Call me crazy, but I don't think iPods come with a microphone, so that's not much of an issue.
Call me crazy, but I've heard that there are some after-market accessories for the iPod. And some say that skype can also be used for messaging.
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iPod Touch Details?
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Call me crazy, but I've heard that there are some after-market accessories for the iPod. And some say that skype can also be used for messaging.
Yes it does, because it has a very large battery. If any of the "iPod Touch" models does have pure flash, then it probably could get away with WiFi. But a 1.8" HDD will take up a good bit of space, and might require a smaller battery which, combined with the HDD's power requirements...
What makes the iPhone, at least for me, usable is EDGE. Sure, the performance is abysmal compared to WiFi, but it gets the job done on most webpages (even YouTube kinda works). I live in Seattle where unsecured WiFi base stations are everywhere, but even I spend the majority of my time on EDGE.
I am not sure how usable WiFi is going to be on an iPod, especially since it is unlikely Apple will allow Zune-style sharing considering how cranky the record companies are with Apple and iTunes already.
Yet that adds cost and complexity, which needs to be weighed by Apple, as well.
A hybrid HDD would work great when you're just listening to a playlist or an album where the machine can stream that much data into the buffer. If you constantly switch albums or songs, then the HDD will constantly have to refresh that buffer.
Anyone know if OS-X works with them? Last I heard, only Vista was designed to use them.
Fact: The iPod is a music player (1g-3g)
Fact: The iPod is a music player that can display pictures (4g)
Fact: The iPod is a media player that does music and movies (5g)
Fact: Arguments like this hold no ground when talking about the 6g iPod becuase, guess what, it is a fact that they've been consistently adding functionality into the iPod for the last 3-4 years.
On another note...
Steve said that the iPhone is the best iPod they've ever made. I find it really hard to believe he'd make a statement like that and then release an iPod that was inferior (not a touch screen) afterwards. It would be like admitting they are giving us everything that they could offer.
Nice line up, although I think we might see a screen on the shuffle.
If they get a full OS then without the "phone" component they really should do GPS on the Touch for GMaps, iChat proximity stuff, etc.
Word! The iPod functionality on the iPhone was just a preview showing the future of the big iPod. Don't be surprised when you see that the iPod has better playback functionality than the iPhone.
I agree on this... the iPod is the other plateform for Apple... that is imbedded in the iPhone... that will continue to evolve... we ain't see nothin yet !
9to5mac claims to have knowledge of the upcoming full-size iPod which they are refering to as the "iPod Touch".
According to the site, the OS X based iPod will share a similar look to the current iPhone, complete with "home" button and a 480x320 pixel screen. Compared to the iPhone, the outer ridge is said to be black, with a slightly thicker case.
A report from earlier today from Appleinsider does expect up to 4 new iPod models to be introduced in September.
Article Link
Um, where do I pre-order? I prefer the click wheel to touch screen for iPod functions, but that doesn't mean I'm not willing to endure a very long-term comparison period for the two different interfaces.
Then again, I'm taking a ghost assignment for which an iPhone would finally be useful for me and I don't know if I can justify an iPhone *and* a larger capacity (HDD?) "iPod touch". Oh, yes I can.
How about....
iPod Shuffle = $80, buttons, Flash, 2GB, No screen, No WiFi
iPod Nano = $150-$200, click-wheel, Flash, 4GB - 16GB, 320x240, No WiFi
iPod Touch = $200-$350, multi-touch screen, Flash, 4GB - 32GB, 480x320, WiFi
iPod Video = $250-$350, multi-touch screen, HDD, 80GB - 180GB, 640x480, WiFi
WiFi = iTunes Store, Music & Video sharing, sync'ing, email, web, IM, SMS, MMS
I think full WiFi features would be present because it wouldn't do any real sales damage to the iPhone. The iPhone came out with "the best iPod yet" and it didn't hurt iPod sales. Using the same logic then, if an iPod came out with "a pretty good communicaitons device" integrated into it I don't believe it would hurt iPhone sales.
If true, the iPod Touch would be "the killer" school/university gadget on the planet.
iPod Shuffle = $80, buttons, Flash, 2GB, No screen, No WiFi
iPod Nano = $150-$200, click-wheel, Flash, 4GB - 16GB, 320x240, No WiFi
iPod Touch = $200-$350, multi-touch screen, Flash, 4GB - 32GB, 480x320, WiFi
iPod Video = $250-$350, multi-touch screen, HDD, 80GB - 180GB, 640x480, WiFi
WiFi = iTunes Store, Music & Video sharing, sync'ing, email, web, IM, SMS, MMS
I think full WiFi features would be present because it wouldn't do any real sales damage to the iPhone. The iPhone came out with "the best iPod yet" and it didn't hurt iPod sales. Using the same logic then, if an iPod came out with "a pretty good communicaitons device" integrated into it I don't believe it would hurt iPhone sales.
If true, the iPod Touch would be "the killer" school/university gadget on the planet.
I'm still trying to figure out why the iPod Touch wouldn't be the top-end iPod model in a lot of these product matrices that I'm seeing.
Maybe if there's a $450 or so top-of-the-line model, it will have Wifi and the associated goodies.
But no way the $299 cheapest iPod will have Wifi. Not when the iPhone costs $500 or $600 and requires a 2-year plan.
Of course I'll eat my words if it does, and I'm hoping it will. But I will be more than happy with a touchscreen model that just does the media stuff.
But no way the $299 cheapest iPod will have Wifi. Not when the iPhone costs $500 or $600 and requires a 2-year plan.
Of course I'll eat my words if it does, and I'm hoping it will. But I will be more than happy with a touchscreen model that just does the media stuff.
Actually that last fact is fallacy. Your previous facts did not negate the original poster who said "Fact: the iPod is a media player" - those are all media player features. The 6g iPod won't toast bagels, and it won't have widgets, safari, email, etc. because those are not media player features. But hey, that's just my prediction. Feel free to prove me wrong.
The upcoming iPod Nano will have video capability, so one might one to distinguish between those two models.
After these are released, I can't wait to see the Zune comparisions. It's going to be crazy embarrasing for Microsoft.
Why wouldn't they just make the iPod Touch the iPod video? Why make two separate things? Im not saying you're wrong, I'm asking. Whats the difference between flash and hard drive memory?
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows 98; PalmSource/Palm-D052; Blazer/4.5) 16;320x320)
does nobody want or think the new ipod will run safari? why make it os x if all it is doing is coverflow and music? of course an ipod with wifi will cut into iphone sales (how many would really get iphone just for its phone features?) Anyone have any idea if wifi and safari make any sense for apple on the new ipod?
does nobody want or think the new ipod will run safari? why make it os x if all it is doing is coverflow and music? of course an ipod with wifi will cut into iphone sales (how many would really get iphone just for its phone features?) Anyone have any idea if wifi and safari make any sense for apple on the new ipod?
The iPhone is an iPod, a phone, and an Internet communications device. He may have said it's the best iPod they've ever made but he wasn't necessarily referring to the device as a whole. The iPod on the iPhone is the best they've ever made. You know how you cannibalize iPhone sales? Wi-fi. If you put Wi-fi (for Youtube/sharing/etc) then people will say, hey, if I've got Wi-fi, why not throw Safari on here so I can get online? THAT'S how you cannibalize iPhone sales, you make two separate devices fairly similar in function with just a few things left off here or there. Steve wouldn't go for this. Why did he nix all the confusing laptop models after he got back? No one could really tell the difference in them, even Steve.
If Apple is really trying to grow the iPhone into it's own separate leg of the company, then the iPod will not have Wi-fi.
I agree, to a point. I too think the iPhone is a preview for the next generation iPod. However, for some strange reason, Apple decided to remove the Shuffle-->Albums feature on the iPhone. Sure hope they put it back on the new iPods. To have better playback functionality than the iPhone, they need to include the Shuffle Albums feature that is available in the 5.5G iPod & 2G Nano.
New Branding
I think we need to think beyond the product lines we're used to. Look at it this way, the nano with video is essentially an iPod now (and it will look more like a 5.5G anyway if the rumored pics are real) so I think the nano moniker is going away. Here's what I think we'll see:
iPod Shuffle
2GB
Buttons (no screen)
$79
iPod (aka "stubby", what people think is the "new nano")
$149
Click-wheel
4GB (flash-based)
320x240 screen
Video playback
$199 - 8GB (flash) option
$249 - 16GB (flash) option
iPod Touch
$299
Multi-touch screen (640x480)
Video playback (widescreen)
80GB (HDD)
Wi-Fi (mainly for iTS, AppleTV syncing/remote control)
Voice/Headphone Control (via built-in mic in headphones, similar to iPhone)
$399
160GB option (HDD)
I'd also expect to see an announcement for new accessibility options for the iTunes Store as a new icon on the iPhone, menu item on iPod Touch, and menu item on Apple TV. It would also have new UI variants optimized for the iPhone/iPod Touch screen and Apple TV.
I think we need to think beyond the product lines we're used to. Look at it this way, the nano with video is essentially an iPod now (and it will look more like a 5.5G anyway if the rumored pics are real) so I think the nano moniker is going away. Here's what I think we'll see:
iPod Shuffle
2GB
Buttons (no screen)
$79
iPod (aka "stubby", what people think is the "new nano")
$149
Click-wheel
4GB (flash-based)
320x240 screen
Video playback
$199 - 8GB (flash) option
$249 - 16GB (flash) option
iPod Touch
$299
Multi-touch screen (640x480)
Video playback (widescreen)
80GB (HDD)
Wi-Fi (mainly for iTS, AppleTV syncing/remote control)
Voice/Headphone Control (via built-in mic in headphones, similar to iPhone)
$399
160GB option (HDD)
I'd also expect to see an announcement for new accessibility options for the iTunes Store as a new icon on the iPhone, menu item on iPod Touch, and menu item on Apple TV. It would also have new UI variants optimized for the iPhone/iPod Touch screen and Apple TV.
zub3qin
Seriously. Expecting safari on the coming iPod touch this year is wishful thinking. Apple takes one thing at the time and tries to do it properly. Safari won't be on iPods until a year at least. Apple is at the moment turning the iPod into a media device and will turn it into a communication device at a later stage.
At the moment music and movie playback is what's most important to consumers.
The iPhone will most likely be a slightly crippled iPod touch and will get the latest feature through a firmware upgrades a few months before the iPod touch does.
After all the iPhone is first and foremost a phone, internet communication device and thirdly an iPod.
Seriously. Expecting safari on the coming iPod touch this year is wishful thinking. Apple takes one thing at the time and tries to do it properly. Safari won't be on iPods until a year at least. Apple is at the moment turning the iPod into a media device and will turn it into a communication device at a later stage.
At the moment music and movie playback is what's most important to consumers.
The iPhone will most likely be a slightly crippled iPod touch and will get the latest feature through a firmware upgrades a few months before the iPod touch does.
After all the iPhone is first and foremost a phone, internet communication device and thirdly an iPod.
I think "Squirting" is a fantastic idea, the problem is no one has a Zune which is why it didn't work there. But everyone has an iPod so it would open up huge possibilities. I am attending the Podcast Expo next month. Imagine if people there could "Squirt" you a sample podcast, or new artists could "squirt" you a song. Attend a concert and you'll get "squirted" a bonus track unavailable on the CD. Attend a book signing and they can "Squirt" you a sample of the audio book. Go to a movie, and they can "squirt" you bonus extras while you are watching the movie. I think it would be cool if a Squirt could be both a direct iPod to iPod or a broadcast - Network to multiple iPods. I think it would be huge!
It wouldn't be the first time Apple copied something and acted as if they had it all along.
Zunes....they haven't lived up to some of their commitments for upgrades, but I wouldn't count them out. Microsoft sticks it's foot in the arena and gradually, like the Borg, eventually assimilates great stuff and becomes all powerful. X-box seemed like a crazy idea, but even in spite of its problems, it is probably now the best gaming system out there. Windows Mobile used to be dreck compared to Palm, but now....I am at the point considering dropping Palm and going to a Windows Mobile Device because they are keeping it upgraded and it has some better functionality even though it is not perfect yet, it is getting there. I just looked at an HTC device and it is beautiful.
I think there will be four iPod. The reason the Nano is a best seller is because it is what the masses want i.e a simple and small device which plays music.
Although the chubby Nano will be thin it won't be nearly as compact as the Nano which fit in almost any jeans. Apple would never turn their back on an opportunity to make money by killing a popular product.
Therefor I can see the Nano as we know it today still existing but with it's height cut off a bit just like the chubby one is a shorter iPod G5. Not everybody want a big screen for watching video on, some just want a sexy music player. The shuffle is not an option for many.
I think adding Wifi opens a can of worms for Apple. If they add wifi for squirting (which would work better given popularity of iPod), then why stop there? It's already running OSX, why wouldn't you add Safari? It's too close the the iPhone.
Even if they didn't add Safari themselves, someone might eventually hack it to run the iPhone Safari (if it had Wifi.)
I think Wifi will be added maybe a year from now with all the bells and whistles. For now getting a touchscreen 30GB iPod at $299 would be a great accomplishment in itself, and would make the full-sized iPod sexy again.
Even if they didn't add Safari themselves, someone might eventually hack it to run the iPhone Safari (if it had Wifi.)
I think Wifi will be added maybe a year from now with all the bells and whistles. For now getting a touchscreen 30GB iPod at $299 would be a great accomplishment in itself, and would make the full-sized iPod sexy again.
640x480 is 4:3. Why would they release the model with far greater storage -- especially useful for movies -- with standard aspect ratio rather than wide screen of the flash model?
And SMS and MMS are mobile phone messaging protocols. They only work via WiFi through specialized gateways, like AIM/iChat for example, and MMS isn't really available through networked IM clients at all. Also, iPhone doesn't yet do IM on the networked computer side or MMS on the mobile phone side. I doubt they'd leapfrog the iPhone with these features in a new iPod.
I might expect a price increase to $300 for the lower storage HDD model and $400 for the higher, as the perceived value in the new design and interface, if it even yet exists, may be great enough to support a price increase.
Sounds like the reasoning of John Scully again. I sware my theory of the bug in OS Leopard's Time Machine swapping the consciousness of John Scully and Steve Jobs is sounding more and more true every day.
"Let's cripple our bestselling device so it won't hypothetically (not in reality) harm sales of a product that will only sell 1/20th of what the bestseller does."
Yeah, that makes sense.
These are good points but remember that Apple is notorious for releasing/pushing products out that "the masses" want before "the masses" realize they do (USB, consumer DVD burning, portable digital music, legal downloads), and I think the upcoming one Apple will focus on is personal media/video- anywhere. We don't think people "want" a video player in their pocket, but thats mainly because until now it's been more expensive than just going out and buying a nano, almost a luxury item. For $149, getting a super-thin iPod that plays music and video is definitely going to be attractive for the masses. Let's face it, with the onslaught of YouTube and the continued growth of TV shows and movies on iTunes, portable video is going to be everywhere over the next few years and IMO will become a standard feature in the majority of portable media devices, even at much lower price points.