Making Movies: The Next Big Thing in iPhones?

"iPhones to people who want to create their own video productions"...and once that is done the next big thing on the horizone is MOBILE VIDEOCON. Just a natural evolution driven by the combination of mobile device capabilities (chip technologoes) and matching network bandwidth. LTE will certainly play a strategic role in Apples roadmap for a series of next big things.
The trend towards higher bandwidth is getting more focussed on telecom protocols vs DSL type simply because REALTIME DUAL DIRECTIONAL BANDWIDTH is more critical than one-way bandwidth that is tailored for VOD or bigger downloads.
Rolf Bork, BOD mediaf.com & sensitivetech.com

Gotta sell my HD Canon Quick!
Hope you are right!

This article relies primarily on the author's "gut," "atmospherics," and a "hunch." This should not have been published.

Note that HD was mentioned in the article, as was video recording and editing, but nothing of HD recording. This would require a new hardware platform. I'd hold on to that Canon for awhile.

AT&T's gotta love this. 3G is straining under the load of web surfing and email today. If video, and video MMS (particularly HD video) is the desired goal we should start seeing Apple kiss up to Verizon with a bit more love than they've recently shown.

Major hit if it has image stabilization.
Yawn if it doesn't.

@Marc - did you see the "?" in the title? In talking about the future, what isn't a hunch?

Please go back to reading newspapers.

Nice post Burrows.

This is hardly new news. Maybe being more widely talked about now though.

You're missing some details in the why:
- iMovie 09's video stabilisation
- OS 3.0 beta scubber and other images indicating change to video viewing, and also the image(s) or a movie clip upload
- Rumors about upgrade to a sensor better capable of video
- Rumors of upgrade to the backend of AT&T's infrastructure to handle a lot more data.

No mention of the physical limitations regarding lens size, optics etc.
Nor no mention about previous Apple job advertising about jobs that have relevance to video use in an Apple device (iPhone /Touch/other).

Hunch maybe, but the writer is not the first to have this, and is less detailed in why - it's less hunch now or many, and more accumulated rumor inferences, along with evidence from the OS itself.

While, I definitely believe video is the next big thing in general (since I'm part of that emerging crowd), there's no way a device as small as an iPhone could reliably edit video unless it was of really poor quality. Video editing is one of the most taxing applications, especially HD video. Do people want to watch edited videos that are only watchable (resolution wise) off of an iPhone?

This is also ignoring that the UI for editing video on a tiny screen would have to be pretty revolutionary as well. Take a look at any video editing app and see how much screen space you need.

I'd give this a few more years until I think its feasible.

I understand that the bet is hedged by the use of the question mark in the title and the use of the source. That's all well and good, and certainly rumormongering can be fun. I just don't think BusinessWeek is the right outlet.

@Ringo - Of course there are plenty of things we can talk about regarding the future that involve more than just hunches. I have something much stronger than a hunch that the sun will rise tomorrow and that it will be Friday.

XD this article is funny no offensive to you but do you live in a basement ? video recording in phones have been already implemented 6 years ago. nowadays phones are capable to shoot 740x480 videos a dvd quality resolution. the upcoming Samsung's omniaHD is capable to shoot HD videos 720p. so your so called "next big thing" its nothing new as how you made it to be

Yes, it is all true - anyone who cannot see it coming has not been examining patent applications. iPhone 4 will be nuclear powered (GOT to send those batteries back to Apple!), will come with sensually tuned holographic accelerometers, ability to foretell the near future and will easily open tin cans with its built-in toothpick.
What's vastly more amazing is that everyone keeps comparing it to other cellphones. Wake up, calls are the very least it can do, but few seem to know or care.

Unbelievable. Like there's space for even a decent-sized music library in there and he thinks we'll be editing video?

Please.

@ Zalman

That sound just about correct to me.

But on a serious note "source that is familiar with Apple’s plans" what does that mean? Video features are obviously the next big feature to come to the iPhone what else is there?

@Tim
You can't have fully read the article. Burrows notes that phones did email, internet and could run apps before the iPhone arrived but it was the iPhone that redefined how it was done and lifted the bar.

Burrows is saying that the iPhone will do the same to the existing video-on-phone segment. Recent history shows he's probably right.

Rrr - double post sorry.

More @Tim:

How's that editing video directly on your current phone and then directly uploading it to Youtube working out for you?

At any rate, this is an exciting idea, but I really don't want to get my hopes up based on the rumor mill as it kicks into pre WWDC high gear, only to be bitterly disappointed.

Not that I can actually afford anything currently. In this economy, I can't afford not to use the phrase "in this economy" in a comment.

Yeah, this strikes me as right, slotting nicely into Apple's existing and successful consumer media strategy.

The Flip is one of the view devices I am tempted to buy these days but I haven't because I know I won't get into the habit of bringing it with me every time I go out - I was the same with my camera and all my iPods, ended up using them far less that I thought I would. I know it would be the same with the Flip, so, I haven't bought one.

The one device I always have with me, even playing music via it's speaker while I'm in the shower, is my iPhone. I use the Hell out of that thing, and it's the only device that is more useful to me now than it was a year ago, thanks to the dozen or so really smart apps I've accumulated.

Having said that, I had already decided that, when Apple release the new iPhone in the summer, I wasn't going to upgrade and restart my mobile contract. Upgrading from the first iPhone was a no-brainer, it was a substantial improvement and I gave my old iPhone to a friend. Until now, though, I couldn't think of any feature that would persuade me to upgrade again.

Flip functionality, however, is exactly the sort of feature that would make it worth my while and allow Apple to achieve the manufacturer's ultimate dream - to persuade users to buy a new phone and sign up to a new contract every year, three years in a row.

The Flip MinoHD is about $230 with 4GB of memory, allowing for 60 minutes of HD footage, which sounds about right for the amount of shooting you might do before returning home and syncing to your laptop.

I would value Flip functionality integrated neatly into my iPhone, as being worth up to $300, simply because of the added use I would derive from having it with me all the time - I would actually use the damn thing.

Having maxed out my current iPhone's 16GB, the phone I upgrade to would have to be a minimum of 32GB, especially if I'm going to dedicate 4GB to 60 minutes of HD, and I believe that suitable chips are now being manufactured. That extra memory would justify another premium of, say, $100.

So, the Flip functionality and 32GB would be worth $400 to me, in addition to whatever others goodies they throw into the pot. That means that, even in a downturn, anything under $500 dollars would be a pretty attractive price, even on a contract, for a 32GB, Flip-like iPhone.

I suspect Apple could be on to a real winner here, because I know that a lot of people, particularly the online generation, would see the same value in that.

Oh, by the way, my one big gripe about the iPhone: I want to be able to use a bluetooth keyboard with it, preferably the sleek $79 Apple wireless one. Seriously, if Apple could just switch on that functionality, it would save me having to buy a netbook to use in cafes, the screen is plenty big enough for simple word processing with the WriteRoom app, or blogging with the WordPress app, especially if you don't need to take up space with the onscreen keyboard. That would be another $200 value to me right there.

Wow, BusinessWeeks's comment system is seriously bad.

Surely they have enough money to, I don't know, pay some kid $20 to install WordPress for them?

There are plenty of indicators that Apple will be rolling video recording and editing into iPhone OS 3.0 - you only have to look on a few Apple rumours sites to see what people have found hidden in the beta releases.

Most phones (at least in Europe) already manage video recording perfectly adequately. Some even do editing passably. The problem is in sharing that video - there are often options to send via MMS or email, but generally the user interface is unfriendly. Apple will, I'm sure, make it easy to shoot, edit and share video without having to delve into the depths of your mobile phone to do so.

Oh, and the Samsung Omnia HD? Because of the all the dropped frames, it cannot claim to shoot HD video. Check out this investigation: http://bit.ly/W6q1S

Cheers
Matt
www.allaboutiphone.net

I'm not claiming video won't be included in iPhone 3.0 but seriously this is a pitiful excuse for an article claiming that it's coming. Sounds more like the writer's wish list. Apple's silence as proof?? No means Yes?? Every keynote that comes up is hyped up w/ all sorts of products that Apple doesn't deny and sure enough none of them exist and their stock takes a hit because people wanted something stupid in comparison to the base that Apple is founding. Keep your gut to yourself. Also I've been recommending all my friends stay away from Wolverine but my gut says that the writer should go.

I sure hope video recording is coming, but it would have to be in a new device since the current hardware wont do HD recording. In fact I dont even think it will do SD @ 30 fps. Anything less would be a waste of time. With that, I hope WWDC brings a release of new hardware and not just an announcement. My 1st gen phone is ready to go!

Like another poster, I use my iPhone all the time. Working in the arts, I could see this as very vaulable and they need to start offering insurance for these.

I also think the AT&T network isn't there yet. Could be why they are in talks with Verizon. We shall see. Regardless, the only downside is this means more consumer one to one sessions and I've read quite a few pros and die hard mac users are tired if not funding logic, shake, motion training. It's all ilfe and you can be sure it will involve msft .me, I mean dot mac, err MM. LOL.

I also wonder about the rumors if apple getting into the television business as in selling televisions. As long as you could play MPEG, avi and xvid and not be locked to iTunes app store movies, count me in. Will also be interesting to see what happens with the Palm Pre and the millions if iPhone users coming up on expired contracts soon. Apples bread and butter.

Like another poster, I use my iPhone all the time. Working in the arts, I could see this as very vaulable and they need to start offering insurance for these.

I also think the AT&T network isn't there yet. Could be why they are in talks with Verizon. We shall see. Regardless, the only downside is this means more consumer one to one sessions and I've read quite a few pros and die hard mac users are tired if not funding logic, shake, motion training. It's all ilfe and you can be sure it will involve msft .me, I mean dot mac, err MM. LOL.

I also wonder about the rumors if apple getting into the television business as in selling televisions. As long as you could play MPEG, avi and xvid and not be locked to iTunes app store movies, count me in. Will also be interesting to see what happens with the Palm Pre and the millions if iPhone users coming up on expired contracts soon. Apples bread and butter.

Watch for the new iphone and "tablet" to be the foundation for Apple's PVC (Personal Video Conferencing). The iConference will create another paradigm shift in consumer behavior which like the ipod will be copied by many.

Q: What else show we look for at Apple's WWDC this summer?

A: Perhaps a revolt by all of the angry iPhone Developer's who aren't getting paid for their apps.

That's more than "a hunch"

TechCrunch's story "iPhone App Developers Threaten To Sue Apple Over Late Payments" is getting lots of comments from incensed developers:

http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/04/30/iphone-app-developers-threaten-to-sue-apple-over-late-payments/

This makes perfect sense. In fact, I theorized that Apple might look to add "camera re-invention" as another one of their disruptor job targets within iPhone/iPod touch, in my post:

iPhones, App Stores and Ecosystems
(http://bit.ly/Hre72)

EXCERPT: What if Apple decided to reinvent the digital camera as a smart, connected, programmable device? It would certainly sync up with some of the features they have recently baked into iLife, such as facial recognition and geocoding of photos.

The main thought process here is that the Flip Video cameras (recently acquired by Cisco) have proven that there is a real market for pocket sized video cameras. If you overlay that goodness on the whole iPhone platform play, what type of software value add might developers plug in on the software front?

Food for thought.

Mark

cul

These is innovative idea.
http://www.iphonechamps.com/blogs/mobile.html

Great idea
http://www.iphonechamps.com/blogs/mobile.html

Its great idea.

Re: Watch for the new iphone and "tablet" to be the foundation for Apple's PVC (Personal Video Conferencing). Yes - and this would also mean that the devices will have to have MULTIPLE WIRELESS INTERFACE options to be able to use higher bandwidth (when available) for better videocon performance.
Cisco and Apple will both co-develop the videcon mass market starting from a different platform strategy.
Hard to see how current wireless telecom infrastructure will enable good mobile videcon experience - but would be OK for back-up if no higher bandwidth option is around.
Rolf Bork, BOD mediaf.com & sensitivetech.com

Cisco is a big loser, pure digital is ugly flip camera, costs more than iPod touch, and does almost zero. Cisco M&A group needs to be fired, for that matter Chambers is lacking too.