iPod to be on Newsweek Cover

[OziMac]

With the release of the 20 gig $299 model, the retailers that currently have stock of the 15 gig that has been $299 will be offering price cuts.

I picked up a 10 gig for $199 at Target when the 15 giggers came in at $299.

A buddy of mine picked one up for $149 at another Target by waiting a couple more weeks.

What's your source for this? Please let us know!

Also the Newsweek article is back up - probably best not to post what it says re the new iPod and to check it out yourself at the links provided above, suffice to say that ThinkSecret summarises it nicely.

 

[griz]

feature request

All I want is the ability to dim the backlight on my 3G ipod.
To move me up to a 4G, I would need to see a 20GB at $249
Since I already have a 15 GB that I paid $389 for.
Then I could sell the 15GB for $150 and only have a $100 out of pocket expense to upgrade 5GB which is what apple expects you to pay when you look to buy into the line to begin with.

However, my pridiction is that the price will not move on the Mini and the baseline will not move on the 4G ipod. They are selling at the $299 price faster than they can produce and the mini is selling at the $249 price, so Apple has no reason to lower the price. I wanted the thing so I bought it at the price it was because is by far the best player on the market. Apple knows it and is making a killing on it.
Maybe now they need to get into the flash player market to get a player into the hands of those who want minimal cash outlay or for those who have an ipod and lots of music and want to go jogging with a much smaller (and less expensive) player. Put 256MB into it and intro it at $99 and they will sell one to every ipod owner out there.

 

[tekriter]

What's your source for this? Please let us know! .

As far as discounting the current 15 gig, I have no actual information. But, as I said, when the 15 came out the 10 gig was heavily discounted at Target and I got one for $199.

 

[2A Batterie]

How much cana 40g iPod really hold?

Ok, so with the new 40g iPod how many top quality converted songs will it hold? I don't want mp3 files, as they lose quality, but I want cd quality. I've never purchased an iPod before so I don't know these things. Can it use lossless encoding? And what about those 60g hard drive from toshiba?

 

[Superdrive]

I got my G2 10gb when the G3 came out at Target. Also under the same pricing scheme as above. Hopefully this time I will hold out and go for the 4G.

 

[~Shard~]

pfft, that iPod look so airbrush

Pfft, that English and grammar is so bad

is it just me or does that picture look look some kind of animation. i hate to burst everyones bubble but it looks fake to me. anyone agree?

Well, since this article and the corresponding information is sitting right on the MSN server, I don't know how it could be fake. Would either of you care to explain how that could be?

 

[xy14]

I actually think that the click wheel looks kind of ugly. I am glad I got my 3G iPod.

 

[Yvan256]

Well there we have the 4th gen. No video.

Newsflash: Apple has been selling a "video iPod" for years. They call it 12" iBook.

 

[xrissley]

i don't like how it has a music menu instead of playlists and browse. i like being able to choose between the two instead of just having music.

All 3G ipods have a menu customization functionality, whereby you can actually re-organise (add or take away) top menu items, from items of other submenus.
So it a question of just a short trip there to have browse and playlists choice back on top level...
I understand that you like something or prefer something else, but before criticizing, RTFM, or just play with your iPod.

 

[martijnvandijk]

Looks pretty sweet. I might have to buy a new one soon. Although my original iPod from 11/2001 is still working flawlessly. Anyone else still using the original iPod?

Yes, me! With incidental hickups. However, I feel the need for a 60Gb harddisk...

 

[xrissley]

Can it use lossless encoding?

YES
just check there:
http://www.apple.com/ipod/specs.html
Audio support:
AAC (16 to 320 Kbps), MP3 (32 to 320 Kbps), MP3 VBR, Audible, AIFF, Apple lossless and WAV

Easy to find, not? Why not hunt around a bit before relying on forums. I mean, forums are there to provide discussions and answers to issues that a bit of smart inquiries and somelight googling did not resolve...

 

[OziMac]

As far as discounting the current 15 gig, I have no actual information. But, as I said, when the 15 came out the 10 gig was heavily discounted at Target and I got one for $199.

Fair enough, I think it's safe to assume that older generation iPods will be reduced. But from a value perspective, given the much lower price, larger storage and better battery life of the 4gs, they would have to be reduced considerably for them to remain attractive compared to the 4gs.

Even at $199 for the 15GB, the cost per GB ratio is $13.27, which may seem quite good. Compare this with $14.95 for the 4g 20GB and $9.98 for the 4g 40GB and you can see that the older generation models would have to dive to be competitive. So unless you're in the search for an excellent bargain (which it definitely would be, and I'd be one of the first checking them out!) at the expense of better value for money and functionality, I don't think the 3gs hold a candle to the 4gs

Ok, so with the new 40g iPod how many top quality converted songs will it hold? I don't want mp3 files, as they lose quality, but I want cd quality. I've never purchased an iPod before so I don't know these things. Can it use lossless encoding? And what about those 60g hard drive from toshiba?

I can't say I know too much about the size of lossless files (I'm assuming they would be similar to the 128kbps AAC files they use for determining the '10,000 song' figures), but assuming an AIFF file of a song is 40GB, you would get 1000 CD size songs on a 40GB iPod, effectively turning it into a bloated Mini. And playing AIFF's that large will seriously tax the battery, much faster than normal, smaller AAC files.

Why on Earth you'd want to carry around 1000 AIFF files is another matter entirely. Just encode the files at a higher bitrate, to your taste

 

[Panther]

Still hoping for Bluetooth

I'm kind of hoping they'll put Bluetooth into the 4G... Bluetooth was designed for devices such as cellphones, so it uses way less power than 802.11.

Why bother? Because it'd be cool to be able to put the iPod into a mode where its buttons controlled iTunes back on my Mac.

One way to do that would be to have it talk back to my Mac, but my cellphone's Bluetooth can't reach that far, so I wouldn't expect an iPod to get there either.

Consider where you are when you're trying to do this - you're near your stereo, right? The whole point of AirTunes is to push music from your computer to where you want to listen to it. So why not allow a USB Bluetooth device to be plugged into the AEx's USB port. The AEx is already talking to iTunes - it just needs to be able to send instructions back along the same connection.

That would seem to make more sense to me than putting 802.11/AirTunes support in the dock. If I had my iPod/dock that close to my stereo, I'd probably already have plugged it into the stereo via a cable from the dock's Line Out port.

Just my 2c

 

[hkriffraff]

I actually think that the click wheel looks kind of ugly. I am glad I got my 3G iPod.

I agree...it blends very poorly with the iPod's casing. The 3G really looks a lot sleeker. Very disappointed that I waited so long for an updated iPod...now I may go for a mini instead.

 

[Yvan256]

Apple Lossless

Ok, so with the new 40g iPod how many top quality converted songs will it hold? I don't want mp3 files, as they lose quality, but I want cd quality. I've never purchased an iPod before so I don't know these things. Can it use lossless encoding? And what about those 60g hard drive from toshiba?

Since you don't want MP3 files, I'll assume you don't want lossy AAC files either. That means you'll want to use Apple Lossless files (I'd suggest you seriously consider testing lossy AAC first (at high bitrates), though. If your only knowledge of lossy compression comes from MP3 files found around the 'net, it's no surprise you don't want lossy files. My guess is 95% of those MP3 files have been made with crappy encoders and/or bad ripping techniques).

Apple lossless compresses to an average of 2:1. However, it varies greatly depending on the content. You could get from 30 to 70% compression (average being about 40-60%), but let's say 50% compression.

The notes at the bottom of the iPods page (http://www.apple.com/ipod/specs.html) say:
- 1GB = 1 billion bytes; actual formatted capacity less.
- Capacity based on 4 minutes per song and 128-Kbps AAC encoding.

This means: 240 seconds x 44100 x 2 x 2 (44.1KHz, 16 bits, stereo) = 42 336 000 bytes, or roughly 42MB per song. Cut in half for Apple Lossless, which means about 20MB per song.

40GB / 20MB ~ 2000 songs (or, if you want to use the exact real numbers: 40 000 000 000 bytes / 21 168 000 bytes = 1889 songs).

Of course, I don't even want to imagine the battery life when using Apple Lossless. That hard disk will probably never stop spinning. I'd expect about 1 or 2 hours of battery life, IMO.

I hope this helps you in your purchasing decision!

 

[evansls]

price is bogus

hopefully this hasn't been mentioned yet, but the so called "lower" prices is total BS.

as reported on newsweek and thinksecret... "The 40GB unit will ship for $399 and the 20GB model will sell for $299, a $100 reduction in price. Apple is no longer selling a 15GB model."

the $500 price version will be the 60gb unit later this year. the new ipods are the exact same prices. if i was you, i would simply wait for the 60gb unit to drop than to think i'm actually saving any cash by buying a new one this week!

now, a real drop in price would be the 60gb for $400, 40gb for $300, and 20gb for $200. iPod mini well... $150/$100 from $250. now THAT is a saving... if you take it even further... the joke is really on apple, because everyone used the 15gb ipod to compare the size to the ipod mini when it launched and now with the new "price drops" people should really think about the new additional 5gb for the same $300 price! the new minis definitely need to be at least 10gb before i ever dream about owning one.

besides the extended battery life (which is a HUGE plus, but I've got used to it) and the size adjustment w/ scroll whell (big deal), well i'm a substance fan myself and honestly don't see a good reason just yet to shell another half grand for a new ipod. i just may with th 60gb unit, but i'm not holding my breath. (besides, we'll all get the new features with the latest firmware upgrade, so... they aren't really tooting my horn all too much.)

just my 2 cents...

 

[Allon]

Since you don't want MP3 files, I'll assume you don't want lossy AAC files either. That means you'll want to use Apple Lossless files.

Of course, I don't even want to imagine the battery life when using Apple Lossless. That hard disk will probably never stop spinning. I'd expect about 1 or 2 hours of battery life, IMO.

Excuse me for my lack of technical knowledge in this matter, but why would a lossless format require more battery life?

 

[iMeowbot]

Excuse me for my lack of technical knowledge in this matter, but why would a lossless format require more battery life?

Larger files -> more disk activity -> more power used.

 

[asif786]

hopefully this hasn't been mentioned yet, but the so called "lower" prices is total BS.

as reported on newsweek and thinksecret... "The 40GB unit will ship for $399 and the 20GB model will sell for $299, a $100 reduction in price. Apple is no longer selling a 15GB model."

the $500 price version will be the 60gb unit later this year. the new ipods are the exact same prices. if i was you, i would simply wait for the 60gb unit to drop than to think i'm actually saving any cash by buying a new one this week!

now, a real drop in price would be the 60gb for $400, 40gb for $300, and 20gb for $200. iPod mini well... $150/$100 from $250. now THAT is a saving... if you take it even further... the joke is really on apple, because everyone used the 15gb ipod to compare the size to the ipod mini when it launched and now with the new "price drops" people should really think about the new additional 5gb for the same $300 price! the new minis definitely need to be at least 10gb before i ever dream about owning one.

besides the extended battery life (which is a HUGE plus, but I've got used to it) and the size adjustment w/ scroll whell (big deal), well i'm a substance fan myself and honestly don't see a good reason just yet to shell another half grand for a new ipod. i just may with th 60gb unit, but i'm not holding my breath. (besides, we'll all get the new features with the latest firmware upgrade, so... they aren't really tooting my horn all too much.)

just my 2 cents...

Are you joking? These are selling like hotcakes and Apple is reducing the cost by $100. That's already enough. Let's not forget Apple is a business, which means it should be making money.

At the moment, demand is more than the supply they can get. I can tell you Steve would be ousted from Apple a second time if he agreed to take off $100/$150 from the iPod mini. The margins are low enough...

 

[topofthawoz]

Am I the only one who thinks the new iPod on the Newsweek cover looks a lot worse than the 3G? Somehow the wheel doesn't seem to blend with the white casing.

I have to agree with hkriffraff the pics of the new ipod dont look very apple like at all. I think, unless SJ and his peeps have some kinda trick up their sleeves, or wherever they keep their tricks, they may have mad a big mistake changing from the white wheel to the grey, it just doesnt work imo. As my learned friend above said, it doesnt blend with the case on a colour (YES coloUr - lets go aussies) level. Also is it just me or does the wheel look too small for the case. It could just be my afilliation with click wheel - mini but it just doesnt seem to work for me.

I've got a feeling aswell that SJ will have 'just one more thing' for us to see when he officially announces the unit! We can hope neway cant we? what this will be though ill be clueless for....but he'll have something.
But with wats been announced by MSNBC, battery life is totally welcome, but maybe not enough! Im totally sold on the battery life but i would have been thrilled if it had been something like 16 rather than 12. Other than that im totally happy, and thrilled there isnt ne mini colours. Keep the mini 4 the mini. Would b xtremely sexy if it is totally white i rekon.

As for me ill b in the line as soon as it becomes avaliable down under, which, fingers crossed, will be sometime before the next decade

 

[Nicky G]

Single-click shuffle?

What I want to know is, will the updated iPod software be available for 3G owners, and will a derivative version be available for mini owners?

I WANT SINGLE-CLICK SHUFFLE! It is soooo stupid that I have to go into "Settings" every time I want to shuffle a playlist or album. Sounds like they finally fixed this. The question is, will my mini be able to play ball?

I guess we will see on Monday...

 

[Allon]

Larger files -> more disk activity -> more power used.

Got it. And is the same difference in battery life apparent while using e.g. 320 kbps MP3 vs. 128 kbps, or is it not something noteworthy?

 

[Trekkie]

I've been reading through pages and pages of 'I hope they have new battery life' but haven't seen a link to this article that describes the new features including '50% more battery life...'

 

[hkriffraff]

I have to agree with hkriffraff the pics of the new ipod dont look very apple like at all.

It looks more Fisher Price than Apple.

 

[Yvan256]

Got it. And is the same difference in battery life apparent while using e.g. 320 kbps MP3 vs. 128 kbps, or is it not something noteworthy?

Well, your 320kbps files will be 2.5 times bigger than your 128kbps ones, so the HD will be spinning 2.5 times more.

And as I said/edited in my previous answer to your first post, you might want to consider using AAC and leave MP3 behind. I don't think you'll go above 160 or 192kbps with AAC.