Rumor: Apple to release 2 giant plasma monitors at Macworld? Hints of a Mac media center…
Posted by Helper Monkey
A very bizarre posting over at Powerpage seems to imply Apple may be releasing 2 new giant plasma TV monitors at Macworld next week. The site claims that both the 42� and 50� models (priced at $2599 and $3299 respectively) will feature DVI-HDCP (High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection) and only run on OS 10.4.4 for x86 (Intel).
Of course, no current Apple products can run 10.4.4 for x86. The rumor mill is by and large expecting either Intel iBooks and/or Intel Mac minis next week, however neither look like they would be a likely candidate to run these monitors (assuming the Mac mini wants to stay under $500). Since Apple is unlikely to release new Intel PowerMacs as well, the only semi-logical conclusion (aside from this story being some sort of drunken hallucination) would be that Apple plans to release some sort of Intel-based Mac DVR/media center to go along with these monitors. In fact, the article implies such functionality would actually be built INTO the monitor. The mention of DVI-HDCP would seem to support the idea of Intel’s Viiv technology on the feeding end of these monitors.
Personally, we consider plasmas to be kind of a “transitional technology�, and would like to see LCDs from Apple (although 50� LCDS are a little on the pricey side these days, even for an Apple product).
This report could possibly be linked to Think Secret’s latest rumblings about a Final Cut Extreme being released alongside a giant 52� display for editing 4K video.
NOW it’s getting exciting!
