The iPod flash is random

Even though everyone is now pretty damn sure that Apple is going to do what most people thought they would never do and bust out a flash-based iPod, they've actually managed to do a fine job keeping any product photos — or even a product name — from leaking out. There was one close call though. Turns out they can sue the heck out of the rumor sites, but even Apple is powerless in the face of a couple of Italian Appleheadz from MacityNet who decided to spend the days before Macworld camped out in front of the Moscone Center in San Francisco waiting for something, anything to turn up. They caught a glimpse of a banner being put up inside the convention center for a slender new iPod with a storage capacity of 240 songs, which sounds just about right for a 1GB flash player, and no display. They couldn't see the name for the new player on the billboard, and they claim that Macworld staff made them delete any photos that showed the player itself (which does mean these guys could be joking around), but it does look like Apple is at least unfurling a new slogan: "Life is Random." Deep. Anyway, our long wait ends tomorrow, and of course we'll have coverage.

[Thanks, Wirobro & Marco]

[wirobro @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM]

Just incase anyone's trying to figure out what the black silhouetted image is on the banner, it's the icon that is displayed on the iPod to signify Shuffle is set to Songs or Albums. Bad ascii example:

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[Pedro @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM]

I have to appreciate someone who will camp out two days to catch the scoop ahead of time... kudos to you guys! Speaking of... when was the last time you saw guys camping out waiting for Dell to roll out new products? I love the apple cult following!

[Brett Allcorn @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM]

Assuming that poster is a promotion for Apple's flash-based MP3 player it's worth considering the player might have just one button that plays the songs randomly. I cannot see any other season of pushing this slogan.

[Steven Schrab @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM]

"Anyway, our long wait ends tomorrow, and of course we�ll have coverage."

The big question is, will you have LIVE coverage?

[Ryan @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM]

Could this be it?

http://www.neowin.net/staff/magoo/ipodflash.jpg

[Attis @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM]

Macworld.com says that there is no live keynote according to a statement from Apple.

"In a statement released this morning, Apple confirmed that it will webcast the keynote -- but doesn't plan to do so until 6:00 PM Pacific Time Tuesday, nine full hours after Jobs' keynote is scheduled to begin. No specific reason was cited in Apple's decision to delay the webcast."

http://www.macworld.com/news/2005/01/10/keynote/index.php?lsrc=mcrss-0105

[Mike @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM]

Brett, I hope you are wrong. A purely random player would annoy the hell out of me. Although the sales would show just how much weight the Apple brand carries in the mp3 player market. I can't imagine any other company having any success with a random player.

[Joey Geraci @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM]

yea, as long as the player looks "cool", the macheads would sell their firstborn for it.

[Kevin Fox @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM]

'Life is Random'

When the iPod came out in October, 2001, I wrote a piece about how all you really needed was a 512meg flash player that would refresh itself with random songs from your collection at each sync. My guess is that this kind of option gave rise to the 'life is random' tagline.

[Jason @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM]

Brett, I was just thinking the very same thing, but the picture that Ryan linked to it would be more logical. You start up the player, it plays in one of two modes: randomly or sequentially (after all, you can't get much stuff onto this) and you skip forward if you don't want to hear the current song - a bit like listening to a radio station, only better.

[someone @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM]

Enough mp3 flash player out there. Enough said.

[Brett Allcorn @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM]

I think having just random is a dumb idea too, but why else would they push it so hard if it was just a feature? I mean if they pushed iPod with that slogan just because it has the option to play songs on random doesn't make sense. Random has to me the selling point, the main idea behind the player.

The idea that it could just sync random songs on your computer when you plug it in also seems like a possibility.

[chris @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM]

flash memory (as opposed to hard disk based memory) can be best described as random access memory. I bet the 'life is random' tag line is related to that, and not at all to how the player selects songs.

[hm @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM]

Suuuure. MW staff made them delete some photos but kindly allowed them to keep others to post on the 'net.

[mike @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM]

someone..

ahh yes, but this one will actually do well, and play AAC/fairplay songs

it's worth noting the HP inclusion of iTunes started a LOOONG time ago and people are clamouring for iPods. Of course this thing will sell out the first month it's available..

And, HP is the #2 Music Player.. Natch.

[Kevin Fox @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM]

Oops. I meant to put in a link to my 2001 story about a random flash ipod: http://fury.com/article/992.php

[dfd @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM]

Fun Optical Illusion: Stare at these photos for thirty seconds, then look away -- voila: you see "MacityNet" everywhere!

[Brasten Sager @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM]

I still believe that the "no display" thing is incorrect. As I've stated earlier, Apple currently holds a patent for computer cases that change colors to represent conditions.. (errors, etc). I wouldn't imagine it'd be horrendously difficult to modify this concept so that basic song information was viewable directly ON the casing... think of a rear-projection screen against the inside of the case. When the device or screen was turned off, the device would appear to HAVE no screen... once it was turned ON, the information would appear to glow on the casing itself.

I give myself 0.05% chance of being correct on this, but I think it's possible. :)

[Callum @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM]

It will be live http://homepage.mac.com/callumalden/iblog/C149130041/E439631909/index.html">(Link) Apparently dotMac have the rights and the mindset... it's gunna be wild! "Stop Suing us!" etc.

[John T. Haller @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM]

It's called the iPod Micro. And there *is* a small LCD screen on it.

... that's what I'm guessing anyway.

Of course, those bastards at Apple will probably sue me for posting a guess.

[Callum @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM]

I noticed that iTunes HP tie in yesterday on a new notebook. This is good news? Still no real player package, you know many newbies like to stream media (BBC) in the UK. Most anoying when explaining that one media player plays most files - this you use for .rm etc. etc. Anyway, sorry to double-post, but are Engadget in the area? Are ya gunna be on the floor tomorrow- gonna give us a pre-emptive "don't sue us" yell?

[JChan @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM]

If it has no screen, there is a market for it I believe. Pretty much the only time I look at my MP3 player screen is when I'm looking for a Podcast or changing a setting. When I listen to music, I just use the remote while walking and don't look at the screen.

[Jon Sedar @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM]

I wonder if that banner is one of a series that merely say something witty about the general features of the player...

There could be another that says 'History Repeats' or 'Fills quicker than your boots when confronted by a tiger'

(Apart from that last one)

[Karim @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM]

http://www.viiphoto.com/pictures/ChristopherMorris/CM-bush_private_view/29.cm.bush.12.12.04.J1133.jpg

The image is real.

[Karim @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM]

nevermind that^, I meant to post it somewhere else...:(

[anonymous @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM]

The "Life is Random" phrase truly encapsulates what Apple is attempting here. You can never truly control your life or have a sense of where things may take you, or what may be next. This new iPod is designed to follow the same rules. Here's what I believe; It is a flash based player with NO LCD, because its designed ro provide music to your life, on the go, with no thought or conscious decision in its playlist order. Its just made to be very sturdy so it can be thrown in your pocket and taken anywhere, while maintaining an incredibly long battery life. I think this is a smart step for Apple as it *is* a new version of an old idea. Apple's simplicity + market share + advertising/brand name + creative/artistic design make this the new chic device to have. Many people dont want or need something bigger than a business card that you have to pull out and look at. I think its a bold and welcome approach to design this new player with this "life is random" mantra.

[matt @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM]

One thing is for sure. If they took these pictures from the street they wouldn't have to delete a damn thing because its legal to photograph/videotape anything from the street/sidewalk unless its government property (found out about that the wrong way in NYC).

So unless these guys were reeeeeeally nice there is no reason to delete the photos. Not saying these pics are a hoax or anything, but I mean no reason to delete anything.

[canyonblue737 @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM]

if the ipod flash has no screen (as implied by the slogan "life is random) then no matter how small, how cool looking, how cheap, and that is called "ipod" will save it from the trash heap.

i think any unit that holds 240+ songs and you can't select a particular song without A) getting it by random or B) skipping one by one through songs looking for it with be a total and complete failure.

if it has a screen i will order one tommorow, if it doesn't i will sit back and watch the disaster.

[matt @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM]

'Random' isn't random...

Assuming it has no LCD, you still choose what 240 songs you want on there. 240 Songs would also be the max (apprx) for the 2gig. The 1gig will have about 120 songs. Now are you telling me that you can't choose 120 songs you want to have on your micropod? Now with this whole random thing, it would just be skipping between songs that you already want to hear.

So it isn't like you will have Anthrax followed by songs from Annie on your micro pod. you will have things you WANT on there as opposed to the whole shabang, so skipping around won't be too crazy. Although I am very curious how everything is going to go off.

I wonder what it would be like knowing that there are literally millions of people waiting for something a few hours from now, and that all those people will talk ten times as much about it than they did about fake photoshop renderings of things and ideas. Wow.

[_victor @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM]

Disclaimer: I am a machead, but often critical of the management...
http://superpixel91.blogspot.com/

However, all you "this thing is doomed" naysayers out there would do well to remember the thumbs-downage the original iPod got (you want HOW MUCH???), and the iPod mini (only 4 GB???). Safe to say those naysayers are probably using iTunes instead of Audion right now.

Listen, the radio, even satellite radio, is random. I know the pundits say this is supposed to be an iPod for all the poor people. Well po' folks who want stuff find a way. I can't tell you how many tricked-out cars I see in trailers parks. Anyway, the iPod micro (not iPod flash, it isn't going to jail for exposure) is meant to be a supplement to an iPodder's life.

Of course, I could be wrong. But I am cheap!
http://homepage.mac.com/vagreda/ipodsling

[Brian @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM]

If they took these pictures from the street they wouldn't have to delete a damn thing because its legal to photograph/videotape anything from the street/sidewalk unless its government property (found out about that the wrong way in NYC).

Actually, you can take a photograph of anything you want, unless it's specifically important to national security. Download this, print it out, read it, know it, love it.

And don't be afraid to stand up for your rights. They can't be taken away, but you can give them up.

[Brian @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM]

Crap, apparently html gets filtered right out.

Thank you engadget, for protecting us from the evils of links.

http://www.krages.com/phoright.htm

[anthony @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM]

but Steve Jobs hates flash players!? oh well, im going tomorrow..hopefully there is more to announce than just a flash ipod!

[Kai Cherry @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM]

Let me 'splain it to ya...from an Apple, and Software/Designer Point of view:

What are the "problems" Apple has identified for/with Flash players, time and time again in public statments? If people learn to *listen and read closely* you'll see the Apple/Jobs has been "telegraphing" this all along...watch and learn. It will give you some insight into Apple thinking and marketing, as well


Flash Player "problems"

1. Low capacity

At the time this first came up, and *repeatedly since then* the Party Line has been that "Flash players don't hold enough music"...the numbers thrown out have always, *consistenly* been "like 256MB or 512MB"..."they get tossed in a drawer..." you know the routine.

I know folks will now recall this... "Yeah...thats right..."

They seem to be announcing a 1GB player, solving the "not quite enough room" *ehem* problem...but watch this, 'cus Apple is good at marketing:

They will not be stressing the "giggage" so much with this product...it will be about "hours and hours" of music. Go on, open iTunes, make a smart playlist, random, My Rating 3+ stars, maximum 1GB...and look at the status at the bottom of the iTunes screen. You'll come in around 235ish tunes...but lookie there...*20 hours*.

"20 hours of music...giving you 4 hours to sleep "...or something like this.

The appeal will be "can YOU listen to more than 20 hours of music in a day"...this is the angle I'm thinking they will persue. "20" is bigger than "1".

Get it?

Ok, on to Apple identified "problem" number 2:

"Flash players, while small and light, have terrible UI's/Navigation"

Yep. Apple will explain that even *they* couldn't solve THAT problem...(hahahaha)....so they decided instead of having a cramped and crappy interface to "forgo it altogether"...and instead "use the best interface from the best music jukebox on the planet instead: iTunes."

Mention of how "people told us they loved party shuffle..."

You see where this is going?

"Ooooohhhhhhh...." says the crowd. "Now I see it."

It will be SO OBVIOUS then its not funny, as its been obvious to me personally for awhile, and it fits the Apple style of "simplicity"...or...

"Sunshine Pumping" if you will. Then they get Ive on a video doing the "elegant minimalism thing"...Schiller will be hyped about "the software hardware integration"...and annoyingly say "Gigabyte" and not "Gig"...some pop star going "its better than radio...blah blah"...tie in some tune the kidz love...

So there ya go. You've been sold.

Watch :)

-K

[ennui @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM]

I thought you could undelete files on cameras much like you can on a harddrive.