Oh yes. Thank you. And it’s all shipping today in OS X 10.4, and I have full confidence I’ll be seeing 10.5 in less than 12 months.
And while some of those features are as recent as 10.4, some of them have been available for YEARS on OS X.
By interesting contrast, Microsoft has real live media center PC software shipping, and I have seen in person an XBox 360 used as a media center extender, so you have PC in one room, TV in another room, and full slide show, music and movie browsing, as well as TiVo-like functionality, and it really works, and is shipping today. Setup is a little sketchy, but the point is it is going, and Apple has just gotten out of the gate with Front Row and is actually playing catch-up on this front.
I think Apple will win here, too, within about 2 years, but I wanted to give M$ credit for their progress in Media Center; while they are laughably far behind on their OS, browser, lifestyle apps, security, etc. How they can fail so badly at these things? As usual, I think the answer is money - people are paying more for less on the Windows side, and will continue to do so, but are happy enough, so why give them more for less?
Aaron: I have been pretty happy with my ElGato Eyehome unit. It is a little wonky — know that going in — but it comes as close to the functionality (if not the interface, which b-l-o-w-s) MS “Media Center” experience as I’ve seen on the Mac yet (Front Row not withstanding) and it cost, um, a fraction of the price. Plus it plays all the PIR8TED VIDEO FROM TEH INTARNET!!!1 Check it out:
As a side note, I have never, ever, ever, ever seen nor talked to anyone who actually wanted their photos displayed on their TV, but somehow, between my digital camera, my fancy-pants DVD player, my TiVo, my EyeHome, my laptop w/Front Row, I have five different ways to do this.
April 14th, 2006 at 1:37 pm
Oh yes. Thank you. And it’s all shipping today in OS X 10.4, and I have full confidence I’ll be seeing 10.5 in less than 12 months.
And while some of those features are as recent as 10.4, some of them have been available for YEARS on OS X.
By interesting contrast, Microsoft has real live media center PC software shipping, and I have seen in person an XBox 360 used as a media center extender, so you have PC in one room, TV in another room, and full slide show, music and movie browsing, as well as TiVo-like functionality, and it really works, and is shipping today. Setup is a little sketchy, but the point is it is going, and Apple has just gotten out of the gate with Front Row and is actually playing catch-up on this front.
I think Apple will win here, too, within about 2 years, but I wanted to give M$ credit for their progress in Media Center; while they are laughably far behind on their OS, browser, lifestyle apps, security, etc. How they can fail so badly at these things? As usual, I think the answer is money - people are paying more for less on the Windows side, and will continue to do so, but are happy enough, so why give them more for less?
April 14th, 2006 at 1:44 pm
Bwahahahahaaaa!!
April 14th, 2006 at 2:01 pm
Aaron: I have been pretty happy with my ElGato Eyehome unit. It is a little wonky — know that going in — but it comes as close to the functionality (if not the interface, which b-l-o-w-s) MS “Media Center” experience as I’ve seen on the Mac yet (Front Row not withstanding) and it cost, um, a fraction of the price. Plus it plays all the PIR8TED VIDEO FROM TEH INTARNET!!!1 Check it out:
http://www.elgato.com/index.php?file=products_eyehome
…you can pick them up refurb for about $129.
As a side note, I have never, ever, ever, ever seen nor talked to anyone who actually wanted their photos displayed on their TV, but somehow, between my digital camera, my fancy-pants DVD player, my TiVo, my EyeHome, my laptop w/Front Row, I have five different ways to do this.
~jeff
April 18th, 2006 at 6:26 pm
Brandnew features in Windows Vista…
Watch the demo. Via ldopa.net.
……