A Mini iPod Mini?

[arn]

Re: Re: Re: Wishful Thinking???

Originally posted by desdomg
Well, you certainly gave it lots of prominence on your site ARN - what were your sources again? You did move it from page 2 to page 1 after all ...

wrong rumors creep in all the time. 🙂
It was actually posted on Page 1 (with several caveats) because people kept talking about it, and submitting it. Note the iBox didn't even make the rumor roundup

The only independent info I had on it was actually placed into the Unconfirmed pile.

Don't worry... rumor wrapup/winners/losers to follow.... 😉

arn

 

[ramallite]

makes me wonder

Any chance that Steve Jobs actually planned to introduce a 2GB iPod yesterday with a Cornice drive... but got pissed off because Cornice spilled their beans a day early?? The reason I thought of this is because it happened before.. remember a couple of years ago when a new crop of Power Mac G4s were announced without the rumored updated ATI graphics chips because ATI had prempted Jobs a day before? I think ATI issued an apology of some sort and the Power Macs were eventually updated with the new chipsets a couple of weeks afterwards.

But then again, of this had happened again then Phil Schiller would not be talking about a smaller iPod "sometime in the future"... so probably not.... sorry just thinking out loud...

 

[Powerbook G5]

They had to have spent a good amount of time making these iPod minis, so I doubt they'd suddenly switch to a different HD and specs only a day before unveiling them.

 

[Stella]

We can all guess the price now...

take the most expensive flash device - that will be 128Mb flash device and add $50.

(128Mb flash because the 4Gig mini iPod was after the 256Mb flash market, so one can assume the 2gig will be targetted at the 128Mb MP3 player market)

 

[Awimoway]

Originally posted by Powerbook G5
They had to have spent a good amount of time making these iPod minis, so I doubt they'd suddenly switch to a different HD and specs only a day before unveiling them.

I don't think anyone is suggesting they would switch to a different HD; rather, they will need another kind of HD to make the smaller-capacity mini in addtion to the 4 GB version.

 

[ramallite]

whoops - I meant a 2GB Cornice ALONG with the 4GB Hitachi not instead of it.... but announced only the 4 but not the 2... another theory: maybe they couldn't announce the 2 because it still has some manufacturing issues to sort out ... or negotiating with Cornice is still taking time and may not pan out... During the keynote I was on my toes expecting yet another "one more thing" and a "we also have a smaller 2GB for $179" or something... again just thinking out loud...

 

[Lanbrown]

Originally posted by pjkelnhofer
If they could find a way to put a 2 Gb drive into the current mini, I would believe it.

HD manufacturers sell a wide range of HD models, but yet they really have less then half of that. If they have 40GB for each side of a platter, they could offer three or more choices, a 40GB version, a 60GB and a 80GB. How do they do that? They physically wreck some of the disk, which limit the storage capacity. They charge less for the 40GB then the 60GB, which is less than the 80GB, but in reality, they are all basically the same drive and they 40 and 60 versions have an extra step to go through, but cost less.

The big question is how much cheaper a 2GB one would be.

 

[TranceClubMusic]

Watch the 2GIG iPod come out @ $239.99
LMFAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO🙄

 

[Powerbook G5]

Originally posted by Awimoway
I don't think anyone is suggesting they would switch to a different HD; rather, they will need another kind of HD to make the smaller-capacity mini in addtion to the 4 GB version.

I was replying to the guy who said Apple may have switched because the other company announced their 2 gig HD a day before the keynote and Apple used Hitachi to spite them.

 

[pjkelnhofer]

Re: Re: the *Real* reason for 4 gigs.

Originally posted by sonofslim
i've heard the CD thing too, although its veracity is uncertain. as for the iPod mini, seems more likely that 1,000 songs is a nice round number with just enough zeroes to impart a sense of value and technolust that fits with Apple's branding strategy.

After reading the whole Sony History page again, the story is not that anyone demanded it fit Beethoven's 9th or that it was some one's favorite piece of music. They were chosing between different sizes and they chose the 12cm, 74 minute disc because it could fit Beethoven's 9th (or most other popular classical music pieces).
The Phillips guys were worried it would not fit in a suitcoat pocket, but it turns out it does! I think the whole story is prettying interesting (or maybe I am just a bigger geek than I thought).
Reading the complete article it does not sound like an urban legend. It sounds more like the History page is written from notes of the actual meetings (I would not be suprised if a company like Sony still had minutes from meetings in the 1970's).

Or maybe Sony has a very good fiction writer just makes these stories up.

 

[frankly]

Re: A Mini iPod Mini?

Originally posted by Macrumors
A Mercury News article reports on Apple's new 'iPod Mini'. According to this article:With the Mini iPod rumors over the past few weeks being at least partially accurate... it's not unreasonable to conclude that even smaller capacity iPods are, in fact, being prototyped at Apple. Whether Apple can reach a significantly lower price point, remains unclear... but the introduction of the 2.0GB Cornice Drive is likely not coincidence alone.

Arn,

Do you have any idea how much the 4GB Hitachi drive is costing Apple? Since you list the price of the 2GB Cornice at $70 in volume I am very curious to see the price difference between that and the Hitachi.

This could be our biggest clue as to whether Apple will release a 2GB model soon and if so, how much it will cost.

If the Hitachi is very close in price then I would not expect a 2GB model soon. If they are close to $50 apart then it is more likely.

Later, Frank

 

[pjkelnhofer]

Originally posted by Powerbook G5
They had to have spent a good amount of time making these iPod minis, so I doubt they'd suddenly switch to a different HD and specs only a day before unveiling them.

I believe what was being implied was that both the 2Gb Cornice devices and the 4Gb Hitachi devices are ready to go, but thanks to Cornice's untimely announcement Apple decide to make us (and them) wait.
If Cornice drives really are sitting in iPod mini's somewhere, I am sure Cornice rather they be shown to the public now then hidden away for another two months.
Not that I think Apple is that spiteful. Personally, I doubt the 2Gb iPod minis existence, but who knows what will come out next Tuesday. 🙂

 

[pkradd]

Whether the 1 inch HD is 1.5, 2 or 4 GB, it is still the same size. Over 4 GB may make it thicker as it would probably use two discs within the drive. (Same as high cap. 1.8 drives.) Cornice has nothing to do with this. Hitachi makes the drive for the iPod Mini. Toshiba will come on line with their 1 inch HD's by late Spring. ANything less then a 1000 songs makes no sense. Also, a lower cap drive (2 GB) would not save that much money on cost. Half capacity doesn't mean half the price. Apple had to have all the components of the original iPod made smaller. This means former circuit board parts have probably become IC's. Assembly is even harder as well. This added to the cost. No "off the shelf components".

 

[FlamDrag]

Until the 4GB's ship, I doubt that 2GB's will be announced. If I were Apple - and it's good for the company that I am not - I would want to give everyone that immediately ordered a 4GB their iPod for several days before I debuted a 2GB version for a lower price. Otherwise we would see many borderline customers cancel their 4GB order and get a 2 instead.

Folks have been joking, but I would not be the least bit surprised to see a 2GB version cost $219-$229.

Furthermore, I would be absolutely shocked if the current iPod mini dropped in price before mid November 2004.

 

[Mord]

Re: Re: Re: cant you just order in the us?

Originally posted by voodoofish
Um no, if you add VAT to the US price (US prices don't include sales tax, which varies from about 6-8% state-to-state) it's $293, not $364. Even including the sales tax difference, the iPod mini is more expensive in the UK than the 15GB iPod in the states. I don't see what the NHS has to do with that (and note the US spends as more money as a % of GDP on state health care as we do (in 1997 6.5 vs our 5.8) ~and~ their GDP is higher than ours; I know where I'd rather live). I qualify for student discount and yet iLife costs more with a student discount in the UK than the full price in the US. I'm just gonna buy them both on a trip over there; the price difference is ludacris.

The $364 figure is how much we pay for ipods in the uk, to give americans an idea how much more it costs.

they may spend more on there Privet health care but If you add the uk's privet and NHS spending per % of GDP is higher than the US's
Id rather live in the uk due to the fact that I know if I break my leg it wont break the bank

The uk is now a part of europe, europe has a way higher GNP than the U.S. I know where I'd rather live

Your iLife comment I totaly agree with thats the same point I was makeing with the ipod mini You must have completely missread it

sorry about the severly OT post but I had to state the facts.

OT: 2gb ipod's will never happen, 8gb minis and price reduction imminent in my opinion

 

[kryten2000]

So Ive been comparing mp3 players around the $200 mark and it looks like the ipodmini could contend.Check this offering from rio

http://www.digitalnetworksna.com/shop/_templates/item_main_Rio.asp?model=219&cat=35

for only 50 bucks you get more than twice the storage. Another thing about the 15 gig is that although its 300 ,you'll probably spend at least another 50-100 on a dock and case.So at that point you might as well get the 20 gig.Its so damn confusing.If they would at least include a dock with the mini that would be a much better deal and make the pricing make sense.

ipodmini dock and case 250
15 gig no accessories 300
20 & 40 gig dock and case 400 500

 

[Doctor Q]

I think that Apple must come out with cheaper iPod Minis to compete successfully with the "high-end half of the low-end market" as Steve Jobs proclaimed. Note that I didn't say anything about music capacity. Apple missed the guiding principle for the low-end of their line: price, price, and price. They chose to boast about 16 times the capacity for only $50 more than the highest priced competitor. Wrong! The proper product could be only twice the capacity, as long as it costs no more than the competition.

Not enough people are going to think of the iPod Mini as a bargain. It needs that reputation. They need a cheaper one soon, to get people hooked. Then they can sell those customers accessories and upgrades.

 

[blueBomber]

if the mini flops (and it's hard to tell at this point and time), Apple will blast out the remaining inventory at deep discounted prices; much like the TAM and the Cube, both of which were considered horribly overpriced when released. As it stands, I'm not interested in the mini, but if the price drops due to failure, I'll probably snap one up.

 

[schewy]

To UK users

To all those who live in the UK and complain about the price of everything. Get over it! Everything in the UK is more expensive from cars to food. That's what you get for keeping the pound, drop it already and get the Euro.

You winge about price but refuse to do anything about it. Stop buying gear in the UK and get it somewhere else in the EU. Open borders/common market remember... Just think that in a few months a load of new CHEAP countries are joining up. Shop till you drop.

Just so you know I used to live in London, but left for Paris a few years ago.🙄

 

[slipper]

Originally posted by 1macker1
Knowing apple they'll cost $229 bucks.

lol you beat me to it bro

 

[sonofslim]

Re: Re: Re: Re: cant you just order in the us?

Originally posted by Hector
2gb ipod's will never happen, 8gb minis and price reduction imminent in my opinion

interesting speculation, given the removal of the 10gb model... what do the rest of you think?

 

[Awimoway]

Originally posted by Powerbook G5
I was replying to the guy who said Apple may have switched because the other company announced their 2 gig HD a day before the keynote and Apple used Hitachi to spite them.

My apologies. 🙂

 

[ethernet76]

Re: the *Real* reason for 4 gigs.

Originally posted by MongoTheGeek
I doubt the 2gig iPod would ever happen. I figure the size of the mini-Pod was determined roughly the same way the size of the CD was.

[apocryphal history lesson]
The president of sony decided on the size of the CD so that it would be big enough to hold all of Beethoven's 9th Symphony which runs a bit over 70 minutes, The size of a CD.
[/apocryphal history lesson]

Steve looked at the size of his favorites file and said 4gigs...

give it 6 months and prices will drop to 150.

Apple hasn't ever dropped prices on accessories. They've made them better. I think we'll see larger capacity before lower prices.

 

[ramallite]

Originally posted by Awimoway
My apologies. 🙂

I'm the guy who started this mess - no apologies needed because you were right - I didn't mean that Apple "SWITCHED" drives but meant to have a 2GB ALONGSIDE the 4GB as you correctly explained. You got what I meant and the Florida guy didn't...

 

[jesuscandle]

mini as "fashion"

I think we're maybe all wrong about the mini. I think it's going to succeed for two related reasons:

1) Cost.
Yep, you heard me. Cost. Because it basically costs too much, not everyone will be able to get one. Therefore, those who do get one will be "cool." Which will make everyone who doesn't have one want one. And making everyone want something a good way to sell lots of it.

Think about it this way - I have a 500 dollar 30GB ipod. I only have 10 GB of music on it. I keep working at filling it, but part of its appeal, honestly, is that its better than everything else. It cost a lot. Which means that I don't know anyone else who has one. Which means that I'm pretty frickin' cutting edge. Plus, it makes my friends jealous.

2) "Fashion"
I've heard lots of people moan about how these aren't made to compete with the cheesiest flash-players. And they're right. Those are made for people who want the cheapest product.

I've also heard lots of people criticize the mini's as "fashion accessories." And I think that's exactly right. And that will boost sales immensely. Not only is it "cool," but you make a statement by which color you pick. Plus, it's small enough to really be a "wow" gadget. The white ipods are small, but they're not smaller than a cell phone. This is a gadget that still says "cool," "fashion," and "wow." Tell me that won't sell.

A few people have said derisively "Well, this will be huge with Japanese girls." To which I respond "Exactly."