Apple still at work on true video iPod?
By Ryan Block 
posted February 9th 2006 10:02AM
posted February 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.
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?
What if the user interface was like that of Front Row?
http://www.laptopbatteryclub.com/
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?