Photo iPod -- Apple's first misguided idea in a while.

[lem0nayde]

I love Apple, I love the iPod, I even like the idea of a color iPod screen. But, I just don't think that portable photos are the NEXT BIG THING.

I mean, how unexciting is it to show your photos to people on a tiny screen? Sure, you can hook it up to a TV, but are you really going to carry that cord around with you? Most digital cameras allow you to do that anyway, so you can just show them from there (and take pictures while you are at it.) An are you really going to sit around gawking at your music-accompanied iPod slideshow all day?

Now, if the iPod had the ability to download photos from your camera - that would be something else. I'd love to have a portable harddrive when I am out shooting, and the ability to review what I save to the harddrive (even in RAW camera format.) Sure, I know what you are going to say -- I can buy the Belkin Media reader and download photos to my iPod. I have it, and let me tell you it is horribly slow and worthless for anyone that takes a lot of photos (takes about 40minutes to download a 1GB card.) Plus, the iPod doesn't have RAW camera file support.

I just feel that Apple is harping on the iPod too much. It's insanely popular, and making them buttloads of money -- but what happens once everyone has one? Apple doesn't seem to have any other nifty devices up it's sleeve. It doesn't even seem to care that much about it's machines anymore. I haven't even seen one iMac G5 poster around the city (New York) whereas you can't throw a stone without hitting an iPod poster.

Don't even get me started on the completely odd U2 iPod. Are there really that many people that want a U2 signed iPod? Maybe there are...seems very odd to me. I guess we'll have to wait and see how it sells.

In summary:

Photo iPod -- nifty screen, lack of useful functionality (aside from the iPod's normal functionality.)

iPod in general -- in danger of severe overexposure and possibly all-your-eggs-in-one-basket syndrome.

Apple's state of invention -- give us something NEW NEW NEW. There are so many wheels for you to reinvent, let's see that Apple magic applied elsewhere.

That's all from me.
Joe

[stoid]

I'm wondering if the Photo iPod is the pre-cursor to a future video capable iPod that will allow that same video hook up to playback videos on your TV.

[kgarner]

I think you might be oversimplfying the issue here. How many times did we hear about, "nobody is going to want to take their entire music collection with them?" I think that we have shown that there were a large group of people that did and then others realized the potential afterwards.

The iPod has always been about the early adopters. Then after enough buzz got generated around it, the general public wanted in. There will be a mraket for the iPod Photo, just like there was a market for the iPod.

Sure its not as polished as we would like, but the idea has to start somewhere. I think this is merely the first step. After it is demostrated that a market exists they will add more features and functionality. This is a test. The great thing is that they should be able to upgrade the 1st gen to the later features unless those feature require different hardware. As long as its a firmware issue, then they can bring all the early adopters along for the ride.

As for the Media readers, I am sure they will improve over time as well. The latest edition from Belkin is supposedly still slow, but faster than the first. The technology will improve, features will be added. I really think its too early to say that they are missing boat. Maybe we are all missing the point.

[flyfish29]

well, U2 selling 120 million songs must mean a great fan base. It is an image thing as well. It projects a real rock and roll image and people see U2 backing the iPod and its music system then they think to themselves "this must be THE system to play music on!" so when they decide to buy an MP3 player it will probably be an iPod...most likely a reg. iPod, but an iPod none the less.

As far as the iPod Photo goes- again, I think there is a market for it and a nice product. I don't think it is a killer product mostly due to the price, but the fact that it has color (I like mostly for calendar viewing) and a longer battery life it will appeal to many of those with huge libraries of music.

The way I see it being used eventually would be a smaller version where you don't carry all your pictures around, but you are able to carry around a few iPhoto albums around to show friends and family. I would love to have an iPod to carry 40 or so pics of my children around in my pocket to show people when they ask about my kids.

That being said, I would like to see PDA qualities added so I can have one device to enter calendar dates and listen to music. give me that and I will buy one in a second.

Currently don't own an iPod, but wanting to get one sometime soon.

[edesignuk]

I agree.

The iPod is a great success for Apple, but it's time to be looking at other things now, and to push their computing products in the market place. EVERYONE (ok most) in the UK will be able to tell you what an iPod is, you ask what a Power Mac G5, or an iMac G5 is, and they will just look at you in a confused manner.

As for the Photo iPod, as you say, if it could download your pics from you camera it would be great, but as it is, it's pretty pointless IMO. Same goes for the U2 iPod, it's ugly as hell, red & black!? What are they thinking!?!

[zelmo]

I'm wondering if the Photo iPod is the pre-cursor to a future video capable iPod that will allow that same video hook up to playback videos on your TV.

OH YEAH!!!...to borrow a phrase from the Duffman :)

2006 will be the year of the vidPod.

[flyfish29]

I'm wondering if the Photo iPod is the pre-cursor to a future video capable iPod that will allow that same video hook up to playback videos on your TV.

I think it is, but as Steve said in the speech about it there is no content out there yet really for a mass market video iPod. so it makes sense that this is the next step as there IS lots of digital photo content out there- but i would also agree that most probably don't wan't all their pictures with them on the run.

[themadchemist]

EVERYONE (ok most) in the UK will be able to tell you what an iPod is, you ask what a Power Mac G5, or an iMac G5 is, and they will just look at you in a confused manor.


what if you're in a bemused pub instead of a confused manor? do you have to go to a confused manor before they can look at you or are there special exceptions that can be made? :p sorry, couldn't resist.

[edesignuk]

what if you're in a bemused pub instead of a confused manor? do you have to go to a confused manor before they can look at you or are there special exceptions that can be made? :p sorry, couldn't resist.LOL, well spotted, rather good typo don't you think :D

[bousozoku]

People my parents' age love to tote photos to show people. They love to see them, too. Imagine that their photos are on the computer and with a little extra work, they create a slideshow which gets transferred to their iPod and they can show the relatives easily.

It's a whole new group of people who don't really listen to music but want to share their memories. It'll take a while before most of them will part with that much money, but as prices of colour LCDs drop, I'm sure we'll see more interested people.

[emw]

I'm wondering if the Photo iPod is the pre-cursor to a future video capable iPod that will allow that same video hook up to playback videos on your TV.

How about a portable dvrPod, where the iPod is actually used to record TV programs (new cable boxes are now required to be firewire enabled) and you can subsequently display them on your iPod or on your Mac/PC as well as the TV?

[Dont Hurt Me]

I agree.

The iPod is a great success for Apple, but it's time to be looking at other things now, and to push their computing products in the market place. EVERYONE (ok most) in the UK will be able to tell you what an iPod is, you ask what a Power Mac G5, or an iMac G5 is, and they will just look at you in a confused manner.

As for the Photo iPod, as you say, if it could download your pics from you camera it would be great, but as it is, it's pretty pointless IMO. Same goes for the U2 iPod, it's ugly as hell, red & black!? What are they thinking!?!
Same crazy garbage they were thinking when they made the imac look like a pod. sorry edesignuk but gag. I cant stand pods and sure wouldnt want a computer to mimmick it. plus there are lots of ways to move media these days.

[wowser]

The way Apple are devoting equal shelf space between iPods and actual computers in these new mini stores seems a step too far.

[mashinhead]

I think you might be oversimplfying the issue here. How many times did we hear about, "nobody is going to want to take their entire music collection with them?"


Uh. never, i heard the opposite. thats why they created it. but the original poster does have a point, though i think. the new ipod, what its real use is storing photos not viewing them. your camera can do that. ideally the photo i pod should really just have an usb to usb, or FW to FW, connection directly to the camera to extract the photos out of the camera into the ipod. this step will evolve the ipod, in the distant future, to an all in one pda, pvp, mp3 player.

[AmigoMac]

PhotoPod :) ... it's nice, plenty nice when you want to have a look at your pics... come on apple, I'm waiting the shipment confirmation.

[johnnyjibbs]

Before this news, I always thought the iPod should be about music - put simply this is what it's meant to do. Better not to be a jack of all trades but master of none, etc...

However, from a novely point of view, it would be nice to be able to glance at a colour screen (notice the half Mac OS X-style and font change from Chicago to Lucida Grande) and look at album art. It would be nice to watch some of your memories while sitting on a train or whatever, along to the sound of your music. But these are novelty features. And I would never pay that price for that novelty. And novelty is all these features are. I can barely afford the entry level iPod but I still don't mind this because, given a couple of years, prices will go down and capacities and features up.

I'm wondering if the Photo iPod is the pre-cursor to a future video capable iPod that will allow that same video hook up to playback videos on your TV.
Steve Jobbs has said before and he clearly states again in this keynote that this will never happen because people don't have the content. But, of course, markets do change.

[stcanard]

Heh, I was waiting for one of these threads.

Remember how the original iPod was a bad idea because it was too expensive? Nobody really used MP3 players anyway.

Remember how the iPod mini was a bad idea because it was more than the flash based players, and for $50 more you could get 20GB?

Remember how ITMS was a bad idea because nobody would pay for music when they could download it for free?

Need I go on?

[mvc]

Now, if the iPod had the ability to download photos from your camera - that would be something else. I'd love to have a portable harddrive when I am out shooting, and the ability to review what I save to the harddrive (even in RAW camera format.) Sure, I know what you are going to say -- I can buy the Belkin Media reader and download photos to my iPod. I have it, and let me tell you it is horribly slow and worthless for anyone that takes a lot of photos (takes about 40minutes to download a 1GB card.) Plus, the iPod doesn't have RAW camera file support...

I agree. Someone pointed out in another thread that the iPod doesn't let you upload music while you are out and about either. Well, that's true, but unlike music, there are millions of digital cameras out there, all creating content on the fly and all quickly running out of room on their tiny flash cards for the hundreds of nice big files they are creating.

There is no equivalent consumer device driven market for creating music on the fly and needing to store it away, although some muso's and djs might disagree.

The point is, other devices are doing all this right now, and they do mp3s as well, and many are a similar size and battery life to the iPod, while admittedly nowhere near as cool.

It's a missed opportunity, all it would have taken at a minimum is just some software to at least allow any uploaded images (even only jpgs) from the cruddy belkin device to be turned into thumbnails and then become accessible to the photo browser. Dozens of other devices can do this now. The iPod processor has the horsepower to do it.

That one feature would have satisfied most photographers in the short term, until a better card reader comes along, and that one feature would have encouraged other developers to make a better/faster/smaller reader.

[johnnyjibbs]

Heh, I was waiting for one of these threads.

Remember how the original iPod was a bad idea because it was too expensive? Nobody really used MP3 players anyway.

Remember how the iPod mini was a bad idea because it was more than the flash based players, and for $50 more you could get 20GB?

Remember how ITMS was a bad idea because nobody would pay for music when they could download it for free?

Need I go on?
Good valid points my friend. I'm sure we'll see iPod Photo go on to sell very well.

[gallagb]

Good valid points my friend. I'm sure we'll see iPod Photo go on to sell very well.

only time will tell- but i agree- good points! we'll see :)

[Phat_Pat]

personally i wouldn't want all my photos on my ipod but i love the color screen and the ability to show album artwork and whatnot.

what i'm hopping is for apple to upgrade all the iPods to a color screen. (i mean the new iPod is called the iPod PHOTO) could we see iPod Video with a wide screen on the back? i mean i sounds like that this version will continue towards photos while the regualar iPod will attack music and maybe more will be added to the Photopod to make it easier to use with a digitial camera.

i mean it just sounds like this is a totally new product and the regualar iPods are still are yet to be updated.....

[Hoef]

Any idea whether it supports multiple video formats (for the re-owned world traveller). I guess with composite video it doesn't matter right?

[stcanard]

As for the Photo iPod, as you say, if it could download your pics from you camera it would be great, but as it is, it's pretty pointless IMO.

I'm taking a wait-and-see attitude on that one. Just because it's not there right now, doesn't mean it's not going to show up in a future firmware update (well we can always wish...). After all the iPod transfer is already two way with song counts and ratings, so the basic infrastructure is there.

As for target markets, I know a lot of people who are holding off buying digital cameras because there's no really easy way to show the photos; they don't want to have everybody troop up to the computer room to show off the vacation photos, there's no really easy way to bring the wedding photo album with them when they visit friends & family, etc. This effectively removes those barriers. I wouldn't be surprised to see digital camera + iPod photo combination deals in the future. If a combination knocks $50 off the total price, all of a sudden it's a lot closer to a basic iPod in cost.

Other people (like me) might see it as an efficient way of keeping backups of your digital photos, wich the added bonus that you can actually show people the photos too!

Of course if you're a professional photographer it's not going to make much sense since those issues are already dealt with in better ways.

[Calvinatir]

I just think it's sexy!

[Sharewaredemon]

ideally the photo i pod should really just have an usb to usb, or FW to FW, connection directly to the camera to extract the photos out of the camera into the ipod. this step will evolve the ipod, in the distant future, to an all in one pda, pvp, mp3 player.


Well I can see this being done with a firmwear update, as well as a product currently available being made as a usb version

What I am talking about is that firewire contverter that some 3rd party company makes, it is basically a 6 pin firewire adapter. If they were to make this as a USB adapter (as the ipod recognises usb in that same plug)
The only thing that would need to be done is make the iPod be able to download picture directly from the camera without the media reader (is this possible right now, in theory?)

Sorry if this doesnt make sense, it does in my mind anyway.

[ibrainch]

I will end up buying the ipod photo b/c I am a slideshow fanatic, but I must say it concerns me a little that if it were to get lost or stolen somebody else would have access to all my pics - this was never really a concern with the music. Anyone else share this concern?

[rand()]

I will end up buying the ipod photo b/c I am a slideshow fanatic, but I must say it concerns me a little that if it were to get lost or stolen somebody else would have access to all my pics

I guess that depends on if anybody's spying on you. I don't think the average thief is going to care about the pictures on it, unless he stumbles across some nudies of someone. :eek:

I don't know if anybody's asked or commented on this, but I'd be surprised if the thing can't run Keynote presentations. On the little screen, useless, but on a TV out - <Elzar>bam!</Elzar>. All you need's a projector and you can basically quit hauling your laptop to those pesky business meetings.

BTW Apple, I don't know if you've thought of doing that (it's probably already a feature), but if not, it's hereby copyrighted rand() (c) 2004, biatch. Evil Software Patent Pending.

-rand()

[iMax531]

Remember how the original iPod was a bad idea because it was too expensive? Nobody really used MP3 players anyway.

Remember how the iPod mini was a bad idea because it was more than the flash based players, and for $50 more you could get 20GB?

Remember how ITMS was a bad idea because nobody would pay for music when they could download it for free?



Remember how the cube was so awesome because it was a supercomputer in a 7" cube!?

Remember how the CRT was dead with the new iMac G4?


All I'm saying is that Apple takes a LOT of risks, and almost all of them turn out to be for good, i.e. all things mentioned in the original post quoted here, as well as the whole idea of Apple Stores in the first place.

Apple does make mistakes however, and we all know this. I am the absolute LAST person on earth to predict whether or not the Photo iPod will be a flop or not. Personally I think it will do just ok, not be a flop, but not a record breaking success either. I'd also like to see more bands doing special edition iPods. For instance, if Apple ever gets their stuff with Apple Records sorted out, a Beatles iPod with their entire song catalogue as a download would find a LOT of buyers, myself included.

In any case, we'll just have to wait and see on this one. Apple/Steve is often risky, often right, but not infallible.

[Crikey]

I think it is, but as Steve said in the speech about it there is no content out there yet really for a mass market video iPod. so it makes sense that this is the next step as there IS lots of digital photo content out there- but i would also agree that most probably don't wan't all their pictures with them on the run.

I know a guy whose Linux machine has a hard disk full of mostly pirated videos -- movies, TV shows, and porn. I bet he'd buy a video iPod the week it was released so he could watch that content on the bus or in class. The content is out there, it's just not legal. According to the RIAA and Steve Ballmer, neither is most of the audio content available, but MP3 players still sell.

I think the iPod Photo is a cool idea. If my aging first-gen iPod bites the dust, I'll consider an iPod Photo along with the 4G regular iPods. I agree that it would be way more desirable if it could snarf pictures off my digital camera, but that will require hardware changes. My understanding is that with USB one device is the "master" and one the "slave" (although my guess is the spec uses more PC terminology), and both an iPod and a digital camera would be "slaves". What we need is some kind of revolt wherein slave devices can become peers.

If the iPod Photo could grab photos off my digicam without computer intervention, I am pretty sure I would buy one over a conventional iPod. I would certainly whine that the screen is too small and the resolution too low, though.

Cheers,


Crikey

[mvc]

...I am the absolute LAST person on earth to predict whether or not the Photo iPod will be a flop or not. Personally I think it will do just ok, not be a flop, but not a record breaking success either....

Truth is, LOTS of people will buy this iPod Photo because :

(A) It's got the biggest Capacity
(B) It's got a colour screen so it MUST be better than an old fashioned black and white one.
(C) It's most expensive so it MUST be the best

And they'll never use it for photos at all.

And they'll only store about 2 gb of music on it.

Which they will listen to over and over and over and over and...

;)

[Koodauw]

Truth is, LOTS of people will buy this iPod Photo because :

(A) It's got the biggest Capacity
(B) It's got a colour screen so it MUST be better than an old fashioned black and white one.
(C) It's most expensive so it MUST be the best

And they'll never use it for photos at all.

And they'll only store about 2 gb of music on it.

Which they will listen to over and over and over and over and...

;)

Yep. Thats me more or less. Although I do have this plan.

Impress girl with color iPod.

Show her pictures of my one legged dog "lil brudder" with some nice sensitive music.

Its gonna work like a charm.

[Ugg]

I love Apple, I love the iPod, I even like the idea of a color iPod screen. But, I just don't think that portable photos are the NEXT BIG THING.



I agree, but this is a way to get more people to pay more money to buy more iPods. I don't think that is a bad idea. Should every product from Apple be the NEXT BIG THING? I don't think so. Were you kvitzing about the iSight or the Airport Express or, or......

It is an incremental step. Period.

Let's go back to January of this year. G5s. Major iBook and eMac revisions, substantial PB revisions. G5 iMac?!?!?!? HP iPod, iTMS Europe, Apple stores in Japan and UK, iTMS and iPod for PC.

Apple has been busting its collective butt and this has been simply the most spectacular year ever for the company. There have been very few reports of problems in any of the processes although TNT needs to get its act together with Apple for European deliveries. WHAT MORE DO YOU WANT!!!!

I totally and utterly fail to see how anyone can see the photoPod as misguided. Incomplete maybe but misguided no.

[angelneo]

I agree with most of the posters that viewing slideshow on ipod is pointless but i think the main point of this new update is not the slideshow but that ipod has evolved from a black/white screen to a color screen. Its a natural step to take. The slideshow is just another function that they try to market with the new update.

[rainman::|:|]

Heh, I was waiting for one of these threads.

Remember how the original iPod was a bad idea because it was too expensive? Nobody really used MP3 players anyway.

Remember how the iPod mini was a bad idea because it was more than the flash based players, and for $50 more you could get 20GB?

Remember how ITMS was a bad idea because nobody would pay for music when they could download it for free?

Need I go on?

Precisely.

I don't personally see the appeal of a photo iPod... Video, i could definitely see. photo, no. But, I have the utmost confidence in Apple's market research and will be more than glad to quote this thread once the iPod photo takes a strong hold. I think to even be a nay-sayer at this point, in anything iPod, is to set yourself up for failure.

paul

[rainman::|:|]

Heh, I was waiting for one of these threads.

Remember how the original iPod was a bad idea because it was too expensive? Nobody really used MP3 players anyway.

Remember how the iPod mini was a bad idea because it was more than the flash based players, and for $50 more you could get 20GB?

Remember how ITMS was a bad idea because nobody would pay for music when they could download it for free?

Need I go on?

Precisely.

I don't personally see the appeal of a photo iPod... Video, i could definitely see. photo, no. But, I have the utmost confidence in Apple's market research and will be more than glad to quote this thread once the iPod photo takes a strong hold. I think to even be a nay-sayer at this point, in anything iPod, is to set yourself up for failure.

paul

[stcanard]

Remember how the cube was so awesome because it was a supercomputer in a 7" cube!?

Remember how the CRT was dead with the new iMac G4?

In a perverse way, the cube reinforces my point, everybody loved the cube, yet thought the iPod was a mistake... (and actually, I think they were right on the death of the CRT -- when was the last time you saw someone buy even a low-end PC with anything other than an LCD?)

Definitely Apple makes mistakes sometimes. My examples were carefully chosen ... notice how _every_ _single_ _move_ Apple has made with Music/iPod was considered a mistake by general consensus?

That's the pattern I'm getting tired of.

[musikman_ie]

I agree on the all your photos is going to be an under-used idea for alot of customers but it has potential ...an Art gallery for example wanting to run a slideshow from a plasma screen without leaving a laptop in view...?

Also one possible feature that people are ignoring is the music end of the IPOD Photo....is there not a third party remote for the IPOD ...now with the video out ...APPLE have given people the home jukebox they have been requesting .....can't figure out where AIRPORT is going to slot into these stategies ..the wireless music doesn't work without a video link in the interface

This is my first post by the way ......DUAL 1.8 on the way from apple ( first purchase ) , U2 IPOD ordered also

[iMan]

Remember how the cube was so awesome because it was a supercomputer in a 7" cube!?

Man, the Cube is still awesome... My father has one of those - and he won't exchange it for anything yet - he even paid good money to upgrade the harddisk, buy DVD-R and such so it runs Panther even if just for a little more he would get the brand new G5 iMac.

It is an awesome computer, only a tad early to the market. Look at all the "clones" popping up on the other side these days :)


But there is always risk in bringing totally new products to market. Any adjustments to the basic iPod is a risk; the mini, the photo, the coming Flashversion... but I think Apple has some gut feelings about this, they float on the wave now, they still keep the music only pod and just adds on to widen the targetgroup bit by bit. There WILL be a videopod some day - but only when video content is widely common... but I would also really like the possibility to download directly from the digicam (without that stupid mediareader thingie) - that is a nifty function, and would make me buy a photopod at once :D

[wordmunger]

I would pay $100 for a device that would let me carry around a few hundred photos and show them to friends or hook it up to a TV on special occasions. I don't need or want an iPod, so I'm not going to pay $500 for such a device, but I suspect a lot of people who DO want an iPod will pay $100 extra for the added feature of being able to use it to share photos.

[wPod]

i think the photo iPod is an AWSOME idea!!! i just think it is marketed wrong. i think for a true 'photo' iPod it should pull pics off digital cameras or at least have a built in card reader to pull of pics. BUT. . . what would have gotten my attention more is if they advertised the 'iPod color' it should just be the next step in the evolution of the iPod. add color tags to your playlists and song ratings. color interface with the calander. . . AND as an added bonus you could store and view photos! i just dont think mom and pop will trade in their 4x6 photo prints for a 2" screen. i have trouble enough showing friends and relatives my pics on a 12" pb screen!

overall. . . great revolution of the iPod. . . only one step away from vPod (videoPod) and then one final step to the ultipate wPod (wonderfulPod . . .that does EVERYTHING!)

if my 1st gen iPod goes out on me(which i hope it doesnt), i would consider a photo iPod but i would first have to see one in person!

[FlamDrag]

Now, if the iPod had the ability to download photos from your camera - that would be something else. I'd love to have a portable harddrive when I am out shooting, and the ability to review what I save to the harddrive (even in RAW camera format.)

This is the ONE functionality that I want. I nearly wet myself when I saw the release if the iPod Photo, but then had to take a Xanex when I realized that it couldn't do this. To use the iPod as a digitalPhoto dump would be the best thing EVER. Not only do they keep the iPod as music player market, but they make roads into the digital camera storage market.

The least expensive 1GB SD card I can find on a quick froogle is $79. This would turn even the 60GB iPod Photo into a - GASP - Value!! I guess that's all the more reason it won't happen. :rolleyes:

Seroiusly, this is the next baby, baby step. It should happen sometime after Christamas I'm guessing. Everyone has new cameras... (and new iPods...) VOILA! The perfect thing to go with your new digital camera.

[SiliconAddict]

This is the ONE functionality that I want. I nearly wet myself when I saw the release if the iPod Photo, but then had to take a Xanex when I realized that it couldn't do this. To use the iPod as a digitalPhoto dump would be the best thing EVER. Not only do they keep the iPod as music player market, but they make roads into the digital camera storage market.

The least expensive 1GB SD card I can find on a quick froogle is $79. This would turn even the 60GB iPod Photo into a - GASP - Value!! I guess that's all the more reason it won't happen. :rolleyes:

Seroiusly, this is the next baby, baby step. It should happen sometime after Christamas I'm guessing. Everyone has new cameras... (and new iPods...) VOILA! The perfect thing to go with your new digital camera.

So you don't mind a 1" thick iPod. Cool. :cool:

[alfonsog]

It was my birthday yesterday (oct. 27) so I took a ride to Tampa to the Apple store to buy something. They had iPod photo on view and in stock!! they didn't even have signage for them but they were on display!! It is so much better in person, its truly amazing how fast the pictures scroll and how good they look on the small screen. And the regular song browsing looks so much better in color and everything. Its definately worth the extra $100, it is so much more refined and not as much bigger as I thought. I would have bought one right then even though I have a 3g iPod except for the fact they had a iMac 20 with bluetooth option (keyboard/mouse too) in stock :D
This will be a hit and when you get one in your hand you won't want to put it down. I am not a photo person and barely have any iPhotos but I would still get this when I pay off my iMac.

[Jo-Kun]

I'm not waiting for a Photo iPod (my files are to big to use anyway...+40mb/piece :-) )
but the fact that they have a 60Gb sounds nice because of the storage possibiliies, my full library from iTUNES +40GB AND ENOUGH SPACE LEFT TO PUT FILES ON TO MOVE TO A CLIENT!

but for now I'll stick with my 30GB...

[SiliconAddict]

I wish people would get over themselves. I was reading a thread the other day from when the iPod was first release back in 2001. These same exact, in some cases almost verbatim, complaints were being used.

What people aren't clueing into and something that Jobs stated in the presentation, if you bothered to watch it, is that this is another line of iPods that sit on top of the existing line.

iPod Photo
60GB ($599)
40GB ($499)
---------------------------------------
iPod
40GB $399
20GB $299
---------------------------------------
iPod Mini
5GB $249


There's your choices. You don't want the iPod Photo get a B&W iPod. You want a 60GB iPod. Pay the extra $200. We aren't talking brain surgery here. The 60GB is part of the high end features of the iPod Color. It will prob make its way into the B&W iPods eventually but for now it’s a high end feature. Deal with that fact. Apple has all their bases covered with this spread other then the uber low end which I think WILL occur in the next 6 months. (1GB CF based iPod.)

As for the photo features. AGAIN. This is a new line of iPods that is out there and, IMHO, it’s a progression that needed to happen. The completion is starting to include more features in their devices. Apple doesn't have to have everything and the kitchen sink in the iPod but they do need to show more value for their products. If they continue with the current line of iPod, pre-Photo ipod, indefinitely they risk losing part of their market share to other players. By offering a pro line if you will they are taking a stab at the heart of the players on the market that offer better features. Now obviously it isn't matching these other players feature for feature. They don't have to. They simple need to take best of breed options and do what Apple does best. Jobs explained why they didn't go with a video iPod. For now I agree. A 2" screen would suck to watch movies on and video outing onto an external screen would in all likelihood require a better CPU == kill the battery. I think, obviously pure speculation at this point using the PIDOOMA (http://www.dangerouslogic.com/office_lexicon.html#pidooma) model, it will happen in the next 2 years with a setup like this:


iPod Video (New larger form factor
100GB ($599-$699)
---------------------------------------
iPod Photo (/w Video out)
40GB $399
20GB $299
---------------------------------------
iPod Mini Photo (/w on device viewing only.)
20GB $249
---------------------------------------
iPod Micro
1GB $125

OK. So a couple of those options are wishful thinking but it shows a similar pattern to how Apple's current line-up is setup. It gives the consumer options and is segmented enough that Apple can say, OK. We are pretty sure we will only need X number of this model, Y of this model, and Z of this model. Apple is going to exploit the sales of the iPod and the iPod Photo shows the beginnings of a mutation of their line that is going to stay competitive with Windows Media Center Devices.
Right now they are bulky and cumbersome. This is EXACTLY where the Palm Sized PC was in before it was rebranded into the Pocket PC. You can see where Palm is now with almost no forward momentum in their hardware. Eventually the Windows Media Center Devices will shrink, become more powerful, become cheaper, etc. Apple is staying competitive and that means going beyond simple music. Again if you don't like the high end devices then don't buy them. I on the other hand will be enjoying my 60GB iPod Photo on the 3rd. :D

[Lloyd1994]

Part of the reason for the rise in popularity of the iPod is its exclusivity. It has become a status symbol and by just wearing white earbuds down the street you get nods and smiles. People don't just pay for the music. Spending $600 on an electronic toy the size of a deck of cards probably isn't the best investment you can make, but there are people that don't really care how much it costs if it puts them ahead of the Jones'. Shallow maybe, but more power to Apple if they can get people to shell out. I would venture to say that most people in this forum show for the best value, and the iPod Photo doesn't really appeal to them, but the iPod Photo looks like it is a great device and there is definitely a market for it. When you rant about the cost of the iPod (and iPod Photo for that matter), keep in mind that there are reasons for its high price. Jobs said he would like to make an iPod for a hundred bucks and I don't soubt that he'll provide, but a hundred bucks means that everybody and their grandma will have one, and when grandma has one the cool factor goes down a little bit :)

[iMeowbot]

This is the iPod my mom will want, so she can take every single one of the thousands of shots of her grandkids and pets around -- and I suspect the headphones will never leave their sealed pouch.

Other people will want this model because it's the bling bling color one that not everyone else can afford.

Others will just want the pretty colors on the screen because, well, there's pretty colors on the screen. See: iPod mini

[dornoforpyros]

I'm personally taking the iPod photo as the precuror to a few things:

1)2-3 years from now it cam be assumed that all iPods will have the full colour screens and the abuility to view photos. So this is really just a natural progression for the iPod.
2)Video. Yes the technology may be to battery hungry at the current time but I bet in 5-6 years we're all carrying around our entire DVD collection saying "Remember when you needed a TV to watch movies?"

So I although I personally think shelling out extra cash to display photos on your iPod is a little lame I do see why they introduced iPod Photo. On it's own it's not that much greater than the regular old iPod. But it will eventually become the standard.

[lem0nayde]

A lot of interesting points. I'd like to respond to some.

1.) I always thought the iPod was a good idea, so I am definitely not a naysayer on new technology. I think the original iPod was a brilliant right-place-at-the-right-time product, hence it's success. Same goes for the ITMS -- brilliantly concieved and carried out.

2.) I think many make a good point that the real importance of the Photo iPod is the color screen. It's an obvious advancement (though color and font choice are questionable -- I love myriad but think it is a little bulky for an iPod.)

3.) The Photo iPod also - as someone else suggested - has another thing going for it, it is the NEWEST AND BEST. Frankly, if I hadn't just bought an iPod three weeks ago (curse my luck) I would be going with the Photo iPod just because it was the most advanced. I would never use the Photo slideshow function, but I don't ever by yesterday's technology.

4.) Dude, that Keynote idea has some serious merit! I will remember your post when Apple announces that functionality in the future. Especially if they could get a dock-connector-to-DVI output thing going on, they'd be in serious business for high quality presentations in your pocket. But then again - does the iPod have the processing power to run a quicktime-heavy Keynote presentation?

5.) The color choices for the U2 iPod are based on classic design principles (some design theories considers black, white and red the only colors necessary for effective design.) Sadly, it doesn't translate well from print design to portable hardware. That thing is just ugly. Then again, I think all of the mini iPods are ugly too, with their strange metallic-pastel colors. They look like they were painted with 99 cent nailpolish.

6.) I fully agree with Jobs on the Video iPod. I'd never watch videos/movies on a screen the size of the iPod's. In fact, the absolute minimum screen size I would consider would have to be the size of the entire iPod

Incidentally - the iPod's dimensions are very close to 16:9 -- the aspect ratio of widescreen video. hmmmm.....

[lem0nayde]

What a fun thread, there's a lot of interesting points. I'd like to respond to some.

1.) I always thought the iPod was a good idea, so I am definitely not a naysayer on new technology. I

think the original iPod was a brilliant right-place-at-the-right-time product, hence it's success. Same goes

for the ITMS -- brilliantly concieved and carried out.

2.) I think many make a good point that the real importance of the Photo iPod is the color screen. It's an

obvious advancement (though color and font choice are questionable -- I love myriad but think it is a little

bulky for an iPod.)

3.) The Photo iPod also - as someone else suggested - has another thing going for it, it is the NEWEST

AND BEST. Frankly, if I hadn't just bought an iPod three weeks ago (curse my luck) I would be going

with the Photo iPod just because it was the most advanced. I would never use the Photo slideshow

function, but I don't ever by yesterday's technology.

4.) Dude, that Keynote idea has some serious merit! I will remember your post when Apple announces

that functionality in the future. Especially if they could get a dock-connector-to-DVI output thing going on,

they'd be in serious business for high quality presentations in your pocket. But then again - does the

iPod have the processing power to run a quicktime-heavy Keynote presentation?

5.) The color choices for the U2 iPod are based on classic design principles (some design theories

considers black, white and red the only colors necessary for effective design.) Sadly, it doesn't translate

well from print design to portable hardware. That thing is just ugly. Then again, I think all of the mini

iPods are ugly too, with their strange metallic-pastel colors. They look like they were painted with 99

cent nailpolish.

6.) I fully agree with Jobs on the Video iPod. I'd never watch videos/movies on a screen the size of the

iPod's. In fact, the absolute minimum screen size I would consider would have to be the size of the entire

iPod

Incidentally - the iPod's dimensions are very close to 16:9 -- the aspect ratio of widescreen video.

hmmmm.....

[jayscheuerle]

It's called the iPod because it was envisioned as being more capable than simply a music player. iPod, not iMusic or iPlayer...

There will be no iPod video because it's illegal to carry movies on anything other than the DVDs they came on (as of now). Therefore, there's no legal content, unlike Photos, where we create our own content. Steve has said as much.

If movies become available online with the same sort of DRM as the AAC files at the ITMS, then there will be a legal venue for the creation of such a player, otherwise a iPod video would simply be seen as a device to store and play pirated movies, regardless of whether you burn them from bought DVDs or not.

iPod Photo would ROCK if it was wireless, with a simple, small plug that popped into the S-Video port on whatever TV you wanted to show the pictures on.

[QCassidy352]

I agree with the original poster. I've never really wanted to carry photos around with me, nor do I know anyone who does...

Hey, it could catch on. But I don't really see the demand. Though I must admit, it's cool, in a "just because we can" sort of way. :cool:

[Peyote]

Heh, I was waiting for one of these threads.

Remember how the original iPod was a bad idea because it was too expensive? Nobody really used MP3 players anyway.

Remember how the iPod mini was a bad idea because it was more than the flash based players, and for $50 more you could get 20GB?

Remember how ITMS was a bad idea because nobody would pay for music when they could download it for free?

Need I go on?


Remember the Newton? The Cube?


Not everything Apple makes is golden, and just because something was a sucess in the past, doesn't mean that something different will be a success in the future.

[Peyote]

If movies become available online with the same sort of DRM as the AAC files at the ITMS, then there will be a legal venue for the creation of such a player, otherwise a iPod video would simply be seen as a device to store and play pirated movies, regardless of whether you burn them from bought DVDs or not.




This already exists. Right now you can download rented movies that expire and stop playing. We're not too far from buying digital version of movies. Eventually, I think we'll see an iTunes like app for video...be it Quicktime, or iWatch, or whatever. The biggest hurdle is getting the studios to agree with the DRM scheme...but if the software doesn't exist, how can you convince them? My bet is that the software already exists, and talks are already beginning.

[stcanard]

Remember the Newton? The Cube?


Not everything Apple makes is golden, and just because something was a sucess in the past, doesn't mean that something different will be a success in the future.

See my last post when this was brought up on page 2...

[Peyote]

See my last post when this was brought up on page 2...


If the Cube was such a great success, it would still be sold. Being a technological marvel doesn't mean a product will do well. Regardless of whether or not you agree on the cube or any other past product, you are not some Apple prophet that has divined that a new or future product will succeed, just because past products have succeeded. Are you one of those people that goes and plays roulette, and when the wheel has a run on hitting red for 8 times in a row, you bet on black?

Now certainly, the possibility of an Apple product succeeding is more determined by more than fate, but to claim that it will do well simply because past products have done well (especially when there are examples of products that haven't done well), is illogical and superstitious.

I like to take a look at the market, the product, the price, and the timing. Those factors determine how well a product does.

[jsw]

All I know is this: walking into an Apple Store and playing with a 4G and a Photo, you will do everything you can to get the Photo. It's that much nicer. I just played with them today, and I will be trying to sell my 4G ASAP.

[stcanard]

If the Cube was such a great success, it would still be sold. Being a technological marvel doesn't mean a product will do well. Regardless of whether or not you agree on the cube or any other past product, you are not some Apple prophet that has divined that a new or future product will succeed, just because past products have succeeded... [it goes on] ...

Okay take a deep breath. Count to 10. Actually, make it 100. Slowly.

Good.

Now go to page 2 and actually read my post. The one where I respond to the comment about the cube. The one where I explain why I picked the items I did for my examples.

I think you either picked the wrong post or totally misunderstood the intent.

[Loge]

This already exists. Right now you can download rented movies that expire and stop playing. We're not too far from buying digital version of movies. Eventually, I think we'll see an iTunes like app for video...be it Quicktime, or iWatch, or whatever. The biggest hurdle is getting the studios to agree with the DRM scheme...but if the software doesn't exist, how can you convince them? My bet is that the software already exists, and talks are already beginning.

Yes, the real sticking problem with video iPod is the copyright issues. One of the reasons why the iPod was successful quickly, was that you could leverage your existing content - you could immediately fill it with the CDs you already had. In a similar way the video iPod would need to be able to seamlessly allow you to transfer content you had already purchased on DVD. While this can be done, it is somewhat awkward and legally questionable. I see the movie industry would prefer you to repurchase your content on files designed for the device, and would baulk at something like iTunes for DVDs. Anyway, we may get there eventually, but it will take time.

[stcanard]

Now certainly, the possibility of an Apple product succeeding is more determined by more than fate, but to claim that it will do well simply because past products have done well (especially when there are examples of products that haven't done well), is illogical and superstitious.

Consistent trends in the past are generally considered to be decent predictors of future behaviour. So no, to do so is not illogical, and in fact is the basis of most business.

What is illogical is to take a carefully chosen set of examples, and throw in something unrelated. For instance if somebody were to show an example of a consistent trend in a company nailing price, performance, and feature points in an MP3 player and suggest that's a decent predictor of the performance of the current model, it would be silly to say that's wrong, because after all 15 years ago they made a PDA that failed.

like to take a look at the market, the product, the price, and the timing. Those factors determine how well a product does.

I agree 100%.

Past trends indicate that Apple is doing an amazing job of looking at exactly these factors. They've consistenly nailed a price-point, form factor, and feature list when everyone else thought it would be too expensive (iPod, iPod-mini, ITMS all did this) or people would not be interested.

Past trends indicate that the early adopter crowd is very wrong in their analysis of the appeal of these products to the genaral populace.

Barring a fundamental shift in the paradigm, I see no reason why this should change for the iPod Photo.

I could be wrong. That's the way of trend prediction. But based on Apple's past performance in the music industry (notice again, I'm narrowing the field, the Lisa is not a good counter-example here, even though it was thought to be too expensive at the time) I'm betting there's a better chance of me being right.

[OldManJimbo]

As for the Photo iPod, as you say, if it could download your pics from you camera it would be great, but as it is, it's pretty pointless IMO. Same goes for the U2 iPod, it's ugly as hell, red & black!? What are they thinking!?!

To each his own, I guess. The U2 color scheme is the first that's caught my attention and the idea of carrying photos in the iPod has finally got me seriously thinking of buying one.

You guys need to realize that Apple is a grown up company and they've probably done more market research on the iPod w/ photo concept than you can imagine. You may not like it - but I'll bet there are a ton of folks who do.

By the way - Edesignuk, you've changed your Avatar photo. Plastic surgery, or a spa treatment? HAH. :D

[billtanderson]

I disagree. Exclusivity is fine for low volume products, people want an iPod now because everyone else has an iPod, it is THE music player to have. It is outselling all the others put together, so there is no exclusivity now. There used to be exclusivity some time ago, where it was cool to have the best player that not everyone else had.

This is a good thing for Apple though, if you are the standard of choice you win (think about VHS vs the superior Betamax, or dare I say Windows vs Mac OS X, we might not like it but most people do choose it so MS wins, so the best product does not always win). I don't think that Apple are there just yet with the iPod (look at Sony's sales figures for Walkman products) but they have a very real opportunity to get there.

My thought on iPod Photo is that it is a nice top end prduct which extends the line - it may not be a massive seller, but top-end stuff never is.

I already use my iPod to store my photos - it is the second largest set of data I actually create (after DV movie stuff). For me my photos are particularly important because they are irreplaceable. If I lost my CDs I could but more - it would be expensive, but do-able. If I lose my digital photos they are gone for good, so a backup on an iPod is another safety net. if I can also see them on the iPod then thats a nice touch. Showing them on TV is another nice touch.

Today I can get an iPod to do what my 40GB 3G iPod does, plus store and display photos and album artwork, and do slidshows to my TV, AND it stores 50% more data, and the battery life is doubled and it has the click-wheel, and less than a year after my original purchase this costs £29 more than the one I bought . If all those changes are not enough for you in a year then you will NEVER be satisfied by ANYTHING. Yes it is not cheap, but the top-end never is, and never will be.

I dont care what most of the other products do, they are not iPods, another product would have to be ground-breaking to make me switch platform now. e.g. something which would match the iPod Photo features and add something else special - (a bluetooth headset to project my photos/videos onto my retina - hey I can dream), just making it with a slightly bigger hard-drive or a bit cheaper would not make me switch platforms.

I agree with earlier posters that a direct camera link would be excellent - but only if it was pretty fast and did not completely kill the battery.

Video play to TV would be nice - I have a DV-Cam and do have my own material to use, however unless batteries improve dramatically this is for the future.

Sorry for rambling on.

[BWhaler]

Yep. Thats me more or less. Although I do have this plan.

Impress girl with color iPod.

Show her pictures of my one legged dog "lil brudder" with some nice sensitive music.

Its gonna work like a charm.

Man alive, this is one funny post.

[abhishekit]

Reading the fabulous reviews from the users on this forum who have already got theirs, especially how fast the scrolling is and how good the screen looks, I guess its not such a misguided idea afterall..

[Lord Blackadder]

I don't think it's a bad idea for Apple to keep expanding the functionality of the iPods. However, I think that the iPod line should always contain a pre-ipod photo type iPod that is simpler and (relatively)cheap. And of course, Apple should always be trying to translate the iPod's success into more Mac sales.

[cheekyspanky]

I've always been under the impression everyone hates having to sit through relatives holiday snaps, surely this new iPod is a bad thing! :D

After music, my photos are the most stored thing on my iPod, yet I don't really feel the need to view them, just to know they're on there as a back up if something happens to my pc.

How long til the normal iPods have the colour screen I wonder?

[themacman]

I think it is, but as Steve said in the speech about it there is no content out there yet really for a mass market video iPod. so it makes sense that this is the next step as there IS lots of digital photo content out there- but i would also agree that most probably don't wan't all their pictures with them on the run.
Itunes can sell movies in there music store so u can watch movies on ur ipod

[Sharewaredemon]

Itunes can sell movies in there music store so u can watch movies on ur ipod

iTunes can sell their movies in their music store so you can watch movies and your iPod.

(in case anyone had trouble understanding the last post)

Well in theory yes, but there are a few things to thinks about. First, the files would have to be a LOT bigger, which means more server space, which costs Apple more. Also, the file transfers would require broadband, and would still take a long time.

As was stated earlier, the iPod's success was not simply the iTMS, is was the fact that you could LEGALLY put the cds you already owned onto your computer and iPod. Right now there is no legal way to do that with movies, and I highly doubt people will want to buy a movie they already own to put it on their media player.