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jet3004 said:
Apple does and not will not make cameras anymore for the same reason they don't make printers anymore...Because they know other companies simply do it better. They have and will leave those mediums to Epson, Canon, HP, etc.

Precisely - it's the same reason Apple doesn't make a 2-button mouse. ;) <runs for cover>
 
vitaboy said:
It would be plenty useful if the iPod would be able to allow you to download photos from any digital camera via a special USB cable. Can you imagine how many professional photographers would kill to have a portable 60 GB hard drive - no more swapping expensive little memory cards. Heck, I have a 256 MB card on my 5MP camera, and that fills up pretty fast on road trips. An iPhoto-capable iPod would be a godsend.

Then once those photos are downloaded, the next time you hook up your iPod to your Mac, voila, iPhoto autosyncs with it.

No wonder Apple named it "iPod" and not "iMusic."

iTunes = autosyncing for your iPod's music
iPhoto = autosyncing for your iPod's photos

At least, that's the hope!
Yeah, I love the idea of the iPhoto "sync" and being able to offload your photos from your camera, but with most cameras today (though this should change with newer models) you only have a USB 1.1 interface. To say that offloading a 1GB CF card full of 6.1MP photos (as I do) over USB 1.1 takes a while is an understatement! :) I use a FireWire CF reader at home and that makes a huge difference. I'm sure it is a similar situation for a USB 2.0 reader.

I guess my point is that a USB 2.0 interface would be adequate but would cut out a lot of currently used cameras. Maybe an external reader hooked up to the iPod makes more sense since this could be USB 2.0 (or FireWire) and you can have your "high speed" offloads regardless of what your camera's interface is. The down side would be:

1) An extra gadget to carry with you
2) Power source for the reader. Not sure the iPod could power it (it might be able to) but even then, it would be an additional drain on the iPod's battery.
 
narco said:
Oh yeah, forgot about that :)

I wouldnt want to carry my digital photos in an iPod -- what if you lose it?

.narco


I agree, with your on this. Apple needs to create a Password system to lock and unlock the iPod.

Have the user input a password to activate the iPod to user, however when you stop using it it automatically locks needing to put a password to open it up again. This can be an option for people if they want the security or not. Plus in its locked state it will still be able to charge.

By using the touch scroll wheel you can have a combination of clicks for example : click > play > fast forward > play > menu > rewind and the password is created by the user so, only you have access to the content. Use Encryption as Panther users for the Home folder it would be unique to the market and no one else has done this. :D

YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST. :)
 
Mockup?

Somebody want to get a mockup together for fun's sake?

I'd also like to see Apple make a built-to-order clickwheel color option so you could get different colors going on with that. I'd dig a yellow or blue one.
 
Mr_Ed said:
Yeah, I love the idea of the iPhoto "sync" and being able to offload your photos from your camera, but with most cameras today (though this should change with newer models) you only have a USB 1.1 interface. To say that offloading a 1GB CF card full of 6.1MP photos (as I do) over USB 1.1 takes a while is an understatement! :) I use a FireWire CF reader at home and that makes a huge difference. I'm sure it is a similar situation for a USB 2.0 reader.

I guess my point is that a USB 2.0 interface would be adequate but would cut out a lot of currently used cameras. Maybe an external reader hooked up to the iPod makes more sense since this could be USB 2.0 (or FireWire) and you can have your "high speed" offloads regardless of what your camera's interface is. The down side would be:

1) An extra gadget to carry with you
2) Power source for the reader. Not sure the iPod could power it (it might be able to) but even then, it would be an additional drain on the iPod's battery.

Belkin already makes such a device. It's called the Media Reader for iPod and uses FireWire to transfer the images.
 
jet3004 said:
Apple does and not will not make cameras anymore for the same reason they don't make printers anymore...Because they know other companies simply do it better. They have and will leave those mediums to Epson, Canon, HP, etc.

You are joking right. :rolleyes: Other companies also make mp3 players etc...and images being viewed on portable cameras,etc... It didn't stop Apple to make the iPod, there have seen that it was done however not correctly according to Apple standards and so they created the iPod, I feel there will do the same for a digital camera.

They also have iPod accessories, other companies also make did that stop them, NOPE. There also make VERSA mounts for the NEW Cinema Display and NEW iMac G5, do other companies make VERSA mounts YEP, did that stop Apple NOPE.

Put it this way they made a digital camera before, they have the technology however there are testing the water once again to not make mistake again. Remember that markets always change so what seemed like a good idea over 10 years back might have had failed due to the markets, however its 10 years so its not really the same issue.

Should Apple make printers, IMHO they should stay away from it. Since they promote the "DIGITAL LIFESTYLE" nothing digital about a physical printout and they also offer iPhoto print orders via Kodak via they site....so its covered.

To print GOOD text all you need is a Samsung laser monochrome printer. Not expensive at all.If you want to print colour images quickly buy the colour laser printer. Doon't really see a Mass business in printers these days, it might change over time.
 
dejo said:
I put together this list back around the time the first rumors of a color iPod screen were floating around:

- Album covers

- Music videos

- Visualizations

- Color solitaire! (I hate having to remember which suits are which colors)

- Old-school video games (Asteroid, Space Invaders, etc.)

- Cartoons (regular video might not look so great on a small screen but cartoons, like The Simpsons or South Park, might be ok)

- Photo browsing

I think visualizations would be great. Its fairly stupid in itunes but would be pretty cool on the ipod screen. Definitely would add to the bling of the ipod. As every pc and auto-modder knows, adding garish lighting clearly improves performance. And flashing, blinking lights? Even better. Now if they could only figure out how to get a strobe light and smoke machine into the ipod...does Belkin or Griffin make a disco ball add-on? The iBall? Something like this?

:eek: ;)
 
Me Too....

noel4r said:
Great, I just bought a 4G 20GB iPod. The day I buy a G5 will be the month before they release a G6.


I know how you feel. :(

I just bought my 4G 20 GB in August. I still love it, though. I guess we're in the same boat. Of course, my problem will be that when I'm going to need a laptop next fall, the G5 Powerbooks will come out just after I've purchased my G4.
 
JDOG_ said:
Somebody want to get a mockup together for fun's sake?

Here's what one might look like with Album Cover being shown:

Color-Screen-iPod.jpg
 
I have to say I'm not overly convinced, but if they can keep the battery life up then there's nothing really to complain about. It would be 60GB for the price of the old 40 after all.

However, I'm not sure if Apple would want to do this because it confuses the main purpose of the iPod - it's stupidly simple function of playing music. And the colour screen would just be eating into battery for no purpose most of the time. Finally, I'm not entirely convinced that I'd want to spend that much time looking at my photos on the move, certainly not in the same way as wanting to listen to music.

However, as I said, if this can be added without any conceived disadvantage of it being there, then I'm all for it. It will only be a matter of time before this sort of technology starts to slip into other products.
 
dejo said:
Belkin already makes such a device. It's called the Media Reader for iPod and uses FireWire to transfer the images.
I know. My comment addressed a suggestion to cut out an external reader completely and include the ability to connect the camera directly to the iPod. Not a "stretch" for a the iPod from a hardware point of view (it already supports FireWire and USB 2.0) and I suspect it would need relatively minor firmware upgrade to read "standard" USB based cameras. My only concern was that with many current and older cameras, you would not have the "option" to offload your pictures any faster than the camera's interface would allow, but you would with an external reader.

[Edit: spelling]
 
~Shard~ said:
Precisely - it's the same reason Apple doesn't make a 2-button mouse. ;) <runs for cover>

LOL, Apple doesn't make a 2 or even a 3 button mouse is because if they did they would contradict themselves since they have already stated that the Mac OS, was supposed to be the simplest to input information with a mouse thus one button. It's supposed to be simple and easy to use which even your elderly relatives can use without thinking about it. ;) :D
 
Is this what people want?

The killer app. isn’t the ability to show color photos on the fly or even to broadcast them to a video screen, as people who have this need likely have a PowerBook or iBook with video and sound out. There really isn’t a need for this feature, but the feature could be a side benefit of the bigger want.

The killer application is the iPod drive and media managers and accompany the iPod. The simple interface and the The iPod is quickly moving towards what Jobs once saw it as, as mass media storage. With the real-time video and audio out, other manufactures will be able to create whole new kinds devices to add onto the iPod, like a camera. Also, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Airport Express evolves with the iPod to allow compressed streamed video, or at least stills.
Really, before color I expect 802.1g or BT, as the cards for both of those are now tiny. Besides, native FireWire would help vidographers, photographers, and musicians. Imagin recording directly to dirive or for musicians- high quality multi-track with time codes and midi.
Given all of this the iPod might eventually evolve into a “super” media drive that can be slotted into laptops, cameras, recorders, PDAs and other multi-media devices. A solidstate iPod might make sense as the base for a number of aftermarket synergystic devices.

Post Script: Do we really need to share our photos? Slide shows are like dreams, if I am not in them, I don’t care.
 
m a y a said:
LOL, Apple doesn't make a 2 or even a 3 button mouse is because if they did they would contradict themselves since they have already stated that the Mac OS, was supposed to be the simplest to input information with a mouse thus one button. It's supposed to be simple and easy to use which even your elderly relatives can use without thinking about it. ;) :D
:D Yeah! With some of my relatives, if you give them more than one button, you can bet they will press the wrong one!! :D
 
~Shard~ said:
Are you one of the same people who complained that cell phones were just for phoning people? Damn all that text messaging, video screens, games, built-in digital cameras and PDA-like abilities, they're just going to kill the cell phone! :rolleyes: ;)

I don't know about Giggles but yes. Yes I am one of those people. Give me a cell phone that can go a week on standby and 8 hours of talktime. I'm sick of having to plug my phone in every 2.5 days because some dumb*** company is more concerned if they can drop a widescreen projection TV in their phone instead of trying to get better battery life.

That being said unlike the phone industry I think Apple knows where its priorities are. They know people prize a long battery life on their MP3 player. If they implement this don't expect a huge drop in playback times. Apple isn't stupid. Arrogant yes. Stupid no.
 
m a y a said:
LOL, Apple doesn't make a 2 or even a 3 button mouse is because if they did they would contradict themselves since they have already stated that the Mac OS, was supposed to be the simplest to input information with a mouse thus one button. It's supposed to be simple and easy to use which even your elderly relatives can use without thinking about it. ;) :D

I'm ok with Apple sticking with a one-button mouse for the "dexterity-challenged." ;) But its lame that you have to pay for something that just ends up in the drawer if you want 2 buttons or a scroll. I have a pile of unused Apple mice... Besides, considering that the 2-button mouse is now the standard, isn't a one button mouse now the more confusing device?
 
Mr_Ed said:
:D Yeah! With some of my relatives, if you give them more than one button, you can bet they will press the wrong one!! :D

You would not believe the number of people I've given Windows iPod support to that you tell them to click on something, and every time you tell them to click, they ask: "left click or right click?"

Apple started making the one-button mouse for this reason, and apparently it's still necessary for a lot of people. Personally, I think we can avoid this problem, by requiring a special license to own a computer. Pass the test, then you can buy a computer.
 
Mr_Ed said:
:D Yeah! With some of my relatives, if you give them more than one button, you can bet they will press the wrong one!! :D

No offense dude but your relatives should have all the sharp corners in their house padded if they can't figure out a two-button mouse. I know this is a major heated debate from time to time on the boards and won't take it further then this but I will say that if grade school kids can figure it out grown up adults should NOT have a problem.
You might want to refer your relatives to These guys assuming they know how to press the buttons on a phone. ;)
 
Power won't be as big of an issue if it were to contain an OLED instead of a LCD. Of course they have an estimated lifespan of only 10,000 hours of continuous use. But thats still 417 days of always on time, so if you only use it for 4 hours a day you could get almost 7 years out of it. I think this is acceptable for an ipod screen's lifespan. OLEDs are cheaper and more energy effective, not to mention usually have better color response.
 
The photo feature will also allow you to view other artist content like additional photos & lyrics.

Hook your ipod up to your TV, view the lyrics and sing the songs Kareoke style using the built-in mic on your wireless isight (version2).

Then you mix down the song in garageband and sell it on itunes!
 
WOW!!! Think about it, Porn!!!; But 60gigs. isn't that a bit small for music and porn?

Is that a iPod in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?
 
60GB, Color LCD, IPhoto sync, Video out???

Well, after closely observing Apple's product launches for the past 18 months, the 60GB, Color LCD, IPhoto, Video-Out Ipod has got to be a rumor. Here's my thoughts about it.

1. 60 GB Harddrive. Yes, it would be a feasable option, also logical to do for apple to increase storage space to the best music player ever released. However, does anybody really need 60 GB of space? 90% of all people have actually less then 10GB of music on their harddrives. When I saw the introduction of the 4G iPod, I was pleasantly surprised that there was no 60 GB version, and it really made sense to me, because there is only a small percentage of people that really use the additional space that the 40GB model doesn't provide.

2. Color LCD. When I read color LCD, I thought, and the battery life? When I read 2" color LCD, I knew it had to be a rumor. Here's why. If apple integrates a color LCD to view pictures, it wouldn't be as small as the existing 2" lcd screen. Apple always has focused on superior quality in their display products. a 2" lcd would simply not be up to their standards. Well, if they would implement a larger screen, possibly covering the entire face of the ipod, it became more credible, however, in contrast, how much would that take burden to the battery life.

3. iPhoto sync. Great idea. But it would require to come up with a windows version of iPhoto. That's actually doable and would be quite an enlightenment for the windows world. It sounds feasable and would greatly make sense to add the additional disk space. However, it couldn't convince me all the way, because of the color lcd screen issue.

4. Video Out port. This is a joke. If apple seriously comes out with a video out port on the ipod, it would just not make sense at all. Here's why. You would have to have a cable at hand in order to use the photo feature. This means you would have to possibly carry it with you. A company that has a strategy in place to mobilize peoples music and possibly photos in such an excellent way, cannot make an addition to their product line that requires you to carry a cable or anything like that. Apple has shown with the airport express that they are going away from cables. I'm confident enough that Apple would not come out with a portable device that sports a port that requires you to have any kind of cable with you. If at all, it had to be wireless. We all know that technology is not yet advanced and standardized enough to send video/picture data wirelessly to a tv set.

Conclusion:
This new device got to be a rumor, because it has too many specs that would violate the strategy that apple has shown in their recent product releases. The screen would have been too small, as well as the video-out port that requires to use a cable is not convincing to me to believe it is part of the new leading edge portable music (media) player. I could imagine iphoto for windows and the larger hdd for additional space that photos may take up.

My proposal:
A new future iPod in my opinion would sport a WiFi interface for wireless synchronization (no dock required/or optional) and compatibility with Airport Express in order to stream music from the ipod to your stereo, wirelessly. That is in my opinion the only logical extension that apple could make to the market's leading music player as the ipod is now. No picture support, no color lcd, no video out. it all doesn't make sense to apple's strategy right now. Video and picture support had to be implemented into a completely new product.
 
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