Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

The Beat Goes On: Nano, Touch, Beatles, Wireless?

Status
Not open for further replies.
Here is the plan for sept 5th...

Hi,

Well, here we go again ! Let's see what's in store next week from Apple and why.

Some Facts:
  1. the iPod line is missing simple features that are available on nearly all competitors: FM tuner, real equalizer, full screen viewing (except the iPhone !)
  2. Apple is the only one able to have a very interresting combination of an online music store and the MP3 players because it owns both !
  3. OS X is really the best peace of software that Apple has done, is available on the Mac, iPhone, Apple TV...
  4. Doing OS X for the iPod is a done job ! currently, the best iPod is the... iPhone ! Current owners are doing the largest beta testing of all time of the future OS X based iPod since june 29th !!!
  5. The top of the line iPod is essentially a 2 years old design
  6. The current form factor of the 5.5 gen iPod is a cultural icon (in the US at least !)
  7. The current iPod lineup is very narrow in choice and the franchise is in need to expand (marketingnly speaking)
  8. Apple needs to keep the momentum of the iPod sales by making a big announcement... they cannot wait any longer to introduce a full screen iPod...
  9. Having iPod with touch screen will have an halo effect on the iPhone sales by further putting technology awareness in the marketplace
  10. Steve Jobs told employees that they are working on OS X based iPod during an internal Apple invent when he announce the iPhone giveaway
  11. Steeve Jobs said during the aug 9th Q&A sessions that he was not willing to talk about the Apple TV but we would would see some news soon
  12. During the last quarter statement, the CFO said that for the sept quarter, profits would be smaller to account for product transitions...

So, based on that and other things, here is the next iPods line-up:

Shuffle
  1. Will come down in price
  2. No other change
  3. Wearability of this iPod is very clever marketing and need to stay
  4. Pricing: 59$ (20$ cheaper)

Nano
  1. Will come down in price
  2. Need to stay in the lineup, entry-level iPod with a screen
  3. We may see capacity increase but with the pricing going done on this, it will only make room for another iPod line
  4. FM tuner included
  5. Updated iPod OS
  6. Click wheel
  7. Pricing: 119$ 2G (30$ cheaper), 149$ 4G (50$ cheaper), 199$ 8G (50$ cheaper)

Mini
  1. Apple cannot let go the current 5.5 gen iPod form factor... this is a technological icon... but, Apple can change the name and re-introduce the mini line...
  2. new GUI but may be based on the current 5.5 gen iPod
  3. all flash based: 8 and 16 gigs in size
  4. very thin and sexy, same back of the current 5.5 gen iPod
  5. click wheel
  6. same 2.5 inch screen of the current 5.5 gen iPod
  7. FM tuner
  8. Available now
  9. Pricing: 249$ for 8G, 299$ for 16G

iPod

  1. What people refer to the iPod touch
  2. New form factor: look for aluminum, glass, black... inspired with the iPhone and current iMac
  3. HD based: 30, 60, 120 gigs
  4. OS X based
  5. iPhone interface with touch
  6. Wi-Fi
  7. Pricing: 299$ for 30G, 349$ for 80G, 449$ for 120G

Common features of the new iPod mini and iPod 6G


Notes
The iPod mini will be more like a 6G iPod
The iPod with touch will be the new star of the family

The Keynote will be like this

  1. Welcome message
  2. Recap of the current state of the "iPod nation"
  3. Now, Beatles on the iTunes
  4. Now, Movies rental service
  5. Apple TV update : iTunes available from Apple TV

  6. Recap of the current lineup
  7. What can be improved on the software side: equalizer, songs lyrics, karaoke,updated calender and to-dos, clocks
  8. Let start by the entry level...
  9. Now, the nanos... bring the price down, tweak it a little bit
  10. What others are doing ?
  11. Now, what's missing ?
  12. How can Apple can contribute to fix problems...
  13. What can be improved on the hardware side ^
  14. Now, the iPod mini return !
  15. Can we bring the iPhone experience to a wider audience ?
  16. Introducing the new iPod
  17. iTunes available from the new iPod with wi-fi

    One more thing
  18. All current 5 gen iPod owner will be able to perform an OS upgrade (not clear if iPod OS 2.0 ou OS X without touch interface)
  19. iTunes 7.5 (or 8.0)
Thank you all for coming.

A weel informed guy.
 
whippersnapper said:
The fugly new nano is in fact the revved iPod with video now sporting an OSX variant with coverflow etc... This allows a full size iPod with plenty of hard disk space up to 120GB.

The Ipod Touch will be flash based and priced at a premium (guess $499 for 32GB, $399 for 16) so as not to cannibalize iPhone sales unnecessarily

iTunes 8 will be announced which will feature 720p content for the first time. At the Cupertino special event, Apple answered in reply to a question about Apple TV that an announcement was coming soon. I suspect that Apple TV sales have been slower than anticipated and that HD content is thought to be needed to make the device more compelling

My $0.02.
Click to expand...

The iPod touch will be HD based...

You're right... the Apple TV will see quite a few new functionnality via a software update and the new iTunes...
 
kugino said:
it might be telling that the album cover comes right after the Beastie Boys to the left (as someone posted above)...but why is Keane just a few more to the left? what's the sorting preference there?

i certainly hope a widescreen ipod does surface...i've been ipod-less for a year now since i sold all my ipods in anticipation of the widescreen ipod last year!! :eek: we all know how that turned out...though i was planning on an iphone in january i really want a high capacity widescreen ipod right away. multitouch would be even better!
Click to expand...

I'm not a fan of the Beastie Boys (and therefore did not recognize their album cover), but I did note that that cover did show BEA, and the rest was obscured and the artwork was very reminicient of the 60's "Yellow Submarine" style. I knew that cover was not Yellow Submarine, but I did notice the similarities in style.
 
Caezar said:
Am I the only one to be tired to read about the imminent addition of the Beatles to iTunes?

I don't deny it is one of the best bands ever (if not the best), but c'mon... Is it material for repeated breaking news?

:confused:
Click to expand...

I don't think it was the main subject of this news. I don't really care about The Beatles on iTunes either, but - it's critical to point out the linkage to this media event, because it could very well be that the ONLY THING they are announcing is the addition of the Beatles catalogue to the iTunes store. Considering the company was named after the Beatles record label it is extremely important to SJ.

btw - I don't honestly believe this event is just about the Beatles. But...
 
jfmartin said:
Hi,

Well, here we go again ! Let's see what's in store next week from Apple and why.

Some Facts:
  1. the iPod line is missing simple features that are available on nearly all competitors: FM tuner, real equalizer, full screen viewing (except the iPhone !)
  2. Apple is the only one able to have a very interresting combination of an online music store and the MP3 players because it owns both !
  3. OS X is really the best peace of software that Apple has done, is available on the Mac, iPhone, Apple TV...
  4. Doing OS X for the iPod is a done job ! currently, the best iPod is the... iPhone ! Current owners are doing the largest beta testing of all time of the future OS X based iPod since june 29th !!!
  5. The top of the line iPod is essentially a 2 years old design
  6. The current form factor of the 5.5 gen iPod is a cultural icon (in the US at least !)
  7. The current iPod lineup is very narrow in choice and the franchise is in need to expand (marketingnly speaking)
  8. Apple needs to keep the momentum of the iPod sales by making a big announcement... they cannot wait any longer to introduce a full screen iPod...
  9. Having iPod with touch screen will have an halo effect on the iPhone sales by further putting technology awareness in the marketplace
  10. Steve Jobs told employees that they are working on OS X based iPod during an internal Apple invent when he announce the iPhone giveaway
  11. Steeve Jobs said during the aug 9th Q&A sessions that he was not willing to talk about the Apple TV but we would would see some news soon
  12. During the last quarter statement, the CFO said that for the sept quarter, profits would be smaller to account for product transitions...

So, based on that and other things, here is the next iPods line-up:

Shuffle
  1. Will come down in price
  2. No other change
  3. Wearability of this iPod is very clever marketing and need to stay
  4. Pricing: 59$ (20$ cheaper)

Nano
  1. Will come down in price
  2. Need to stay in the lineup, entry-level iPod with a screen
  3. We may see capacity increase but with the pricing going done on this, it will only make room for another iPod line
  4. FM tuner included
  5. Updated iPod OS
  6. Click wheel
  7. Pricing: 119$ 2G (30$ cheaper), 149$ 4G (50$ cheaper), 199$ 8G (50$ cheaper)

Mini
  1. Apple cannot let go the current 5.5 gen iPod form factor... this is a technological icon... but, Apple can change the name and re-introduce the mini line...
  2. new GUI but may be based on the current 5.5 gen iPod
  3. all flash based: 8 and 16 gigs in size
  4. very thin and sexy, same back of the current 5.5 gen iPod
  5. click wheel
  6. same 2.5 inch screen of the current 5.5 gen iPod
  7. FM tuner
  8. Available now
  9. Pricing: 249$ for 8G, 299$ for 16G

iPod

  1. What people refer to the iPod touch
  2. New form factor: look for aluminum, glass, black... inspired with the iPhone and current iMac
  3. HD based: 30, 60, 120 gigs
  4. OS X based
  5. iPhone interface with touch
  6. Wi-Fi
  7. Pricing: 299$ for 30G, 349$ for 80G, 449$ for 120G

Common features of the new iPod mini and iPod 6G


Notes
The iPod mini will be more like a 6G iPod
The iPod with touch will be the new star of the family

The Keynote will be like this

  1. Welcome message
  2. Recap of the current state of the "iPod nation"
  3. Now, Beatles on the iTunes
  4. Now, Movies rental service
  5. Apple TV update : iTunes available from Apple TV

  6. Recap of the current lineup
  7. What can be improved on the software side: equalizer, songs lyrics, karaoke,updated calender and to-dos, clocks
  8. Let start by the entry level...
  9. Now, the nanos... bring the price down, tweak it a little bit
  10. What others are doing ?
  11. Now, what's missing ?
  12. How can Apple can contribute to fix problems...
  13. What can be improved on the hardware side ^
  14. Now, the iPod mini return !
  15. Can we bring the iPhone experience to a wider audience ?
  16. Introducing the new iPod
  17. iTunes available from the new iPod with wi-fi

    One more thing
  18. All current 5 gen iPod owner will be able to perform an OS upgrade (not clear if iPod OS 2.0 ou OS X without touch interface)
  19. iTunes 7.5 (or 8.0)
Thank you all for coming.

A weel informed guy.
Click to expand...

I expect you are very close. The shuffle may also get a 2 gig version. And the new iPod mini will probably get the new 5.5 gen iPod form factor, but slightly smaller and shorter, as indicted in the mock-ups. The new 'touch' ipod will have wifi and will maybe work with Apple TV in some way.
 
Still not convinced

I am still not clear that iPod sales would eat into iPhone sales or vice versa.

There is a big difference between WiFi vs "always connected".
There is a big difference between 80GB-160GB vs 4GB-8GB.

I could see people buying both, but never one instead of the other.
 
dalvin200 said:
only if it was waterproof :D
Click to expand...

OMG, that would be hilarious!!! and an excellent idea! To promote the availability of the Beatles catalong on iTunes, Apple offers a special bright yellow waterproof iPod with the entire Beatles catalog.

That would rock and I would definitely strongly consider that, even though I'm not a Beatles fanatic. (I like them a lot, but have never bought a Beatles album from anywhere other than garage sales and stuff).
 
Another poster said this before but I'll reiterate. I sincerely hope that whatever Apple adds to the iPod that the iPhone does not have, they enable in the iPhone via software update. It would just be wrong if the new iPod had wifi access to iTunes and the iPhone did not.
 
tingly said:
If Beatles are indeed imminent, I can't imagine "the beat goes on" is a Beatle reference (and incredibly obscure to boot), since it's really a Sonny and Cher song. If they wanted a Beatles clue, "come aboard" (all our friends are all aboard) woulda been more like it or "do you want to know a secret", "dig it", "getting better",… I'll be shocked if Beatles get announced. That oughta be more of an October/November thing.
Click to expand...
Or how about "We buried Paul"...
mithun914 said:
when steve announced the iphone, he talked about revolutions, as in the "click -wheel" which gave birth to the ipod, and mulitouch which gave birth to the iphone, so if u make the ipod mulititouch, wouldn't it take away from the reason of it's success aka the click wheel?

am not saying i don't what a multi touch ipod, but i don't understand y apple would do it, if it first of all cannibalizes iphone sales , and second , the ipod is a music/video player, and the click wheel is actually easy to use, and lots of ppl, though may be illegal in some places use it in their cars, they can use without looking because of the click wheel, would be hard to do that on a mulitouch screen

anzy can't wait for the 5 th :D
Click to expand...
As the iPod menus get deeper, the click wheel is getting harder to use. It was great in its time, but I'm ready for a new easy-to-use interface.
network23 said:
OMG, that would be hilarious!!! and an excellent idea! To promote the availability of the Beatles catalong on iTunes, Apple offers a special bright yellow waterproof iPod with the entire Beatles catalog.
Click to expand...
Somehow I think a "White Album" iPod would be more likely than a "Yellow Submarine" version... ;)
 
When there is a special event centered around the iPod there are items that can be discussed:
  1. Report - The usual board meeting keynote concerning the past, present, and future.
  2. iPods - Obviously, updated models and functionality. Besides larger capacities I see the iPod nano with a bigger screen supporting video and the full size iPods getting touch screen and wireless capability which will require an AirPort Express with AirTunes. We will be able to update the iPod wirelessly, remote control the Apple TV, listen to shared libraries, and stream music from the iPod itself. I do not see us being able to purchase from, or even browse, the iTunes Store wirelessly, nor any other web related activities.
  3. iTunes - iTunes 8.0 which will be needed to support the functionality in the new iPods.
  4. iTunes Store - New content available for sale or content now available for sale to non-US iTunes Stores.
  5. iPod Hi-Fi - This could get built-in wireless so we can stream music to it without needing an AirPort Express with AirTunes. We will also be able to stream music from the new iPods, but we might need to mount the iPod first so it will know which iPods' music to play.
  6. Apple TV - This will get a simple update that will allow the iPod to control it.
  7. iPhone - This will also get a simple update to support remote control functionality and maybe a new menu button to activate the remote's display.
Out of all the possible updates I listed, the wireless iPod Hi-Fi is the one that interests me the most because my iTunes library is mostly music with a few videos and no TV shows or movies.
 
I keep reading here about FM tuners. Folks, Apple doesn't want you to use the iPod to listen to free FM radio. They want you to use the iPod to listen to music that you purchase from the iTunes store. It doesn't matter if other brands have FM radios included. Apple doesn't respond to features that other brands offer, they offer features that drive the market for others to copy. I've had many mp3 players, some with FM Radios. Did I ever use the FM Radio? NO. Every since I got my first iPod, that's all I've used (or needed) and a good reason for that is due to the content I've purchased thru iTunes.

One other thing - I really think that we can take away from the theme of the announcement "The Beat Goes On" what will be announced. The new models are still very much media players, not iPhones without the phone part. If they were going to offer WiFi, Safari, email, etc. on the top of the line unit, I think there would be a much more broad theme.

I predict Shuffle staying as is. A new Nano that is similar to the one that people keep saying is so ugly. A new iPod (Touch) that is similar in look and feel to the iPhone but only includes the iPod and Photo features. It might include a camera and it might include BT for wireless sync, who knows. But no WiFi, no Safari, no Email, etc.

Just my opinion. Take it for what it's worth.
 
Killyp said:
Wireless headsets sound dreadful. Apple would be bringing themselves to a new low to expect you to listen to music through a wireless headset.

You have no idea what you are talking about!
There are some fantastic Wireless headsets available. It may not be technically possible for use with an ipod, but great wireless headsets for music are available.
Click to expand...
 
iTunes Plus... and iTunes Mobile next week !

sneakyh said:
I expect you are very close. The shuffle may also get a 2 gig version. And the new iPod mini will probably get the new 5.5 gen iPod form factor, but slightly smaller and shorter, as indicted in the mock-ups. The new 'touch' ipod will have wifi and will maybe work with Apple TV in some way.
Click to expand...

Well, the Apple TV is an OS X based iPod !!! Why make them work together ? There is not point in doing so...

Apple will make the iTunes store available on the Apple TV at some point, next week ? Why not ? If there is a iPod with wi-fi, same apply here, iTunes will be available wirelessly... this would be a very cool user experience and nobody has come close to offer the same kind of thing in the market...

Oh, by the way.. .ringtones on the iPhone to and iTunes from the iPhone too !

Next week, we'll see quite a few surprise... good ones !
 
I don't know if this has been asked but i'm just wondering if there is going to be a home button like the iphone or is all going to be touch screen. Or is this still unknown.

Thank you.
 
The touch iPod looks so cool, Zune won't have a chance against that thing. They copied the current iPods pretty well, but now MS will have to go back to the drawing boards. Go Apple!

What would be really cool is if this thing would have all of the functionality of the iPhone besides the phone part. Then I could browse the web on it while listening to music if there happened to be WiFi access and I was bored (for example, in a shopping mall).
 
patrickfogarty said:
Think Rihanna meets Gwen Stafani sprinkled with the beats of Justin and Timberland.
Click to expand...

Wow, I can't think of anything more awful. Don't people like actual music anymore? It's all this overproduced music-style product these days.

I guess I'm getting old.
 
Has anyone thought about the fact that apple have a very good input device in existance that may be utilised in a non touch screen capacity but works in a similar way...... the trackpad

The new ipod nano could use a trackpad similar to that on macbooks/macbook pros.....

It may seem like a step back in terms of the touch screen etec but to differentiate between the iphone/ipod touch, this could be a solution.

Im not saying it has to be round like the click wheel either, it could be on a 1:1 scal with the nano screen allowing the user to treat it like their laptop track pad???

Just a thought?:eek:
 
ds252 said:
I don't know if this has been asked but i'm just wondering if there is going to be a home button like the iphone or is all going to be touch screen. Or is this still unknown.

Thank you.
Click to expand...

I would say it's pretty much all unknown really.
 
jfmartin said:
Hi,

Well, here we go again ! Let's see what's in store next week from Apple and why.
Click to expand...
I am going to have to disagree with you on Apple selling a nano and a mini because they are too close to differentiate. Without the hard drive the mini can be just as small as the nano so what would Apple do with the extra "wasted" space? I think the nano will get video support while keeping the click-wheel, the size of the nano will stay the same, but the screen will get bigger so you will have to turn the nano sideways to watch video.
 
oh no ... :( I just got a nano 4g with my student promo 2 days ago ... i can't believe there is an upgrade in next 8 days ... is there any chance for upgrade?

I thought they're going to introduce the new iPods after Sep 16th
 
Right there with ya

And I wouldn't even consider the 'best band ever.' Such over-hype garbage (not to say I don't like them, but... come on!) And 'The Beat Goes On' was like a Sonny & Cher song wasn't it? Who knows, who cares. :rolleyes:

Give me a friggin sexy ipod with wifi and wide screen goodness, and be prepared for the fallout about the fugly Nano if it ends up looking like this.


Caezar said:
Am I the only one to be tired to read about the imminent addition of the Beatles to iTunes?

I don't deny it is one of the best bands ever (if not the best), but c'mon... Is it material for repeated breaking news?

:confused:
Click to expand...
 
jfmartin said:
Hi,

Well, here we go again ! Let's see what's in store next week from Apple and why.

Some Facts:
  1. the iPod line is missing simple features that are available on nearly all competitors: FM tuner, real equalizer, full screen viewing (except the iPhone !)
  2. Apple is the only one able to have a very interresting combination of an online music store and the MP3 players because it owns both !
  3. OS X is really the best peace of software that Apple has done, is available on the Mac, iPhone, Apple TV...
  4. Doing OS X for the iPod is a done job ! currently, the best iPod is the... iPhone ! Current owners are doing the largest beta testing of all time of the future OS X based iPod since june 29th !!!
  5. The top of the line iPod is essentially a 2 years old design
  6. The current form factor of the 5.5 gen iPod is a cultural icon (in the US at least !)
  7. The current iPod lineup is very narrow in choice and the franchise is in need to expand (marketingnly speaking)
  8. Apple needs to keep the momentum of the iPod sales by making a big announcement... they cannot wait any longer to introduce a full screen iPod...
  9. Having iPod with touch screen will have an halo effect on the iPhone sales by further putting technology awareness in the marketplace
  10. Steve Jobs told employees that they are working on OS X based iPod during an internal Apple invent when he announce the iPhone giveaway
  11. Steeve Jobs said during the aug 9th Q&A sessions that he was not willing to talk about the Apple TV but we would would see some news soon
  12. During the last quarter statement, the CFO said that for the sept quarter, profits would be smaller to account for product transitions...

So, based on that and other things, here is the next iPods line-up:

Shuffle
  1. Will come down in price
  2. No other change
  3. Wearability of this iPod is very clever marketing and need to stay
  4. Pricing: 59$ (20$ cheaper)

Nano
  1. Will come down in price
  2. Need to stay in the lineup, entry-level iPod with a screen
  3. We may see capacity increase but with the pricing going done on this, it will only make room for another iPod line
  4. FM tuner included
  5. Updated iPod OS
  6. Click wheel
  7. Pricing: 119$ 2G (30$ cheaper), 149$ 4G (50$ cheaper), 199$ 8G (50$ cheaper)

Mini
  1. Apple cannot let go the current 5.5 gen iPod form factor... this is a technological icon... but, Apple can change the name and re-introduce the mini line...
  2. new GUI but may be based on the current 5.5 gen iPod
  3. all flash based: 8 and 16 gigs in size
  4. very thin and sexy, same back of the current 5.5 gen iPod
  5. click wheel
  6. same 2.5 inch screen of the current 5.5 gen iPod
  7. FM tuner
  8. Available now
  9. Pricing: 249$ for 8G, 299$ for 16G

iPod

  1. What people refer to the iPod touch
  2. New form factor: look for aluminum, glass, black... inspired with the iPhone and current iMac
  3. HD based: 30, 60, 120 gigs
  4. OS X based
  5. iPhone interface with touch
  6. Wi-Fi
  7. Pricing: 299$ for 30G, 349$ for 80G, 449$ for 120G

Common features of the new iPod mini and iPod 6G


Notes
The iPod mini will be more like a 6G iPod
The iPod with touch will be the new star of the family

The Keynote will be like this

  1. Welcome message
  2. Recap of the current state of the "iPod nation"
  3. Now, Beatles on the iTunes
  4. Now, Movies rental service
  5. Apple TV update : iTunes available from Apple TV

  6. Recap of the current lineup
  7. What can be improved on the software side: equalizer, songs lyrics, karaoke,updated calender and to-dos, clocks
  8. Let start by the entry level...
  9. Now, the nanos... bring the price down, tweak it a little bit
  10. What others are doing ?
  11. Now, what's missing ?
  12. How can Apple can contribute to fix problems...
  13. What can be improved on the hardware side ^
  14. Now, the iPod mini return !
  15. Can we bring the iPhone experience to a wider audience ?
  16. Introducing the new iPod
  17. iTunes available from the new iPod with wi-fi

    One more thing
  18. All current 5 gen iPod owner will be able to perform an OS upgrade (not clear if iPod OS 2.0 ou OS X without touch interface)
  19. iTunes 7.5 (or 8.0)
Thank you all for coming.

A weel informed guy.
Click to expand...

Well then, you seem to know what you're talking about. I hope you're right!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back