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New iPod Next Week?

mainemike said:
I take your point, and that's probably all the justification Apple will need to unveil a video iPod. There will always be someone willing to buy it.
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Yeah, pretty much. And in a year or 2, all the full-sized iPods will have it. Apple needs to gradually add new features to keep up with the competition, and prevent too much price erosion.

After photos and podcasts, what else would be next?

I think down the road, wireless (for more than just video) and a touchscreen could be in the cards. Sounds weird to add so much, but neither of those would hurt the UI for music playback. And these types of capabilities are getting cheaper and cheaper to add every year.

If it will increase sales even somewhat it will be worth doing. I think the main reason why Apple has not done it yet, is that they would like to actually work out the content end, as opposed to the other player makers who are basically telling consumers to illegally bypass DVD decryption and use arcane programs like VirtualDub to convert videos for their players.

(not arcane for me to use, but too much to expect for regular consumers.)
 
I DO believe that Apple has been working on a video iPod (although that phrase may be misleading). It's probably fully working and a complete design by now. Even the WJS had lent credence to this--and after the Intel thing, I take those non-standard rumor sources slightly more seriously.

But that doesn't mean it will be RELEASED now--or that it will be released ever. Asteroid and other products were probably real, but never made it to market.

If video is just one extra feature, then I can see it. If video is THE MAIN feature, then I think it's ahead of its time and won't be out yet.
 
nagromme said:
I DO believe that Apple has been working on a video iPod (although that phrase may be misleading). It's probably fully working and a complete design by now. Even the WJS had lent credence to this--and after the Intel thing, I take those non-standard rumor sources slightly more seriously.

But that doesn't mean it will be RELEASED now--or that it will be released ever. Asteroid and other products were probably real, but never made it to market.

If video is just one extra feature, then I can see it. If video is THE MAIN feature, then I think it's ahead of its time and won't be out yet.
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This iPod that would flop like the photo did, especially if the price is ~$500. The market is not ready yet for such a product, however, it would be awesome for those little files we have, say from vacation or whatever.
 
iPod Video for sure

Ok guys,

I take back anything I ever said about not being an iPod video and it being a stupid idea.

Looks like Steve might have been ahving us on when he was totally anti about the idea.

Check this out. It's from the Apple South Africa site -

http://www.apple.com/za/itunes/video/

If it's a forgery of some kind, it's a bloody good one!!!
 
LGRW3919 said:
This iPod that would flop like the photo did,
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I know you're agreeing with me :) but to pick a nit: there have been various reports of the iPod 60 / iPod photo "failing." The only three pieces of evidence I can think of for that being:

1. It sold fewer units than lower-end iPods.

2. Apple was able to keep them on store shelves at times when other iPods were backorders and unable to meet demand.

3. It was supposedly priced too high to begin with.

Well, #1 is inevitable: of COURSE the high-end model sells fewer than lower models. It's the most specialized (most music libraries are small) and it's the most expensive.

And #2 is a GOOD thing. Apple's failure to make enough of the OTHER models is the failure.

As for #3... every new high-end model (see #1) starts out costing more: the high-capacity micro HD itself starts out costing more. BUT: from the very start, the iPod photo/60 was the cheapest iPod per MB ever made, AND cheaper per MB than competitors. So it was never overpriced. And it actually hasn't dropped all that much in price, either: they unbundled some accessories, which isn't the same as a simple price cut.

So I see no reason to call the iPod photo a failure.

Now... would an iPod video start out life as a feature found only on the top model(s), the way photos started out? Could go either way. The main thing keeping photos off of the low-end iPods was the screen. No longer an issue--they're all color now. What would keep video off of low-end iPods (assuming it's just "another little extra," so HD space isn't crucial)? The only thing I can think of is processor power, but I get the impression that even CURRENT iPods could theoretically handle video with the right software and codecs.

So if video appears, I think it's more likely to be in ALL the models (above the nano).

PS, another source for video material as "a little extra" on music iPods: nearly all digital still cams these days take video clips too. And iPhoto manages them! Why not let them sync to iPods? The people who like to show off their kids or cats in photos would love to have video clips (with audio usually) even more. I know I would, and I have neither kids nor cats :) (But marketing-wise, keep the focus on music. Like they did when photos came on the scene.)
 
ingenious_7 said:
Ok guys,

I take back anything I ever said about not being an iPod video and it being a stupid idea.

Looks like Steve might have been ahving us on when he was totally anti about the idea.

Check this out. It's from the Apple South Africa site -

http://www.apple.com/za/itunes/video/

If it's a forgery of some kind, it's a bloody good one!!!
Click to expand...

I think they found that over on AI and after a bit of stuffing around they found it was just a video for the whole iPod + iTunes experience.
 
VIDEO IS A SURE THING...

...but is it for an iPod named or even Apple device?

Yeah, yeah, I know I'll get flamed for this, but I have a friend who works for a communications chip developer and manufacturer that markets abroad. We had a discussion in the first half of '04 about this.

Let's just say that the only thing we questioned was what a video playback device that they were developing a chip for would be classified, or named as. Would it be part of an existing line, or have a completely unique name that didn't associate it with any currently marketed product?

The iPod name has since become such a huge marketing focus for Apple that they [SJ/Apple] may have disgarded any apprehension [if any] to add the iPod moniker to this video devices name, if in fact it was an iPod or Apple product that we were talking about.

Ambiguous enough for ya? Good. The hints are all in there and that's all I'm saying...


MacQuest said:
I'm thinking that they will not come out with a "video iPod", "iPod video" or "vPod", etc.

I think that there will be a video playback device, but possibly not classified as an iPod, even if the form factor is similar or not.

That way SJ can say that he still believes, as he always has stated, that "no one wants to watch video on a tiny screen".

I'm almost leaning towards the older rumors of a Mac tablet device [yes, here we go again] with a 4x6, 5x7 or 8x10 LCD screen that could double as a mini lcd display and also as one of those electronic photo frames, except with video! Possible networking capabilities and limited input capabilities [maybe by stylus? Inkwell and return of the Newton anybody?]

It would be a perfect accessory to any Mac [especially the Mac mini] , but in no way a replacement.

I'm just thinking that the iPod name will stay specific to Apple's current products, and that a major new function like video playback would not be called an iPod, even if it was designed by the "iPod division" which I think they just called it that to form a R&D division for any new peripherals that they may want to look into developing. iPod branded or not.

We'll see next Wednesday.
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ibook30 said:
I wonder if the madonna Ipod will come with a little red string lanyard?
Click to expand...

That little red string says it's okay to be greedy.
 
Peace said:
When did the WSJ jump into this ?
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Back in July the WSJ reported Apple was in talks with recording companies to provide content for a video enabled iPod due in the fall. The WSJ also broke the story on the switch to Intel which, as with the video iPod, people were calling BS at the time.
 
ncoffey said:
Because somewhere in some article I read in the past week that Freescale won't be able to produce these in quantity till sometime next year. (Don't quote me on that. If it isn't in any of MacRumors, ThinkSecret, AppleInsider, MacOSXRumors or these forums then I probably dreamt it. I certainly won't be searching through all these for that info againt though. ) :)
Click to expand...

You're thinking of the dual-core e600 or whatever it's called. The 7448 has been sampling for a while now and is supposed to ship in volume by late October.
 
Squire said:
I don't think an update to any Macintosh computers would be worthy of a special event such as this. Has Apple ever done that? Typically they're updated at an expo or developer's conference, right? To me, it appears that it's going to be something aimed at the general public. Either a device (video iPod, or tablet disguised as an iPod) or a service (video store or other radical change to iTMS, such as a subscription-based service).

It should be interesting, whatever it is.
Click to expand...

I don't think they've ever used a special event to announce a computer before. A dual dual-core PowerMac G5 is significant but it is also the end of the line for the PowerPC. I think a press release followed up with a discussion during the conference call would suffice.

A dual dual-core G5 PowerMac would signify that it will be the last to go Intel as they would need a very good 64-bit dual-core Intel processor to surpass a dual dual-core 2.5 GHz G5 and I don't believe they will be ready until late 2006. If it has PCI Express it could hold them over until the Intel transition.

Yes, things are exciting at Apple again. It's been a rather eventful year.
 
beatle888 said:
your...........simply wrong.

i can watch HD content (the highest rez apple has at their quick time site) on my girlfriends iMac no problem.

and its beautiful. by the way thats the 1.8GHZ iMac....no problemo.
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Lies.
 
It's so simple

(Sorry if this has been said already but I read EVERY POST UP TILL HALF OF PAGE 16).

Apple Will finally announce that they will ship the "new" iPods with a free pair of iBoxers!

Okay I really doubt any one will read this far into the post...
But there is a reason for the Red Curtains... with that said... Video could be an option, whether with an iPod or a "new" device... I really hope it's a new device.. Gosh-Darnit I WANT A NEWTON DEVICE w/ AQUA... Please Apple... Give us Folks that have been using macs from OS 7 something cool, something that brings back those good old memories, you remeber the good old days... where ejecting a disc or disk was something "special"...
Reinvent-Innovate-Give us something that will blow us away...

(Doesn't this feel like Christmas or something...)

On a sidenote... Thinksecret has been extremely dissapointing since all the legal stuff... and appleInsider's not perfect either... But man I really can't wait...
 
mainemike said:
Ah....but therein lies the rub.

Many TV sets that you'll encounter on the road do not allow you to hook up your DVD players (or iPods) or whatever. The composite connections are either missing or nonexistent with many motel/hotel TV sets.
Click to expand...

So, room for a new version of the iTrip, broadcasting your porn to all your neighbours.
 
mainemike said:
I asked my teenage son what he'd think about a video iPod.
"That would be the best!"
I asked him why he thought this.
"It would just be so cool."
OK, I said. But how would it be cooler than the PSP you already have, or the portable DVD player that we use on road trips? (The portable DVD player has a 10 inch screen....and we had to use it on road trips, because most hotels/motels we stayed in did not allow you to jack your portable devices directly into their TV sets, unless you were staying at a facility geared towards business meetings).
"Well, it would just be cool, that's all," said my son. "It would be better. Videos on my iPod? That would be so cool."
"Yes, but how would it be better than what we already have?" I persisted.
"It would be better", said my son.
End of conversation.

I don't know, folks....maybe I'm getting old but I'm having a hard time with the "lust factor" for a video iPod. The original iPod affected me deeply. I loved the idea that I could travel with my music....MY music....any time, any place, and with no CDs or jewel cases sliding and thumping around the car as I made sharp turns. The iPod changed my life in certain respects.
One of those rare things where I asked myself, "how would you get along without this thing?" and "where have you been all of my life?!"

Sorry, I can't seem to muster the same enthusiasm for a video enabled iPod. But my teenage son can.
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That's one of the best posts I've read in this thread. As someone else mentioned, it's an indication of the iPod's status as a pop culture icon.

Squire
 
nagromme said:
I know you're agreeing with me :) but to pick a nit: there have been various reports of the iPod 60 / iPod photo "failing." The only three pieces of evidence I can think of for that being:

1. It sold fewer units than lower-end iPods.

2. Apple was able to keep them on store shelves at times when other iPods were backorders and unable to meet demand.

3. It was supposedly priced too high to begin with.

Well, #1 is inevitable: of COURSE the high-end model sells fewer than lower models. It's the most specialized (most music libraries are small) and it's the most expensive.

And #2 is a GOOD thing. Apple's failure to make enough of the OTHER models is the failure.

As for #3... every new high-end model (see #1) starts out costing more: the high-capacity micro HD itself starts out costing more. BUT: from the very start, the iPod photo/60 was the cheapest iPod per MB ever made, AND cheaper per MB than competitors. So it was never overpriced. And it actually hasn't dropped all that much in price, either: they unbundled some accessories, which isn't the same as a simple price cut.

So I see no reason to call the iPod photo a failure.
[...]
Click to expand...

One does not have to call it a failure, but as you agree, it sold fewer, probably for fewer units than the other iPods, especially the iPod mini.

And it probably made Apple some money. So it was not a comercial failure neither.

And neither would most likely be a video iPod. But still it would by far not sell as many units as the iPod nano will. So it might be a profitable side project for Apple, but it will not be the next "iPod", as in "The iPod that saved Apple's bottom line".
 
iPod Video, Yes. WiFi in the iPod, not now.

Yes, we will see Video iPod next week.

Maybe Airport Express goes video because that is useful with video content on the Macs.

But no WiFi in the Video iPod for now.
 
madmaxmedia said:
Part of the reason for your son's enthusiasm gets back to just how great a product the iPod is. The iPod is one of the best designed consumer electronics devices ever.[/b]
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Kind of funny you mention that, mostly it is just great design but there are some big short comings that a really good designer would have avoided, biggest being non-user switchable battery (come on, every mobile consumer product had that and the advanteges are clear) and to lesser extent the metallic back that gets really ugly with fingerprints and scratching so easyly.

The same phenomena is apparend in other Apple products as well: if ibook upper latch gets broken you need to change the whole freekin upper lid! And most lately of course the wierd selection of plastic coating on naon, being strong instead of being scratch resistant...
 
It would be negative PR....

I really do think Apple would have spoken up by now if there was NOT going to be a video related device - with he mainstream press (not refering to the link above, which adds little if anything tothe rumor discussions) talking it up big time Apple would face a rather negative fallout if nothing video was released and everyone was hyped up about video. Even if whatever was announced was 'out of this world' all the media reports would say 'no video whatever-device from Apple...oh, but they did release a new PM/PB with dual care processors' to which Joe Consumer would say 'Huh, what's that mean?' not to mention mainemike's son bursting into tears (see his post elsewhere in the thread, I think it was post number 15,438,992!).

No video device with such a buzz of speculation across all media outlets would be a negative kick to Apple's stock price and kill the goodwill value Apple has right now...

I hope it isn't simply an iPod with a bigger screen, but something as revolutionary as the origin iPod was when it came out, but who's to say the iPod name cannot be applied somehow? The iPod scuffle was not similar enough to the iPod in looks to warrant keeping the IPod name, but it was an extension of the iPod family....
 
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