Apple to Unveil New Flash-based iPods? Digital Radio?

[MacRumors]

More last minute rumors...

Digitimes relays more rumors about Apple's expected announcements on Wednesday September 5th.

According to "sources at Tawiwan-based contract manufacturers", Digitimes expects Apple to release an iPod video with touch-control interface.

The new iPod video will also come with a wide-screen panel, high storage capacity and Wi-Fi connectivity, the sources indicated. In addition, the new iPod video is expected to be powered by NAND flash, instead of a hard disk drive (HDD).

Many had assumed the high-end iPod would continue to use a hard drive, but this report indicates Apple may move to entirely to Flash based storage.

Vnunet cites a "reliable industry insider" and claims that Apple's new iPods will be able to receive digital radio and include a "buy-now" function that will allow the user to download and buy tracks as they are being played.

Vnunet's accuracy is unknown, but there have been whispers of wireless/radio integration into the new iPods, but the exact implementation has been unknown.

Article Link

[Eclipse278]

i'll be first in line

[mkrishnan]

Originally Posted by Macrumors

According to "sources at Tawiwan-based contract manufacturers"

All of those hard-working engineers and factory personnel in China must be heartbroken to have lost this contract to Tawiwan.

[longofest]

I still don't buy the flash-only thing. It leaves those who like the high-capacity ipods without an option. I think more likely is a hybrid structure, with some models moving to flash, and some remaining HDD based... but this is just speculation.

[jamespa66]

I have been eagerly awaiting a update to the video iPod line. Lets hope the rumors are true!

[Caitlyn]

That'd be neat and definitely define the line of iPods a bit more (iPod Shuffle, iPod Nano, iPod Touch; just think about the differences) but my question is, can they really get the amount of storage inside the iPod using Flash vs. a HD? Because if flash memory means less memory, then I would take the HD any day.

[vendettabass]

keep the £179 price point iPod and I'll be buying !

[Wayfarer]

Flash + Wi-fi + Digital Radio = teh ultimate hotness.

Enter new iPod revolution.

[CWallace]

1.8" SSDs are at 64GB, so it could be possible that Apple would drop HDDs, however the price per GB is probably really high (though I can't seem to find a list price).

Originally Posted by mkrishnan

All of those hard-working engineers and factory personnel in China must be heartbroken to have lost this contract to Taiwan.

Well HQ is in Taiwan, so maybe that is what they mean.

[Dany M]

Originally Posted by Caitlyn

That'd be neat and definitely define the line of iPods a bit more (iPod Shuffle, iPod Nano, iPod Touch; just think about the differences) but my question is, can they really get the amount of storage inside the iPod using Flash vs. a HD? Because if flash memory means less memory, then I would take the HD any day.

Thast my biggest worry, if were loosing 20-50 of hd space for a 16 or 8 gb ipod, im taking the 5g one.

[kbrain2929]

Hey... sounds good to me. Especially the radio thing. I just wanna know if the whole Flash thing is really true. I don't know about that.

[DaBrain]

Originally Posted by mkrishnan

All of those hard-working engineers and factory personnel in China must be heartbroken to have lost this contract to Tawiwan.

That would be good! Need to spread the wealth and competition! We have enough products already coming form China!

I just hope there's no lead in these--)))

[sminman]

I would rather see Apple announce kiosk's then a radio function on an iPod.

Just think how cool that would be, you are at the airport about to catch a flight, you see an iTunes kiosk and go over and dock your iPhone or iPod and then download a movie or two for the flight.

Genius... I hope this becomes reality.

Sam

[kbrain2929]

Originally Posted by Wayfarer

Flash + Wi-fi + Digital Radio = teh ultimate hotness.

Enter new iPod revolution.

Amen Brother!

[QuarterSwede]

Digital Radio? I guess it couldn't hurt but HD Radio is aweful, at least the stations I've heard have digital artifacts all over. It sounds like a low bit rate mp3. I'd rather listen to regular radio.

[DaBrain]

Originally Posted by sminman

I would rather see Apple announce kiosk's then a radio function on an iPod.

Just think how cool that would be, you are at the airport about to catch a flight, you see an iTunes kiosk and go over and dock your iPhone or iPod and then download a movie or two for the flight.

Genius... I hope this becomes reality.

Sam

But why would ya need a kiosk? Most Airports I been too lately offer a free WiFi connection.

[G5Unit]

Originally Posted by sminman

I would rather see Apple announce kiosk's then a radio function on an iPod.

Just think how cool that would be, you are at the airport about to catch a flight, you see an iTunes kiosk and go over and dock your iPhone or iPod and then download a movie or two for the flight.

Genius... I hope this becomes reality.

Sam

Here did you here that? That's an amazing idea!

[kbrain2929]

Originally Posted by sminman

I would rather see Apple announce kiosk's then a radio function on an iPod.

Just think how cool that would be, you are at the airport about to catch a flight, you see an iTunes kiosk and go over and dock your iPhone or iPod and then download a movie or two for the flight.

Genius... I hope this becomes reality.

Sam

You know... I thought about that, and it seems like a REALLY good idea. Or what about a mall or music store... you hear a new song, really like it, go over to the kiosk, hook it up, or even use WiFi securely, and, as Steve would say, BOOM!. Not a bad idea. I may have to run a mockup through Photoshop and see what I come out with.
Edit: I just found this. SWEET!

[TheSpecialist]

I bet those manufactures in 'Tawiwan' sure are reliable

[sushi]

Originally Posted by longofest

I still don't buy the flash-only thing. It leaves those who like the high-capacity ipods without an option. I think more likely is a hybrid structure, with some models moving to flash, and some remaining HDD based... but this is just speculation.

I'm with you there.

My bet is that the Video iPod will be HD based.

[zub3qin]

Originally Posted by Wayfarer

Flash + Wi-fi + Digital Radio = teh ultimate hotness.

Enter new iPod revolution.

I am afraid that the only wifi we will see in this iPod will be to access iTunes, so you can spend even more money. No safari... no email.... wifi is for Apple to make sales of music, not for the user. Apple will piss a lot of people off if they only allow wifi for itunes.

Anyone really need another way to buy music? At some point, don't we just want to spend money and listen to our music... not spend money so we can be sold more music via wifi?

[gloss]

If flash based storage < 64gb of space, I'm a sad panda.

[Piarco]

Digital Radio won't happen. Too many formats over the world - USA's different satelite radio types, UK et al DAB... to many different chips/tuners would be needed - which I'm guessing wouldn't be cost effective.
Don't get me wrong, I'd love a DAB tuner in an iPod, but for Apple it just doesn't make financial sense.

Internet radio through wifi would make more sense - but I'd imagine the wifi to be specific to iTunes Store or maybe wireless syncing... I'd love to have true 'net access but for a music centric device, its just not necessary.

A move to flash would be great, but at the loss of so much storage? No thanks. If true it just seems to be a lazy retrofit (or dumbing down) of the iPhone spec....

[zub3qin]

Originally Posted by Macrumors

More last minute rumors...

Digitimes relays more rumors about Apple's expected announcements on Wednesday September 5th.

According to "sources at Tawiwan-based contract manufacturers", Digitimes expects Apple to release an iPod video with touch-control interface.


Many had assumed the high-end iPod would continue to use a hard drive, but this report indicates Apple may move to entirely to Flash based storage.

Vnunet cites a "reliable industry insider" and claims that Apple's new iPods will be able to receive digital radio and include a "buy-now" function that will allow the user to download and buy tracks as they are being played.

Vnunet's accuracy is unknown, but there have been whispers of wireless/radio integration into the new iPods, but the exact implementation has been unknown.

Article Link

Hey arn- I posted this an hour ago re: digital radio.. how about throwing a little love here.

[sminman]

Originally Posted by DaBrain

But why would ya need a kiosk? Most Airports I been too lately offer a free WiFi connection.

True, but you have to have your laptop out and pay for the Wi-Fi ( in most airports) and you would have to have all your docking cables out.

What a cluster...

I would like to just walk by a iTunes kiosk and dock my iPhone real quick and then be on my way.

The movie or song would also be sent to your home computer or where ever your iTunes account is set up so you won't loose that purchase in case your iPhone or iPod breaks or gets stolen.