2GB Mini-iPods in Janaury?

[MacRumors]

According to a new report, Apple has been demoing a new product to select insiders. The new device is reportedly a 2GB "mini" iPod, and has been noted to come in a variety of colors. Expected introduction of the new low-end iPods are in January 2004.

Some recent rumors have hinted at low end iPods (http://www.macrumors.com/pages/2003/11/20031125132729.shtml) coming from Apple, with subsequent (http://www.macrumors.com/pages/2003/12/20031210031754.shtml) corroboration.

While Apple presently uses Toshiba's 1.8" hard drives in existing iPod devices, Toshiba will be introducing (http://www.macrumors.com/pages/2003/12/20031210203211.shtml) 1" hard drives at the Consumer Electronics Show, also in January 2004.

[spencecb]

I think something like this would be fantastic...I would love to have a smaller iPod for when I go work out...not that the iPod is too big or bulky, because it is not...but I would like to have an iPod that you can strap around your arm while working out...that would be cool

[Doraemon]

I don't care for a smaller iPod, but for a less expensive one.
The 100 bucks iPod idea just rocks!

Bring'em on, Apple!

[joed]

As soon as I read the report about Toshiba's 1" drives starting production shortly, I immediately thought of mini-iPods. I think this rumors is pretty logical and these would fit a different market than the larger iPods.

Apple already make different size iMacs, iBooks and Powerbooks so why not iPods!

Looking forward to Macworld San Fran, but worried that no Steve Jobs Keynote announcement has been made - yet.

[dongmin]

Originally posted by Macrumors
According to a new report, Apple has been demoing a new product to select insiders. The new device is reportedly a 2GB "mini" iPod, and has been noted to come in a variety of colors. Expected introduction of the new low-end iPods are in January 2004.

Some recent rumors have hinted at low end iPods (http://www.macrumors.com/pages/2003/11/20031125132729.shtml) coming from Apple, with subsequent (http://www.macrumors.com/pages/2003/12/20031210031754.shtml) corroboration.

While Apple presently use Toshiba's 1.8" hard drives in existing iPod devices, Toshiba will be introducing (http://www.macrumors.com/pages/2003/12/20031210203211.shtml) 1" hard drives at the Consumer Electronics Show, also in January 2004.

Exciting, if true. But I wouldn't get your hopes up on this mini-pod costing less than $199; $169 would be a stretch me thinks. I like the idea of variety of colors: Apple's definitely targetting kids with this one.

Multiple colors
All-plastic body
smaller screen, smaller scroll
no remote, no dock, no case
no accessories via firewire adaptor
2 gb HDD (--> 500 songs or 33 hours of music)
extra games
$169

[B@SS_SHOCK]

God how i'd love to see cheaper, lower-capacity iPods released. That's the only reason I haven't bought an iPod yet, I just can't afford it right now.

But the thing is, will Apple make revenue from this? From my perspective, the way Apple makes money is to charge a premium for the low-volumes of stock they sell compared to Dell or HP who sell in high numbers to gain their revenue. So would Apple gain a cut for themselves with a cheaper iPod?

Anyways, 2GB is enough to hold about half of my music library, and that's OK, I only listen to one half all the time anyways.....

[wizard]

Why does everyone thing that these would be disked based? An IPod that small could very well be flashed based. Actually it would be really groovee if the unit accepted compact flash cards.

I'm all for minidisk technology and all, but there are cost issues that could be addressed with an all solid state device. Not to mention increased reliability. Sure flash has its own issues but make that a replaceable item and about all that there is left ot fail is the battery.

Thanks
Dave



Originally posted by Macrumors
According to a new report, Apple has been demoing a new product to select insiders. The new device is reportedly a 2GB "mini" iPod, and has been noted to come in a variety of colors. Expected introduction of the new low-end iPods are in January 2004.

Some recent rumors have hinted at low end iPods (http://www.macrumors.com/pages/2003/11/20031125132729.shtml) coming from Apple, with subsequent (http://www.macrumors.com/pages/2003/12/20031210031754.shtml) corroboration.

While Apple presently use Toshiba's 1.8" hard drives in existing iPod devices, Toshiba will be introducing (http://www.macrumors.com/pages/2003/12/20031210203211.shtml) 1" hard drives at the Consumer Electronics Show, also in January 2004.

[macnews]

I think this would be a great move for Apple. While the iPod is no loss leader, I think iTunes could really be a money maker if you get enough people buying on a regular basis. Priced at or around $100-$200, this would help drive interest.

It would also help introduce people to the other Apple products like iMacs, ibooks and the pro line. All around win for Apple, not to mention a great way to squash all the johnny come lately's with their online music stores.

[punter]

i wonder if they will use these new drives. Wouldn't that make them relatively expensive?

2GB is easily enough music to last me until I connect up to a computer again. It's still so much better then going on holiday with a cache of cds.

[stingerman]

Just because it is 2GB doesn't mean it will be that much less expensive. I think 199 would be the bottom. We'll probably see the 10GB go to 249, so the upsell will be easier. Maybe a new 60GB iPod for 499 for those who use their iPods for more than Music.

What excites me about a 2GB iPod would be an even smaller form factor. It could be small enough to plug into a Digital camera and the new Digital video cameras directly and give you 2GB, that would open the iPod up to a much larger market. Seeing that 256MB Flash cards are going for around that much anyway.

Hope its true.

[stingerman]

Another thought is that now with Hitachi and another even cheaper chinese manufacturer among the 1.8" drive manufactures, with Apple's iPod volume, the pricing pressure on Toshiba has got to be huge. I am speculating that Apple sells at least a Million iPods this quarter. The economy of scale for them has got to be tremendous.

[Awimoway]

Multi-colored little 2 GB wonders? Sounds like a flash iPod to me.

On the other hand, the "variety of colors" thing could be a giveaway that this rumor is no good. That would herald a major new development (retrodevelopment, I suppose) in Apple's hardware style. A lot of people who don't know Apple well enough still think they're the company with the fruit-colored computers. Apple's due for a new consumer-level look, but just going back to multi-colors seems lame. Of course, maybe I am assuming the wrong thing about what that means. It doesn't have to mean the return of grape and tangerine. Perhaps each device is multi-colored in Ive's new new vision of the future that we have yet to see. Who knows.

[Nik_Doof]

Originally posted by Awimoway
Multi-colored little 2 GB wonders? Sounds like a flash iPod to me.

On the other hand, the "variety of colors" thing could be a giveaway that this rumor is no good. That would herald a major new development (retrodevelopment, I suppose) in Apple's hardware style. A lot of people who don't know Apple well enough still think they're the company with the fruit-colored computers. Apple's due for a new consumer-level look, but just going back to multi-colors seems lame. Of course, maybe I am assuming the wrong thing about what that means. It doesn't have to mean the return of grape and tangerine. Perhaps each device is multi-colored in Ive's new new vision of the future that we have yet to see. Who knows.

I dunno, they've been selling the ipod colours alot recently....just hope they dont match them from the ipod adverts....uck samon pink :(

[CheekyGit]

Yaawwwnnnn :o

[true777]

Originally posted by joed

Looking forward to Macworld San Fran, but worried that no Steve Jobs Keynote announcement has been made - yet.

Jobs' keynotes are always announced very late in the game, so this is the norm, not the exception, and certainly no cause for worries.

[biscuit]

Originally posted by Awimoway ...the "variety of colors" thing could be a giveaway that this rumor is no good...
Bingo.

Apple won't want to go backwards; the iPod has a recognisable style already. The only thing is those coloured ads....

Also, while a 2 Gb flash-based iPod would be great I doubt they could get the price down. Have you seen how much those 2 Gb USB pen drives are? They're more than the top of the line iPod!

biscuit

[ipiloot]

Khmm

Wasn't it Apple who got the patent for computer cases with siwtchable colors and textures...

Makes me wonder if that'd be the casing for both - new big and new small iPod





Originally posted by biscuit
Bingo.

Apple won't want to go backwards; the iPod has a recognisable style already. The only thing is those coloured ads....

Also, while a 2 Gb flash-based iPod would be great I doubt they could get the price down. Have you seen how much those 2 Gb USB pen drives are? They're more than the top of the line iPod!

biscuit

[Gymnut]

I wonder how small is "mini" in comparison to the current iPods. I think the current iPods are small enough. Anything smaller like the state of some of the cell phones out now could mean some fumbling with some users if it's "too" mini.

[simply258]

What is one thing that makes Nokia mobile phones popular ?

Exchangable covers

Maybe these mini iPods, if they're even going to be called iPods, will have exchangable covers, so not only can you have the white we're used to, but also plain colors as well as designs.

[mac15]

maybe the colour of the ipod ads? I'd be able to afford one then :)

[applekid]

Sounds cute and pretty to me :)

Perhaps the old iMac colors will slowly return to Apple products.

I hope this rumor has some credibility. I don't plan on buying this iPod, since I already have my 15 gigs, but it'd be nice to see some of my friends now be able to buy an iPod in some form.

[ITR 81]

It won't be Flash because Jobs has already worked to hard to establish himself has a HD MP3 player market leader. To go Flash would be like going backwards for him. Analysts have already said SJ was right about HD players and all tech analysts are saying 04' is the yr of the HD player.

Also consider the fact how well iPods are selling. My friend at CompUSA told me they have no more 20GB left. They've only got a couple of 30 and 40's left with about 10, 10GB iPods left. He said all those will probably be gone by end of this coming week and they don't expect to get anymore anytime soon. Because apparently Apple told them they are not takening any new orders for iPod until Jan.

More then likely the iPods will have exchangable covers like the Nokia phones now. This makes Apples job easier because other 3rd party companies can make the covers while Apple just makes the small iPods. Also I expect a 2GB iPod to be around $150 and a 5GB to be around $199.

[Centris 650]

As far as the different color ipods making this just a rumor remember that this things are supposedly being demoed. Sometimes demo products are made from different materials since they are trying to make sure the product WORKS before it looks good. These demos could really be in different colors but the final version may not be.

[Sol]

Anything that small is not only useful for MP3s but also as a remote control. It could be using a Bluetooth interface.

[nsb3000]

Originally posted by simply258
What is one thing that makes Nokia mobile phones popular ?

Exchangable covers

Maybe these mini iPods, if they're even going to be called iPods, will have exchangable covers, so not only can you have the white we're used to, but also plain colors as well as designs.


This would make them look like cheap cellphones ...not what they are going for. I don't understand why you all think this is true...

While there is some point to a 2 gig MP3 player, the whole thing about the ipod is that you put your entire music library on it, so you have the simple one touch integration. With 2 gigs that would not be possible for many people, and the whole thing becomes a lot more complicated.


-NSB

[the_mole1314]

Well guys, I knew about a cheeper iPod, but either this is false, or the product has litterally changed 180º. The one I heard about had bigger HD, was just like the other ones, and it was thinner.

As for the flash based idea, it's totally absured. Flash is expensive, flash is slow, and flash can't store jack-****.

[RHutch]

Originally posted by nsb3000
This would make them look like cheap cellphones ...not what they are going for. I don't understand why you all think this is true...

While there is some point to a 2 gig MP3 player, the whole thing about the ipod is that you put your entire music library on it, so you have the simple one touch integration. With 2 gigs that would not be possible for many people, and the whole thing becomes a lot more complicated.


-NSB

But 2 gigs is plenty for some people. And those people might not want to spend a couple hundred dollars more for all those extra gigs if they are not going to use them. If these people aren't going to buy the higher capacity iPods, make something they will buy.

[1macker1]

Why do people keep saying that the iPod is for storing you entire music library, i dont see that anywhere in the iPod section at apple.

[johnpaul191]

Originally posted by the_mole1314
Well guys, I knew about a cheeper iPod, but either this is false, or the product has litterally changed 180º. The one I heard about had bigger HD, was just like the other ones, and it was thinner.

As for the flash based idea, it's totally absured. Flash is expensive, flash is slow, and flash can't store jack-****.
hasn't compactflash hit 2 gigs in its standard small format? i know they passed the 1 gig mark a while back. if it's built into the device it could be an odd size. the rumor implied small storage. while i think the rumor is kind of out there, there is something nice about not having a drive with moving parts. they could be more durable for people that don't exercise on a treadmill or stationary bike in a climate controlled room. they should get better battery life for the same battery, or for the same life they could use a much smaller battery.

i agree it seems like a step back to only transfer playlists as opposed to ALL your music. i would also think it would prevent people from buying the full iPod and all the potential they have (portable firewire drive and that thing about taking your home directory with you that was almost in 10.3).

[johnpaul191]

Originally posted by 1macker1
Why do people keep saying that the iPod is for storing you entire music library, i dont see that anywhere in the iPod section at apple.
when you sync your iPod it's very easy to keep you whole library on your iPod and your machine. you don't have to, but most people out there don't have 80 gigs of MP3s and if you have 4 or 5 or 15 gigs then why not take everything... assuming your iPod is big enough?

[adamfilip]

i think that the so called "mini ipod" wont be smaller..in height and width.. as someone mentioned. apple has spent alot marketing the look and shape of the ipod
i do think they will releases new ipods that are much thinner and lighter making them much easier to lug around.

[machinehien]

Originally posted by 1macker1
Why do people keep saying that the iPod is for storing you entire music library, i dont see that anywhere in the iPod section at apple.

There's a lot you can do with the iPod that is not listed on the official site.


"There are some people, that if they don't know, you can't tell them" -Louis Armstrong

[azdude]

Ahh... could this be an ePod?? ;)

[scat999999]

Get people hooked on the iPod and then they will trade up to the larger, more profitable models.


Originally posted by dongmin
Apple's definitely targetting kids with this one.

Multiple colors
All-plastic body
smaller screen, smaller scroll
no remote, no dock, no case
no accessories via firewire adaptor
2 gb HDD (--> 500 songs or 33 hours of music)
extra games
$169

[luiss]

A 1GB IBM (now hitachi) Microdrive (1" hard disk) still sell for about $200. Just because they're smaller does not mean they're that they're much cheaper. A cheaper iPod might be more likely to have a 1.8" drive. I would not be surprised if a 4GB mini pod would cost just as much as a 10-20 GB iPod.

[D*I*S_Frontman]

Seems to me that Apple will be content to ride their market without too many twists and turns here. I mean, yikes, the current high priced units are still selling out almost everywhere. The current form factor is elegant and sized well--I concur with those who say that going much smaller increases the "fumbling" factor when trying to operate the thing.

It seems very obvious what Apple will do in the future with the iPod--exactly what they've done thus far. Bump the HD size every so often for the $500 pricepoint unit and offer two smaller ones for less (the "good, better, & best" marketing scheme from the ol' Sears catalog). Keeping the price UP maintains an air of sophistication and value. Whoring out a small unit for $99, no matter what the specs, hurts the perceived value of all iPods. No need to do it if people are pouncing on the pricey ones. Fewer units = fewer defective/returns, less shipping costs, higher percieved value among current owners = better market perception = higher profit.

I know many here have the fantasy of buying a cheap iPod. I wager that Steve would rather sell you a better one (60GB) than a cheaper one, despite what he might say.

If I have any hope for a new innovation, it would be for the "take your Mac with you" functionality we thought might be coming with Panther. While it seems very doable, I'm sure Steve and the boys are sweating a bit over it. Being able to take your Mac with you and use someone else's system to do your work on might result in slightly fewer CPUs sold, especially portables. Why buy a monster 17" when you can go from your killer tower @ home to your killer tower @ work? Yes, I know that this does not make the laptop obsolete in any respect, but if adding that functionality deters even one in 100 not to get a PBook, Apple is shooting itself in the foot. Apple still may do it if they think the functionality of the "Mac on the go" iPod enhances the user experience so much that it becomes yet another source of envy for the potentia switcher/PC crowd, but trust me--they are thinking long and hard about it befoire they plunge in.

Just my take.

[kuyu]

this could work in a specific niche. Perhaps young kids or older people would buy them. I know my little cousins and grandparents don't own more than 500 songs.

But I guess we'll see at macworld 04...

[Bunzi2k4]

*sigh* i wanted a color 15 gig ipod... preferably the black one... o well white is ok... i guess...

[Mofus]

In regard to the term "mini", I don't think they are refering to the physical size of the device, but rather the capacity. Apple has put a lot of advertising dollars into the recognizability of the iPod, and I don't think they would want to introduce something that looks different. If they did intoduce a smaller capacity one for much cheaper, I would probably buy a second. My 20 gig for my whole music library, and my 2 gig for just the songs I listen to all of the time. As far as different colors, they could be talking about shades of gray. A stainless steel face plate would be cool too.

[1macker1]

Just beacuse one person want's to do something other than music, doesnt mean everyone else wants to.
Originally posted by machinehien
There's a lot you can do with the iPod that is not listed on the official site.


"There are some people, that if they don't know, you can't tell them" -Louis Armstrong

[mrsebastian]

i'd be very happy to see a mini ipod, like a smaller more fun form factor (think imac to powermac). at an affordable price, everyone and their mother would get one just to be cool.

i've noticed in these continuing rumors, people always say apple can't make a cheap ipod, that the cost of the drives are too high. do you really think apple is paying retail value for the drives?! considering the quantity of ipods sold, one would think apple is getting one heck of deal from some drive manufacturer. show me the mini-pod!

[-hh]

Originally posted by kuyu
this could work in a specific niche. Perhaps young kids or older people would buy them. I know my little cousins and grandparents don't own more than 500 songs.

Well, I fall into the "older people" category, and a smaller capacity iPod isn't a big concern for me: I can cherry-pick my music collection to resolve that part. Besides, I want to minimize my labor of typing title/artist/album info when importing the song into iTunes anyway :D

Now I can easily afford to buy any iPod, but I haven't done so, because at the current price point, I can't justify the toy.

Much of this is the infrequency with which I listen to my music collection. I'd like to have a song-carrier for listening in my car, but my reality here is that while this is where I do listen to 90% of my music, its radio-based so as to also get traffic & weather, which is why my cars' cassette & CD players go unused. As such, to justify it, not only should it be inexpensive, but it needs to offer more utility.

One aspect of utility is that I travel a lot, and it would be nice to take an MP3 player with me on vacations and business flights. However, I prefer to travel really light, and in order to be able to use such a device for a multi-day trip, a small, light battery recharger is necessary. Unfortunately, it appears that Apple's $49 iPod AC recharger is one of the ancient, heavy "brick" transformers that is an insult to technology and innovation.

(For comparison, he's the small, light recharger for my Motorola StarTAC cellphone...its under 2oz and under 2 cubic inches in volume): http://tinyurl.com/zbo0

But even this isn't probably _enough_ utility for me. Two additional features would be enough to push me over would be:

- autonomous sound recording
- digital wallet function to support a digital camera.

FWIW, I realize that the latter in particular would mean a lot more storage than a 2GB 1" HD. For my personal preferences (YMMV), I'd keep the existing form factor and take the volume savings of the 1" HD to invest it in longer battery life - - - and leave the heavy brick recharger at home.


Finally, now that Apple has decided on the design interface for their iPod dock, I need corporate reassurances that its not going to change with future products.

I realize that some change is inevitable, but I've already gone through this nonsense with PDA docks with a lack of forward thinking and product planning: if a new "mini-iPod" can't use the same dock as the current iPod, then the message that Apple is saying to me is that if I do want to eventually have a product that is very flexible (car, airplane, work PC, home Mac, stereo), that Apple's "solution" is that I have to fork over an extra $200 in interfaces with each new product revision...not only does that discourage me from buying at all, but it also will make me more likely to buy something and then stick with it for 10 years instead of buying more frequent product upgrades.

From an Engineering standpoint, this isn't that hard: its just some planning for backwards-compatibility to the now-existing dock design, which should have been designed with future growth in mind.


-hh

[1macker1]

I'm still going to get the 10G iPod for myself reguardless of the new 'mini' iPod. But it would be great to be able to give someone a iPod as a gift, but the current prices 299 and up, I won't do it.

[spencecb]

Looks like this idea is out the window now, since they are reporting that this new harddrive will not be in full production until 2005.

[arn]

Originally posted by spencecb
Looks like this idea is out the window now, since they are reporting that this new harddrive will not be in full production until 2005.

not really... that just means that particular drive won't be available until 2005.

they could be using another drive.

arn

[Frobozz]

This rumor is complete rubbish.

[Awimoway]

You know, the more I think about it, the more another idea occurs to me. It really bothers me that there isn't one single blessed car stereo that will let you dock your iPod directly into the stereo and let you use your stereo controls to enjoy your iPod in the car in an easy way free of standalone docking connectors, auxilary cords, tape adaptor cords, or crappy FM broadcasters.

I just can't understand why not even one car stereo manufacturer hasn't made this yet.

Well maybe the problem is with the iPod. Maybe the smaller iPod will have a more dock-friendly form factor and will be designed with a line of car stereos (not by apple, of course, but by a reputable car stereo manufacturer) in mind. Just a thought.

[neutrino23]

Several points.

Apple is continually making and evaluating prototypes. Just because someone saw a handful of iPod variations and heard some of the discussions related to that doesn't mean that a new product is imminent.

Regarding an earlier post, from their analyst call-ins I recall that Apple sells on the order of 350,000 iPods a quarter. If they did really well they might sell 500,000 this current quarter.

Flash memory is still too expensive although a year or two down the road a 10GB Flash iPod might be possible. On the other hand, you have to think where HD technology will be in at that time. Unless Flash memory can be cheaper and faster and use less power then it won't make it.

Anyway, we'll know more in 22 days.

[powerbookje]

Blaupunkt has a "mp3" device based on IBM's microdrive already. I Connect the ipod dock in my car to my car stereo, it's perfect that way, don't want the ipod "in" the stereo...

[machinehien]

Besides, I want to minimize my labor of typing title/artist/album info when importing the song into iTunes anyway




um, if you are hooked up to the internet, CDDB should fill in all that info for you when you import. I know there's errors in a lot of albums but I figure it does 95% of the work of hand entering.

[macMaestro]

I wouldn't believe this rumor for an instant. 2gigs? That sounds fine. Colors?

No.

Those colors coming standard on an iPod? Bleagh. I could be wrong, but this doesn't seem like a possible move. Or a good move.


But a 2gig minus the colors? For say, $149?
Bring it on! :D

[Jookbox]

this is cool. money has nothing to do with it, but i would much much rather have something like this (assuming it's a lot smaller). i'm in the market to take something jogging with me. i was never interested in the current ipods. it's not like i need every last friggin mp3 i own for a 40 minute jog.

i hope this rumor is true.

[-hh]

Originally posted by Awimoway
You know, the more I think about it, the more another idea occurs to me. It really bothers me that there isn't one single blessed car stereo that will let you dock your iPod directly into the stereo and let you use your stereo controls to enjoy your iPod in the car in an easy way free of standalone docking connectors, auxilary cords, tape adaptor cords, or crappy FM broadcasters.

I just can't understand why not even one car stereo manufacturer hasn't made this yet.

Well maybe the problem is with the iPod...

The problem is not with the iPod.

The problem is not 'technology', because all home stereo rack systems have RCA jacks and the like.

The problem is that Open Interface Standards encourages commodization of the product, which means lower profit margins for the manufacturer. They avoid commodization by choosing to not offer features that will reduce their profit margins...its simple "protection of Turf".

An example of this is adding an optional multiple-CD player to the head unit in your car: you can pay the factory's high price, or you can skip it and try to DIY in the aftermarket. For the latter, you immediately find that there's no universal deck-to-CD interface because each automaker has a brand that they use, and without going the route of an FM modulator, mixing brands is usually impossible. It is because of this "vertical integration" that the factory is able to lock you in to higher prices.

The most extreme contemporary example I'm familar with comes from the digital optical link on 2002-vintage Mercedes that's proprietary to Becker CD players.

The result is that the factory's optional 6CD changer ran $800. If you try to save money by an aftermarket DIY installation of the Becker, you save some money, but its still over $600: you can buy three (3!) FM modulator-based multi-CD systems for that, so the financial motivation for the consumer to trade-off features (such as dashboard integration) is high.

FWIW, MB did recognize that they were making less profit because too many people were skipping the option entirely, so they changed the sound system for 2003 models which reduced the cost of the option (to $410). But its simply a less expensive system whose interface is still proprietary...not an open standard.


-hh

[iJon]

this is great news, this is the exact market apple needs to hit, an ipod for everyone. there are just some people who simply dont have many songs and 2gb would be plenty. maybe somewhere between 100-200 dollars and they will sell a s*** load of them. too bad its going to be after christmas.

iJon

[Doctor Q]

Originally posted by azdude
Ahh... could this be an ePod??No, an ePod would be the education version. It looks like the current iPods should be named PowerPods and the new ones should be the iPods. Except PowerBooks and Power Macs got their name from the PowerPC chip. So maybe, instead, we need to use a new vowel. I can just imagine the slogan:

The uPod - U Need One!

[mrsebastian]

Originally posted by Doctor Q
No, an ePod would be the education version. It looks like the current iPods should be named PowerPods and the new ones should be the iPods. Except PowerBooks and Power Macs got their name from the PowerPC chip. So maybe, instead, we need to use a new vowel. I can just imagine the slogan:

The uPod - U Need One!

hypothetically speaking an epod is not such a bad idea. it plays music, but with more and more computers being used at schools, it would also double as a data storage/transfer device for student files. throw in a few other features and it might work... then again probably not.

[JoeMacDaddy]

The older 2Gig drives (made before the 5Gig iPod was announced) are dirt cheap today and would make the iPod cost about $99 retail especially if you replaced the stainless steel belly plate with a colorfull high impact plastic. They could make these the thickness of one CD jewel case.

My only question to Apple would be is why wait to January? You should be selling these now before Christmas! Everyone would put these into every teens and college students stockinng from Santa.

[mjtomlin]

However, Steve Jobs has said they ARE looking for ways to make a cheaper iPod. Here's what I think and why...

First of all, all you have to do is look at the iPods greatest strengths; looks cool, sounds even better, easy to use. These are the three biggest points made in any review of the device. Apple should focus on that and come out with the following "affordable" model...

1. The iPod's size is perfect. There is no reason to change it just to make it less expensive.
2. White only. Keeps manufacturing costs down
3. Hard drive based. 5GB ONLY. I don't care what people say about flash memory. Its still way too expensive. Hard drives offer much, much more capacity at cheaper prices.
4. Ultra long battery life. Up to 16 hours.
5. Digital music player ONLY. All other features removed; no 3rd party add-ons, no games, no contacts, no "Mac on the go." (The only feature that would possibly be retained is the ability to use it as a portable hard drive.) Some of these features are Mac only anyway, what makes this a selling point to Windows users? It doesn't. Get rid of it.

Cost, $149

So what you end up with is an iPod, that looks like every other iPod, sounds and plays music like any other iPod and easily integrates with iTunes just like any other iPod.

But you say this will cannibalize the higher priced iPods. No, it won't. Currently, it's the higher capacity iPods that are flying off the shelves the quickest. The cheaper iPod being only 5GB would not appeal to any of those people. And to those who see a lot of value in the extra features would not at all be interested in the cheaper model.

Ultimately, what you end up with is more people using iTunes ... seeing the benefit of Apple design/integration... and quite possibly making the move to purchase a Macintosh the next time they're in the market for a new computer.

[Young Turk]

Originally posted by Jookbox
this is cool. money has nothing to do with it, but i would much much rather have something like this (assuming it's a lot smaller). i'm in the market to take something jogging with me. i was never interested in the current ipods. it's not like i need every last friggin mp3 i own for a 40 minute jog.

i hope this rumor is true.

FWIW, my 15 gb iPod works great on my daily 6 miles runs. I hold it in my hand and it never skips. In fact, neither did my original 5 gb that I bought when they debuted in Nov. 2001.

[stingerman]

After giving it some thought, I would be surprised if Apple came out with a less expensive iPod with more than 1GB HD in it. Why? Because Apple's main competition in that area is the flash players and at 1GB, a new iPod would still be more attractive than a theoretically more expensive 256MB Flash player. Toshiba's 1" drives at 1GB would use very little power and should be very cheap in volume.

Apple needs a product for the flash player price range, as per unit sales, flash players are pretty large. And, their currently does no exist an AAC/DRM player in that price range - a major gap in the ecology.

[MacTitan]

iPed is for the person on the run. Whatever it is, it will be marketed as a compliment to the current iPod line up. I would rule out a flash based drive; A smaller form factor and the ability to strap it on the arm is what people want in a MP3 player while working out, jogging, etc. Solid state drives with skipping and potential damage will be people's concern.

The ability to sync with a folder on the larger iPod would be cool. Also iPod lite would allow iPod to develop as a full featured media player in the future, while iPod lite remains a audio player

Panasonic offers AAC a flash player already, although a bit pricy and no DRM (but who cares).

[bored]

Gotta call it "iPodito"..... or "iPod Jr."

[iChan]

Originally posted by nsb3000
This would make them look like cheap cellphones ...not what they are going for. I don't understand why you all think this is true...

While there is some point to a 2 gig MP3 player, the whole thing about the ipod is that you put your entire music library on it, so you have the simple one touch integration. With 2 gigs that would not be possible for many people, and the whole thing becomes a lot more complicated.


-NSB

the whole thing about a small 2GB iPod that attracts me is the fact that when I got my 10GB iPod first, i only had about 2GB of music, now I have 16GB and I have to select the music I want on it now...

given than, I never ever select 10GB to put on it, maybe 10 albums?? which is about 800MB...

I never use the iPod for anything other than music because I've got a 250GB external.

So, this small iPod would be fantastic for me, someone who has too much music to fit onto their current iPod, that doesn't want a huge capacity iPod where much of the space would be wasted... I mean, how much work is it to just select the albums you want just before you step out the door?

color? I don't know, that has been done before... but I do think that if Apple were ever going to re-introduce color into their product line-up, it would be in little small devices like these. They would be like little bars of Candy. large swathes of luminous colour ARE very passé. small, lickable bars of colorful devices are gorgeous I think...

Interchangable covers are not a very good idea I think because even on Nokia Mobiles, they rarely fir properly. esp 3rd party ones.

[iChan]

Originally posted by johnpaul191
hasn't compactflash hit 2 gigs in its standard small format? i know they passed the 1 gig mark a while back. if it's built into the device it could be an odd size. the rumor implied small storage. while i think the rumor is kind of out there, there is something nice about not having a drive with moving parts. they could be more durable for people that don't exercise on a treadmill or stationary bike in a climate controlled room. they should get better battery life for the same battery, or for the same life they could use a much smaller battery.

i agree it seems like a step back to only transfer playlists as opposed to ALL your music. i would also think it would prevent people from buying the full iPod and all the potential they have (portable firewire drive and that thing about taking your home directory with you that was almost in 10.3).

maybe in MWSF in jan, Jobs will re-introduce the "Home on your iPod" function and maybe one or two more niceties/add-ons for the current iPod...

then the iPod would have all these functions;
Music player, remote, contacts, notes, calendar, HD, Home on Ipod, games, voice recording, and loads more!

Should apple release a 2GB iPod, it could strip all these functions and concentrate solely on music...

it would then give the iPod room to evolve into something more resembling an iPod, as the name suggests... Pod does not equal music... it should equal all things to all people...

these new one will bring the iPod back to its roots and really create a new market for the iPod, something so massmarket, it may actually be able to live up to its billing as the "walkman of the 20th century"

[iChan]

Originally posted by adamfilip
i think that the so called "mini ipod" wont be smaller..in height and width.. as someone mentioned. apple has spent alot marketing the look and shape of the ipod
i do think they will releases new ipods that are much thinner and lighter making them much easier to lug around.



I don't think in any way has Apple spent a lot marketing the look and shape of the iPod, only what is necessary, products need to evolve over time...

look at the Playstation, that has sold many many many more times more than than the iPod but that is a an evolving device... soon coming to it's 4th generation in the PStwo.

I am sure whatever Apple come up with for a new iPod, it will have all the distinct attributes of the current iPod, which is, brilliant design, simplicity and convenience.

[iChan]

Originally posted by Bunzi2k4
*sigh* i wanted a color 15 gig ipod... preferably the black one... o well white is ok... i guess...

it sounds as though you have actually seen these colored iPods... but I have to say, there has never been a Black iPod.

[iChan]

Originally posted by JoeMacDaddy
The older 2Gig drives (made before the 5Gig iPod was announced) are dirt cheap today and would make the iPod cost about $99 retail especially if you replaced the stainless steel belly plate with a colorfull high impact plastic. They could make these the thickness of one CD jewel case.

My only question to Apple would be is why wait to January? You should be selling these now before Christmas! Everyone would put these into every teens and college students stockinng from Santa.

just because they are older does not make them cheaper, there are advantages to buying bulk and for a manufacturer to produce these old 2GB solely for Apple would not be bulk enough... even if they are the leaders in this market.

If apple do have these already, I presume that the margins would not be as high as the current iPod and they would not want to kill the sales of the current iPod with a smaller cheaper which would arguable make better gifts.

anyway, a small iPod is not something that can be just thrown out there, it takes time.

[Doctor Q]

Once an iPod reaches its song capacity, I've been thinking that you have two choices: (a) buy a bigger iPod, or (b) make a subset collection of your tunes and stop storing your whole collection on the iPod. I know people who think that (b) is such an inconvenience that (a) is their only choice. With this rumored smaller iPod, the issue is even more likely to come up. And I realize there is actually another choice, which Apple won't like: (c) stop buying music when you reach the capacity of your iPod!

[simply258]

Originally posted by azdude
Ahh... could this be an ePod?? ;)
a music player for education ? :rolleyes: dont think so ..

[simply258]

Originally posted by nsb3000
I don't understand why you all think this is true...
No one thinks this is true, we're all just speculating and wishfully thinking ..

[varmit]

A low end IPod, and Apple will conquer. 2 gig IPod, maybe all the normal functions or maybe just an MP3 player, for just $99. That would make a killing, just don't know if you can make a 2 gig drive that cheep. Multi colored, and you have a kids best friend, every parent will get one for all their kids. I would even get one for my mom, note that she is a little technologically challenged, and I'm a College student which means no money. Just wish they had it out already for Christmas.

BITE MY SHINNY METAL ASS DELL! - IPod

[daveL]

Originally posted by luiss
A 1GB IBM (now hitachi) Microdrive (1" hard disk) still sell for about $200. Just because they're smaller does not mean they're that they're much cheaper. A cheaper iPod might be more likely to have a 1.8" drive. I would not be surprised if a 4GB mini pod would cost just as much as a 10-20 GB iPod.
Actually, there's a new 2.2 GB IBM microdrive (1") selling retail (street) US$ 215. Sounds like a possibility.

[ClimbingTheLog]

Originally posted by simply258
a music player for education ? :rolleyes: dont think so ..

Actually they're standard issue in some language labs now.

[ClimbingTheLog]

Some of the cell phones available today are ludicrously small. You could put a 1" hard drive, the contents of a mini phone, and a bluetooth chipset in the current iPod case. And, of course, the alien-derived ultra wideband FireWireless (tm). :)

Steve likes to talk about "the technology is just now available to do this - we couldn't even think about it before" as he's introducing a product. The tiny hard drive is a good enough excuse to offset his ScullyNewton venom.

[Bengt77]

Originally posted by ClimbingTheLog
And, of course, the alien-derived ultra wideband FireWireless (tm). :)

Hey, did you make that name up yourself? That's pretty darn funny! Maybe it'll be abbreviated to FiWi? (As, obviously, opposed to WiFi.) Oh well, whatever. Name a funny it is.

[iMook]

I'm skimming through this thread, and NOT ONCE did I see mention of Cornice. Does no one know of this company?!?! The guys behind the 1.5GB hard drive in the Rio Nitrus, Creative MuVo^2, and the Samsung ITCAM-7?

Cornice micro-HDDs are cheaper than hitachi/toshiba because they don't include the RAM and ROM chips in the drive chassis itself. Since they're tailor-made for the portable A/V world, they figure that the devices themselves can spare a few MB for operating ROM and hard drive buffer.

If there IS a microPod in the works, I see no reason why Apple shouldn't adopt the Cornice drive over "standard" microdrives.

Also, Toshiba has a prototype 0.85" HDD now. Think about it, a maybe-3GB (for the high end) HDD the size of a nickel, with a casing barely bigger than an SD card. If Apple wants ultra-bleeding-edge technology that's "just now made possible", it should go for either the ultra-tiny Toshiba HDD or the Cornice HDD, IMHO.

[Doctor Q]

Which is the better abbreviation of Mini-iPod: MiniPod or MiPod?

[ClimbingTheLog]

Originally posted by Bengt77
Hey, did you make that name up yourself? ... Name a funny it is.

I was typing out Firewire Wireless, and that just seems too redundant. So together they went, and I tacked on (tm) at the end, so Apple will have to send me a sweet G5 setup with the works in exchange for license to use the name.

Waking up now...

[breakaway1029]

Here is what I think:
1. It is a good idea for Apple to wait until after christmas to announce new products because the iPod in particular is flying off the shelves, and is someting like the #3 present kids are asking for this holiday season.
2. Apple shouldn't change the appearance of the iPod too much, if a smaller and cheaper version is introduced, because Apple has spent a huge ammont of money making sure that the design of the iPod is recognized by everyone.
3. A new version should be a bridge between the flash and harddrive mp3 players. This would make sure that the flash market becomes obsolete, while creating a huge new market of buyers. Here is an example:

person wants a harddrive mp3 player but doesn't have a large colletion or a lot of money --> buys 2gb iPod --> realizes that their collection doesn't fit on iPod --> slowly amasses a larger collection through iTMS and other music sources --> Realizes they now have a sizeable collection and enough money to buy a larger iPod --> buys a "regular" (15,20,30,40gb) iPod (with a larger profit margin for apple).

In this model, Apple lets people get a "taste" of the iPod without shelling out $300-$500, and then when the time comes to upgrade, they are so familiar with apple, they buy a larger iPod.

[MarkCollette]

I will have the last laugh, after all of you have debated flash versus harddrive, and Apple instead releases... a RAM based player :D

- Mark

[MacForbes]

this mini-ipod would definity sell. I mean just look at Palm. They made a low cost, craptacular (compared to other palms) pda, but it still sold very well. Even CNet said "the device went on to become last year's best-selling Palm, proving once again that price is king in the electronics business." (taken from http://reviews.cnet.com/Palm_Zire_21/4505-3127_7-30557631.html?tag=pdtl-list)

I think the mini-ipod would sell alot with the teenagers, if it had a 100-150 price range and 2 gb would be just fine. As for flash based ... not happening too expensive. Anyway if Apple make this mini-ipod, i will be happy.

[iChan]

the way i see it is that apple need to sell cheaper iPods to reach critical mass.

[McMike]

Flash or HD? Who cares! How about a new iPod with the same design, the same weight and everything but... LET IT HAVE AN EXCHANGEABLE BATTERY!!!!!!
How about that?

[yamabushi]

Originally posted by MarkCollette
I will have the last laugh, after all of you have debated flash versus harddrive, and Apple instead releases... a RAM based player :D
Actually a RAM based player isn't such a crazy idea. Very fast access. Just leave your iPod in a charging cradle when not in use. If your battery runs out of juice, you can copy your songs back quickly and start listening while it continues to recharge.

I would like to see some limited edition iPods with various color themes. Perhaps they could be prizes for a contest or sweepstakes. Stars and Stripes, Union Jack, company logos, original artwork, etc. Personally I'll take a design based on Hokusai's famous stylized wave from his series 36 Views of Fuji.

[Doctor Q]

Would it be possible (technically and pricewise) for Apple or anyone else to make a disk-based MP3 player that lets you pop out the disk drive and replace it with a larger version for an "upgrade" price, so you could start smaller/cheaper and pay more later when your music collection grows? To avoid it becoming a tool for bootleggers, let's say that the disk can be removed only after an "erase and release" function.

[OutThere]

I think that a mini-ipod would be very ideal, allowing people with less music to buy an iPod that fits better. For some people buying a 10 gig is like buying a shoe that's 4 sizes to large.

[Doctor Q]

I have been calling them MiniPods, but I thought of an even simpler form: A smaller iPod could be called an ipod!