iPod Updater 2006-03-23 Released

[Mechcozmo]

3) And, completely off topic, every time Apple releases an iPod update, I think the same thing: It wouldn't kill them to update the 1G and 2G software to support Apple Lossless. But, you know, I'm also wishing for a million dollars, too.

The 1G and 2G iPods can't support Apple Lossless. Physically cannot. The chips inside don't have enough cache to load in all the data to decode that format.

 

[yac_moda]

I want an iPod with a portable exercise program.

YOU KNOW EMS ( Electrical Muscle Stimulation ), BURRLY Mac USERs , with little electrodes that will plug into my PODmaker and SHOCK me in ALL the right places.

And track my workout for download to my MACintizer

And if I wanted to learn the latest dance it would also help me do that.

I suppose Apple would want to get into the designer clothing buis. that would have the electrodes built into the THEADs, my old EMS machine is totally 19th century but its still the best thing going in that genera

 

[MarkCollette]

True, but if you are watching videos or listening to music, the thing is engineered properly. If you're not going to watch the video, then don't load the video on the iPod--no duplication. I wouldn't count on "listening but not watching videos" being built into the iPod any time soon.

I believe that the purpose of the hard drive iPods is to have your entire music/media collection with you always. So choosing to add or remove files based on the current day's viewing patterns is not really typical. Also, depending on lighting conditions, one might still be wanting to watch the video, but not need the backlight, and want to save batteries.

It's a minor nuisance for a very small number of people, even if it's a minor fix. Adding one more setting to an iPod makes it more complex, and if they make concessions in one place, it gets opened elsewhere. Anything like this leads to a snowball effect, which is something most entities try to avoid.

There are two problems. First, they removed a feature. The person was not complaining that they should add something new, they were expressing frustration that current devices are now less functional than previous ones.

Secondly, there is no menu complexity. It's done by holding a single button down. If they don't want users to be confused by that, then they can take it out of the documentation, or increase the amount of time you have to press the button so others don't do it accidentally.

 

[cualexander]

In regards to turning off the backlight when the video is playing, if you want to listen to the video, but not watch it just set it to Music Video Type.

In case you haven't noticed, Music Videos can be both played as audio and video.

Simple solution really.

Its really not as complex as you all are making it out to be.

 

[JQW]

I noticed an odd problem with this update yersterday.

My G5 iMac was powered off for the day. On returning home I first plugged the iPod into the USB cable ready for a recharge/sync, and then powered up the iMac. The iMac hung during the boot process with a grey screen. It happened again when the power was cycled. Then I got it to boot with the iPod disconnected.

The iMac now steadfastly refuses to boot off the hard drive. The drive itself is fine, as I'm able to copy data off it when installed in another machine.

So could the iPod update have caused this?

 

[matticus008]

Also, depending on lighting conditions, one might still be wanting to watch the video, but not need the backlight, and want to save batteries.

No lighting condition can fix the lack of color depth with the backlight turned off. The displays on the iPod are just not that good. I agree that carrying media with you is a major benefit of the larger iPods, but if someone is going to listen to a video, chances are that it's for some other reason than to save battery life--unless it's a feature film, watching one video doesn't dent battery life that much.

There are two problems. First, they removed a feature. The person was not complaining that they should add something new, they were expressing frustration that current devices are now less functional than previous ones.

I don't see where they removed a feature. Maybe that's my mistake. Are you saying it worked differently before? My experience has been that the backlight was always on when playing a video, except with the music video option as outlined by another poster. The feature that you speak of being removed never existed as far as I can tell.

Secondly, there is no menu complexity. It's done by holding a single button down. If they don't want users to be confused by that, then they can take it out of the documentation, or increase the amount of time you have to press the button so others don't do it accidentally.

The button press deactivation never worked for me while playing videos...and someone who wants to save battery power, as you suggest, would seem to prefer a menu setting for all videos, which is where the complexity comes in. I meant only that adding additional backlight settings is a place they probably don't want to go.