The Future of Apple
Posted on February 20, 2010
The Need:
Since the turn of the century Apple evolved from a secondary computer company into the most potent force transforming media. It is the premier Digital Media innovator as evidenced by the iPod, iPhone and most recently the iPad. Basically each introduction defined a new product category or enabled an incipient one to “cross the chasm” into mass market acceptance. More of the same is expected in the future, not only from products but also from transactional services.
Most any business affected by the future of media will be directly impacted by Apple’s future innovations. Moreover, its existing product lines alone will carry the company past the $100 billion revenue threshold in less than five years.
Revenue Forecast - Percent Sales by Product Line
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Inventing the Future at Apple
Posted on January 30, 2010
Phil Leigh
As Xerox PARC pioneer Alan Kay once put it, “The best way to predict the future is to invent it”. Much like it did with the iPod and iPhone, Apple again invented the future when it introduced the iPad tablet computer in January.
From one perspective the iPad is an evolutionary extension of the iPod Touch. It uses the same operating system and user interface. Consumers familiar with the iPod Touch will quickly get the hang of the iPad. Neither device has a hard drive, or unpacks out of the box with a keyboard. Both can use the approximate 140,000 apps available at the Apps Store. The most obvious difference is the iPad screen which is about seven times larger. Read more…
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YouTube Stretches its Lead
Posted on October 10, 2009
If you want to learn one way that YouTube is extending its competitive lead, even against rivals like Hulu, this video is for you.
If you watched last week’s video podcast as a stream from our website, you may have noticed that we switched to the YouTube player from our previous Flash player. The change reflects the fact that iPhones and iPods will not display native Flash streams. However, given YouTube’s popularity, Apple developed a special application enabling the units to display YouTube Flash videos. Since Apple has sold about 40 – 50 million of the devices, we want to make it as easy as possible for users to watch Inside Digital Media on their iPhones and iPod Touches. Read more…
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Reviving the Record Labels
Posted on September 2, 2009
Phil Leigh
If you would like to learn one way the record labels might reinvigorate their business, this audio is for you.
Everybody recognizes that the Internet radically transformed the recorded music business. Apple’s iTunes online store sells more music than any retailer having displaced Wal-Mart and Target. As a consequence pre-recorded CD sales are down over 50% from ten years ago when Shawn Fanning’s Napster was set-loose, even though it was later jailed. Read more…
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The iDeal iPod
Posted on February 26, 2009
Suppose the iPod Touch had a fully functioning browser along with Bluetooth connectivity.
Such a device could connect to a flat-panel TV and display HD video on the TV screen. The on-board WiFi of the Touch would connect to the home network and thence to the Internet. Thus users could watch any Internet Video instead of only those at websites providing applications at the Apps Store. Bluetooth would enable a remote keyboard and mouse to provide a lean-back viewing experience 15 – 20 feet distant from the TV screen. Read more…
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Boxee Improves on Apple
Posted on February 11, 2009
If you would like to learn how to use a simple remote with Apple devices to watch Internet Video on TV without being limited to iTunes content, this interview is for you.
Our guest today is Avner Ronen who is the CEO and Co-Founder of Boxee. His company provides free software enabling Apple computers (and Apple TV) to display Internet Video on televisions using an interface only requiring the six-button remote that Apple itself manufactures. Read more…
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What Should Apple Do?
Posted on February 4, 2009
If you would like to learn how Apple can better participate in Third Generation Television, this audio program is for you.
Apple TV is only a modest success because it provides limited access to Internet Video. Essentially, users are restricted to videos available at the iTunes store. Although most podcasts are free, TV shows and movies must be rented or purchased at prices ranging from $2 to $15.
Once consumers realize that they can connect an ordinary laptop computer to a flat panel TV and thereby gain access to TV shows for free at ad-supported sites like www.hulu.com, they’ll have virtually no interest in Apple TV. Furthermore Apple’s product costs $230 whereas Windows laptops are sometimes priced as low as $300 - $400. In short, the laptop computer as Media Controller for flat panel TVs has the potential to become the next Killer App. The trend should become evident this year.
Read more…
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Future of Recorded Music Business
Posted on September 29, 2008
If you would like to learn how the recorded music business will be generating revenue growth in the future, this interview is for you.
Our guest today is Greg Scholl who is the CEO of The Orchard which is a publicly-owned distributor of music for independent record labels, including one that it owns named TVT. The company also distributes over 3,000 hours of video and TV shows for clients who are the rights holders. Most of the files are distributed digitally to stores like iTunes, Amazon.com, and eMusic. Read more…
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