Comments on: Why Apple can't do to video what it did to music

Forrester's James L. McQuivey says it's time for Apple to change its video game plan, starting with winning NBC back.

[inachu]

Itunes movies not allowed on DVD

This is bull.

[AppleSuxLeo]

Major studios release DRM-free mp3`s

The run of iTunes/iPod as the monopoly is starting to slip. MSFT in just one upgrade has made a device that is better than Apple`s 8`th generation device that it competes with. And the iTunes software looks like a kiddie project compared to the new Zune marketplace. But what is really going to eat into Job`s monopoly is the fact that people can now download mp3`s with NO DRM that will play on any device.And there are devices now that are actually better than what Apple has to offer and have more features and play more codecs. Imagine if someone tried to sell you a CD that would only play on one brand of player. People would revolt. Well , major studios going DRM free and the new Amazon store as well as NBC pulling out of iTunes is just the beginning of the end of the Jobs monopoly. Android and Verizon opening their network will just make the closed Apple system look even worse , after all...your phone is only as good as your network , and ATT is surely no Verizon ;)Look at the top sellers in the mp3 section , and GASP ! there are now non-Apple devices. Heck , even C-net is smart enough to pick the LG Voyager over the iPhone ! Didn`t take long for others to make a better device that runs on a better network , did it ??

[technewsjunkie]

MS Fanboy

"MSFT in just one upgrade has made a device that is better than
Apple`s 8`th generation"

You're funny.

Do you actually believe what you wrote? Wishful thinking my MS
biased friend.
You are smarter than Apple and should run a multi-billion dollar
company with such insight. Maybe Steve Jobs will step down and
you can show us how to do this right.

[bneiswen]

Video on Ipod

There a plenty of tools out there that let you rip your current video collection to Itunes just like you rip Music. Handbrake is a free tool that makes the process simple (even though it takes forever.)

[thomcarl]

Another expert

who assumes he has all the answers, time will tell if he's right or
wrong. Based on past performances don't bet against Apple. The
over all premiss of the article is based on the fact that the author is
a VP of a research firm makes him the final word. That attitude is
both offensive and wrong, as well as being an insult to the reader.
Some of us like to think for ourselves.

[acheron5]

Erroneous Premise for a Hack Job

The premise of this opinion piece is flawed. Apple has always recognized the fundamental difference that exists between music and video, emphasizing this distinction on countless occassions. It has, in addition, exhibited a considerable reluctance to enter the video distribution business and doesn't seem entirely convinced that downloading TV shows is the way to go. It's efforts in this regard have been half hearted and has tipped its toes into this area very cautiously with products like Apple TV and the 5th gen iPod more to test the waters than to attempt to dominate the marketplace.

It's therefore puzzling to read this opinion piece which simply reiterates the obvious and respins a position Apple has more than once voiced as if it is somehow new or novel. Apple understands far better than the author of this tabloid quality piece the challenges of getting video content on to current and next gen hardware. To make it seem as if Apple is somehow unaware of this or that Apple has failed to accomplish something it has clearly indicated it is hesistant to do is disingenious and just bolstering the non-Mac geeks who can't give Apple credit for succeeding where others have failed or just accepted mediocrity.

[Evil Zeg]

Google + DVD to IPod Ripper = Answer

read title.

[Seaspray0]

it doesn't add up

Because taking the time and effort to rip a DVD to watch on your 4" ipod screen is so much more convienent and better than just sticking the DVD into a DVD player and watching it on a 52" big screen TV?

[flydoggie]

Why is Cnet Anti-Apple?

Why is Cnet Anti-Apple?

[jfitch]

um...

Why are you pro-apple? I don't see anti-apple in cnet, I see someone trying to not drink the cool-aid. Your response is simplistic, arrogant and assumes everyone loves apple and no criticism is allowed.

[grpaul349]

NBC?

You are making it sound like NBC is the holy grail of the digital entertainment media hub. Apparently you have never tried to use any of their services.. which are a complete joke.

[storyr]

Wow

You guys are the epitome of apple fanboys (or girls).

The Apple Fanboy (or girl) Credo

1. There is a vast, worldwide conspiracy to destroy Apple. It includes journalists, Microsoft, and the business community in general.

2. Any attack on Apple is, in addition, a personal attack on you. Retaliation for these attacks must be swift, personal, and based on the concept that ?the best defense is a good offense.?

3. Anything not entirely favorable said about the Mac, the iPod, the iPhone, or any Apple product is an attack on Apple and a personal attack on all Macintosh users. (See #2.)

4. Anything positive said about a competitor to the Mac, the iPod, the iPhone, or any Apple product is an attack on Apple and a personal attack on all Macintosh users; it must be met with an immediate counterattack that stresses the quality of the Mac compared to the PC regardless of what the original products were. (See #2 and #11.)

5. Leaving Apple or an Apple product out of any discussion to which it can be related (e.g., the graphical user interface, MP3 players) is an attack on Apple and a personal attack on all Macintosh users, no matter what the topic of the discussion. (See #2.)

6. Aside from the staff at Mac-related publications, e.g., MacWorld, the only journalists who know anything about computers are Walt Mossberg and David Pogue. (Note: ?Knowing something about computers? is synonymous with loving and praising the Mac.)

7. Whenever in a discussion with the other kind of journalist, it is important to remind him/her that he/she can?t hold a candle to them.

8. The superiority of the iPod is clearly demonstrated by its popularity. The inferiority of Windows is clearly demonstrated by its popularity.

9. No one could possibly use Windows by choice; they must do so because they don?t know any better. It?s important to educate them about the Mac as frequently and as loudly as possible.

10. It?s important to bring up viruses, Trojans, and spyware whenever discussing Windows or the Mac. Ignoring the existence of anti-virus and anti-spyware software for the PC (and the fact that it updates itself automatically), is permissible.

11. Anything good about Windows was done by Apple first. If someone likes a particular Windows program or feature, it?s a good idea remind them of Apple?s precedence ? and to point out how foolish they are for liking the Windows version. This does not apply to the two-button mouse.

12. Every discussion of any Apple product must always be brought back to how much better the Mac is than a Windows PC, regardless of the original subject.

get over it please

[ewelch]

Of course...

...responses such as your are clearly reasoned and have no bias.

You're the one sounding like a broken record here.

[rolandk10]

Too funny

I think you actually just described the thought process of most people on every opinion they could have about anything. Just replace the word "Apple" with whatever the discuission is about. Too many people view technology from an emotional point of view and completly shut their mind off to any opinion that is different from their own.

Personally, I don't give a s*** who makes the product. I've been using them all from Apple to Microsoft since the IIe. My number one bias would come from where it's made. USA first. However, it's near impossible to find 100% made in USA electronics so my next qualification, can it get the job done and third, cost versus reliability. Whether I want to take mp3's with me or write a blog, the name on the box is meaningless. It's either going to be a tool or a toy. Anyone who buys electronics for status IS a tool or a toy and to me, their opinion is not worthy of consideration.

Anyone who says Apple or Microsoft is the only company that makes reliable, easy to use products is too emotionally involved in their purchase to be taken seriously.

[ewelch]

Stating the obvious

First of all, you're stating the obvious. Apple has acknowledged
that the movie business is different than music. Steve Jobs said
so long ago when he was even doubting whether they would
even do video at all.

What you and many other pundits seem to never recognize is
that Apple doesn't need your advice. If they had listened to the
peanut gallery all those years ago, they would have given up and
stopped making computers long before the iPod arrived on the
scene. So why should they start listening now. The computer
industry never got them, and the entertainment industry doesn't
get them.

And they aren't revealing what they plan to do. So even though
you do have some good ideas here, don't pretend to be lecturing
Apple, bringing them some enlightenment. Because they are way
ahead of you and the rest of us who have no idea what they are
actually up to. Why should they listen to people who have always
been wrong in the past?

The problem with the tech research companies out there, like
Forrester, is that they live in an echo chamber in which Apple
does not reside. They tell Apple to do music subscriptions or
they will die. They didn't, and they didn't. They tell Apple to give
up OS X and run Windows, or give up their hardware and sell OS
X to PC makers. They didn't, and they didn't. They tell them to
put FM receivers in iPods. The list goes on. Doom and gloom for
Apple, and Apple proves them wrong.

I dare you to quote this article 1 year from today and see how
right, or wrong you were. If you're right, I'll be glad to admit it.
But I'm not worried about having to admit a mistake.

[barkins]

Analyst? Yeah right

I really hate to repeat what others have already said, but hello?!?! Handbrake among literally hundreds of other software out there allow you to rip DVDs! Ever heard of a thing called Google?

Google lets you search for all sorts of information, it's amazing! Go write an article about that!

And by the way, one simple reason why Apple hasn't done to video what it has to music is because they don't yet have the equivalent amount of video selection as they do of music. Once they acquire more movies for purchase, believe me, it will take over.

It's the age of space conservation and CDs/DVDs are so 1999.

[aCheckerofFacts]

Is this an opinion piece?

If so, it should be presented as such. A quick check on the the
numbers James tosses around like they're facts makes me question
his whole premise..... Research for yourselves people.

[s1apnutz]

Umm, are you an idiot?

In the headline it says "Perspective:" It has the writer's picture on the side. News journalists don't get that treatment. Didn't you learn in elementary school how to spot opinions without having to ask stupid questions?

Any more brilliant insights Sherlock?

[Ian Joyner]

A Response to McQuivey

http://www.roughlydrafted.com/2007/12/06/forresters-james-
mcquivey-announces-the-death-of-itunes-again/

[natejohnstone]

CNET is owed by Microsoft, so why the suprise?

Seriously, just quit bickering. CNET is still pretty open and "unbiased" considering that it's owned by Microsoft. Apple get's it's fair shake here more or less, but you can't expect it to be truly "pro-Apple" anymore than you can expect Roughly Drafted to be pro PC.

[MacVet]

Forrester's great record (not!)

http://www.roughlydrafted.com/2007/12/06/forresters-james-mcquivey-announces-the-death-of-itunes-again/

[libertyforall1776]

Need DVD/Blu-Ray -> H.264 conversion in iTunes!

The FIRST thing Apple needs to add is the ability to convert DVD &
Blu-Ray discs to H.264 for use with iPhone and AppleTV to iTunes
(probably should rename the app while they're at it to reflect it's
new features)...

CD conversion was a feature for years, and DVD conversion has
never been in iTunes -- THIS is what Apple needs to get
consumers into the mode of using iTunes for video...

[kool_skatkat]

What's Apple got to do with it

Is it Apple or the movie industry? It's hard to find software that can do it because of copy protection and encryption. It's illegal to tell somebody how to break both. It's time consumer rise up and get these law overturned for personal use.

[cpopken]

Movies from Itunes

I would never buy a movie from itunes for $9.99. I would just as soon buy the DVD and rip it to my computer for about the same price and be able to have a master copy for a backup. The quality of the file is a huge issue to me also because I have a 55 inch tv and I don't think itunes video would look very good and I hate watching anything on a 2.5 inch screen for very long.

[dahlenu]

Apple not the problem

It would be nice if Apple could do to video what it did to music.
Then we would have an easy way to buy video with minimal DRM. If
you leave it to the likes of NBC, or Microsoft for that matter, we will
get restricted access to content and draconian DRM.
I hope Jobs will re-consider and make a compromise with NBC.

[His SHadow]

You Are Busted

As usual, Roughly Drafted takes your silly premise apart, McQuivey. With the fact that Apple is already leading in digital downloads and will only move farther ahead, having successfully marketed the fooy-in-the-door product.

Face it. You don't understand consumers, and you understand Apple even less.

http://www.roughlydrafted.com/2007/12/12/should-apple-tv-copy-tivo-and-media-center/#more-1334

[rolandk10]

Did I miss something?

So NBC is greedy because instead of keeping their programs in a proprietary evnviornment like iTunes, they have moved it to their website and offer it for free?