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iPod Updates and Future Revamp?
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A few things here...
1) Danny, I would LOVE to believe your post about your buddy from the Apple store calling you and telling you that new iPods were in but you idiotic spamming of the board has just killed any validly you had. If you want to be taken seriously in the future quit your whining
2) In my experience, ThinkSecret has always been right on the money, they predicted MWSF almost perfectly and were the only rumor sites to come out with PowerBook updates that no one else saw coming. If their prediction that this update of the iPod will be the last of this generation before a major update later his year really makes me stop for a minute. Do I really want to buy one now? I?m a college student, and soon to be an unemployed college graduate and that?s a lot of money for me to throw out.
3) I think the iPod is, and forever will remain a MP3 player, no video iPod, now Newton, no PDA, just the world?s greatest MP3 player. Having said that, there are significant changes to the iPod other than increased hard drive space that could be made and could be the ?significant changes? ThinkSecret is reporting for later in the year. I think we could be looking at a Microphone, Bluetooth, and more. Which again brings pause, I?ve been holding off buying an iPod for months and if they introduce them this week with only the HardDrive update to I buy or do I wait?oh decisions decisions.
I think I?m even more confused as to what to do now?
1) Danny, I would LOVE to believe your post about your buddy from the Apple store calling you and telling you that new iPods were in but you idiotic spamming of the board has just killed any validly you had. If you want to be taken seriously in the future quit your whining
2) In my experience, ThinkSecret has always been right on the money, they predicted MWSF almost perfectly and were the only rumor sites to come out with PowerBook updates that no one else saw coming. If their prediction that this update of the iPod will be the last of this generation before a major update later his year really makes me stop for a minute. Do I really want to buy one now? I?m a college student, and soon to be an unemployed college graduate and that?s a lot of money for me to throw out.
3) I think the iPod is, and forever will remain a MP3 player, no video iPod, now Newton, no PDA, just the world?s greatest MP3 player. Having said that, there are significant changes to the iPod other than increased hard drive space that could be made and could be the ?significant changes? ThinkSecret is reporting for later in the year. I think we could be looking at a Microphone, Bluetooth, and more. Which again brings pause, I?ve been holding off buying an iPod for months and if they introduce them this week with only the HardDrive update to I buy or do I wait?oh decisions decisions.
I think I?m even more confused as to what to do now?
Hey KLFloyd I hear you. Heck I am not going on a spring break trip to pay for this thing.
However, I think I will be buying the slim 20GB when it comes out. If the newest biggest unbelievable thing shows up it won't be for a while, and it won't be cheap. You could always sell your iPod to someone else down line.
Here is hoping for tomorrow,
Mike
However, I think I will be buying the slim 20GB when it comes out. If the newest biggest unbelievable thing shows up it won't be for a while, and it won't be cheap. You could always sell your iPod to someone else down line.
Here is hoping for tomorrow,
Mike
mangoman
macrumors 6502a
I'm with Katie. IF it's just a HD upgrade (more or less), then I'll still be doubtful of whether or not to buy... and I've been holding off for about a year. At the risk of you guys shoving a hot poker in my eye, I gotta say it ---- I'm holding off because I'm hoping Apple builds the 'ultimate' PDA, whether or not the iPod is the vehicle. To play tunes and be able to input info would put me in heavy spending/materialistic lust mode pretty quickly.
gotohamish
macrumors 65816
KLFloyd, I'll put in a vote for buying sooner rather than later (after the likely update, of course). If you have the money for an ipod now, and will gain great enjoyment from it while you have it, it's silly to put off buying it in case some rumor site is correct about a major update several months from now. If there does happen to be a major update, and you wish to buy a new ipod, you'll have several months of ipod luv under your belt, and will likely be able to sell it on ebay (or elsewhere) to help you finance your purchase of the mythical majorly updated ipod.
At least, that's what I'm planning to do. I'm holding out for a price drop (I'm with those who are rooting for the 40gb if only because it will make the 20 much cheaper), and then I'm going to grab one up right away. If something majorly updated comes out this summer or fall, I'll at least have spent this winter and spring enjoying my gorgeous mp3 player, instead of wasting more my time at rumor sites just wishing about all of it. 😉
At least, that's what I'm planning to do. I'm holding out for a price drop (I'm with those who are rooting for the 40gb if only because it will make the 20 much cheaper), and then I'm going to grab one up right away. If something majorly updated comes out this summer or fall, I'll at least have spent this winter and spring enjoying my gorgeous mp3 player, instead of wasting more my time at rumor sites just wishing about all of it. 😉
song swapping
Any opinions on the best file-swapping program out there for Mac? Limewire, Acquisition, iSwipe, etc? I don't have a Mac yet, but I've read that Acquisition is a favorite.
Any opinions on the best file-swapping program out there for Mac? Limewire, Acquisition, iSwipe, etc? I don't have a Mac yet, but I've read that Acquisition is a favorite.
i love how people here make their argument to buy the new slim 20GB drives. man that extra 1.5 mm is going to be much small, hey maybe it will weigh a few less grams also!
Tyler
Tyler
Perhaps you'll be abel to make your own music on it. That would be significantly different from today's iPod. 🙂
okay guys.... get real... yes i am kidding about all the crap i said. i dont even know a person at an apple store.. i was *trying* to make a point at how silly everyone is getting! of course we are expecting new ipods or *something* tomorrow.... wethere we doubt a revamp or not is irrelevant... it's just getting old everyone coming in with there "predictions" or even.. "man I want it to play video" and crap... it's just old and tiresome and we all no nothing and we'll justhave to wait!!!!! so just wait!!!!!!
sorry for all the repeated posts btw.. i was just bored..... so if you are a newbie, and you haven't posted your thoughts on what's gonna happen this week and when the new ipods are coming.. don't bother .. PLEASE... we have enough morons running their *fingers* giving us nothign but crap....
and sorry to be such a ... shall i say ... curse-word lacking spikey here... but it's just getting old
sorry for all the repeated posts btw.. i was just bored..... so if you are a newbie, and you haven't posted your thoughts on what's gonna happen this week and when the new ipods are coming.. don't bother .. PLEASE... we have enough morons running their *fingers* giving us nothign but crap....
and sorry to be such a ... shall i say ... curse-word lacking spikey here... but it's just getting old
Hmm....I've only seen ONE moron on this thread so far!
(sorry couldn't resist!)
Back to the discussion of how big the re-vamp is and weather one should buy now or hold if they've already been holding for a while. Going from the info ThinkSecret has posted where there will be a major update in the near future, if we just see HD increases I may try to find myself a refurbished 5GB model cheep somewhere. The Apple Store is sold out but I'm sure resellers will have some back stock they'll want to clear out soon. Get the best of both worlds, and iPod to play with for the rest of the year and I still won't have spent a fortune and can re-sell it for a minimal loss if/when the new models come out.
The one move that I hope Apple does *not* make is to drop the 5 gig model and keep the prices inflated from $299 upward.
Apple, it seems, has not learned the lesson it should have learned from the desktop wars: flood the market, set the standard, control the market. In that order.
The iPod has been under severe pressure from new entries into the marketplace at a lower price point. We can talk all we want about the beauty, elegance, and feature set of the iPod - but rest assured there is someone who will do it "good enough" for a lot less.
While I have no concept of Apple's cost factor, If Apple were smart, they would keep the 5 gig model, drop it down to $129 or $149, bring the 10 gig model in at $249, the 20 at $349, and introduce a new 'ultra high-end' iPod at $499.
And frankly, for $499 that little sucker better do my laundry and wash my walls. ;-)
Apple, it seems, has not learned the lesson it should have learned from the desktop wars: flood the market, set the standard, control the market. In that order.
The iPod has been under severe pressure from new entries into the marketplace at a lower price point. We can talk all we want about the beauty, elegance, and feature set of the iPod - but rest assured there is someone who will do it "good enough" for a lot less.
While I have no concept of Apple's cost factor, If Apple were smart, they would keep the 5 gig model, drop it down to $129 or $149, bring the 10 gig model in at $249, the 20 at $349, and introduce a new 'ultra high-end' iPod at $499.
And frankly, for $499 that little sucker better do my laundry and wash my walls. ;-)
KLFloyd: While iPod is the best MP3 player out there, the name, I believe, is meant to be ambiguous. It's not called the 'iTunes player', it is not the 'iMusic'. It is "iPod" for a reason: the form factor and basic design will allow Apple to branch "iPod" into another product line.
I think what we're seeing here with iPod is Apple's first successful move into a completely new product category since Apple diversified into imaging products in 1985. Let's face it, Apple's real product lines have only been Macintosh, Imaging Products, and increasingly software. Only Macintosh had the true branding and distinction, and Apple is associated with Macintosh.
The idea with iPod is to create an entirely new product category. Ergo, I believe quite firmly we will see a series of iPods developed, the base model handling music only, but the other models capable of digital photos, video, and maybe even PDA functionality. It will be most interesting.
Well it seems iPods have found other uses :]
http://maccentral.macworld.com/news/0301/24.genome.php
Although I do not think most of us would use and iPod for this :>
I would like to see a smaller, slimer, 5, 10, and20 gig ipod and normal sized 30 and 40 gigs, with stuff like AAC and MP4. Could they use USB1 as a transferer? I have heard they cant utilize USB2 or Firewire2 because of how fast the hard drive writes or something.
Also, I would like more security funtions on the ipod. Have it password protected. At school, I am in constant danger of it being stolen, and without a password feature, some dufus could take it permenently, and put a piece of tape over my engraved name on the back. That would SUCK.
Change the back of the ipod so there isnt any way to get fingerprints all over it. That is so darn annoying. Its really the only design flaw on the little device.
I think it would be cool if there was a AM/FM/XM radio on the ipod. If you like a song you hear you could download it off the radio. That might bring up some copyright issues though...
A voice recorder would be nice. A college student could tape a teachers lecture, and instead of listening to the teacher, he could be listening to music on the ipod. All at the same time.
Forget all those stupid rumors about video ipods, ipdas, color screens, or whatever. I bet they could happen, but it will be a separate device from the ipod. Apple would be stupid to change this breakthrough product. Use the KISS philosophy.
Well hope you like my ideas, bye!
Also, I would like more security funtions on the ipod. Have it password protected. At school, I am in constant danger of it being stolen, and without a password feature, some dufus could take it permenently, and put a piece of tape over my engraved name on the back. That would SUCK.
Change the back of the ipod so there isnt any way to get fingerprints all over it. That is so darn annoying. Its really the only design flaw on the little device.
I think it would be cool if there was a AM/FM/XM radio on the ipod. If you like a song you hear you could download it off the radio. That might bring up some copyright issues though...
A voice recorder would be nice. A college student could tape a teachers lecture, and instead of listening to the teacher, he could be listening to music on the ipod. All at the same time.
Forget all those stupid rumors about video ipods, ipdas, color screens, or whatever. I bet they could happen, but it will be a separate device from the ipod. Apple would be stupid to change this breakthrough product. Use the KISS philosophy.
Well hope you like my ideas, bye!
I am making one of my usual WAGs (wild-assed guess), but here goes:
1. We will see a new product tomorrow.
2. Most likely an iPod update.
3. Probably an update to iTunes (all the other iApps were recently updated).
4. Maybe some increased functionality for the iPod (AAC encoding, the ability to record through the Firewire connection).
That's about it.
On the iPod name:
I agree with whomever said that the name was deliberately vague. I think you will see other applications for later versions, but I think the iPod Audio is here to stay. I have no idea what those later iterations will have, but I would imagine that they will become "PDA like" if not actual PDAs.
Personally, I have no use for an iPod video player unless it will play complete DVDs. With as much hell as the MPAA has been raising, I do not see Apple making software that will transfer a DVD to harddrive and then marketing it. So, if Apple does create a video player of some sort, it would have to have the ability to play DVDs. Well, there are a ton of mini-DVD players out there, why would Apple move into a mature market like that?
I just don't see it and a videoclip player would have too small a market.
Nope, I just don't see an iPod video player ever being worth it.
1. We will see a new product tomorrow.
2. Most likely an iPod update.
3. Probably an update to iTunes (all the other iApps were recently updated).
4. Maybe some increased functionality for the iPod (AAC encoding, the ability to record through the Firewire connection).
That's about it.
On the iPod name:
I agree with whomever said that the name was deliberately vague. I think you will see other applications for later versions, but I think the iPod Audio is here to stay. I have no idea what those later iterations will have, but I would imagine that they will become "PDA like" if not actual PDAs.
Personally, I have no use for an iPod video player unless it will play complete DVDs. With as much hell as the MPAA has been raising, I do not see Apple making software that will transfer a DVD to harddrive and then marketing it. So, if Apple does create a video player of some sort, it would have to have the ability to play DVDs. Well, there are a ton of mini-DVD players out there, why would Apple move into a mature market like that?
I just don't see it and a videoclip player would have too small a market.
Nope, I just don't see an iPod video player ever being worth it.
I hope the revised iPod will have decent sound quality. At the moment it is rather poor compared to the competition. Still, the iPod is hands down the best hard disk based player at the moment. I'm actually rather surprised that no other manufacturer has used the same size drives to build a player with more features/lower prize. Creative's recent attempt was rather clumsy (but at least had better, but not great, sound quality).
Hmm.... here's my 'prediction:'
1. iPod + PDA makes sense... there are thousands of us who are sick of carrying both of these around at once, and the technology to make one that costs < $500 is certainly around. This, IMO, is the most likely solution we will see, if in fact there is anything "new" with the iPods besides a 40GB model.
2. "Video" iPods with color screens, etc. make no sense. WHY? for a 1.8" ****ty picture? The idea of having video out, so that you could use your iPod as a portable video library, however, makes a lot of sense. Imagine being able to hook your 40 GB iPod up to your TV, and play DivX movies off of it -- that would be cool, and also very doable. Another viable way for a "video" iPod to exist might be a setup where you can use it to capture DV from a camcorder, I.E. rip the video from camcorder to iPod, so that you can again use it as a portable video storage device. Given Apple's emphasis on Digital Video, this also seems possible, if not exactly likely.
3. I believe we are still about a year or two away from "all in one" devices that are around a reasonable cost... the holy grail of mobile devices is the "PDA + Cell Phone + iPod." Such devices exist, but they are a compromise of all 3 technologies. They work ok as PDAs, but poorly as Cell Phones or iPods, etc. The cell phone based variants work good as phones, but poorly as PDAs or iPods, and the iPod is of course a wonderful iPod, but a pretty poor PDA and no Cell Phone capability at all. Only once this can all be balled together and have it all work almost as well as each individual standalone device will we truly see a market for these devices.
That's all for now... we'll see what happens.
1. iPod + PDA makes sense... there are thousands of us who are sick of carrying both of these around at once, and the technology to make one that costs < $500 is certainly around. This, IMO, is the most likely solution we will see, if in fact there is anything "new" with the iPods besides a 40GB model.
2. "Video" iPods with color screens, etc. make no sense. WHY? for a 1.8" ****ty picture? The idea of having video out, so that you could use your iPod as a portable video library, however, makes a lot of sense. Imagine being able to hook your 40 GB iPod up to your TV, and play DivX movies off of it -- that would be cool, and also very doable. Another viable way for a "video" iPod to exist might be a setup where you can use it to capture DV from a camcorder, I.E. rip the video from camcorder to iPod, so that you can again use it as a portable video storage device. Given Apple's emphasis on Digital Video, this also seems possible, if not exactly likely.
3. I believe we are still about a year or two away from "all in one" devices that are around a reasonable cost... the holy grail of mobile devices is the "PDA + Cell Phone + iPod." Such devices exist, but they are a compromise of all 3 technologies. They work ok as PDAs, but poorly as Cell Phones or iPods, etc. The cell phone based variants work good as phones, but poorly as PDAs or iPods, and the iPod is of course a wonderful iPod, but a pretty poor PDA and no Cell Phone capability at all. Only once this can all be balled together and have it all work almost as well as each individual standalone device will we truly see a market for these devices.
That's all for now... we'll see what happens.
Well, let me first say I hope you're right. But I don't think we'll see iTunes for anytime in the near future. If it was that close it would have been released with iLife. Other rumors are saying that iTunes 4 is at least as far away as April.
The increased functionality suchas ACC encoding SHOULD be possiable through a firmware update. And HOPEFULLY it will be a firmware fix for the battery issues, though I have a feeling that's a hardware issue.
Here's to hoping, I've got two major business trips where I'm chaperoning middle school students on a bus for 16 hours and a cross country reunion trip with my family coming up and I'm going to NEED an iPod to get through!
Those sound like reasonable prices!
Hey that sounds like a great deal to me. I would definately ship back my Refurbished iPod that I ordered on Thursday for the 10GB new one though. Those price ranges are great!
Hey that sounds like a great deal to me. I would definately ship back my Refurbished iPod that I ordered on Thursday for the 10GB new one though. Those price ranges are great!
I can see a video iPod working, possibly. The only way i would be involved in it is if it were to incorporate eyeTV or Tivo support so that you could be able to record programs from TV and them transfer them onto your ipod, upon which you could watch or hook up to an external viewing source, such as a TV through VGA connection.
It wouldn't make sense to make soley for video, having it as an external hard drive would be nice also, and i am not aware how much space a regular 30 minute TV show takes up and wonder how big these hard drives would have to be in order to accomodate these functions.
The practicality of setting my computer up to record my favorite TV shows while i'm in class or out of my room, being able to come back and downloading it with a FW800 connection and then being able to leave and take it to my friends 60 inch plasma TV to watch whatever i have recoreded... if a market were establish for this i could see it happening...
for whatever its worth! 🙂
[edit for spelling]
It wouldn't make sense to make soley for video, having it as an external hard drive would be nice also, and i am not aware how much space a regular 30 minute TV show takes up and wonder how big these hard drives would have to be in order to accomodate these functions.
The practicality of setting my computer up to record my favorite TV shows while i'm in class or out of my room, being able to come back and downloading it with a FW800 connection and then being able to leave and take it to my friends 60 inch plasma TV to watch whatever i have recoreded... if a market were establish for this i could see it happening...
for whatever its worth! 🙂
[edit for spelling]