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[Tobor]

Then maybe you should get a real PC?

Spoiler

Just kidding.

The difference is that you can do real multitasking on a PC. I'm looking at my monitors and can see my Twitter lists, my IM contacts, my e-mail, my browser and I can quickly access my music library at the same time, without having to switch between them. Well, I do switch between the apps with my mouse, but I don't have to interrupt my work/browsing/movie watching when I'm doing it.

And that's why, my dear crack addict with a tag, I refuse to consider the iPad as a "PC" and why FS apps on the PC are BS.

That's the argument? Not having windowed apps on a 10" screen? I was hoping for something a little grander.

A lot of what you're talking about is handled through notifications. I don't need my email and Twitter open at all times when I am alerted to new activity regardless of the open app. And again, the end result is the same. It's as easy for me to access the music player on my iPad as it is to call up iTunes on the dock.

 

[Cheebo]

What I find interesting is Tim Cook seems even more insistent that Tablets will completely replace the home PC moreso than even Steve Jobs did.

I doubt Cook will be as forceful in making sure everything is kept insanely simple on iOS as Jobs was, he seems far more interested in iOS being a full computer replacement OS than Jobs was.

It's going to be interesting to watch how iOS grows without Steve Jobs. I'd say we are far more likely to get file management and "true" multi-tasking in iOS under Cook than we were under Jobs.

 

[klausbert]

The difference is that you can do real multitasking on a PC. I'm looking at my monitors and can see my Twitter lists, my IM contacts, my e-mail, my browser and I can quickly access my music library at the same time, without having to switch between them. Well, I do switch between the apps with my mouse, but I don't have to interrupt my work/browsing/movie watching when I'm doing it.

And that's why, my dear crack addict with a tag, I refuse to consider the iPad as a "PC" and why FS apps on the PC are BS.

So you don't consider machines running DOS PCs. I guess you should think about your definition of PC for a second.

 

[Cheebo]

So you don't consider machines running DOS PCs. I guess you should think about your definition of PC for a second.

The definition of PC is so broad now. It's impossible to limit what is and isn't a PC since so many devices can run PC like software and tasks. It's a definition that is pretty outdated to try to apply to things nowadays.

 

[noah111]

I can definitely see iPad iOS inching away from iPhone style and incorporating more Lion-esq qualities.

Just imagine that five finger gesture to the app, being applied to something like an expose/mission control type view.

The first step is definitely the lock screen, though, that shit needs to be revamped. They're on the right track with eliminating it completely via smart cases, though.

 

[Tobor]

The definition of PC is so broad now. It's impossible to limit what is and isn't a PC since so many devices can run PC like software and tasks. It's a definition that is pretty outdated to try to apply to things nowadays.

For the purposes of this discussion, PC means desktop/laptop. That's what Jobs was specifically referring to when he made the infamous "Post PC era" remarks.

 

[maniac-kun]

Get your crap together Apple. I want my iPad 3

 

[brotkasten]

That's the argument? Not having windowed apps on a 10" screen? I was hoping for something a little grander.

A lot of what you're talking about is handled through notifications. I don't need my email and Twitter open at all times when I am alerted to new activity regardless of the open app. And again, the end result is the same. It's as easy for me to access the music player on my iPad as it is to call up iTunes on the dock.

I obviously don't want window management on an iPad, I just explained why the desktop is more than an app launcher for me. I know that you can do all that on an iPad, but it's definitely not the same experience. All that in-out-in-out multitasking is pretty annoying, imo.

 

[Cheebo]

For the purposes of this discussion, PC means desktop/laptop. That's what Jobs was specifically referring to when he made the infamous "Post PC era" remarks.

Yet most industry sales trackers like Canalys, IDG, and NPD include tablets in PC sales now.

 

[LCfiner]

If the iPad is a post PC product and we are living in a post PC world...

but the iPad is also a PC...


then why we still got iPads?

 

[Cheebo]

IF we go by how the industry track sales then there are 4 types of PC's:

Desktops, Laptops (you can include stuff like Ultrabooks in here), Tablets, & Netbooks.

 

[kehs]

I've never understood this argument. My Mac is nothing but an app launcher.

You fall into the large segment of PC users that have a PC that's excessive for their needs.

 

[Good Job Bob]

Then maybe you should get a real PC?

Spoiler

Just kidding.

The difference is that you can do real multitasking on a PC. I'm looking at my monitors and can see my Twitter lists, my IM contacts, my e-mail, my browser and I can quickly access my music library at the same time, without having to switch between them. Well, I do switch between the apps with my mouse, but I don't have to interrupt my work/browsing/movie watching when I'm doing it.

And that's why, my dear crack addict with a tag, I refuse to consider the iPad as a "PC" and why FS apps on the PC are BS.

So when the iPad inevitably gets enough RAM to multi-task without any hitches, you'll be cool?

 

[brotkasten]

So when the iPad inevitably gets enough RAM to multi-task without any hitches, you'll be cool?

Nope, but that's not my point. I'm okay with iOS being an app launcher, but saying the PC is just the same, is kinda ridiculous. But I guess Tobor likes full screen apps on the Mac as well. In that case, I'll agree with giga's post.

 

[Tobor]

You fall into the large segment of PC users that have a PC that's excessive for their needs.

Almost true. There a few tasks I still need a traditional computer for.

My point was that fundamentally, all OS's are app launchers. You can't sit at a computer with no apps running and get anything done. You can move files around and have apps run in windows, that's the only substantial difference.

Nope, but that's not my point. I'm okay with iOS being an app launcher, but saying the PC is just the same, is kinda ridiculous. But I guess Tobor likes full screen apps on the Mac as well. In that case, I'll agree with giga's post.

I guess what I don't understand is how you view "app launcher" as if it's a negative.

 

[LCfiner]

Almost true. There a few tasks I still need a traditional computer for.

My point was that fundamentally, all OS's are app launchers. You can't sit at a computer with no apps running and get anything done. You can move files around and have apps run in windows, that's the only substantial difference.



I guess what I don't understand is how you view "app launcher" as if it's a negative.

I think if your expectation is to have more glanceable information on the home screen, then an app launcher is a negative. It really depends on how someone uses their computers and manages their mail, feeds, etc. it's a very personal thing and can differ a lot from one person to another

I'm OK that I need to open twitteriffic in iOS to see the feed instead of just scrolling over an idle window of the app on mac OS. I think the full screen nature of apps in iOS works well for lots of things like that. I don't think the screen is big enough to leave that info on the screen at once without feeling cluttered (see: any netbook screen or even the 11" macbook air)

But for other people, it feels like a constriction and they much, much prefer having everything glance-able at once on the desktop. so an "app launcher" is a negative.

 

[Gamecocks625]

What I find interesting is Tim Cook seems even more insistent that Tablets will completely replace the home PC moreso than even Steve Jobs did.

I doubt Cook will be as forceful in making sure everything is kept insanely simple on iOS as Jobs was, he seems far more interested in iOS being a full computer replacement OS than Jobs was.

It's going to be interesting to watch how iOS grows without Steve Jobs. I'd say we are far more likely to get file management and "true" multi-tasking in iOS under Cook than we were under Jobs.

Except Cook never said that. In the quote below, he is simply reiterating what Jobs said in a D8 conference a few years ago when he said PCs will always be around but be relegated to that of a truck. Tablets won't completely replace PCs but certainly they will satisfy the needs of more and more people in the near future.

"Tim Cook reiterated his view that rapid innovation on the iOS platform (and mobile OS platforms in general) will significantly broaden the use case for tablets, eventually pushing annual tablet volumes above those of traditional PCs. We have wondered whether Apple might offer an ARM-based version of MacBook Air at some point; we walked away from this meeting with the impression that Apple feels iPad satisfies--or will soon satisfy--the needs of those who might have been interested in such a product."

 

[brotkasten]

Do you guys think I'll finally able to browse GAFs picture threads, when I get an iPad 3?

Because right now it's a bit like this:
*looks at the subscriptions*
"Ah, yeah, I'm gonna check this thread out"
*loads*
"Aww crap, it's a picture thread! Abort, abort!"
*browser becomes unresponsive*
"I said abort, or you'll cra--"
*browser crashes*
"Damn."

 

[Good Job Bob]

Do you guys think I'll finally able to browse GAFs picture threads, when I get an iPad 3?

Considering they're perfect on the iPad 2, yeah.

 

[bob page]

Do you guys think I'll finally able to browse GAFs picture threads, when I get an iPad 3?

I've never had any issues with caching/performance while browsing on the iPad 2.

 

[Pachterballs]

stupid JAMIE magazine (jamie oliver) - I think they pulled it off appstore? Its not there anymore and the only way to find it is to go into my history to reinstall.

I keep having issues trying to download the mags. And then the one I downloaded won't install right so I can't even read it despite having paid for it.

reckon I should get a refund! what a ripoff.

 

[Cheebo]

Do you guys think I'll finally able to browse GAFs picture threads, when I get an iPad 3?

Because right now it's a bit like this:
*looks at the subscriptions*
"Ah, yeah, I'm gonna check this thread out"
*loads*
"Aww crap, it's a picture thread! Abort, abort!"
*browser becomes unresponsive*
"I said abort, or you'll cra--"
*browser crashes*
"Damn."

It already works without a hitch

 

[brotkasten]

Considering they're perfect on the iPad 2, yeah.

I've never had any issues with caching/performance while browsing on the iPad 2.

Thank God. I'm looking forward to get a new one next month.

It already works without a hitch

I should've added that I'm using the original iPad computer.

 

[MercuryLS]

Thank God. I'm looking forward to get a new one next month.



I should've added that I'm using the original iPad computer.

Yeah iPad 1 sucks for heavy web browsing, iPad 2 is a million times better, iPad 3 should be better still (especially if they add 1gig of ram this time).

 

[Blackhead]

The Problem With The iOS Home Screen

The problem Apple needs to overcome is that the Home screen tries to be a real object while providing access to the gates of the digital world. To reinvent it, Apple needs to tear apart the whole concept and rebuild it from the ground up.

The Annoyment Center

One of the biggest new features in iOS 5 is the revamping of the notification system — this has been long overdue. The problem with the new notification system, though, is how the centralized 'Notification Center' works.

Multitasking

However, the argument that multitasking on computers is bad because humans can't multitask is flawed. It uses the word «multitasking» in two different ways, but implies that the two kinds of multitasking are somehow the same thing. They're not: a task (or an app) on a computer, and a task performed by a human don't map to each other one-to-one. In fact, a single task performed by a human can easily make use of several applications running concurrently on a computer.

Apps and Docs in iOS

The Macintosh has always had a notion of documents associated with an application. Double-click a document's icon in the Finder and the associated application launches and opens that document...

Starting with iOS 3.2, the iPad (and now, with iOS 4.0, the iPhone and iPod touch) has had a mechanism for associating document types with apps. But the two are scarcely comparable: the Macintosh mechanism is like a rocket ship, and the iPhone mechanism is like one of those jalopies that flaps its wings and crashes into a barn in the silent movies.

Ownership and Access Control

I think the iOS group sees files as something you are under pressure to manage. In particular, it sees files for everything as a generic solution, and by applying Apple philosophy, it thinks that most of the problems that can be solved using files and applications are instead better solved in a task-specific way for each task. They want for there to be an app for that instead...

Or for that matter, look at your home screens... Springboard is the new Program Manager.

Organizing Documents in iOS

Organizing documents based on their app is akin to organizing notes based on the pencil you used to write them.

iOS lacks a document filing system

two examples of iPad-using people... are the Macalope and Harry McCracken. And these examples have something in common: in all three cases, once the work is done, the documents are sent, handled, stored, etc. by either a corporate server, or a publishing CMS, or some other similar infrastructure. Here the iPad only needs to make a good job of storing the document for the time necessary to complete it; once done and sent, the document can even be removed from the device...

does it really matter for working on iOS to depend a corporate, publishing, design studio, etc. infrastructure?... it's not really a good idea for Apple to make iOS dependent on such an infrastructure, as then Apple will not be able to control aspects of the experience it likely cares about, and will not be able to define, for instance, the modern notion of how to encapsulate user creations (I can imagine Apple getting past the concept of documents themselves and introducing something new), or how document typing information is represented. Whereas if iOS devices had a document filing system worthy of its name, but could also still be used in such an infrastructure as they can today, then Apple could define the rules and external infrastructure would follow the lead. Currently, iOS devices are more akin to terminals when it comes to working on them; not quite VT-100 or Chromebooks, but you get the idea.

Redefinition

Some people will say "real people don't care about the file system". Well, okay, sure. Real people still group materials together from multiple applications into one folder for whatever project it is they're working on. Real people still aren't satisfied with a row of chronologically ordered, scrollable thumbnails where the only recourse for secrecy is removal, and the only recourse for reordering is frail and time-consuming and involves re-saving everything...

"Real people don't care about concurrently running programs". Nope, but they care about multi-tasking and moving information around, which is why the multitasking bar and copy-paste were such welcome features and why even confused extended family members of mine use them even when they call and ask for help about doing the same thing in Windows.

"Real people don't care about Bluetooth profiles". No, but they care about being able to send things to their computers, or to other phones — they don't sit up all night and think about it, but they rightfully get mad when it's not there. "Real people don't care about lack of hardware access". No, but if they bought a book app and they can't turn down the backlight in it, they blame whoever made the app...

The successor to flawed organization isn't no organization. It's time to salvage from PCs what still works so well.

 

[Betta Lines]

Thank God. I'm looking forward to get a new one next month.

I should've added that I'm using the original iPad computer.

Just to add to this, I'd say the only problems I've had with iPad 2 is massive gif-heavy pages. It never crashes but the gifs often run at half speed or less.

 

[LCfiner]

I was checking this thread on my phone and jumped to the bottom of the page. As I scrolled up and up and up... and up to start reading the latest post, I knew it had to be Greyface.

yup

anyway, good post. there are lots of good ideas to expand what iOS can do behind the scenes. I figure Apple will get to some of them eventually. As long as the user interface does not get excessively complex (it is more complex now that it was 4 years ago but a lot of that complexity is hidden from basic users), I can see Apple making some changes for data sharing and adding a bit more powerful features.

 

[Cheebo]

iOS is still a pretty damn new operating system. The Mac OS has been around for decades to grow and refine. It will get there. Based on Tim Cook's recent comments about iPad matching a lot of the needs of a MacBook Air eventually with a rapidly evolving iOS it is clear Apple intends iOS to continue to grow and gain more of a deep operating system.

We'll see "true" multi-tasking and a file system in a iOS sort of fashion at some point. Will it be iOS 6? Probably not but I'd say before we his iOS 10 we'll have those things.

 

[Pachterballs]

I want a bluetooth keyboard for my ipad. I'm on the couch on my wireless keyboard typing a response to this; but I'd be in my room in bed with the ipad if I had one. Time to order one methinks.

 

[noah111]

We'll see "true" multi-tasking and a file system in a iOS sort of fashion at some point. Will it be iOS 6? Probably not but I'd say before we his iOS 10 we'll have those things.

I'm secretly hoping they'll have it all set by the tenth iteration so they can call it 'iOS X'.

 

[mrklaw]

I want a bluetooth keyboard for my ipad. I'm on the couch on my wireless keyboard typing a response to this; but I'd be in my room in bed with the ipad if I had one. Time to order one methinks.

whats the best? Basic Apple bluetooth keyboard, or one of the logitech keyboard/cases, or the Zagg one?

 

[Blackhead]

I was checking this thread on my phone and jumped to the bottom of the page. As I scrolled up and up and up... and up to start reading the latest post, I knew it had to be Greyface.

yup

anyway, good post. there are lots of good ideas to expand what iOS can do behind the scenes. I figure Apple will get to some of them eventually. As long as the user interface does not get excessively complex (it is more complex now that it was 4 years ago but a lot of that complexity is hidden from basic users), I can see Apple making some changes for data sharing and adding a bit more powerful features.

On the other hand Ownership and Access Control

I've long mulled over Apple's specific behavior in this field.

First, Steve Jobs didn't like file systems. Reading the biography (which was the first book I read about Apple or Steve Jobs ever if you exclude the Folklore stories that became Revolution in the Valley) has been illuminating on many levels, not the least that Steve was more critical than I knew about customer control over the things they owned. He was relentless against distractions and if something could be tied to tradition, it would have to make its case twice as hard to make the cut. He didn't see Mac Spotlight and iOS as potential improvements or as new tools in the toolbox, but as replacements. I am told that Scott Forstall hold most of Steve's ideas dear, so I think this may still be a factor.

The trend doesn't look good:

Last week I fell in love with Launch Center ($0.99) from App Cubby, an iPhone app that lets you create one-tap shortcuts for frequently performed tasks like composing an email, launching an app, updating Twitter and more...

Update: Reader Aaron wrote with good and bad news. First the good. You can get to personal hotspot with "prefs:root=INTERNET_TETHERING." The bad news is, "…in the current iOS beta, none on these system pref URL's work anymore." Drat.

*sigh* only Siri can save us...

In other news
iPad tip: 'phantom' keys in the middle of the split keyboard

Does anybody still use the split keyboard? This tip would have encouraged me to use it more often.

Scraping the barrel
Supposed next-gen iPod Nano with camera leaks again, clip back in tow

hmm... Perhaps the next event won't be only on iPads unless Apple plans to start delivering silent/website-only updates for the iPods. I'd love to see the iPod Touch get refreshed next month.

 

[mrklaw]

. I'd love to see the iPod Touch get refreshed next month.

at some point, presumably it becomes more expensive for Apple to keep the old ipod touch architecture, and moving to A5 would be more efficient. Surely they can't let it stagnate for a 3rd year?

 

[Cheebo]

Think of it this way. We are on iOS 5.0, we didn't even get copy/paste till 3.0 and no multi-tasking till 4.0. Things are moving rapidly as the iOS is growing and blurring the lines between iOS and OSX. Who knews where it will be in just 2 iterations.

 

[japtor]

anyway, good post. there are lots of good ideas to expand what iOS can do behind the scenes. I figure Apple will get to some of them eventually. As long as the user interface does not get excessively complex (it is more complex now that it was 4 years ago but a lot of that complexity is hidden from basic users), I can see Apple making some changes for data sharing and adding a bit more powerful features.

I'm wondering if they're going to do something with the home screen and other systemwide stuff (Spotlight, Notification Center, app switcher, etc) soon now that the iPad is pretty established. Not a completely different overhaul, but some way of taking advantage of the extra screen space beyond...just extra space like it is now.

I figure some things will be like notifications where the issues of the existing implementation eventually bug enough people (including themselves) that they can't ignore them. Of course they'll take a while to try to make sure whatever changes don't fuck things up for them down the line.

whats the best? Basic Apple bluetooth keyboard, or one of the logitech keyboard/cases, or the Zagg one?

The keyboard/case things are usually netbook sized, so keep that in mind. Logitech has some other case with a full size keyboard. The Apple one is nice, but if you want something cheaper there's a AmazonBasics one for $40 I think.

In other news
iPad tip: 'phantom' keys in the middle of the split keyboard

Does anybody still use the split keyboard? This tip would have encouraged me to use it more often.

I use it if I'm holding it from the sides and remember it. Didn't know about the phantom keys, but I noticed even if I hit the wrong key on the opposite side the autocorrect fixed it anyway (like "vall" -> "ball").

at some point, presumably it becomes more expensive for Apple to keep the old ipod touch architecture, and moving to A5 would be more efficient. Surely they can't let it stagnate for a 3rd year?

It'll cost less to keep a production line going vs changing anything at all. Yeah at some point they'll have to change but who knows when or the reason. Hell they're still selling the 3GS. Maybe the iPods will get the A5 after the A6 comes out.

 

[Cheebo]

Very great article by Mac Stories about how Apple's definition of Post-PC has evolved and how the rapid success of iPad has lead it to being more and more of a PC and Apple's key focus as an actual home computer rather than just a device:
http://www.macstories.net/stories/on-ipads-and-personal-computers-a-post-pc-retrospective/

In doing research for this piece, it occurred to me that far more people than we think are already using iPads as their primary computers. Besides collecting links and looking into my bookmark archive to see what’s changed since 2010 in how the iPad is perceived, I have talked to people who are using an iPad every day. They don’t complain about it. They don’t “consume content”: they read, write, take notes, plan business projects and look at complex diagrams with their iPads. They are students who are taking the device to classrooms, and they are managers who have discovered how better it is to fit a year’s worth of PDF reports into a tablet rather than a heavy, clunky PC. When I asked them if they thought the iPad could be a personal computer, the common response was that such a device allowed them to do the same things as before, in a new way, without the constraints of a “real” PC. Ultimately, these people echoed the underlying sentiment of my research: it’s personal, but it goes beyond a PC.

Twenty years from now, kids will wonder why we spent so much time arguing whether post-PC devices could still be defined personal computers.

Will they be able to imagine a world where touch interaction is not common & expected?

 

[FreeMufasa]

iPad 3 is so close I can't wait! My first Apple product.

 

[brotkasten]

Any new rumors? I need rumors. Something. Please!

 

[Stat Flow]

This is about the 12th time I've said this in Apple related threads, but good fucking god I'm so glad I didn't get an iPad 2. I've been with the iPad 1 for about a year now and when the iPad 3 releases it'll be SEX.

 

[japtor]

Any new rumors? I need rumors. Something. Please!

If you're nerdy this is kind of interesting: http://www.patentlyapple.com/patent...cture-will-it-take-ios-to-the-next-level.html
If this tech is in the A6 I guess it could separate it from other A9 based CPUs (if the A6 is A9 based). No clue if the improvements would make anywhere near competitive with A15s though (which should start coming out later this year).

Well there's this thing: http://www.imore.com/2012/02/06/secret-apple-project-worked-port-mac-os-ipadstyle-arm-processors/
But I wouldn't read too much into it.

 

[Jill Sandwich]

I have a juicy rumour - there'll be a new iPad this year, probably around March. Keep it on the down-low though.

 

[Cheebo]

Well there's this thing: http://www.imore.com/2012/02/06/secret-apple-project-worked-port-mac-os-ipadstyle-arm-processors/
But I wouldn't read too much into it.

Yeah, there is nothing to that. Tech companies test everything. Especially since Tim Cook came out this past week and explicitly said there won't be a ARM based MacBook Air because iPad is evolving at a rapid enough pace that it will eventually meet every need a ARM MacBook Air could provide.

 

[Gamecocks625]

This is about the 12th time I've said this in Apple related threads, but good fucking god I'm so glad I didn't get an iPad 2. I've been with the iPad 1 for about a year now and when the iPad 3 releases it'll be SEX.

I bought a 64GB iPad 2 four months ago and am selling it for $100 less than what I paid. I'm glad I went ahead and took the plunge and enjoyed this thing for a while before I upgrade to the 3. Apple products retain some serious resale value.

 

[Shanks]

I'm having an issue with my iPad 2 and was hoping someone has dealt with it before. I bought season 2 of Deadwood on iTunes and it started downloading all ~20 gigs of it so I left it going overnight. The ninth episode refuses to download though, it gets to 1.4 of 1.6 gigs and starts over continuously, sometimes not even getting that high. Sometimes I get a could not download content error and others it just starts over. I've deleted it all and tried redone loading to no avail. It won't disappear from my downloads section and the only thing I can do is pause it. Others I can swipe across to delete off the downloads page but it doesn't do anything to the trouble episode. Any ideas? I'm totally at a loss on where to go from here.

 

[Cheebo]

Did you run out of space on your iPad? If it's a 32GB I assume you hit the space limit.

This also reminds me, I really wish Apple would let us stream purchases of movies/tv shows from iTunes. There just isn't any room on any of their non-OSX based products to store more than a handful of episodes or movies.

 

[LCfiner]

Did you run out of space on your iPad? If it's a 32GB I assume you hit the space limit.

This also reminds me, I really wish Apple would let us stream purchases of movies/tv shows from iTunes. There just isn't any room on any of their non-OSX based products to store more than a handful of episodes or movies.

I definitely think this is coming. It's a natural growth of the iTunes in the cloud service.

heck, if I could stream HD movies to any (Apple) device I own, anywhere I go. well... that might make me reconsider buying blu rays just because of the extra convenience.

 

[Shanks]

Did you run out of space on your iPad? If it's a 32GB I assume you hit the space limit.

This also reminds me, I really wish Apple would let us stream purchases of movies/tv shows from iTunes. There just isn't any room on any of their non-OSX based products to store more than a handful of episodes or movies.

I have a 64 with plenty of room. I've deleted everything to retry but I'm still not having any luck. The only thing I think is that the download itself is messed up somehow but I'm unable to delete and restart it.

 

[noah111]

I definitely think this is coming. It's a natural growth of the iTunes in the cloud service.

heck, if I could stream HD movies to any (Apple) device I own, anywhere I go. well... that might make me reconsider buying blu rays just because of the extra convenience.

Just how fast is your internet connection 'anywhere you go'?

 

[Cheebo]

I definitely think this is coming. It's a natural growth of the iTunes in the cloud service.

heck, if I could stream HD movies to any (Apple) device I own, anywhere I go. well... that might make me reconsider buying blu rays just because of the extra convenience.

Seriously. A major reason I don't buy movies on iTunes is well, the HD verisions are huge. It's extremely difficult to store more than a few of them at a time. Having the ability to stream them on any Apple device whenever I want after purchasing them? I'd be buying a whole lot more. To the point of reconsidering blu-rays as well.

Just how fast is your internet connection 'anywhere you go'?

Streaming HD content on Netflix is pretty quick on any internet connection I have used, can't see why an Apple sort of service where you can stream your iTunes purchases would be much worse.

 

[LCfiner]

Just how fast is your internet connection 'anywhere you go'?

well, I know your connection is garbage (sorry) but my 3G is decent and - in time - LTE will make HD streaming a breeze in lots of metro areas.

Plus, it's not hard to be smart about this from Apples POV. they can have bitrate limited SD versions stream automatically on 3G for iPhones then have HD versions ready for wifi or LTE.

The idea of plugging in an iphone or little apple TV box in a friend's house or hotel on a visit and having your entire movie collection available is very neat. Or just logging in your account on their device and getting the content.

... I concede that netflix might end up getting there first but their selection has been so iffy in Canada that I would prefer to buy the movies and shows I like than depend on netflix to get them.