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Other Points of Interest: iPod Hi-Fi, Universal Dock, iPod Component Video

the vj said:
No one remembers...

When Jobs was introducing the iPhone he was playing with it and you were able to watch what he was doing on real time on the big screen. Take a look at the keynote again. His iPhone has a wire underneath for video and the resolution was perfect by the way.

That was probably the best feature nobody noticed...<snip>...
Click to expand...

You make a somewhat valid point, but you also need to remember that what Steve Jobs demos on the stage is not always the same thing that ships. In the past they've actually created special hardware just for the demos. The classic example was the original Macintosh where the system that Steve Jobs used for the demo was a one-of-a-kind unit with extra memory (512KB) whereas the actual product only had 128KB. He did a similar thing when they introduced the Next computer, he demonstrated an optical drive on the system that was on stage but the video feed showing the results from the demo were actually performed by a specially configured set of hardware that was behind the curtain (literally).

They may not have done anything exactly like that for the iPhone demo but you can never be completely certain either way. This is just another component of the so-called and fabled Steve Jobs reality distortion field (i.e. sometimes the reality is distorted).

In any case, as I've already suggested we won't really know one way or another until we get the next firmware upgrade on the iPhone (and maybe not even then).
 
fpnc said:
The other thing that bugs me about the iPhone is that it has no alarm (bedtime) function. Certainly they've got to add this in a future firmware update, but even the nano has an alarm so why not the iPhone (yet).
Click to expand...

There's an alarm in the clock app on the iPhone.
 
voidptr said:
There's an alarm in the clock app on the iPhone.
Click to expand...

True, but it doesn't wake you to music like an iPod does (since like several years now). I was trying to make a comparison to the iPod's audio and video features versus the current iPhone. That's why I think the iPhone isn't the "best iPod" ever (as Steve Jobs said when the iPhone was introduced). The iPhone use to have the best video experience among the iPods (ignoring the lack of video out) but it's not really the "best" iPod (IMO).

That said, I think the iPhone is a great communications device (phone and wireless internet) with an okay to good audio experience in comparison to the iPod. I own both (iPhone and iPod) so I'm speaking from experience (granted, my experience and preference -- your mileage may vary). With the recent price reduction I think the iPhone is a truly great value and I'd now recommend it to anyone who wants an upscale phone -- if they can also "stomach" the change in carrier to ATT. By the way, the ATT service in my area is pretty good, even the EDGE throughput is tolerable (measured at about 150kbps, fine for occasional web browsing, RSS, text-only email, etc).
 
fpnc said:
Apple has changed the specs that they had posted from earlier today. They altered (upgraded) the specs for the iPod touch but the iPhone is still listed as slightly less capable than that for the new iPods (go to the actual technical specifications for the iPhone: http://www.apple.com/iphone/specs.html ).

Specifically the iPhone says:

while the iPods say:

Note the difference in the second part of the spec, the H.264 Baseline Profile (not the beginning "Low-Complexity" section).

Whether this is just another mistake (as they made earlier today) or a true difference I can't say. Whether the next firmware upgrade for the iPhone will add video output I also can't say, but as of today (and as it was yesterday) the iPhone does not do video out.
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jesus... eagle eyes. I didn't catch those slight discrepancies. They might have different hardware after-all (though they were able to update the 5G ipod to support higher bitrate stuff when the 5.5G came out)
 
apple hi fi right here
Picture2-1.jpg



and again
Picture3-1.jpg


can't find it on the main store, but through the iTunes tab on the apple.com page, you can still find the hi fi.

so, the iPhone is a business end, the :apple:tv is a hobby, and the hi fi is the red headed stepchild?
 
Everyone who's still thinking the iPhone will be excluded from the video-out the iPod Touch will have is unfortunately so beaten-down as to be overly pessimistic. The iPhone will support video out with the release of the new component/composite cables. It's NOT a typo. It's not a dream. It's not an error. It will not go through the headphone jack, but through the 30 pin connector. They will need to update the software, same as they will update the iPhone software to work with the iTWS. The only REAL question is, will it allow the viewing of applications like Safari, or the Quicklook playback of Keynote presentations. Ponder, ponder... Clearly, that's the only rub.

~ CB
 
Universal Dock

I've always been frustrated with iPod docks because they are of no use if you have a protective "skin" on your iPod. I shouldn't have to peel it off every time I want to dock it. To use a car adapter, I had to cut away a big chunk of the skin on the bottom, just so the adapter would "click" into place.

They just need to change the shape a bit to make the actual connector stick up a bit higher to accomodate the thickness of skins. This can be standardized so that all iPod "sanctioned"/"blessed" accessories have to follow the dimensions. Or, at least include a dock adapter for this. Or, have the skin makers leave the bottom/dock area exposed entirely.
 
Cleverboy said:
...<snip>...The only REAL question is, will it allow the viewing of applications like Safari, or the Quicklook playback of Keynote presentations. Ponder, ponder... Clearly, that's the only rub.

~ CB
Click to expand...

That's not a question that is hard to answer. No, it won't offer Safari output to the TV (no way, no how). As for Keynote, you'd simply have to convert the presentation to a QuickTime video and then show that at 640x480.
 
Dock looks similar to the older model-but the shape of the IR sensor cover is now pill shaped.

Is the component video cable-the second one using a dock connector?
 
If you go to the "Which iPod are you?" section, the Hi-Fi is the first thing that is on the list.

http://www.apple.com/ipod/accessories/

This is an updated list.

If you click on the "Buy Now" option for the Hi-Fi, it says:
"The item you have selected is currently not available from the Apple Store. Please note that Apple cannot guarantee availability of any product.

http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APP...wo/StoreReentry.wo?productLearnMore=M9867LL/A

I don't think the Hi-Fi is discontinued, I think they are refreshing it.
 
menu output/cover art

I don't think this is the first time jobs has output menus and cover art from the ipod. the question is ... will this new dock provide that feature? Can I finally output the ipod's "now playing" cover art to my TV???

I really want to wire one of these into the video in on my navigation system, but have never been able to.
 
interlaced vs. progressive

I think I know why the ipods are progressive in output and the iphone and ipod touch are interlaced.

Using interlaced graphics for the ipod touch and the iphone was a good decision due to all the extensive graphic effects that happen on an iphone and the new ipod touch. Because of all this motion and animation using an interlaced format for the screen makes since because the animations will appear smoother and look better on an interlaced signal. It also could be a limitation of the graphic processing of the iphone / ipod touch.

Anyone else get what i am trying to say?
 
I was able to get my hands on a Hi-Fi at 50% off clearance at the Target where I work after we discontinued them; needless to say I love it :D
 
Goodbye apple. I actually liked you until this move. Good luck taking over more of the market share when you have proven to be no better than MicroSoft. At least they don't pretend to be something other than what you are.
 
the vj said:
No one remembers...

When Jobs was introducing the iPhone he was playing with it and you were able to watch what he was doing on real time on the big screen. Take a look at the keynote again. His iPhone has a wire underneath for video and the resolution was perfect by the way.

That was probably the best feature nobody noticed.

I was counting the days for them to release that function to the public.

Now, I do not know why is so much confusion, every video cable says with what is compatible, take a look at the apple web site.

Then, the ipod Hifi still on apple's site, I just did a Google search and is there, is not discontinued.
Click to expand...

If you watch the iPhone keynote, just before Jobs first demoes the iPhone, you'll hear him say "I've got some special iPhones uphere that got a special board in them so I get digital video out..."

Granted, he said "digital video out", while these new cable will only output analog video, but many people including me assumed that it meant that the iPhone didn't have the hardware to output video, period.

Apple did some very similar mistake before when listing the iPod nano 1st or 2nd gen as being compatible with the older video cable, when obviously it wasn't the case. Adding that the iPhone video out wasn't listed as a feature before, that's why we're skeptical about it.
 
damienvfx said:
Goodbye apple. I actually liked you until this move. Good luck taking over more of the market share when you have proven to be no better than MicroSoft. At least they don't pretend to be something other than what you are.
Click to expand...

So which part hurts you so cruelly? :p

* The HiFi being discontinued

* A new Universal Dock option

* Component video out

?
 
cxny said:
Can't think of a better looking iPod system for the money, I'll prolly try to grab a couple more of these b4 they are history. I hope it ain't so - I'd love Apple to continue in this direction.
Click to expand...

It needed to be $50 less, and include direct WiFi repeater/AirTunes capability.

I'd spread those damn things through my house and office, give myself a great connectivity cloud and music where ever I'm at.

And the WiFi iDevices need to support AirTunes too.

Then they'd sell a TON of these.
 
Hodgi said:
I think I know why the ipods are progressive in output and the iphone and ipod touch are interlaced.

Using interlaced graphics for the ipod touch and the iphone was a good decision due to all the extensive graphic effects that happen on an iphone and the new ipod touch. Because of all this motion and animation using an interlaced format for the screen makes since because the animations will appear smoother and look better on an interlaced signal. It also could be a limitation of the graphic processing of the iphone / ipod touch.

Anyone else get what i am trying to say?
Click to expand...

Impossible. LCD panels cannot display interlaced video, no way. Every LCD panel that is fed an interlaced signal has to process the picture to convert it into progressive (called de-interlacing). Interlaced picture only works CRT technology.

Using interlaced graphics would certainly defeat the point that you're trying to make as the interlaced picture would require more processing power than displaying a progressive picture.

Anyway, once on the dock and displaying the picture on the TV, the iPod itself does not display the video anymore. So even though the signal is interlaced to the TV I believe it's not because the iPod/iPhone does not have the power, it's more to do with hardware.

Joshua.
 
I hope they still keep the iPod Hi-Fi because the for the couple of times that I've heard it compared to a Bose Sounddock, the thing sounds extremely impressive.
 
Could the new iPods and in particular the iPod touch be used for Keynote and Powerpoint presentations using wired or wireless video projectors? The iPod touch has WiFi and also component and composite video output. Thanks.
 
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