Slashdot Mirror
Rumored iPod Flash Leaked
An anonymous reader writes "Apparently a -->detailed design of the new Flash-based iPod--> has been leaked. It doesn't have a screen and is this size of a cookie!" With size estimates ranging from 256 megs to a gig, it will have a much lower price point, and can be worn around your neck. Assuming it's not just a rumor. Update: 12/07 19:31 GMT by M : Temporary working link.
From the article:
"....with an interface so simple your grandmother could use it."
As a 48 yo grandmother and feminist I am offended. Why don't they say a grandfather could use it ? Go ahead, mod me down....
It's a remote control, either wired-in or bluetooth for a next-gen ipod. Either that or just a plain hoax. Someone mod me up!
Last week that report came out showing about 6% of iPod users had switched from PCs to Macs and that another 7% plan on buying a Mac.
The margin of error in that survey was larger than either of those reported percentages. Therefore the reported "news" was worthless. If you look at Apple's figures you see all their dollar revenue increase comes from iPod sales while Mac sales are flat on the high-end and actually down on the low end. If there was a "halo" effect then it exists in the mind of analysts and Steve Jobs and is not being reflected in the harsh truth of revenues.
Furthermore, no figure was given or elicited for the percentage of PC users who had switched from using Macs.
Da Blog
I don't see how you're supposed to navigate through 1 GB of music/etc. with no screen.
Even though the Archos players have screens, the open-source personal jukebox software Rockbox recently implemented a Talking Menu system that can announce directories and playlists. It's useful for non-visual operation, and it proving to be a hit with blind users. Rockbox is being ported to some of the iRiver players...
Da Blog
You're right that computer-generate audio directory listings can be good. Even though the Archos players have screens, the open-source personal jukebox software Rockbox recently implemented a Talking Menu system that can announce directories and playlists. It's useful for non-visual operation, and it proving to be a hit with blind users. Rockbox is being ported to some of the iRiver players...
Da Blog
For an idea of how this could be accomplished on a lightweight portable player
Or you could look at an already-existing system that works pretty well... Even though the Archos players have screens, the open-source personal jukebox software Rockbox recently implemented a Talking Menu system that can announce directories and playlists. It's useful for non-visual operation, and it proving to be a hit with blind users. Rockbox is being ported to some of the iRiver players...
Da Blog
when you slow down enough, it would tell you what album you're on (voice synth from ID3 tags)
You're right that computer-generated audio directory listings can be done easily. Even though the Archos players have screens, the open-source personal jukebox software Rockbox recently implemented a Talking Menu system that can announce directories and playlists. It's useful for non-visual operation, and it proving to be a hit with blind users. Rockbox is being ported to some of the iRiver players...
Da Blog