AppleInsider says iPod Boombox

[vmardian]

While this COULD be a generic speaker accesory, the alternate theory is that its in fact a boombox that taps into iTunes (or, say, a Media Center Mac mini). You could carry the music on your Living Room's Mac mini around the house: completely wireless and rechargable.

It's not the alternate theory. It is in fact the rumor. Read the article. It says "one source called the gadget an oversized iPod with boombox-type speakers".

The scope seems very clear to me. Whether it downloads the music via USB, FireWire, Ethernet, or WiFi, is unclear.

 

[lopresmb]

Man, is there anything that hasn't been rumored for this upcoming expo? I'm just waiting for some powermac rumors and I think we'll have run the gambit.

 

[nichos]

Transferring photos & video wirelessly on two Tivos is painfully slow - not sure how Apple could improve it.

I currently stream from my linux server to my iBook over a neatgear 802.11g router. Of course, this is divx so the files arent the highest of quality, but I have no problems w/skipping, etc. I'm using the smb protocol.

 

[iDM]

I'd really like to see this any chance it will have wireless networking capabilities? I'd love to get the Airport Express except that it doesn't have a ethernet to ethernet like even my wireless linksys router has now(the person i plan on moving it with swears by having a wired internet connection).

 

[iDM]

Man, is there anything that hasn't been rumored for this upcoming expo? I'm just waiting for some powermac rumors and I think we'll have run the gambit.

Sorry i had to, but i haven't heard any mentioning on a return to Apple Newton or similar handhelds and thank god for no Tablet talk. Maybe other people like the idea but i still have yet to see how someone would prefer to write as opposed to type. I understand sketches but that is about it, so wait i guess that actually means there is a use for a tablet. Alright well my posts are getting increasingly useless since it is finals week here and all.

 

[brandon6684]

It's about time they release something else. They've been on the edge of consumer electronics(yet still a large disruptive force) for a while now with the iPod line and a few accessories, they need to expand further to keep growing.

 

[virus1]

I think I may already be getting sick *cough* *cough* i think it will worsen so I cant go to school on the 10th.

good thinking.. week before finals tho.. got to watch out

 

[w_parietti22]

These speakers better be made by a third party and designed by apple... otherwise... well, imo, Apple speakers suck.

 

[GregA]

Sorry i had to, but i haven't heard any mentioning on a return to Apple Newton or similar handhelds and thank god for no Tablet talk.

You must've missed the rumour of an iPod with the screen 90' to what it is today, and widescreen. Kinda like a tablet in some ways eh? :-/

 

[BenAKL]

Who knows, it could be a Cinema Display (20", 23" 30") with a remote control and a docking station?
*shudder at the thought of it*!!!!

 

[ibook30]

Make it pretty and make it work well,,, and I will buy it ! I hope this happens!

 

[nutmac]

I'd consider buying this if it looks great, has wireless capabilities, is small, and sounds good....though I doubt it will sound anything like the Bose setup.

With the right partner making speaker, it's possible. It's not like Bose is known for making good speakers, particularly its SoundDock (which is just okay considering it's small).

 

[LaMerVipere]

I much prefer to just plug my speakers into my computer, I don't know about the rest of you. Hooking them up to my iPod just isn't as fun or functional to me. I can access and control stuff so much faster and easier with the computer! And with a laptop, the convenience difference between the two is minimal at best.

Apple should focus on improving the iPod itself. Little things like gapless playback and greater control over EQ would be far more welcomed additions in our house than some iPod boombox!

 

[GregA2]

I wonder if this boombox thing will have a cd player in it... It would be cool if you could rip music directly into it without having to use a computer.

 

[BenAKL]

I wonder if this boombox thing will have a cd player in it... It would be cool if you could rip music directly into it without having to use a computer.

Don't think they would. Would give them a reason NOT to get a Mac

 

[NewbieNerd]

I'm relatively new to the Apple community, so this a new experience for me in terms of waiting in eager expectation for all these events like MWSF. It was bad enough that I spent half my night last night on here reading about new iBooks and whatnot when I should have been focusing on my game theory paper. I can only imagine how much I'm gonna be on here when school is official out and I have nothing else to do. Should I really place any confidence in any of these rumors whatsoever? By the time MWSF actually gets here, Apple will supposedly be offering Intel machines in for all lines, all new iPod models, probably even OS X 10.6 (already people thinking Leopard might be displayed, so why not assume they're just gonna pass right on by that release).

A lot of people just need to calm down around here.

 

[chubad]

=
A lot of people just need to calm down around here.

No way!
We we be whipped into an absolutely insane, hyper crazed drooling madman psyco adrenaline pumped FRENZY, by the time the Macworld keynote starts.

After all it's a time honored sacred Machead tradition.

 

[Peace]

I posted the following in the Viiv/Mini discussion this morning :


From the U.S. Patent Office website :

Jam Box :

Word Mark JAM BOX
Goods and Services IC 009. US 021 023 026 036 038. G & S: computer hardware; computer software; computer peripherals, namely audio production systems comprised of computer hardware and software for composing, recording, creating, converting, enhancing, processing, amplifying, mixing, manipulating, and playing audio signals
Standard Characters Claimed
Mark Drawing Code (4) STANDARD CHARACTER MARK
Design Search Code
Serial Number 78611342
Filing Date April 18, 2005
Current Filing Basis 1B
Original Filing Basis 1B
Owner (APPLICANT) Apple Computer, Inc. CORPORATION CALIFORNIA 1 Infinite Loop MS 3-TM 1 Infinite Loop Cupertino CALIFORNIA 95014
Attorney of Record John Donald
Type of Mark TRADEMARK
Register PRINCIPAL
Live/Dead Indicator LIVE

 

[SiliconAddict]

different "anything Apple has released in the past." The device is reported to include wireless audio streaming and be marketed as "plug and play music for your home".

*yawns*

And doubtlessly the same boring form factor we seen again and again and again over the last 4 years. Wake me when Apple decides to get some real innovation in their products instead of evolution. Wake me when they introduce a product that is really a video iPod and not some half-baked slap-the-feature-in-our-normal-ipod-becaue-its-going-to-sell-anyways solution. Yah yah I’m a broken record. I’m just waiting on Apple to deliver on a new form factor that goes along side your typical iPod. Yes year over year Ford, Toyota and the like don't alter the general form of their cars but every so often they shake things up. Sometimes they work. Sometimes they don't. But they take a chance. They try something new. this is the kind of thinking I crave from Apple. Where is the think different company? As I said before right now all I’m seeing is think inside the box.

 

[doogle]

Soft not hard

I am not so interested in new hardware for the iPod. I am interested in the iPod working more closely with my Mac. There needs to be integration with more Apple software to make the iPod even more useful, for example "Keynote" should sync directly with iPod and enable video controlled presentations. "iPhoto" should sync directly with iPod...iTunes is becoming unwieldy and bloated with functions to "put out fires".

Two divisions in Apple may work fine for making the products, as long as the separation des not impact on the connectivity between Apple software and hardware. iPod guys, lets hope, are still talking to the Apple guys and coming up with some good ideas.

 

[GorillaPaws]

Not to sound like a jerk, but I seriously hope Apple isn't wasting away valuable R&D resources on boomboxes (even if they're wireless). I'm sure we could come up with a list of at least 1000 things that would be more important than this...

 

[nagromme]

I can believe it. I've expected Apple to produce more non-iPod consumer electronics before now.

I have no opinion on the boombox thing, though, without knowing what it is. Anything I've thought of has already been done--not that Apple couldn't do it well too.

 

[balamw]

Goods and Services IC 009. US 021 023 026 036 038. G & S: computer hardware; computer software; computer peripherals, namely audio production systems comprised of computer hardware and software for composing, recording, creating, converting, enhancing, processing, amplifying, mixing, manipulating, and playing audio signals

Sounds a bit like the fabled Asteroid.

B

 

[iMeowbot]

I guess they could sort of have something in there, if the idea is to have a self-contained giant iPod with a CD deck for ripping and some basic network capability to get to iTMS. An iTunes appliance that lets people play who aren't interested in touching a computer that looks like a computer just might find some buyers.

 

[twoodcc]

Been looking for something like this. I'd like to see something go into my stereo shelf, perhaps an iTunes server like those Roku units.

Here's to the Crazy Ones ​

an itunes server, now that sounds like a good idea