "actively courting" Sony for slot-loading Blu-ray drives?
By Nilay Patel 
posted Feb 29th 2008 9:54PM
posted Feb 29th 2008 9:54PM
We know, we're getting tired of Apple Blu-ray rumors as well -- they're right up there with refreshed Cinema Displays in terms of rumor persistence -- but until Steve and the gang actually shove a drive into a machine we're stuck with them. The latest says that Apple is actively pressing Sony for slot-loading BD-R drives but quality control issues are gumming up the plan. Reportedly, this latest ho-hum MacBook Pro refresh was to feature BD-R drives, but all Sony could muster up were Blu-ray / DVD±RW drives, which Apple refused. That seems a little odd, frankly -- now that the format war is over and the competition's already shipping mid-range laptops with slot-load BD-R drives, you'd think Apple would want to cash in that Blu-ray Disc Association membership card with whoever can supply the drives. As always, we'll see when we see -- it's gotta happen sometime, right?[Image courtesy of dadako.com]
... Exactly what I said to the people wondering what they were waiting for when they updated the MBP earlier this week (since Apple's been in the Blu-Ray camp for so long).
Can only wonder why they're offering it for the Mac Pro, actually.
*why they're not
because no matter how you cut it... once you let bluray in you're hurting apple tv and itunes' sales
Does DVD hurt AppleTV and iTunes sales? Do CDs? Why does iTunes let you import cds?
Downloadable content is a DIFFERENT ANIMAL to optical media. Although not mutually exclusive, I seriously doubt that Blu-ray drives will hurt iTunes. At the moment, you can't even rent HD movies for your computer via iTunes anyway, so having a BR drive doesn't change anything.
because bluray = high definition videos. The latest update to apple tv and itunes = high definition videos. and quite frankly... yes, dvd sales do hurt itunes in their movie department... as do cd sales in their music department. :\
Also, someone that has a bluray player built in is most likely going to buy the disk over buying the apple tv + hd movie rentals... unless apple changes the policy on hd movie rentals (ie: watching them on your pc).
Scientology is bad.
Clinton: Even if BD did hurt Apple TV and iTunes sales, the margins on the Mac Pro are much bigger than on the AppleTV (which they are selling nearly at cost IIRC) and iTunes.
Selling computers > selling digital media and low margin electronics.
@David:
True, and I do believe that Apple will incorporate bluray RW's into the mac pro's for people that ACTUALLY could take advantage of the disk space. But really, there isn't a real demand for it there either.. Professionals working with let's say... Final Cut Pro.. = hdd's -> network ->(final prodct = bluray *maybe*)... but that final product for professionals = mass production of bluray...
I dunno... I don't think that Apple not putting bluray in their systems at this point is SUCH a bad move... but maybe the option?... for mac pro / xserve?
But again... they must have a reason behind it... waiting for the prices to go down on both the drives and the optical disks? I'm really not sure.
True, and I do believe that Apple will incorporate bluray RW's into the mac pro's for people that ACTUALLY could take advantage of the disk space
*This year*
Eventually people will want Blu-Ray and they'll have to put it in, cuz people wont buy the macs cuz they are outdated.
Why would they refuse BD/DVD+-RW ?
Sometimes Apple is just stupid.... wait... actually they're stupid pretty much all the time.
Why? Probably because Apple wants to use and promote Blu-Ray primarily as a format for archiving and media production — not for movie playback, which would probably require a DRM-centric overhaul of the OS anyway.
apple puts a bit of R&D into their products, waits for the "right time" to present products, and usually has a reason for not doing what might seem like the obvious (ie: built in gps hardware vs. google maps with location). I mean, they had enough sense to exclusively incorporate intel chips in their systems right?
Why would it require a DRM update to the OS?
The two programs on the Windows side of things both play HD-DVD and Blu-Ray in "user space." And when their keys were expired, the PROGRAMS needed updating, not your Windows OS.
-Pie
Because they want a BD-R drive, not a BD (read ONLY) drive.
The Blu-Ray enabled Apple TV (in the Mini chassis) can only be done with the slot loading drives, but Sony doesn't want to cede the BR player thrown to Apple as they did with the Walkman/iPod. Therefore, Sony slows the supply to Apple.
I thought apple was the one who makes or follows the trends first. Get with the times for once apple.
NOTE TO ALL FLAMERS: This wasn't a negative comment for apple. Just telling em' to get blu ray finally
Pff, you think flamers pay attention to warning labels?
Cubs Suck
@ backlin
That's very true actually. Stupid me
@Steo
I ignore, I ignore...
Stevo, that's not nice. They're in the NL. It's not like they have a choice when it comes to sucking or not!
Disclaimer: I have Ted Lilly on my fantasy squad, so hopefully the Cubs do decent!
well they got the japs Pukodome, meaning it'll be double the love soriano gave us last year.
Gadgie doesn't do any better in the NFL so you can't talk...
Once again... more evidence that the inferior format one and Sony shoved their crap down consumers' throats.
"one"?? I think you mean "won" .... ESL?
And this is an unsubstantiated rumor reported on another site... this is necrophilic news casting ....
Fine. Fair trade off. Sony gives Apple slot loading Blu-ray drives, Apple in turn helps Sony trim the fat of the XMB, and improve it.
wtf? no, I would rather Apple not touch the XMB. I don't need their crap in my house.
XMB?
you're right Peter....why would you want a company renowned for it's interface design to assist you in refining an interface?
their "crap" is probably in your house whether you like it or not
XMB = XrossMediaBar, the graphical user interface on the PS3 and PSP.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XrossMediaBar
Its very nice, simple and elegant. Not very expandable so sony is having trouble getting everything to go nicely with it. Ex, the PSN Marketplace is rendered via the internet browser. I wish they would find someway to find a style that could blend better with xmb and not use the browser for rendering or layout structure.
As a psp owner, and an apple product owner, I would much prefer an apple interface to the xmb. I just don't like the xmb, it sits in the center of the screen with those annoying waves... none of these reasons are good, but I said what I wanted to say.
I don't want a Blu-ray READER, I want to WRITE in Blu! I know I can pick up an external, but I'd rather have it built-in to my MBP, and I'll hold out for that.
We all want a Blu-Ray writer. But why can't we have a reader in the meantime?
That would have been cool, but Apple has waited SO LONG at this point that another couple months and a writer will be ready, so I'm guessing that's what they're waiting for.
if you wanna write in blue, why are ya ranting here. Go to officemax, they got a sale on blue pens! :P
http://www.wired.com/gadgets/pcs/news/2008/02/bluray_power
I wouldn't be too disappointed considering the power consumption of these drives. This is another reason for digital downloads, it's much more mobile friendly.
I wonder when Apple is releasing HD movies on iTunes.
The real battery-sucking reason for ANY HD-media playback is the processor load decoding high-bit rate 1080p movies. Same problem will be present for digital downloads.
Also, why do people actually want to pay money for Digital Downloads when they are heavily DRM restricted (compared to being able to play your DVD/Blu-ray anywhere on anyones player with a physical format), lower bit-rate, lower-quality, and when you could more easily just "download" it illegally.
Pardon my ignorance, but couldn't Apple have gone to another drive maker for their needs for a BD-R?
Your ignorance is pardoned.
Once again it's the waiting game with Apple. The older I get the less patience I have for their foot dragging, we'll give it you when WE think you need it attitude.
Amazing.
Yes, Apple had their foot in the BD pool from the word "go". However, I think it was wise that they waited for the format wars to come to an end. Most users (read: not people who read Engadget, TUAW and the lot) aren't clamoring for a BD burner just yet. If you're that upset about it, there are other (non-Apple) products out there for you if you need a BD burner so badly.
ay ay captain.
exactly!
It's already been done and you can buy a Dell with Blu-ray right now. Why does Apple take so long.
FastMac already does this... but it's pricey.
http://store.fastmac.com/product_info.php?products_id=338
You say: "...you'd think Apple would want to cash in that Blu-ray Disc Association membership card with whoever can supply the drives. ..."
What exactly does Apple need to "cash in" on?
Moreover, just speaking on behalf of the past decade, if I was forced to choose between the judgment of Apple versus that of Sony, the winner would be............ [take a guess]?
samsung
this just in apple and sony now engaged
I get flashbacks to DVD time, when Apple 'courted' Pioneer for their "SuperDrive". I still have strong aversions to the SuperDrive branding. Let's hope they call this the BluperDrive.
Oh how the Apple world oooohd and ahhhd back then. Make your own DVDs!