rich ruminations

Here are my predictions.

I don’t expect a 2nd generation iPhone yet… but do think a refresh to the current model is likely.

1st Prediction: iPhone RAM increase to 16 GB.

Looking at Apple’s history with the iPod, they followed the initial model design with a smaller version. I think this is likely with the iPhone, for a few reasons. First, some folks just don’t need the Internet access. Second, a lower-priced model would expand the market.

2nd Prediction: iPhone Mini (my name, yeah it sucks, I’m sure Steve and company will come up with something cool)

Lots of press about iTunes movie rentals. This seems likely, so I’ll go along with the crowd.

3rd Prediction: iTunes movie rentals (although I can’t see the reported 24 hour time limit being right, that’s just too short).

But just doing rentals with the existing hardware (iPods, iPhone, AppleTV, and of course Macs) seems incomplete. I think there will be something new here, something using AppleTV and FrontRow, but more interesting to a larger, iPod-savvy market. DVR technology is cool, but the technical issues for Apple to provide a solution that works with OTA, cable, and satellite are significant (witness Tivo’s struggles).

4th Prediction: An AppleTV line, probably three sizes of flat-screen, that includes the existing AppleTV functionality plus much larger hard-disk, and tight integration with Leopard and iDisk.

How about you? I’ve opened comments… Let’s have some fun!

The MPAA (Motion Picture Association of America) is the organization which rates movies in the United States. They also are active in fighting piracy of movies. According to the MPAA’s website,

Movie pirates are thieves, plain and simple. Piracy is the unauthorized taking, copying or use of copyrighted materials without permission. It is no different from stealing another person’s shoes or stereo, except sometimes it can be a lot more damaging. Piracy is committed in many ways, including Internet piracy, copying and distribution of discs, broadcasts, and even public performances.

They’ve got some explaining to do.

This Film Is Not Yet Rated looks at the motion picture ratings system created and run by the MPAA. Director Kirby Dick submitted the film for rating in November. After receiving the movie, the MPAA subsequently made copies without Dick’s permission. Dick had specifically requested in an e-mail that the MPAA not make copies of the movie. The MPAA responded by saying that “the confidentiality of your film is our first priority.”

Dick later learned that the MPAA made copies of the film to distribute them to its employees, despite the MPAA’s stance on unauthorized copying. Ah, there’s nothing like the smell of hypocrisy in the morning-apparently the prohibition against copying films without the copyright owner’s consent doesn’t apply to the MPAA. A lawyer for the MPAA justified the organization’s apparent hypocrisy by saying that Dick had invaded the privacy of some MPAA staffers, which justified the MPAA’s actions.

hypocrisy |hiˈpäkrisē| noun ( pl. -sies) the practice of claiming to have moral standards or beliefs to which one’s own behavior does not conform; pretense.

Sci Fi Wire has news today that there could be a Serenity sequel.

As background for those unfamiliar with Serenity or Firefly, Firefly is a TV series, science fiction of course, from 2002. IMDB reports there were 15 episodes. Here’s the plot outline:

In the distant future, Captain Malcolm ‘Mal’ Reynolds is a renegade former interstellar officer now turned smuggler/rogue whom is the commander of a small spacecraft with a loyal hand-picked crew making up of first mate Zoe Warren; pilot Hoban ‘Wash’ Washburn; gung-ho grunt Jayne Cobb; engineer Kaylee Frye; rogue scientist Simon Tam and his psychic sister River, where they travel the far reaches of space in search of food, money, and anything to live off on.

My son Alex and I saw Serenity in the theater this fall, and loved it. Here’s the IMDB plot outline of the movie:

River Tam and her brother Simon are hiding out from the totalitarian government that experimented with River’s brain aboard the space-freighter Serenity. Captained by a down on his luck, no faith soldier, the crew of Serenity must take jobs (legal or not) while avoiding the Alliance, and keeping the Tams safe. But when things get out of hand with the true extent of River’s powers, the Alliance sends a new Operative to make sure what River knows doesn’t get out. How will the crew of Serenity deal with this new threat? And what exactly does River know that the Operative is willing to kill for?

Since seeing the movie we’ve been watching Firefly reruns (we’ve got Tivo Season Pass grabbing all broadcast episodes), and we’re both hooked. Great stories, the acting is good, and I like the fresh approach they take to the idea of humans settling the galaxy - much less utopian than say Star Trek.

I’m going to buy the Serenity DVD, once it is available in high definition (I’m not buying any more low-def DVDs). And Alex and I will be hoping that a Serenity sequel will get the green light.

[Update]

This story quotes Firefly/Serenity creator Josh Whedon saying that rather than a Serenity sequel, a return of the Firefly series to TV is more likely.

Either a sequel or return to TV would be fine by me.

There are many announcements and cool new products showing at the CES in Las Vegas. Huge 103″ HDTVs, Blu-Ray and HD DVD players, wannabe iPod killers, gadgets, computers, etc.

Here’s some links to sites with news:

Endgadget has lots of news, and is live-blogging many of the keynotes and presentations.
HD Beat
Popular Mechanics
CES 2006 Web site