60 GB Color Screen Photo-Capable iPod?

[jettredmont]

Belkin already makes such a device. It's called the Media Reader for iPod and uses FireWire to transfer the images.

You obviously have never tried using it.

The Belkin device transfers at 300kBps (look at Belkin's site and you'll see the 300-350kBps figure published; experiments in the "field" time it at the low end in practice, if not below that).

Your average USB 1.1 card reader transfers at 750kBps.

Your average USB2.0 or Firewire transfers at around 3000kBps (maybe a little more, depending on the speed of your CF card; just slightly less if you're using a microdrive instead of Flash).

The iPod transfers at pretty much full Firewire speed (its hard drive is significantly faster than the CF interface on any consumer CF cards).

For reference, a Kodak 4800 3MPixel camera (old mid/high-end; roughly comparable to new low-end) using high-quality JPEG gives images at about 700k/picture. A Canon Digital Rebel 6.3MPixel camera using its high-quality JPEG (not raw) gives images at about 3MB/picture.

While USB would give you a transfer of one picture per second if you are using a mid-to-low range camera, you need USB2/Firewire to get the same picture/second transfer on a high-end consumer camera (not even talking about pro cameras or the fact that a pro would be transfering huge RAW pictures instead of JPEG).

Using the Belkin device, I would be able to get about one picture onto my iPod every ten seconds.

IMHO, if Apple wants us to put pictures onto the iPod from the field, we need to have a full-speed transfer option. Apple can't rely on the camera just providing a USB drive interface either; cameras still generally just have USB 1.1 on them, and I haven't seen any mass change to USB 2 or FireWire interfaces there. Apple or Belkin would have to stick with the current Media Reader idea, and put the pennies in to use high-end components and full-speed firewire for transfer (reference: new USB 2.0 dedicated readers are $15-$20; Belkin Media Reader is currently $99 ... I don't know where that money is going, but it's not going to fast card readers or interface components!). I'd absolutely love that, 'cause then I could go back to using a smaller/faster CF card instead of my microdrive, and offload pix to my iPod when space runs low ... but I don't see it happening any time soon.

 

[JT3MacManiac]

 

[maya]

Just think about it: Has Apple ever made a product that sucked?

If they made a Vacuum it will have to suck


I will buy one.

 

[~Shard~]

<image>

Is their a purpose behind your post, or did you just feel like copying the image we've seen multiple times already in this thread without making any additional comments whatsoever?

 

[t300]

Is their a purpose behind your post, or did you just feel like copying the image we've seen multiple times already in this thread without making any additional comments whatsoever?

Good point, but I still think that's a very decent mockup and exactly something I would like in my posession.

 

[~Shard~]

Good point, but I still think that's a very decent mockup and exactly something I would like in my posession.

Hey, I completely agree - was just having some fun.

I definitely think it's in Apple's best interests to start integrating more elements of OS X into the iPod, even if it is on a scaled-down level. It can do nothing but help in converting Windows users to Macs.

 

[rendezvouscp]

See some photos?! Pull your head out, man! Read the story....AGAIN! IT LOOKS JUST LIKE THE CURRENT iPOD! There's nothing to see that you can't see at apple.com!

It's laughable some of the comments people make when they don't use common sense.

Ah, sorry, but let's not forget that they are adding color to the iPod. Simply, shots of what the actual color LCD looks like as far as color would be nice. How about the interface too? Plenty of common sense was made in that post.

The iPod made by Foocha looks pretty awesome.
–Chase

 

[seyo]

Quicktime / MPEG Playback?

Sorry if this has already been asked, I didnt have the patience to read the entire thread... I was wondering if it would be a logical leap to get the iPod to play QT/MPG files. Would be a great hack. I work in broadcast design and have always thought it would be a great work tool to be able to show people what youre working on directly on your iPod, or by plugging it into a tv and playing it that way. Think of the consumer possibilities, going over to someones house with video imported and edited in iMovie and showing them your vacation/wedding/graduation/night-with-Paris-Hilton, or whatever video you wanted to show others. The world first consumer portable DVR!

 

[Dave00]

Re: Belkin adapter

You obviously have never tried using it.

The Belkin device transfers at 300kBps (look at Belkin's site and you'll see the 300-350kBps figure published; experiments in the "field" time it at the low end in practice, if not below that).

I, for one, would like to know what sort of process is holding back a better photo adapter. The ability to upload photos was the whole reason I got a 3rd gen iPod. But the Belkin adapter has all the feel of an alpha-version hack. First off, it takes forever to transfer. My experience has been around 12 minutes per 256MB compact flash. Second, and more disheartening, it completely saps the battery. Two 256-MB cards, and I go from full to zero power. I'm not sure why this is, as the adapter itself also requires a battery. It also costs alot more than your standard card reader, although I'd gladly pay $99 for an adaptor that was fast and didn't kill the battery. On a recent trip I downloaded the memory cards of others on the trip onto my iPod, then created a master CD of the best photos. It was a big hit, and got rid of those annoying "Okay, now take one with MY camera" situations. However, the battery died during one of the transfers and I reused the memory card before I found out, causing me to lose some truly priceless photos of Paris at night. Any of you engineer-types know why it eats up so much battery and transfers so slowly?

 

[JOD8FY]

Nice job! I like it a lot. But just one thing - with a color screen, would it really need a backlight?

JOD8FY

 

[t300]

Nice job! I like it a lot. But just one thing - with a color screen, would it really need a backlight?

JOD8FY

Why, um... yes, yes it would.

 

[mo0805]

The iPod is an extension of the iTMS or vice-versa.
I can see that the record companies would love a colour iPod and may have 'suggested' that apple provide one ASAP. Imagine (from the record companies POV) that each download comes with the record sleeve artwork and/or a colour and advert.

First of all, the iPod is not an extension of the iTMS. The iPod obviously came first, so if anything, the iTMS is an accessory to the iPod. Secondly, Jobs would NEVER put advertisements on the iPod. NEVER.

 

[mo0805]

Nice job! I like it a lot. But just one thing - with a color screen, would it really need a backlight?

JOD8FY

well if you want to use it in the dark then it obviously does. unless you want a attachable light, similar to those that exist for the gba.

 

[AidenShaw]

no, move Longhorn to the IPod...

Hey, I completely agree - was just having some fun.

I definitely think it's in Apple's best interests to start integrating more elements of OS X into the iPod, even if it is on a scaled-down level. It can do nothing but help in converting Windows users to Macs.

You really miss the fundamental issue that Windows apps need to act like Windows apps.

Putting an alien app onto a Windows system isn't going to convert people - they'll think "What's this crap that doesn't behave like it should".

It's not a matter of "better" vs. "worse" - it's a matter of "what's this alien crap, and why doesn't it work *like it should*!"

 

[brucku]

In car solution

I have a 5 inch tv in the dash of my car, i have the ipod controls run thru the headunit. If i could just have the view of whats on the ipod run thru a video out source to that tv, it would be INCREDIBLE!!!!.

 

[~Shard~]

You really miss the fundamental issue that Windows apps need to act like Windows apps.

Putting an alien app onto a Windows system isn't going to convert people - they'll think "What's this crap that doesn't behave like it should".

It's not a matter of "better" vs. "worse" - it's a matter of "what's this alien crap, and why doesn't it work *like it should*!"

Putting an "alien" app on a Windows system, yes, I agree, however if it is simply the iPod's interface which is OS X-like, I don't see this as being a bad thing. People have to get used to new ways of doing things and new operating environments all the time when it comes to the likes of PDAs and cell phones, so if Apple were to implement an OS X-like interface on the iPod, I think it would be so simple that users, Windows-based or not, would learn how to use it and like it. Then they might realize there's an entire operating system like this, and they might think about Macs a little more than they normally would have.

Just a thought, I realize that's not exactly the way things would work....

 

[VicMacs]

does this mean no powerbook g5 soon?

 

[mo0805]

does this mean no powerbook g5 soon?

what does a new iPod have to do with the powerbook g5?

 

[TorbX]

we are all waiting for PB g5.

 

[AmigoMac]

we are all waiting for PB g5.

No, I really don't expect/wait for PB G5, I don't want a portable egg fryer ... J/K , actually the Dual-Core G4 rumor has taken a lot of strength in the last weeks and we could see by the end of november or early next year... call it "G5 mobile" and it will WOW us!

Back to topic, I've rejected some iPod promotions just waiting for this, I have a 20 GB, but a 60 with color and iPhoto sync...

 

[Zyote]

To be honest, i really dislike the idea of colour screen + viewing of photos on the iPod. There seems to be no real point to it, and i really hope apple doesn't do this.

1 - The iPod is so popular because it's simple to use, and it's one for specific purpose, to play music. Adding more features to the iPod is completely going against what apple does best, keeping things simple is their use and their purpose.

2 - Apple always state that "nobody wants to watch video on a tiny screen", which is very true. I believe looking at small pictures on a tiny screen is exactly the same. it's too small to be worthwhile. Apple will only ever do something if it's absolutely suitable. A 2" screen is a half assed solution. And i don't believe it'll be useful.

3 - Album art is useless, because for most of the time, your iPod sits in your pocket, or in a bag or something when you're listening to music. Why the hell would you need to see album art? It's just bloat. Even when you're selecting your music to play, i believe *most* people do not even have album art on their music. Only about 1/3 of my music has album art. And i often sit down and add album art to them all. it's just i've been lazy lately. I believe the average user will *never* add album art.


If Apple wants to start pushing forward, with image/video based media, i think they should use a seperate device which is more suited to the task, for one thing the screen would have to be larger. at minimum 4"-5" or so. it would need to obviously do more than just photos at that size. hence video to.

Which brings us to another problem. There currently is no real "legal" source of movies and videos that is mainstream enough for apple to market the device for. So essentially apple would need to setup a online Video / movie store for this very purpose. However, then you run into bandwidth / broadband issues for end users.

But back to the matter at hand. i don't think it's suitable for the current iPod to support photos and colour screens. it just seems to complicate things for no real purpose.

 

[AmigoMac]

OK, you're right, let's not call it iPod...
Powerpod sound ridiculous but apple may come with a good one, I'm pretty sure they will have the mini, the iPod and maybe as they did with iChat iPod A/V ... Whatever, but come with it...

I would like to have iPhoto integration, transfer from you camera and sync when you are at home, I agree, album art is not that necessary, not for me and could come in the middle of the settings... I don't care, .mov / MP4 player... wow! that would be awesome... photos preview as already said is pretty useful in a digicam, why not in the *ipod*... ok, but let's hope for a good battery as well...

 

[-hh]

YMMV always knocks twice

Well might I just point out that memory cards are really cheap

Cheap is a relative term. What actually makes digital cheap is that the memory cards can be reused: on a first-shot basis, they're still generally more expensive than film.

However, this does mean you have to have the means of resuing them by getting the data transferred to another storage medium. For example, I just got back from a 16 day business trip to Europe, which gave me two weekends to kill and with a mere 4MP camera, I ate through 1.5GB of storage...if you lack a "while on the road" means to get the data off the cards to allow resuse, that's $300 worth of flashcards to go buy.

I have a 256mb one in my Nikon 5700, and on 'normal' quality I can store over 200 photos...

As digital resolutions go up, the RAM required per shot goes up too. Without going into a digital/film debate, I always shoot at my 4MP digital system's maximum resolution potential and only get 123 images per 256MB card.

And I expect to drop to only 60 images per $50 card when I upgrade to an 8MP system. For better or worse, at the current pricepoints, when I factor in the cost of my personal free time to make robust backups of digital originals, I'm increasinly convinced to stick with film, especially when I travel to remote places that don't have power and have flight weight restrictions.


-hh

 

[iZzle]

My thoughts on video: I think it will be a very nice feature. Look, if you have a TV to use video out then you probably have a plug too! I know I will love this if it's true. Plus, it's about time for my 2G 10GB (even though it's a very trusty piece of equipment). This will probably be my next Apple purchase besides AirPort Express.

 

[iZzle]

Nice job! I like it a lot. But just one thing - with a color screen, would it really need a backlight?

JOD8FY

well (this is a real question ) do you think it would be trouble to have color on and off?

(sorry for the multipost)