OK, we really resisted dipping into the murky waters of this latest round of Apple rumors, but it
looks like things have gotten too deep for us to just wade off and ignore it (have we exhausted this metaphor yet?
Good.). It turns out that Apple has apparently put the 60GB iPod on its "at risk" list. That's a designation
Apple provides to retailers to give them a heads up that a product may be in short supply in the near future. Apple
doesn't provide any explanation for why a certain product is categorized this way. It could be that it's sold so well
that supply can't keep up with demand. It could be that it's being replaced with a higher-capacity model. Or it just
could be -- and you know where this is going -- that it's being phased out to make room for the one true
video iPod. That seems to be the consensus
on the internets, and even some financial analysts are betting on that scenario. Shaw Wu, of American Technology
Research, told clients that he believes Apple is working on a wide-screen video iPod with Bluetooth, and that his
"checks" confirm this. Of course, we don't know who Wu checked with. His sources could be right; or Apple
could be coming out with a 40 or 80GB version of the current model; or just having a supply-chain hiccup; or, well, you
get it. And if you'll excuse us, we're now going to swim ashore and wash this muck off.
[Thanks to everyone
who sent this in]
posted Mar 21st 2006 2:11PM
Too bad, I was kind of hoping to get a 120 GB model so I can put all my music in one place but we'll see what happends.
Geez will you guys stop using that pic already?!?!?!?!?
Dinosaurs went extinct. I wish they'd taken that photo with 'em.
Why would you put Bluetooth on the one model that begs USB 2 for content transfer and the one model you need in front of you all the time?
April 1st anyone?
I still haven't heard any good ideas on keeping fingerprints off the touch screen. I'm thinking the update will merely be the addition of bluetooth headphones and possibly wireless syncing with a computer. and that's it. Video ipod coming but not soon. I think it will call for an entirely new form factor.
I'm going to hold off on purchasing this until they release the leather case for it.
Nice but still, how long will the battery last on a screen thats twice as big as the current 60gig ipod?
I remember there was a story here on a chip by apple that in theory should increase battery life.
So lets say current 60Gig plays a video for 4 hours and audio for 20 hours. The video ipod with new chip should lets says play the video/audio which are same since the screen needs to be rendered for what like 8 hours max? Its not that bad considering an average person shouldn't listen to more then 5 hours of audio a day and if u do, then u should get a life. I guess it boils down to it being possible but with its own sets of sacrafises.
APPLE STORE IS DOWN!!!!!!!
Wait, can you repeat the question?
Also, why is pirated content being played on all these mockups. :)
Shhhhh, but I heard that Apple is really working on a handheld HDTV device that will have a super powered micro DLP projector that will allow you to project the image up to 18' x 32' on your garage wall. And, it will have a built-in hot air popcorn popper, soda dispenser, inflatable theater chairs with built-in butt woofer and 3-D glasses. Currently being developed under codename iHaveNoLife.
And people complained about the psp or ds coming out with a new iteration. The pod comes out with a new flavor every month. After this release, they are going to come out with the built-in FM radio and transmitter after another month. And all those pod-turbaters will rub one out again to go thst one too.
If the battery life is substantially better for these true video iPod, I'd might be in. I love my 5G 30GB now, but I only use it for music and podcasts 'cause the battery life sucks when playing video. Still, I wouldn't like to protect a screen that size. Fingerprints? Wipe those off, I'd be more scared of scratches.
Sure you can get a case, but it'd be while before manufacturers had one available for the new form factor... and I wouldn't want to see what everything would cost (iPod + case + accessories).
60GB iPods at risk ... PS3 stockpiling of 60GB HDs for November worldwide launch ... coincidence? A stretch but something to ponder.
More seriously, I would finally jump on the iPod bandwagon if they did a true video widescreen version. I keep dreaming of breaking down and picking up an Archos but some competition from Apple would be nice.
I'll keep my Zen Vision with its support for a huge array of codecs thank you.
Not to mention, have you see the quality of the crap video iTunes sells? Listen, even on a small screen that is garbage.
And Apple being Apple I don't see them shilling for DivX and XviD when they have a crappy codec of their own to pimp. And forget about WMV.
@ maverick:
Having a DSP for increased battery life (by even more than double) is entirely possible. Sony's final line of HHE processor Palm OS PDAs had an integrated DSP that GREATLY enhanced battery performance (needed with anemic battery of the UX50).
While playing MP3s with the built-in AudioPlayer (and video with their MoviePlayer) that accessed the DSP, the Sony TH55, UX50 and VZ90 lasted about 4 times longer, when compared to the same files played back using 3rd party software that didn't utilize the DSP (because of Sony's lousy developer support). My TH55, for example, gets over 9 hrs of playback of mp4s with MoviePlayer, but well under 3 hrs using a 3rd party software like TCPMP (without the Sony drivers). Other tests show that the TH55 can play back DSP audio for 72 hrs with the screen off. 3rd party apps like PTunes gives it about 23. They also sounded a lot 'cleaner' than the output of the iPod, or a number of other MP3 players on the market that I've had a chance to test.
Although over 2 years old, the HHE Sony PDAs are still impressively designed, on this front.
Although ultimately tangential to a Video iPod discussion, I'd hope that Apple (and other hardware makers) would have this kind of foresight (ignoring all the stupid things Sony has done to shoot themselves in the foot).
Got the 60GB video and its all screwed up, fingerprints left ont he like a champ, and scratchs geez, mine is all mesed up, that "Protective" coating doesnt work at all, Secondly, Apples DRM is way to restcrive, can only use with Itunes and if you want to put a home audio system in your house you cant becuase all the systems do not support Apple, I guess apple is too cheap to allow them to use there Fairplay crap, i mean that Airplay wouldnt work anymore...But im not buying anymroe apple songs from the music store nor another Ipod, there not worth it. Scratchs to easily and batt life sucks. I wouldnt buy this new one at all, i mean if it is true
i'm with #1, at least a 80GB please!
@ #13
That's a complete coincidence. Playstation 3's are not going to be using a 1.5" hard drive (or whatever size the iPod is using right now). They'll most likely use a standard desktop drive, or at smallest, a laptop drive.
What's the point in telling retailers an item is "at risk" is they don't specifiy what that means? I was a retailer I would want to know if I should cut the price to clear old stock or not.
I'm sick of the "This is OLD" or "I saw this at so and so's website 3 days ago" posts. Some of us actually have a life and are unable to scouer 4 million websites for up to the second news, that's why we come to Engadget, because they do that for us and post it in a central location for us to peruse in the 30 seconds between that idiot over in accounting spilling coffee on his keyboard and the Exchange server taking a dive because the guy who sits next to him opened an email hocking free Viagra and infecting everyone's system with Herpes Complex c:
One way they may use to keep finger prints off the touch screen is use the [proprietary] technology as used on the Neonode N1. Its a hard screen where you "hover" over your selections, and [i guess] the technology senses your finger and guides the way to selection.
It can be read about at the neonode site.
"The optical screen distinguishes Neonode from other mobile phones. Thanks to the optical screen technology, Neonode is a small unit with a large screen and many features that still is very easy to use. Neonode is designed for one hand navigation; you sweep over and tap the screen with your thumb to access the mobile's features. The navigation is intuitive and easy to learn."
http://www.neonode.com/templates/navigationAndFlashPage____86.aspx
#14 Alcaron said:
> Not to mention, have you see the quality of the crap video iTunes sells? Listen, even on a small screen that is garbage.
And Apple being Apple I don't see them shilling for DivX and XviD when they have a crappy codec of their own to pimp. <
Those videos are made specifically for the current iPods with video. You think Apple wouldn't increase the quality and change the aspect ratio if they came out with a widescreen video iPod?
Your other error is saying Apple has its own video codec. Sorry, they're using industry standards, such as H.264. Where do you get your misinformation?
When I got my 5G iPod I instantly ordered an Invisible Shield (www.shieldzone.com)...no scratches anywhere, and it's always in my pocket with keys, etc.
With a big screen is anyone else thinking PDA? That might make Apple give it a tough screen. And bigger drives would be mandatory.
hey, number 19, jan, quote, "OK, we really resisted dipping into the murky waters of this latest round of Apple rumors, but it looks like things have gotten too deep for us to just wade off and ignore it (have we exhausted this metaphor yet?"
"we resisted" implies that they knew about this, and... why am i explaining this? you can read. well, i assume you can.
I find it funny that the font in the fake picture is, well, not the correct font. They're showing Franklin when it should be Myriad.
I don't personally see this coming yet. 1) Apple would have to completely redesign the iPod for all of this to happen. They probably won't do this after so soon after the last redesign. 2) The touch screen presents more issues than we think. A bigger processor would be needed to monitor the touch screen for input and display content on the obviously larger screen. The bigger screen would naturally take more electricity along with the bigger processor. A much bigger battery would be necessary.
As for the size, logically the case of the video iPod would be 16:9, which it isn't. Easily fixable by Apple though.
#23
> Those videos are made specifically for the current iPods with video. You think Apple wouldn't increase the quality and change the aspect ratio if they came out with a widescreen video iPod?
So now we're gonna have to buy ANOTHER version of some crappy episode that we already paid to see on TV... and then paid to own the DVD... and then paid to watch on our iPod with video. When are we gonna stand up and say, "Enough! I want to be able to play whatever goddamn file I want on my iPod!". My guess is never. We're all suckers.
I hope that it looks like that because its hot and i hope the features are the same as predicted because they aren't bad.
I hate all dirty apples! all! but if this thing came out im getting it.
Guys, I know what the new product is..... they've been testing it out for months now. They're using some perpendicular drive crap thing or some shiz. A friend of a friend in the pro-audio industry is testing one.
I have a 60gig ipod video and don't think I'll ever touch 60, including movies (unless a future ipod comes with a built in camera, but I won't say anything about that)
Stop worrying about fingerprints, there is a fingerprint-resistant plastic that is used on certain digital camera LCDs, I dont have time to look it up, but its out there. Whether apple will use it or not is another issue, if im not mistaken they have a knack for using the cheapest plastic they can find
what an ass
"The one true video ipod"
wtf? the current one plays video, and is an ipod, thus is a video ipod. moron
and does anyone actually want an ipod, or all future ipods, which were designed for music, to have entire screens take up the front, and have a lame touch screen?
Want to prevent fingerprints? Simple: iGloves. For only $299 you can have white cloth gloves with a silver Apple logo on them to protect your precious video iPod from smudges. They'll also keep your hands as warm as you climb up Mt. Everest and protect you from 3rd degree burns.
that thing looks like it can have 2 minutes battery life tops-with no backlight
Well, if they don't present the Video iPod this April 1st, I'll don't know what to think.
Holy crap! . . .internets. . . And to think, this whole time, I've only been using one! How many internets are there?
http://www.encyclopediadramatica.com/index.php/Internets
Even if Apple doesn't introduce a new "true video ipod" all those people holding off on buying the 5G in hopes of the ipod av or whatever will shrug their sholders, maybe sigh a little bit and just buy the 5G anyways. Either way it will be a win-win situation for Apple.
All of the 5G iPods are on sale at Circuitcity.com...
coincidence? I think not :)
Post on how the French ruling hurts Apple
http://mrwavetheory.blogspot.com/2006/03/why-french-ruling-hurts-apple-itunes.html
I'm going to break this down in a very simple style as some of the contributions to this blog come across as b e i n g p o s t s f r o m v e r y
S T U P I D P E O P L E.
No offence but raise your game you fcukwits. If your IQ is below 120, please leave the room. I'm getting sick of seeing one liners from people or 'fanboys' who either don't read the articles before they post or who do read the articles and then still proceed to post the most inane drivel.
Okay, with that out of the way. Here is a FACT!
Sony used to make a hard drive player called the NW-HD1. It was supposed to compete with the ipod.
It sucked, the software sucked and it tanked. Sony are still trying, bless 'em. That bit is called the 'back story' or 'pre-amble'.
The much overlooked feature of this device is that the screen, a 2mm thick acrylic plate, is virtually un-scratchable.
I had the misfortune of owning a HD1 and a HD3. Used them on my daily commute. Kept it in a coin filled pocket or a key bag. N O S C R A T C H E S.
The screen 'seemed' to be protected by oil or grease from my fingers. You don't believe me go find an NW-HD1. The same material was used on my Sony Ericsson phone. Again no screen scratches during daily use.
Now if Apple got hold of that 'Uber' material we'd have a scratch free ipod. It really is that S I M P L E!
And fcukwits, please don't reply unless you have something constructive or remotely useful to say!!!!!!!!!
This is great i always wanted an ipod. and i did last year but its "old". and plus a bigger screen is good th other one is way to small for videos. the bad thing is that it may get scratched up easily except if it has a hard cover up or somthng. why a dinosaur.
Maybe its just a future Apple PDA...and when using the multimedia funtions the virtual click wheel comes up on the screen. It would suck to hold than thing by the edges for the duration of a 2 hour movie.
-or-
Maybe sony is making a PSP with a 60gb hard drive that is causing the supply shortage.
"I find it funny that the font in the fake picture is, well, not the correct font. They're showing Franklin when it should be Myriad."
And you care why?
what an ass
> "The one true video ipod"
> wtf? the current one plays video, and is an ipod, thus > is a video ipod. moron
Apple didn't want this version of the iPod to be considered the "iPod video" or "Video iPod".
To them it's an iPod with video capability. Maybe that's why it doesn't offer such a large vatiety of video formats?
how much will it cost?