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Flash iPod at MacWorld Expo?
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OK - Let's be clear, this device (see below) WILL NOT be US$149. It just won't. Don't get your hopes up. Don't be disappointed when it isn't.
Many have pulled examples of comparable flash players for around 200 bucks. Apple (and the iPod brand, really) can afford to be at the TOP of that food chain. They have no reason to play at the bottom of it.
*IF* this is a "smaller-than-the-mini" device, I think we can expect it for 200. I don't think it's absurd that these would be the new mini's for some reason or another and go for 250. About the only reason this wouldn't work is because they don't really make 5GB flash drives.
But ultimately, the fact that this iPod is made with flash is completely irrelevent. It's all about storage capacity and ease-of-use. I think 1GB is a little low for storage capacity, but maybe Apple has some better research than I do.
Now, if this were actually the iPhone with 1GB of storage built in? Well...now you're cooking with gas.
Using flash in this case has an actual purpose, by shrinking the guts of the music player, you leave enough room for a phone in a casing about the size of an ipod mini - probably with a different design entirely, though.
And the cost of that will probably be $149. Provided you're talking about THOUSANDS of US Dollars.
Many have pulled examples of comparable flash players for around 200 bucks. Apple (and the iPod brand, really) can afford to be at the TOP of that food chain. They have no reason to play at the bottom of it.
*IF* this is a "smaller-than-the-mini" device, I think we can expect it for 200. I don't think it's absurd that these would be the new mini's for some reason or another and go for 250. About the only reason this wouldn't work is because they don't really make 5GB flash drives.
But ultimately, the fact that this iPod is made with flash is completely irrelevent. It's all about storage capacity and ease-of-use. I think 1GB is a little low for storage capacity, but maybe Apple has some better research than I do.
Now, if this were actually the iPhone with 1GB of storage built in? Well...now you're cooking with gas.
Using flash in this case has an actual purpose, by shrinking the guts of the music player, you leave enough room for a phone in a casing about the size of an ipod mini - probably with a different design entirely, though.
And the cost of that will probably be $149. Provided you're talking about THOUSANDS of US Dollars.
ooh appleinsider has joined the flash ipod confirmation train
http://www.appleinsider.com/article.php?id=813
http://www.appleinsider.com/article.php?id=813
Yvan256 said:
I also don't think this rumor could be true. I think a 1 GB model at $180 would be amazing, but most likely it will come in at $199. There will probably be no 2 Gig model. Good 256MB players cost $150.
But if the rumor is true, that would be amazing.
lasuther
I was waiting for people to say "for $50 more, you can get the iPod mini..."
But I guess someone already did.
And to the person who said the iPod line is getting a little diverse, I don't think that's the case. It's pretty straight-forward to me. Plus Apple will probably drop the regular 20 and 40gig iPods and replace that line with the photo. Who knows.
Fishes,
narco.
But I guess someone already did.
And to the person who said the iPod line is getting a little diverse, I don't think that's the case. It's pretty straight-forward to me. Plus Apple will probably drop the regular 20 and 40gig iPods and replace that line with the photo. Who knows.
Fishes,
narco.
Just wanted to add that I too think $149 would be excellent, but I find it difficult to believe. $199 at 1GiB seems most likely. I also doubt the 2 GiB.
To add another comparision to the mix, Wal-Mart now has their own consumer electronics brand called ilo, and they sell a 256 MB flash player for $80. And I think we can all agree that it don't get much cheaper than Wally World. Makes $149 seem even less likely to me.
Link: http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp?product_id=3202212
To add another comparision to the mix, Wal-Mart now has their own consumer electronics brand called ilo, and they sell a 256 MB flash player for $80. And I think we can all agree that it don't get much cheaper than Wally World. Makes $149 seem even less likely to me.
Link: http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp?product_id=3202212
what's wrong with the ipod line becoming diverse ? it helps with the argument that if you buy from the iTMS and want to take your music with you, you have to use an iPod [or a CD]. At least there's a lot of iPod choices, from $149 (if the rumor holds true) to $599, plus Flash players, the mini, the regular iPod and HP branded ones, and the iPod Photo. Plus that iPhone.
adam1185 said:
Hrmmm , also reporting another small G4 powerbook update... Could this be the duel-core G4? What do people think?
Personally, I'd be a little pissed off with such a small jump.. keeping my fingers crossed that appleinsider has been fed a false rumor by apple so at least one thing at the expo is a surprise...
Or is hope just driving me blind ?
Rob
my guesses: iPod micro may be a bit more than $149 (but under $199), use the standard dock, will have much better battery life than either the mini or regular as well as being sturdier, will look like a slightly scaled down mini, the micro will sell like hotcakes and a lot of the buyers will already have an iPod (the micro will be the gym/beach/travel etc)
ACK!!! I didn't read carefully enough! they might get rid of the click wheel? How does this make any sense? They introduced it on the mini BECAUSE it was smaller, and needed fewer buttons and more space. They moved it to the regular ipod because it was way, way more elegant and easy to use.
They want to drop it? WHY!!!!!! it's the only real advantage they have over the million other flash players out there!
They want to drop it? WHY!!!!!! it's the only real advantage they have over the million other flash players out there!
GonzoRob said:Hrmmm , also reporting another small G4 powerbook update... Could this be the duel-core G4? What do people think?
Personally, I'd be a little pissed off with such a small jump.. keeping my fingers crossed that appleinsider has been fed a false rumor by apple so at least one thing at the expo is a surprise...
Or is hope just driving me blind ?
Rob
You count going from a low FSB, single-core CPU to a higher FSB, dual-core CPU a small update?! Dual-core in a laptop, man!
A complete iPod line
There are many reasons for having a small flash-based iPod instead of a larger HD model. Just like people bought the mini for the smaller size and more stylish looks (IMHO and obviuosly many others). Personally, I wish they made a "mini-styled" regular sized iPod with larger capacity. I own ~15 GB of music, so I had to pass on the mini although I like the styling much more than the regular iPods. I got a 20 GB 4G.
There are even more reason to get a flash-based iPod in my opinion.
1. Probably will be the cheapest type of iPod.
2. They are great for joggers, and those working out since they are more durable. This also means they are better for children who are often less careful with their possessions.
3. Flash is solidstate, which often has a longer lifespan than harddrive-based devices with moving parts.
4. Flash drives require less power, so the battery life will probably be excellent.
5. Flash drive allows for an even smaller iPod.
I think this fills out the iPod line completely. Yeah, they are not dirt cheap like some other MP3 players, but the iPod has been marketed as a premium device from the start, so paying $150 to get an entry-level iPod seems reasonable. I still think, $150 is a good price-point where parents would start buying them for their kids, especially considering that flash-based iPods would be more durable.
puckhead193 said:
There are many reasons for having a small flash-based iPod instead of a larger HD model. Just like people bought the mini for the smaller size and more stylish looks (IMHO and obviuosly many others). Personally, I wish they made a "mini-styled" regular sized iPod with larger capacity. I own ~15 GB of music, so I had to pass on the mini although I like the styling much more than the regular iPods. I got a 20 GB 4G.
There are even more reason to get a flash-based iPod in my opinion.
1. Probably will be the cheapest type of iPod.
2. They are great for joggers, and those working out since they are more durable. This also means they are better for children who are often less careful with their possessions.
3. Flash is solidstate, which often has a longer lifespan than harddrive-based devices with moving parts.
4. Flash drives require less power, so the battery life will probably be excellent.
5. Flash drive allows for an even smaller iPod.
I think this fills out the iPod line completely. Yeah, they are not dirt cheap like some other MP3 players, but the iPod has been marketed as a premium device from the start, so paying $150 to get an entry-level iPod seems reasonable. I still think, $150 is a good price-point where parents would start buying them for their kids, especially considering that flash-based iPods would be more durable.
out of interest and excuse the ignorance ,but what is a flash ipod?
woppsadaisy, just saw the post above
woppsadaisy, just saw the post above
Yvan256 said:
For the sake of 1/2 a year until the g5 is out (this is assuming the rumor is correct) it is doubtful that apple would use a duel core G4 for such a small amout of time.
I have a feeling that the bump to 1.6 something will just be a mild speed increase .
I *really* hope im wrong. I want a duel-core more than a g5
R
Anyone interested in this, be sure to read the Daring Fireball take on it from a few weeks back:
http://daringfireball.net/2004/12/flash_gordon
http://daringfireball.net/2004/12/flash_gordon
ChrisH3677 said:
Sounds like their marketting people know what they're doing. They've created a slight product overlap that may lead you to upgrade to a higher model.
Not to be mean here, but consumers get this idea sometimes that something is overpriced if they (personally) can't afford it. If you don't like the price point of the flash model, and you can't afford an HD-based music player, then maybe you can't afford an iPod. That doesn't mean they're overpriced. It means they're beyond your budget. I don't have an iPod because I can't justify spending that much money on one now.
Arguments for an iPod micro
There have been attempts by some to assert an iPod micro with all the positive features of the iPod and iPod mini is physically impossible.
Born genius that I am, I can propose at least one way that a large screen and scroll wheel could be compatible in a credit card size form factor.
Simply the scroll wheel would be on the back and the screen on the front.
The operation of the scroll wheel is pretty much touchy feely and the screen offers the necessary visual feedback. Voilé!
There have been attempts by some to assert an iPod micro with all the positive features of the iPod and iPod mini is physically impossible.
Born genius that I am, I can propose at least one way that a large screen and scroll wheel could be compatible in a credit card size form factor.
Simply the scroll wheel would be on the back and the screen on the front.
The operation of the scroll wheel is pretty much touchy feely and the screen offers the necessary visual feedback. Voilé!
iPod flash for 149,- a good idea? and more....
I just wonder what this new iPod has to offer that is different from other flash based players at the same price, apart from a sexy family tree and obvious sexy looks.... My thoughts are this:
... if they would launch an updated iPod mini for the same price as the current one, and sell the current configuration for less than $200,- ($189,-perhaps, anyone?) that would be a killer for the flash based players!
Okay, flash based is nice in terms of shock resistance etc etc, but storage isn't all that great at this point in time
Oh well, Apple probably has investigated this with some clever marketing people, and are bound to get it right, they need to move on if they do not want to loose marketshare as they did way back in the early '90's with the original Macintosh.
That said:
The current Mac line up is pretty strong though, needs a little more CPU power here and there to get through to those customers stuck in that old Mhz myth (which isn't a complete fabrication, although far over rated), as for the OS, is there another OS out there that has this ease of use, so integrated, so bloody perfected? Don't think so, they might be good, but not 'that' good....
I just wonder what this new iPod has to offer that is different from other flash based players at the same price, apart from a sexy family tree and obvious sexy looks.... My thoughts are this:
... if they would launch an updated iPod mini for the same price as the current one, and sell the current configuration for less than $200,- ($189,-perhaps, anyone?) that would be a killer for the flash based players!
Okay, flash based is nice in terms of shock resistance etc etc, but storage isn't all that great at this point in time
Oh well, Apple probably has investigated this with some clever marketing people, and are bound to get it right, they need to move on if they do not want to loose marketshare as they did way back in the early '90's with the original Macintosh.
That said:
The current Mac line up is pretty strong though, needs a little more CPU power here and there to get through to those customers stuck in that old Mhz myth (which isn't a complete fabrication, although far over rated), as for the OS, is there another OS out there that has this ease of use, so integrated, so bloody perfected? Don't think so, they might be good, but not 'that' good....
BWhaler said:
yeah, i thought the same thing. Seemed off the wall for them to put out another huge prediction the day after it is announced that they are being sued.
autrefois
macrumors 65816
Chobit said:
I think it's a really nice idea, but the fact that it's difficult to type and/or get the µ (mu) to display correctly probably rules it out.
Unless Steve is really mad at the media for spreading all these rumors and wants to get revenge. Newsrooms across the world will be scrambling to find out how to type µ (mu)!
Yvan256 said:
Actually, there are 5 models of the iPod Mini IIRC.
My friend actually has four of them...