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New iPods - This Month
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For those that say there isn't room for buttons without changing the size of the unit, here's an image, edited from an actual iPod image. The size of the iPod has not been modified...
Did someone suggest a brushed metal look that matched iTunes?
(Don't ask me what the fifth button does, I just added it to make things look better...
)
(Don't ask me what the fifth button does, I just added it to make things look better...
)
If this is all there is to the update, I'll be disappointed. I was really, really hoping for a tuner. It's the iPod's one great short-coming, in my opinion...
Has anyone considered the idea of a 'button' or two facillitating INPUT in terms of PDA functionality? How hard could it be (especially for the studs at Apple) ?
The overall position of your thumb with the new design doesnt change much. With the old design, you have to bend your thumb underneath your hand to hit the hand-side button. Your thumb must provide a greater range of movement to touch all the buttons on the current design. With the new design, the buttons will be in a much smaller arc (? 70º). Previously, you had to (still do, as far as we know) essentially cover 360º. That's an ergonomic improvement in my mind.
Option-x, the approx. equals symbol isn't an ascii character (websafe) and won't render in a browser. I say this because when I wrote approx 70º it appeared as ? 70º. Nothing important, just laughing out loud (i know what lol means, I just like to write things out on a forum, abbreviations are for chatting).
Edit: And Western (Mac os Roman) encoding doesn't like the degree symbol (turns it into an integral). Facsinating, I'm going to have to start messing with my character encodings.
Edit: And Western (Mac os Roman) encoding doesn't like the degree symbol (turns it into an integral). Facsinating, I'm going to have to start messing with my character encodings.
Think Secret mentions that the lineup will still include the 10gb model, here's a quote:
'It is not known when the new models will be fully available to the public for sale, but it is expected they will debut the last week of April. It is expected that the 10GB version will be lowered in price to US$299, the 15GB version will retail for $399 and the 30GB version will cost $499. Apple could cut prices even slightly lower to spur interest at the last minute, but sources report that is unlikely."
Such a lineup seems strange to me, since the 15gb model isn't much of an improvement over the 10gb, however perhaps the 10gb uses the old style of ipod buttons (like the 5gb one used the old design before), but this is not clear from their article.
'It is not known when the new models will be fully available to the public for sale, but it is expected they will debut the last week of April. It is expected that the 10GB version will be lowered in price to US$299, the 15GB version will retail for $399 and the 30GB version will cost $499. Apple could cut prices even slightly lower to spur interest at the last minute, but sources report that is unlikely."
Such a lineup seems strange to me, since the 15gb model isn't much of an improvement over the 10gb, however perhaps the 10gb uses the old style of ipod buttons (like the 5gb one used the old design before), but this is not clear from their article.
I wouldn't take those 4 buttons seriously: if ThinkSecret had info on what they did they'd have mentioned it--so those 4 functions are just an artists' conception. In reality, the buttons may LOOK like that now, but they probably DO what they always did:
menu - prev/rew - next/FF - play/pause
I do like the old look, but I bet the new way stops you from messing up the volume when you just want to pause or skip. Functionally better.
I hope the new music service is good and priced right--there are lots of individual songs I'd like--but if not, I don't need to use it so no harm done. And please remember, if you don't like the service price, keep in mind that it may be more the record companies than Apple!
All I really NEED to sell me on an iPod is AAC/MP4: more music, better quality.
menu - prev/rew - next/FF - play/pause
I do like the old look, but I bet the new way stops you from messing up the volume when you just want to pause or skip. Functionally better.
I hope the new music service is good and priced right--there are lots of individual songs I'd like--but if not, I don't need to use it so no harm done. And please remember, if you don't like the service price, keep in mind that it may be more the record companies than Apple!
All I really NEED to sell me on an iPod is AAC/MP4: more music, better quality.
Here's one thing I hope for: I want that remote control cord to be shorter. I'm sure it's great for the tall people but I swear that I could jump rope with the earphones and remote control cords connnected at the length they now are. Why not just make it all one cord now that a revision is supposedly coming out?
I think I like the way the old ipods look but those two that snowy posted looked pretty good. I think I like the look of the first encasement (not a big fan of brushed metal on the ipod) but the button arrangement of the brushed metal one. And the 5th button could be a fun little thing that says "I'm an ipod and I could kick your A$$ if I didn't pity you!"
I guess if there are all these buttons added, then those fun iskins and what not will now be useless pieces of plastic and I so wanted the blue glowing iskin too!
I think I like the way the old ipods look but those two that snowy posted looked pretty good. I think I like the look of the first encasement (not a big fan of brushed metal on the ipod) but the button arrangement of the brushed metal one. And the 5th button could be a fun little thing that says "I'm an ipod and I could kick your A$$ if I didn't pity you!"
I guess if there are all these buttons added, then those fun iskins and what not will now be useless pieces of plastic and I so wanted the blue glowing iskin too!
Doesn't look too bad to me
Doesn't look too bad to me... (My Photoshop--not a real image--based on the same 4 button functions as the old iPod.)
EDIT: Snowy beat me to it! Like that one, this has the size of iPod AND wheel unchanged--so it does indeed all fit. And looking at it, I like that your thumb never has to bend awkwardly down to the bottom of the iPod, it can stay around the middle.
Doesn't look too bad to me... (My Photoshop--not a real image--based on the same 4 button functions as the old iPod.)
EDIT: Snowy beat me to it! Like that one, this has the size of iPod AND wheel unchanged--so it does indeed all fit. And looking at it, I like that your thumb never has to bend awkwardly down to the bottom of the iPod, it can stay around the middle.
USB + Firewire is good
Hey, remember Macwhispers reported on a cable being made for Apple that was both Firewire and USB? We may have the answer to that one now!
Also--I hope the Mac version has USB also--Macs will eventually have USB 2, Apple has said they are keeping an eye on the possibility. And a USB 2 device WILL work with USB 1 computers anyway (more slowly). Why would I want USB if I have Firewire? Because many of our Macs do NOT have Firewire--and this would make iPod a more universal portable HD.
Hey, remember Macwhispers reported on a cable being made for Apple that was both Firewire and USB? We may have the answer to that one now!
Also--I hope the Mac version has USB also--Macs will eventually have USB 2, Apple has said they are keeping an eye on the possibility. And a USB 2 device WILL work with USB 1 computers anyway (more slowly). Why would I want USB if I have Firewire? Because many of our Macs do NOT have Firewire--and this would make iPod a more universal portable HD.
usb2 in future macs???? 15.4 pbooks?
hey, if apple introduces usb2 into the ipod...... why not into the 15 albook?
also, i seriously doubt the ipod will have an actual usb2 port, rather a firewire with a cable with usb2 at the other side.... (the converter would be built into the ipod's hardware) cuz technically.... usb2 can just utilize 4 of the 6 firewire pins... and the ipod should be smart enough to understand that.
also.... the button scheme sux.
hey, if apple introduces usb2 into the ipod...... why not into the 15 albook?
also, i seriously doubt the ipod will have an actual usb2 port, rather a firewire with a cable with usb2 at the other side.... (the converter would be built into the ipod's hardware) cuz technically.... usb2 can just utilize 4 of the 6 firewire pins... and the ipod should be smart enough to understand that.
also.... the button scheme sux.
How about universal ADAPTER for Cars
I'm hoping the docking station spurs another development...
A universal docking adapter for cars. Not the lame RF adapters that use the FM radio (or the cassette adapter).
I want something that plugs my iPod in, charges it, but uses a hi-quality audio cable or firewire digital hookup to play audio.
the PhatBox is kind of cool (www.phatnoise.com). But it only works with certain radios. I wish Apple could drive this hard with the automobile manufacturers.
Gee, with a firewire interface, we could even have a "voice" saying the playlist. Good for keeping your eyes on the road.
Just dreaming.....
Jack
I'm hoping the docking station spurs another development...
A universal docking adapter for cars. Not the lame RF adapters that use the FM radio (or the cassette adapter).
I want something that plugs my iPod in, charges it, but uses a hi-quality audio cable or firewire digital hookup to play audio.
the PhatBox is kind of cool (www.phatnoise.com). But it only works with certain radios. I wish Apple could drive this hard with the automobile manufacturers.
Gee, with a firewire interface, we could even have a "voice" saying the playlist. Good for keeping your eyes on the road.
Just dreaming.....
Jack
I'm SORRY
I don't know if anyone has said this yet, but I'm SURE that there's no way that Apple would have a music service. The chances are 1/1000 for that. At least that's if they don't tie it into .Mac. there's probably a 1/50 chance that if they have one at all, it'll be part of .Mac.
I don't know if anyone has said this yet, but I'm SURE that there's no way that Apple would have a music service. The chances are 1/1000 for that. At least that's if they don't tie it into .Mac. there's probably a 1/50 chance that if they have one at all, it'll be part of .Mac.
That would be a stupid, stupid idea.
Want a PDA? Get a PDA. The iPod is a music player. Not a PDA. The last thing Apple needs now is that kind of confusion.
I also believe there's no way in hell that they'll have USB 2.0. After all, Firewire is Apple's standard. Releasing USB 2 iPods would be like releasing iPods for Windows.
(Wait a second...)
Hey Phil. Tell us how you really feel...
And you're already wrong about USB 2.0. It's been here and it works.
Dock?
What if they made the dock so you can have a audio output from the dock instead of plugging it in on the top.
This would be a pretty convenient, and cleaner way of plugging in the iPod to your stereo plus they can sell this with a cheaper wall wart that plugs into the dock for charging and sell the expensive white power adapter separately.
Or, while we are speculating, having a optional IR remote for the dock or even a video out for future capabilities but starting with song info and basically duplicating the info on the iPod itself for viewing on a tv or monitor.
I know that this is possible without adding too much to the price.
Bluetooth would probably not be cost effective but it too is also possible.
Tivo series 2 recorders can connect with Rendezvous and is compatible with iTunes and iPhoto so, I am kind of curious to see where this might be going.
The possibilities are endless.
What if they made the dock so you can have a audio output from the dock instead of plugging it in on the top.
This would be a pretty convenient, and cleaner way of plugging in the iPod to your stereo plus they can sell this with a cheaper wall wart that plugs into the dock for charging and sell the expensive white power adapter separately.
Or, while we are speculating, having a optional IR remote for the dock or even a video out for future capabilities but starting with song info and basically duplicating the info on the iPod itself for viewing on a tv or monitor.
I know that this is possible without adding too much to the price.
Bluetooth would probably not be cost effective but it too is also possible.
Tivo series 2 recorders can connect with Rendezvous and is compatible with iTunes and iPhoto so, I am kind of curious to see where this might be going.
The possibilities are endless.
Originally posted by mr_austin
Thank god they avoided that confusion by not having it list contacts or calendars
Simple Input would be a great addition. Even better would be a way to rate songs or create playlists w/o the mac.
That's data viewage. iPod is a output machine. Input goes against the idea of an output machine.
My $.02
I hope they're taking advantage of the bigger drives that are readily available, especially the 40/60 giggers. Can't imagine they're going to sell a 10 and a 15 with a $100 difference between them. I also hope they will include my idea of a toothpick on the side, like with the swiss army knife. AS WELL as a cork screw/magnifying glass/fish scaler. Let's make this a truly versitile tool. Any takers for a "comissioned artists rendition"? I got $.02 for ya.
If they include those items, I'll buy it. Otherwise, I'll hold out.
Ya HEAR THAT Apple??!
D
I hope they're taking advantage of the bigger drives that are readily available, especially the 40/60 giggers. Can't imagine they're going to sell a 10 and a 15 with a $100 difference between them. I also hope they will include my idea of a toothpick on the side, like with the swiss army knife. AS WELL as a cork screw/magnifying glass/fish scaler. Let's make this a truly versitile tool. Any takers for a "comissioned artists rendition"? I got $.02 for ya.
If they include those items, I'll buy it. Otherwise, I'll hold out.
Ya HEAR THAT Apple??!
D