This was an interesting question I heard just yesterday, and no one less than the CEO of Netflix himself, asked it.  He raised a really good point, too, one that I figured would be great to bring to you guys and hash it out.

See, most of the internet companies out there are whining and complaining about how Netflix’s streaming video service is jamming up their pipes and making it impossible to continue making obscene piles of money on the cheap, as well as destroying demand for cable TV.  After all, the networks say, who in their right mind would continue to watch the preset program array, laden with commercials, that is cable when you can get your TV your way with no commercials cheaper on Netflix?

Netflix, meanwhile, doesn’t really deny any of that, but says that their streaming video service is actually DRIVING demand for cable internet services, because people want the biggest, fastest pipes possible to get their TV their way with no commercials cheaper.

This lead to the comparison–if Apple could sell more Macs because they worked with iPods, then cable can sell twenty meg internet because it works with Netflix!

Pay attention, cable companies…it’s a smart move.

So one of the most hotly contested items in the Apple community, the Blu-ray drive for iMacs, is apparently still some time off, according to sources.

Despite the addition of Blu-ray burning capability to the iMac’s Final Cut Studio software, which definitely sounded like tacit approval, the addition of Blu-ray itself is apparently not going to happen.  At least, not any time soon–check this out:

…but company chief Steve Jobs has famously described the 50GB disc format as a “bag of hurt” due to the copyright protection and licensing problems associated with the technology. The drives also remain more expensive than DVD drives even for combo drives, or those that can only read Blu-ray but can still write DVDs.

This means, of course, adding Blu-ray would only make the already pricey iMac a whole lot more so, and that’s the last thing Apple needs in a downed economy worldwide with PC makers already scoring serious points off Apple for overpriced hardware.  Add all of these together and you get one inexorable conclusion–it’ll be a while before Blu-ray becomes feasible to add to the iMac.

Should Apple buy Sonos?

That’s a question that’s been bouncing around CNet for most of the day today, based on analysis found in a white paper from William Blair analysts, that summarized their findings thusly:

• Apple should enter the home audio networking market to extend iTunes and provide subscription services;
• Sonos would round out Apple’s lineup;
• There’s a lot of headroom in the home audio networking market.

such a move would definitely be a win-win situation for both sides: Apple gets a home networking giant   with a huge line of compatible tech, which allows it to improve market penetration for its iPod line, while in turn Sonos gets a huge bump to its stock price, at least two dollars a share by William Blair’s estimates.  Frankly I figure it would probably do a little bit better than that, because a company no one’s ever heard of getting bought by one of the biggest names in the industry is a lot like Google buying Timmy’s Tech World.  Plenty of opportunists will want to get in as close to the ground floor as possible,  And do so while the stock price is still relatively cheap.

So it probably would be for the best if Apple did buy Sonos, though I do have to wonder if Apple may not be better served by improving its own internal development first.  But, nothing like hitting the ground running.

The Apple TV has been on the market sometime now, making the ability to stream content from your connected computer to your TV a breeze. However, recent reports suggest that Apple may be moving away from the set top box market, and into the actual TV market.

News comes to us from Apple analyst Gene Munster who says the company will enter the TV market sometime by 2011, effectively bringing us an Apple branded TV.

If/when this goes down you can expect two things; a lot of white hardware and a large price tag.

Read (CNN)

SlingPlayer Mobile has recently announced that they have submitted their SlingPlayer 1.1 iPhone app for App Store approval.

This updated version of the software will feature 16:9 widescreen support and DISH Network integration. As for the rest of the world, your version of Slingplayer will actually be able to stream media over 3G, something that AT&T has been none too fond of.

We’ll let you know once the software is made available if/when it is approved.

via EngadgetHD

Rumors have recently been circulating the web that suggest the next version of Apple’s iTunes will in fact be getting Blu-ray support. If these rumors prove themselves to be true it could potentially mean that once Apple updates their current line of laptop and desktop offerings there will be an option for a Blu-ray drive.

As with any rumor, you’re going to have to take this with a grain of salt until iTunes 9 is officially released later this year.

via Pocket-lint

If you’re looking to get your iPod’s content onto your TV hasslefree, Onyko may have a solution for you, pictured above is this ND-S1 iPod dock.

This dock will reportedly feature digital audio output, composite oupot and support for audio playback. Additionally, Onyko will throw in a USB port for iTunes connection.

Now, you’d think with an iPod touch docked in the above picture this thing would also be compatible with Apple’s iPhone, right? Wrong, the dock is only compatible with the iPod touch, classic and nano. What gives?

via Engadget

CinemaView unveils a couple of LCD display solutions suited for the PC and home theater users. But this time, they are catering to Apple, a company that they believe will still come out on top as far as consumer video entertainment is concerned.

The two new solutions from Cinemaview are a 24” and 47” HD LCD display armed with Mini Display Ports as well as a full featured headless TV system with full HD TV features.

The two new CinemaView displays have the 16:9 cinematic aspect ratio and 1920×1080 resolution that is well suited for viewing either movies, HD TV, or data. These displays makes a terrific companion to a Mac, connecting by Mini DisplayPort, and routing USB 2.0 through the same cable from the Mac to the display’s four port USB 2.0 hub.

• CinemaView 24 LCD display will be available in October 2009 ($499)
• CinemaView 47 LCD display will be available in January 2010 ($1499)
• CinemaView TV will be available in January 2010 ($399)

(Source) Press

It’s not just Apple that’s insisting on mini DisplayPort monitors as another company has decided to make some similar monitors of their own. Collins America has announced three new CinemaView displays which feature that mini DisplayPort.

The 19-inch monitor features a 1440 x 900 resolution and costs $299. The 20-inch version has a 1650 x 1050 resolution and cost $399 while the 24-inch version will cost $499 and will sport a 1920 x 1080 resolution. Besides the mini DisplayPort they will all feature 3 USB ports, pass through stereo audio ports, and an all-in-one cable. The displays will arrive before September 1 you have plenty of time to decide if you want one.

via cinemaview

If you own a Mac and want to stream some content from Netflix then you should install the Plex Media player. The program will let you do pretty much anything. You can listen to music, check your email, view photos and watch TV shows from DVDs or other streaming sources and even emulate games. And now you can stream videos from Netflix. Here’s one more reason why good old Blockbuster is going down while Netflix is gaining more and more momentum. At this rate they’ll find a way to stream movies to any gadget as long as you’re willing to pay for them.

via Plex

Apple is considering selling its 17-inch iMacs for $899. That’s according to an Apple Education page written for March. The catch is that Apple has 20- and 24-inch models available but not 17-inch versions. Should we consider it a leak? Will we see 17-inch iMac all-in-ones arrive soon? We’ll keep you updated! Maybe a 17-inch iMac is just the Apple Education product you needed.

via Gizmodo

Apple has just announced that it will offer HD movie rentals and purchases from the iTunes store and Amazon is eager to follow Apple’s example. HD content is apparently coming soon to Amazon’s Video on Demand service. Google has already indexed Amazon pages which show the prices too. HD episodes like the Law & Order ones above will sell for $2.99 per episode. The shows aren’t exactly available just yet but probably Amazon is going to make an official announcement soon.

via newteevee

Ever since the Mac mini was released I’ve always thought of how good of an addition it would make, coupled with an external harddrive, for a home theater.

Well today Apple announced that they are pumping up the power on their little machine. Apparently, the new videocard, Nvidia 9400M, is 5 times better than the previous one. It will also include more RAM, dual display support, and more USB ports.

The prices won’t be bumped up, they will stay at $599 for the lesser model and $699 for the more powerful model.

Read (Apple)

Rumors say that Apple will not replenish your stock of 20-inch Cinema Displays if you’re a reseller. The Cupertino-based company might want to introduce a new 20-inch display wearing LED backlighting and Mini DisplayPort compatibility. You know, just like the 24-inch model. Or Apple is simply discontinuing the whole 20-inch line in favor of those 24- and 30-inch displays. There’s no official word from Apple yet on the matter but we’ll keep you posted.

via MacRumors

Apple is slowing moving in the video on demand service. Or so do the confirmed rumors say. The next version of iTunes will probably bring you that video on-demand service. The service will be called iTunes Replay and it will “allow users to stream their iTunes video purchases directly from the company’s servers for playback anywhere, anytime without eating up local storage.”

Is Apple going to go ahead and compete against Netflix soon?

via

If you own one of those Apple notebooks that have a Mini DisplayPort then stick to it. An adapter from Mini DisplayPort to HDMI should be released soon by Monoprice, a discount cable outlet. The adapter will cost $14.25 and it will start selling on March 15th. Besides this one, two other adapters are going to arrive on the same date to help you transfer that Mini DisplayPort signal to DVI or VGA.

Apple doesn’t have an own adapter ready to offer you HDMI connectivity although it does have MiniDisplayPort to VGA or DVI which cost both $29.
Will Apple offer better solutions to movie lovers when it comes to HDMI connectivity? We’re a long way from a new line of Apple Macs to arrive so you’ll just have to make do with that HDMI adapter coming next month.

via monoprice

We’ve seen our share of all-in-one PCs so far and we’re bound to see even more. One particularly interesting all-in-one computer should be the new iMac which might arrive soon enough. Apple has informed its retailers that current iMacs might not be that available in the following weeks which means that production might have been slowed down or in order to make room for the new models. So when are we going to get the new iMacs? We’re expecting a new Intel processor, maybe a quad-core CPU, and an NVIDIA GPU to go along with that. What about the screen sizes? Are we going to see any changes in that?

Apple doesn’t have any official announcement yet but we’re keeping our eyes wide open for you.

via AppleInsider

If stereoscopic 3G videos and games is what you were looking for then you should be interested in the new Mini DisplayPort connector which is being added to VESA’s DisplayPort 1.2 specifications. The update will double the available bandwidth to 5.4 Gbps which means you can get 1920×1080 stereoscopic 3D images. It will also support four 1920×1200 screens or a massive 3840×2160 display. We’d surely like to play with the new 1.2 standard but unfortunately it will only be published by the middle of the year. We will be back with the official announcement by then!

Did Apple launch its first touchscreen 24-inch LED Cinema Display? We’d love to announce that for you but Apple hasn’t officially launched any touchscreen displays yet.

Troll Touch however has a little slip ready to be mounted over the screen. Plug it into a USB port and there you have it: a touchscreen LED Cinema Display.

The whole ensemble will cost $2,299. Or you can just pay $1,399 to purchase the Troll Tech upgrade for your current Cinema Display.

LG has convinced Apple that its LCD displays are the best solutions for Apple’s future computers. The Cupertino-based company has signed a deal with LG for the next 5 years. We don’t know all the details but this much is clear, Apple will be paying $500 million in advanced. Did LG just become cooler by association? We might see LG increase their sales over the following months. They’d just need to stick a quote like “Trusted by Apple” near that “Life Is Good”.

We might see new LED Cinema Displays in the future and we might see better displays in the future Macs, Minis and iMacs. LG is making 70% of those LCD already anyway.