'Actual' Video iPod in 2006?

[blueflame]

design

i can imagine apple making the ipod video version, look just like the front of an imac. basically replace the apple logo on the imac with a click wheel. this sounds like a very apple move, its like reinventing the wheel with a wheel. didnt steve say they modeled the imac after the ipod. i can imagine them doing something like modeling the ipod after the imac. this would also allow them for a full widescreen display, as well as a much larger battery, and add very little space extra. Also, i imagine a touch bar, with clickwheel technology. like the buttons under the clickwheel.
andreas

 

[Norse Son]

iPod + PSP + Newton = vPad (not "vPod")

Come on guys! Everyone was Bi*ching that the original iPod video would never work before its release and look at it now!😱 I cant wait for a video centric iPod!!!

Bigger screen!
More codec support!

Im sure it will be a seperate design from the existing iPods and they will still carry the regular iPods.

It will just cater to a more videocentric consumer like myself.

Well, how about trying this on for size:
• Give it a 5.5-7" diagonal OLED screen (to avoid backlight battery drain).
• Allow watching video content in landscape view...
• But in portrait view it has Newton/Palm-like functions...
• Have it run a MacOS X-Lite "Tigger", that has "condensed versions" of Safari, Mail, Widgets, iTunes, Front Row, DVD Player (no DVD drive, though - see below), Text Edit, Stickies...
• Input is via Inkwell (Newton OS influenced) or an onscreen mini-keyboard on the touch-sensitive screen.
• It has built-in WiFi (802.11g) and Bluetooth (for external keyboards, etc.).
• Ports are FrWr400, USB2, optical i/o, and mini-DVI (or other video connector).
• It has an 80GB 1.8" SATA(?) hard drive.
• It has (under license from Sony) the same removable-media drive as the PSP - which would allow it to play all those UMD movies that are released for the PSP...
• It is only slightly "chubbier" than the current generation iPod (video) and the width & length of a paperback book.

Major selling points are that (1) it can play your iTunes collection, (b) it presents video at a higher screen resolution and bit rate than current iTMS video, (3) it will play UMDs, and (4) it has "practical" functions for web, e-mail, notetaking, widgets, etc.

Of course, I doubt we'll see it before the Christmas shopping season, if even that soon, because:
• 802.11n won't be "unofficially" in shipping products before midyear at earliesst (could eliminate FrWr400 and/or USB2?), while the "official" standard is a year away.
• There still aren't enough video/TV choices on iTMS and at a better resolution & bit rate.
• Other Apple "digital home" pieces have not materialized as of yet.
• Downloading feature-length content would be painfully slow until broadband evolves further.
• Is there a chip out there (now) that would be strong & fast enough to power this vPod while maintaining good battery life?

 

[macintel4me]

Well, how about trying this on for size:
• Give it a 5.5-7" diagonal OLED screen (to avoid backlight battery drain).
• Allow watching video content in landscape view...
• But in portrait view it has Newton/Palm-like functions...
• Have it run a MacOS X-Lite "Tigger", that has "condensed versions" of Safari, Mail, Widgets, iTunes, Front Row, DVD Player (no DVD drive, though - see below), Text Edit, Stickies...
• Input is via Inkwell (Newton OS influenced) or an onscreen mini-keyboard on the touch-sensitive screen.
• It has built-in WiFi (802.11g) and Bluetooth (for external keyboards, etc.).
• Ports are FrWr400, USB2, optical i/o, and mini-DVI (or other video connector).
• It has an 80GB 1.8" SATA(?) hard drive.
• It has (under license from Sony) the same removable-media drive as the PSP - which would allow it to play all those UMD movies that are released for the PSP...
• It is only slightly "chubbier" than the current generation iPod (video) and the width & length of a paperback book.

Major selling points are that (1) it can play your iTunes collection, (b) it presents video at a higher screen resolution and bit rate than current iTMS video, (3) it will play UMDs, and (4) it has "practical" functions for web, e-mail, notetaking, widgets, etc.

Of course, I doubt we'll see it before the Christmas shopping season, if even that soon, because:
• 802.11n won't be "unofficially" in shipping products before midyear at earliesst (could eliminate FrWr400 and/or USB2?), while the "official" standard is a year away.
• There still aren't enough video/TV choices on iTMS and at a better resolution & bit rate.
• Other Apple "digital home" pieces have not materialized as of yet.
• Downloading feature-length content would be painfully slow until broadband evolves further.
• Is there a chip out there (now) that would be strong & fast enough to power this vPod while maintaining good battery life?

you guys are nuts! (eyes rolling) ... lol

 

[yankeefan24]

Exactly why I added in the "don't quote me" 😀

I kno. I was just pointing it out. I'm not saying that "if this happens you will be like the guy who said that the ipod will be the worst thing apple will evedsr make." I'm just saying that u have to be open about ur possibilities. Again, i'm not trying to say anything bad. just pointing it out.

 

[Multimedia]

An "Actual" Video iPod Is Not "Fake" Like The One I Have That Plays Videos

what does "actual" mean, does this mean that the device will be devoted solely to video?

As if my new 60 GB 5G is not REAL. 🙄

 

[Norse Son]

The Swiss Army of iPods

Here's to the Crazy Ones ​

You know, Lacero, I think you just solved one of the main issues with the popularity of the iPod... I've read stories of people being robbed or killed for their iPods - now they can defend themself... Only downside is trying to get that thing through airport security... "Honestly, officer, I wasn't going to remove the knife on board, it has a safety switch that shuts off the iPod if I do, so I can't watch any movies!"
________________________________________

By the way, Lacero, Happy Anniversary! I noticed that tomorrow, the 20th, is your 1st Year MacRumors Anniversary. Congrats!

How did you manage to cram 6,625 posts in one year!?!?! I bet you sleep at night with your Mac on the pillow, so you can post at a moments notice...

 

[guylafleur]

Yeah yeah, video ipod, blah blah

what about the "digital hub"?

I want my BIG MAC MINI!!!!😀

 

[(L)]

I don't know if Apple is looking to make a major change to the iPod. My guess is that they will come out with a 6G iPod that will be quite nice, handling video better, larger screen, better battery life, etc., and will therefore be significantly better at handling video (as well as music). Still, I expect them to keep the iPod music-centered - those that say such an iPod would be a "actual" video iPod just mean that for them, the video is so much better that they can call it that. The actual product is still going to be a music player that can handle video - after all, you can't lug around a 40" plasma screen!

 

[strange days]

hey, what about this EDGE iPod rumor ?

http://www.mobilemag.com/content/100/337/C6076/

😉

 

[kalisphoenix]

Cunning. Apple could be attacking the PDA problem in an interesting fashion.

STEP 1:Introduce stunningly simplistic little gadgets that play mp3s. The gadgets get popular.
STEP 2:Increase processing power and storage space of machines. Popularity increases.
STEP 3:Widen market of machines -- introduce smaller versions, colored versions, et cetera. Gain 83% market share.
STEP 4:Add additional features, slowly and innocuously. First you can sync iCal. Then your email. Then you can show photo slideshows. Then you can watch movies.
STEP 5:Enlarge screen at a slow and economic pace. Add touch sensitivity to the screen. Add some more applications. As technology improves, amp up the processor a bit and throw a fake Aqua on there.

Voila! You have a PDA that millions and millions of people have bought without even realizing that it's a PDA. If someone said to Uncle Joe that his iPod was a PDA, he'd laugh and wonder what his music has to do with people naked-sexxing in the park. But all the same, the functionality is there.

 

[CreepyArcade]

Well, that's a pretty obvious observation on his part isn't it?

It's like saying the 1st generation iPod was a "holdover" while the new and improved 2nd generation iPod was in the works, which was a "holdover" for the 3rd generation... and so on...

There will always be new and improved versions of everything Apple makes. See, I'm a brilliant analyst too. 😀

A "holdover" would be like what Microsoft did when they released Windows ME (minor upgrade *cough err downgrade) after Windows 98 SE while waiting until the bigger upgrade/improvement which was Windows XP. Don't get me wrong though the current iPod is not crap like Windows ME but may still be the prerequisite to a new video iPod design. I suspect the same can be said for the new intel powerbooks, I would be suprised if the next update was not a new design...

 

[jouster]

I think it's be a bad idea. Look at the Archos, it is out for how many years, 4-5? And who cares?!?!

Just like the original Rio MP3 players. Who cared?

The Archos will always be a niche product because it is not an iPod. The iPod has, in its short life, become an icon. A full video iPod would have an instant momentum that the Archos couldn't dream of.

 

[codepoet80]

they better not be making a new iPod. im scheduled to get one next month.

Um... look at their track record. I think it's pretty safe to assume that there will be a new iPod, with new features, coming up in the not-too-distant future.

 

[mongoos150]

Um... look at their track record. I think it's pretty safe to assume that there will be a new iPod, with new features, coming up in the not-too-distant future.

If there IS a new iPod coming out, you can sell your 30gb 5G iPod for around $250 on eBay still.

 

[Lesser Evets]

Could be a real exciting year - tons of new products, and some serious competition with Dell and other Wintel box makers.

Could be a really boring year... like, with the usual slew of half baked products slowly marching out of a nearly empty closet of design and innovation. An "actual" video iPod? Oh, HOLD ON! I am about to yawn.

People must have mentioned that this foray into Intel macs could mean we get a slew of virus boys dancing on our desktops from meeleeuns of miles away.

 

[Edwin the Elder]

Portable DVD Player - iPod?

Don't know if anyone has posted this yet, but I for one would like to see an iPod combined with a portable DVD player, which typically has a 7" screen.

This would be perefect not only for video but for viewing photos with the family. Also, the video iPod is really only video in the US as I understand it. Other iTunes stors (like Canada's) do not sell video content. So for us, DVD would be our video source.

I almost bought myself a portable DVD player for Christmas but decided to wait in case Apple offered one.

 

[freeny]

Here's to the Crazy Ones ​

yes, but does it have firewire???

 

[ginner]

I hear it now, the Two-Faced iPod.

Duuuude, iPod Duo 😉

 

[jephrey]

Well, I think the main thing about "actual video" is that the iPod will be able to scale it to the screen size. Therefore allowing the playback and out-to TV of high quality (even HD) video. The 5G is the first one, that can only play heavily compressed stuff (similar to the 1G that couldn't do lossless audio). As the HD gets bigger, the video capabilities will too. At this point, even if it was "Actual video", the average user could get their audio and about 5 full movies on there. IMO, that's weak. So why even make the thing capable of "actual video"? I guess with playlists, and the fact that you don't need your whole dvd collection with you it makes sense, but it also makes sense to let things evolve.

Of course, if / when it comes out, I'll want to trade in my 5G.

I imagine it with 16:9, but in the same or smaller package. Maybe horizontal. I've always liked the touch screen idea, it could always bring up the scroll wheel when you touch a certain part of the screen (hot corners).

Whatever, bring it on.

Jephrey