WiFi iPods in Second Half of 2007?

[MacRumors]

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

DigiTimes claims (http://www.digitimes.com/systems/a20070403PD200.html) that Apple plans on launching with Wi-Fi capabilities in the "second half of 2007"

Universal Scientific Industrial (USI) will produce the Wi-Fi modules and Foxconn will perform as the OEM system assembler, according to Taiwan portable music player component makers.

USI will begin shipments later in April, while Foxconn may do so in the third quarter, the sources pointed out.

The possibility of wireless iPods have been discussed for years, but have not yielded any shipping products. Previous reports (http://www.macrumors.com/2006/08/16/wireless-ipods-soon/) expected Apple to introduce some form of Wireless iPod to compete with Microsoft's Zune player which does bundle Wifi connectivity.

[Zwhaler]

Give em' a touch screen and I will buy one. Or at least my parents will :D

[Sebas00]

Finally I'll be able to use bluethooth headphones.:o

[i4k20c]

interesting, especially with itunes subscription service. :)

[Mydel]

I dont think so. What would one need WiFi on an ipod?? Maybe to purchase music directly from itunes but I personally think its too much hussle. Its far enough to have this ability on your computer. You sync and charge ipod anyway.
Only posibility would be sharing music between iPods but that would probably be another pointless feature like on Zune. You can play it once or twice and than it gets locked. I personally would rather not use that feature...But what do I know, y iPod is only for listening music and even calendat and other features og that type I consider waste of space

[psycoswimmer]

The one thing I would love is to search the iTunes store on my iPod, anywhere I wanted with WiFi access.

[villanova329]

I think Digitimes is getting this lucky guess of "Leopard in October because of Bootcamp" to their head; they're getting a little overzealous with their rumors. *yawn* next pls

[dizastor]

mmm
WiPod Video?

[Mydel]

Finally I'll be able to use bluethooth headphones.:o
hehe rather WiFi headphones:p

[artalliance]

I dont think so. What would one need WiFi on an ipod??

Internet in your pocket at the local coffee shop with WiFi hotspot.

[Zwhaler]

Internet in your pocket at the local coffee shop with WiFi hotspot.

Again, unless there is a large screen that would be just silly :p

[Lovesong]

mmm
WiPod Video?

mmm
Connecting wirelessly to you AppleTV. Now you're thinking.

[jtaylr77]

Oppss....already delayed till Summer 08. Sorry folks.

:apple:

[marktesssing]

I dont think so. What would one need WiFi on an ipod?? Maybe to purchase music directly from itunes but I personally think its too much hussle.

I can't seem to think of a compelling reason to have wi-fi in an ipod, unless its also internet communicator like the iphone. Can anyone come up with some ideas?

[Mydel]

Internet in your pocket at the local coffee shop with WiFi hotspot.
Do you seriously consider browsing the web on iPod?? I have PSP and everytime Im in a hotspot range I always go for a laptop. I even tried couple times to use PSP but typing on so small screen is major PITA. I really doubt anyone would use it on regular basis.

[BigJohno]

Oppss....already delayed till Summer 08. Sorry folks.

:apple:

HAHAHA

yeah ill get one if they have a touchscreen and a scratch proof surface.

[artalliance]

Again, unless there is a large screen that would be just silly :p

yes of course, it would need to be a touchscreen and screen size of the iphone.
i was thinking ahead in the development process :p
it is a given that we will get touch-base widescreen ipod in the long-run.

also, i wasn't talking about a laptop replacement.

[iowamensan]

I was ready for one of these back when they released the Airport Express... I felt it was the next logical step.

[QCassidy352]

it'll happen eventually. There's no question that this is where music players are headed. The question is how long apple will retain non-wifi ipods (and by extension, how many different products they want to have). I mean, I could see:
- iphone
- wifi ipod video (basically an iphone without the phone)
- video ipod (iphone without phone or internet)
- nano
- shuffle

But that's a lot of products, especially if they diversify the iphone line. So I think that when we see the wifi ipod it will be at the price point of the current full size ipod, and the full size ipod without wifi will disappear.

but what i'm really holding out for is the wifi enabled shuffle

[1Twenty]

I can't seem to think of a compelling reason to have wi-fi in an ipod, unless its also internet communicator like the iphone. Can anyone come up with some ideas?

The internet communicator part would allow you to, presumably, purchase anything from the iTunes store from any wi-fi hot spot.

Imagine you're driving to meet a friend at Starbucks and hear a song on the radio you want to buy. Once you get there, you can download the song directly to your iPod without needing your laptop. Then, when that hot girl/guy sits down at the next table, you can say, "Hey, you gotta hear this song!" and hand over your earbuds to them (just as Jobs would suggest).

This is the same business model wireless phones have tried to promote in regard to music, but traditional phones are slow to download and troublesome to manage music.

[Xander562]

As long as it's not just a copy of the Zune feature, maybe.

[buffalo]

Do you seriously consider browsing the web on iPod?? I have PSP and everytime Im in a hotspot range I always go for a laptop. I even tried couple times to use PSP but typing on so small screen is major PITA. I really doubt anyone would use it on regular basis.

If a new iPod got similar features as the iPhone minus the phone, I could see using it to quickly check the web could be handy. Of course a notebook would be nicer, but if one isn't handy, a touch-screen wifi iPod would probably suffice.

[itcomesinwaves]

Combine this with the rumors of a subscription service, and you've got "Any song you want is just a hot spot away." The store is set up so that it's easy to use in column mode. This is what everyone thought the Zune would use it's WiFi for. It would be nice to see Apple beat them to it, despite MS having WiFi and a subscription service first.

[Jarcrew]

You put wifi in the iPod and then it can do something that's been touted as a major selling point of the Apple TV - you can listen to your music/watch your videos away from the computer. Just sync your iPod with your Mac and it'll stream your library to the iPod.

[lamina]

I sincerely doubt it, especially due to how much power WiFi connectivity would draw.

Just like the true video iPod, I think that a major revolution will have to take place in battery technology for this to see the light of day.

[HailToTheVictor]

"...to COMPETE with Microsoft's Zune player..." haha

[Mac-Addict]

You put wifi in the iPod and then it can do something that's been touted as a major selling point of the Apple TV - you can listen to your music/watch your videos away from the computer. Just sync your iPod with your Mac and it'll stream your library to the iPod.
Apple tv is made for viewing on tvs and has front row.
-
But on another note.. Slingbox on your iPod! Yeahhh baby!

[syklee26]

one really useful use (?) of wi-fi iPod would be widgets. Stock updates, weathers, etc. (sorta like iPhone).

browsing net on iPod? no.

[Hemingray]

I dont think so. What would one need WiFi on an ipod??

Sync with your Mac anywhere in your house, not just when it's plugged into it? Or maybe iTunes syncs with .Mac, and your iPod syncs with .Mac anytime there's a wifi hot spot? Not sure if it's worth it, just a thought...

[digiguy23]

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

DigiTimes claims (http://www.digitimes.com/systems/a20070403PD200.html) that Apple plans on launching with Wi-Fi capabilities in the "second half of 2007"



The possibility of wireless iPods have been discussed for years, but have not yielded any shipping products. Previous reports (http://www.macrumors.com/2006/08/16/wireless-ipods-soon/) expected Apple to introduce some form of Wireless iPod to compete with Microsoft's Zune player which does bundle Wifi connectivity.

Cool I hope it comes with a cam too. Apple will probably pull people off the Mac team to hit it's target date.

[Evangelion]

Do you seriously consider browsing the web on iPod?? I have PSP and everytime Im in a hotspot range I always go for a laptop.

Assuming you have the laptop with you that is? I don't carry a laptop around. I do carry my cell-phone and iPod with me. And I routinely use the phone for web-surfing. And when I'm home, I quite often use Nokia 770 (http://europe.nokia.com/770) for web-browsing. Why? Because it's so nice to be able to surf from anywhere with a device that literally fits in to your pocket.

I even tried couple times to use PSP but typing on so small screen is major PITA.

What were you typing on it? URL's? Why not use history and bookmarks instead?

[slffl]

Oh jeez not this again. While they're at it, put a radio, bluetooth, play4sure, GPS, TV antenna and 30 other features that I DON'T WANT OR NEED!

[syklee26]

widget should be pretty nice in iPod.

also, if Apple goes with widescreen, I would like to see interface change to that of iPhone. It looks very clean and nice.

[Cloudsurfer]

Yeah :D once cable less running to my iMac!

[SpudNYC]

mmm
Connecting wirelessly to you AppleTV. Now you're thinking.

Hmmmm... slingbox style from afar.

[TaKashMoney]

I would drool for an iPhone minus the phone and plus about 80 GB. PDA, video ipod, and net surfer. How could anyone not be happy with that? Especially since they might launch at a much cheaper price tag since apple wouldn't have to answer to cingular legalities. I'd place my order today.

[Evangelion]

Oh jeez not this again. While they're at it, put a radio, bluetooth, play4sure, GPS, TV antenna and 30 other features that I DON'T WANT OR NEED!

You are not forced to use any of those unneeded features. I don't have a need for audiobook-support in my iPod, but I don't start bitching and moaning how my iPod has features that I don't need.

[ortuno2k]

I don't think I care much for the wi-fi; I don't care about going "social."

What I'd really like is a touch screen, like the iPhone. Cordless in-ear earphones would be nice (bluetooth maybe) but I'm not sure how that would work.

[gnasher729]

mmm
Connecting wirelessly to you AppleTV. Now you're thinking.

For what reason would you want to do that? Your whole iTunes library is accessible anyway.

[egdiroh]

This revolutionary new iPod was announced at MacWorld. In addition to being an iPod it's also a phone and internet communicator. They're calling it the iPhone.

[peharri]

Oppss....already delayed till Summer 08. Sorry folks.

:apple:

The good news: No, it hasn't been delayed. The new iPod Wi-fi has passed several important tests and is on track for an October release.

Also good news: A new line of iPod socks is under development, that are due to be released in January 2008.

The bad news: These two developments mean Apple's resources are severely stretched. Leopard will have to be delayed again, to July 2009.

[SPinc33]

what i could see them doing is this:

enable streaming from any other ipods/itunes libraries in the hotspot (just like itunes does now) but no copying...and no 3 play BS.

allow purchases on the fly from the iTunes store, but no full browsing capabilities.

This would keep it purely an iPod...focused on music. This would be enough innovation to satisfy most.

Oh yeah...wide/touchscreen would be nice too.

[sterno74]

I sincerely doubt it, especially due to how much power WiFi connectivity would draw.
Just like the true video iPod, I think that a major revolution will have to take place in battery technology for this to see the light of day.

Actually the solution to this problem isn't making batteries better, but making the ipod drain less power. A very easy way to do that is to move from hard drive to flash based players. Also, as time goes on, the amount of power required to do a given amount of processing (i.e. video decoding) goes down. So that should make things all the more feasible.

[aLoC]

I don't know why they would put WiFi in the iPod. Are they sure it's not the iPhone? When you are at home it could make calls through your LAN. (Skype, iChat)

[scott523]

hehe rather WiFi headphones:p
Yeah I want WiFi headphones too. The WiFi iPod isn't my thing, that's what my MacBook is for. That also means more $$ for getting WiFi outside of home. >_>

[apachie2k]

Oppss....already delayed till Summer 08. Sorry folks.

:apple:

i was just thinking that when i first saw it, it seems like they took the programmers of the wireless ipod for leopord cause it's still not out yet! (assuming it's Spring '08 already)

[MacFly123]

yes of course, it would need to be a touchscreen and screen size of the iphone.
i was thinking ahead in the development process :p
it is a given that we will get touch-base widescreen ipod in the long-run.

also, i wasn't talking about a laptop replacement.

We better get a widescreen iPhone type iPod with multi-touch in the next revision or I am going to be so pissed. I've been waiting for this iPod for a year and a half :mad:

[Avatar74]

It would be interesting to see how this unfolds given that Apple, unlike Microsoft, is pushing for abolishment of DRM. That might open up some avenues of possibility for Apple's implementation of Wi-Fi that give them a distinct advantage over the mediocre Zune sharing model.

But now I'm curious if they're going to continue with the "iPod" moniker...

Personally, I like the idea of branching away from the "i" prefix with things like AppleTV. It's a good strategy to keep the brand fresh and stay away from imitators that have saturated the market with inane, inferior "i"-mitators (pun intended).

Apple's new focus does seem to be tilting toward wireless communication/computing with AppleTV, iPhone, and eventually the products that seem to be in the pipeline of the Mobile Mac product development roadmap... and Wifi mobile access of the internet is growing like never before.

So, to underscore this strategic direction... and let's say it's a widescreen iPod with multitouch... how about...


Without buttons. Widescreen. Wireless.

Say "hello" to wiPod.

[QCassidy352]

Personally, I like the idea of branching away from the "i" prefix with things like AppleTV. It's a good strategy to keep the brand fresh and stay away from imitators that have saturated the market with inane, inferior "i"-mitators (pun intended).

Apple's new focus does seem to be tilting toward wireless communication/computing with AppleTV, iPhone, and eventually the products that seem to be in the pipeline of the Mobile Mac product development roadmap... and Wifi mobile access of the internet is growing like never before.

"ipod" is now a universally known cultural icon. Don't make people learn new terminology.

Also, it's ironic that you think they should drop the "i" because they are "tilting towards wireless communication" and internet access. Know why? Because the "i" comes from "imac," and that "i" originally stood for "internet." As in, this mac will get you up and running on the internet in no time (yes, that was really a major selling point of the original imac). So really, a wifi ipod would be the first ipod to really deserve the prefix "i"! :p

[Avatar74]

"ipod" is now a universally known cultural icon. Don't make people learn new terminology.

Also, it's ironic that you think they should drop the "i" because they are "tilting towards wireless communication" and internet access. Know why? Because the "i" comes from "imac," and that "i" originally stood for "internet." As in, this mac will get you up and running on the internet in no time (yes, that was really a major selling point of the original imac). So really, a wifi ipod would be the first ipod to really deserve the prefix "i"! :p

Who's talking about making people "learn new terminology"?

I'm not talking about taking away the "i"... I'm talking about adding a "w"!

wiPod... sounds like iPod. How hard is that? It adds to the brand, it emphasizes wireless which is becoming a very critical part of the business right now, and it's an "evolution" of the name that can be eased into the public consciousness with something as simple as a title card where the phrase "Say hello to iPod" appears and then a "w" drops in. When a brand name gets stale, people stop noticing. People noticing the change will perk interest, and they'll first want to know what exactly changed... That's a perfect opportunity for Apple sales and marketing to step in and answer that question by demonstrating the features of the product... be it in a commercial as elegant, simple and to the point as the first iPod commercial, or in store demonstrations as they get walk-ins. The name change, if handled properly by Apple, then becomes a conversation piece... rather than there being nothing particularly new to talk about.\

Sony did the same thing with "discman"... and that name also permeated the public consciousness although not as greatly as walkman (much less iPod). Now they've reverted and they brand every one of their music players a "walkman" but that hasn't helped them because they have not really understood their customers as well as Apple does, and they've been mired by numerous problems including their penchant for poorly marketed and consequently poorly understood proprietary formats as well as copy protection problems that have acted as great deterrent forces regardless of what they choose to call their digital music players.

Apple is a product leader and it's good for them to differentiate. It's not good to continue associating solely with the "i" prefix because of the oversaturated and negative connotations it carries where the concept has been so beaten to death with every third rate non-internet related product out there such that the "i" prefix has become somewhat of a cultural joke.

Because LAN-WAN interconnectivity is, following mobile internet access, the next big thing... and it'll be enabled by technologies like wifi, 4G/WiMAX, etc.... "wi" is the new "i".

From the perspective of strategic branding, Apple should get out ahead and use the "wi" name while others are still trying to dredge up the last few drops of artificial credibility they think they can gain from name association with Apple's "i" products.

EDIT: Another possibility is keeping the iPod name for the brand as a whole and using "wiPod" as a product name instead of iPod Something. A one-word name is a lot easier to remember relative to iPod Nano, iPod Shuffle, etc. iPod, wiPod, nPod, sPod... not picking out particular meanings here, just using some letters as an example of concatenating make and model.

[macenforcer]

This is never going to happen. This is worse than the Powerbook G5 rumors or the widescreen ipod. Apple will not give us what we want. Heck, even zune has wifi although poorly implemented.

[CoreWeb]

Who's talking about making people "learn new terminology"?

I'm not talking about taking away the "i"... I'm talking about adding a "w"!

wiPod... sounds like iPod. How hard is that? It adds to the brand, it emphasizes wireless which is becoming a very critical part of the business right now, and it's an "evolution" of the name that can be eased in with something as simple as a title card where the phrase "Say hello to iPod" appears and then a "w" drops in.

Sony did the same thing with "discman" after walkman was so ubiquitous a term that it became stale... and it helped for a time. Now they've reverted and they brand every one of their music players a "walkman" but that hasn't helped them.

Apple is a product leader and it's good for them to differentiate. It's not good to continue associating solely with the "i" prefix because of the oversaturated and negative connotations it carries where the concept has been so beaten to death with every third rate non-internet related product out there such that the "i" prefix has become somewhat of a cultural joke.

Because LAN-WAN interconnectivity is, following mobile internet access, the next big thing... and it'll be enabled by technologies like wifi, 4G/WiMAX, etc.... "wi" is the new "i".

From the perspective of strategic branding, Apple should get out ahead and use the "wi" name while others are still trying to dredge up the last few drops of artificial credibility they think they can gain from name association with Apple's "i" products.

Sorry, sounds too much like "Why Pod?". That hardly sends the proper message.

[phillipjfry]

"...to COMPETE with Microsoft's Zune player..." haha

that's like a mo-ped competing in a bicycle race...
:)

[k2k koos]

The one thing I would love is to search the iTunes store on my iPod, anywhere I wanted with WiFi access.

Now that would be a cool feature, not just search though, purchase on the go, and will automatically update your library, once it gets in the range of your Mac or PC with iTunes.
I could also see wireless streaming to ANY :apple: TV, so you could show your holiday snaps at a friends house, who has an :apple: TV, wirelessly, or just show the movies or music that you carry with you that way.
There is a purpose for wireless technology on an iPod.

[mrkramer]

This is never going to happen. This is worse than the Powerbook G5 rumors or the widescreen ipod. Apple will not give us what we want. Heck, even zune has wifi although poorly implemented.

It is already in the iPhone, so I think that it will eventually get put into a new iPod, possibly the next one. I think that we will see an iPhone without the phone sometime around either the end of this year or Macworld 08 so that the technology is exclusive to the iPhone for a little while.

[Avatar74]

Sorry, sounds too much like "Why Pod?". That hardly sends the proper message.

That didn't seem to stop "wi-fi" from becoming a buzzword forever burned into the public psyche with almost unanimously positive connotations.

You don't see people fretting at Starbucks hotspots thinking, "Yeah, why fi indeed!"

It's all about how you reinforce the concept in marketing. People have readily adopted wi-fi and they don't call iPods IP OD... (although there was a joke on House about that...)... but reinforcement is key.

In fact, you can head off that kind of criticism at the pass by using it. Say you do a commercial that makes fun of it... "Why pod?" Then you run some shots of people using the various wireless features in their daily life... show the functionality. There. That's branding for you! In fact, that's Steve Jobs 101... taking a question not as a threat but as an opportunity to focus attention on features and benefits.

"iPod" is a name that is hitting maturity and it's in danger of becoming stale. It's never good to wait until things go bad before you institute change. That's part of staying competitive. Applies to product design as well as branding.

[Teddy's]

...

Say "hello" to wiPod.

Let me load a game and watch me play with my WiiPod. Or I load yours with my WiiPod. Can I play with your WiiPod? She likes to play with my WiiPod. Everybody likes my WiiPod....

Edit: ughh, my worst post ever

[Avatar74]

Let me load a game and watch me play with my WiiPod. Or I load yours with my WiiPod. Can I play with your WiiPod? She likes to play with my WiiPod. Everybody likes my WiiPod....

You do know that "Wii" is pronounced "wee" as in every single commercial that mentions the name, right? I assume you also know that "wi-fi" has been around longer than "wii".

I acknowledge there's slight risk of brand confusion here but the term "wi-fi" has been around longer than "wii" and has a stronger presence in the public conscience. In fact, when I first heard about the Wii I thought it was underscoring some new wireless capability but as it turns out the brand name has nothing to do with that. It's Nintendo's attempt at reinforcing the idea of making the console a social activity... "we"... "wii"... and the "i"s in Wii represent two people... which is reinforced by the commercials that show the "i"s bowing.

I think that :apple:TV will turn out to be a brilliant branding strategy as it involves a trademarked logo in place of a printed generic word, that can't be imitated without lawsuits and it carries with it a connotation that is meaningless in other contexts (if someone else came out with an Apple-something... what would be the point, exactly?). However, ApplePod is a bit unwieldy and too divergent from the iPod brand name.

I think wiPod, pronounced similarly to iPod, would have much more association with iPod and not be confused for a Wii... Perhaps the most obvious reason being context... Nintendo has no big products with "pod" in the name.

But I'm glad that people are bringing out challenging issues like you did because it does force one to think about HOW you're going to go about reinforcing any new product concept.

Alternatively, if research showed that the associations with other products outside the Apple family are too strong, wiPod could be instead of a product name but just a part of an advertisement that does a cross-dissolve to the word "wiPod" then cross-dissolve back to "iPod" name in the title card to reinforce the wireless concept but then bring it back to the brand.

[scttwtkns]

I have to say wifi ipods really don't interest me. I don't think I would use the feature very often, and the thought of what wifi will do to battery life makes me unenthusiastic.

What I would love to see is an affordable widescreen (like the iphone), large capacity ipod. If it's hardrive based, so be it. There aren't going to be affordable 80gig flash modules out any time soon. The 4 to 8 gigs planned for the iphone wouldn't begin to cut it with my music collection, let alone storing movies.

[suneohair]

Most of the stations I listen to on AM have streams now, so that would be perfect for me to have WiFi ad stream that everywhere.

[twoodcc]

would love to see it.....but not as much as i'd love to see Leopard....

[suneohair]

I have to say wifi ipods really don't interest me. I don't think I would use the feature very often, and the thought of what wifi will do to battery life makes me unenthusiastic.

What I would love to see is an affordable widescreen (like the iphone), large capacity ipod. If it's hardrive based, so be it. There aren't going to be affordable 80gig flash modules out any time soon. The 4 to 8 gigs planned for the iphone wouldn't begin to cut it with my music collection, let alone storing movies.

Inclusion of WiFi does not mean the exclusion of the things you would like.

[p0intblank]

DigiTimes seems accurate to me lately, so I am going to believe this a little. :) A WiFi iPod would be very cool if implemented properly.

[motulist]

They might tack on wifi capability in the same way and for the same reason that they added the iPod with video instead of the video iPod.

Even though most people may not use a feature on a regular basis and may always use their portable device as a music player only, when they're making their buying decision some consumers may look at the competition and say "the iPod is cool, but it doesn't do feature x which seems really cutting edge on this other device, so I want to buy the device that gives me the newest toys!"

[RedDragon870503]

one really useful use (?) of wi-fi iPod would be widgets. Stock updates, weathers, etc. (sorta like iPhone).

browsing net on iPod? no.

Right, there would have to be a portal based service provided by Apple (and others) so browsing wouldn't be so tough. A lot of people use the internet just for viewing mail, stocks, weather, that sort of thing.

[ariza910]

one really useful use (?) of wi-fi iPod would be widgets. Stock updates, weathers, etc. (sorta like iPhone).

browsing net on iPod? no.

Widgets are a great idea - I can see the next iPod sharing a lot with the iPhone,it would cut down cost of manufacturing both

[AppleMan101]

Staff from the iPhone team were put on the WiFiPod (Pro) Team so the sole guy working on Leopard at the moment had to be put on the iPhone desk to get it out ready for June.

i heart Apple Consumer Electronics, Inc.

[ChildOL]

A WiFi iPod does not matter when faced with a delay of a product that actually MATTERS like OS X!

[clevin]

ahhhh,, apple is photocopying microsoft, My God.:p

[Mr. Pippin]

I dont think so. What would one need WiFi on an ipod?? Maybe to purchase music directly from itunes but I personally think its too much hussle. Its far enough to have this ability on your computer. You sync and charge ipod anyway.
Only posibility would be sharing music between iPods but that would probably be another pointless feature like on Zune. You can play it once or twice and than it gets locked. I personally would rather not use that feature...But what do I know, y iPod is only for listening music and even calendat and other features og that type I consider waste of space

I tend to think the next iPod will be released AFTER the iPhone and probably will be an iPhone like device, sans the cellular access.

I'd like to see bluetooth in it, too, but I can see several usages of the iPhone design in the iPod.

Localized text messaging might be a big hit.

The new touch screen might be bring a Nintendo type era to the games that would come with it, too.

[Konradx]

Compete? Has anyone outside of Microsoft, or even a significant amount of MS employees bought a zune? And this upgrade, if it happens doesnt compel me to upgrade my current ipod(Unless it has some other cool features they dont talk about).

But this doesnt seem feasible or likely if its the same form factor as the current Video.

[povman]

Noone's suggested streaming music from your iTunes yet. Especially if you had fast upload at your house, you could connect to it with your iPod at starbucks and listen to your whole collection.

Or even just around the house :p like :apple:tv for music...

Just a thought.

[Mgkwho]

Where are the amazing "better than anything I've ever seen" products that Steve Jobs said were supposed to come in early 2007?

-=|Mgkwho

[nemaslov]

OK, you're walking down the street and you see posters splashed up on a wall for the new album by X#%^*^%%%!!* and you download it right at that moment. Or you're sitting a RITUAL COFFEE ROASTERS IN SAN FRANCISCO and they play a song you love and you download it right then. WIFI!!

Otherwise by the time you get home...you've forggotten all about it.

BUT there will need to be a legal-Apple way to get those new songs back into you iTunes MAC library..simply. No squirting pleeeze.:D

[russellelly]

I would drool for an iPhone minus the phone and plus about 80 GB. PDA, video ipod, and net surfer. How could anyone not be happy with that? Especially since they might launch at a much cheaper price tag since apple wouldn't have to answer to cingular legalities. I'd place my order today.

I'd be right after you in the queue. That's the ultimate dream for me; I'm not sure I want a Phone in my iPod, and I don't wnat it at the expense of so much capacity. Yet WiFi would be perfect for me - at uni I can check out lecture notes and course sites without dragging my iBook around (which I don't generally do). I just fear it may not happen in order not to hurt iPhone sales, or if it does it'll be cripppled to 8GB or in some other way?

[mr.suff]

what if the wi-fi ipod was more along the lines of the archos 704 wifi, larger screen (for web browsing), more video orientated, games. has both a hard drive and flash memory.

[ariza910]

Apple is slowly moving toward letting customers buy content from iTunes directly from the devices ( TV & iPod) If they allow purchase of content from the iPod they will then need to make it possible to move content from the iPod to iTunes

So the next iPod could have the following over WiFi:

- iChat - text/audio/video
- iTunes music store - Browse and buy music/TV/movies/podcast from iTunes without a PC/Mac
- Widgets - weather/stocks/eMail etc
- Share - browse & Listen to music on near by WiFi iPods - similar to the SHARE folder on iTunes
- TV - Wireless sync to any AppleTV at home or a friends house

Apple has all the parts in place to implement the above - if they do this its going to be one hell of a little device, how could you not want one

[aswitcher]

hehe rather WiFi headphones:p

The #1 thing they can do to make my iPod experience better is wireless headphones.

Sexy large touch screen would be nice also, but for music and convienence I need wireless headphones.

[dante@sisna.com]

Again, unless there is a large screen that would be just silly :p

I use internet on a Blackberry pearl which has a smaller screen than iPod-- Does not seem silly to me. Very useful

[Steve Jobs=God]

I lol at those who are saying there better be a touch screen with multi touch on the next iPod.

Like apple are gonna go "Ok, we've spent all this money on creating this cutting edge technology but we're gonna confine it to just one product"

touch screen with multi touch is a cert for the next iPod, they probably working on it even before the iPhone entered the equasion, it just fits the iPod too perfect for apple to not use it.

[Digital Skunk]

What The Freak Ever

Get your rumors from somewhere else.....

I want an iPod that has a brand spanking new UI. Everything after that is secondary...

Although the touch screen Wifi stuff is cool too:D

[Howmanoid]

I saw my first Zune in the wild today, at Las Vegas airport. I was amazed, however there was no sign of anything "social" going on. Just the one guy who actually seemed to want to hide it back in his jacket in a hurry. Shame....

WiFi connected iPods make sense in a world with WiFi connected :apple:TVs but we're going to need a richer UI than the current iPod for OTA purchasing. Maybe something built on the iPhone interface could pull this off.?

[w00master]

I'm going to "flip" it around, and say this: I'd love an iPod with small (but sizeable) amount of flash memory with wifi capabilities. Why? Because, then you can STREAM your ENTIRE LIBRARY from wherever. The device can be TINY and yet you can bring your entire LIBRARY anywhere you are whereever there's a wifi connection which as time passes will be more and more easily accessible.

Why spend the space/size etc on physical memory when you can just stream it ANYWHERE?

That's my perspective ;)
w00master

[gkarris]

Apple is slowly moving toward letting customers buy content from iTunes directly from the devices ( TV & iPod) If they allow purchase of content from the iPod they will then need to make it possible to move content from the iPod to iTunes

So the next iPod could have the following over WiFi:

- iChat - text/audio/video
- iTunes music store - Browse and buy music/TV/movies/podcast from iTunes without a PC/Mac
- Widgets - weather/stocks/eMail etc
- Share - browse & Listen to music on near by WiFi iPods - similar to the SHARE folder on iTunes
- TV - Wireless sync to any AppleTV at home or a friends house

Apple has all the parts in place to implement the above - if they do this its going to be one hell of a little device, how could you not want one

Also, sync or stream from any :apple:TV or Mac/PC on your network.

Maybe access your Mac/PC with iTunes at home from anywhere? (like Slingbox?)

Better than just "SQUIRTING"

[steve_hill4]

Apple is slowly moving toward letting customers buy content from iTunes directly from the devices ( TV & iPod) If they allow purchase of content from the iPod they will then need to make it possible to move content from the iPod to iTunes

So the next iPod could have the following over WiFi:

- iChat - text/audio/video
- iTunes music store - Browse and buy music/TV/movies/podcast from iTunes without a PC/Mac
- Widgets - weather/stocks/eMail etc
- Share - browse & Listen to music on near by WiFi iPods - similar to the SHARE folder on iTunes
- TV - Wireless sync to any AppleTV at home or a friends house

Apple has all the parts in place to implement the above - if they do this its going to be one hell of a little device, how could you not want one

Al those features sound great, but to address your earlier point, can't you transfer purchases from iTunes to an iPod and then an iPod to another iTunes account? To me this is a strong indication of Apple's intention of not having to purchase on a computer anymore. Purchase on your account anywhere and then sync.

It also strikes me digitimes has been making a lot of speculative rumours lately. Are they trying to saturate the market so few rumours become believable and thus divert attention away from them, become a major rumour factory or have they now genuinely got a rock solid source within Apple willing to spill the beans? Whichever, if any, they seem to be cropping up a bit too often for my liking.

[polishmacuser]

Burn Zune Burn Burn!!!!!!:d

[pederg]

If they allow purchase of content from the iPod they will then need to make it possible to move content from the iPod to iTunes

already possible with purchased music from iPod to iTunes....

[SiliconAddict]

Don't care. All I want is something to replace my 60GB iPod. Pref. a 100GB video iPod. That way I can put all my music on the thing and season 1,2, and 3 of BSG. :D

[milkmanamok]

If Apple makes a fullblown touchscreen computer out of the next generation iPod - a la the iPhone - I sure hope they enrich the recording capability. I would buy my third iPod in a heartbeat if I could use it to record with input level control.

I recognize this is now possible in a crude roundabout fashion via the MicroMemo, Griffin iTalk or Belkin's TuneTalk, but these are designed primarily as voice memo recorders and seem much too primitive to use for recording performance sets or sound in the field. The reviews I've read are not favorable for this type of application.

It makes me un poco loco to spend $400 for an Edirol R-09 or M-Audio MicroTrack when I know the iPod is physically capable of recording at the same audio fidelity. Especially when I KNOW Apple has crippled this capability to appease the RIAA. . .

Belkin is about to release a 4-track mixer - the Tune Studio - that records to an iPod, but Apple would make my day if they made recording stereo direct to iPod a little more user friendly. Or if someone made an accessory - more portable than the Tune Studio - that offered simple metering, peak levels, limiting and adjustable input levels for stereo recording.

[sikkinixx]

more waiting? :( I have been waiting since like 5 months after the Video iPods came out and I'm too damn stubborn to cave in now. I guess my mini will need to last another 6 months.

[zap2]

What The Freak Ever

Get your rumors from somewhere else.....

I want an iPod that has a brand spanking new UI. Everything after that is secondary...

Although the touch screen Wifi stuff is cool too:D

My bet is iPod will end up like the iPhone, with out the phone part. Touch screen, Wi-fi and all flash memory(that might take a while), but a full touch screen+harddrive will eat battery life like the Sega Game Gear!

[marktesssing]

Apple is slowly moving toward letting customers buy content from iTunes directly from the devices ( TV & iPod) If they allow purchase of content from the iPod they will then need to make it possible to move content from the iPod to iTunes

So the next iPod could have the following over WiFi:

- iChat - text/audio/video
- iTunes music store - Browse and buy music/TV/movies/podcast from iTunes without a PC/Mac
- Widgets - weather/stocks/eMail etc
- Share - browse & Listen to music on near by WiFi iPods - similar to the SHARE folder on iTunes
- TV - Wireless sync to any AppleTV at home or a friends house

Apple has all the parts in place to implement the above - if they do this its going to be one hell of a little device, how could you not want one

as someone else said, you can move purchases from say a home pc to ipod then from ipod to say work pc.

also, with drm-free music on itunes, maybe it is time for wi-fi ipod(iphone w/o phone). for sure others will sell drm-free songs so a wi-fi ipod will allow buying from other sites.

finally, i think apple could allow other devices to read from itunes library (publish api) so other devices can sync with itunes (fully satisfy eu).

[mcarnes]

finally, i think apple could allow other devices to read from itunes library (publish api) so other devices can sync with itunes (fully satisfy eu).

I think it would be hard for apple to support all that 3rd party hardware, some of which is sure to be pretty crappy. But then I guess they would just sell more iPods...

[koobcamuk]

The internet communicator part would allow you to, presumably, purchase anything from the iTunes store from any wi-fi hot spot.

Imagine you're driving to meet a friend at Starbucks and hear a song on the radio you want to buy. Once you get there, you can download the song directly to your iPod without needing your laptop. Then, when that hot girl/guy sits down at the next table, you can say, "Hey, you gotta hear this song!" and hand over your earbuds to them (just as Jobs would suggest).

This is the same business model wireless phones have tried to promote in regard to music, but traditional phones are slow to download and troublesome to manage music.

This is a seriously weird idea of life you have.... live the american dream I say!

Erm... anyway, as for wifi on an ipod? Not necessary. But there we go.

[ElderscrollsV]

You do know that "Wii" is pronounced "wee" as in every single commercial that mentions the name, right? I assume you also know that "wi-fi" has been around longer than "wii".

I acknowledge there's slight risk of brand confusion here but the term "wi-fi" has been around longer than "wii" and has a stronger presence in the public conscience. In fact, when I first heard about the Wii I thought it was underscoring some new wireless capability but as it turns out the brand name has nothing to do with that. It's Nintendo's attempt at reinforcing the idea of making the console a social activity... "we"... "wii"... and the "i"s in Wii represent two people... which is reinforced by the commercials that show the "i"s bowing.

I think that :apple:TV will turn out to be a brilliant branding strategy as it involves a trademarked logo in place of a printed generic word, that can't be imitated without lawsuits and it carries with it a connotation that is meaningless in other contexts (if someone else came out with an Apple-something... what would be the point, exactly?). However, ApplePod is a bit unwieldy and too divergent from the iPod brand name.

I think wiPod, pronounced similarly to iPod, would have much more association with iPod and not be confused for a Wii... Perhaps the most obvious reason being context... Nintendo has no big products with "pod" in the name.

But I'm glad that people are bringing out challenging issues like you did because it does force one to think about HOW you're going to go about reinforcing any new product concept.

Alternatively, if research showed that the associations with other products outside the Apple family are too strong, wiPod could be instead of a product name but just a part of an advertisement that does a cross-dissolve to the word "wiPod" then cross-dissolve back to "iPod" name in the title card to reinforce the wireless concept but then bring it back to the brand.

NOONE IS GOING TO GET CONFUSED ABOUT THE NAME WI-POD....I SWEAR SOME OF YOU PEOPLE THAT LIVE ON THESE FORUMS ARE SO STUPID...AND TALK ABOUT THE DUMBEST THINGS...

[Konradx]

You think these WifiPods will chat with Zunes? HAHA probably get a virus from them

[dubnluvn]

It's gonna have a camera too. Shhhh...don't let on that you know...

[Superdrive]

I can't seem to think of a compelling reason to have wi-fi in an ipod, unless its also internet communicator like the iphone. Can anyone come up with some ideas?

I have to agree with you on this. What could be better than an iPhone for someone who can't use AT&T? Enter iPod Internet Communicator. Touchscreen iPod + Internet Communicator or iPhone - the phone part. Sell world-wide for 50-75% of iPhone.

Edit: Am I the only one who nearly hates the "Wi-Fi" buzzword? High Fidelity shortened to Hi-Fi just fine. Are we really dealing with "Wireless Fidelity"? Either way, I don't like it. (Maybe that is not what it stands for, prove me wrong.)

[suneohair]

I have to agree with you on this. What could be better than an iPhone for someone who can't use AT&T? Enter iPod Internet Communicator. Touchscreen iPod + Internet Communicator or iPhone - the phone part. Sell world-wide for 50-75% of iPhone.

Edit: Am I the only one who nearly hates the "Wi-Fi" buzzword? High Fidelity shortened to Hi-Fi just fine. Are we really dealing with "Wireless Fidelity"? Either way, I don't like it. (Maybe that is not what it stands for, prove me wrong.)

Streaming internet radio stations.

Buying content over iTunes.

Stores could be playing a song, you want to know what it is. Your iPod connects to the stores server and it tells you the song, you buy the song. There are many times where I want to know what song is playing in the Gap or whatever. Not to say this would happen, but it would be cool.

Wireless N syncing with your computer :)

[crazydreaming]

sorry if this has already been mentioned, but wouldn't it be nice to stream music to your airport express with your wi-fi ipod? It would be like a remote

[Digital Skunk]

I'm going to "flip" it around, and say this: I'd love an iPod with small (but sizeable) amount of flash memory with wifi capabilities. Why? Because, then you can STREAM your ENTIRE LIBRARY from wherever. The device can be TINY and yet you can bring your entire LIBRARY anywhere you are whereever there's a wifi connection which as time passes will be more and more easily accessible.

Why spend the space/size etc on physical memory when you can just stream it ANYWHERE?

That's my perspective ;)
w00master

Cuz it will suck away your battery life more than the HDD would. Even with NAND streaming over WiFi will be a battery hog. And that streaming stuff leaves the possiblity of thievery open. Also, WiFi everywhere (unlocked WiFi) isn't here just yet and may not be happening any time in the near future.

I do like your idea of flash memory though. It will suck for those with libraries in the 30 - 50+ GB range... but us smucks with about 14GB or less would love to see an iPod with flash memory and supurb battery life. iPhone sized of course with that kick arse interface. 32 - 64GB capacity.... Yeah... I like that.

[TomSmithMacEd]

next iPod just the iPhone without phone capabilities???

[Digital Skunk]

Don't care. All I want is something to replace my 60GB iPod. Pref. a 100GB video iPod. That way I can put all my music on the thing and season 1,2, and 3 of BSG. :D

Battlestar ROCKS :cool: :D

[Digital Skunk]

next iPod just the iPhone without phone capabilities???

That's all I want... don't forget the 32 - 64GB of flash memory...:D

[Fuchal]

The internet communicator part would allow you to, presumably, purchase anything from the iTunes store from any wi-fi hot spot.

Imagine you're driving to meet a friend at Starbucks and hear a song on the radio you want to buy. Once you get there, you can download the song directly to your iPod without needing your laptop. Then, when that hot girl/guy sits down at the next table, you can say, "Hey, you gotta hear this song!" and hand over your earbuds to them (just as Jobs would suggest).

This is the same business model wireless phones have tried to promote in regard to music, but traditional phones are slow to download and troublesome to manage music.

Instead of sending a song to the other person, i'd be nicer if you could use the Wi-Fi to purchase the song for the other person as a gift and also buy a bottle of wine. :)

[age234]

iPhone without the phone? Widescreen touchscreen iPod + Internet device, would be tremendous.

[BayAreaMacFan]

I really doubt it'll be the iPhone without the phone. It will for sure have multi-touch IMO, but they will have to differentiate it from the iPhone. They don't want to take away sales from it.

[suneohair]

I really doubt it'll be the iPhone without the phone. It will for sure have multi-touch IMO, but they will have to differentiate it from the iPhone. They don't want to take away sales from it.

I doubt sales would be take away from the iPhone if they have an iPod sans cellphone capability. Besides, they won't be putting OS X on that iPod so a major feature would be lost there.

[skellener]

A Wi-Pod could be cool for syncing. No more cables to hassle with (except for charging of course). But I'm not sure if they would allow transfers to other iPods, especially in the wake of DRM free music on it's way.

It would be cool though if you could see other iPods and listen to their music just like seeing everyone's iTunes on your network (like at work or school). That way you could at least listen to other people's music with necessarily stealing it. Maybe with a "bookmark" feature of some type that allowed you to remember a song from another iPod then when you get home, you could find it easily on iTunes for purchase.

[w00master]

Cuz it will suck away your battery life more than the HDD would. Even with NAND streaming over WiFi will be a battery hog. And that streaming stuff leaves the possiblity of thievery open. Also, WiFi everywhere (unlocked WiFi) isn't here just yet and may not be happening any time in the near future.

I do like your idea of flash memory though. It will suck for those with libraries in the 30 - 50+ GB range... but us smucks with about 14GB or less would love to see an iPod with flash memory and supurb battery life. iPhone sized of course with that kick arse interface. 32 - 64GB capacity.... Yeah... I like that.

Sure, in the beginning it would, but things improve through time: battery life, more efficient use of power in wifi devices etc. What I'm really talking about is my "ideal" device and what wifi can really do for all of us in the (possible) near future. I'd rather house everything in one location rather than duplicate files in mulitple areas.

I understand the idea of "thievery" by stealing from your own wifi stream, but to be honest there are secure ways of defeating most of these issues. In terms of wifi access, yes, you're definitely right. It is rather limited, but it is a rapidly growing thing, and in my area (Atlanta) we will soon have citywide wifi available to everyone so the idea of streaming all of media wherever I am is growing increasingly appealing to me.

Ultimately, I posted my "dream" wifi device idea because people kept of poo-pooing the idea of a wifi idea: "Why do I need it?" "What's so great about it?" Well, I want it, and I think once the potential is realized, *EVERYONE* will want it as well. Think of the *future* advantages of a wifi ipod:

1. Smaller, thinner, sleaker, more compact.
2. Give Apple (and others) more room to develop a better UI, experience, better features, etc. instead of additional worry about: how are we going to fit a harddrive/flash drive in here?
3. Media space is no longer an issue for a portable device, because all of our content is streamed.
4. Less moving parts, more durability, etc.

Imho, this is the future. As technology gets better, power consumption on wifi devices get more efficient, etc. people will understand why people like me WANT wifi in their iPod.

w00master

[kiang]

this won't happen IMO. Apple's next-gen communication device is the iPhone, not the iPod, so why would they make a competitor for their own new product?
also, it takes a lot of power to use the WiFi connector, and one of the major complains of the iPod is battery life, so I think the next iPod will have:
touchscreen
better battery life
improved versions of all the functions the G5 iPod has

[SiliconAddict]

Battlestar ROCKS :cool: :D

I want a license plate holder that says


My other transportation


is a Viper Mark VII

... :D

Yes I am geek. Hear me roar. :p

[SiliconAddict]

this won't happen IMO. Apple's next-gen communication device is the iPhone, not the iPod, so why would they make a competitor for their own new product?
also, it takes a lot of power to use the WiFi connector, and one of the major complains of the iPod is battery life, so I think the next iPod will have:
touchscreen
better battery life
improved versions of all the functions the G5 iPod has

Adding wifi to the thing without functionality doesn't compete against the iPhone at all, in any way. As for power consumption. How is it any worse then WIFI in an iPhone? Its not like you are going to have WIFI on all the time anyways. When you don't need it turn it off and your batt life is fine. When you need\want it bring a charger. Better to have the option and not use it. Its not like you can add it on later, and WIFI radios are cheap and small as heck at this point.

[Kelmon]

I could also see wireless streaming to ANY :apple: TV, so you could show your holiday snaps at a friends house, who has an :apple: TV, wirelessly, or just show the movies or music that you carry with you that way.
There is a purpose for wireless technology on an iPod.

This makes the most sense to me. When :apple:TV was demonstrated Steve used the example of Phil bringing his MacBook over to show Steve a video that was streamed to Steve's :apple:TV. However, it makes much more sense that Phil is either using his iPhone or wireless-enabled iPod to carry his media around to a friend's house rather than a laptop. Much more portable and natural.

Beyond this the obvious (unless you're Microsoft) wireless syncing to your base computer and handy iPhone-eque widgets would be useful. I can't see web browsing or iTunes working on a small screen so I don't see those as useful features.

[jhande]

I sincerely doubt it, especially due to how much power WiFi connectivity would draw.

Just like the true video iPod, I think that a major revolution will have to take place in battery technology for this to see the light of day.

Exactly. I've been a Palm user for many years, and a heavy e-book reader. I used to recharge my Palm Vx every three days or so. With the Treo, I basically have to do it every single day. With BT enabled continuously, sometimes a couple of times a day.

So, I've bitten the bullet and ordered a product from a company I detest. I've ordered a Sony E-book reader (the PRS-500), based on eink technology. I know it's a second gen product, with long page refreshes etc. BUT it has an exceptional battery life. 7,500 page turns, and according to the users at mobileread.com, that translates (for most of them) to more than a week without recharging.

I am getting a book reader - nothing more or less. When the iPhone/iPod can last for 24 hours of use, then by all means pile up the connectivity. Until then, power is my main criteria.

[Much Ado]

Battlestar ROCKS :cool: :D

Amen to that.

...But these rumors are starting to take their toll on my mind. Yes i know, it's a Mac rumors website, but i just wish for once rumors could not get my hopes up so much and then dash them again in an instant.

Leopard to be announced at Macworld!!11!!1!oneone!

Perhaps we should set up a "new MBPs with Santa Rosa coming 2011" thread, just so we can be pleasantly surprised when we find out we were all being too pessimistic for once.

MA.

[Porco]

I don't personally see the point of WiFi in an iPod. I'd rather have the extra battery life it would need and use it for existing and/or other functions. But then I'm not a huge fan of WiFi anyway, I think it has its uses and places but is generally overrated and overused.

[localoid]

I really doubt it'll be the iPhone without the phone. It will for sure have multi-touch IMO, but they will have to differentiate it from the iPhone. They don't want to take away sales from it.

Well, if Apple doesn't take the iPod to the next step -- to the personal ultra-mobile Internet connectivity level -- you can be certain several major players will try to take a bite out of Apple's iPhone market. :rolleyes:

Intel's big UMPC push will come April 17th (http://umpc.com/blogs/news_announcements/archive/2007/04/13/1619.aspx). The UMPC teaser video (http://umpc.com/VideoUMPC.aspx) is kind of interesting.. :rolleyes:

[bigbossbmb]

Well, if Apple doesn't take the iPod to the next step -- to the personal ultra-mobile Internet connectivity level -- you can be certain several major players will try to take a bite out of Apple's iPhone market. :rolleyes:

Intel's big UMPC push will come April 17th (http://umpc.com/blogs/news_announcements/archive/2007/04/13/1619.aspx). The UMPC teaser video (http://umpc.com/VideoUMPC.aspx) is kind of interesting.. :rolleyes:

that video was neat... but the whole time I was thinking of how Apple could implement a multi-touch interface and make it smaller and really sweet.

[localoid]

that video was neat... but the whole time I was thinking of how Apple could implement a multi-touch interface and make it smaller and really sweet.

Yes, what could the Apple design gods turn out, if they were so inclined? ;)

[Machead III]

Duke Nukem forever in Second Half of 2007?

[logandzwon]

Sounds likly to me. (1) Steve loves making MS look stupid. Their WiFi is stupid and is being reported as such. Steve would love to make a funcional Wifi for that reason alone. (2) The iPhone takes a lot of radical approces to a bunch of functions. Some of said functions the iPod does today. Some of the functions the Apple TV does today. I makes sense to standarize the way these functions work and feel. I imagine in a couple generations the iPhone and the iPod will be very similiar in a lot of ways. Both will run on OS X lite, have touch screens, have coverflow.

Now, the big reson I think we'll Wifi as one of the first parts of this shift is because of the AppleTV, or more directly, the way iTunes works with ATV. A Wifi iPod could sync over Wifi with basicly no change to iTunes. They already wrote the whole thing in order to make Apple TV work. Imagine you iPod syncs whenever your home, rather then whenever you plug it in. If your wifi covers your driveway, you don't even need to take it out your car, (you know, since 70% of new cars support the iPod or whatever he said at that keynote.)

[localoid]

Another video depicting UMPC in the not too distant future (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_FS2TiK3AI)... :p

[Evangelion]

this won't happen IMO. Apple's next-gen communication device is the iPhone, not the iPod, so why would they make a competitor for their own new product?

because the two are not really alternatives to each other. i'm looking to replace my 6gb ipod with a new mediaplayer. i already have a company-issued cell-phone, and i want the new device to have 30-40gb of storage. and the iphone is still around 6 months away from europe. so no iphone for me.

on the other hand, someone who is looking for a phone, would not consider an ipod to be an alternative, since it's not a phone. and in any case, so what if people bought an ipod instead of iphone? last time i checked, iphone brings a lot of money to apple.

[surferfromuk]

I think that it's very likely we'll see a new ipod this year because those two guys doing all the work in Apple these days will have finished making the iphone and will have a couple of months clear between June and August to kill before they crack on with completing Leopard.

So I'm guessing Ben and Jerrys calendar looks like this ;

May/June - iPhone
(June 29th : 2 hours for Apple TV fixes)
July - ipod,
August - month in Jamaica - Steve's parting words : 'Think up those new features guys or don't come back'
Sep/Oct - Leopard

To compensate for 'near apple burnout' they'll indulge in a month of drugs, booze and orgiastic partying in Jamaica. As such I expect Leopard to have a 'pirates of the caribbean' GUI theme : Antique wood to replace the brushed metal, caskets instead of folders , olde type fonts on unscrolling parchment for pop up menus etc etc. The 'so called' secret feature will be a treasure map built into leopard leading to a real world stash of empty rum bottles.

[shyataroo]

I personally think that apple has hinted twards it in their Apple TV commerical (where the computer/tv/iPod are all playing the same thing at the same time obviously implying that the Apple TV is sending the iPod the movie, with 802.11n you could stream a DVD-Quality movie no?

[Sebas00]

hehe rather WiFi headphones:p

:) my bad:D
thanks!

Maybe Bluethooth might be more useful to me than Wi Fi.:rolleyes:

[Chosenbydestiny]

The term WiPod would be extremely illogical right now considering their product line ups all start with a lower case "i" anyway. The most fitting term would probably be something like the iPod (insert title here). For example, iPod nano, iPod shuffle, etc... you get the point.

[psychofreak]

Mmm...wifiPod :)

[localoid]

At its Developer Conference in Beijing today, Intel unveiled (http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS8166710404.html) a new post-PC computing form-factor, "Mobile Internet Devices" (MIDs)
http://www.linuxdevices.com/files/misc/intel_redflag_MID.jpg (http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS8166710404.html)

This is an interesting development, since Intel apparently has rejected Windows Mobile in favor of Linux as the default OS for this new form-factor. :p

Will there be an Apple MID sometime in the future? (If so, I'd probably bite.) ;)

http://www.tabletpcreview.com/assets/2700.bmp

More here... (http://www.zdnetasia.com/news/hardware/0,39042972,62005722,00.htm)

http://www.gadgetell.com/images/2007/04/intelmid.jpg (http://www.gadgetell.com/2007/04/intel-kicks-origami-to-the-curb-goes-linux-with-mids/)

[bronksy]

..for considering purchasing an 80gig ipod now? My new car is about to arrive and it has an ipod connector. I want to use it straight away.. but should I wait, and oh i'm inpatient!
I dont own any ipod at the moment!

[dubnluvn]

How cool would would it be to have an ipod with isight, ichat, multitouch and wifi capabilities. Video chat via ichat or pod-to-pod, maybe playlist sharing so the you can share your music with the person sitting next to you on the train. Kinda like how the nintendo ds lets you pictochat or battle with another ds.

[bronksy]

To buy or not to Buy? I really dont know whether to get an 80 giger or not!

[Sebas00]

To buy or not to Buy? I really dont know whether to get an 80 giger or not!

I would wait. A revision is long over due. My opinion.

[bronksy]

but i really want a new toy NOW!!!

[bobber205]

Message to apple:

I will buy this:
So will every ipod user. Make it happen! :D

[Monsterkid198]

if this is the new ipod then who know's what's in store next. i can't really be to much more excited for the new line of ipods in september :rolleyes:

[elcid]

If this doesnt support WPA Enterprise I will be greatly disappointed. I doubt it will have a VPN client so I wouldnt want to use it on an open network. My whole school is wireless with WPA Enterprise and everyone who bought an iPhone is rather upset they cannot use it on our extensive network.


Its not a new technology, lets add the ability for secure wireless...:)

[Don Bagles]

I think the new iPod will have Wi-Fi. Apple just has to put it in if they wanna stay popular.

[homeboy]

If this doesnt support WPA Enterprise I will be greatly disappointed. I doubt it will have a VPN client so I wouldnt want to use it on an open network. My whole school is wireless with WPA Enterprise and everyone who bought an iPhone is rather upset they cannot use it on our extensive network.

Cool info. I didn't know anything about that.

[elcid]

I think the new iPod will have Wi-Fi. Apple just has to put it in if they wanna stay popular.

To stay popular? Its not even truely out yet. It is draft n for a reason. You dont need it on your ipod, hell you dont need it really period. No where is n being utilized cause it costs so much more for 0 devices. Not to mention it requires 4 antneas and looks like crap. You can put it in your house sure, but are you really going to be sitting on your couch surfing on your ipod for kicks? And do you really see a slow down on g? Because I get crazy bandwidth anyways on g, and at some point your wireless is going to be moving faster than your uplink.

Stop with the n talk as they havent even introduced WPA:Enterprise into their iPhone and that is a security feature that has been around for a long time and approved. WEP is cracked in under a minute, give me security over a bunk n-card.

[aristobrat]

Where did he mention 802.11n? I think he meant WiFi in general, like the Zune has...

[elcid]

Where did he mention 802.11n? I think he meant WiFi in general, like the Zune has...

Haha touche. Apparently I read it "n in". Thats what you get when you stay up late.

[aristobrat]

NP! I also was up late and thought I was missing something. heheh :)