Apple sends NAB event invites, 8-core Mac Pro on fanboy wishlists

No surprises here, but Apple is hosting another invite-only media event at next month's National Association of Broadcasters Conference in Vegas, and is almost sure to unveil a new version of its Final Cut Pro editing software. Luckily, Apple's NAB unveils aren't always limited to software, so hopes are high for word on that 8-core Mac Pro that's been squeezed through the rumor mill a few times in the past months. The "Lights Camera Apple" happenings will take place on April 15th at 11am.

[Zizz @ Mar 20th 2007 3:53PM]

Sweet! I can't wait to read all of the rumors and speculation that this is going to create.

[Canman99 @ Mar 20th 2007 4:02PM]

Would apple release a 6G ipod at this? I doubt it, but it would be nice.

[Mike Cerm @ Mar 20th 2007 1:38PM]

Broadcasters? This would probably be the perfect time for Apple to announce all the protected-video-path DRM that will be deeply embedded into Leopard (Vista-style).

[Josh* @ Mar 20th 2007 1:44PM]

iLife 07? Leopard? ...Bueller? "Spring" is here, dammit!

Also I'd prefer somehting useful like a 12 inch MBP rather than some superdupercore Mac Pro nerdboy fangasm.

[Scooter @ Mar 20th 2007 1:46PM]

I'm expecting more studio deals to be announced as well. More TV and Movie content. Could even reach to Movie rentals and the all powerful IPTV. If apple can get Apple TV hardware into the home, the possibilities are endless.

Scooter
http://www.gadgetgrid.com/

[Philster @ Mar 20th 2007 1:59PM]

Apple TV is a toy. I would hope at a venue like NAB, they wouldn't put that low-grade consumer level product front and center.

[TVGenius @ Mar 20th 2007 2:01PM]

Once again, as I say a hundred times every year, NAB is geared toward professionals. Anything Apple releases will be geared toward professionals. Granted, you may want an 8-core Mac or something else they release, but they will not do anything regarding iLife, the iPod, or the iPhone, and it's highly unlikely they'd choose then to announce any significant studio deals. NAB doesn't get press. And if you're desperate to know what the big deal is, hang out within eyeshot of the LVCC Sunday night. They usually drop the big Apple banner by 7 or 8pm, so you don't even need to wait until Monday to find out what goodness they have in store. Found out about FCP going HD when I was parking at the Venetian a few years back on Sunday evening.

[chris @ Mar 20th 2007 2:43PM]

any idea when they will announce the 12" mac bookpro?

[Philster @ Mar 20th 2007 3:19PM]

TV Genius- Exactly what I mean. At a venue like NAB, Apple's got to be dropping some real INDUSTRY news.

And, no Chris. Probably not a 12" Macbook Pro

[TVGenius @ Mar 20th 2007 4:49PM]

I know that FCP is maturing as a news editing platform too. Apple has some new partnerships that are streamlining the ingest and organization for a network news-scale operation (two of them, in fact, that I know of, one US and one European, the latter already in operation and the former a work in progress). Don't know if that's something they'll ballyhoo about or not, I mean, it's still a way from being a full-scale Avid competitor, but it's a great improvement (especially when the European network was able to do their entire US newsroom system for the price of an Avid suite).

[paul34 @ Mar 20th 2007 2:25PM]

Maybe they'll be revealing the iRack

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-KWYYIY4jQ

[Mike Cerm @ Mar 20th 2007 2:57PM]

What is it that you people want in a 12" MBP that you can't already get in the 13" MB? You need an extra 300 MHz on your Core 2 Duo? You don't like the plastic case? The extra inch is just a total deal breaker?

Do you just really need discrete graphics that badly? The GMA950 in the MacBook is actually more powerful than the ATI card that was in the old 12" PowerBook, so I don't really see what the big deal is. The only thing it won't do is drive a 30" external display.

I'm not saying that Apple won't do a 12" MBP, I just don't get why people want it so badly when the MacBook already exists, and is about $1000 cheaper than a 12" MBP would be.

[Josh* @ Mar 20th 2007 5:58PM]

Mike Cerm: MacBooks don't have illuminated keys, fingerprint-free silver finish, matte display, DVI port or graphical punch necessary for my needs at least. Try running even something like Photo Booth on a MacBook and then a MBP and you'll notice a difference in performance, let alone Photoshop CS2 or Flash 8.

[Mat @ Mar 21st 2007 3:40PM]

Uh, no you won't. And a macbook does have DVI (you just need to spend $30 on the minidvi - dvi adaptor).

[Josh* @ Mar 22nd 2007 3:24PM]

Mat:

Step 1: Get a MacBook Pro and a MacBook side by side (visit an Apple store and you can do this without buying them both)

Step 2 : wave your left hand in front of one, right hand in front of the other. Repeat until Step 3 has sunk in.

Step 3: The MBP keeps up, the MB suffers from delay.

And I obviously meant DVI built in, quit trying to find fault in my fault-free comment!

[Josh* @ Apr 17th 2007 7:58PM]

Mat:

Step 1: Get a MacBook Pro and a MacBook side by side (visit an Apple store and you can do this without buying them both)

Step 2 : wave your left hand in front of one, right hand in front of the other. Repeat until Step 3 has sunk in.

Step 3: The MBP keeps up, the MB suffers from delay.

And I obviously meant DVI built in, quit trying to find fault in fault-free comment!

[Mat @ Mar 22nd 2007 3:54PM]

You were talking about running photobooth on both and seeing the difference. I do have access to both computers, I own a macbook myself. And I don't notice any real difference between them unless you used Motion from the final cut studio. Sometimes the macbook is faster (I'm not sure why).