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Apple To Unveil iPod Cellphone Next Week?

Mictian writes "Apple Computer is planning to hold a major press conference next week (September 7th) in San Francisco and the rumours say that it will be the unveiling of a new iPod cellphone (NYT). The phone would incorporate the popular iTunes software, be built by Motorola and marketed by Cingular Wireless. The companies have declined to confirm or deny the report, which would fit Apple's past pattern of being secretive to maximise the splash on announcement day."

9 of 325 comments (clear)

  1. World turning upside down by lawpoop · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Apple is releasing an iPod cell phone, while Nokia is releasing a tablet computer with no cell phone capabilities.

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    Computers are useless. They can only give you answers.
    -- Pablo Picasso
  2. Fantastic! by adamwright · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Now I can watch movie clips, read news AND listen to music using my mobile phone. However, every second voice conversation will still run to the lines of "Hello? Hello? Can you hear me? Is this better? Yes? OK...wait, I've lost you. Can you hear me? CAN YOU? I'll call you back. I'LL CALL YOU BACK".

    Fix your damned voice communications before you introduce more junk into handsets. I have a perfectly good MP3 player, but I still lack a useful phone!

  3. Branding by StacyWebb · · Score: 4, Insightful

    It's not really a matter of new technology, but rather a matter of branding. The Apple iTunes name sells. This behavior is being done by many corporations. Virgin started it along with 7-eleven. Next to appear on the scene is Disney Mobile (not making this up). Names sell, so individuals who are dedicated to Apple and it's products will most likley purchase this type of phone/service.

  4. Not a terrible idea by Gadgetfreak · · Score: 4, Insightful

    but I'm sure it won't fare nearly as well as the iPod itself. People get tired of their cell phones after a while. Especially when something new and flashy comes out.

    Gadgets really shouldn't require contracts.

    --
    "No fair, you changed the outcome by measuring it!" - Professor Hubert J. Farnsworth
  5. Re:#1 by amichalo · · Score: 4, Insightful

    First, they sell Motorola phones, and Motorola partnered with Apple to build it.

    I contend that Apple partnered with Cingular because they are the largest carrier in the US, now that they merged with AT&T, and because Cingular would allow Apple to sell a phone that didn't get it music by buying from an over priced Verizon music store. Sprint, Verizon, etc sell Motorola phones too (yeah, Sprint only sells CDMA Motos) but the GSM carriers will sell whatever they think is gonna bring in the customers.

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    I only came here to do two things; kick some ass, and drink some beer...looks like we're almost out of beer.
  6. WiFi equipped iPod only way forward... by Wonderkid · · Score: 3, Insightful

    1. There is all this speculation over a) A video iPod, yet sales of portable video devices have not taken off, unlike MP3 players before the iPod was first launched. b) An iTunes equipped phone. 2. Here are some things to think about: a) The cell phone / mobile phone networks are in a mess and not global, while WiFi is a global standard. b) The future lies in VoIP. c) The iPod OS contains an address book and a huge hard drive. Therefore, 3. An iPod with built in WiFi would be a global carrier free product and liberate people from the need to use a Mac or PC to purchase/download/sync their tunes and other data, they would simply login to the nearest WiFi network. Syncing with any Mac or PC would be wireless too which would be sweet. 4. Consider that a music playing PHONE is not original, the excellent Sony Ericsson K750i and K800 phones already do this well - and include well reviewed 2MP cameras too. (See http://www.fonebox.com/matrix ) 5. I vote for a wireless iPod as being what Apple SHOULD do, perhaps with a 2MP digicam on the back too.

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    O'WONDERWe're working on it.

  7. Re:Yet more rumours by Iriel · · Score: 4, Insightful

    True, I have a 60GB iPod and there's no way I'd switch to 100 songs from several thousand, however...

    If Apple's getting anything out of this, they're hoping more people may buy this instead of a Shuffle. ::looks down at cracked screen::
    "cuz like, I need a new phone anyway"

    --
    Perfecting Discordia
    www.stevenvansickle.com
  8. Revolutionary by mwvdlee · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I heard the new Apple product would be "revolutionary" and completely new, changing live as we know it and such... a mobile phone/iPod comination will NOT be that.

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  9. Consider... by Captain+Perspicuous · · Score: 5, Insightful
    Consider...
    • the invitation said "1000 songs, here we go again", so it will probably have 4GB of memory
    • Adding a 4GB harddisk will make the phone look fat (Nokia N91: 160 grams)
    • Apple is rumored to buy up large quantities of RAM
    ...I think it's clear what we will see: a mobile phone with 4GB of integrated memory... drool! :-)