Apple iPod with Video and WiFi Capabilities?

An anonymous reader writes "Apple is currently seeking an engineer for its iPod hardware division. However, they are not looking for just any engineer. They are seeking an engineer with WiFi and Video integration experience. 'The iPod group is looking for a Hardware Engineer. Experience in the following areas is important: system integration, digital logic, SDRAM, Flash, ASIC's, processor selection, ATAPI, various communication protocols (ie: GSM, Bluetooth, IEEE 802.11, Firewire, and USB), display types and video and analog integration.'"

Comments

Slashdot's posting help wanted ads now?

[Anonymous Coward]

How much does this cost? Or is it free for Apple?

Re:Slashdot's posting help wanted ads now?

[Rosyna]

They have removed the various protocols from the listing due to various rumor sites.

The listings did, in fact, say bluetooth and 802.11 just a week ago when i checked it.

very likely that it's likely?

[randyest]

From TFA:

"The iPod group is looking for a Hardware Engineer. This person will be an individual contributor on a top notch team with responsibilities for the design, implementation, and integration of digital and analog electronics. Experience in the following areas is important: system integration, digital logic, SDRAM, Flash, ASIC's, processor selection, ATAPI, various communication protocols (ie: GSM, Bluetooth, IEEE 802.11, Firewire, and USB), display types and video and analog integration."

Does this mean we are very likely to see an iPod with a video display and capable of sending and receiving music via WiFi? This is very likely.

What strange language the author uses there. Is he answering his own question about whether it's very likely by saying yes, it's very likely? Or is he saying that it's very likely that it's "very likely?"

I think it's very likely that I'm confused ;)

Re:very likely that it's likely?

[gryphokk]

It's like, "How much more likely could it be?" and the answer is "None. None more likely."

Expanded iPod

[fussili]

Well, Apple's already moved into the 'home broadcast' sector with the Airport express streaming music via 802.11 protocols, so it wouldn't seem too far a stretch for them to start streaming video or DVDs around your house, perhaps onto a vPod.

However the amount of battery consumption for such a beast would be epic.

The Ultimate Plugin?

[Dark Paladin]

Apple should probably know by now that the iPod has a lot of "value added" potential, outside of the music player.

It functions exceptionally as an MP3/AAC/AIFF/Audible player - no dispute about that. It works well as an audio recorder from what I've heard. And it also functions "decently" as a calendar/address book/note taker.

Apple might be seeing something beyond a "video iPod". Personally, based on what Mr. Jobs has said, I'd be surprised if it went that route. Most people I know don't care to be watching video as they walk/exercise/work/drive.

But what if the iPod became more of a hub? Take the current Airport Express device - 802.11 device plus audio player and print server. What if your iPod could wirelessly transmit audio to it, so you wouldn't need another computer on all the time - just pick up the iPod, and it would be like a little remote. Or you enter the room with your iPod, and the Airport Express starts playing what's on there, so you have seamless music from your earphones to your speakers.

Imagine if that could be done with video as well - just take the videos you made with iMovie or one of Apple's major movie editors, and plunk it onto the iPod. Now you can go to the other room and demo the movie on the TV set.

Remember how The Lord of the Rings was downloaded onto iPods and transferred to the editing room? Imagine a digital video camera that, instead of a small tape, just plugged in an iPod - direct from video to hard drive, and then just plug it into the computer and edit away. Or, if you have a digital camera, same thing - and now you can wirelessly transmit those photos to your computer for editing/emailing and the like.

So rather than a "video iPod", I wonder if Apple won't make the iPod an extension of the "digital hub" idea. Of course, knowing Apple, those features will work best with a Mac - but if they get other companies like HP to jump on the bandwagon and support these functions with their devices and software, Apple won't care - they'll still be selling iPods and cashing in the checks at the bank.

Of course, just an idea. I could be wrong.

Re:it shows you that...

[jared_hanson]

/me raises hand.

I usually don't reply to ACs, but the Objective-C bashing is just ignorant. Objective-C is not used much outside of the Mac OS X development community, but that does not make it a bad language. I've programmed fairly extensively in it, and I can say that it is a truly incredible language that makes tasks really simple. It is a true object oriented language (everything inherits from NSObject) yet you still get to keep pointers, which gives you a lot of power as well. It has the power of C++ and the ease of use of Java or C#.

I have yet to meet anyone with significant experience in Objective-C who can say they dislike the language.

Does no one else have an Apple ID?

[Have Blue]

Sign into Apple's job site and go to job requisition ID 2142016 . You should find this:

The iPod group is looking for a Hardware Engineer. This person will be an individual contributor on a top notch team with responsibilities for the design, implementation, and integration of digital and analog electronics. The applicant should be familiar with computer system architecture and digital design. Duties include schematic capture, prototype bring-up and debugging, hardware bug tracking, functional verification, signal characterization, and manufacturing support.

The ideal candidate is someone from a consumer electronics background dealing with high volume, low power, high quality products.

Required Experience:

• BS/MS EE or equivalent required.
• Must have great EE fundamentals.
• 5+ years overall experience needed, 3+ years in a lead role preferred.
• Experience in the following areas is important: system integration, digital logic, SDRAM, Flash, ASIC's, processor selection, ATAPI, various communication protocols, display types and analog integration.
• Broad experience: both digital and analog.
• Experience building actual products in labs.

Note that there is nothing in there about video or wireless; the parenthetical expression in the article text was added by the reporter and the video integration comment is completely out of left field. This is either extremely wishful thinking on the part of Overclockers Club or an outright fabrication.

Re:Ok, we know /. is anti-M$

[anthonyclark]

It's simple, really. /. is a privately owned site. It isn't the BBC with some kind of public charter that specifically says 'we are unbiased'.

Plus the /. crew love apple hardware :-)

Re:Disinformation?

[stratjakt]

Sure, I saw one today that wanted 10+ years of C# experience.

Luckily I have access to that hyperbolic time chamber. It's hard to code in there though, this pointy headed glowing guy is always throwing energy beams at me.