Apple to Unveil New Flash-based iPods? Digital Radio?

[ll PiStoNs ll]

True, but you have to have your laptop out and pay for the Wi-Fi ( in most airports) and you would have to have all your docking cables out.

What a cluster...

I would like to just walk by a iTunes kiosk and dock my iPhone real quick and then be on my way.

The movie or song would also be sent to your home computer or where ever your iTunes account is set up so you won't loose that purchase in case your iPhone or iPod breaks or gets stolen.

No he means wifi purchasing off of the actual ipod would be > than kiosks for a number of reasons

Apple would sell much more songs to people on the go because there is obviously more wifi hot spots than kiosks

Apple wouldnt have to pay for the kiosks + the costs of space rental, employees, maintnence, and the costs of the kiosks them selves must be pretty expensive.

It just doesnt make sense to have kiosks when users can get the same thing with wifi and apple would save money as well.

 

[SirOmega]

My thoughts:

Flash is too expensive. It was one thing for Apple to go backwards a little in the Mini -> Nano conversion (2GB nano = 4GB mini in terms of price), but going from a possible maximum of 160GB video-capable iPod down to a 32GB flash based iPod isnt likely. Especially considering the large emphasis on video these days.

However I will say I can encode entourage episodes down from DVD to 200MB each and put a lot on my 8GB iPhone.

I'm inclined to think iPhone minus Phone wont arrive. Without edge as a backup, and lacking features like flash, its not a compelling enough product to entice users. Yea a coffee shop or airport might have free wifi, even in your house, but why bother

Digital radio complicates things unnecessarily. Apple would need to make a few different iPods for the different markets - US, Europe, Asia, - to support the different standards.

Lineup:
2GB Shuffle $79 (style remains unchanged - its a big hit)
4/8/16GB Fat Nanos (video capable, but I wouldn't want to watch it on that small screeen, no touch, price points remain unchanged)
50/100GB iPod Touch with big buffers (512MB RAM for OS, buffering covers, video, etc so HDD can spin down), $299/$399

An interesting anecdote - on a southwest flight yesterday I was sitting on the aisle and had everyone next to me and behind me pointing at me watching videos on my iphone. My friends next to me tried to watch on 5.5G video iPods and resolved to buy a iPod Touch if they come out wednesday.

 

[NiteWaves77]

Digital Radio won't happen. Too many formats over the world - USA's different satelite radio types, UK et al DAB... to many different chips

Ok, some things to consider:

1. When someone says "digital radio", they do not automatically mean "satellite radio".

2. IBOC, the "HD Radio" standard in the states, is easily implimented in a low-cost single chip. Or, the codec could be licensed from iBiquity and implemented exclusively in software, reducing the manufacturing cost down to the tuner hardware.

3. Eureka 147 is shifting to AAC+. AAC+, that sounds familiar... Hmmm..

4. TI has put Digital Radio Mondiale, DAB, and FM on ONE chip.

5. Right now, the biggest problem to overcome is chip POWER REQUIREMENTS. (You think 3G is a power hog?!) That is why I think digital radio won't be included in the new iPod Touch.

6. Suppose digital radio is out of the picture, but the new iPods do include an FM/AM analogue tuner (that's a low power, cheap chip). You can impliment the "click to buy" functionality easily with an RDS decoder. If the Touch is to get a radio, I believe this to be the most likely scenario.

 

[beer.coffee]

Ultimate disappointment scenario:

iPod
80 - 120 GB HDD
White / Black Aluminum enclosure
"Stubby" form factor to allow for wider screen
Smaller nano sized Click Wheel so widescreen occupies most of the device
New Interface (as leaked)

iPod Nano
4, 8, 16 GB FLASH
New color pallette (as leaked)
Same form factor
Video Playback
New Interface (as leaked)

Shuffle
[quiet update after media event]
1 GB & 2 GB
New Product Red version added

Pretty much this is what would have to happen to disappoint me

Dont even joke about such things!

 

[Scottuary]

Ultimate disappointment scenario:

iPod
80 - 120 GB HDD
White / Black Aluminum enclosure
"Stubby" form factor to allow for wider screen
Smaller nano sized Click Wheel so widescreen occupies most of the device
New Interface (as leaked)

iPod Nano
4, 8, 16 GB FLASH
New color pallette (as leaked)
Same form factor
Video Playback
New Interface (as leaked)

Shuffle
[quiet update after media event]
1 GB & 2 GB
New Product Red version added

iTunes 8
New iTunes radio with "Buy Now" option

Also
New array of branded accessories

Pretty much this is what would have to happen to disappoint me

AAPL will definitely come stronger than that on Wednesday. They've been working on the new iPod for years, the wait will be worth it.

I'm thinking for the widescreen iPod Touch they will incorporate lots of photo features, especially the new features in iPhoto '08 like Events. Something to separate it from the iPhone feature set.

 

[CaptainCaveMann]

Ultimate disappointment scenario:

iPod
80 - 120 GB HDD
White / Black Aluminum enclosure
"Stubby" form factor to allow for wider screen
Smaller nano sized Click Wheel so widescreen occupies most of the device
New Interface (as leaked)

iPod Nano
4, 8, 16 GB FLASH
New color pallette (as leaked)
Same form factor
Video Playback
New Interface (as leaked)

Shuffle
[quiet update after media event]
1 GB & 2 GB
New Product Red version added

iTunes 8
New iTunes radio with "Buy Now" option

Also
New array of branded accessories

Pretty much this is what would have to happen to disappoint me

Actually, I hate the idea of a stubby nano. I think they're perfect the way they are, they fit perfect in my hand. On the other hand I would love a full screen ipod touch, because I hate the current ipods (thats why I bought a nano). The black scratches way to easily (so does the white) and the short, fat, little bastard needs to lose weight and get a more hour glass figure. Just my two cents. Ill be in my cave...

 

[music.addict411]

updates

THIS- is what i'd like to see

---------------------------

iPod
80 - 120 GB HDD
White / Black Aluminum enclosure
Widescreen like iPhone
Music Store On Your iPod
New Interface (as leaked)

iPod Nano
4, 8, 16 GB FLASH
New color pallette (as leaked)
Stubby Ddition, and Normal Edition
Radio, with "buy" feature
Video Playback
New Interface (as leaked)

Shuffle
1 GB, 2 GB & 4 GB (If possible)
Product red, white, and black colours added.

iTunes 8
New iTunes radio with "Buy Now" option

 

[PorpoiseMuffins]

Here's a quick (and very dirty) Photoshop job I did to show the size comparison between the old and (apparent) new iPod nano, assuming the click wheels are the same size:

http://www.michaelspooner.com/images/blog/iPodNanoSizeComparison.jpg

Helps put things into perspective. You can also see that the leaked 3rd party case fits the leaked "nano flower" image perfectly.

 

[thats nice]

Ultimate disappointment scenario:

iPod
80 - 120 GB HDD
White / Black Aluminum enclosure
"Stubby" form factor to allow for wider screen
Smaller nano sized Click Wheel so widescreen occupies most of the device
New Interface (as leaked)

iPod Nano
4, 8, 16 GB FLASH
New color pallette (as leaked)
Same form factor
Video Playback
New Interface (as leaked)

Shuffle
[quiet update after media event]
1 GB & 2 GB
New Product Red version added

iTunes 8
New iTunes radio with "Buy Now" option

Also
New array of branded accessories

Pretty much this is what would have to happen to disappoint me

It wouldn't surprise me to see this happen! I was thinking about it, and as much as i wanted to believe that there was going to be a iPod 'touch' i just couldn't seem to see apple justifying it when they have the normal iPods still selling like hot cakes, and the nanos still doing great.

I thought that they could just use the iPhone shell, but then you have to think about everything that is inside the iPhone that they would have to be taking out to make it just purely iPod like, and then throwing in the huge hard drive.

I would love to see a new iPod 'touch' released since i was was expecting one all the way back in March of 2006! I remember because i had money from my birthday and i held off all the way to November and they brought out the pathetic 5.5 generation! So I apple just do a fresh update of the current 5.5 version and don't dramatically change it i wont be buying any apple products for a while!

 

[-Hobbes-]

It wouldn't surprise me to see this happen! I was thinking about it, and as much as i wanted to believe that there was going to be a iPod 'touch' i just couldn't seem to see apple justifying it when they have the normal iPods still selling like hot cakes, and the nanos still doing great.

I thought that they could just use the iPhone shell, but then you have to think about everything that is inside the iPhone that they would have to be taking out to make it just purely iPod like, and then throwing in the huge hard drive.

I would love to see a new iPod 'touch' released since i was was expecting one all the way back in March of 2006! I remember because i had money from my birthday and i held off all the way to November and they brought out the pathetic 5.5 generation! So I apple just do a fresh update of the current 5.5 version and don't dramatically change it i wont be buying any apple products for a while!

I fear that the Fat iPod we have seen is the replacement for the iPod Video and NOT the nano. Has anyone noticed that the leaked ad for the new leather cases (U-Suit) says "For the new iPod"? It doesn't say "For the new iPod Nano" and thus I fear we may not see the iPod Touch yet...

Of course if this is the case, I would be very disappointed as well as I am ready to update my 2nd Generation iPod to the new iPod Touch, if it does indeed come out.

I also don't see the leaked interface being used on the iPod Touch. Seems a typical Scroll wheel interface to me and not a touch sensitive interface like the iPhone...

I guess we'll find out soon enough for better or for worse...

 

[pinksalmon]

agreed

if i dont see iphone like ipods wednesday ill be skipping out on the next gen this time... though i do already have my iphone so i don't see why it matters but my girlfriend really wants an iphone minus the phone so this will determine if she'll be enjoying another apple christmas

 

[Compile 'em all]

Safari & Mail is the "internet communicator". YouTube is more part of the iPod family IMHO. It is video after all. Apple & YouTube have revenue sharing agreements as it relates to YouTube, they would stand to make the most with YouTube being on an iPod.

YouTube is definitely not part of the iPod on the iPhone. The YouTube app has things like "share" and "email", these things wouldn't work on an iPod with no internet communication capabilities (read: email and safari).

 

[notsofatjames]

No he means wifi purchasing off of the actual ipod would be > than kiosks for a number of reasons

Apple would sell much more songs to people on the go because there is obviously more wifi hot spots than kiosks

Apple wouldnt have to pay for the kiosks + the costs of space rental, employees, maintnence, and the costs of the kiosks them selves must be pretty expensive.

It just doesnt make sense to have kiosks when users can get the same thing with wifi and apple would save money as well.

instead of Wi-Fi and Kiosks, every-time you sync the iPod it gets an updated list of what's available on the itms. Then whilst out and about (without any form of internet connection) listening to digital radio, when you click buy this song, it would add it to a list to downloaded through iTunes next time you sync. That would suit apple because it would require minimal hardware change (only a digital radio, which is rumored to be included anyway), and would suit the consumer because everyone's going to have to sync their iPod at one point, and everyone who has an iPod has the internet (its a system requirement on the apple website). The only issue i can see is that it would take a lot of storage space to keep an index of all the songs on itms.

 

[chedda]

Flash Drive

32GB shuffle / flash drive, FW400 one end USB2 the other (bootable?) real small credit card sized shhhh..........time machine compatible.





One more thing iphone update ,european 3G version with gps, sim card slot, SDHC slot, and removeable battery.

 

[Cloudane]

Does it matter if it cuts into iPhone sales? When you buy either of the two products revenue is going to the same company.

Depends on the extent. Apple has its image to consider - even if the new iPod is a huge success, if the iPhone flops (let's say, because people were only buying them for the functionality and weren't bothered about the phone) then the media will focus on that. They always focus on the negative where possible. Apple would look incompetent.

4. Buying media ON your Pod: That's a big, uhhh, philosophical change for Apple, 'cos it means replumbing both iPods and iTunes to accept transfers of content FROM an iPod to a computer when you resync -- and that makes it easier (not that it's THAT hard for even semi-geeks today) to move media in directions Mamma don't allow. Maybe, but not a trivial change, even with a wifi iPod.

I can't see a problem. Remember the introduction to the new .Mac? Take a picture with your iPhone, upload it to your .Mac account, and it automatically downloads into your iPhoto. I can easily see them doing the same sort of thing with iTunes, it'd simply download the track automatically on the Mac (or PC) at the same time - no need to literally copy the file from the iPod.

5. A radio? Huhhh? How does a "radio" allow iTunes purchases? Digital radio with two-way interaction? Is Apple announcing a world-wide satellite launch? The internet's already a capable media download service with the hugest backbone of all time. A bit spendy to duplicate it and make it able to receive signals from millions of itty-bitty iPods.

Quite. I think the "radio" thing, if not unfounded, is a misunderstanding - I think their source was far more likely to have been talking about live podcasts (Apple's version of Internet Radio) over wifi.

Analogue radio, eww, no. If they did that, I'd be expecting to see a floppy drive on the next iMac.

 

[Evangelion]

I can sum up why there won't be a complete transition to flash (yet) in just 5 words and they cover issues such as FM Radio too:

Apple do not go backwards.

Which is why iPod Nano had less storage-capacity than the iPod Mini it replaced had?

 

[Piarco]

Ok, some things to consider:

1. When someone says "digital radio", they do not automatically mean "satellite radio".

2. IBOC, the "HD Radio" standard in the states, is easily implimented in a low-cost single chip. Or, the codec could be licensed from iBiquity and implemented exclusively in software, reducing the manufacturing cost down to the tuner hardware.

3. Eureka 147 is shifting to AAC+. AAC+, that sounds familiar... Hmmm..

4. TI has put Digital Radio Mondiale, DAB, and FM on ONE chip.

5. Right now, the biggest problem to overcome is chip POWER REQUIREMENTS. (You think 3G is a power hog?!) That is why I think digital radio won't be included in the new iPod Touch.

6. Suppose digital radio is out of the picture, but the new iPods do include an FM/AM analogue tuner (that's a low power, cheap chip). You can impliment the "click to buy" functionality easily with an RDS decoder. If the Touch is to get a radio, I believe this to be the most likely scenario.

All very interesting, but its still different chips for different regions. Not financially viable. And putting in yet another chip into a product that has a trend of getting smaller? I doubt it. But you're quite right, power requirements are the nail in that coffin.

However... FM/AM? Hardly forward thinking is it. We're due to be having the FM signal turned off in the UK in the next couple of years (2010 for radio?) and like others have said, the option of radio is there in the FM remote. The only radio we may wee will be internet based - if WiFi happens.

 

[philomac]

Hello
Im long time observer and first time user of mac forum here.
I have been following all news here.

I love new ipod high end video to be touch screen with all features like iphone except phone and wifi.

Digital radio is good. Having moved from music media to video they should also have DVR capability like new ARCHOS 605. By doing that im not saying they would copy less popular media player. It makes sense when people like NBC dropping out of apple. Also thier hardware sale and marketshare would bounce like anything.

Though its not speculation i would love to buy one if it has more functions like DVR, Digital download from itunes etc. new UI like touch screen, bigger HD would attract people IM SURE APPLE WILL DO VERY WELL IN THESE AREAS!

 

[Loge]

Which is why iPod Nano had less storage-capacity than the iPod Mini it replaced had?

That only went from 6GB to 4GB, and in any case those who found 4GB inadequate always had the alternative of buying a full sized iPod.

They may go all flash eventually, but they are not ready to do that yet.

 

[Evangelion]

That only went from 6GB to 4GB

So they went backwards.

and in any case those who found 4GB inadequate always had the alternative of buying a full sized iPod.

Which was bigger and cost more, so it was not really an alternative. The point is that the new device from Apple had LESS capabilities (at least when storage is concerned) than the device it was replacing did. Comparing it to full-sized iPod is comparing apples to oranges, since the Nano was not replacement of the white iPod, it was replacement for the Mini.

 

[-Ussu]

Found this one

 

[Yateball]

yeah... Whatever! The iPhone WILL continue to be their flagship handheld device. The iPod IS a media player, NOT a communicator - you want web/email ? Get an iPhone . Period.

And what of the countries that iPhone's are not available?

 

[thats nice]

And what of the countries that iPhone's are not available?

The people in those countries will have to go and buy an 8GB iPhone and unlock it and use it without the voicemail and youtube feature! I am in Australia and we wont be seeing the iPod for quite some time, so if i don't see a touch screen iPod on the fifth ill be doing this!

 

[Cloudane]

Which is why iPod Nano had less storage-capacity than the iPod Mini it replaced had?

Well ok they sometimes go slightly backwards within a particular model, as they also (arguably) did with the Mac Mini / MacBook graphics card from ATI to Intel.

What I mean is they don't take enormous leaps backwards with their entire range, which is what is being suggested here. They wouldn't, for example, withdraw the Mac Pro and only offer dual core machines just so that it can fit in a smaller/prettier case. Perhaps they'd hold off an *upgrade* to make the case smaller and prettier, but they wouldn't go backwards and make their most powerful computer less powerful or their biggest iPod smaller.

 

[Schtumple]

Ultimate disappointment scenario:

iPod
80 - 120 GB HDD
White / Black Aluminum enclosure
"Stubby" form factor to allow for wider screen
Smaller nano sized Click Wheel so widescreen occupies most of the device
New Interface (as leaked)

iPod Nano
4, 8, 16 GB FLASH
New color pallette (as leaked)
Same form factor
Video Playback
New Interface (as leaked)

Shuffle
[quiet update after media event]
1 GB & 2 GB
New Product Red version added

iTunes 8
New iTunes radio with "Buy Now" option

Also
New array of branded accessories

Pretty much this is what would have to happen to disappoint me

That's probably alot closer to reality than all of these stupid made up lies, anyone fancy a digital radio wifi itunes store mobile nano gps video 3inch screen mini ipod?