Category: 3rd Party Hardware
Link: Synaptics gets the nod to help boost iPod supply
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iPod Clickwheels From Synaptics... Again
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Category: 3rd Party Hardware
Link: Synaptics gets the nod to help boost iPod supply
Posted on MacBytes.com
Approved by Mudbug
The real news
The real news in this story might be the fact that Apple will not meet it's estimates of 8-10 million units sold (for the nano), and is having to downgrade its estimates to 7.5 million units. It won't be good news for investors.
The real news in this story might be the fact that Apple will not meet it's estimates of 8-10 million units sold (for the nano), and is having to downgrade its estimates to 7.5 million units. It won't be good news for investors.
eh.... is apple's clickwheel supplier really headline news?
Edit: longofest changed punchline, now it seems a little more worthy.
Edit: longofest changed punchline, now it seems a little more worthy.
iMeowbot said:
Absolutely. The new ones don't have enough foil around them, for one, so if a GSM phone goes off right next to the click-wheel of a nano or video iPod, the controls go nuts (assuming hold is off). Synaptics click wheels didn't have this problem.
It was foolish on Apple's part to think they and their new partner could handle all this on their own in the first place. Now Synaptics has to swing in to save the day. 
And I agree about the new ones feeling cheaper, I've noticed this as well.
And I agree about the new ones feeling cheaper, I've noticed this as well.
Well, if Amazon.com's listings are any indication, the 30Gb iPod is the #1 and #3 top mp3 player right now. Maybe their nano est. are down but their regular iPod estimates are up.
The new 60 GB iPod will make up for any loss nano sales. Video in a portable will take off and secure MPEG-4 video as a real standard.
Jon'sLightBulbs said:Give us a no click wheel... like 3g... please!
lol. I have the 3G and I can't stand it. I miss the 1G to be honest, so I suspect I'd enjoy the clickwheel.
In a winter climate it sucks to not be able to push buttons with gloves on. With the 1G or the clickwheel you can do everything but volume with gloves on. With the 3G you can't do ANYTHING with gloves on.
I guess you can't please everyone.
David
Super Dave said:lol. I have the 3G and I can't stand it. I miss the 1G to be honest, so I suspect I'd enjoy the clickwheel.
In a winter climate it sucks to not be able to push buttons with gloves on. With the 1G or the clickwheel you can do everything but volume with gloves on. With the 3G you can't do ANYTHING with gloves on.
I guess you can't please everyone.
David
I have both a 1G and 3G, and this is a big complaint for me as well. I dislike taking my gloves off, or having to reach in the pocket, or whatever, to change a song and the like. I miss the actual clicking on the 1G, and also suspect I would like having a clickwheel iPod (anyone in the generous christmas spirit?
)
With a 1G, you can do everything with gloves, because the wheel is mechanical.Super Dave said:
Unfortunately, that design didn't last very long. It's still one of my favorites.
I can't say I ever liked the new iPod look...from these numbers, I'd guess I'm not the only one.longofest said:
Jon'sLightBulbs said:Give us a no click wheel... like 3g... please!
Eww, the 3G was crap.
Super Dave said:
Ditto, I went from a 1G to a 3G and almost threw a fit, it was a pain, but then got a 4G and felt happiness run through my body again.
Apple must be punching themselves for this...
They should have just stuck with Synaptics, unless there was a size issue for the Nano, anybody know?
Do you think anyone will be able to tell the difference between the two; like "Oh, darn, I got one of those from Cypress, I wanted a Synaptics"?
On the other hand, I'm buying a iPod Video, what brand makes that click-wheel for that? And are they any good?
They should have just stuck with Synaptics, unless there was a size issue for the Nano, anybody know?
Do you think anyone will be able to tell the difference between the two; like "Oh, darn, I got one of those from Cypress, I wanted a Synaptics"?
On the other hand, I'm buying a iPod Video, what brand makes that click-wheel for that? And are they any good?
shamino said:
Oops. That's what I meant. Oh how I miss the 1G. It filled my life with joy. Not to mention that was still when iPods were "what-the-heck-is-that" cool instead of "everyone owns one…of course" cool.
rickvanr said:
I have renewed hope! Can't wait til my 3G dies. I'm not North American enough to replace it before then, but I look forward to owning a video iPod with a clickwheel.
David
thejadedmonkey said:
Just a head's up, but the numbers reflect the iPod nanos they think they can make, not how many they can sell. They're selling everyone they make.
David
I can't say I blame Apple for trying to reduce the cost of the clickwheel and increase profits (I own Apple stock, BTW ). Do the math for the iPod nano alone using the forecast numbers and estimated teardown costs:
Apple/Cypress clickwheel: 8,000,000 x $0.45 = $3,600,000
Synaptics clickwheel: 8,000,000 x $1.00 = $8,000,000
Difference = $4,400,000
At these production scales, shaving even a tenth of a cent off the price of a part adds up to serious money over the life of a product. Of course you can wind up throwing all that money away in warranty costs if you compromise the quality in the process and end up with a lot of returns, but that's what your quality assurance people are paid to be checking.
). Do the math for the iPod nano alone using the forecast numbers and estimated teardown costs:Apple/Cypress clickwheel: 8,000,000 x $0.45 = $3,600,000
Synaptics clickwheel: 8,000,000 x $1.00 = $8,000,000
Difference = $4,400,000
At these production scales, shaving even a tenth of a cent off the price of a part adds up to serious money over the life of a product. Of course you can wind up throwing all that money away in warranty costs if you compromise the quality in the process and end up with a lot of returns, but that's what your quality assurance people are paid to be checking.
Super Dave said:lol. I have the 3G and I can't stand it. I miss the 1G to be honest, so I suspect I'd enjoy the clickwheel.
In a winter climate it sucks to not be able to push buttons with gloves on. With the 1G or the clickwheel you can do everything but volume with gloves on. With the 3G you can't do ANYTHING with gloves on. I guess you can't please everyone.
David
I've not worn gloves in Australia
so I'd love to see the touch control return to the iPod. To me it was a much more "designer" look and feel. Having said that I just got a 5G iPod so maybe now there's no rush to change it.wait, are they doing this because of supply or quality?
And then where's the supply holdup? clickwheels, flash, both, neither?
And then where's the supply holdup? clickwheels, flash, both, neither?