Mister Jobs's challenge, Misc Options

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Mister Jobs's challenge

[Tree Leopard]

Clouvel raises some interesting issues about the future of Apple, and the subsequent implications for creative professionals.

His concern - which I feel is entirely valid - is that Apple are in danger of distracting themselves with a "one-in-every-home" product development stategy. Now we have the Mac Mini offering the tantalizing prospect that maybe a professional version of this product might be in the wings. And maybe not. It looks like the Mac Mini falls squarely into the iPod scenario of broad-based market penetration and that will require a huge publicity push.

So where does it leave us audio and multimedia professionals? Well, firstly, on a policy level, I'd like to be reassured that Apple have a five point plan that goes something like this:

1) development of a stable core OS (Panther and beyond)
2) development of creative play-things (such as the iPod, Garage Band etc)
3) development of auxillary processing devices specifically for audio & video professionals
4) development of enterprise level hardware and software (Xserve etc)
5) advanced experimental research into cluster & parallel computing etc.

From my observations it seems that Apple are strongly committed to all these areas with just one exception: point 3) [ see above ]

As Clouvel hinted, there is a strong justification at every level for Apple to make boxes that simply address the high-bandwidth processing needs of people working today in audio and video production. The interest and the market numbers are there.

It would be interesting to find out from Apple if they are willing to workshop a range of experimental (and compact) processor-orientated hardware solutions for audio & video professionals. The result? A "one-in-every-studio" product that makes what we already have more functional and therefore powerful.

That, I reckon, is "The Challenge Of Monsieur Jobs"


Andre [ Tree Leopard ]


PS: re: Clouvel's writing. I simply appreciate the European perspective on media technology. It brings a much needed balance into the discussion!