What product should Apple deliver?

As it has in the past, Apple Computer is creating an air of mystery around a "special event" scheduled to take place in San Francisco on Tuesday. The invitation gives few details, and the Mac maker is remaining characteristically tight-lipped about what's in store.

However, the promo for the event shows an Apple logo caught in the spotlight and carries the tagline "It's Showtime," leading experts and fans to guess that the company, which has strengthened its ties with Hollywood, is about to start offering full movie downloads via its iTunes service.

But is that what Apple users want to see? To find out what people on the street make of the upcoming announcement, we asked our Mac Views panel, made up of ordinary readers, this question: "What product do you think Apple should introduce?"

Eric Burger

I would be most interested in seeing Apple introduce an Apple-branded, full-featured iPod/phone.

Nicolas Martin

I hope in vain that the product is a hard drive-based home audio component that will store and play an iTunes collection, as well as allow access to Internet radio stations. It should be as easy to use as iTunes and allow for external hard drive connection for large music collections.

Paul Walters

I would like to see a metronome program added to the iPod. I know many musicians that have iPods and would use this feature. Currently, I have a playlist of metronome tracks that I set to repeat continuously, but this takes up space, and is a pain. Having a metronome feature, and maybe even a tuner, would be a easy addition, and would widen the iPod's appeal. Also, a built-in microphone would be nice, so one doesn't have to use the bulky iTalk attachment.

Dave Tainer

Now that they've launched their Quad Xeon-based Power Macs, Leopard would be a nice introduction.

I would hope that all of their PC virtualization is completed, which I believe they've been working together with VMWare--that would be THE product that I would use. Because my office is all Wintel, it would allow me to do all my documents and spreadsheets and email on OS X, then open up a virtual window for the Windows-specific apps I need to use for work. I think this would be a huge deal, because it would open up their market significantly where it might not have been before.

For Apple, the significance of downloadable movie content is undeniable. This would make their already lucrative music download business even more profitable. I guess the shape it takes (will you be able to download content in a way in which you can make a DVD to watch on a big screen, will it be only an iPod version, etc.) will determine the excitement level of this product for me.

Justin Powell

What I would love to see would be an Apple set-top box (call it an "iBox") that plays music and movies through a home entertainment center. Ideally, this iBox should have a Front Row interface, a built-in hard drive to store media and provide DVR functionality, and wireless connectivity via Airport. Using Airport, the iBox could connect to the iTunes Store to purchase music and movies directly and then store them to the hard drive. It should also connect to other Macs or Windows PCs on the same network to share media and DVR recordings over the wireless connection. A separate iBox "remote" that had no hard drive could then reside at another TV in the house, for viewing content only.

I would personally place the chance of Apple announcing set-top box tomorrow less than 50 percent, but you never know!

Chris Lawrence

Given the title "It's Showtime" I can't imagine it being anything other than the movie service we've all seen the rumors of, particularly in light of Amazon's Unbox (whose name, incidentally, is horrible). I'd expect new iPods as well with larger screens, increased capacity, and/or better video-out options.

What Apple is really missing, however, is a HTPC (home-theater PC). Many looked at the Mini and hoped it'd fit the bill as the center of a home entertainment center with its great form factor, but Front Row and the video in/out options were insufficient. Apple can and should blow away Windows Media Center with appropriate hardware, a simple front end (a vastly improved Front Row, I'd guess, perhaps as part with Leopard). A set-top box or headless model to fit in between the Mini and Mac Pro would be nice, but I don't see them offering an alternative to the iMac for awhile, if ever.

The rumored iPhone would be nice too, so long as it's not too big (I value size over unnecessary features).

Youssef Baba

Well, personally, i think Apple should introduce the iPhone, which should have video capabilities, and also integration with iTunes. And i think they should also do some update to the iPod line, because iPhone would never replace the iPod, I think--already rumors are saying it might be pricey.

I would also like to see new software implementations for the existing iPod models.

Peter Rogers

Apple needs to introduce a new iPod and Nano to keep up with the competition and build momentum for the Christmas season. A slightly larger iPod with a screen covering the whole side for playing movies, a new interface would be needed. A wireless connection should be added. The Nano needs larger storage and be more durable. Wireless would be great.

Movie downloading would require a new iTunes software as well as possibly a BitTorrent methodology to ease downloading of movies.

Airport Express should be updated to stream movies to TVs and other screens or computers.

Nick Frollini

As Apple continues to make the Macintosh the center of its users' digital lives, it needs to focus on the living room. While the Mac Mini is a nice machine, it is underpowered for many users, and most families don't need two computers. Moreover, the living room TV is not ideal for surfing the Web or reading e-mail. It is, however, ideal for watching movies (or TV shows or music videos).

I think the ideal product would be a next generation Airport Express that featured streaming video in addition to the audio already offered. The device should use UWB or a similar broadband format and be encrypted to keep the studios happy. Output should be via HDMI, DVI or component to support a wide range of televisions...Of course, this should be accompanied by higher-quality downloads from iTunes (videos, movies, etc.) as the current resolution will look bloody awful on an HDTV...

William C. Hogan

It would be great to have an iMovies site, and it would be greatly enhanced if Blu-ray were available together with ultra Wi-Fi.

David Oei

What I'd like to see is an expansion of the iTunes store to include hi-def content. Then with the announcement of the much-anticipated iTunes movie service, they would also include HD movies for a premium price. This would lead to a future release of a true Apple media center with PVR and HDTV functions.

David Gries

What product do I think Apple should introduce? A 17-inch laptop with the same stuff on it and just as fast but costing three-quarters less.

Every time they come up with a new iPod, everyone has to go and buy the new one and throw out the old. How about just an announcement of some inexpensive software that will run on an old iPod and do wonders?

Jeff Edsell

I'd love to see Apple introduce a Mac Mini with TiVo capabilities built in and easy connections for addition to a home- theater unit. The touch-screen, full-face video iPod would be a great addition, especially if its introduction pushed down the price point of the 5G-style iPods (as happened with the supersized iMacs).

Kimberlee Keeline

I would love to see Front Row become more useful. Apple is supposed to be the hub of our digital life--and it is, to a limited way. It can be so much more with a bit more offered. Let's hope we see more of this, starting tomorrow.

Damon Osborne

I think that Apple should reengineer the Mac mini in a similar form factor, but release it as a true digital media hub (i.e., a TiVo-like product that integrates TV, HDTV, DVR and the Front Row apps).

Jason Pratt

Apple should introduce something that will reinvigorate the iPod...either the wide-screen/touch-screen true-video iPod or the iPhone.

iTunes movie downloads are nice, but watching them on a 4:3 iPod 5GB is not so nice.

We do need a bigger device (than the current iPod) for movies, but I'm not sure I'd buy one just for the plane. Apple might be in a bit of a pickle here. Perhaps they will focus on the MacBook as the movie device, and leave the iPod as it is.

Brooks Graham

Personally, I'm still waiting for the Home Theater Mac.

Chalmers Bay McLaughlin

I think Apple should introduce a movie service and a refresh of their entire iPod line.

Muhammad Atif

I personally feel that Apple needs to update a fair amount of its product line at the moment. The iPods are old, MacBook Pros need updating and MacBook also needs some fixing.

However, with the "It's Showtime" poster released by Apple, one can expect one obvious thing: a movie download service that will either allow you to download the movies using P2P with other iTunes users or allow you to stream the movies online for a certain fee.