Next Generation Video iPod?

[MacRumors]

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

PortalPlayer responds to ongoing concerns that their upcoming chips are not planned on use in upcoming Apple flash-based iPods. Specifically, it appears the next-generation iPod nano will use a Samsung chip as previously reported.

Of interest, PortalPlayer's CEO Gary Johnson stated that the next generation video iPod chip has yet to be decided and remains "up for grabs".

According to another eeTimes article both the PortalPlayer chip and the Samsung chip are described as "ARM-based" processors, indicating that there is some code portability between chips.

The next-generation Video iPod has long been rumored to be a touch-screen iPod, but the most recent claims have indicated that it has run into technical difficulties delaying its release until (at least) late 2006.

[nagromme]

"Up for grabs" could simply mean THEY haven't heard anything about any such product either

But I believe! I think some kind of bigger-screen, video-centric iPod will come eventually.

[msandersen]

I supposed the rumors of a switch and Apple working with Samsung has to do with price negotiations.

[longofest]

Interesting... seems to conflict with ThinkSecret who said that the next gen iPod was almost ready, but had flaws and then had to be re-designed.

[twoodcc]

well it seems like we won't see a new iPod for awhile now

[poundsmack]

with apple and intel being friends and all it confuses me why they would not use an Xscale chip as it to is arm...

[Multimedia]

Reads like this product is in redesign phase due to technical difficulties with what they thought it was going to be. I think we'll be lucky to see this ready for the Christmas shopping season. Maybe they'll bump the storage capaciry on the 5G meanwhile.

[EricNau]

Gary Johnson, the first step is admitting you've lost.

[Shamus]

Well hopefully they make a small upgrade to the iPod line, like larger capacity Nano, between now and the time they release the iPod 6g or video or whatever its called.

[kev0476]

Wow, i bought my 5g ipod the day it came out, like the second that i found out, and it is still top of the line 60 GB! Can't wait to see what the new ones will look like though, the nanos also are looking for an upgrade, people need more than 1000 songs, my brother filled his up fast. I think apple is currently focusing on the macbook and the mac pro, and the last macbook pro. Xserves as well or macserves? Apple still needs to upgrade its high end computer desktops before it comes out with a high-end ipod.

[Superdrive]

We all know that there is more coming down the line. It really isn't a bad thing for Apple to be sitting on this gen for a little more than six months. They just need to make sure the next iteration is done right so everyone will be happy Christmas morning.

As far as the chips inside the iPods go, is there really anything different we can expect to see? Or will this be similar to the PPC->Intel transition where the soul is the software?

[EricNau]

Originally Posted by kev0476

Apple still needs to upgrade its high end computer desktops before it comes out with a high-end ipod.

Except iPods are a huge moneymaker for Apple. They need that revenue.

[sam10685]

soon i hope...

[Stridder44]

Originally Posted by EricNau

Except iPods are a huge moneymaker for Apple. They need that revenue.

And we know how much Apple's hurtin for money right now


Really tho, I think an HD upgrade would suffice for now.

[Peyton]

I REALLY need a new iPod I want them to release it yesterday, this is beginning to sound like vista...


off topic, did anyone else hear that vista was delayed until NEXT JUNE???

[EricNau]

Originally Posted by Stridder44

Really tho, I think an HD upgrade would suffice for now.

Except that wouldn't cause anyone to buy a new iPod even if they didn't have to. Even if they just changed the design (and didn't add any more features) they could sell a lot more.

[Lollypop]

Originally Posted by Macrumors

According to another eeTimes article both the PortalPlayer chip and the Samsung chip are described as "ARM-based" processors, indicating that there is some code portability between chips.

This is what facinates me. If the ipod "OS" is writen for genric arm apple can have a choice of vendors, (for example) samsung for the high end, PortalPlayer for the nano's, intel for the videos and TI for the iphone, no more Freescale and IBM, lots of vendors with lots of options!

[Staffroomer]

I've never understood the video iPod.. I saw some freeware converting video so it will play on iPod. It was called iSquint..

Hehehehee..

Seriously though.. What's the point?

[dguisinger]

Originally Posted by Lollypop

This is what facinates me. If the ipod "OS" is writen for genric arm apple can have a choice of vendors, (for example) samsung for the high end, PortalPlayer for the nano's, intel for the videos and TI for the iphone, no more Freescale and IBM, lots of vendors with lots of options!

However, it is important to understand, the PortalPlayer and Samsung chips have dedicated circuitry for decoding music from WMA, MP3, and AAC. Without this, the battery life would drop. They also now days have video accelleration as well for MPEG video standards. Intel doesn't have this in Xscale, xscale is too generic.

Actually, if you look, xscale isn't a product.
They have several different lines of products, some being IO processors, others being for handhelds, with different subsets of functions and features.

I do not beleive they have a embedded cpu for media players; they have handheld computer cpu's, but those are obviously aimed at a different use, have more features, worse battery life for audio-only apps, and of course, a much higher price point than a dedicated media player would.

In the end, PP/Samsung remain the best option.

On the other hand, don't forget the XScale "product line" has been used by apple before, for example, the network io processor is in the xserve RAID. Apple picks the best tool for the design. I give them credit for this; alot of companies like to use a single product and cookie cutter it into everything for ease-of-design...... that typically doesn't ever fit the needs of each individual market itself, and results in a poor product.

[Lollypop]

Originally Posted by dguisinger

However, it is important to understand, the PortalPlayer and Samsung chips have dedicated circuitry for decoding music from WMA, MP3, and AAC. Without this, the battery life would drop. They also now days have video accelleration as well for MPEG video standards. Intel doesn't have this in Xscale, xscale is too generic.

Actually, if you look, xscale isn't a product.
They have several different lines of products, some being IO processors, others being for handhelds, with different subsets of functions and features.

I do not beleive they have a embedded cpu for media players; they have handheld computer cpu's, but those are obviously aimed at a different use, have more features, worse battery life for audio-only apps, and of course, a much higher price point than a dedicated media player would.

In the end, PP/Samsung remain the best option.

On the other hand, don't forget the XScale "product line" has been used by apple before, for example, the network io processor is in the xserve RAID. Apple picks the best tool for the design. I give them credit for this; alot of companies like to use a single product and cookie cutter it into everything for ease-of-design...... that typically doesn't ever fit the needs of each individual market itself, and results in a poor product.

I agree with you, and this is the point i tried to make. If the "core ipod os" can run on a arm processor apple can choose the chip that is optimized for the special abilities of the device. Have the easy of use of the base OS on all devices, but have the special bits run optimally for the intended device. I gave TI as an axample because they make a decent chip that has a arm processor and all the basics needed for a phone as well, adding up to a nice single chip sollution for a smartphone. So apple could use the ipods OS in a iphone, have the ease of use and have the communication bits run on a chip designed for communication.

[eXan]

Originally Posted by kev0476

Apple still needs to upgrade its high end computer desktops before it comes out with a high-end ipod.

Apple has different development teams for each product, so they do not interfere with each other

[Di9it8]

Originally Posted by poundsmack

with apple and intel being friends and all it confuses me why they would not use an Xscale chip as it to is arm...

I suspect that Apple do not want to rely on just one chip supplier for all their products

[thejadedmonkey]

I just hope this new iPod that keeps getting delayed has a revolutionary design like it was from 2->3->4th generation. The 5th generation just got boring...

[bigandy]

Originally Posted by thejadedmonkey

I just hope this new iPod that keeps getting delayed has a revolutionary design like it was from 2->3->4th generation. The 5th generation just got boring...

go tell that to the 15 million + people that bought one.

[steve_hill4]

Originally Posted by msandersen

I supposed the rumors of a switch and Apple working with Samsung has to do with price negotiations.

Yes, almost certainly.

Interesting to note though how much Samsung and Apple are effectively working towards iPod success especially when it wasn't too long ago Samsung bought out their mp3 players with tons of features in order to become another "iPod killer".

Oh and Creative have announced losses today blaming agressive pricing on mp3 players. They have now decided to re-focus on more profitable areas such as sound cards, (not pulling out of mp3 players, but effectively waving the white flag in the battle for now).