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Apple to offer Blu-ray-equipped Macs by Febuary

thinksecret.com — Apple might be making a significant step forward for newer Macs next year, with the possible inclusion of Blu-ray drives as a stock feature of the machines. Probably partially due to Vista's built-in readiness for HD DVD drives, there are some rumors flying about that as early as February, Macs with Blu-ray drives may be surfacing.

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  • panocha, on 10/12/2007, -52/+11This will be even better news if they start releasing child pornography on blu-ray discs. Alex Albrecht knows what I'm talking about.
    • nusblog, on 10/12/2007, -27/+2direct link to print version (no ads)

      (oh never mind, it doesn't work)
    • swOhio, on 10/12/2007, -6/+20I have no interest in blu-ray, however I do like this news.

      As soon as macbooks with blu-ray players come out, the current macbooks will hopefully drop in price.
    • TheReport, on 10/12/2007, -4/+17This rumor is as valid as the iPhone.
    • Ninjab3ar, on 10/12/2007, -11/+23I love Apple
      I hate Sony

      Apple will use blu-ray

      OH *****!

      Curse sony for trying to create their own storage format (again) in order to monopolize the industry. If either blu-ray or hd-dvd comes on top, the other half of the people who bought the other format will be left in the dust. geez!
    • JeremyBanks, on 10/12/2007, -13/+9@Ninjab3ar: Amen to that. Why couldn't they just adopt HD-DVD?
    • millixaw, on 10/12/2007, -8/+5Would be nice if they waited for the BluRay/HD-DVD combo drives were out. On the computer front, this is DVD-R vs DVD+R all over again.

      Thanks to combo drives, the DVD±R dillema doesn't matter any more.
    • staticneuron, on 10/12/2007, -1/+17"Curse sony for trying to create their own storage format (again) in order to monopolize the industry. If either blu-ray or hd-dvd comes on top, the other half of the people who bought the other format will be left in the dust. geez!"

      Apple helped create Blu-ray. They are now on the BDA. Blu-ray is not a proprietary Sony format and Sony weren't even the first people to research Blu-ray.........geez!
    • staticneuron, on 10/12/2007, -2/+28Just for your info.

      Blu-ray Disc Association:

      * Apple Computer
      * Dell
      * Hewlett Packard
      * Hitachi
      * LG Electronics
      * Mitsubishi Electric
      * Panasonic (***** Electric)
      * Pioneer Corporation
      * Royal Philips Electronics
      * Samsung Electronics
      * Sharp Corporation
      * Sony Corporation
      * TDK Corporation
      * Thomson
      * Twentieth Century Fox
      * Walt Disney Pictures
      * Warner Home Video Inc.
    • mentor972, on 10/12/2007, -13/+3If you've ever used DVD Studio Pro, you've probably noticed that you have the option to burn to HD-DVD. (Apple plans ahead like that.) That leads me to believe that they are planning on using HD-DVD Drives and this story is false.
    • Bootes, on 10/12/2007, -6/+7Blu Ray is better and has more support. I would be mad at Apple if they put in HD-DVD. It would be DVD-RAM instead of CD Burners all over again.
    • mdshoreboy, on 10/12/2007, -4/+5Get a grip people, when Apple released SuperDrive, it was a build to order option on most of the machines at that time. I suspect blueray would be no different. If you want it, then fine, add it to your machine.

      Although, once apple signs on to blue-ray, I expect HD-DVD will be dead-on-arrival.
    • superkendall, on 10/12/2007, -2/+6Look, for those of you hating Sony - remember that many, many other companies are part of the Blu-Ray coalition, while the HD-DVD camp is primarily Microsoft and Universal.

      @mentor972: Apple is part of the Blu-Ray coalition, and therefore will ship with Blu-Ray drives. However they will also support HD-DVD drives out of the box because they are about choice. It simply wll be easier to go with Blu-Ray drives on a Mac, and consumers will find it easier to burn Blu-Ray media on a Mac because the drives will ship by default. If you think about it, a Mac with a BluRay burner plus a PS3 makes for a nice HD combo in a house.
    • omaryak, on 10/12/2007, -4/+4Blu-Ray Disc Association = Coalition of the Willing
      We all know it's Sony's gig.
  • flag564, on 10/12/2007, -42/+19"Apple to offer Blu-ray-equipped Macs by Febuary"
    Why not just add a Betamax player too?

    Wasnt there more studio support for HD-DVD anyway?
    • zang74, on 10/12/2007, -34/+12What was that BS you were saying in the other thread about only commenting on Apple topics that appear on the front page? Right now, this only has 16 diggs. It's not on the front page, let alone the main Apple page. The only way you could have found it was looking for upcoming stories in the Apple topic or searching for Apple.

      Yet another effing lie from Flag564.
    • flag564, on 10/12/2007, -30/+12Sorry to have been looking in the upcoming stories section.

      Take a pill, your head is about to explode.
    • zang74, on 10/12/2007, -28/+12Just tired at your lies, inaccuracies and insults flag. By the looks of it, most of Digg is pretty tired of you too.
    • Avalontor, on 10/12/2007, -11/+27zanq74, never, ever speak for others. you do not have the right. I would like to read the comments and not have to put up with fools such as yourself that stalk other users.
    • zang74, on 10/12/2007, -23/+9Take a look at flag's track record, and you'll see he's probably one of the most dugg down people on Digg. He has made several lies about me personally, and I'm certainly not stalking him.

      Ask he, who's a ranting anti-Apple zealot, why he keeps showing up in the comments on Apple posts.
    • Avalontor, on 10/12/2007, -8/+18OK Zang74 you are right. but looking at your account shows you to be a Apple Zealot. BTW you should know, that I agree with Flag on occasion and have blocked him on occasion. Right now I'm pissed that you think the Apple section is yours and only yours. It's not.

      I made the comment in this thread after seeing how the other one was so messed up. He made some great points there and you reacting. You do know what a troll is don't you? Every time you reply, Satan laughs.
    • zang74, on 10/12/2007, -17/+5I'm an Apple zealot because I like their products? I don't get it.

      I also never said the Apple section was mine, simply questioning why someone with such a hate for Apple stories continues to seek them out, and pointed out that a very good number of people have modded him down for his comments in said section. I think his highest is somewhere around -120.
    • schroduggity, on 10/12/2007, -11/+7it's because trolling mac sections if extra fun and easy! other sections don't feed the trolls. while if I make a comment like "quicktime is for macfags" I get minus 500 diggs and 300 replys, I laugh my ass off reading all those angry replys from the Rtards who have literally taken it personally and they just don't get it. I love to see how low I can go, it's like internet limbo. hell my last account got banned :p
    • Nogger, on 10/12/2007, -8/+5Really, get a life.
    • TheReport, on 10/12/2007, -7/+13""Apple to offer Blu-ray-equipped Macs by Febuary"
      Why not just add a Betamax player too? "

      lol flag normally i disagree with your posts but touche my friend touche.
    • dBLiSS, on 10/12/2007, -3/+7@TheReport

      Agreed.

      Why apple is would be offering an untested format i the beginning of a format war doesn't make sense to me. The last thing apple wants to do is be "uncool" and If suddenly blu-ray isn't the right format they will have egg on their face. I imagine the only way apple will offer this is if the offer a choice of HD-DVD as well, or some sort of dual format drive. They are certainly not going to be exclusive to blu-ray.
    • adam84a, on 10/12/2007, -8/+1wow, what a bunch of losers.....
  • Yashar, on 10/12/2007, -10/+5Sony already has Blu Ray drives on their notebooks. Hurry up Apple!
  • TheDiggMan, on 10/12/2007, -10/+10@ flag564:
    Actually, there are far more companies behind blu-ray.
  • njackson, on 10/12/2007, -2/+23why do people seem to think that rumors are important news?
    • JayD16, on 10/12/2007, -5/+9The only difference between rumors and news is digg count.
    • Nogger, on 10/12/2007, -3/+4Yeah, WTF!

      "there are some rumors flying about " is equal to "Apple to offer Blu-ray-equipped Macs by Febuary" headline? Burried as inaccurate.

      At least make it "Rumours that apple will off Blu-Ray-equipped Macs by febuary".
  • VicHislop, on 10/12/2007, -1/+9Unless they burn blu-ray, then it doesn't seem that exciting.
  • dkoon, on 10/12/2007, -8/+3we need more dupes for apple posts! let's make 28 posts for whole month of Feb 2007 okay?
  • Escamillo, on 10/12/2007, -4/+13Note to those that bash Vista for "forcing DRM down our throats!!", these Macs will have that same DRM that is required to play BR discs. Know that.
    • jer2eydevil88, on 10/12/2007, -3/+3I think most people already know that the Intel macs come with a TPM (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple-Intel_architecture), in all likely hood these will be used for DRM schemes.

    • Terc, on 10/12/2007, -5/+2ANYTHING that plays Blue Ray (or HD-DVD for that matter) will be forced to use DRM. It's a part of the format, just like DVDs, the Video is stored encrypted. Blue Ray has two levels of encryption where HD-DVD only has one level. I'd be willing to bet that this will eventually be cracked too... but it may take longer for Blue Ray... So let's hear it for HD-DVD
    • Bootes, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7DVD has DRM, HD-DVD has DRM, and so does Blu-Ray. If you want to play a digital copy of a video it will use DRM. DVD DRM being cracked doesn't change a thing. It still has it, you're still technically supporting it. HD-DVD and Blu-Ray DRM will be cracked eventually.
  • inafewdays, on 10/12/2007, -7/+5I guess apple supporting the Blu-ray format may stop the format from going down the BetaMax path.

    Apples user-base could buy a lot of Blu-ray drives giving the format a real advantage in the movie market, especially if iTV could stream blu-ray movies to your TV !

    And it sticks one to MS in the console/format war.



    • gropo, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1Higher likelihod that iTV will utilize AT BEST 802.11n as its base networking protocol.

      Not really up for the task of 'streaming' HD... Though who knows, it may have 1000baseT also included in the package and realtime down-conversion to a GigE-capable MP4 bitstream. Perhaps they've even worked out a down-conversion that can be piped through a wireless link without losing too much quality.
    • greenreefer, on 10/12/2007, -4/+1Sticks it to Apple users too.
      Nothing new there.

      HD or Blu-ray is the way.
      Windows will run both.
      Apple should too.
      Count on it being more expensive.
      ***************
      Apple and Sony are very alike, this is not surprising. In fact, if Sony really gets buried under PS3 issues, I would see a possible alliance there.

    • chongli, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3gropo:
      802.11n draft spec is 540Mbit/s
      Blu-Ray's data rate is 54Mbit/s

      I think 802.11n is plenty for streaming HD.

      Sources:
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IEEE_802.11#802.11n
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blu-ray#Codecs
  • cbeach, on 10/12/2007, -2/+6More annoying speculation and rumours, with a misleading title. Flagged as inaccurate.
  • BortQ, on 10/12/2007, -8/+2This "news" is pure BS. Apple would be moronic to jump on the blu-ray bandwagon when it's still way too expensive with very little content available.
    • Beaver6813, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3Think about the future foo not the present, of course its very little now, but it will grow. Its like going from videos to dvds.

      Farewell DVDs :(
    • sdbryan, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1That's just silly. The transition from VHS to DVD was a large step and for several distinct reasons. The transition from DVD to HD discs is just marginally higher resolution accompanied by even more intrusive DRM.

      The VHS to DVD transition moved from tape to disc. That means no rewinding (which is huge) and fairly easy random access completely unlike tape. DVD has some issues with longevity but nothing compared to tape. The size and shape is even more convenient.

      None of that applies for a switch between disk formats. There are improvements in picture quality but a good upconverting DVD player with a consumer's current DVD collection is not always easy to distinguish from newer HD formats depending on the context.

      As people have shown with the triumph of compressed CD audio formats versus the higher resolution discs (SACD and DVD-Audio) there is a remarkable attraction to convenience. There may not be another widely adopted audio format for disks after CD audio and there might not be a widely adopted video format for disks after DVD. Sony and other consumer electronics companies rely on it (a new format) but Apple does not. In fact with iTMS one might even speculate that Apple might be no more than ambivalent about the success of either HD format.
  • kotatsu, on 10/12/2007, -5/+3It's about time more PCs were available with next-gen optical drives, I just wish it wasn't blu-ray. I just can't summon up any interest in yet another doomed to failure Sony format. UMD, betamax, memory stick, mini disc... yawn.
    • automachete, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3The Memory Stick isn't exactly doomed; it's just proprietary. Only Sony's equipment uses it.

      The UMD is doomed, however, and most movie studios have dropped the failing format from their lineup.
  • MonkeyFit, on 10/12/2007, -1/+10We need an option to bury stories as unbased rumors. Of course, I suppose if we did, the Apple section would wither up and die. ;) Seriously, until it's officially announced, or there are leaked pics or SOMETHING credible to base it upon, articles that are pure speculation and rumor should not be allowed to reach the front page. Flagged as inaccurate until given a better flag to use.
  • Solafa, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2I would really love a blue-ray drive, it will add that extra space i need when i am trying to burn lots of data and/or back stuff up. I am worried about the speed of the drives that i have seen so far, they only come in 1x and 2x speeds which is a bit to slow. Does anyone know how long it will take to burn a 20GB Blue-ray disc?

    @
    VicHislop, I agree unless they also burn blue-ray then there are no use to be honest. I rather watch blue-ray movies on my PS3.
  • Opiate, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1You all seem to forget that Apple is in the Blu-ray consortium. So you can all stop the crying it will eventually happen.
    • kotatsu, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4Didn't Steve Jobs recently say that Disney should look into supporting both formats? At the end of the day it's all about sales and profits, and HD-DVD is simply outselling blu-ray so Apple/Disney/Jobbs would be stupid to stay Sony exclusive.
    • superkendall, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3HD-DVD was outselling HD-DVD until last Friday.

      Now there are over 200k Blu-Ray players in people's homes, and growing. HD-DVD player sales growth is not a tenth of that.

      By next year, there will be millions of Blu-Ray players in people's homes (again, thanks to the PS3). Can you honestly see millions of HD-DVD players being sold, even the stand-alone add on for the 360?
  • Lyph4, on 10/12/2007, -7/+1Sony is only doing this because they're in bed with Sony. Ever since Sony designed the powerbook for Apple.
  • Jarett, on 10/12/2007, -0/+13But wait fellow digg users, we hate sony don't we??
    but we love apple...
    but we hate blue ray...
    but we love macs...
    *head explodes*
  • nxusername, on 10/12/2007, -4/+6Apple, once again you have backed the wrong pony.
    • superkendall, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3Apple doesn't back ponies.

      Apple creates ponies from scratch, that just ahppen to be winners. What technologes has Apple backed that have failed?

      Firewire - in every digital camcorder sold.
      USB - DOA until Apple made it standard
      Bluetooth - languishing until Apple picked up the ball.

      Indeed, even the lack of support can cause a product to fall by the wayside - witness Apple dropping floppy drives. It took the PC industry a few years to catch on, but the floppy drive is dead.
  • whiteyMcBrown, on 10/12/2007, -3/+2I'm gonna have to go with the 'this is a bad idea' crowd. If Vista is supporting HD DVD and Apple wants to make sure their machines can easily work with PCs, then maybe HD DVD is the way to go. Imagine trying to convince your boss to get a Mac for your department and he wants to back up onto HD DVDs. Now he's gotta get Blu Ray discs, too... all the time. That's not the only example, I'm sure. Ah well... I guess it's not the biggest deal. If HD DVD ends up winning the way, they can just switch the drives over and offer a seperate Blu Ray player.
    • superkendall, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Just as Microsoft can start supporting Blu-Ray if HD-DVD does not work out.

      For the millions of people who will own PS3's by the end of next year, the Mac is going to be a lot handier.
  • ahhell, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Deja Vu.

    I think I marked a similar article as inaccurate yesterday.
  • DaveBG, on 10/12/2007, -4/+3Blu-Ray is going to win i think.
  • BionicAntboy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Blu-Ray vs HD-DVD is the most unexciting format war ever. HD-DVD has had a bit of an early lead, but the release of the PS3 bumped Blu-Ray a little...

    I'm guessing that by the time the dust settles (2yrs or so), most of us will be able to download 'legit' HD content, making next-gen formats little more than large format back-up media - and probably more costly than buying a second hard drive AND a big thumbdrive for portability.
  • xatx, on 10/12/2007, -7/+1oh, according to the apple fanboys microsoft copies everything apple. what happened here? jerk offs
    • whitesaint, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4We're all a little more stupid for reading that.
  • macbookpromat, on 10/12/2007, -4/+1BAD IDEA APPLE!


    I don't think this is likely to happen, not with Stevie J at the head of Apple. Blu-Ray just isn't worth the gamble. Same goes for HD-DVD. Unlike USB, Apple won't be able to make this the new standard.
  • DoTheFandango, on 10/12/2007, -3/+2I can't believe no one else made fun of "Febuary".

    Come on.
  • ohmar, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1I doubt they would put such an expensive component into their computers. They would either have to raise the price significantly, or risk losing margins. Perhaps inthe Mac Pro, but doubtful in the lower 2/3.
  • mrhaines, on 10/12/2007, -7/+2If this is true then I won't be buying a mac ever.
  • TheRealStyro, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1Interesting, if true. I imagine I could buy a mac pro with blu-ray built-in, then add the xbox 360 hd-dvd player. Kinda wonder if the any optional blu-ray would be double, triple or more of the price of the xbox 360 hd-dvd player.

    Whether this happens as suggested, Apple should plan on adding hardware for one, and software support for both, to the systems in early to mid 2007. MS already has an hd player available that works with PCs, and software is also available (or will be shortly).
  • JuanCarlosJr, on 10/12/2007, -2/+0Why would apple do something like this. Sony is a dead company in terms of this type of technology, however, I will admit that the Playstation consoles are great. But I have always been with Toshiba and their products, including the HD-DVD, and i will continue to support them because I have never, ever had a problem with any of the many products I own from them.
  • skellener, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1At this point, it would make sense for Apple to support Blu-ray and HD-DVD disc images that you could simply store on an iPod. Then just give the iPod component out capability. Who needs new disc media? Just put your HD content on an HD-iPod!!
  • Doughboy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I read that one of the big holdouts for HD-DVD is Disney and its Studios. Take into consideration Apple's relationship with Disney, who seems to prefer Blueray. This Blueray support from Apple could also have some leverage or part of a back-room deal to make Sony movies available on iTunes!
  • InitialDMP5, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I don't know if people remember this or not, but there are about 200,000 more blu ray players out there, on ebay right now, selling for 1 to 3000 dollars. The Playstation 3 created a whole new advertising tool for Blu Ray, just like Sony wanted.

    Also, in the "year of HD" (2005) Apple had none other than the CEO of Sony on stage at the MacWorld event talking about introducing sony products and working with apple to make sure they work together.

    Apple most likely has support for Blu Ray in Leopard, and it should work flawlessly with editing software. As others have said though, it will be a BTO option, and not forced on buyers, at least until the prices come down, and blu ray penetrates the market.
  • rtini, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Of course Apple will go with Blu-Ray. Blu-Ray holds 25GB per layer, up to a 4-layer disc is possible. HD-DVD holds 15GB per layer, up to a 3-layer disc is possible.

    Blu-Ray and HD-DVD support the same audio and video codecs. The only difference is that Blu-Ray has much higher capacity.
  • zwilliams, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1I'l just use the BTO function and removed Blu-Ray and HD-DVD from the machine in favor of two DVD burners, it'll probably cut off a good $500-600 off the price to boot. I have no interest in either format, but if I had to pick one it would be HD-DVD since there is currently more content for it and the media is cheaper.
    • superkendall, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2The media is cheaper but it holds less - why would you pick a format for a computer that held less data?

      Disc prices will come down, and then you would want a new media that could hold as much data as possible.
  • Wolfman~K, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Is Apple doing this because MS went to the HD DVD camp? I hope not, Getting in bed with Sony for any reason is a scary thought.... but Apple has a history of using sony products... ie batteries... :/ I guess I have no pinion on this.
  • superkendall, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Would everyone like to know why there are even two camps here?

    It's because Microsoft wanted everyone to use thier own menuing language - and thus collect royalties on every disc sold.

    Blu-Ray would not add this menuing system which is why we are at the impass we see here, where the two formats are virtually identical even down to the copy protection system and codecs supported.

    In the end I still think Blu-Ray will win out - with the backing of Apple, Dell, and Sony altogether it will ship on more consumer PC's and be in more people's living rooms by far than HD-DVD can muster. But basically, what a stupid war.
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