The 6GB iPod mini
By Peter Rojas 
posted February 23rd 2005 8:56AM
posted February 23rd 2005 8:56AM
The other big disappointment of the day: the iPod mini didn't get a color screen (they did, however, find it in their hearts to kill off the gold-colored version) like everyone had expected. The iPod mini did get a bump up to 6GB, an improved battery life of up to 18 hours, and what look like slightly more vibrant colors (and now the colors on your click wheel match the rest of your mini). They're keeping the 4GB iPod mini around, they're just dropping the price by fifty bucks.
I just loved reading these comments. iPods suck, no iRiver sucks, Zen sucks, iRiver rules! Why can't I play movies? Why can't I have bluetooth?
Out of all the users, of iPods, out there geeks make up such a small portion. To me, it seems that the geeks are expecting the world with each new release. Joe Schmo in Suburb, USA can barely turn on his computer. It makes so much sense to add frivolous items that would appeal to 3% of the buyers, thanks for opening my eyes people.
Seriously, move out of your parent’s basement and get a real life.
What I find ironic is that Apple can now start advertising the battery life of the mini and use it as a marketing tool over the pitiful battery lives of the Dell (8 hr), the Creative (12 hr) and the iriver h10 (12 hr) 4-6 GB players. With aggressive pricing on top of the extended battery life they are eating up this segment of the mp3 player market. The only downside I see is justifying the existence of the 1GB shuffle. I nominate it for deathwatch at that price point.
I still say cell phones will take their place. Never say never! Apple is obviously worried about it or they wouldn't have licensed iTunes to Motorolla.
Move out of the basement? You've been saying that for 5 years now!
Actually, I've only been saying it for about 2 months! I started to buy an iPod but I heard about the cell phones that are coming this year and decided to wait. I always take my phone with me when I run, and it would be awesome to put head phones to the phone and listen to music. It's kind of pointless to take a phone and an iPod when you could take one device for both.
Readers whining about Apple dropping the ball and not coming out with rumored features should focus their anger on the editors/sites who spew false rumors instead of blaming Apple.
where is the black one? seriously if apple had a black ipod mini i personally would pick one up in a second.
I'm a big Apple fan who's disappointed over today's announcement. Let's start with the color re-jiggering? What? Drop one color (the very blingy, cool gold), and bump up the intensity of PINK, GREEN and that weird AQUA-like BLUE? C'mon. Real product development and extension calls for dramatic new colors...matte black, chrome, red...something to excite the masses a bit. I don't need a color screen, and I'm glad for the bump up in battery life, but how about, oh, i don't know...better EARBUDS?
I always thought iPod Photo was a big mistake. I just never heard anyone say..."gee, i sure wish i could carry around all my photos so i could view them on a 2" square screen." And then to ask folks to pay such a premium for the priviledge of doing that which they didn't realize they wanted to do? Not much of a business plan, is it?
Apple will have to work harder and smarter if they hope to hold on to their massive market share. Smaller, lighter iPods with more impressive battery life and increasingly better sound quality and earbuds...combined with some new, really useful whiz-bang gadgetry like bluetooth connectivity...this is what will sustain the brand.
I bought a $99 Shuffle. "Thank you very much"
I just bought the new iPod mini 6GB plus an iPod mini Dock and now I read the Apple's information about the dock twice and it says "USB 2.0 connection for Windows PCs only". Damn! Can anyone confirm this? It is not possible to use the iPod mini Dock connected via USB 2.0 to a Mac? If that is true, Apple will get the whole package unopened and returned immediately...
Geeks always think they have the answer when it comes to product development, running a company, adoption curves, and what not. If you can tell me the difference between AAC and MP3, or why I should like 320 vs. 128, then you will not understand why today is a good day for apple, and why wall st. reacted well to the announcement.
I personally like todays announcements. It brings more choice at better price points.
Oh, and if you said without Bluetooth they are dead. Thank you, I have been laughing about that one for the last 15mins.
#57, the Apple site says:
"Charge and sync iPod mini at work or at home via FireWire or USB 2.0."
The blurb about PC's is that the dock cannot be used via FireWire on PC's, just Macs.
Adam Lindsey always thinks he has the real answer when it comes to product development, running a company, adoption curves, and what not. If you can tell me the difference between a sinking fund and a mutual fund, or why I should like 6.25% vs. 1.5% ARM/7, then you will not understand why today is a boring, ho-hum day for apple, and why technologists reacted so poorly to the announcement.
Just a note about the iPhoto, I'm pretty sure it is supposed to be the first step toward replacing those physical photo albums. Don't forget you don't have to look at the photos on the tiny screen - quote from apple's website:
Use an optional AV cable to connect iPod photo to a projector or TV. You can mesmerize friends and family with a glorious multimedia experience, offering them a breathtaking slideshow accompanied by the music you already have on your iPod photo.
Since I think most of us here use digital cameras now, agree that hooking the iPhoto up to the TV is a more elegant solution than whipping out the laptop and starting up iPhoto just to show friends your latest photos.
I don't suppose anyone wants to carry round all their photos and view them on a 2 inch screen. The point about the iPod photo is that you can download photos from your camera onto it. So when you're away from home, you don't have to take your laptop with you. And you can stream photos onto a TV screen from it. And, critically, it's an iPod. So you can listen to your music on it. And unless you have insanely many albums (me, I seem to have 72Gb), you can fit them all onto a 60Gb iPod photo, and a fair few photos too.
I think the iPod Photo would had been a more successful product if it was a camera/cam. Put it on your dock and it becomes a cam. Now that would had been cool.
I think the new minis only disappointment me in the "new" colors. They should have included something like twenty custom colors - only available through apple.com for an extra $20 bucks or so. Why not? I like their engraving option they have now.
Lastly, a password protection option, where you are reminded every month or so to enter a password to deter iPods from being stolen.
Why would anyone look at their photos on an iPod photo when the Playstation Portable has a much better screen and costs less money. You can also play games and listen to music on it at $249!
I'd bet dollars to donuts that some third-party company (obvious contenders=Belkin, Griffin) are crafting an add-on camera a la the voice recorders, basing the accessory on the upcoming camera uploading protocol. Probably to be attached to the dock connector.
Which I think it's pretty unnecessary, since I'm a fan of compartmentalizing. But then again, I don't have to buy an accessory. I'd be frustrated by a simple product cluttered with a built-in camera. (Which of course, is different from the inherent communications convenience of having one on your mobile phone).
Plus, #55 (treomeo):
"And then to ask folks to pay such a premium for the priviledge of doing that which they didn't realize they wanted to do? Not much of a business plan, is it?"
Successful or not for the company, this has been Apple's gameplan for a long time across its entire line (including the iPod). It has undeniably shaped the computer/electronics industry.
why'd they burn gold? and is it now a collector's item?
#55, i bow to you. you are one of those rare apple users who don't sackride everything apple creates.
Bluetooth is useless. I like the new mini line and i think the ipod photo will sell well when it will replace the ipod normal line.
Hey take a look at this link with a n image of the new iPod ear buds. http://gallery.ipodlounge.com/ipod/displayimage.php?album=27&pos=5
They're not the signature white anymore - at least it looks that way. I wonder if you get a green model if it comes with green earbuds.
Hey take a look at this link with a n image of the new iPod ear buds. http://gallery.ipodlounge.com/ipod/displayimage.php?album=27&pos=5
They're not the signature white anymore - at least it looks that way. I wonder if you get a green model if it comes with green earbuds.
thanks jay (#68). ipod photo may indeed do lovely things with pics, but i maintain that consumers do not have the desire to do with pictures that which they have long wanted to do with music--namely, have their collection with them at all times. listening to music is a passive activity for most. viewing a photo collection is not. the ipod photo is neat, but not the compelling blockbuster apple had hoped for mainly because it extends the ipod's capabilities in ways that not enough users care about, and does so at a premium most are unwilling to pay. great niche product, but little more than that. i just with the r&d had gone into increasingly better/smaller/more powerful ipods. that is all.
What's this?
"I always wondered about the gold-colored one, it doesn't fit their styling at all."
--and--
"I never use my... AC Adapter"
Just brought my gold mini back from camping all throughout Hawai'i and the *only* three things I was worried about losing throughout the entire trip were my blingin' gold mini, the firewire cable (for my non-USB 2.0 Mac) and the AC Adapter.
Apple is making a *huge* mistake in forcing customers to buy their super-pricey accessories. In the computer store where I work the *only* gripes customers have with the iPod is the incredible profits Apple must be making off $30 armbands and $40 headphones.
Besides, what colour do you think Paris Hilton has for her iPod mini?
I called up Apple, still got the extended warrenty, and asked if i could trade in my 4gb mini for a 6gb mini and pay the difference, but no surprise here, they shot me down.
Its March 2nd, and I have bought an old version of the Ipod Mini (4GB) for 209 CDN without taxes. I was excited until I inquired more about the newer 2nd Version Ipod Mini (4GB). I debated whether or not to return the one I purchased (still unopened and old version). Then decided that I would return it and then purchase the newer version from apple.com/ca using the education plan to get it cheaper. Is it worth it to buy the newer model (4GB), or should I wait even longer until this so called "colour screen" version comes out? I am stumped.
" Apple is making a *huge* mistake in forcing customers to buy their super-pricey accessories. In the computer store where I work the *only* gripes customers have with the iPod is the incredible profits Apple must be making off $30 armbands and $40 headphones. "
I agree. I hate when you buy a product like it comes from the gray market.
Hey if you sign up for Net Zero and AOL at best buy they will give you 40 dollar gift certificate. Here is the cool part. You can sign up your mom or dad or girlfriend as long as they have a check card and best buy will give you more toward you puchase. (20 for each service.) I saved 80 dollar on my 6gb Ipod mini. Then in the morning I cancel the services I signed up for. So basically free Ipod.com made easy and really FREE but, absolutaly free of charge for the services.
Hey, I'm currently comparing the new Creative Zen Micro with the iPod Mini 2nd generation. I keep reading more and more complaints on Cnet.com that the Creative has some SERIOUS headphone jack issues which are causing damage to the unit.(it seems that Creative is not backing their products and customers with this problem) and also that the player freezes-up. Has anyone heard about this problem? Right now, the headphone problem is keeping me from buying the Creative. My husband really wants to get the iPod Mini (2ndG) I'm not crazy about the non-replaceable battery on the iPod and the fact that you have no choice but to download from Itunes. That can get seriously expensive at $1.00 per song. Would appreciate anyone's comments in helping me decide!
"I'm not crazy about the non-replaceable battery on the iPod and the fact that you have no choice but to download from Itunes. "
You can get MP3s from anywhere. You can transform your audio CDs into MP3s. The problem (if it's a problem) is that you can only use Apple's DRM, therefore you cannot use services like Napster ($15/mo all you can download).
Got a 2G green mini the day they came out; first ipod, truly great product. disappointed about the lack of ac adapter, btw headphones, cords, etc. are all still apple white. only difference is the markings on the click wheel are color coordinated to the ipod body. shopped against creative micro, dell pocket dj, and iriver - couldn't justify creatives knock off for more money and less hd space; also no way im gonna spend $15 on music, forget all of the others. iPod is a great thing