iPod Accessories From Apple?

[MacRumors]

Since the introduction of the iPod, add-ons for the iPod have been the realm of third party product developers only, but now Apple may be looking to broaden the scope of what it can offer. According to AppleInsider, Apple is now looking for hardware engineers to develop its own line of iPod accessories. Last month a job listing was posted for engineering WiFi & video integration into the iPod. It's unclear whether this is related to that position, or if it is a different position entirely, or simply just looking for an in-house liason between Apple and third party developers.

[liketom]

thought this was old news?

[whenpaulsparks]

shouldn't this be page 2?

[ojames]

Originally Posted by whenpaulsparks

shouldn't this be page 2?

Why? i saw the job posting in the appleinsider forums and it was dated e yesterday. thats considered old already? heh or maybe you are just speedy gonzalas ....areeba areeba....whatever... to the point, i'd rather apple make my iPod accessories than some of these other companies. We'd also get cooler accessories sooner! i think this is clearly an apple accessories in the wings. the posting says "The iPod and Special Projects Group (SPG) is looking for a Sr. Hardware Engineer for Accessories." to me that sounds like apple brand ipod accessories on their way faster than speedy gonzalas up there (just kiddin bro!)

[Mr_Ed]

Originally Posted by whenpaulsparks

shouldn't this be page 2?

Slow news week = everything is Page 1

[t300]

Originally Posted by Mr_Ed

Slow news week = everything is Page 1

Yeah, and taken from AppleInsider.

[wPod]

they had a similar posting earlier. sounds about the same. im just hoping for that wi-fi adapter for my iPod so i can hook it to airport express! then what more computer accesory would i need? (other than a better/cooler stereo and monitor)

[bcsmith]

Originally Posted by ojames

Why? i saw the job posting in the appleinsider forums and it was dated e yesterday. thats considered old already? heh or maybe you are just speedy gonzalas ....areeba areeba....whatever... to the point, i'd rather apple make my iPod accessories than some of these other companies. We'd also get cooler accessories sooner! i think this is clearly an apple accessories in the wings. the posting says "The iPod and Special Projects Group (SPG) is looking for a Sr. Hardware Engineer for Accessories." to me that sounds like apple brand ipod accessories on their way faster than speedy gonzalas up there (just kiddin bro!)

A story may have been posted about it yesterday, but rumors of these job postings have been around for a while. We haven't seen anything from them yet, and it is always good to stoke the fire to see what people think will come from these groups.

Personally, I'd like to see a death ray attachment for my iPod. Don't think that it will happen anytime soon, but could you imagine the army that Apple could have at its disposal if iPod became Weapons of Mass Destruction. There'd be no stopping it.

[swissmann]

I'd rather see some work done on the inside of the iPod instead of trinkets to add on. Put a built in mic, phone, PDA. I know there are mixed feelings about this and an old topic. I'm mostly just saying if you can make things internal not external and keep the size you are way better off. Who wants to carry around an iPod and a bag full of accessories. It defeats the smallness of the iPod.

[Inkmonkey]

Originally Posted by swissmann

I'd rather see some work done on the inside of the iPod instead of trinkets to add on. Put a built in mic, phone, PDA. I know there are mixed feelings about this and an old topic. I'm mostly just saying if you can make things internal not external and keep the size you are way better off. Who wants to carry around an iPod and a bag full of accessories. It defeats the smallness of the iPod.

And what you are suggesting would defeat the simplicity of the iPod.

[ojames]

Originally Posted by Inkmonkey

And what you are suggesting would defeat the simplicity of the iPod.

What ever happened to this LCD iPod Remote that macrumors reported on weeback in the days? i seem to remember a report recently where Steve Jobs was quoted when he wasnt supposed to have been quoted and he hinted that apple may do a remote... i will look for it.

BRING ON THE ACCESSORIES

[macridah]

this is cool. I'm ready for some ipod accessories, apple style: easy to use, elegant, and innovative.

[Porchland]

The ear buds just don't work for me in the gym, and the sports headphones I've been using are -- GASP! -- blue.

[dongmin]

Apple job listings indicate that the ideal candidates will become contributors to a top notch team responsible "for the design, implementation, and integration of digital and analog electronics."

Appleinsider is reading A LOT into a simple job posting for engineers for the iPod division. And the last I checked, Apple already makes a bunch of accessories for the iPod: remote, dock, earbuds, case, armband, cables, etc.

Yes, a very slow rumor week. For that matter, a very slow rumor month. Maybe it's about time to start the G5 PowerBook rumors again...

[t300]

Originally Posted by dongmin

Maybe it's about time to start the G5 PowerBook rumors again...

NO...THANK...YOU...

[CholEoptera36]

Originally Posted by dongmin

Maybe it's about time to start the G5 PowerBook rumors again...

Anything but that...

[Mord]

this sure is goign to piss belkin and other ipod acsessory makers off.

[swissmann]

Originally Posted by Inkmonkey

And what you are suggesting would defeat the simplicity of the iPod.

I disagree. The iPod now has a limited calendar application. I never know it is there because I use my Palm instead. It doesn't detract from the simplicity of the music part of the iPod. I think having all these extra things to plug in or having multiple devices to carry around is where the complication lies.

[CholEoptera36]

Originally Posted by swissmann

I think having all these extra things to plug in or having multiple devices to carry around is where the complication lies.

I may very well be the only person on here who agree's with you, but you're right IMO. Ear buds and base stations almost push the limit on clutter for something as small as an iPod as it is.

[srobert]

Originally Posted by swissmann

I'd rather see some work done on the inside of the iPod instead of trinkets to add on. Put a built in mic, phone, PDA. I know there are mixed feelings about this and an old topic. I'm mostly just saying if you can make things internal not external and keep the size you are way better off. Who wants to carry around an iPod and a bag full of accessories. It defeats the smallness of the iPod.

That's not an iPod anymore. And most users won't want to pay the extra 200$ for those features they might not need. What you're discribing is a PDA. You might want to buy that instead of an iPod. It might better suit your needs.

The issue with the iPod and mini is battery power, they did an alright job with the 4G however that is not a great improvement, Come on Apple they seem to be falling back on battery power on they mp3 players, and top of that you want to add more into or attact onto the iPod and mini, lets see battery power fall back to the previous versions.


The #1 request for iPod and mini is battery, Apple is not getting they act together on this. I don't need all the fancy WiFi, ird remote, Blue Tooth, yada yada yada......If it is going to cut on battery power toss it out.


Soemthing tells me that the iPod OS along with HW management is not working to effective performance thus the battery won't even last on a single full charge for 18 hours.


Great if we need to keep teh iPod and mini plugged it makes it a portable need to be plugged into the power socket music libary player. Beats the purpose.

[yoda13]

I think that more accessories for the iPod is a great thing, but they should be optional, and not built in to the iPod as some are saying. The batteries are marginal at best in terms of amount of time available between charges and most people like the simplicity of the iPods. So more accessries=good, built in additions=bad. Just my two cents.

[sinisterdesign]

maybe slightly off-topic, but since this is a pretty ho-hum topic and this does fall under the topic of accessories...

where's that AXp remote that steve knowingly smiled at the mention of?? i just moved into a loft and i'm sick of running down the stairs, going through the kitchen into the back office in order to skip a song!

[MM2270]

Uhm… has anyone noticed THIS on the Apple Store? I just spotted it. Not really an accessory of course (heh) but pretty cool if you ask me.

Edit: Whoops, OK, refresh the Apple Store page if it doesn't show up right away. You'll see it.

[Macaddicttt]

I agree with most people here. Keep them as accessories. Putting more features in the iPod will drain its battery and might cause other problems. One of the reasons iPods are so good is their rock-solid firmware/software. Once you start screwing with that, adding a whole bunch of stuff on to it, it gets cluttered and unstable. (See OS 9.) But if Apple starts making accessories, great. They might be more expensive than those from Belkin, etc., but they'll most likely be of a much higher quality. Personally, I think a remote from Apple would be cool (although wouldn't that require some tinkering that I just said was no good above?).