TAP Quicky: New MacBook Pros, YouTube: H.264 For Apple TV

This week the rumor mill reports that Apple’s MacBook Pros might see an update as early as next Tuesday. In addition, it is now confirmed, that YouTube for the Apple TV will utilize the H.264 codec instead of Flash.

New MacBook Pros on Tuesday, June 5th

We’ve heard many reports that Apple will introduce new MacBook Pros during Steve Job’s Keynote on June 11th. Now Mac4ever.com posted the following statement, translated from French by MacRumors:

There’s some news. We’ve just ordered the new MBP ! Launch expected for next tuesday… But Apple didnt’t say anything about the specifications. We have to order blind-eyed… If i’ve got some other news, i’ll keep you informed.

Yes, we know… VERY suspicious. Why would Apple want to release a new product just one week before the big event? Well, MacRumors speculates that Apple’s Educational Back to School Program, which launches next week, might have something to do with it. But who really cares about one week anyways, right?

YouTube For Apple TV Will Use H.264 Codec

Apple Vice President of Worldwide Mac Hardware Marketing David Moody confirmed to iLounge, that YouTube is currently in the process of converting its entire video library from Flash to H.264 for use on the AppleTV.

The YouTube update will take place in stages, beginning with the free software update for Apple TV owners in mid-June. At launch, “thousands of videos designed for Apple TV” will be available, with additional thousands added weekly until the entire YouTube library becomes accessible to Apple TV users this fall. When asked what “designed for Apple TV” meant, Moody said that YouTube will soon be encoding videos in the H.264 streaming-efficient compression format preferred by Apple TV, and that all new videos submitted to YouTube as of the mid-June launch of the AppleTV update will be playable by the device.

What is all of it to us, the consumer? Probably not much, however, it would be interesting to find out if YouTube had planned H.264 encoding all along, or if this is yet another Apple Exclusive deal. Also, the iPhone will support H.264 right?