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iPod Mini - 5 or 6 GB & Color Screen?

the whole color argument, as most people have pointed out, is just relative... 5 years ago, everyone had a monochrome nokia cell phone and thought they couldnt get any smaller or sharper... i highly, highly doubt that the new mini will have any photo capability, *maybe* be able to display album art, but definitley not be able to sort photos and stuff, that would just severley undercut the iPod Photo sales.

more battery life would be nice... but with a color screen at the same price point, and if it keeps the same dimensions, i think we would be lucky, and i would be happy, to see it at the same battery life.
 
Could Apple be moving to add photo capabilities across the entire line? Ok, maybe not photos, but at least album art!

Current mini resolution: 138 x 111
Rumored color screen: 176 x 132
 
Thataboy said:
And I really don't see the need for 20 hours of battery life. Why do you people need ANY more than 8... hell any more than 6??

Morning commute + Evening commute + Gym Time.. that's gotta max out at about 4 hours. Then you go home and dock it. Done. What kind of lives do you people lead where you need it non-stop, away from a socket, for 20 hours??
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Heard of travelling? In summer I'll be going on a 6-hour coach ride, a 6-hour ferry trip then another 6-hour coach ride. If my music runs out after 8 hours, what am I supposed to do for the next 10?!

The Mini wouldn't need that big a battery...if only it was removeable. Unfortunately, it's not, so I'm dearly hoping the updated Mini will at least keep up with the standard iPod with 12 hours - 16 hours would be brilliant. Unforunately, that's not going to happen.

I was planning on grabbing a Zen Micro this weekend...looks like I'll have to cancel that little outing!
 
As long as they're adding a color screen, how difficult could it be for them to add photo capabilities to the mini, especially when the firmware for a photo iPod already exists.

Plus, I doubt it would undercut iPod photo sales. Figure a mini with 5 gigs and photo capabilities is released. Thats 5 gigs (actually more like 4.7ish if you want to be technical about it) for music and photos....that's not going to hold a whole lot. People with large music and/or photo libraries are still going to get the iPod photo since it holds a lot more. Plus, the iPod mini screen is smaller, making it rather useless for photos anyways. But the words "photo viewing capabilities" on the box of the mini will still be a selling point for people looking for a small capacity MP3 player and have to choose between an iPod mini or a Rio.

If the regular iPods are updated with color screens down the line, I would imagine all of the iPods having photo capabilities and Apple just dropping the iPod photo line, since those iPods wouldn't have anything special over the other ones.
 
then what is the point of having an ipod *photo*?? if all of the iPods had the capabilities, there would be no point to having a different product line for it. i'm guessing all of the 5th gen ipods will have the capabilities for photo, but as for now, why would apple give photo capabilities on a $250 player (with a screen that is too tiny to manage photos effectivley) when they have a photo player that starts at double that price??? it WOULD cut into the photo sales... hey, i hope i'm wrong, because i'll be buying the new mini as soon as its announced, but i just dont see them offering photo capabilities.
 
mxpiazza said:
then what is the point of having an ipod *photo*?? if all of the iPods had the capabilities, there would be no point to having a different product line for it. i'm guessing all of the 5th gen ipods will have the capabilities for photo, but as for now, why would apple give photo capabilities on a $250 player (with a screen that is too tiny to manage photos effectivley) when they have a photo player that starts at double that price??? it WOULD cut into the photo sales... hey, i hope i'm wrong, because i'll be buying the new mini as soon as its announced, but i just dont see them offering photo capabilities.
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Exactly, the screen is too tiny to manage photos effectivley. People who are really going to take advantage of the photo features will go for an iPod photo. The fact that the mini has photo capabilities will just be an additional selling point for people looking for a small, cheap HD mp3 player and are deciding between the mini and others. Even if teh screen is too small, people will see that the mini has the photo capabilities, and say, the zen micro doesn't and might choose the mini.
 
As far as battery life:

1. If you are using it throughout the workday, and battery life is running out, then I would keep it plugged in to a power socket so it doesn't drain batteries at all.

2. If you are travelling with it, then it is likely that at some point you will be near an outlet or laptop to recharge... if not, then bloody read a book for an hour or two :) After 8 hours of continuous playback, don't you get cauliflower ear?? After a 2 hour plane ride, I am ready for those earbuds to be OUT.

I can envision situations where once in a great while, there are situations where one isn't near a power socket or laptop. But these are rare, odd, and infrequent circumstances... and the benefits of a high resolution color screen (which nearly everyone would prefer) outweighs these unique and infrequent situations, in my opinion.

:)
 
Thataboy said:
And I really don't see the need for 20 hours of battery life. Why do you people need ANY more than 8... hell any more than 6??

Morning commute + Evening commute + Gym Time.. that's gotta max out at about 4 hours. Then you go home and dock it. Done. What kind of lives do you people lead where you need it non-stop, away from a socket, for 20 hours??
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The more battery life the better, what about long trips, flights, all day at work and not wanting to carry anything extra that neccisary with you.

Althought 20 hours..really getting up there
 
I don't quite get the statement by TS. Are the new iPod minis only being announced within 2 weeks or being released?
 
yg17 said:
If the regular iPods are updated with color screens down the line, I would imagine all of the iPods having photo capabilities and Apple just dropping the iPod photo line, since those iPods wouldn't have anything special over the other ones.
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I agree. I know I've read that the iPod Photo sales haven't been great. They're awefully expensive. I'm always one of the people pushing the "macs aren't as expensive as you think they are" philosophy, and I bought the 30GB 3G for $500. I'd love to have a photo, but I just can't do it. And now, the top of the line iPod is $100 MORE than a Mac computer.

I think that when they give the iPod line all color screens, we'll see photo capabilities everywhere, and the lineup will be 20GB, 40GB, and 60GB at the old $300, $400, $500 price levels. The special photo line will just go away.
 
blacktoned said:
I don't quite get the statement by TS. Are the new iPod minis only being announced within 2 weeks or being released?
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They must be released at the same time they are announced. If they just announce the new Mini, people will stop buying the Mini that's currently on the market.
 
good , i went all the way to paris expo to pick up my 1st gen mini and i will be ordering my new 5/6gb colour screen mini on tuesday :)

wonder what this will do for the 4th gen ipod range ? well until they update it.

opps it seems i'm spending too much money again on Apple :rolleyes:
 
and here i was considering a shuffle, i MAY have to rethink that one, who knows though, depends on whats released and when and how apealing these new minis look to be
 
Careful

r6girl said:
this is excellent - i've been waiting for this. i have a 30gb, but i've found that i'd really just like something smaller for working out and snowboarding (with a screen), so i've been eyeing a mini for some time now. i know it will be hard to go from the 30gb to a mini, but i'll take all the extra gb i can get and a color screen. i'm ordering on the day they're available and my 30gb will go on ebay right after that!

marianne
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I just busted my my 4g 20 gig iPod last week snowboarding. Some little little kid decided to hit me while i was hitting a kicker (right before take off sending me spinning through the air.. Broken leg...broken iPod.. Damn litle kit....
 
LaMerVipere said:
Why not?

Colour is always better. :)
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cause if they can gain a high enough battery life they might add the freakin line in and recording capabilities i lust after. i don't even want it to encode to anything special. aiff is fine. why apple...why? if i could record stereo into the ipod...i would pony up the 500 dollars for a 60 gig and i would like it.
 
Oh the colours, the psychedelic colours. Since when was a colour display a bad thing, if the iPod Photo can have a colour display and an increase in battery life, then the iPod mini and also have it as so. Apple just has to put a better battery that is all. They tend to get cheap when it comes to the iPod family in regards to batteries. :p ;) :)


iPod mini​
Now in even MORE colours​



:)
 
Local Apple store only has silver minis

I just got back from my local Apple Store (I was picking a spare battery for my PowerBook) and while in line to pay I overheard a sales guy tell a woman who wanted a pink mini that they only had silver minis in stock and weren't expecting any Minis till early next week. Since he didn't even go to check the stock it makes me think that they didn't "just run out" of the other minis.
 
I'm probably going to sit out this generation update. All I really need is longer battery life. If it's 12 hours, I'll wait, 15 hours, and I'll fold. (I take a lot of international flights.)

Color screens are cool. Another gig or two is nice. But gen 3 will have the 10 gig drives, and that is worth the extra money in my opinion.

With all of that said, and all the logic in the world, I'd give myself a week until I buy a new one. I am so weak with Apple.
 
I've been wanting a Mini w/color screen forever; however, it has nothing to do with photo capability. I just want to be able to clearly read calendar info and notes. It would also be nice to be able to read a Mini’s screen in the dark, without having to fiddle with a backlight.

I’m kinda bummed the update took so long … I was hoping for a new Mini for a while, when I finally caved and bought a Shuffle about 3 weeks ago. I guess Shuffie's gonna have to go now. :eek:
 
Mudbug said:
makes me wonder if they'll offer the same photo support as in the iPod photo.
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I wondered the same thing.

From reading the Think Secret story, I'm thinking this will be the new lineup:

iPods (color screen)
60GB iPod $499 (same as current 60GB iPod photo, $599)
40GB iPod $399 (same as current 40GB iPod photo, $499)
20GB iPod $299 (same as current 20GB iPod, $299)

iPod mini (color screen)
6 GB iPod mini $249

Maybe time to do another special edition, too. I keep expecting any day now to hear that Radiohead, Dave Matthews Band or (gulp) The Beatles are finally on board.
 
I imagine they'll keep one monochrome display iPod at a reduced price for the many entry level buyers, but color screens at cheaper prices across the line seems very cool, especially in the mini. Will give the growing number of iPod flamers (Which have increased dramatically recently at my college) a couple less things to complain about and more reasons for existing people to upgrade or for new buyers.
 
gotta love ipod flamers... especially the ones who have no clue what they are complaining about. its about time that the iPod line moves to all-color, all the players that offer more options for the same/lower price (although also offer less functionality and style) have a color screen... gotta keep the masses happy, the stock prices rising, and more of a reason to keep the iPod the cultural icon that it is.

Chimera said:
I imagine they'll keep one monochrome display iPod at a reduced price for the many entry level buyers, but color screens at cheaper prices across the line seems very cool, especially in the mini. Will give the growing number of iPod flamers (Which have increased dramatically recently at my college) a couple less things to complain about and more reasons for existing people to upgrade or for new buyers.
Click to expand...
 
I predict that you will see a ton of used iPod minis on eBay within the next couple hours. I did the same thing when the last iPod upgrades were announced, and was able to sell my "old" iPod for a brand new one without forking out a dime.

Gotta love macrumors.

Fishes,
narco.
 
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