My Two Cents
Okay, let's start off with the basics here.
What is the iPod? What is it? Is it a Music player or a Video player? Is it a camera phone or a photo journal? The iPod in itself, is a HD MPEG Audio 3 Player which happens to have an enormous amount of hard disk space so that potential rumour believers can think videos and other media can be played on.
"ThinkSecret has published a rumor of a new 4th generation iPod featuring a previously rumored Toshiba 60 GB hard drive. In addition to the rumored size increase the new iPod is said to have a 2-inch color liquid crystal display, iPhoto synchronization, audio/video-out capabilities, and will sell for $499. Form factor is not expected to change, although the new iPod will be slightly thicker and heavier than the present 20 and 40 GB models"
Analyzing one by one, let's look at this in a better perspective. First of all, the 60GB hard drive is a highly credible rumour, since Apple has to expand its market for those who need and want a bigger drive space for their music or be it, other files. Although I do agree with the fact that someone said "the average music person would not have more than 10GBs of music".
Next, 2-inch color liquid crystal display. Highly possible, however problematic. Why? Because what are you going to do about the iPods that are selling now? the 20 and 40GB ones? Are they going to be given color screens too? or are they just going to be left there? Is this 60GB a stand alone? If so, then it can't be called an iPod, it would have to be a completely different range! PowerPod, iPod Color, iPod Maxi, iPod Multi, iPod Plus a brand new range. They can't ignore the current 4Gs which were only released a few months ago!
Synchronizing with iPhoto, this is debatable. iPhoto as everyone knows is an integral part of iLife, which is Apple's flagship for their software base, the obvious other being the OS X or the Logic Series. Now, the decision to port iTunes to the Windows market was based on the fact that since the Apple will sell music over the Internet, to sell their iPods, they needed the Wintel market to also buy music, (they can buy the same music, we all use credit cards at the end of the day) so therefore, the iTunes was given away to the Wintel crowd. To sell music, and to sell iPods. Extremely fantastic marketing strategy. Now let's look at the similar situation with iPhoto. The fundamental question is, the medium in which the iPhoto operates is, obviously Photos, pictures. You can't buy photos of yourselves or other people from the net, nor would you want to even if you could. It simply does not have that marginal utility value compared to that of a MP3 file. So obviously, the iPhoto ship will not be docking at the Wintel port. Apple doesn't need that. If you want to use your 60GB iPod seamlessly, (you can still use your photo capabilities with your Windows applications, but won't be auto synching..)you will have to buy a Macintosh. The ultimate goal for Steve Jobs. To start attracting customers from the Wintel market to the Apple. It all starts off from this tiny little MP3 player called the iPod. Scary. but true. So the conclusion on that front, no iPhoto for Windows.
Video Out Capabilities. Obviously if they want to use iPhoto integration, they're going to have to have a Video Out. People are going to see the pictures in a wider screen that is not 2 inches wide.
Thicker and Heavier, This is a very volatile subject. Some saying that the new Toshiba models will consume very little amounts of energy, some saying not, is all speculation. However, in my view point. To introduce a new 60GB model with color screen and other new functions, will OBVIOUSLY take up battery life. For that matter, seeing how the 4G iPod was given an battery upgrade, one can only think that Apple would not make the same mistake twice. So, I wouldn't be so worried about the battery life. And even if the battery life was shortened, to 8 Hours, its still negligble.
"The 2-inch color screen is identical in size to other iPods, but will sport a higher resolution for photo viewing. However, the new device's real shining feature will be its video-out port, which will enable users to tote their photo galleries with them, ready to be plugged into any television for big-screen viewing."
As the rumour states, PHOTOS. No Video. That means no Movies, no QuickTime, no Clips, No Music Videos, Nothing of that sort, in other words NO MOVING PICTURES. Why?
1. Battery life will be guillotined.
2. Hard Drive is not capable of turing on videos all the time
3. The essense of the iPod is not playing Videos. Its music.
4. Jobs as expressly stated that "music, not movies stupid"
5. Things are done slowly. You're not going to see this mega hightech iPod with all sorts of gizmos attached to it. One by one, If this time is the color screen, next will the wireless, slowly.
6. Too risky for Apple Computers Inc. in Cupertino Calif,. What if it doesn't sell? What if the consumers truly only want a music player? Do they really want to see that whole lengthy movie? Maybe they do? But what about iPod's brand image? How will the critics take it? Is this going to be a weird swiss army knife with 2 million functions? You're jumping across a big abyss if we're talking about motion pictures.
7. Finally, fairly important, just what kind of movies are we talking about here? Real movies? Does that mean then, one has to rip DVDs? (isn't that illegal?), then put them on the iPod, and then play? or does one have to download Pirated DivX files from the web? or does one rip those pirated DVDs people sell for $5? Are you honestly going to take your DV Camera, record your trip to Europe, use whatever software you're using, edit it, make it look nice, and transfer it to the iPod and keep it with you, waiting for that moment to come when you can show a whole bunch of people connecting to a TV (and where did you get the video cable from?) Or are you just going to connect your DV and play it from there? (and don't gimme that rubbish about how you can't fit a DV Camera into your pocket, its better to get the occasion to show rather than having to walk around looking for a place to show it. Or may be you just want it for yourself, when you're in that subway. Ease your mind? Do you REALLY think The Apple management is going to risk getting flamed about how they're SUPPORTING the piracy DVD movement by supporting a movie file playing Massive Storage device? For your 2 minutes in the subway? I highly doubt it.
However, on the other side,
1. What is the video out truly for? Photos? Please...
2. QuickTime integration with iTunes....worrying.
3. Competition.
4. A possible new iPod range. (Which would mean even more headaches for Apple senior staff....will it SELL???)
At the end of the day, its all speculation. However I honestly doubt the video playing function to appear. Ever in an iPod. Nor do I want it to be.
"The 60GB iPod will feature only rudimentary built-in software for viewing photos, with no editing tools, sources say. Photo albums will be navigated in a similar fashion to music playlists, and a slideshow feature will provide transitions with user-specified background music, similar to iPhoto.
Synchronizing features similar to iTunes will also be added to iPhoto."
As the rumor suggests ONLY. Photos and SlideShows. None of this other gizmos stuff we're speculating and betting about.
My Prediction.
1. 60GB
2. Color Screen
3. Same Size
4. Photo Synching
5. No Video Playing
6. Doubts about Name and Branding issues though..
One thing I would like to see is the Wireless function in the iPod. Apple has been a forefront runner in the Wireless brand, AirPort Extreme and Express are all very competitive brands, especially with the fact that its PC available too, also topping that the iTunes integration. So do the Maths
iTunes + iPod = Music
AirPort Express + iTunes = Music from Loudspeakers
AirPort Express + iTunes + iPod = Music from your iPod from Loudspeakers all wireless. How fascinating is that? Its possible, and they all seem to have a connection: iTunes. QuickTime appearing in iTunes is also a huge worry. I also speculate that this whole Photo business could be integrated with iTunes...but thats off the hook.
What I want to see, Just a plain white iPod music player thats light and small that plays good music, an shows album art with wireless functions. Thats all.
What I do not want to see... cameras, video players, cell phones, NO PDA!
The question I ask is, will they do this whole color business to the 20GB and the 40GB models too?
