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OS X Based iPods at Media Event in September?

Obviously the iPhone is much more then just an iPod with a browser, but I personally find the most compelling feature of my iPhone to be the browser.

If Apple puts WiFi and Safari on the iPod and mates it with the same screen and multi-touch as the iPhone has, I think that could seriously undercut iPhone sales prospects. Especially because you know Skype and Vonage will be ported to it (legally or via a hack) and then it becomes a de facto phone when connect to a WiFi network. Use web-based mail clients and such, and what do you need the PDA functions of the iPhone for?

You'd end up with almost identical products in terms of functionality, except one offers cellular connectivity and costs $600 and one doesn't and costs $300. And if the one that doesn't offers orders of magnitude additional storage space because it uses a HDD...

Unless Apple cripples it by only giving the Leopard kernel 512KB of RAM so it can't load any apps other then the base OS and Safari or they make it physically impossible to add a microphone to it...
 
homeboy said:
WiFi is highly unlikely this year but very much not out of the question since Apple might want to turn it into a Frontrow/iTune remote control.
Click to expand...

I never thought much about Mobile iTunes until I got my iPhone. Now I see a need. I believe we'll see a Mobile iTunes Store someday, but probably not with the 6G iPod. I think iLounge probably nailed this upcoming announcement -- though time will tell:

http://ilounge.com/index.php/articles/comments/is-ipods-cool-melting-or-are-grand-plans-afoot/
 
homeboy said:
^^
We won't see Safari on the iPod anytime soon. Will cannibalize the iPhone too much
Click to expand...

People who want a cell phone get the bonus of internet browsing along with it. People that want a media player should get that same bonus.

Why not?

It won't cannibalize iPhone sales at all. Why do people keep spewing this ****?
 
Don Bagles said:
People who want a cell phone get the bonus of internet browsing along with it. People that want a media player should get that same bonus.

Why not?

It won't cannibalize iPhone sales at all. Why do people keep spewing this ****?
Click to expand...

If Apple puts a feature in a phone they would want every buyer to be able to use it on a regular basis. The problem with having Safari is that it's only possible to use it if you have a WiFi signal which is something that very few people have when ever they are on the move, further more WiFi access in places like Starbucks cost money.

The iPhone on the other hand has EDGE and WiFi which gives you internet access where every you are.

With that being said I can't think of Safari in the iPod in an iPod anytime soon. Like some of you know Apple never do something unless they can do it properly and that the feature can be used by everyone at anytime.
 
These 160GB Samsung drives... if Apple were to use them, would there be enough available by September 5th, or a little after if they don't ship immediately? I just thought that maybe they waited for plenty of 120GB drives to be available first, as 160GB's will surely only just have begun production?
 
coffeecty said:
Ok, so we'll have an iPod with touch, and a square metallic nano. Are they just gonna let the shuffle stay the same?
Click to expand...

The Shuffle is perfect as it is. They could bump it to 2GB but that really won't make much difference to users. Still, always good for marketing.
 
If Apple does introduce a Wifi Multitouch iPod, I can get the iPhone Nano when it comes out. Honestly, I'd rather have all the browsing and email on my iPod (without the Edge/3G data bills) and keep my phone a phone, and a small one at that.

The rumour here is that O2 is going to want $40/month for data (£20). EEK!
 
coverflow .. most probably
bumped up HDD's .... yes
new OS ... yes
wifi/over the air iTMS, Safari ... don't think so
touchscreen ... most probably
better battery, screen, etc. .... yes
better earbuds ... I wish
built-in FM tuner ... I wish
wider video codec support ... don't think so but I wish
a winner ... yes
 
HAHA, did you actually get 35 PMs for anti-iPHone comments? What did they say? Is there a thread somewhere about this?

iShak said:
coverflow .. most probably
bumped up HDD's .... yes
new OS ... yes
wifi/over the air iTMS, Safari ... don't think so
touchscreen ... most probably
better battery, screen, etc. .... yes
better earbuds ... I wish
built-in FM tuner ... I wish
wider video codec support ... don't think so but I wish
a winner ... yes
Click to expand...
 
Don Bagles said:
People who want a cell phone get the bonus of internet browsing along with it. People that want a media player should get that same bonus.

Why not?

It won't cannibalize iPhone sales at all. Why do people keep spewing this ****?
Click to expand...

The only people talking crap are those expecting an iPhone minus the phone. It simply isn't going to happen, not until the iPhone dominates the mobile industry. Apple need to give people every reason in the world to buy an iPhone, and taking it's best features and putting them in other devices isn't going to help iPhone sales.

Eventually the iPhone will replace the iPod, not the other way around.
 
Manic Mouse said:
The only people talking crap are those expecting an iPhone minus the phone. It simply isn't going to happen, not until the iPhone dominates the mobile industry. Apple need to give people every reason in the world to buy an iPhone, and taking it's best features and putting them in other devices isn't going to help iPhone sales.

Eventually the iPhone will replace the iPod, not the other way around.
Click to expand...

Then I might just buy an iPhone instead of an iPod......
 
I still think Apple will introduce a new full-screen iPod video about the same size as the current 5.5G iPod video, but with touchscreen controls and 80 or 120 GB storage. You can forget about Wi-Fi, web browsing, etc. because that would raise the cost of the device way too high; Bluetooth, however, could happen since there is interest in interfacing with wireless headphones and to car stereos with Bluetooth connectivity.
 
Then you, Don Bagles, will be cannibalizing iPod sales!!!!
Is there no freedom from cannibalization for Apple!?!?
 
TaKashMoney said:
Then you, Don Bagles, will be cannibalizing iPod sales!!!!
Is there no freedom from cannibalization for Apple!?!?
Click to expand...

What?? Then they should release an iPod with Wi-Fi so that I buy it, because otherwise I won't buy it! However, they'll still get my money, because then i'll buy an iPhone! So what's the harm in releasing Wi-Fi in an iPod???
 
J@ffa said:
These 160GB Samsung drives... if Apple were to use them, would there be enough available by September 5th, or a little after if they don't ship immediately? I just thought that maybe they waited for plenty of 120GB drives to be available first, as 160GB's will surely only just have begun production?
Click to expand...

I believe they won't ship until November, so I am thinking the top end iPod will have 120GB, which is a nice boost over the current 80GB.
 
Don Bagles said:
So what's the harm in releasing Wi-Fi in an iPod???
Click to expand...

I've answered this elsewhere, but my fear is if they release Safari and WiFi in the iPod, it will become a de facto iPhone as Vonage and Skype or some other VOIP app is ported to it.

True, it will not work everywhere an iPhone can thanks to the latter's cellphone, but if it does most everything an iPhone does, then getting a cheap cell phone and plan for the places it doesn't probably would be considered by many to be acceptable.

I do agree with those who feel WiFi without Safari is pointless. Getting on the web would be the key reason to offer it. But I think that the iPhone hacking community's recent successes may make it the key reason not to offer it.
 
^^
An iPod with Wifi doesn't mean that it will have Safari and skype. There is a whole lot other WiFi can be used for in an iPod that won't harm the iPhone.
 
homeboy said:
^^
An iPod with Wifi doesn't mean that it will have Safari and skype. There is a whole lot other WiFi can be used for in an iPod that won't harm the iPhone.
Click to expand...

If the iPod WiFi has Safari, expect someone to port/hack a VOIP client to it. They have already done so for the iPhone, I believe.

If the iPod WiFi doesn't have Safari, then what would be the benefit?

I don't see "Zuning" songs to be a big hit (and iTunes DRM may very well prevent it if the labels put the kebosh on it if someone hacks it so you can send the whole song). And syncing your iPod via WiFi is no real benefit compared to USB from a speed standpoint, and how hard is it to stick it in a Dock? I suppose Apple could hard-code an iTunes Store link so you can buy and download new music on the fly, but again, I don't see that being a "killer app" that would justify the expense in electronics and battery life to implement it...
 
CWallace said:
If the iPod WiFi has Safari, expect someone to port/hack a VOIP client to it. They have already done so for the iPhone, I believe.
Click to expand...

Do we have any reason to think that the new iPods will have a speaker, or more than one audio jack? (I don't think current iPods can do audio in and audio out at the same time. I don't know why the new iPods would be able to unless the intent is to put a VOIP client on it.)

And, honestly, I don't think Apple pays much attention to constructive hacking. Or, at least, they haven't stopped any of it, and it hasn't really affected their product decisions so far.
 
CWallace said:
If the iPod WiFi has Safari, expect someone to port/hack a VOIP client to it. They have already done so for the iPhone, I believe.

If the iPod WiFi doesn't have Safari, then what would be the benefit?
Click to expand...

WiFi in an iPod can be used for wirelessly controlling iTune or front row or Apple TV. WiFi is quite common these days and the ability to sync movie trailers, youtube videos and podcasts wirelessly is not distant. Heck even buying music wirelessly at hotspots when you are abroad and won't be syncing with a computer for a long time.

Not to mention listen to music wirelessly from those who share their iTunes library. I did it at times at university when I was hooked up to the network.

Apple are are selling games on iTunes and we have no idea what sort of games will be on the new iPod but a possibilty to play against others via WiFi is also a possibility.

Safari on the other hand something that Apple might add to the iPod in 1-2 years when they are done with perfecting the iPod as a media device.
 
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