iPod Flash Early 2005?

[neutrino23]

HE AAC is the key

I agree with TheWama and others. The introduction of HE AAC will be key to making this work for Apple. The size could stay the same as that of the iPod Mini. Let the iPod Mini move to 6GB or so. Introduce the iPod Micro at 1GB. It could hold roughly 650 songs or less depending on your needs. If you are running or snow boarding you don't really need ultra-high fidelity.

If it does use HE-AAC then I'm guessing this would come out together with Tiger

Also, iPod sales are still accelerating. An ultra-cheap player with the same feature set as a high end player would just undercut existing sales. So Apple wants to come out with a flash based player but it is in no hurry. Maybe in the spring there will be some new iPods with some new features. The flash iPod would be differentiated by not having all the new features.

What if iTunes had an automatic compressor for use when downloading to an iPod? You could keep your music on your computer in loss-less or a high bit rate compression format. When copying to the iPod Micro you choose a higher level of compression. iTunes compresses the files as they are copied. This takes a little time but now you don't have to juggle multiple file formats (high quality on your Mac, small file size on the iPod Micro).

 

[Zaty]

I'm surprised that rumours about a flash iPod don't seem to die, are they onto something or are they just a bunch of experts who have a valid point, a 1 GB flash iPod would be great, but who don't want to accept that there will never be a flash iPod? I'll only believe it when I see it.

 

[applekid]

Here's one more (last) mockup showing the back as well (including engraving).

You're on to something... If Apple made something like that...

Add a hold switch, a dock/cable port, headphone jack, and maybe even a new remote port.

But would the screen have to be an actual click wheel as well? That'd be interesting to see. You should also make it display the song info like the regular iPod.

Draw me some more mock ups. They're looking good.

 

[Poff]

Somehow I cannot believe it will go below 1GB. But a 256MB one would be enough for me. So if this rumour is true, it's way cooler than I imagined..

 

[one3]

Updated as per requests

 

[artifex]

the ipod does not need to be a luxury item.

This seems like of one of those buying your culture things.
When people are trying to be exclusionary, they don't want ordinary people to be able to buy into the lifestyle.

 

[artifex]

You're on to something... If Apple made something like that...

Add a hold switch, a dock/cable port, headphone jack, and maybe even a new remote port.

But would the screen have to be an actual click wheel as well? That'd be interesting to see. You should also make it display the song info like the regular iPod.

Draw me some more mock ups. They're looking good.

What if the bezel could rotate, like on a watch? you could cycle through things and maybe even control volume. awesome.

 

[AmigoMac]

This guy makes me think about to return my iPod Photo and wait for MWSF ...

Wait, My wife likes it... it could be a good company...

Note: I write believing on the mockup above... looks cool.

You give me a new hope!

 

[sushi]

Why not make it all round instead? ... would look neat hanging from a cord like a necklace ... or something similar to the old pocket watches.... maybe even have a 'clock' mode

Insteresting idea.

Only issue, is less space to display the music information.

Sushi

 

[sushi]

Cool.

Would suggest the micro would hang from the top vice bottom. That way the display would look correct to others.

In Japan, there are many MP3 players that work this way. Don't need a separate carrying device. Just loop the neck chain over your head and plug in the earphones. Very sweet.

Sushi

 

[appleface]

nickel and dimes.

i know apple puts out some fabulously designed products, so i trust the "ipod itty" will be no exception. however, i find it difficult to believe that apple will release a player (with or without flash) that will hold less than 1,000 songs. the giant capacities of its players is part of the overindulgence and elite-ness that ipoders love; it helps consumers to justify spending $250 on an mp3 player. i think that jobs and apple will happily and grandly release a new & smaller nextPod in january. however, i cannot believe that it will hold less than 1,000 until i hear it from the man in black.

 

[neier]

Before talking about the flashPod but a little of topic...I think people will buy the iPod Photo because of capacity (60GB) not the photo capabiity. While I love the idea of photos being shared via a TV, I do not think the iPod is the best way. I actually make slideshows on DVD, given blank media disks are now between $2-$4 each (I got 5 Apple DVD-R for 1,260 yen ($14), cause I like the little Apple logo, but I have seen 10 packs by respected makers for 2,000 yen ($22) that work just fine) and can leave or give the disks to someone.

iAlan -- If you are just burning slideshows to send to people for one-time viewing, there are many stores in Akihabara which sell spindles of blank DVD-R media for less than 50 yen a disc. I think the cheapest I saw the last time I was down there is 2900 for 100. No way would I trust those discs with anything important, but they make for cheap distribution of pictures and iMovies.

Also, I agree with your analysis of the 60GB buyers. When the 30GB came out, a lot of the early adopters bought it (like me), even though we were hoping for 40GB. The 40GB replaced it relatively quickly, but I didn't want to upgrade something that was less than 6 months old. A year later, we were still waiting for the size bump. Apple gave us new click-wheel iPods, but still a 40GB maximum -- until the iPP. I upgraded to the 60GB player, and the photo capability was not a deciding factor.

 

[JGowan]

Ill stick with my 20GB one. What can you do with only 1GB?

Well, I did a smart playlist of songs capped at 1GB and not longer than 4 minutes ... looks like almost 20HRS of music (and almost 400 songs) could keep some people quite happy.

 

[aswitcher]

Nah they wont make it round.

First up it has to spawn sales of computers and a computer with a round LCD doesn't cut it

Secondly, and more practically, round is not a good form factor for scrolling through menus. Sure a touch screen may one day happen but I think a small 3 line lcd is more likely above the tried and tested scroll wheel.

 

[strikey]

ipod mini upgrade

Obviously not many responses to this post so I'll post it again.

After reading an hours worth of garbage about the so called flash ipod "smurfjammer" is the only one even close to the money.

Mark my words! There will be no "new model" flash ipod in the new year!!

The flash variant will be just an upgrade of the existing ipod mini. It will start at 1gb and evolve over time to an 8gb version as the price point of flash cards drop. Initially I predict that there will be 1gb & 2gb flash versions along side of the 4gb hd versions. There are already 4gb & 8gb cf cards on the market but are way too expensive for Apple to make a good ROI.

The good news will see a 1gb ipod at the lower price point that most punters are putting up here.

The bad news for some is that the card wont be removable.

Also there are some furtile minds wasting their talent designing stuff for Apple for free. The round ipod is at least 3 years away due to the fact that compact flash cards are still square. Use your brains people, when you see round flash cards on the market you will see round ipods.

Mental telepathy with an Appleseed

 

[~Shard~]

a black g5 powerbook... with a red round touchpad

Yes, a black PowerBook, because Apple doesn't have enough troubles as it is already with G5 heating issues in confined spaces.

 

[~Shard~]

I thought you guys all drank Pepsi?

"You guys"?!? Sorry, don't follow ya. And personally, I don't drink any pop, I like putting as little garbage into my system as possible...

Besides, I haven't seen machine that accept half dollars in ages?

Nah, I don't know if they ever did - I was simply inconsistent in my example. I never see Canadian 50-cent pieces in circulation at all here, although I think you can use them... I only ever see them at banks, etc. as a part of collector sets.

 

[dejo]

Also there are some furtile minds wasting their talent designing stuff for Apple for free. The round ipod is at least 3 years away due to the fact that compact flash cards are still square. Use your brains people, when you see round flash cards on the market you will see round ipods.

What's so wrong with putting a SMALLER, square flash card inside a round enclosure? It's not THAT hard to imagine. (And let's not get started about putting a square peg in a round hole.) I think the concept is doable.

 

[one3]

Also there are some furtile minds wasting their talent designing stuff for Apple for free. The round ipod is at least 3 years away due to the fact that compact flash cards are still square. Use your brains people, when you see round flash cards on the market you will see round ipods.

I did have a good laugh reading your post. Thanks. (read: irony)

1. As noted by a previous smart poster ... a smaller square flash card would fit inside a larger round enclosure. That's not rocket science.

2. You really think that my "free" design would be used by Apple? Come on... It was done for FUN. For the enjoyment of other Forumn members.

Geeeesh.

 

[g4cubed]

If the player excepted a memory card, I would consider buying one then. You could have your songs, playlists or genres on different cards. This way it would be expandable and more versitile. Apple could even be like Sony and have their own memory cards. The player comes with a 256Mb card for $150. With 256Mb, 512Mb and 1Gb cards that you could purchase thru Apple.

 

[DavidLeblond]

What's so wrong with putting a SMALLER, square flash card inside a round enclosure? It's not THAT hard to imagine. (And let's not get started about putting a square peg in a round hole.) I think the concept is doable.

xD cards are pretty small.

Too lazy to go back and look, but has anyone thought about how the round iPod Flash/Micro would fit in a dock?

It looks nice tho... I could see a black silhouette dancing around with it around their neck.

 

[Mechcozmo]

Too lazy to go back and look, but has anyone thought about how the round iPod Flash/Micro would fit in a dock?

Press reeeeaaally reeeeaaally hard. I think there would be either a new "mini-Dock" connection or just a smaller FireWire connection.

 

[~Shard~]

Press reeeeaaally reeeeaaally hard. I think there would be either a new "mini-Dock" connection or just a smaller FireWire connection.

Or Wireless FireWire...

 

[artifex]

"You guys"?!? Sorry, don't follow ya. And personally, I don't drink any pop, I like putting as little garbage into my system as possible...

You know, Apple people. I'm an outsider

Also, I've been to the Canadian Mint, I loved those quarters you had back in the year 2000.

 

[artifex]

The bad news for some is that the card wont be removable.

Also there are some furtile minds wasting their talent designing stuff for Apple for free. The round ipod is at least 3 years away due to the fact that compact flash cards are still square. Use your brains people, when you see round flash cards on the market you will see round ipods.

Mental telepathy with an Appleseed

Let me get this straight... it won't be removable, but you insist the memory will have that form factor anyway? Ever seen a USB pendrive? Ever seen a clear one? Ever seen how small the chip is that actually carries the memory?