gleepskip
Jan 5, 02:54 PM
it would be great if apple would put up a video feed of the keynote live.
if not that, put it in the local apple stores.
What an awesome idea. Show up to your local Apple Store to watch the keynote and buy the product(s) that are available that day as soon as Steve says, "See you again soon."
if not that, put it in the local apple stores.
What an awesome idea. Show up to your local Apple Store to watch the keynote and buy the product(s) that are available that day as soon as Steve says, "See you again soon."
sammich
Apr 21, 10:56 AM
This was one of those 'always asked for but always denied for good reasons' features that everyone's been asking for. I guess now we get to find out if those fears come to light.
One thing though: we can't 'unvote'? I'm not familiar with other site's implementations so I'm not sure how it's done.
One thing though: we can't 'unvote'? I'm not familiar with other site's implementations so I'm not sure how it's done.
Chip NoVaMac
Mar 13, 12:15 PM
Niche? Really? So all the iPhones and iPads sold around the world and they're still niche? What's that niche called? the whole market?!
There are 'Droid lovers out there.. with many not liking the closed "eco-system" that Apple imposes for apps; and the selective "censorship" in apps or how a device like the ATV2 won't show Gay&Lesbian genre in the Netflix app on the ATV2.
In the end for the iPhone it seems that it has a 30% market share according to data I found. The iPad is harder to peg down since the numbers can be split between eReaders, tablets, netbooks, and even notebooks.
Once it all shakes out, Apple IMO would be happy with 20-30% across all their platforms. The revenue stream from iTunes will keep them very happy.
I disagree. The click wheel made it easier to use, as it was intuitive (scrolling clockwise down, anticlockwise up), and was also easily used inside a pocket [find the clickwheel and you're go]. The clickwheel has been hailed as a masterstroke for Apple; getting rid of the plethora of buttons on MP3 players and replacing it with a sleek interface. I find it the most annoying part of using my iPhone is that I have to look at the screen to use the controls.
+1
The click wheel in my first iPod won me over... though at least with compatible headsets with in-line buttons we can at least advance to the next track...
In case you haven't noticed, they've redefined computing almost overnight. They're now building on that. They've got the competition completely flummoxed. They're pushing the industry forward with their apparent non-innovations.
One has to just look at the MBA, and even the MBP models...
Links to Steve's presentations and nothing else, eh? If computing has changed, then why do we still have laptops and desktops? Even better, why does Apple still sell them?
The links were about three of the four products that changed the tech landscape... the missing one was for the iPod.
The 1st Mac changed how we ALL would look at using a computer for a very long time. The 1st iPhone changed how we look at the smartphone, as did the 1st iPad.
As to your question about why does Apple still sell notebooks and desktops; or why anyone else might still be selling them. Seriously, till Intel and others can give us that power in a portable device - it won't happen. Yet the power that the iPad's offer are capturing the imagination of folks that realize they don't need major power for day-to-day tasks.
What I think we are seeing is an integration of devices that no other single company has yet been able to do. From our music players, to our TV, to our tablets, to our notebooks or desktops. And getting them all to play well with each other.
Goes back to my comments about Apple having a comfortable niche... 20-30% of us that like a seamless environment for our digital life...
Honestly I think Apple got the multitasking almost spot on... the way it manages it is perfect for a device with limited battery/processing power.
In the last 6 months I've "fixed" two phones for people (1x Android, 1 x Symbian) who've installed an app that's running constantly in the background and making the phone unusable to the point they thought it was broken. I used to find it with my own Nokia N95, the multitasking ability was excellent but you had to be careful what you left running or the battery could run down in a few hours.
I think Apple have made an excellent trade-off in that way, it used to bug the hell out of me that I couldn't use sat nav or internet radio apps in the background, but since iOS 4 I've really not found any situation where I need "true" multitasking and the current implementation has little effect on the battery.
+1
We might not like the "limits" gives us... but in the end it helps in the "experience"....
There are 'Droid lovers out there.. with many not liking the closed "eco-system" that Apple imposes for apps; and the selective "censorship" in apps or how a device like the ATV2 won't show Gay&Lesbian genre in the Netflix app on the ATV2.
In the end for the iPhone it seems that it has a 30% market share according to data I found. The iPad is harder to peg down since the numbers can be split between eReaders, tablets, netbooks, and even notebooks.
Once it all shakes out, Apple IMO would be happy with 20-30% across all their platforms. The revenue stream from iTunes will keep them very happy.
I disagree. The click wheel made it easier to use, as it was intuitive (scrolling clockwise down, anticlockwise up), and was also easily used inside a pocket [find the clickwheel and you're go]. The clickwheel has been hailed as a masterstroke for Apple; getting rid of the plethora of buttons on MP3 players and replacing it with a sleek interface. I find it the most annoying part of using my iPhone is that I have to look at the screen to use the controls.
+1
The click wheel in my first iPod won me over... though at least with compatible headsets with in-line buttons we can at least advance to the next track...
In case you haven't noticed, they've redefined computing almost overnight. They're now building on that. They've got the competition completely flummoxed. They're pushing the industry forward with their apparent non-innovations.
One has to just look at the MBA, and even the MBP models...
Links to Steve's presentations and nothing else, eh? If computing has changed, then why do we still have laptops and desktops? Even better, why does Apple still sell them?
The links were about three of the four products that changed the tech landscape... the missing one was for the iPod.
The 1st Mac changed how we ALL would look at using a computer for a very long time. The 1st iPhone changed how we look at the smartphone, as did the 1st iPad.
As to your question about why does Apple still sell notebooks and desktops; or why anyone else might still be selling them. Seriously, till Intel and others can give us that power in a portable device - it won't happen. Yet the power that the iPad's offer are capturing the imagination of folks that realize they don't need major power for day-to-day tasks.
What I think we are seeing is an integration of devices that no other single company has yet been able to do. From our music players, to our TV, to our tablets, to our notebooks or desktops. And getting them all to play well with each other.
Goes back to my comments about Apple having a comfortable niche... 20-30% of us that like a seamless environment for our digital life...
Honestly I think Apple got the multitasking almost spot on... the way it manages it is perfect for a device with limited battery/processing power.
In the last 6 months I've "fixed" two phones for people (1x Android, 1 x Symbian) who've installed an app that's running constantly in the background and making the phone unusable to the point they thought it was broken. I used to find it with my own Nokia N95, the multitasking ability was excellent but you had to be careful what you left running or the battery could run down in a few hours.
I think Apple have made an excellent trade-off in that way, it used to bug the hell out of me that I couldn't use sat nav or internet radio apps in the background, but since iOS 4 I've really not found any situation where I need "true" multitasking and the current implementation has little effect on the battery.
+1
We might not like the "limits" gives us... but in the end it helps in the "experience"....
Lord Blackadder
Aug 4, 11:41 AM
We should have had electric cars for short-haul 20 years ago.
Practical electric cars have been manufactured and sold for over 100 years. However, petroluem fueled cars have always offered longer range, more power, and generally lower cost. For short-haul runabouts the electric car has been available as an alternative almost as long as the car itself has existed.
EDIT: The price-gouging on the Volt is highly unproductive. The point of the Volt is to build and sell a practical, affordable series hybrid - the MSRP is already very high, so the gouging just makes the car unattainably expensive.
Practical electric cars have been manufactured and sold for over 100 years. However, petroluem fueled cars have always offered longer range, more power, and generally lower cost. For short-haul runabouts the electric car has been available as an alternative almost as long as the car itself has existed.
EDIT: The price-gouging on the Volt is highly unproductive. The point of the Volt is to build and sell a practical, affordable series hybrid - the MSRP is already very high, so the gouging just makes the car unattainably expensive.
snberk103
Apr 14, 06:27 PM
Homer Simpson: Not a bear in sight. The Bear Patrol must be working like a charm.
Lisa Simpson: That�s specious reasoning, Dad.
Homer: Thank you, dear.
Lisa: By your logic I could claim that this rock keeps tigers away.
Homer: Oh, how does it work?
Lisa: It doesn�t work.
Homer: Uh-huh.
Lisa: It�s just a stupid rock.
Homer: Uh-huh.
Lisa: But I don�t see any tigers around, do you?
Homer: Lisa, I want to buy your rock.
I do actually know the difference between causal and correlational relationships.... :D
I will stand by my hypothesis that something that the TSA is doing is working to make hijackings less likely to happen in the USA.....
Lisa Simpson: That�s specious reasoning, Dad.
Homer: Thank you, dear.
Lisa: By your logic I could claim that this rock keeps tigers away.
Homer: Oh, how does it work?
Lisa: It doesn�t work.
Homer: Uh-huh.
Lisa: It�s just a stupid rock.
Homer: Uh-huh.
Lisa: But I don�t see any tigers around, do you?
Homer: Lisa, I want to buy your rock.
I do actually know the difference between causal and correlational relationships.... :D
I will stand by my hypothesis that something that the TSA is doing is working to make hijackings less likely to happen in the USA.....
Slix
Mar 24, 03:58 PM
Happy Birthday OS X! I still love you. :D
Akme
Apr 9, 10:24 AM
Both companies are overly focused on shoehorning their mobile experiences into their desktop operating systems. Both Lion and Windows 8 will see some new features, however, I think (for the most part) they will be releases with a view to long-term unification between mobile and desktop, rather than being focused on an extensive list of features.
While some people are unhappy with some of the steps that Apple have taken in 10.7 toward this, and are judging the new feature list as being somewhat limited, I believe Microsoft will do much of the same for Windows 8.
Windows 7 is to Vista as Snow Leopard is to Leopard. As a result, I believe their next releases will follow a similar trajectory.
While some people are unhappy with some of the steps that Apple have taken in 10.7 toward this, and are judging the new feature list as being somewhat limited, I believe Microsoft will do much of the same for Windows 8.
Windows 7 is to Vista as Snow Leopard is to Leopard. As a result, I believe their next releases will follow a similar trajectory.
SilentPanda
Apr 21, 10:48 AM
Am I meant to be able to rate my own post?
If you click the down arrow on your own post, it should just delete the post IMO.
If you click the down arrow on your own post, it should just delete the post IMO.
systole
Mar 28, 07:39 PM
Isn't the design awards just a fancy carrot in disguise?
Personally, I think that the biggest detriment to developers is control. If you find an app on their website, the developer controls the shopping environment, and licensee terms. By submitting their app, developers loose control first, profit second.
Personally, I think that the biggest detriment to developers is control. If you find an app on their website, the developer controls the shopping environment, and licensee terms. By submitting their app, developers loose control first, profit second.
Macnoviz
Oct 3, 01:48 PM
In other news, the pope today announced that he is Catholic. He also confesses to **** in the woods.
No really, I expect quite a number of those things, but then at the end one more thing that nobody expects, not a phone, not another iPod, but something radically different. Just like the games at the last Stevenote, only bigger, something that will make you go Huh? :eek: Wtf ? :confused: Wow ! :) Now where's that credit card? :D
No really, I expect quite a number of those things, but then at the end one more thing that nobody expects, not a phone, not another iPod, but something radically different. Just like the games at the last Stevenote, only bigger, something that will make you go Huh? :eek: Wtf ? :confused: Wow ! :) Now where's that credit card? :D
idanchez
Apr 15, 05:21 PM
Good Day Forum,
I work in manufacturing engineering...
Looking at these pictures i think it is possible to produce an iPhone like this using CNC machining...
However i am not sure what to think about dock connecter port :confused: ... The image shows it having 90 deg corners which is quite difficult to achieve using a CNC milling machine... This would require some sort of laser cutting manufacturing proces... which they probably used...
The silent lock switch and the volume button show the corners having a radius of about 0.5mm... this is achieved using a 1mm cutter.
Though this may look like renders... it is still possible to generate a product like this...
If you look closely to all of Apples product... they pay EXTREME :rolleyes: attention to DETAIL... This does not look like something apple would produce.
The "bevel" at the back.... is a No No for apple... they like to make it look smooth and shell like all over...
However i could be wrong... :(
Many Thanks for you time.
:cool: :apple:
I can generate an iPod Touch first generation using CAD and save the file as a 3D file and upload this to photoshop to render and add text and texture...
I work in manufacturing engineering...
Looking at these pictures i think it is possible to produce an iPhone like this using CNC machining...
However i am not sure what to think about dock connecter port :confused: ... The image shows it having 90 deg corners which is quite difficult to achieve using a CNC milling machine... This would require some sort of laser cutting manufacturing proces... which they probably used...
The silent lock switch and the volume button show the corners having a radius of about 0.5mm... this is achieved using a 1mm cutter.
Though this may look like renders... it is still possible to generate a product like this...
If you look closely to all of Apples product... they pay EXTREME :rolleyes: attention to DETAIL... This does not look like something apple would produce.
The "bevel" at the back.... is a No No for apple... they like to make it look smooth and shell like all over...
However i could be wrong... :(
Many Thanks for you time.
:cool: :apple:
I can generate an iPod Touch first generation using CAD and save the file as a 3D file and upload this to photoshop to render and add text and texture...
macidiot
Oct 19, 07:07 PM
When one considers Dell's quality of their computers, why are they still #1?
corporate sales. When you have large IT staffs and reserves of machines, reliability is less of an issue.
corporate sales. When you have large IT staffs and reserves of machines, reliability is less of an issue.
Corndog5595
Nov 14, 09:23 PM
Maybe you're really bad, or playing on a bad TV (too small or low res?). I played on hardened, and the most I had to replay a section was WMD, a part near the end of the game where you have a crossbow. You get an achievement for taking out all guards silently, so I had to restart to keep trying.
aznkid25
Jan 15, 10:43 PM
Just imagine in September when Apple has the September ipod keynote, SJ will probably say something like this:"The MBA sales have been average this year, we think we can do better, and we want to make it more affordable for the holiday season, so we will be dropping the price $500 and now it will cost $1300.
blahblah100
Mar 28, 02:46 PM
When was the last time a standards setting, headline grabbing, everyone's gotta have it Mac application created?
1987 - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HyperCard
:D
1987 - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HyperCard
:D
puckhead193
Jan 8, 10:46 PM
this is what i *want*
a new design for the MBP
iphone 3g with 16 gigs available for late spring early summer. (i still like my pearl)
:apple: tv with DVR and blue-ray (HDMI)
new ACD
more likely a boring keynotes with all talk (update on mac/iphone/ipod sales a 30 min demo of the MS office, and iphone SDK :rolleyes:
a new design for the MBP
iphone 3g with 16 gigs available for late spring early summer. (i still like my pearl)
:apple: tv with DVR and blue-ray (HDMI)
new ACD
more likely a boring keynotes with all talk (update on mac/iphone/ipod sales a 30 min demo of the MS office, and iphone SDK :rolleyes:
balamw
Oct 4, 05:11 PM
The decryption key is top secret, not the encryption key.
Methinks you don't have a good grasp of public key encryption. (Or at least how it's supposed to work).
The encryption key is the one that is top secret because it's the one you keep private, and is the one which would allow DoubleTwist (or anyone else) to masquerade as iTS. The decryption key, by it's very nature, is vulnerable and in effect "public" (since it must be on the client machine, so it can be discovered). There is a flaw in the FairPlay system that Jon has exploited before (as I mentioned earlier in the thread) which has to do with the fact that the files are personalized locally on the client machine, so if they can fool iTunes into personalizing third party files, they're in like Flynn. (This also has the effect of making a private key or equivalent available on the system which may be the chink in FairPlay's armor).
Essentially, the FairPlay system is one that implies a certain amount of trust. Once you authorize a machine all of the purchased tracks from that account on the machines can be decrypted. Even if they are not on the machine at the time of the authorization and the machine is not on the network at the time (I have played back encrypted videos on DVD-R on my iBook while it was not on the 'net.)
I don't know how often it needs to "phone home" so you can't just load up 5 machines with protected content, detach them from the network and deactivate all of your machines at iTMS... Then spend the next year working on 5 more systems...
B
Methinks you don't have a good grasp of public key encryption. (Or at least how it's supposed to work).
The encryption key is the one that is top secret because it's the one you keep private, and is the one which would allow DoubleTwist (or anyone else) to masquerade as iTS. The decryption key, by it's very nature, is vulnerable and in effect "public" (since it must be on the client machine, so it can be discovered). There is a flaw in the FairPlay system that Jon has exploited before (as I mentioned earlier in the thread) which has to do with the fact that the files are personalized locally on the client machine, so if they can fool iTunes into personalizing third party files, they're in like Flynn. (This also has the effect of making a private key or equivalent available on the system which may be the chink in FairPlay's armor).
Essentially, the FairPlay system is one that implies a certain amount of trust. Once you authorize a machine all of the purchased tracks from that account on the machines can be decrypted. Even if they are not on the machine at the time of the authorization and the machine is not on the network at the time (I have played back encrypted videos on DVD-R on my iBook while it was not on the 'net.)
I don't know how often it needs to "phone home" so you can't just load up 5 machines with protected content, detach them from the network and deactivate all of your machines at iTMS... Then spend the next year working on 5 more systems...
B
chris975d
Dec 13, 10:34 PM
<-----Takes one
Why on earth would they create such a manufacturing and delivery nightmare??? OF COURSE they would put Verizon and AT&T on 2 separate refresh dates, it only makes sense. The situation you describe is perfectly normal and happens all the time. It's only practical for Apple to do the same.
I was acutally going to say this same thing. It makes more sense for Apple to put a Verizon/CDMA/LTE...whatever phone on a different release cycle than the GSM phone, as they typically can't even handle the logistical nightmare of releasing the current phone with adequate supply. How long is the thing backordered now when an iPhone is released? How nightmarish is it for them to produce and keep adequate supply of only a GSM iPhone? Now imagine if those production numbers were divided between a Verizon AND the GSM iPhone....you'd never be able to get one! A 6 month split would be almost perfect for releases...it'd give the production lines ample time to get decent numbers of both phones built up. The dual release (unless Apple can get a single chip LTE/CDMA/GSM solution) would be a potential nightmare for FoxConn's assembly plant.
Why on earth would they create such a manufacturing and delivery nightmare??? OF COURSE they would put Verizon and AT&T on 2 separate refresh dates, it only makes sense. The situation you describe is perfectly normal and happens all the time. It's only practical for Apple to do the same.
I was acutally going to say this same thing. It makes more sense for Apple to put a Verizon/CDMA/LTE...whatever phone on a different release cycle than the GSM phone, as they typically can't even handle the logistical nightmare of releasing the current phone with adequate supply. How long is the thing backordered now when an iPhone is released? How nightmarish is it for them to produce and keep adequate supply of only a GSM iPhone? Now imagine if those production numbers were divided between a Verizon AND the GSM iPhone....you'd never be able to get one! A 6 month split would be almost perfect for releases...it'd give the production lines ample time to get decent numbers of both phones built up. The dual release (unless Apple can get a single chip LTE/CDMA/GSM solution) would be a potential nightmare for FoxConn's assembly plant.
WildPalms
Jan 15, 04:12 PM
Three new toys to own (MacBook Air, :apple:tv 2, and Time Capsule) plus an update for my existing toy - iPhone.
Count me as pleased.
Now hopefully an MBP refresh will happen next Tuesday.
You're easily pleased... I have a piece of wool my cat likes to play with but I'm sure she wont mind sharing with you...:p
Count me as pleased.
Now hopefully an MBP refresh will happen next Tuesday.
You're easily pleased... I have a piece of wool my cat likes to play with but I'm sure she wont mind sharing with you...:p
l3lack J4ck
Nov 24, 12:15 AM
i just noticed that....im thinking they probably updated it...but this is more of a "mirror" per say of the old store...at midnight pst it will update im guessing...
thats just an idea
thats just an idea
anotherarunan
Jan 15, 01:25 PM
But eventually the specs will get better and better for either the same price point or reduced price points over the course of time... Also, it looks like no Apple Remote and Front Row for the MBAir??
the apple remote is an optional extra! like the superdrive, theres an optional extra ethernet USB adapter. (for the MBA single USB port!)
just wait for the apple USB hub announcement to come in the summer! :D
the apple remote is an optional extra! like the superdrive, theres an optional extra ethernet USB adapter. (for the MBA single USB port!)
just wait for the apple USB hub announcement to come in the summer! :D
MykullMyerz
Mar 17, 08:36 AM
OMG you people are completely overreacting. Do you know how often cashiers make mistakes such as this? If every store fired every cashier that came up short on their register at least once in their retail career, their would probably no cashiers. It's a common mistake that happens more often than you think and most stores just take it as a lost and go about business as usual. So, unless the cashier is completely incompetent and this incident is a repeat occurrence, I doubt he'll get fired.
jarednt1
Sep 8, 12:50 PM
I'm not refusing to blame the mayor. Him and the governor of Louisiana are complete morons. They're partially to blame for the amount of people who couldn't evacuate before the storm (they made no attempt to help.)
HOWEVER Bush IS partially to blame for the slow federal response. #1 he elected the FEMA heads, neither of which had any clue how to do their job. #2 all of the needed equipment was in Iraq.
Unfortunately the real people to blame were the ones who decided to build a city in a bowl next to the ocean. But they're long dead, so thats no fun.
I've said this many times, EVERYONE ********* up a little (or a lot) during this tragedy.
Thank You, its nice to know there are some people that are sane. As I say there is plenty of blame to go around.
HOWEVER Bush IS partially to blame for the slow federal response. #1 he elected the FEMA heads, neither of which had any clue how to do their job. #2 all of the needed equipment was in Iraq.
Unfortunately the real people to blame were the ones who decided to build a city in a bowl next to the ocean. But they're long dead, so thats no fun.
I've said this many times, EVERYONE ********* up a little (or a lot) during this tragedy.
Thank You, its nice to know there are some people that are sane. As I say there is plenty of blame to go around.
AppliedVisual
Oct 17, 02:33 PM
Tape!?! :confused: who on earth uses tape anymore? This is.. 2006. And I was always under the impression that a medium with moving parts would be more prone to failure than one without. Certainly my VHS and cassette library have had their share of tapes being chewed up by the machine or worn out from use.
Tape is still the most reliable, long-term archival media available. Newer tape systems can transfer over 150MB/sec. to and from the tape and store several hundred GB on a single tape. Cost-wise, tape is expensive to buy into, but if you have sufficeint archival needs, it pays for itself over time. Many tape solutions once they reach their ROI point afer a year or two, often are cheaper than HDD storage by half or more. Sounds weird, I know, but that's the way it still is.
Most large data centers covering everything from web storage, insurance databases, financial institutions etc... Have mostly converted over to large-scale redundant servers and storage networks using RAID subsystems. This serves all their immediate storage and backup needs on site and is very reliable if managed properly. But nearly all of them still use an additional tape archival workflow for off-site data storage. There really is no other way right now... Wish there was. Hence the reason tape systems also keep evolving and pretty much match HDD capacity with tape capacity in most cases and transfer rates continue to improve. Comparing tape archival systems to VHS or miniDV tape is not a good comparison, data tapes (or at least the good ones) are very robust and actually very hard to damage. Short of placing them in a magnetic field for a period of time, they're mostly indestructable. They do have moving parts, but hardly any compared to a hard drive.
Using hard drives as an archival solution is a bad idea... Hard drives are not designed for this and can corrupt data over time. Not to mention, the platter system and motors are not designed to sit stationary for years at a time for long-term storage. Optical media isn't too bad, but most photo-sensitive dyes and films used in optical media will decay over time. CD-R media was originally claimed to have a lifespan of 30 to 100 years. Now that it's been around for 30+ years, we're finding out that claim was somewhat exaggerated. Recordable DVD media and HD-DVD and BD are no different, just higher data density on the discs. And also not anywhere near practical for large-scale solutions. Just how do you archive and manage 300 petabytes per year to DVD-R???
For small business type users and home users though, DVD-R media in addition to a good redundant RAID setup probably makes the most sense. Unless they're pushing lots of data doing HD video editing or something like that. In which case, it may still make sense to give tape a consideration as the long-term archive solution. Prosumer level tape archive systems exist and are not that expensive and much more reliable than shelved hard drives and much easier to manage than optical media. The VXA2 format can afford someone an external Firewire tape system w/2 tapes for < $1K. Tapes hold up to 160GB each and factoring in the cost of the drive plus enough tapes to back up about 3 terrabytes of data, the cost becomes cheaper than individual hard drives. So a few terrabytes down the road and you could be wishing you had considered tape if you're still using DVD-R. OTOH, DVD-R is just fine and dandy if a terrabyte or two is all you need. Because you can fit a lot of discs in a shoebox and sharpie pen to label them is pretty cheap too.
External drives are *not* long term archiving solutions. They are useful for storing vast amounts of data that presumably you want to actually access and use (and possibly modify) on a regular basis; also, they are good for the kind of incremental backups you refer to, Time Machine, Retrospect, other 3rd party backup tools can be used for this. But if you have important files you know aren't going to change, while having them on HDD is useful for instant access, that's not where they should be permanently archived -- they should be burned to a permanent medium, preferably more than one copy, and stored in a safe place (or places). If your drive fails and you still need the data to be on that drive, you can then restore from the permanent medium.
Um... I guess I got carried away and didn't mean to elaborate on what you already said. But, er... um.. Yep, I agree.
Tape is still the most reliable, long-term archival media available. Newer tape systems can transfer over 150MB/sec. to and from the tape and store several hundred GB on a single tape. Cost-wise, tape is expensive to buy into, but if you have sufficeint archival needs, it pays for itself over time. Many tape solutions once they reach their ROI point afer a year or two, often are cheaper than HDD storage by half or more. Sounds weird, I know, but that's the way it still is.
Most large data centers covering everything from web storage, insurance databases, financial institutions etc... Have mostly converted over to large-scale redundant servers and storage networks using RAID subsystems. This serves all their immediate storage and backup needs on site and is very reliable if managed properly. But nearly all of them still use an additional tape archival workflow for off-site data storage. There really is no other way right now... Wish there was. Hence the reason tape systems also keep evolving and pretty much match HDD capacity with tape capacity in most cases and transfer rates continue to improve. Comparing tape archival systems to VHS or miniDV tape is not a good comparison, data tapes (or at least the good ones) are very robust and actually very hard to damage. Short of placing them in a magnetic field for a period of time, they're mostly indestructable. They do have moving parts, but hardly any compared to a hard drive.
Using hard drives as an archival solution is a bad idea... Hard drives are not designed for this and can corrupt data over time. Not to mention, the platter system and motors are not designed to sit stationary for years at a time for long-term storage. Optical media isn't too bad, but most photo-sensitive dyes and films used in optical media will decay over time. CD-R media was originally claimed to have a lifespan of 30 to 100 years. Now that it's been around for 30+ years, we're finding out that claim was somewhat exaggerated. Recordable DVD media and HD-DVD and BD are no different, just higher data density on the discs. And also not anywhere near practical for large-scale solutions. Just how do you archive and manage 300 petabytes per year to DVD-R???
For small business type users and home users though, DVD-R media in addition to a good redundant RAID setup probably makes the most sense. Unless they're pushing lots of data doing HD video editing or something like that. In which case, it may still make sense to give tape a consideration as the long-term archive solution. Prosumer level tape archive systems exist and are not that expensive and much more reliable than shelved hard drives and much easier to manage than optical media. The VXA2 format can afford someone an external Firewire tape system w/2 tapes for < $1K. Tapes hold up to 160GB each and factoring in the cost of the drive plus enough tapes to back up about 3 terrabytes of data, the cost becomes cheaper than individual hard drives. So a few terrabytes down the road and you could be wishing you had considered tape if you're still using DVD-R. OTOH, DVD-R is just fine and dandy if a terrabyte or two is all you need. Because you can fit a lot of discs in a shoebox and sharpie pen to label them is pretty cheap too.
External drives are *not* long term archiving solutions. They are useful for storing vast amounts of data that presumably you want to actually access and use (and possibly modify) on a regular basis; also, they are good for the kind of incremental backups you refer to, Time Machine, Retrospect, other 3rd party backup tools can be used for this. But if you have important files you know aren't going to change, while having them on HDD is useful for instant access, that's not where they should be permanently archived -- they should be burned to a permanent medium, preferably more than one copy, and stored in a safe place (or places). If your drive fails and you still need the data to be on that drive, you can then restore from the permanent medium.
Um... I guess I got carried away and didn't mean to elaborate on what you already said. But, er... um.. Yep, I agree.