Mac Lab Report

Expanding the Digital Hub with a Video iPod, Video iPhone

- 2004.06.04

It's a good first step, Apple. Photos from iPhoto can be integrated into iMovie. Music from iTunes can be background music for iPhoto slide shows. iMovies can be used with iDVD.

We all know the point of iLife and digital integration. So what's next?

Here are a few suggestions for Apple.

Video iPods: You may not want to watch a theatrical movie on a tiny screen, but there may be a market for people wanting to show off their own creations. Nevertheless, the solution is simple: Provide a video-out port on the iPod so you can use it to watch movies on anything via a variety of devices (using a series of adapters available at a charge of maybe $39.95 each, of course). iMovie should export directly to the iPod.

Speaking of video integration, given the ability above, why not let the iSight feed directly to the iPod for portable recording? With a properly designed clip, you could create a video camera with hours of recording time.

While we're at it, why don't we upgrade AppleWorks with three strategic features:

Set a switch to allow one to always save in Microsoft Word format (we're still spreading memos about Save As... for people who like AppleWorks).
Enhance the drawing capabilities and file access to follow the precedents set in the other iApps.
Add a rudimentary animation function to open up yet another part of the digital creation process to users.

Here's an idea: sell an Apple-branded videophone designed to connect using the Internet and consisting of a simplified motherboard, ethernet port, iSight camera, and a FireWire port so you can use it with a Mac to record your calls, transmit iMovies, and send other digital creations back home to the family on the other coast.

It would be expensive, but imagine jump starting the videophone market the same way the music player market has been fired up by the iPod. Call it an iPhone.

Whatever Apple has planned, it'll be interesting to see how it all turns out.

What are your ideas for digital integration's next step? Drop me a note, and I'll collect the good ones for a follow up column.

Jeff Adkins is a science teacher who isn't afraid to state his preferences in computing platforms. In his classroom he has everything from a beige All-in-One to a a G4 XServe, and they all work together nicely. He calls himself the "poster child for technology integration" in the classroom. He was the 2006 Outstanding Educator of the Year for the California Computer Using Educators (CUE) organization. He also maintains a site for astronomy teachers at www.AstronomyTeacher.com.

Recent Mac Lab Reports

Microsoft Word 2004 vs. iWork Pages 1.0 for writing a book, 2008.01.10. Microsoft Word is great for technical writing, powerful yet slow, while Pages lets you concentrate on just writing, making it great for novels.
iWeb a great tool for quickly creating an attractive website, 2007.09.11. Apple's iWeb software isn't just easy to use, it also integrates nicely with .mac and other programs in the iLife bundle.
Use your Bluetooth phone to control your Mac? Maybe, 2007.02.27. Salling Clicker software turns many Bluetooth phones into remote controls for Bluetooth-equipped Macs.
More in the Mac Lab Report index.

Links for the Day

Mac of the Day: Mac IIfx, introduced 1990.03.19. This 'wicked fast' 40 MHz Mac trumped the 33 MHz DOS world.
February 14 in LEM history: 98: A perfect compact Mac - 00: Extended computer warranties worth the cost? - Making your PC work with your Mac - 01: Customize Microsoft Word - 02: Quadra revives a passion for computing - 03: Real world performance - DIY Pismo screen replacement - Best Mac for writing - 03: Fastest browser on the Mac - 06: 15" MacBook Pro - Impressions of a newly acquired Lisa - Finding and using free WiFi - Apple should liberate OS 9 - 07: New Mac mini cheaper than upgrading a Power Mac - 08: Falling in love with OS X
Support Low End Mac

Recent Deals

About LEM Support Usage Privacy Contact

Mac Lab Report copyright © 2000-08 by Jeff Adkins. Low End Mac is an independent publication and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Apple Inc. Entire Low End Mac website copyright ©1997-2012 by Cobweb Publishing, Inc. unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, Macintosh, iPad iPhone, iMac, iPod, MacBook, MagSafe, Mac Pro, Apple TV, and AirPort are registered trademarks of Apple Inc. Additional company and product names may be trademarks or registered trademarks and are hereby acknowledged.
Advice is presented in good faith, but what works for one may not work for all. Please report errors to .
LINKS: We allow and encourage links to any public page as long as the linked page does not appear within a frame that prevents bookmarking it.
Email may be published at our discretion unless marked "not for publication"; email addresses will not be published without permission, and we will encrypt them in hopes of avoiding spammers. Letters may be edited for length, context, and to match house style.
PRIVACY: We don't collect personal information unless you explicitly provide it. For more details, see our Terms of Use.

Custom Search

Follow Low End Mac on Twitter
Join Low End Mac on Facebook

Low End Mac Reader Specials

TypeStyler 11 is now in the Mac App Store!! -- Special Introductory Price of $59.95!! -- To Buy From The Mac App Store Click Here Now!! Or buy direct from Strider Software.

Don't install Parallels to play poker online! Poker Mac will show you how to download and install a native Mac poker and Mac Casino applications in minutes.

Affiliates

Amazon.com
The Apple Store
The iTunes Store
PC Connection Express
GainSaver
Parallels Desktop for Mac
eBay