Apple Stocking Up On Flash Memory?

[MacRumors]

http://www.macrumors.com/images/macrumorsthreadlogo.gif (http://www.macrumors.com)

Historically unreliable DigiTimes is claiming (http://www.digitimes.com/bits_chips/a20060605A1001.html) that their industry sources indicate Apple is once again securing large orders of NAND Flash memory. The most likely use of this stockpile would be for the upcoming Nano revision which should top-out at 8 GB.

Apple made similar stockpile arrangements (http://www.macrumors.com/pages/2005/08/20050822212657.shtml) before the original Nano launch, and with rumors floating (http://www.macrumors.com/pages/2006/04/20060425081810.shtml) about a higher-capacity and redesigned Nano due by this fall, such stockpile claims are not totally suspect. That being said, DigiTimes' record has been less than stellar, with iBook and Powerbook G5s (http://www.macrumors.com/pages/2005/01/20050114041111.shtml) all rumored to arrive in 2005 according to them.

Digitimes has also in the past claimed that Apple was working with Intel on using Intel's Robson Caching technology (http://www.macrumors.com/pages/2006/01/20060105165725.shtml), which uses Flash memory to speed bootup and launching of commonly used applications. While not specifically cited by DigiTimes as a use for the Flash stockpile, if Apple does plan on using Robson technology the stockpile could easily be used for production of such notebooks.

[iGary]

All is boring on the iPod front. :)

[cherfizzle]

8 GB nano = mad coooool

[Deimo]

Can't be a bad thing... combined with the recent $179 rebate for students to get a free 2GB Nano, it looks pretty good for a 9/19 or 9/26 media event to announce a new iPod. The rebate will help push the excess stock of the smaller nano to clear the way.

[shadowmoses]

This is probably becuase Apple know they are going to get mad demand for Nano's when thanks to the back to school promo....And possibly the introduction of Robson technology in the REAL;) MacBook Pro which will probably be out later this year.....

ShadoW

[bigandy]

i'm surprised digitimes hasn't directly 'predicted' MacBook Pros with flash drives...

[celebrian23]

I don't consider this really news. I think it's obvious apple will veil something new for the holiday season- if they're not planning on it they're stupid then. So this pretty much seems obvious to me that they'd be stocking up on flash drives.

[chris200x9]

8 gig nanos apple is awesome.....they fit so much into so little...:)

[Demon Hunter]

Redesigned iPod Nano? How do you redesign the iPod Nano? :confused:

[RichP]

Who needs Robson?? When was the last time you needed to boot your mac; this isnt Windoze where the OS suffers a decay halflife from startup ;)

[skunk]

Redesigned iPod Nano? How do you redesign the iPod Nano? :confused:Plenty of other companies have tried.

[XIII]

Digitimes!!

My favourite rumour source! :D

iBook G5's! PowerBook G5's! Its all go at Digitimes! :D

[Demon Hunter]

Plenty of other companies have tried.

I think you mean reverse engineer. :p

[sam10685]

Redesigned iPod Nano? How do you redesign the iPod Nano? :confused:

they'll figure out a way...

[Analog Kid]

Redesigned iPod Nano? How do you redesign the iPod Nano? :confused:
Lose the docking cable. Drives me nuts that I have to carry yet-another-custom-cable every time I travel. The original iPod was so elegant-- just a firewire port. Use a standard cable, available anywhere in the world, to charge the battery, transfer data, etc. Use that same cable for your external hard drive and your iSight.

Now I've got another fragile, custom cable I need to pack...

[bigandy]

Lose the docking cable. Drives me nuts that I have to carry yet-another-custom-cable every time I travel. The original iPod was so elegant-- just a firewire port. Use a standard cable, available anywhere in the world, to charge the battery, transfer data, etc. Use that same cable for your external hard drive and your iSight.

Now I've got another fragile, custom cable I need to pack...


you'd rather have a nano thick enough to have a USB port in it? i'd rather carry a dock cable. or better still, like me, have one in your home, one in your car, and one in your laptop bag.

sorted.

;)

[retroneo]

Robson requires the "Santa Rosa" chipset, which comes out in March 2007.

Presumably new Macbooks will come out at that time.

[sushi]

All is boring on the iPod front. :)
Good one! :D

An 8GB Nano would be nice.

[SeaFox]

Historically unreliable DigiTimes is claiming that their industry sources indicate Apple is once again securing large orders of NAND Flash memory. The most likely use of this stockpile would be for the upcoming Nano revision which should top-out at 8 GB.

Yup, it's gotta be the Nano. It's not like there are any more iPod products that use flash ememory and are in desperate need of an update. :rolleyes:

[sam10685]

Redesigned iPod Nano? How do you redesign the iPod Nano? :confused:

how do u redesign the iMac G4??

[pincho]

how do u redesign the iMac G4??
pretty easily, instead of having a round semi-sphere at the bottom, why dont u just integrate it all into the screen?

[sam10685]

pretty easily, instead of having a round semi-sphere at the bottom, why dont u just integrate it all into the screen?

duh, of course we know that now, but at the time, the G4 didn't seem to be able to be improved. same with the nano... but you just watch. apple will figure out a way to improve the nano.

[zeppiecr]

Apple Introduces new U2 Ipod....black stainless steel

[SeaFox]

Apple Introduces new U2 Ipod....black stainless steel

Black stainless steel? That would be awsome! Black brushed steel, not a laquer smooth finish but oen where you can see the grain in the metal.

[pincho]

duh, of course we know that now, but at the time, the G4 didn't seem to be able to be improved. same with the nano... but you just watch. apple will figure out a way to improve the nano.
.......... way to notice sarcasm :rolleyes: :p

although there is a point to my post, meaning however good something can be, it can still be improved, therefore, im meaning the nano can be improved too

[heisetax]

Who needs Robson?? When was the last time you needed to boot your mac; this isnt Windoze where the OS suffers a decay halflife from startup ;)


Some people may shut down their PowerBooks or the Intel powered versions. I may not use my portable for several days at. home. Then I may need it right now for some point. Or maybe I'll go to a customers office.

For a couple of years I used my PowerBook for 95% of my computer usuage. Now most of my computer usuage is with a MDD PowerMac. A rapid boot would be liked.

Bill the TaxMan

[Yvan256]

Redesigned iPod Nano? How do you redesign the iPod Nano? :confused:

If you look at the iPod nano vs all other iPod models, the nano seems to be too tall (screen/wheel/height ratio).

A redesigned iPod nano could simply be a shorter model which would give it the "real iPod look", while also increasing the capacities to 4GB/8GB/16GB.

[Ish]

If you look at the iPod nano vs all other iPod models, the nano seems to be too tall (screen/wheel/height ratio).

A redesigned iPod nano could simply be a shorter model which would give it the "real iPod look", while also increasing the capacities to 4GB/8GB/16GB.

Nah! It's all the others that are too wide. :)

[jagolden]

i'm surprised digitimes hasn't directly 'predicted' MacBook Pros with flash drives...


Frankly, I was thinking flash based "drives" could be a potential use. But just how much space would, say, 10 of these modules take up compared to a HD?
Wouldn't it be more?

[jagolden]

8 gig nanos apple is awesome.....they fit so much into so little...:)

8 gig? I want a 30-40 gig nano VIDEO! Now that would please me. :)

[danired18]

People who think that there will be computers with Flash drives are out of there mind..If they do use flash drives the macs will be extremely expensive..flash drives are not cheap you know

[j26]

But for a high end ultra portable with small flash drive for the OS and another for storage and an ULV processor?

Or a tablet?

Or an iTunes Phone?

Or a pda?

(Have I got all the potential rumours yet?)

[jagolden]

People who think that there will be computers with Flash drives are out of there mind..If they do use flash drives the macs will be extremely expensive..flash drives are not cheap you know

And niether were CD readers, or then CD writers, or then DVD readers, then DVD writers BUT they're all pretty common and cheap now.

The whole point of these discussions about Apple buying big stocks of flash is they get it at a great price and actually pass some of the savings into their new hardware and then consumer.

Higher capacity flash music players weren't cheap either until Apple secured large stocks of flash at great pricig and introduced the Nano!

MAcBook Black, 2 GHz, 2 GB, 120 GB HD

[kresh]

Now the rumors of an Ultra Portable Mac, with "Instant On", seem to go hand in glove with this rumor :)