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More FW800, TouchScreen iPod Rumors
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Duh! Surely increased *functionality* is key?
I think everyone's missed the point of Apple's succesful updates, which have always centred around increasing the *funtionality* and the *usability* of their products, as opposed to token specification upgrades, a la the Intel/Microsoft world.
What is the point of FW800 if this results in added expense and a distinct lack of FW800 owners to increase market share? Or a touch screen LCD if this increases cost and necessitates physical contact with the base unit in order to gain control?
Based on the core tenets of *functionality* and *usability* I reckon on Apple being best advised to:
1. Add Bluetooth to the iPod, thereby enabling Bluetooth syncs (at slow speed) for music 'top-ups', as well as (and this is key) freeing up control and headphone units. AirPort Extreme is an option, but cost and size as well as a fundamental redesign counts against this.
2. As stated, Bluetooth headphones would therefore allow the main unit to be stored elsewhere on your body. But where would headphone power come from? This would be served from a lightweight 'keychain' style dongle incorporating power and receiving units, as well as a minaturised iPod-style scroll wheel and (preferably color) LCD-display unit. This unit would incorporate a small rechargeable battery and could be 'docked' onto the iPod for charging. This unit described can also be used with any Bluetooth enabled Macs for iTunes use (imagine listening to your iTunes library whilst your PBook G4 is in your backpack!). In a neat touch the headphone cable could serve as Bluetooth antennae.
Of course this throws up the likely scenario of accidentally listening to somebody else's iPod on the Tube, but unique IDs are not difficult to allocate and control.
3. So where does this leave the orginal iPod? Freed of its need for display and control functions, it reverts to being a Bluetooth enabled storage device with high-speed data-transfer capability and docking capabilities. Without an LCD and a jog dial it morphs into an aluminium (I'm British) case with a pulsating Apple logo to indicate status by colour (ditto). Docking abilities would of course include iTunes functionality (music), though if the color LCD (see 2) were incorporated, iPhoto functionality could also be enabled, as well as the existent semi-PDA functionality.
I think everyone's missed the point of Apple's succesful updates, which have always centred around increasing the *funtionality* and the *usability* of their products, as opposed to token specification upgrades, a la the Intel/Microsoft world.
What is the point of FW800 if this results in added expense and a distinct lack of FW800 owners to increase market share? Or a touch screen LCD if this increases cost and necessitates physical contact with the base unit in order to gain control?
Based on the core tenets of *functionality* and *usability* I reckon on Apple being best advised to:
1. Add Bluetooth to the iPod, thereby enabling Bluetooth syncs (at slow speed) for music 'top-ups', as well as (and this is key) freeing up control and headphone units. AirPort Extreme is an option, but cost and size as well as a fundamental redesign counts against this.
2. As stated, Bluetooth headphones would therefore allow the main unit to be stored elsewhere on your body. But where would headphone power come from? This would be served from a lightweight 'keychain' style dongle incorporating power and receiving units, as well as a minaturised iPod-style scroll wheel and (preferably color) LCD-display unit. This unit would incorporate a small rechargeable battery and could be 'docked' onto the iPod for charging. This unit described can also be used with any Bluetooth enabled Macs for iTunes use (imagine listening to your iTunes library whilst your PBook G4 is in your backpack!). In a neat touch the headphone cable could serve as Bluetooth antennae.
Of course this throws up the likely scenario of accidentally listening to somebody else's iPod on the Tube, but unique IDs are not difficult to allocate and control.
3. So where does this leave the orginal iPod? Freed of its need for display and control functions, it reverts to being a Bluetooth enabled storage device with high-speed data-transfer capability and docking capabilities. Without an LCD and a jog dial it morphs into an aluminium (I'm British) case with a pulsating Apple logo to indicate status by colour (ditto). Docking abilities would of course include iTunes functionality (music), though if the color LCD (see 2) were incorporated, iPhoto functionality could also be enabled, as well as the existent semi-PDA functionality.
So, why no talk on the iMobile anywhere? CompUSA has had them in for a day or two and a couple have been opened up and played with. I know they aren't supposed to be released until tuesday, but I'd like to know more about them. I only saw the box for one since they were't opening them up at the store here, but I'd like to know about the specs of it. An apple PDA is a great idea right now.
Enough about the FW800
1. There is NOT going to be a touchscreen color LCD. Those are Dellusions of Epic Proportions.
2. Forget Bluetooth. Too expensive and not enough support yet.
3. FW 800 should make it. Every excuse given so far is bunk. FW800 is probably not more expensive than the FW400 to implement. Also the object of a Bus design is not to design it for a devices lowest need. You people fail to realize that the future might have someone with 4 FW devices(iPod, CDRW, Minidv camera and Card Reader) all vying for bus contention. Why the hell would you want to tap out at 400Mbps when doube the bandwidth is available.
Using your logic Serial ATA should have maxed out at current ATA rates.
No this is going to come of rude but ..some of you freakin' trying reading sometime you'll enjoy it.
See there's no need for anything more than a 6-9 pin cable.
What you will see the next iPods offer is evolutionary upgrades.
A. Rendezvous Support for the forcoming iTunes 4
B. Better AAC support
C. Larger sizes 10,20,40GB
D. Perhaps more iLife Integration.Firewire 800 PDF
1. There is NOT going to be a touchscreen color LCD. Those are Dellusions of Epic Proportions.
2. Forget Bluetooth. Too expensive and not enough support yet.
3. FW 800 should make it. Every excuse given so far is bunk. FW800 is probably not more expensive than the FW400 to implement. Also the object of a Bus design is not to design it for a devices lowest need. You people fail to realize that the future might have someone with 4 FW devices(iPod, CDRW, Minidv camera and Card Reader) all vying for bus contention. Why the hell would you want to tap out at 400Mbps when doube the bandwidth is available.
Using your logic Serial ATA should have maxed out at current ATA rates.
No this is going to come of rude but ..some of you freakin' trying reading sometime you'll enjoy it.
See there's no need for anything more than a 6-9 pin cable.
What you will see the next iPods offer is evolutionary upgrades.
A. Rendezvous Support for the forcoming iTunes 4
B. Better AAC support
C. Larger sizes 10,20,40GB
D. Perhaps more iLife Integration.Firewire 800 PDF
