60 GB Color Screen Photo-Capable iPod?

[t300]

i certainly wouldn't knock it without trying it but, if a phone took good pictures i would love a camera in it, but they just don't take good pictures. I can understand them as a quick way to remember something, take a picture of it... but for quality pictures they just don't cut it....yet.
!

But that's exactly what I was trying to say...They add something to your life that you did not have before and now, quality aside, you use often. This is common to SO many things that we take advantage of today, yet was said to never take off, such as the invention that we are all using now to write theses things on internet, the personal computer...Which just so happens to be made by our favorite company, Apple.

 

[t300]

Oh, and by the way...

Sony's take...

 

[sinisterdesign]

... I'm sure the exact same statement was made when the first iPod rumors came out 3 years ago. "Who would want that?!" "That'll never sell!" "Only 10% of people would actually want this, Apple is stupid and needs to innovate better".

yup, i was pretty much one of those people. i thought Apple was spreading themselves thin & not focusing on their core business when the iPod came out. i was working there when they were developing the iPod (of course, i didn't know about it then), but i really thought getting into the "music biz" was a bad call when i read about the impending iPod.

shows what i know. i adore my iPod and can't wait to buy a new one.

 

[sinisterdesign]

Exactly,... but even if they do, they'll continue with their practice of not allowing the consumer the option of a wireless keyboard and mouse with their computer purchase. Why should I buy a computer and HAVE to take a WIRED KEYBOARD/MOUSE when I don't even plan on using it (retorical) -- it seems there should be an option to get WIRELESS stuff and not have to pay full price.

they STILL don't do that?? ughhh. it's been a couple years since i've ordered a BTO & wireless option didn't exist at the time. that is really stupid. just like i would rather Apple just not include the beautiful but near useless bubble-mouse and let me put that money twds a mouse i can be productive with.

does anyone else find it ironic that Apple touts the wonderfully simple & intuitive input device of the iPod and yet they force even their "power-users" to use the most over-simplistic, non-productive, non-ergonomic mouse offered by a computer manufacturer?? grrrrr. sorry to go off-topic, but i love Apple & this mouse idealology that steve clings to really chaffs my butt.

 

[g4tom]

The new iPod

I think everyone is getting a little carried away with this rumor.

1. We new the 60 gig drive was available to Apple

2. A color screen is a simple low cost addition, a little bling bling

We probably will see the new 60 gig available soon and with a color sreen, but the dock connector will not change. Any added port would be on the dock. If you wanted to possibly do something more with photo's or video, then that would be an option you could setup and use or not use. Personally I think the color screen will simply be for album art and the cool factor, but maybe Apple has more plans in mind for it. I don't think slide shows are that big a thing to very many people or the airport express would have an extra port to hook up to your your stereo and to your TV. I see the new iPod as this....

60 gig drive and a high res color screen with the ability to view album art and or personal pictures.

 

[uzombie]

New name along with it:


iPornd

 

[sirjimithy]

I think everyone is getting a little carried away with this rumor.

1. We new the 60 gig drive was available to Apple

2. A color screen is a simple low cost addition, a little bling bling

We probably will see the new 60 gig available soon and with a color sreen, but the dock connector will not change. Any added port would be on the dock. If you wanted to possibly do something more with photo's or video, then that would be an option you could setup and use or not use. Personally I think the color screen will simply be for album art and the cool factor, but maybe Apple has more plans in mind for it. I don't think slide shows are that big a thing to very many people or the airport express would have an extra port to hook up to your your stereo and to your TV. I see the new iPod as this....

60 gig drive and a high res color screen with the ability to view album art and or personal pictures.

Agreed. Apple is not known for putting useless niche features into products, nor do they break things that are already working. It's always about advancement that the majority of people is happy with.

 

[sinisterdesign]

60 gig drive and a high res color screen with the ability to view album art and or personal pictures.

...and i would be perfectly happy. anything on top of that would just be icing. those specs are the exact specs i was hoping for for the last rev, so i held off.

my 2nd gen 20GB is getting a little long in the tooth. it's full, the backlight no longer works & songs get hung from time to time. oh, and i broke the case ages ago & my exgirlfriend's pug ate the remote. other than that, it's pristine! and some scratches. oh, and a little bent piece of metal. think i can list it on eBay? "mint condition"

 

[zelmo]

Exactly,... but even if they do, they'll continue with their practice of not allowing the consumer the option of a wireless keyboard and mouse with their computer purchase. Why should I buy a computer and HAVE to take a WIRED KEYBOARD/MOUSE when I don't even plan on using it (retorical) -- it seems there should be an option to get WIRELESS stuff and not have to pay full price.

On both the G5 iMac and PMac lines, Apple does allow a BTO combo of BT/key/mouse to replace the standard wired key/mouse combo. The price of $99 is pretty favorably weighed against the separate costs of BT module ($50), BT keyboard ($69), and BT mouse ($69). Of course, the mouse is still of the single button variety.

EDIT: For $99, buy the combo, sell the BT mouse on eBay for $40-50, then buy whichever BT mouse your heart desires.

 

[appleface]

they STILL don't do that?? ughhh. it's been a couple years since i've ordered a BTO & wireless option didn't exist at the time. that is really stupid. just like i would rather Apple just not include the beautiful but near useless bubble-mouse and let me put that money twds a mouse i can be productive with.

does anyone else find it ironic that Apple touts the wonderfully simple & intuitive input device of the iPod and yet they force even their "power-users" to use the most over-simplistic, non-productive, non-ergonomic mouse offered by a computer manufacturer?? grrrrr. sorry to go off-topic, but i love Apple & this mouse idealology that steve clings to really chaffs my butt.

i the imac G5 can be built to order with wireless and mouse. apple also offers you an airport express when you check out, so you can also remove your speakers and printer and ethernet cable from your clutter.

 

[~Shard~]

Sony's take...

image

That's pretty ugly... That front "grill" reminds me of a 1960s transistor radio or something...

 

[t300]

That's pretty ugly... That front "grill" reminds me of a 1960s transistor radio or something...

Yeah, it looks quite chunky too...Supposedly it connects wirelessly...Hmm...

 

[applekid]

How hard would it be to put a USB port on the iPod for direct hookup

-To a camera through pictbridge?
-To a printer?
-To (God forbid) another iPod?

If Apple doesn't come out with the 60 gig iPod soon, I may be forced to fly to Japan to get one of those Toshiba Gigabeat thingies.

I always wondered about that...

Here's my thoughts: You add an adapter to the dock port. The adapter has a regular USB port. Plug your camera into the USB port, and any camera iPhoto can detect will be detected on the iPod. Hit import on your iPod, and the photos are downloaded.

When we first had rumors about a voice recorder and digital camera link-up, I was hoping the accessory would be what I described.

I really think what could define the iPod as more than an MP3 player (after all, Pod is a pretty generic term), is promote the creation of accessories. All we've got so far are FM tuners, audio recorders, and a memory card downloading device. There's more you can do with a portable HD, Apple.

 

[applekid]

Until you buy a product and use it for a while, you have no idea of its capabilities and how it meshes with your everyday lifestyle.

Well said. Just want to add, especially when it's from Apple.

<Ignore below... Mostly OT...>

I'd say that wouldn't apply to the Cube and hardware before the second-coming of Steve Jobs, but the Cube was more of a price problem, and the other hardware was sort of too, if you think about it. Apple made so many machines simultaneously, but only a few of them had places in the product line. The Cube for example would be between the PowerMac and iMac, but people seemed to go for the high-end or low-end, not middle. The Performa line from back then had too many models it was confusing and only a select few sold well enough.

 

[~Shard~]

I really think what could define the iPod as more than an MP3 player (after all, Pod is a pretty generic term), is promote the creation of accessories. All we've got so far are FM tuners, audio recorders, and a memory card downloading device. There's more you can do with a portable HD, Apple.

I've said this before myself - who ever said the iPod was an MP3 player? Why can't it be more? I see it evolving and introducing features the public doesn't even know they need and want yet!

Of course, in doing this, Apple starts turning the iPod into more and more of a PDA, which is a device Apple has said in the past it isn't interested in pursuing. It will be interesting to see how things play out...

 

[Engagebot]

the only good thing about it will be the 60GB. honestly, who's going to use the other stuff? even the tech-nerds will only get a few minutes of novelty out of that. i can't see myself using that photo stuff to any extent.

what the ipod needs is to be able to play wirelessly to airport express.

 

[~Shard~]

the only good thing about it will be the 60GB. honestly, who's going to use the other stuff? even the tech-nerds will only get a few minutes of novelty out of that. i can't see myself using that photo stuff to any extent.

I'd use it from time to time I'm sure, as would quite a few of my friends. My one friend is always bringing his PowerBook over to show me his slideshows from his trips, and an iPod would be easier for him to carry around and just jack into my TV. Last night I wanted to show my parents all of my pictures from Eastern Europe, as I just returned, but the only way to do this was to dump my memory cards onto my Mac, then burn them onto a CD-RW, then take the disc over to my parent's place, then hope my Dad has a slideshow/picture-viewing piece of software on his Dell, then show them the photos. Slapping my photos on my iPod and jacking into their TV would have been so much simpler!

Yes, not everyone will use this functionality, but there will be a lot of demand for it, I think. For myself and a large number of my friends who are world travelers, our photos are in high demand, and until I can get them printed or up on a website, this would be a handy alternative - especially for people who may not have a .Mac account or web space to host their pics.

 

[Jovian9]

Perhaps they could continue to expand on the iPod family with other products by reaching out to those who cannot spend as much money and those who want photo viewing, video exporting, or DJ'ing capabilities. You have:
iPod Mini:
4/5GB $149 or 8/10GB $199
- small/colorful/stylish/smaller capacity for those who do not have tons of music/and a little less expensive -
iPod:
20 GB $299 or 40GB $399
- continues to serve the purpose it has always served with longest battery life -
iPod ProProPod/ColorPod/iPod Media/or something else)
60GB $499
- large amounts of storage multi-functions as an iPod but has a color screen for viewing photos and exporting movies through a line out into a TV....but is a little bulkier with less battery life d/t the color screen.
iPod DJ:
60GB $499
- large storage and larger size to incorporate crossfading ability/tempo changes and a video out for displaying images while DJ'ing.....perhaps even have it sit sideways with 2 scroll wheels and 2 displays so that you can use it as 2 music sources (or a music source and video source) and a mixer all in one.....and perhaps even integration with iTunes DJ/iTunes Professional so that both the iPod and a Mac can be used simultaneously (working together) to DJ (giving one access to a huge library of media)....most likely a shorter battery life too d/t all of the functions and dual screens


Just a thought. They have 5 families of computers (6 with Xserve) so why not continue to expand the iPod family......as it is their baby right now.

 

[Jovian9]

Courtesy of:
http://www.theapplecollection.com/design/macdesign/macdesign34.shtml

 

[~Shard~]

Courtesy of:
http://www.theapplecollection.com/design/macdesign/macdesign34.shtml

Slick, but since these designs are based on the old iPods, I doubt we'd see anything like this for the new 60 GB models. Unless, of course, Apple decided to go for that "retro iPod" look...

 

[Jovian9]

I give up, I can't play the iPod upgrade game any more! I started with a 2 gen 10 gig and then soon upgraded to the 20 gig. Filled that up in no time at all, and so I upgraded to a 3rd gen 30 gig. 30 gig wasnt enough so I upgraded to a 3rd gen 40 gig. Apple relased the click-wheel iPod, and so I sold my 3rd gen 40 gig for a 4th gen 40 gig click wheel. (pause) Are they taking pre-orders yet?

I hear you. My wife and I have had (b/t us):
1G 5GB
2 - 2G 10GB's
2G 20GB
3G 20GB
3G 40GB
and now we have:
Blue iPod Mini
4G 40GB

eBay has made a lot of money off of me selling b/c of all the updates to the iPod over the years. Better start saving money to cover the difference b/t selling my 4G 40GB and buying the rumored 60GB

 

[~Shard~]

I hear you. My wife and I have had (b/t us):
1G 5GB
2 - 2G 10GB's
2G 20GB
3G 20GB
3G 40GB
and now we have:
Blue iPod Mini
4G 40GB

eBay has made a lot of money off of me selling b/c of all the updates to the iPod over the years. Better start saving money to cover the difference b/t selling my 4G 40GB and buying the rumored 60GB

That's a lot of iPods, man. I'm not sure if "impressive" or "scary" is the right word to describe it...

 

[manu chao]

I always wondered about that...

Here's my thoughts: You add an adapter to the dock port. The adapter has a regular USB port. Plug your camera into the USB port, and any camera iPhoto can detect will be detected on the iPod. Hit import on your iPod, and the photos are downloaded.

When we first had rumors about a voice recorder and digital camera link-up, I was hoping the accessory would be what I described.

I really think what could define the iPod as more than an MP3 player (after all, Pod is a pretty generic term), is promote the creation of accessories. All we've got so far are FM tuners, audio recorders, and a memory card downloading device. There's more you can do with a portable HD, Apple.

With every iPod you already get two cables which connect at one end to the iPod and at the other end either has a USB 2 or Firewire connector. Using these cables, an iPod acts as a simple hard drive. Repeating myself: any self-respecting camera manufacturer should be able to build cameras which recognize external hard drives connected via USB/Firewire, Cameras can recognize and write and copy to microdrives (equipped with a SmartCard interface, admittedly) why not USB hard drives.

What you are suggesting would be even more neat (neater?) since you would not have push the pictures from the camera to the iPod, but the iPod would pull (if configured to do so, even automatically) the pictures from the camera, this assumes naturally that the interface on the iPod would be better than on the camera.

More ideal would be if you could connect the iPod directly to the camera (via the cables I mentioned) and it would do the same. No need for an extra piece to carry around (the dock). But I don't know whether a device could act as a'dumb' USB/Firewire mass storage device and at the same time pull data from a camera.

 

[gco212]

I personally have no need for one, and I don't think many will. Most people don't load pictures from their computers onto their phones, they take the picture with their phone. There's a pretty big difference between the two. If you had a camera in the ipod, it would be much more useful, but I just don't see the niche for this.

 

[GregA]

the only good thing about it will be the 60GB. honestly, who's going to use the other stuff? even the tech-nerds will only get a few minutes of novelty out of that. i can't see myself using that photo stuff to any extent.

what the ipod needs is to be able to play wirelessly to airport express.

hehehe...

So you are saying that the only people who'll use photos and slideshows are tech-nerds, but what our portable player REALLY needs is the ability to walk around the house while having the music come out of one room.

Lets face it, different people need (or want) different things. At the moment Apple has a standard features iPod - with low and high end defined by hard disk size (and now photos??). Maybe Apple will oneday differentiate iPod 'strands', so 2 low end iPods might do quite different things. Who knows.

ps. Do you really want a wireless iPod, or something that looks exactly like an iPod but is a remote control for your iTunes? (which would be cheaper, and use less power!)