5GB iPod mini next week?

AppleInsider seems pretty sure that next week Apple is going to refresh the iPod mini and bump up its storage capacity from 4GB to 5GB. Probably not enough to make you feel more than a twinge of regret if you just picked one up, but it does eliminate that nagging one gig advantage the Creative Zen Micro, the iRiver H10, the GoVideo Rave-MP ARC5.0, the Motorola M500, the Rio Carbon, the Dell Pocket DJ, and Virgin's 5GB MP3 player have over the current iPod mini. Can we expect to finally see some new colors, too?

[opa @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

would be nice if they could crank up the battery time too... and also i would like to see it in bright red, blue, yellow and black! that would be kind of cool :)

[Jeff @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

No doubt there will be new colors, but I don't expect big changes from the "refresh". They've still gotta keep selling regular iPods and iPod photos, so don't expect anything like a color screen or any other new features. A bump in capacity and a couple new looks is all I'm thinking.

[nojetlag @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

A color screen so I can see my cd covers please (its the year 2005 not 1980) ;-)

[Ben @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

This makes a lot of sense from a marketing edition, brings Apply on par with the other mini-hardrive mp3 players. Also, when is Apple going to start introducing limited edition iPod Minis to further drive sales. I for one think a iPod Mini with the traditional iPod white would look great.

[TheZodiac @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

Trying to decide if I care or not.. nope - just checked.

[Joshua Ochs @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

As for the color screen, I doubt we'll see it just yet.

At the same time I'll place bets that by April next year (a product refresh cycle or two) there will be no "iPod Photo" - all of its features will move into the mainstream iPod line, with *maybe* a basic B&W model. Other players have shown that color screens and photo ability are not such a huge feature that it's worth $100 premium, but they *have* shown that people like the look of color screens - heck, I have a friend who bought an iPod Photo just because the screen refresh was so crisp (hey, his money, not mine).

Personally, I'd like to see one of those NanoChromics displays - looks awesome:
http://www.engadget.com/entry/1234000680031783/

[Pete_L_P @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

I'm betting it will be 6GB rather than (or in addition to) 5GB. I also agree about the colors, and I bet the 4GB mini will live on with a reduced price.

Pete

[K-Balls @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

Nothing sadder than a guy who takes the time to post a comment that he doesn't care, Zodiac.

I don't understand why they aren't going up to 8GBs now that the drive used in the mini is available in that capacity. That would be a great device.

[Carmi @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

Hmm, good point, KB. I would surmise that Apple's product improvements during the middle of the life cycle are typically evolutionary, and not revolutionary. Since the Mini sells based largely on style and less so on out-and-out performance, I don't think an 8 Gb drive would, at this point, add a whole lot of competitive advantage to the platform.

Instead, going to 5 Gb keeps the door open for another incremental jump next year, and allows Apple to keep its costs down more aggressively in the interim.

I suspect the performance requirement is a little greater for the standard iPod line, but the Mini appeals to a more emotional purchase ethos.

Carmi
http://writteninc.blogspot.com

[Guido @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

#7 (K-Balls): because the 8gb drive doesn't cost the same as a 5gb drive, maybe?

[Richard @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

It would be nice if they sneaked a 60 gig version of the b&w one out too.

Or put the battery technology in the iPod photo into the b&w one so that we can get 15+ hours of playtime.

Or even both.
(Doubt it'll happen though)

[Russell @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

I just ordered an iPod mini and it says that it won't ship until the second of March! Should I cancel my iPod mini order and try and get the 5gb if it comes out next week? Or call them up? They have yet to actually take the money from my bank account so they haven't actually done anything for me yet...

[encosion @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

Yawn... How about simply replacing the 4Gb HD with 4Gb of flash... THAT'd be interesting!

( With all the space from removing the HD, you could probably daisy chain a couple flash chips to make up to 10Gb... But what do I know? )

[David @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

I'll be the one to say it today - I'm still amazed these things don't have fm radio in them yet.

[B @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

My toaster doesn't have an FM radio in it either.

[Art @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

Just put a damn replaceable battery in it.. That would be a big selling point.. You have to basically destroy the thing now to put in a new battery.. Apple wants these things to be disposable...

[Joey Geraci @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

yawn yawn. This thing still doesn't hold a candle to the zen micro, and it never will

[ipodHumper @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

eventhough I already have an ipod mini I will buy the 5gb version yay, since im stupid, what innovation, 1 gb, Y did all these othere DAPs copy the mini with 5 gb!!!???

[Hank Hauffe @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

Your toaster isn't a portable audio device (duh).
I don't want to carry around two devices. Having a built-in AM/FM tuner seems a no brainer and certainly something done by others and within Apple's ability.
I'll spend several hundred dollars once Apple rounds out their audio capability to include the basic and obvious.

[Marty @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

Guess again. It will be 6G based on the Seagate 5G drive optimised for Apple who will also buy up all of the production for several months.

[The Jackel @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

the mini's are now on a 5 to 7 day backorder. I guess these rumors are comming to fruition. Now i might buy a new mini.

[The Jackel @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

Hank, Others only offer you a fm tuner in there mp3 players. I don't see many that have an AM tuner. I lister to am sometimes and i can't get it on any players that i own, Apple or not. have you ever been out and wanted to know the score of a ball game and all you had was FM. I wish all these manufactures would incooperate this in the player options.

[GARRET @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

MY BROTHER WORKS AT APPLE AND HE BROUGHT HOME A PICTURE AND YES IT HAS A COLOR SCREEN PRETTY AWESOME LOOKING. THE COLOR WAS DARK SHINY RED AND HE SAID IT WOULD HOLD 6 GB. SO ITS CONFIRMED!

[h2oplo313 @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

Could you post a link of the picture or send it to xfreak3001[at]yahoo[dot]com ?

Thanks!

[suproach @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

Yeh, id luv to see that actuall picture. So i can prove its photoshopped. Somethings comming though. Something is.

[Jason @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

So how long til you can get it in stores if they announc in two weeks?

[ECK @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

In regards to:
Posted Feb 17, 2005, 12:49 PM ET by Russell

I had a similar situation when I bought my powerbook. By the time it was due to ship, two new models came out. Apple automatically up my order to give me a chance to change it, but they didn't let me know. I had to contact them (it was through the online store)
So yes, call them.