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Flash iPod Details?
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I've had as many as 3 iPods interfaced with my iTunes simultaneously, including an iPod photo. They each behave based on the prefs set for them (they each have a popup menu on the prefs), including the iPod photo which also has a separate pane for the photos. So one can be set on auto-sync while another is set on drag-and-drop (manual).jet3004 said:
I'm guessing iTunes will recognize the iPod shuffle as "special" and it will have it's own pane as well, like the iPod photo. The default will be a radio button to fill with 1GB random music from the library. The option will be to fill with 1GB from a particular playlist or group of playlists as chosen by the user. That's all.
I believe the device will have just play, next, previous, and shuffle buttons. Hopefully still configured on a click wheel so the volume control will be the same, and people will become addicted and buy a bigger iPod.
advocate said:
ditto!!
I just find it too much of a hassel to take my pod out all the time, especially when i'm travelling from one place to another. I just press next on my remote if the song doesn't suit my mood- so perhaps the screenless ipod isn't that crazy of an idea
(before the ipod stole my heart, I had a 256MB-flash, screenless mp3 player about the size of a half dollar ~US$70)
A screen-less iPod isn't a crazy idea, but I find it so underwhelming.
Enough iPod R&D Apple - get your ass into gear with some new Mac hardware!
Enough iPod R&D Apple - get your ass into gear with some new Mac hardware!
L
littlejim
Guest
I would love to know how Apple could release this for less than $150 when 1Gb Flash Drives retail for more than that?
It wouldn't suprise me if the price point was closer to $200 that $100.
It wouldn't suprise me if the price point was closer to $200 that $100.
Are you sure?? One more revision?? Please?? Or I guess I could just wait for the real thing at this point...doogle said:OK here is my final offering (to the wolves):
No way there will be a loose lid like that. Has to be connected somehow. Cool would be if the FireWire popped out like a switchblade VW car-key thingy.
Also, methinks the word "shuffle" will not appear on a button, but the curvy-crossed arrow icon for "shuffle" will label that button.
And why not have the controls on a clickwheel in the same orientation as the regular iPods, with the "shuffle" instead of "menu"? Then the clickwheel could be the volume control, getting people all hooked on the interface for when they are ready to trade up for a deluxe model.
guys, i think the main thing to remember during this speculation is that this is apple - they aren't going to screw it up.
they invest millions of dollars in R&D to find peoples listening habits, their spending, etc. Since 1997 when SJ came back, what product has apple released that has bombed? (the cube is a different story.. )
Everyone here thought the iPod mini was going to do badly. It's still doing well.
Come on, let's have a little faith in our favourite company - SJ wont disappoint..!
/asif
they invest millions of dollars in R&D to find peoples listening habits, their spending, etc. Since 1997 when SJ came back, what product has apple released that has bombed? (the cube is a different story..
)Everyone here thought the iPod mini was going to do badly. It's still doing well.
Come on, let's have a little faith in our favourite company - SJ wont disappoint..!
/asif
512 MB
I wouldn't be surprised to see an iTunes with AAC Plus v2 encoding and an iPod Flash with 512 MBytes of memory. For this kind of product, this kind of encoder would give all the quality you need at 72 kbps. Do the math: (512*1024*1024*8) / (4*60*72*1024) = 242. (According to the creators of AAC, 48 kbps already gives near CD quality. 72 kbps is 50% more bits, should be more than enough.)
M.
I wouldn't be surprised to see an iTunes with AAC Plus v2 encoding and an iPod Flash with 512 MBytes of memory. For this kind of product, this kind of encoder would give all the quality you need at 72 kbps. Do the math: (512*1024*1024*8) / (4*60*72*1024) = 242. (According to the creators of AAC, 48 kbps already gives near CD quality. 72 kbps is 50% more bits, should be more than enough.)
M.
MTT said:
Don't believe everything the creators told you..
I find that 128k AAC about equals 320, but there's prolly some placebo-effect in there. This kind of compression relies on cutting away stuff from the music.. now, how much can you cut away before it's audible. Prolly a lot if you listen to music on the train, or in your car. But 72K is way too much when walking through a silent park or reading a book or whatever.
And they've thrown public remarks at Sony for this kind of advertising before, so why would they start doing the same?
The more I think about this, the more I think it´s a good idea. Maybe it´s not for me, but I definitely can see the potencial here, for people that just want a handful of songs for the day. Besides, Apple probably has created an user interface that will make this thing incredibly easy to use.
Freg3000 said:
Fake. I haven't checked the WHOIS, but the coding is too amateurish to be Apple surely (leaving Adobe GoLive as the generator, ha ha).
Freg3000 said:
Fake. I tried http://www.ipod-shuffle.com/ipod, and it didn´t show the standard Apple Not Found page.
Nope, its just a mock up to sell the apple dock... fortunately.. because that didn't take much thought, IMO, its ugly.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/A...46477/sr=11-1/ref=sr_11_1/104-0587473-7272709
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/A...46477/sr=11-1/ref=sr_11_1/104-0587473-7272709
Duff-Man said:
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
MTT said:
Interesting Idea. I was wondering why they advertised 240 songs vs. 250. But a new encoder would mean two things:
1. New iTunes version (not the expected minor update 4.7.1)
2. Songs at iTMS are encoded at 128kpbs. They would have to change that, too or at least offer a choice.
3. iPod shuffle owners would have to re-encode their existing library.
So I guess it's not going to happen, but nice try!
doogle said:OK here is my final offering (to the wolves
Nice design, but you're not taking into account the report that it will have 2 large buttons and two small ones. Which in actuality is at least 5 buttons (volume is a dual tilt button).
The device will look alot like an iPod remote, perhaps a little longer and thicker. Just watch....
Poff said:
AAC plus is a different format, relying on an entirely new algorithm. I've long suspected this is how Apple is going to handle it. With just a 512 MB flash card, they'll be able to sell this thing REAL cheap -- perhaps as low as $99. Then maybe also offer a 1-gigger for $149.
By the way, assuming it will be as well designed and well built as an iPod remote, I am ready to declare that the iPod Shuffle will sell more than the iPod and iPod Mini combined by this time next year.
It will be inexpensive enough for existing iPod users to buy for a second iPod and as a USB key of 1GB... that's a pretty big USB drive...
It will be inexpensive enough for existing iPod users to buy for a second iPod and as a USB key of 1GB... that's a pretty big USB drive...
Shuffle, shuffle. The word has lost all meaning.
I can see it looking much like the remote. It could work well. You'll have one playlist in iTunes named So-and-so's iPod Shuffle and whatever's in there, goes. Then you can shuffle (we'll probably need a shuffle/playlist button on there...) or play your playlist as ordered in iTunes.
"Do the iPod Shuffle". Shudder at what SNL will do with this name.
I can see it looking much like the remote. It could work well. You'll have one playlist in iTunes named So-and-so's iPod Shuffle and whatever's in there, goes. Then you can shuffle (we'll probably need a shuffle/playlist button on there...) or play your playlist as ordered in iTunes.
"Do the iPod Shuffle". Shudder at what SNL will do with this name.
dontmatter said:
Hey pal, watch it with that cube crap!
The cube was the most beautiful computing machine ever designed.
I agree.drlunanerd said:
There is no WHOIS FWIW (which I thought wasn't possible, but who knows these days), and the SOA points at:
Code:
ipod-shuffle.com
origin = ns3.d3ns.com
mail addr = accounts.elinuxservers.com...none of which really screams "Apple registered this", does it? (If they did, and they went to such efforts to hide the fact, why is it displaying an Apple logo this morning?)
IIRC, Apple usually uses one of the web accelerator services like akadns.net for their websites.
Kind of makes you think that this device probably will not be called the Shuffle. After all, they'd have registered the site, wouldn't they?
Many of you are missing the point...
This device is not meant to sift through your whole library on the go. Get a big brother for that. It's meant to sync with a playlist, not a library. Since you make the playlist, you like every song on it. So, sync it up with your "Gym" playlist, and hit play, or shuffle. What do you need a screen for? You know what's on it, and you love every song!
You only need 4 buttons. Next track, Previous track, Play/Pause/Power, and Shuffle.
I adore the simplicity of not having to navigate anything. Wanna know what would seal the deal? (you heard it here first) A little update to iTunes, that will fill this iPod (on connect) with random songs from your entire library.
It's brilliant - it'll keep the cost down, and they'll sell gagillions
This device is not meant to sift through your whole library on the go. Get a big brother for that. It's meant to sync with a playlist, not a library. Since you make the playlist, you like every song on it. So, sync it up with your "Gym" playlist, and hit play, or shuffle. What do you need a screen for? You know what's on it, and you love every song!
You only need 4 buttons. Next track, Previous track, Play/Pause/Power, and Shuffle.
I adore the simplicity of not having to navigate anything. Wanna know what would seal the deal? (you heard it here first) A little update to iTunes, that will fill this iPod (on connect) with random songs from your entire library.
It's brilliant - it'll keep the cost down, and they'll sell gagillions