Apple working on a boombox and other consumer electronics?

In what would be quite a departure for Apple, AppleInsider is rumoring that the company's iPod division is working up a foray into consumer electronics land next year, including products such as an iPod boombox. AI doesn't have many details to backup their claims, but their sources claim the boombox will be "unlike anything seen in boombox world," and that the device is like an oversized iPod, "ideal for use on a bookshelf or on the go." It should rock the wireless streaming, and they might throw in a hard drive and/or an iPod dock, but we'll find out soon: supposedly Apple is all prepped to announce the first of these consumer products at Macworld this January.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

I would love to have a proper music 'vault' so i wonder if this is what's in mind....

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

You know it's the Christmas season when you start hearing MacWorld rumours... and it only makes waiting for the keynote even harder...

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

Wow, more crap products from apple...
I've got an iPod...payed $15 for it 'cause the chick thought it was broken...and that was waaay too much to pay for one of those pieces of crap. It's too small (physically), the sound quality sucks, the battery life sucks. You can't change the battery. You can't turn it off. And if you're wearing gloves you can't use it because of the stupid heat sensing buttons! Whose idea was that one???

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

hey #3,

if you hate it sell it to me, even a beat-up 3g ipod (assumption based on "heat sensitive buttons") would be worth $15 to me as a portable hard drive.

i'll give you what you payed for and pay for shipping.


*calling bluff*

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

Do we really need more overpriced consumer electronics?

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

I hope one of the brilliant minds at Apple make the damned thing scratch proof. (assuming this is even remotely true)

I'm still nano pissed.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

I don't understand all the iPod haters. If you don't like iPods, by a Creative whatever before the company folds... I've just started re-ripping my music into Apple's Lossless format and the quality is awesome. If only iTunes sold their songs at a higher bit-rate I'd be out of money. Now I just need to upgrade my headphones!

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

"oversized" and "on-the-go" don't seem to fit together. Isn't the beauty of the iPod that it's small?

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

hey #3 - i'll give you $30 for it - thats a clear $15 profit.

btw - you don't *need* to turn it off....

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

Not to mention that you CAN turn it off by holding the play/pause button.

The battery is interchangeable if you are smart enough.

The clickwheel is electrostatic (right word?), not heat sensing.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

BTW, you can turn off the display...check iPod Help to see if you can figure it out.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

Dear Apple: If you do make a boombox, one tiny request:

INCLUDE A LINE-IN / AUX PORT FRIGGIN' PLEASE!

In the meantime, enjoy the days when ALL boomboxes had line-in/aux ports:

http://www.pocketcalculatorshow.com/boombox/

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

God, I hope they DO this... that would be SICK... but they prolly won't, AI throws stuff like this at our foreheads every christmas =(

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

This would be pretty cool though I imagine expensive. I'd like to see an attachment so you could use an iPod like a remote.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

I've been crowing since the first 5GB iPod that I'd love the same device, designed by Apple, in "boombox" form. Kudos if this is real.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

If you want an ideal on what this thing will look like, look no farther then the Bose music "boomboxes".

I wouldn't be surprise if Bose had a hand in making it. Looks like it's consumer electronics Macworld this year with the DVR and the new widescreen movie playin Labtops.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

maybe it will be named: iBox or iBoom

priced at $499 or even $599 (i wouldnt be very surprised)

cheers!!

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

Great, another metrosexual electronic device for people who are more concerned with advertising that they are trendy mac preps then with sound quality and value.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

INCLUDE A LINE-IN / AUX PORT FRIGGIN' PLEASE!

FYI I just got a little Sony psyc bb for about 80 bucks that has a 1/8" stereo line in in front. iPod sounds great through it.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

"Quite a departure"?

I don't think this is any surprise. Engadget sounds suspiciously like the legacy media, buying into Apple's "never before seen" hype like this.

http://www.dartblog.com/data/004597.html

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

i think it is safe to say that the ipod is the cheapest mainstream player out there. so this overpriced stuff is unsubstantiated.

ax7,

maybe steve jobs can release a new product, so anti-apple fans can come and blow up the boards with their senseless chatter.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

I hope it supports video - hope for better remote control for video functionality. The Apple Remote just doesn't work all that well for video. It would be great if there was a better fast forward / rewind feature. Any guesses when a TRUE video iPod will be introduced?