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Flash iPod Details?

Make that LESS than 1/2" thick (the Mini already is, and the 20GB is nearly). Then add a Play/Pause button please :D

NOW you've got something pretty cool.

But I don't know what... maybe a remote control.

A slide-away scrollwheel faceplate be cool though, if Apple wanted a tiny device with a scrollwheel, and have room to reveal a screen underneath. Kinda of like a Danger Hiptop without a pivot. (I know that picture is not showing a scrollwheel.)
 
I wont rule out that this is impossible but... one thing is for sure, if they do come out with this, it will not be an iPod. iPods always have had the Square screen then the circle controls under it (perhaps with a few buttons in the way but the circle was there just the same.). iFlash... too sexual. iPlay.... too childish. iTune... humm... too similar.

iPocket...?

iDon'tknow.
 
jxyama said:
if anything, i'd expect one with a 2 line screen, with 512 MB priced $150. 1 GB for $100 is a "bargain" in any sense of the word and we know apple doesn't do bargains -> just look at mini. and it may look overpriced and it may still do very well, like the mini.
Click to expand...

512MB would mean only 125 songs. This number is too low to wow anyone. Unless they bring "AACplus" at the same time, which would crank up that number to 250 songs.

As for the display with only 2 lines, how can you navigate with that? I see a minimum of 4 or 5 lines to keep it usable.
 
bartszyszka said:
CD and tape players have managed to work without screen navigation. Although it does seem a little weird that an iPod would have no screen at all.
Click to expand...

CD and tape players only had two dozen songs at most.
 
Yvan256 said:
512MB would mean only 125 songs. This number is too low to wow anyone. Unless they bring "AACplus" at the same time, which would crank up that number to 250 songs.

As for the display with only 2 lines, how can you navigate with that? I see a minimum of 4 or 5 lines to keep it usable.
Click to expand...


I don't think 512 would be totaly out of the picture. I mean that is why they only have 60 or so percent of the whole mp3 market, those 128-512 flash players are a great chunk. Why not?
 
I have a Kenwood MP3 played in my car WITH a screen and it sucks to use. I can't imagine Apple would do something like not incorporate a screen. And a huge FW port? I'd rather see some slick way to eject the card and use a reader. Course then you are screwed for recharging... If any company can do it right, it's Apple. But I don't think this is the way they will go.
 
dongmin said:
this is by far one of the most absurd rumors I've ever heard. Really not even worth commenting on but I'm bored and there hasn't been much to comment on recently.

$99??? Are you jokng? You know what you can buy at the Apple Store for $99? A big, fat NOTHING, except for maybe a couple of ipod accessories. Airport Express--$129. iSight--$129, bluetooth mouse--$69. So tell me how Apple is gonna managed to cram a 1GB flash disk, click wheel or some other interface, battery, firewire/usb, and the rest of the circuitry for $99.
Click to expand...

Well, if they can sell Airport Express for 129$US, I can surely see them able to make a 99$ Flash iPod. And we debated flash prices a lot in other topics, and 1GB is quite possible.
 
Another possibility... The source saw a REAL product that, like many at Apple, was experimented with and then shelved with good reason. Innovation means trying some weird things. Only a few make it to the door :)
 
nagromme said:
Make that LESS than 1/2" thick (the Mini already is, and the 20GB is nearly). Then add a Play/Pause button please :D

NOW you've got something pretty cool.
Click to expand...

Pushing down in the middle of the joypad is play/pause.
 
is it just me or that the rendered picture looks more like a remote that should go with airport express?

if the device is a remote for airtunes that also works as a very basic mp3 player, then it would be something "different."
 
The article says
we'll hopefully be able to tell you about the interface in the next few days
Click to expand...
so if TheMacMind recovers from its slashdotting we'll see if they have any more "inside information" to share.
 
nagromme said:
This rumor is suspect. I'd expect a Flash player to be 2GB/500 songs minimum from Apple (to meet a standard of usefulness), even if that means it can't be released at a good price for a while. And I'd expect it to use the same form factor as the Mini, just like there are variations in the capacity/thickness of the other iPods. And if it WAS smaller than a Mini, I'd expect it to be thinner too. And of course, have a screen :)
Click to expand...
A 2GB flash-based player would actually cost MORE than a Mini. So you might be able to shave a .1 of an inch in terms of thickness. But that's it. No real advantages. For more $$$. Why?
 
jxyama said:
is it just me or that the rendered picture looks more like a remote that should go with airport express?
Click to expand...

My thought exactly. If this is an actual product, I can much more see it being an iTunes remote to help fix the problem of playing your music over an Airport Express.
 
that is true, it seems like a remote... think about it... apple updated their Airport software for one reason -- to add support for the Keyspan remote. but why send out a huge update to everyone for a 3rd party product? my bet is it added support for their own remote too.
 
yeah, when I read that bit it imediately reminded me of that Jack the liar bloke who used to run MacWhispers and who was constantly making stuff up just to generate site traffic. Either they have the information or not, "hopefully" doesnt come into it. I say a big poo poo in this.

Doctor Q said:
The article says

so if TheMacMind recovers from its slashdotting we'll see if they have any more "inside information" to share.
Click to expand...
 
jxyama said:
is it just me or that the rendered picture looks more like a remote that should go with airport express?

if the device is a remote for airtunes that also works as a very basic mp3 player, then it would be something "different."
Click to expand...

i would tend to agree with that too. Just cos it makes more sense.

But imagine this for a flashpod, Think of it as a half a mini, or just up to the screen. and then the click wheel on the back. almost like folding a mini in half. I think the click wheel can be easily controlled without looking at it. I do it all the time. Or maybe that could be a new mini. i think it could work.
 
shidoshi said:
My thought exactly. If this is an actual product, I can much more see it being an iTunes remote to help fix the problem of playing your music over an Airport Express.
Click to expand...

I think you'd really need an LCD for an Airport Express remote. What if you want to change playlists? What if you want to play a certain song? You're pretty much SOL without a display. There's already an LCD-less remote for Airport Express, called "Keyspan" or something. Apple wouldn't copy their mistake.

I don't see Apple releasing a flash player like this for many of those same reasons. It would be pointless to maintain playlists with a player like this. It would be impossible to only play songs from a particular artist / album.

Another thing: Apple knows that a small-capacity flash player will be popular with gym goers. How would you have a belt clip or armband for this, without obscuring the controls?

This gets a "0" on the believability scale.
 
I don't believe this story. No screen is dumb. It will probably be like the lipstick-style flash players that are out already, except Appleized with better menu system and a smoother look.

Rechargeable, permanent battery though? Probably.
And I'll be the price is more around 140 than 99
 
How can you navigate through song lists and playlists without a display? Very un-Apple, IMHO. They don't scrimp on the details (except for base RAM and GPU, anyway).

My little prediction:
The only way Apple introduces a micro is if it doesn't compete directly with the mini. No point to it if all it does is steal sales from another product in the line. So, the mini will be upgraded to to 6 or 8GB at MWSF, closing the gap between the mini and the 20GB low end iPod. Apple will then announce that $179 will get you a flash 2GB iPod micro, 3-4 line LCD, same scroll wheel as the mini, a little (half to three quarter-inch) shorter than the mini, certainly lighter, with some mechanism for hanging it around your neck.

Bank on it, because I have no idea what I'm talking about.... :)
 
Just a thought, I have a flash based Creative Nomad IIc that I use whenever I go for a jog. I never look at its screen. If I want to switch to a different song I reach down and hit the next button without looking at it. In fact the screen has so much dust/pocket lint on the inside of it I couldn't see it if I wanted to.

If having no screen lowers its cost down to $99, I say have no screen! I'll still buy it, because it will still meet my needs. If I wanted to look at a pretty screen I'd opt for an iPod Photo.


I think Apple's Marketing Machine should call this the iPod Sport.
 
If they use the increasingly common mobile phone access system of voice recognition to find songs, we might have a winner...

But I am skeptical...
 
no screen? no problem. maybe voice recognition with a mic built into the device or even on new headphones (like current cell headsets). that would solve the problem of navigating 150+ songs.

eh, just throwing out an idea.

edit: looks like i should have read all the posts.
 
Sony Remote

If this is fact is a new ipod, first i think it won't be called the ipod... the want to diferentiate the ipod as being a high class item...

They could use a remote with a screen like some sony players have I think their MD players have like little screens on the remotes...
 
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