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Katie's 2008 Apple Wish List
January 12, 2008 08:54 PM Filed in: Random
Thoughts
Some of these are pretty out there, some have have a
chance, and maybe even a few will happen by the end
of next week. Here is Katie's list of things she
would like to see from Apple, Inc. in 2008. Note that
these aren't predictions for 2008, but just a wish
list of things we'd like to see. If you have you own
ideas of where you'd like to see Apple go in the new
year, post a comment to this thread, or send us a
email to themaccore@gmail.com or leave us
an audio comment and we'll continue the
discussion on a future show.
All DRM Free Music in iTunes
Steve got things started last year with his "Thoughts on Music" and EMI and others offering iTunes plus tracks. We've seen most of the major labels begin to offer at least some of their music available in DRM free formats on other services. Apple's iTunes still has the dominance in the digital music download business, so the question is can they use that dominance to persuade the labels to go all DRM free?
iTunes Movie Rental Service
Apple has always stood by the line that people want to own their music, not rent it. But is the same true for Movies? The rumor mills are buzzing with talk of an iTunes Movie Rental Service and this would make the struggling. AppleTV a much more compelling product purchase. I'd like to see $3.99 or less movie downloads that expire no less than 24 hours after you first start viewing them through iTunes and available also on the AppleTV.
A More Compelling AppleTV
I love my Apple TV, but the problem right now is that unless you've spent a fortune at the iTunes store or you watch a lot of video Podcasts, it's an awful big chunk of money to spend for not a lot of content. An iTunes movie rental service would go a big step towards filling that void. But perhaps not far enough. I'd like to see Apple buy or partner with TiVo to offer DVR capabilities for the Apple TV. The storage space will no doubt need a bump to accommodate a DVR, and I'd like to have the option to hang my own USB drive off the back for easy add on storage. I'd also like to see about a $100 price drop, or at least one model that has a lower entry price. And while I'm still dreaming here about the AppleTV I'd also like to see it get some Internet capabilities. I don't necessarily need a full computer, but I'd like to see a built in Safari, iChat (that works with an optional USB iSight I'd like to see below), and Mail. Then I'd probably never have to leave my living room.
Smaller MacBook with iMac like docking station
I must admit I didn't even dream this one up until I saw the allegedly leaked patent filings on the rumor sites earlier this week. But I haven't been able to stop thinking about it ever since. This one has me drooling. While I love my 13" MacBook, I loved the form factor of my 12" Powerbook more. But having a smaller MacBook with the ability to "dock" it with a 24" iMac would be killer. Jonathan Ive could probably dream up the details a lot better than I could, so I'll leave the specifics to him.
A better iCal
This one seems minor I know, but iCal just kills me. The "to do" support is absolutely abysmal. Why can't I create a recurring to do without hacking the system? Why can't I organize my tasks simply by what's due today, this week, or this month? Why does iCal, well, suck? When office 2008 comes out, if something hasn't changed, I'm going to have to seriously look at switching back. Come on Apple, the core is there, just polish it up a bit. Or, here's an opportunity for all you third party developers.
2nd Gen Phone
Some of this could be offered through a software update, and I'd like to see software updates continue to be available for the first generation iPhones. But in the next version I'd like to see bigger models, at least 16GB and preferably 32GB. Once the battery life concerns are addressed I think 3G data support is a must. And can you imagine Google maps with true GPS enabled? I'd also like to see the ability to store files on the phone with perhaps a mini-finder and some basic word processing functions. I'd also like to see better syncing capabilities. I can't believe that after all this time it sill can't sync notes and tasks with Mail and iCal. Exchange support is an absolute must.
New HD Displays with a built-in iSight at reasonable prices.
There's no question that Apple's displays are gorgeous. But they are very price, especially when you compare them to a competitor like Dell. I'd like to see Apple release new displays, include a built-in iSight, and bring their prices down more in line with their competitors.
Stand alone USB 2.0 iSight with PC compatible iChat.
What happened to the iSignt? I get that it's now built into the MacBooks and iMacs but there are times when you need an iSight that you can reposition. Or what about the Mac Minis and Mac Pros? I'd like to see Apple release a USB 2.0 stand alone iSight that is Mac or PC compatible. While they're at it, I'd also like to see iChat available as an option on PCs. Yes, I know that video chats are supposed to work with PC users on AOL Instant Messenger, but I've yet to get that to work.
802.11n enabled Airport Express
I love my Airport Express, but I use it quite a lot to listen to podcasts while I'm cooking dinner and every time I turn on the microwave my music drops out. It's really annoying. Besides, if I'm running all new Macs on an 802.11n network, I don't want my Airport Express to be the only 802.11g device that brings the speed of my down.
802.11n and SuperDrives across the board.
While we're on the topic of 802.11n why isn't it an option in a Mac Mini? And by the way, it's 2008. Isn't it about time for the combo drive to be dead? Let's go ahead and go SuperDrive all the way. And while we're at it, how about a BTO option for a BlueRay drive on the high end Macs?
Bento becomes a part of iWork.
I've been playing around with the beta of Bento, and what struck me most of all is how "Apple like" it is. Then i realized, duh, FileMaker is owned by Apple. Bento is a nice little app and the price is reasonable. But we've got a word processor, spreadsheet, and presentation program all in iWork. Go ahead and round out the suite with a basic database app as well. Hey, if you throw in MacPaint 2008 it could practically be AppleWorks all over again.
.Mac Backup works more like "Time Machine Light"
I am really enjoying Time Machine with Leopard, and I do perform regular backups of selected files to my .Mac account using Apple's Backup utility. And while Backup is okay, there are a lot of issues. You have the technology, so go all out. I'd like to see Backup have more functionality like Time Machine, though obviously on a more selected basis since you're backing up a much smaller group of files to .Mac than to your external hard drive. Think of it as "Time Machine Light."
The MacCore featured in iTunes.
Ok this last one I think has a real shot. We're working to really improve the quality of The MacCore by producing better podcasts and being more active on the website. It's going to take a little while to really get things ramped up, but I hope by the end of the year we'll have the honor of at least once, being one of Apple's featured podcasts.
All DRM Free Music in iTunes
Steve got things started last year with his "Thoughts on Music" and EMI and others offering iTunes plus tracks. We've seen most of the major labels begin to offer at least some of their music available in DRM free formats on other services. Apple's iTunes still has the dominance in the digital music download business, so the question is can they use that dominance to persuade the labels to go all DRM free?
iTunes Movie Rental Service
Apple has always stood by the line that people want to own their music, not rent it. But is the same true for Movies? The rumor mills are buzzing with talk of an iTunes Movie Rental Service and this would make the struggling. AppleTV a much more compelling product purchase. I'd like to see $3.99 or less movie downloads that expire no less than 24 hours after you first start viewing them through iTunes and available also on the AppleTV.
A More Compelling AppleTV
I love my Apple TV, but the problem right now is that unless you've spent a fortune at the iTunes store or you watch a lot of video Podcasts, it's an awful big chunk of money to spend for not a lot of content. An iTunes movie rental service would go a big step towards filling that void. But perhaps not far enough. I'd like to see Apple buy or partner with TiVo to offer DVR capabilities for the Apple TV. The storage space will no doubt need a bump to accommodate a DVR, and I'd like to have the option to hang my own USB drive off the back for easy add on storage. I'd also like to see about a $100 price drop, or at least one model that has a lower entry price. And while I'm still dreaming here about the AppleTV I'd also like to see it get some Internet capabilities. I don't necessarily need a full computer, but I'd like to see a built in Safari, iChat (that works with an optional USB iSight I'd like to see below), and Mail. Then I'd probably never have to leave my living room.
Smaller MacBook with iMac like docking station
I must admit I didn't even dream this one up until I saw the allegedly leaked patent filings on the rumor sites earlier this week. But I haven't been able to stop thinking about it ever since. This one has me drooling. While I love my 13" MacBook, I loved the form factor of my 12" Powerbook more. But having a smaller MacBook with the ability to "dock" it with a 24" iMac would be killer. Jonathan Ive could probably dream up the details a lot better than I could, so I'll leave the specifics to him.
A better iCal
This one seems minor I know, but iCal just kills me. The "to do" support is absolutely abysmal. Why can't I create a recurring to do without hacking the system? Why can't I organize my tasks simply by what's due today, this week, or this month? Why does iCal, well, suck? When office 2008 comes out, if something hasn't changed, I'm going to have to seriously look at switching back. Come on Apple, the core is there, just polish it up a bit. Or, here's an opportunity for all you third party developers.
2nd Gen Phone
Some of this could be offered through a software update, and I'd like to see software updates continue to be available for the first generation iPhones. But in the next version I'd like to see bigger models, at least 16GB and preferably 32GB. Once the battery life concerns are addressed I think 3G data support is a must. And can you imagine Google maps with true GPS enabled? I'd also like to see the ability to store files on the phone with perhaps a mini-finder and some basic word processing functions. I'd also like to see better syncing capabilities. I can't believe that after all this time it sill can't sync notes and tasks with Mail and iCal. Exchange support is an absolute must.
New HD Displays with a built-in iSight at reasonable prices.
There's no question that Apple's displays are gorgeous. But they are very price, especially when you compare them to a competitor like Dell. I'd like to see Apple release new displays, include a built-in iSight, and bring their prices down more in line with their competitors.
Stand alone USB 2.0 iSight with PC compatible iChat.
What happened to the iSignt? I get that it's now built into the MacBooks and iMacs but there are times when you need an iSight that you can reposition. Or what about the Mac Minis and Mac Pros? I'd like to see Apple release a USB 2.0 stand alone iSight that is Mac or PC compatible. While they're at it, I'd also like to see iChat available as an option on PCs. Yes, I know that video chats are supposed to work with PC users on AOL Instant Messenger, but I've yet to get that to work.
802.11n enabled Airport Express
I love my Airport Express, but I use it quite a lot to listen to podcasts while I'm cooking dinner and every time I turn on the microwave my music drops out. It's really annoying. Besides, if I'm running all new Macs on an 802.11n network, I don't want my Airport Express to be the only 802.11g device that brings the speed of my down.
802.11n and SuperDrives across the board.
While we're on the topic of 802.11n why isn't it an option in a Mac Mini? And by the way, it's 2008. Isn't it about time for the combo drive to be dead? Let's go ahead and go SuperDrive all the way. And while we're at it, how about a BTO option for a BlueRay drive on the high end Macs?
Bento becomes a part of iWork.
I've been playing around with the beta of Bento, and what struck me most of all is how "Apple like" it is. Then i realized, duh, FileMaker is owned by Apple. Bento is a nice little app and the price is reasonable. But we've got a word processor, spreadsheet, and presentation program all in iWork. Go ahead and round out the suite with a basic database app as well. Hey, if you throw in MacPaint 2008 it could practically be AppleWorks all over again.
.Mac Backup works more like "Time Machine Light"
I am really enjoying Time Machine with Leopard, and I do perform regular backups of selected files to my .Mac account using Apple's Backup utility. And while Backup is okay, there are a lot of issues. You have the technology, so go all out. I'd like to see Backup have more functionality like Time Machine, though obviously on a more selected basis since you're backing up a much smaller group of files to .Mac than to your external hard drive. Think of it as "Time Machine Light."
The MacCore featured in iTunes.
Ok this last one I think has a real shot. We're working to really improve the quality of The MacCore by producing better podcasts and being more active on the website. It's going to take a little while to really get things ramped up, but I hope by the end of the year we'll have the honor of at least once, being one of Apple's featured podcasts.
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