U2 iPod, Photo iPod and Additional iTMS Localizations Released

[crachoar]

Photo iPod is one of the worst ideas Apple has ever had...

What a waste of color LCD screens. I wonder if they'll ever get the clue that we want to watch our own backup movie files on our iPods? If the 'video iPod' ever does become a reality, I bet Apple and the MPAA will make some worthless proprietary format that requires you to pay for encrypted divx files (which would be useless). If somebody hacks this new Photo iPod to play divx and xvid, I will have to sell my brand new (only been used once) 4g 40GB iPod.

You'd think they would've just waited to release the 4G iPods......

So are these '5G iPods' now?

 

[dornoforpyros]

Yes but my point is the only way to make "gapless" playback of mp3's i through cross fades. Wheater it be winamp, itunes or your iPod.

Umm, iTunes also has a crossfade feature. You can even set it to 0 seconds. How it compares to Winamp's, I have no idea.

But what I think we all want is gapless playback on the iPod.

 

[Object-X]

The 3G iPod I got just before the 4G's were released just gets more obsolete every day.. I love the U2 iPod, and I hope it's a sign of things to come (although I don't know how many bands are successful enough to justify getting their own iPod).

I would expect an exclusive Beatles iPod should be forthcoming!

 

[srobert]

Higher resolution color screen = more possibilities a near future?

Will we be able to download contacts with the photos we already have in our address book?

If the iPod could display a segment of a picture bigger than the screen, there would be the possibility to store maps on it for reference when needed. Not sure the iPod could handle that.

We can already download audio books? What about Audio/Picture books The narrator reads the book and the screen display accompanying pictures. The ultimate cookbook!

Many possibilities.

 

[dobbs]

This is a huge disappointment to me. I'd been waiting to upgrade my 15gb to a 60 but I have absolutely zero interest in the photo nonsense. Apple not releasing a "regular" iPod with a 60gb drive is a big mistake, imo.

 

[dejo]

I'm not reactionary, I'm underwhelmed at Apple's offerings.

Currently I am using a SmartDisk FlashTrax. It shows pictures, (including RAW format from my camera, plays MP3's, can store files, etc. And most importantly, I can transfer images directly from my flash-cards.

And it has a bigger screen.

These devices have different capabilities, but to show you what's out there.....

http://www.delkin.com/delkin_products_picturepad.html

http://www.archos.com/ (photos, MP3's and VIDEO)

Apple is late to the game, and I resent being called a liar.

Thanks, wildmac. That is what I was looking for. Now I better understand where you are coming from.

Just so you know where I'm coming from, just replying "Wrong" to something with no explanation as to why you feel that way looks reactionary to me.

As for being called a liar, I don't think anybody said that.

 

[Yvan256]

There's still no CD-TEXT support.

Sorry to ask, but...

1. what is "CD-TEXT" exactly/what does it do
2. why would you want that

In other news, iTunes (windows at least) finally supports multiple CD/DVD drives! Hurray!

That "always on top" option is also a nice addition (that was way overdue)!

 

[wildmac]

I'm not reactionary, I'm underwhelmed at Apple's offerings.

Currently I am using a SmartDisk FlashTrax. It shows pictures, (including RAW format from my camera, plays MP3's, can store files, etc. And most importantly, I can transfer images directly from my flash-cards.

And it has a bigger screen.

These devices have different capabilities, but to show you what's out there.....

http://www.delkin.com/delkin_products_picturepad.html

http://www.archos.com/ (photos, MP3's and VIDEO)

Apple is late to the game, and I resent being called a liar.

Oh, I forgot, the Archos devices can record from TV, play FM radio, and more as well. Check them out. All sorts of combinations.

 

[jcshas]

...I've seen the future, I can't afford it

 

[sinisterdesign]

It seems the color ipod is .75 inches thick, as opposed to .57 for the b/w models. I suppose that's to be expected, the screen is a drain, and the extra battery life doesn't come from magic battery elves or a tiny nuclear reactor.
--DT

WHAT??!? no ELVES?? damn, i could have sworn i read that as a new spec.

yeah, it IS thicker than the new models, but still slightly thinner than my current 2G. so i can handle 3x the space, color screen, video out, AND better battery life and it still only be slightly smaller. not even ONE elf? c'mon.

of course at $600, i may have to add it to my homeowner's insurance.

nevertheless, mine is already ordered!!!

 

[Yvan256]

Both of these announcements are just plain lame.

[...]

Produce a iPod with a compact Flash slot, so you can transfer images directly from your digital camera. THAT would be nice.

Produce the Flash-based iPod for $99. THAT would be nice.

Agreed on the CompactFlash slot (most pro cameras use that format anyway, don't they?)

As for the Flash-based iPod for 99$US... If they could only pull it off at 149$US, maybe they'll drop the 4GB iPod mini at 179$US and introduce a 6GB for 249$ just before XMas? (so, no need for a small flash iPod)

 

[Edot]

Photo iPod is one of the worst ideas Apple has ever had...

What a waste of color LCD screens. I wonder if they'll ever get the clue that we want to watch our own backup movie files on our iPods? If the 'video iPod' ever does become a reality, I bet Apple and the MPAA will make some worthless proprietary format that requires you to pay for encrypted divx files (which would be useless). If somebody hacks this new Photo iPod to play divx and xvid, I will have to sell my brand new (only been used once) 4g 40GB iPod.

You'd think they would've just waited to release the 4G iPods......

So are these '5G iPods' now?

WOAH, I keep having nightmares of people saying this about the iPod mini! Wait, NO one in their right mind would have said that about the mini would they! Whew, good thing I am only dreaming! A 2" screen for movies? Maybe a movie output device, but that would require significant processing power which would drain the battery quickly and make it bigger.

 

[Hemingray]

Two thumbs up to Apple! Today is a great day. And the "Special Edition: U2" has opened up an entire new line. Who wants to bet that we'll be seeing more Special Edition iPods in the future? Very smart move on Apple's part all around.

Though I'm quite content with my 1G 5GB iPod with OWC's battery upgrade.

 

[johnnyjibbs]

So, as usual, Apple priced higher than the rumours. The 60GB iPod costs $599, not $499. But at least they gave a choice and added the 40GB version too.

IMO the iPod Photos are cool but a tad expensive. Still, nothing to complain about - they'll come down in price with successive revs, and I've got a normal iPod on order anyway, so it won't affect me. The iPod Photo has just meant an addition to the line, so it won't cut into normal iPod sales. From a selfish point of view, I'm kind of glad the photo versions are out of my price range..

Now we just need eMac and PowerBook G5s next week

 

[srobert]

Oh, I forgot, the Archos devices can record from TV, play FM radio, and more as well. Check them out. All sorts of combinations.

I guess I can see why you are disappointed but maybe the iPod is not the product you need. You should buy the Archos if it fits your need more closely. You can also address all your "complaints"/suggestions to Apple on the feedback section of the website. Posting criticism here is by all mean OK, but won't accomplish much ^_^.

Here's hoping that you will find the perfect product for your needs.

 

[Object-X]

Nope...this from Apple.com:

Wondering how you’re going to get all your digital photographs into iPod Photo? iTunes 4.7. The new version lets you import your images directly into iPod Photo from a folder on the hard drive of your Mac or PC. Spent time organizing your photos using iPhoto on a Mac or either Adobe Photoshop Album 2.0 or Adobe Photoshop Elements 3.0 on a PC? iTunes 4.7 rewards your diligence by importing the albums you’ve created in iPhoto or collections created in Album or Elements. You’ll be able to choose them from the Photos menu on iPod Photo.

Sorry about that whole Final Cut Pro thing. An olive branch to Adobe with love. Is all forgiven?

 

[Mord]

i would save up for a U2 ipod bar the fact i dont like U2, but it looks so cool, now if this became a trend and you could pick your ipod skin as per music tastes that would be so very cool, if only they would do a black nirvana one with a nice yellow smily face.

ohhh, the possibilities, collectable ipods.

as for the photo ipod the color screen and the battery life seem good but the photo part seems a bit crap, if you could play videos to a tv that would be great but i'm not a " come look at my photo's" type of guy.

(it would be so very cool if when the ipod switched between menus it did the cube user switching effect, one can only dream)

bad luck canada and Australia.

 

[headhighguy]

I was following the rumors about this for a while. I like the concept of the U2 branded iPod. However, what i don't like is the iPod Photo. To me this device is going to be the biggest dissappointment apple came up with since the 20th anniversary mac!

Where is the customers need for this? Did anyone requested this? or wish for? I seriously want to see their marketing plan for this! The iPod is a music player, for god's sake and it should stay that way. Adding photos to it is not making it a better music player. Apple is crossing the line here and obviously trying to make it a "media" device which in my opinion is completely wrong. To make a media device on top of the iPod which is designed for listening to music, would have required a substantial redesign of the device. A bigger display would be essential, since it now becomes the "stage" for the product. Headphones were the stage for the music, where is the stage for the photos? A screen of the size thats initially designed for displaying song information and battery status?? That can't be true. Also, if you consider the stage would be a TV set, you do require me to bring an AV cable? The iPod being a compact portable device, there shouldn't be any additional cables to be brought in order to utilize the products features. Headphones itself is enough to carry, and at least those you typically "use" when you're on the way. The AV cable would just be extra load that has no purpose on the road.

Also dissappointed is the Photo synching approach. Why can't I sync photos with iPhoto and Music with iTunes. Now, you're telling me to import/export my photos from iPhoto into iTunes and then sync to the iPod? Doesn't make sense to me. It also doesn't make sense to most Apple users, especially iLife target audience.

Well, I was surprised about the increased battery lifetime. It's basically the new extended battery they put in it, I would imagine. However, I'll plan on upgrading my 40Gig Ipod with that aftermarket battery and bump it up to 22 hours. The missing 7 hours are due to the color LCD that sucks extra energy. I don't need color on a music player... I don't know why you would. Well, in the new day and age, everything turns color, even without purpose, I know, and I would be willing to pay the price of a reduced battery life with it if it would give me more information, such as a higher resolution to have longer text and description, maybe even a screensaver with iTunes like graphics floating around on the little screen to the beat of the music. Why did apple have to put photos in the game? I don't understand the purpose for it at all. Nobody is gonna pull up with an Ipod to grandma's birthday fiddles around 10 minutes to hook it up to the (possibly outdated) TV set, accidentally changes a bunch of channel presets, and pull out a presentation on-screen... I don't know... seems far fetched. It doesn't sound like the average ipod customer to me.

The only reason why this thing sees sales figures is the larger harddrive and more battery lifetime as opposed to the 40Gig regular ipod. I doubt that anyone is hardly using the photo feature. A lot of people use their ipod as an external harddrive to shovel files back and forth or do backups. I don't know if that justifies the $200 more cost for the ipod photo...

I'm disappointed. Apple doesn't show consistency in their product strategy. This seems to be indication for indecisiveness as to entering new media. They piggyback on existing products instead of rounding it up and do it "right" from scratch.

 

[uberman42]

I thought is was pretty tongue in cheek that Apples first paragraph of the U2 iPod page it says, "Like no other, iPod U2 Special Edition stands out." A little jab at Sony (Sony's tag line is "Like No Other").

 

[verces]

Hallelujah

Greatest day Apple has ever given to true iPod fans...whether you're a 1G owner or a 4G owner......a true iPod fan should happy about any kind of advancement and evolution.

I wish I was a U2 fan.......or might even make myself a U2 fan before I get to Hong Kong to buy one...........but the color iPod is not possible to ignore...but its thickness is getting to me......they they should be making things smaller...I mean the extra 3 hours battery life isn't gonna change much.....they should've just left the size...it was already thick as it was....

I knew those rumours where true. And how they really were....except disappointments in size increase and no 20GB release....

 

[mashinhead]

Did anyone notice that the photo iPod is much thicker and heavier than the "plain" iPod! I want one bad, but now I feel I need to "feel" it first

yeah i hear that. originally i wanted one, but i don't like the bulky ipods, they'll update it in 4-6 months anyway. and it will be able to play video, have a better screen, be lighter, thinner, and cheaper, because what else are they gonna do to it. so i'll wait

i do like the U2 ipod, though. I don't like the signatures, but what i really like is the red click wheel, i want to put it on my white ipod, I wonder if there is a place that mods them, or sells'em. i can take it apart and put it in myself.

anyway my 2 cents

 

[jettredmont]

hehe yes no gab between albums is definalty impossible....well actually I think Atari Teenage Riot did an album where the last 2 seconds of the last song were the first 2 seconds of the first song so the album would loop with it'self.

But my point is that Mp3's have gaps between separate files. And to the person who claimed winamp didn't have these gaps you are wrong. Winamp simply has a cross fade in use which fades from song to song so the gaps arean't as noticable. If you turn the cross fading off the gaps are still present.

Um, no. WinAmp (and, well, pretty much any other player aside from iTunes) will play all of Wish You Were Here (for example) without any gaps between the songs and without cross-fading. The trick is that before the one song ends the other must be loaded into memory and cued over to the decoder within one audio frame of the end of the first song.

There's nothing about the MP3 audio format which requires a quarter-second gap between tracks.

I am at a complete loss as to why Apple, across four major releases of iTunes and six major releases of iPod OS, hasn't fixed this yet. It's certainly not rocket science!

 

[iMeowbot]

If the Griffin iVoice can do recording, I don't see why a third-party couldn't make a line-in recording attachment.

The Griffin dealie even has a mic jack, so you could get it in that way. But it will still be at the low-res mono rate

oh, and meeeeeeeoooooowwwww!!!

Likewise, as always.

 

[toughboy]

The red is so ugly! Bummer that they didn't just stay with all black, or black and dark gray or something. The red is really just so ugly, but I guess some folks will like it.

Like me.. I loved it.. I'm just dreaming to getting one and scream "eeeeleeevaaatiooonnnnn.. uuuuuuuuuuuuuu"

 

[Charko]

Excuse my ignorance, but would it be so difficult for Apple to allow you to plug in your camera with a USB cable and download directly into the iPod Photo?

[My first digital camera is arriving in about a week - an Olympus Miju-mini.]