Apple still at work on true video iPod?
By Ryan Block 
posted Feb 9th 2006 10:02AM
posted Feb 9th 2006 10:02AM
It's essentially what everyone's
expected and speculated by this point (us included), but ThinkSecret's latest iPod rumor plays into everyone's hopes
that Apple's got a proper video iPod in development.
According to TS, they can confirm that Apple's next device will have a 3.5-inch display (the current 5G iPod has a
2.5-incher) and will shed the clickwheel entirely for a virtual UI with input via a touchscreen. We know they've got
their Mac tablet patents together on
this kind of tech and have presumably been doing the dev work to make it happen (their last patent specifically showed
an iPod-like virtual clickwheel
touch interface in spec). Will this strange new device support Portal Player's new all singing all dancing WiFi /
Bluetooth A2DP chipset for the killer 6G video iPod everyone's been hoping for? We can't say, sonny, but the rumor
mill's tilt is that we could find out in late March or early April, when Apple celebrates its 30th birthday.
I've fought the Apple machine up to this point but a truly video-centric iPod just might tip me over the edge. I'm interested to see what comes next.
Oh, and a tablet would be a welcome announcement -- that Newton I bought a year ago to add to my handheld collection is looking a bit dated.
I see a Zune killer, not that Zune needs to be killed, but I own one and like the horizantal feature which you use to watch videos, not that theres any videos you can get to watch! But I hope that this rumor is legitimate and that the price will not exceed $250.
Nope. Too soon. I wouldn't expect to total revamp like this until late this year. Current iPod designs tend to stick for a year, at least.
Not to mention, our 'sratch-aversed' brethren may have put the whole touch screen paradigm out of Apple's minds.
I'm not sure a virtual clickwheel on a touch screen would be very nice. Seems like it would be awkward without some tactile feedback to keep your finger in the circle.
I doubt it would be released as a replacement to the 5G iPod, but rather as a more expensive version. Much the same way that they released the iPod Photo way back when. Let's just hope that people will actually buy it, unlike the iPod Photo before it replaced the 4G as the iPod Colour and took on the same pricing scheme.
If these rumors are true, I wonder what Apple will do about all those customers who will complain about how dirty their iPod screens will be getting due to their extensive smudging of the screen.
Also, with today's iPod, when it freezes, you can hold the Menu and Middle button and it will reboot. What would happen when your virtual Menu button freezes? How do you reset the thing (other than waiting for the batteries to die)?
I feel so outdated, even though I just got my 5G Video iPod just two months ago. Ugh.
Choosing a video device this year is going to be tough. Do I get the Gigabeat + MCE(have already), PS3 + PSP (already have), or the Video iPod + iTunes. Probably all of them.
I would surprised if the device has all of the features listed (including bluetooth). Apple likes to do small improvements. Whether this is so they can be first to market or whether it is to pave the way for future upgrades, I don't know.
I highly doubt the next iPod will be touchscreen. I think they'll just move the buttons to the top/side of the device. A touch screen would really increase the cost and I don't really think that many people care about a touchscreen, I don't.
if they can keep it slim like the current generation of ipod this will be very nice. it is funny how they had recently patented the touch screen for the "tablet" and now we hear rumblings of this... i am looking forward to seeing both... its not unlike Apple to come up with something special for their anniv.
I think they should put the touch wheel on the back. Seriously. Pick up your iPod, turn it sideways, and imagine a wheel on the back . . . see how easy that would be to use? And it keeps the screen smudge free for the most part.
I have been thinking the same thing for a long time. Just put the wheel on the back. Navigating is mostly intuitive anyway, Apple designed the iPod to be so. A rear mounted scrollwheel opens the entire front for video and gets rid of the smudgey screen problem. For those super enthusiastic about a touch screen, make it optional. Perhaps easier said than done, but it's all speculative at this point isn't it.
I've been staunchly anti-iPod up to this point, but this would probably change my mind. I have a Vision:m right now that I use for videos, and it's great, but I really wish it was widescreen.
What if the user interface was like that of Front Row?
Wow I feel sorry for the 4 million people and counting who bought G5 ipods. If this thing does come out it'll just blow the current ipod outta the water, but it makes sense though.. Apple stressed that the G5 ipod isn't a VIDEO ipod or called it a video ipod at all. Makes me wonder if this thing will just be a stand alone video player rather than a media player. What do you guys think?
I doubt seriously that there would be a virtual click wheel. You (not me, I have clean fingers) would smear your screen all the time .... just seems to unpractical .....
Personally, I don't feel like a touch-wheel, while being cool, can be implemented comfortably enough to suit my taste without having some kind of palm-conforming device that would look like crap on the iPod.
However, if the image in this photo is close, I'll buy an iPod the day that it is released.
My only suggestion upon improvement would be some kind of detachable interface for the iPod. Ideally this would be a scroll system via an eye tracking device like those found in some camcorders. This is entirely possible, and even feasible, given the price of a new 60g Video is close to that of some low-mid range digital camcorders.
/just dreamin'
I know the photoshop image shows a touch-wheel integrated directly into a touch screen but I'd imagine if Apple did go down the touchscreen road the translation of the touch-wheel wouldn't be quite as literal.
I could imagine a system where clockwise circles, drawn anywhere on the screen would scroll down and anti-clockwise circles scroll up. For the four buttons: perhaps the screen could be divided in quadrants and a tap in the relevant one would perform the desired action.
Something like this would be stupid awesome! :D
I could see them going touch screen, but I could also see side buttons. Getting the screen smudged up would not be Apple clean, but neither would buttons on the side. I was rather a fan of the Gen 3 ipod touch controls, versus the click wheel, so I wouldn't mind seeing those type buttons on the top/side. They could even have a slide bar, instead of a wheel.
Even AFTER Apple comes out with a video iPod, they are still wondering about when a video iPod will be out! This is too much, get back to work!!
Was there any doubt that the 5G videos were just a stop-gap? I could never understand what all the fuss was about. From the looks of this, 6G is going to be huge, and I'll definitely be on the bandwagon. My 30gb photo seems so archaic to me.
How about... a new "Newton" w/ BT, Wifi, and Front Row?
If Palm can make "Life Drive", Apple can do something similar (or better)? Heck, throw in the phone capability too (or as a add-on like iPod's FM remote), make it a Treo + Life Drive + iPod!
Then I'll buy it, for ~$600-700.
Some people bored ?
Today another day of filling up the news with Apple rumor No. 212 ?
How about Weblogs Inc starts their own Apple rumor blog ?
Getting tired of this photoshop context with a bit text bites.
Fantastic, so until April or March I get to hear every Apple related post comment on this supposed rumor.
This is almost as funny as the post yesterday regarding the PortalPlayer update and the authors note that they were sure it would only be a matter of time until the rumor mill started spinning it out...which is funny since they basically STARTED the rumor, and are perpetuating it even with this post.
But the tone was very "oh we're sure everyone else will start this rumor". lol
Re #8 : touch wheel on the back? Why don't you think about that a little more. How the heck are you gonna use the touch wheel on the back while the screen is on the front? turn the touch wheel, flip it over and see what song/video you're on, then flip it over again?
Please use just a slight modicum of brainpower before making comments.
Do you look at your keyboard while you type Steve or can you not handle it? Why don't you give other people's ideas a chance. I don't think a scroll wheel on the back is a ridiculous idea. Flip your iPod over and try scrolling... its actually a pretty comfortable motion.
What I hope... what I hope... They better to have subtitle or Closed Caption optional!
The iPod click/touch-wheel is nice, not holy.
In case Apple wants to construct an easy to handle iPod video device with a relatively big (wide-)screen, they will, very likely, have to drop the classic iPod construction. Putting Click-wheel-like functionality on the sides or back of the "iPod Cinema" may actually work quite nicely.
The connectivity aspect is also of importance, I guess WLAN or WUSB may do the trick. Both techniques are, however, quite power consuming. Bluetooth 2.0+ EDR may be an option but offers "only" 3 Mbps.
And eh... I'm sure Apple wishes to extend their big-time iTunes Music Stores profits to the worls of video!
#19 - The idea of a wheel on the back is totally sensible - for those of us that can move our fingers without having to look where they're going...
Another thing to think about with this is the battery. If this is gonna be used for primarily videos the batteries have to be way better then the 5G iPod, especially so with a bigger screen. Backlighting that thing will suck the battery down quick.
To prevent scratching on a virtual UI screen Apple should really consider the touchscreen to be made of high quality glass, not the scratch prone plastic used now...
Let's just hope is not priced outrageously expensive like the 20th anniversary mac was in its time...
dont iriver already have a touchscreen mp3 player with plans to implement touchscreens priducts across their range looks like apple may be borrwing ideas
That thing, if true, better come with a decent case otherwise itll be scratched to junk within hours.
Hey, see that Motorola slider phone a few posts down? All apple has to do is replicate that sliding form factor, and put a clickwheel where the keypad is, leaving the top real estate for the biggest widescreen they can fit. Then when you're not using the clickwheel, slide it shut and all you have left is the screen.
Or they could even use a clam shell design where the screen starts out facing inward (like a phone). You could flip it open, swivel it 180 degrees, and shut it, screen out. Voila, all you see is screen, and the touchpad is inside. Flip up the screen to get to it.
Seems easy enough...
And since I'm dreaming, may as well make it a phone with wifi/BT, and make it compatible with my subscription WMAs. That'll happen right? by Gen 14, I'm sure.
sounds interesting, the ipod video seems to be something to test the water with by apple, particular in regards to content distribution via itunes.
I'd be wary of a touchscreen interface, as I think it would get dirty/scratch easily, so if it does happen i'll wait until a case with a screen protector arrives.
I do like the idea of the touchwheel on the back, as console controllers and touch typing prove that you don't need to look at something to use it effectively.
You don't get it?
Steve Jobs saying: "IPOD with 10" screen"
then this:
hrmpf
and then seeing this:
NYU
It will be a Video IPOD but not with the Format we know already... it will be bigger... and have lot's of other functions...
damns links :)
hrmpf:
http://hrmpf.com/wordpress/48/new-apple-patents/
NYU:
http://mrl.nyu.edu/~jhan/ftirtouch/
aaaa... just copy past them into your browser... :)
Well I have a 5G and I also have a PDA I would'nt really see a need to Upgrade. I think they should just stick to the 5G until those 32GB flash memory modules Toshiba have come down in price.
i'd like to see new intel NOT-SO-POCKET PC, they are going to unveil in March, branded the same way as the MacBook Pro, perhaps Apple can make full feature computer with OSX, frontrow and touchscreen... it would be great, i hope i'm not bigger dreamer than boys in apple are:)))
Iriver uses a 4 side screen interface. The whole front tilts and clicks. I say go out and get a cowon a2. Which that mock up looks like anyway without the face buttons of the A2.
WOW i am in absolute shock. I mean this HAS TO BE TRUE if 3 separate sources are reporting it. Sites have been wrong before about these types of things but when the nano and the video ipod came out just about every site agreed that something likewise was going to be released look at the accuracy in the reports here people!
http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/news/comments/touch-screen-video-ipod-claimed-in-development/
... I must say i am really confused though the article said the screen will be 3.5 in ... but yet the clickwheel will conver the entire front of the digital ipod so is the new ipod going to be a little midget pod only about the size of a little square box?... i hope these to be true because the 5th gen is god awful when it comes to converting and battery life and a new one so close would be great but apple hardly ever does what the customer predicts go look in the future ipods forum on ilounge.com and see how many mock ups of these there are!... im sure apple has something cool up their sleeves because there is no way in hell i am going to be constantly touching a screen that like an ipod screen if it scratches that easily and apple wouldnt be that irresponsible with all the lawsuits theyve been facing lately WOO HOO!!! NEW IPODS IN UNDER 2 MONTHS!
Umm, iRiver U10?
#5, why not go with the Neuros 442?
http://www.neurosaudio.com/store/prod_442.asp
I would like to thank carl #33 for stating something that no one seems to think is a feasible possibility. Although a touchscreen would be cool.. it wouldn't be nearly as practical as a slider do to smudging, resetting issues, ect. If I were a betting man, which I am, I would bet that you get an ipod with a slide down click wheel. I bet on things I think would be cool, so I'm probably wrong. But I think it would be sweet
For mockup aficionados: http://www.ff00aa.com/en/space/2006/02/09/183240/
Not sure whether they'd stick with the iPod interface or go all Front Row, so I made both.
What's the deal with hyperlinks here?
Didn't Apple buyout Fingerworks?
fingerworks.com
I predicted this earlier this summer and even mocked up what it will look like on my website. Here is the rendering I did:
http://www.bolicious.com/studio/Design/5thgen.jpg
If they go bigger, how will that affect the quality of the currently encoded video files for download from iTunes? Will they recompress everything at the larger size to ensure quality? Or is the current compression good enough to withstand being seen at the larger size?
Well I want whatever is in the picture that's attached to this posting.
Let's be sure it will be the video iPod with WiFi. As stated on http://www.paysromand.ch/ the new beast will be sold as the first mac: 666$. What else could be worth that? Steve signed with the devil, and assumes it... ;-)
This is stupid. What they're proporsing will cost twice as much as the current ipod.
Also, by making it full-touchscreen, you basically make it impossible for people to put ipods in their pocket anymore, or use an agent18 case to protect it. Imagine the thousands of people who will break their screens after putting it in the pocket.
There is one thing that leads me to beleive that this rumor is false: All of the videos sold on the iTMS are 320 x 240 resolution, which would not look very good on a 3.5" widescreen display. Or would they? I am not sure, but whatever Apple does, it better make sure the videos it is selling now will work later!
"49. If they go bigger, how will that affect the quality of the currently encoded video files for download from iTunes? Will they recompress everything at the larger size to ensure quality? Or is the current compression good enough to withstand being seen at the larger size?"
I don't think 1" is going to make that much of a difference.
Also found another mock-up that's really nice:
http://forums.ipodlounge.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=141714
Steve...
I think Dale's idea was that the touchwheel would be on the back and operated with the index/middle finger while looking at the FRONT of the device. It's really not that hard to imagine. Maybe you should think a little bit more yourself before you try to ridicule people's ideas.
This would allow apple to keep their solid plastic screen protectors (and squash concerns over screen smudging) as well as allow for the screen to take up the entire face of the unit. (although one wonders what this touchscreen business would be about then)
Let's try it now...
Take your ipod in 'landscape mode' and *imagine* a screen on the entire face. Next use your middle finger of your right hand to trace out a little circle on the back of the unit. It would be helpful if apple restored the recessed scrollwheel from the 3G ipod so you could actually feel where the circle was....
It could work very well! I guess we'll see soon enough though.
Anyway....carry on!
#45
Have the face slide to the right to allow the use of the wheel, and have it slide to the left to reveal a keypad for phone use.
How about this:
They've got this video iPod with the screen covering the whole face of the iPod, with a virtual scroll wheel... but as an optional accessory Apple could have a sortof 'clip on' controller/scroll wheel (something not dissimilar to the new iTrip for the nano) which adds controls to both sides making the iPod the same kind of width as a PSP, and then they can have games!
think about it... it'll be what everyone wanted the PSP to be... movies and games downloadable from the iTMS for $7.99 lets say...
Sorted. what do you think?
Does anyone know who currently makes ipod LCDs and who would make the touchscreens?
I pray that it has OLED, superbright, super res and super battery life.
Here's what I'd really like to see. The cinema-screen iPod video also runs OSX and iLife and iWork and Mail and Address Book, has a bluetooth connection and can be used with a bluetooth mouse and keyboard.
You guys, please note that you are all asking for a new Newton or something. Have you all not read that Apple has been looking into the possibility of purchasing Palm? Put two and two together if you're the optimistic type. :)
All you dork-nerds who think that a scroll wheel on the back of the device would be nice, try explaining how to use it to a less-than-coordinated non-technical end-user. It's pretty clear you've never been involved in product design.
Also, just because Apple was awarded a patent for something that looks like this doesn't mean the product will be made. But don't let that get in the way of gossip...
imagine having a giant set of circular scratchs on your ipod screen!!!
To #64 "Also, just because Apple was awarded a patent for something that looks like this doesn't mean the product will be made. But don't let that get in the way of gossip"
That is the same crap everyone was saying when apple got the video patent... that no video ipods would ever come. i mean think about it...the 5th gen is the exact same as the 4th gen excluding capacity and minor visual/and battery details except for the video added in 2 different codecs?... can you say PLOY?... that is all it was. Something to see how it would sell and if they really could get more video partners on the bandwagon. I think they have successfully done that. Now the goahead with the true video ipod. To me this makes perfect sense.. I mean think about it Why hasnt ITMS had any movies introduced yet?... MTV has some great movies under their belt including Tupac Recurection as well as Disney.. what would apple be waiting for?... altough the time does seem rather odd April 1st?... could be an april fools prank. However then steve wouldnt have eluded to it at macworld. Well just have to wait and see everyone. There are 2 ways to view this...
1. ITS AN APRIL FOOLS JOKE (april 1st)
2. 40 & 80 GB models most likely if rumors are true becuase ts and various other Insider sources were attimant that those were the capacities back in oct 05 before the 5th gens were released (which were not the video ipods)... and this is the thing here they will come with either bluetooth wireless option or not
40gb 299
80gb w/bluetooth 399
... in 2 months when these scenarios go down i want yall to come see how accurate this is (wink wink) the only thing im not sure about is the price... the 40 gb mite be 399 and 80gb model w/bluetooth mite go for 499... have to wait and see people!... (hehe)
For those (#35, #46) who've proposed moving sections in an iPod, please look at that last phrase again. Moving sections in an iPod. Given how some iPods today are treated, I personally think Apple would be insane to put out something so easily broken.
Also, I agree that with the current iPod's shiny plastic resin front face, putting a touchscreen behind that would be preposterous because it'd get smudged and scratched in no time flat. However, also remember that Apple hasn't been afraid in the past to change the iPod's "look"...going from a wheel with surrounding buttons in a circle, to a flat face with all-white, recessed touch-sensitive wheel and row of buttons, to today's grey Click Wheel. What if they used a standard, non-shiny touchscreen like most PDAs, and recessed it a little in a bezel of a similar design to the 5G iPod? It would still look pretty sexy if you ask me, which is half the purpose of the iPod.
Oh, and also, this is probably an idea that would never make it into an actual iPod, but instead of having a "reorient screen" menu item, how about just having a sensor built in to detect which way the iPod is oriented, and flip the display around to match?
Oh, and also, if iPods do go wireless, I want to see the music-sharing-over-Bonjour feature of iTunes extended onto the iPod as well. I can just see the ads now: "iPod + iPod = wePod". Images of people's white earbud cords reaching out to each other like tendrils. ^_^
1)just use a stylus and
2)the scroll wheel will probably disappear after 10 seconds or something
1)just use a stylus and
2)the scroll wheel will probably disappear after 10 seconds or something
In December (just prior to MWSF) Think Secret was picking a fully functional Media Centre Mac Mini (a TIVO Killer they called it). I think Think Secret better start picking some winners! Anyways aren't Apple gonna buy Palm first?
OSX on a handheld holds more interest for me than watching tiny videos on a bus.
6G!?!?!?! how in the hell does apple think they can pass a "true video" iPod with only 6G of memory...a video takes up about a gig by itself nevermind 6!? i'm thinkin more along the lines of 40-80g for the next gen
How will the touch screen work when your watching a movie? I hope it will have an effect like fading away after 5 seconds or something of not touching it, and when u touch the screen it reappears. Hopefully Apple doesn't make a mistake and have the wheel stay there the whole time while u watcha movie or something.
How will the touch screen work when your watching a movie? I hope it will have an effect like fading away after 5 seconds or something of not touching it, and when u touch the screen it reappears. Hopefully Apple doesn't make a mistake and have the wheel stay there the whole time while u watcha movie or something.
seems to me that this idea will flop. the setup will look ugly wih no click wheel. theres just a screen. second, fingerints. the downfall of all touch-screens (a stylus like the DS has wouldnt do well either). third, its a touch screen, and those are much easier to crack. and fourth. the company's aniversary is april 1st. they may have let this secret leak just to cover up for something better and more logical.
yeah. i wont buy one.
and for #71
6G = Sixth Generation. This is wny "gigabyte" is abbreviated GB.
Dumbass
Wats next and ipod camera? ipod video camera? ipod online? ipodSP? ipod instant messenger? ipod 876Generation? see apple just wont stop. wat they need to do is make an ipod with all these things next like wireless connection with your car and stuff and a radio in the ipod. the videos shouldnt have to be converted into other formats the freakin ipod should just play the dang videos. all im saying is APPLE JUST MAKE THE ULTIMATE IPOD THEN STOP MAKING A KNEW ONE EVERY 5 SECONDS
All the roumors seem to be a fake after u saw this vid.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJ4wzEEpk1A
#50: I think that the current format /can/ be stretched fine to a larger size - hell, it's decent full screen. However, I think that if it could play a native HD format, even super-compressed, that would be sweet given the wide screen...
As far as the touch-wheel is concerned, everyone, it's called a screen protector. Fortunately, heat and pressure can still transfer through thin strips of plastic or even heavier plastic cases, so I don't really think having a touchscreen is a huge problem.
This looks cool but i'm not sure about the touchscreen. Like someone else said it would always be getting smuged up. I also don't want the iPod to turn into a complete media player.
It's coming!! I saw a video of it on you tube. The video was from a trade show. It looked very real. No special effects. I can't wait!!!
I haven't read every message on this thread, but has anyone considered the possibility of a full-screen iPod with BOTH an ACTUAL CLICKWHEEL on the BACK of the device AND a simultaneous VIRTUAL CLICKWHEEL on the display? It seems to me that this would give us everything we want -- the largest possible screen, a fully-functional tactile clickwheel, visual feedback, and NO SMUDGES OR SCRATCHES! Man, after this thought came to me, my mouth watered! That would be the coolest!
Let me elaborate on my last post. What I was proposing was that the actual clickwheel would be on the back of the iPod, and as you used it, a virtual wheel would appear on the screen with an indicator showing your finger movements. Get it? What could be better?
let me just say to all the people who think the idea of a click wheel on the back is stupid, pick up your ipod then pretend there is a click wheel on the back it is actualy realy nice. i think ipod would do well from that plus get maximum screen space.
I am waiting for iPod to release a touchscreen model that comes with a stylis, and the ability to imput data like a Palm Pilot. Think of it! With 60+ GB of space, and the ability to store your entire music library, the possibilities are endless! There is already a Calendar included which can only be edited on the computer and transfered to the iPod. Videos - ehh! I want to see a "more functionable" iPod that can be used as an organizer/music player. I'll be first in line for one of those!
Why not just put the clickwheel on the back of the case?
Iphone
is it true that the new ipod touch is coming out in 2007 ?.. if so
wut month?
Just a note...
For the iPhone, on the patents for multitouch, they showed clickwheels as well, and now it's just a touch screen. Why limit yourself to a clickwheel when you can use more advanced technology.
Patents only cover the TECHNOLOGY that is used, not the actual same thing. For the patent, a virtual clickwheel is the same as multitouch.
I don't buy it. Awesome for ipod and coverflow (e.g. iPhone) but I don't see the video turning out well.
How would you hold the thing while watching? you'd be covering up the screen unless you held it from the back gingerly in your palm, or around the edges, which is hardly goign to be easy on the go. it's a PORTABLE device. apple must have a much better design for something like this.
as for those who said to put the clickwheel on the back? Huh? How wouldu do that practically? remember apple is all about design and ergonomics,and ease of use. Maybe if they went all Samsung on us and made a small screen for nav along with the wheel, and the large screen just for video viewing on the other side. but I don't see that happening. think of the practicality, the fingerprints, and trying to control that on a regular basis.
HEY EVERYONE!!! IGNOR ALL OTHER COMMENTS!!! here is the real "iPod Touch". vv. click on this.vv
http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore?node=home/ipod/ipod_touch&cid=OAS-US-KWG-iPodVideo-US&aosid=p202&esvt=GOUSE102439688&esvadt=999999-0-1042867-1&esvid=101321
Eating your words, eh?