iPod Mini Software Update?

[MacRumors]

According to Think Secret, Apple is set to pull the wraps off of a software update for the iPod Mini which would provide the same functionality as the current big brother click-wheel iPod. The update should include the single-click shuffle function, variable-rate audiobook playback, multiple editable on-the-go playlists, and interface sounds through the headphones. A release date apparently hasn't been set yet, but may appear as early as today.

[chuckzee]

I hope it breaks rhapsody

[relimw]

Originally Posted by Macrumors

According to Think Secret, ...The update should include the single-click shuffle function, variable-rate audiobook playback, multiple editable on-the-go playlists, and interface sounds through the headphones. A release date apparently hasn't been set yet, but may appear as early as today.

Here's to hoping!

[Peej]

Cool!

[QCassidy352]

ooh, that would be great! As I said when the 4th gen. ipods were released, it makes good business sense not to upgrade the 3rd gen. ipods, but the mini is still an actively selling product... it's not a matter of making old customers happy, it's a matter of continuing to sell minis!

hope it's true!

[musicpyrite]

This is probably just an excuse to stop Real.

And I hope they provide an update to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd generation iPods, but I doubt it.

[Le Big Mac]

Originally Posted by musicpyrite

And I hope they provide an update to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd generation iPods, but I doubt it.

BTW, am I missing something on the one-click shuffle or whatever it is? On my 3G iPod, if I press play on the remote from teh main menu, I get a shuffle of all songs on my iPdd. Isn't that the same thing?

[pkradd]

Originally Posted by musicpyrite

This is probably just an excuse to stop Real.

And I hope they provide an update to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd generation iPods, but I doubt it.

This was a foregone conclusion, updating iPod minis to have feature functions as the 4G iPod. Apple is smart and does think of its customers. Has nothing to do with Real/Harmony. Just smart business.

Some of the early iPods (1, 2 and 3G) may not be able to be ugradable since Apple has made some internal hardware (via PortalPlayer) and other changes in the mini and 4G iPods.

[Frobozz]

I can't wait. One of the nicest things about the iPod these days is the ability to create an on-the-go playlist. Multiple on-the-go playlists will be awesome. I can't wait.

I have only 1 friend out of 10 that doesn't have an iPod. 6 of us have minis: 2 pink, 2 green, 1 silver, 1 blue. :-)

[pkradd]

Originally Posted by Frobozz

I can't wait. One of the nicest things about the iPod these days is the ability to create an on-the-go playlist. Multiple on-the-go playlists will be awesome. I can't wait.

I have only 1 friend out of 10 that doesn't have an iPod. 6 of us have minis: 2 pink, 2 green, 1 silver, 1 blue. :-)

Your friend better get with the program!

[The Red Wolf]

That's very cool. To give the feature of variable rate to the Mini's. Moreover, the fact that the 4G iPods have Variable rate is awesome. Perhaps time to upgrade. Or maybe I'll wait until mine runs into some sort of trouble. Macintosh II cx is still alive and well running 8.6. Maybe I shouldn't curse my iPod to such longevity. It's quite nice to sync cds at variable rate when DJing. It was the thing the G2 lacked. Or am I wrong? Anyone?

[biscool]

Originally Posted by The Red Wolf

That's very cool. To give the feature of variable rate to the Mini's. Moreover, the fact that the 4G iPods have Variable rate is awesome. Perhaps time to upgrade. Or maybe I'll wait until mine runs into some sort of trouble. Macintosh II cx is still alive and well running 8.6. Maybe I shouldn't curse my iPod to such longevity. It's quite nice to sync cds at variable rate when DJing. It was the thing the G2 lacked. Or am I wrong? Anyone?

The 4G pods only have variable rate playback for audio-books not aac's or mp3's....

[bankshot]

Originally Posted by Le Big Mac

BTW, am I missing something on the one-click shuffle or whatever it is? On my 3G iPod, if I press play on the remote from teh main menu, I get a shuffle of all songs on my iPdd. Isn't that the same thing?

No, the difference is they put it in the main menu on the 4th gen iPods. I suggested it to them, but that was for the 3rd gen that I have!

So let me be the first to say... WAAAA!!! I want the new features on my 3rd gen iPod!!

But seriously, I won't be buying a new iPoduntil they finally solve the gap problem. It can't be difficult. When importing CDs, iTunes could store the exact cutoff time of the end of the track, down to the sample level. Then during playback, just play up to that time before switching to the next song so you don't get the remaining silence in the last frame. If you buffer your audio output, you can start reading the next song and filling the buffer before the current one finishes, to guarantee there'll be no delay in changing songs.

I mean come on, CD players have done this for 20 years. How hard is it? WAAAAAA!!! Hehe.

[barbaloot]

I can't wait. I have been using a learn french audiobook on my mini and it goes to dame fast.

[morkintosh]

Originally Posted by chuckzee

I hope it breaks rhapsody

no you want them to wait a while until a bunch of people buy songs at 0.49 each, then after consumers have spent a bunch of money do a critical update rendering the real songs worthless or some iPod users without outdated firmware. Either Real gets left holding the bag.

[The Red Wolf]

Originally Posted by biscool

The 4G pods only have variable rate playback for audio-books not aac's or mp3's....

Well then the curse of longevity may remain. iPod live as long as the cx.

[macphoria]

Originally Posted by musicpyrite

This is probably just an excuse to stop Real.

And I hope they provide an update to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd generation iPods, but I doubt it.

If it does block Real's Harmony, I wonder if this will be the start of legal battle between Real and Apple?

[Jerry Spoon]

Still makes me glad that I bought my mini when I did. I was a little bummed out when the new iPods came out with some of those new features.
Today is a good day.

[AoWolf]

Yay I just got a mini...

[Lancetx]

Originally Posted by macphoria

If it does block Real's Harmony, I wonder if this will be the start of legal battle between Real and Apple?

This update won't block Rhapsody because in order to do that, Apple will have to change their copy protection scheme up some (again). If they were to do that, they would have to update all iPods or else they would no longer play music from the iTMS.

This rumored update would be just to bring the iPod minis (a current model) up to spec with the 4G iPods (a current model). The 1-3G iPods won't get these enhancements naturally since they're legacy models, but they'll always get updates to keep them compatible with the iTMS of course.

[macridah]

What about the 3G iPods? Is apple going ever going to update those iPods?

[JohnGalt]

In my earlier posts, I assumed that Apple might (should!) do this since the mini is a current product.

I just assumed they'd do it when the mini backlog was more under contol so that customers would order the 4g which they could ship much faster. So maybe this means the 4 week backlog on minis won't last too much longer.

[fabsgwu]

Originally Posted by bankshot

If you buffer your audio output, you can start reading the next song and filling the buffer before the current one finishes, to guarantee there'll be no delay in changing songs.

I mean come on, CD players have done this for 20 years. How hard is it? WAAAAAA!!! Hehe.

The iPod does buffer, 25 minutes worth to be exact. So it's basically always playing from memory anyway...

[JDOG_]

Yeah, this is some really sweet news. I just bought a mini a couple of days ago and have been looking at pictures of regular iPods longingly and contemplating a switch for some of those new features. One of my favorites is the pausing when the headphones come out, I really hope that comes along with this update as well...

I also really hope this isn't just a rumor, but Thinksecret is pretty much the Apple site updated 24-28 hours early

[applekid]

Even though I'm a proud owner of the 3G iPod, I have doubts about us ever seeing any updates to get us the features the 4G iPod has. There's so many internal changes in the 4G iPod, I don't think it's even a possibility to get the same features.