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New iPods on the Horizon

RemovableBait writes "Apple Computer plans to introduce more iPods before the end of the year", a company executive said Tuesday. From the article: Executive Vice President Tim Cook didn't say whether the new iPods will come at a press event Apple has scheduled for Wednesday morning. But during a conference call with analysts, he suggested that the iPod Nano won't be the last new iPod of the year."

42 of 367 comments (clear)

  1. Forget slim... by Hittite+Creosote · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I want a near indestructible one. Make it bulkier if you have to, just don't let it break.

    1. Re:Forget slim... by CrazyTalk · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I agree. Maybe they can take the strategy employed in the 80s/90s, where if you painted a radio or tape player yellow that made it a "Sport" model and the perception was that it magically became waterproof, shockproof, etc.

  2. Video? by SultanCemil · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I know this may look like a really dumb comment in about 4 hrs but I don't see video being THAT useful. You can store a ton of low-res video on the ipod if you just want to watch it there, but the real advantage would be to take it with you to friends' houses for viewing on their TVs. Well, in that case, you want hi-res video, video that will take up quite a bit of room. Hmmm.... Wonder how those geniuses will solve THAT little problem...

    --
    Cemil.
    1. Re:Video? by Tibor+the+Hun · · Score: 5, Informative

      It's not about the resolution, it's about the compression.
      With h.264 even HD files can be compressed to a manageable size. With iPod's large storage capacity one could easily carry half a dozen movies on it.
      With a video out, all you'd need is a TV to plug it in.

      The problems are, and I have no idea if they have been solved:
      -the battery life for outputting a movie
      -is the iPod beefy enough for h.264 decoding? (Possibly, through a dedicated hardware chip)

      Here's a good real-world explanation of h.264 and what it can do for HD.

      --
      If you don't know what AltaVista is (was), get off my lawn.
    2. Re:Video? by Blapto · · Score: 5, Informative

      What sort of length are we talking about? You can get 4 hours of video onto a DVD of 4.7GB (of a quality that you couldn't get better than on your typical household TV. If you have a fantastic plasma screen you may notice an improvement at 3 hours/DVD). So a 60GB iPod would hold about 2000 songs and 40 hours of DVD quality video. I'm sure they will be releasing larger hard drives at some point, this isn't going to require a fundamental overhaul.

    3. Re:Video? by LordLucless · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Forget decoding, how about encoding? How many people are going to sit there and wait while their computer spends half a day encoding a DVD into h.264?

      --
      Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean there isn't an invisible demon about to eat your face
    4. Re:Video? by iainl · · Score: 5, Insightful

      One acronym: iTMS.

      I don't think they do plan on us spending half a day encoding a DVD to h.264. I think they plan on letting us download a pre-encoded TV programme, and charging us for the privelege.

      Sure, it's entirely possible that Apple will let us make our own. But I don't think they plan on passing up the opportunity to flog us stuff that saves us the bother.

      --
      "I Know You Are But What Am I?"
    5. Re:Video? by dduck · · Score: 4, Interesting

      How about being able to walk down to the Blockbuster and charge the vPod with a dozen movies at one buck a pop? Now THAT would rock!

    6. Re:Video? by badasscat · · Score: 4, Informative

      The compression that DVDs use is pretty old and crappy.

      It's the same compression used in our HDTV standard. It's intended for use at high bit rates, like HDTV or DVD. You're not going to get any better quality at those bit rates using another encoding scheme.

      A 600M xvid file will give you a movie at DVD quality.

      No, it won't. It may look similar, and maybe you have to take your eyes off the foreground action to see what xvid is doing to your movies, but I have never, ever seen any xvid rip that comes close to the original DVD.

      xvid and other mpeg-4 standards do well at what they're intended for - creating good-looking video at low bit rates. One of the intents of mpeg-4 (including h.264, which is mpeg-4 part 10) is delivery of high-quality movies over the internet. At that, xvid does a good job, but that doesn't mean an xvid movie encoded at 1mbps is going to look anywhere near as good as a DVD encoded at 9mbps. It never will. It's not possible. It will look "good enough" for some people, but not for those who are really interested in quality.

      mpeg-2 does not do well at low bit rates required for things like web delivery. This is one big reason why mpeg-4 was created. But if you're talking about encoding a movie such that it looks basically indistinguishable from the original, both mpeg-2 and mpeg-4 are going to require similarly high bit rates. (And yes, I've downloaded Apple's h.264 videos, before anyone brings that up - they are very large, if you've noticed. Some of them hit a couple hundred megabytes for 2-3 minutes of video.)

      People get this mixed up; they think because mpeg-4 is newer that it is more advanced than mpeg-2 in every way. It's not. It's better at low bit rates, but even comparing directly at similarly low bit rates, "better" does not mean "perfect". At high bit rates and otherwise identical settings, you can't tell the difference between the two standards.

      I encode video both as part of my job and also for laughs at home (and I've tried pretty much everything, including h.264 using Nero Digital, xvid, divx, QuickTime, WM9 and mpeg-2), so I have some level of practical experience with this. At home, I still actually just use mpeg-2 more often than not, because h.264 support is so spotty right now and the quality at the bit rates I use is the same between the two formats. For stuff I want people to download over the web, I've actually gotten better results with WM9 than I have with h.264 yet (probably mainly because playback support of h.264 is so spotty right now).

  3. iPod Video by TedTodorov · · Score: 4, Interesting

    It would have to be. Initially content will be Video Podcasts (like NerdTV), music videos, and hopefully TV shows. Also Apple needs to release software that will transcode non-encrypted DVDs or VIDEO_TS forlders, and let "third parties" do the rest.

    We will know more later today.

  4. Wow.. by nahorniak · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Do we really need 5 posts regarding this subject? The question will be answered today. This article's basically saying "Apple will release...something... soon. Mark our words."

    --
    P.S. This is what part of the alphabet would look like if Q and R were eliminated.
  5. Re:Too many choices? by ibentmywookie · · Score: 5, Informative

    Shuffle (512MB or 1024MB)
    Nano (2GB or 4GB)
    Normal (20GB or 60GB)

    3 types, 2 size choices for each, with a nice $50 price difference for each model.

    I think Apple are really good when it comes to coming up with a product lineup. It's other suppliers that are too confusing.

    --
    -- The doctor said I wouldn't get so many nose bleeds if I just kept my finger out of there!
  6. I know! I know! by batlock666 · · Score: 4, Funny

    iPod Suppo.

  7. Re:Too many choices? by UnixRevolution · · Score: 4, Funny

    There's no such thing as too many choices. Perhaps grannies and parents will get confused, but that's why we have salesmen to hear them out, listen to their needs, then help them select the most expensive model in stock.

    --
    You like your new Mac more than you like me, don't you, Dave? Dave? I asked...She said Yes.
  8. Apple's Special Event by mattyohe · · Score: 4, Informative

    If you want to catch the latest products about to be released today, check out the rumor sites at 10am PDT, I'm sure one of them will be following it. They currently think the Video iPod will debut today.

    thinksecret
    appleinsider

    Or just checkout apple's website later today!

    --
    - what is the definition of simultanagnosia?! I've been meaning to look it up!
  9. Re:Too many choices? by jjares · · Score: 5, Funny

    Have you seen creative's lineup?

  10. One more thing... by going_the_2Rpi_way · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Just another example of "one more thing" marketing as discussed, say, here: http://www.wired.com/news/business/0,1367,69172,00 .html?tw=rss.TOP.

    I wonder -- is preaching to the converted really sustainable though?

  11. How 'bout both? by epohs · · Score: 5, Informative

    Maybe not indestructible, but they're already pretty damn tough http://arstechnica.com/reviews/hardware/nano.ars/3

    1. Re:How 'bout both? by danamania · · Score: 5, Informative

      I'm finding mine pretty tough. It has no case, sits in pockets and goes walking with me, sits on my messy desk, has been slept on most nights since I bought it, driven with, packed in my camera bag, it's been lost temporarily between cushions on the sofa, dropped in a mug of hot tea (oops) and been slammed in the car door of a 1960s Falcon (oops 2), which dented the back a little. It still works, the screen is crystal clear and I have to look really hard to see the two identifiable marks on the front - one an indentation on the side of the plastic, and the other is similar, but just above the click wheel - both really need looking at closely in the right kind of light to find. I've dropped it a couple of times on the desk or coffee table, I think those marks came from that.

      If it's a fragile scratch-prone thing then I must have a magical nano, cos I'm seeing none of that.

      photos at http://www.danamania.com/temp/nano2.jpg counting upwards. The first image is at one week old, others taken on the days since then - it's almost 3 weeks old now.

    2. Re:How 'bout both? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

      You've owned the thing for less than 3 weeks and you've already managed to sleep on it, lose it between sofa cushions, drop it in hot tea, and slam it in a car door? You sir, are an idiot.

  12. Re:Will the influx of new Ipods.... by MatrixCubed · · Score: 5, Funny

    I've never pooped in a battery, myself.

  13. Halo effect by Infonaut · · Score: 3, Insightful
    Actually, the "halo effect" seems to be real. The quarterly earnings statement shows that Mac sales were up 48% over the same quarter last year.

    As for whether the move to Intel was a bad idea or not, Apple users have been happy with PowerPC chips for a long time, but dissatisfied with IBM/Moto's ability to get them delivered in a timely fashion. We'll see if Intel can deliver on its promises.

    --
    Read the EFF's Fair Use FAQ
  14. Re:Market Saturation... by MrMickS · · Score: 4, Interesting
    sounds like Apple's simply trying to cash-in quickly before their 'bubble' bursts. Don't get me wrong, the iPod is a great little device, but at some point the buzz + demand / supply will stabilize and the rest of the non-innovative companies will play copy & catch-up ...

    You forgot to add "and this will be the death of Apple". All companies try to captialise "buzz". The iPod has had a great deal of "buzz" for the past couple of years and Apple have done well to keeping pushing the device so as to differentiate the iPod from the competition. Its not as though other companies, even ones with good brands (Sony Walkman), haven't been trying to steal Apple's thunder over this period. So far Apple have succeeded at beating them off.

    What a lot of people ignore when comparing the iPod with the other music players out there is the interface. Not the one the users use but the one that allows it to connect. This is the killer app that the iPod has, something that makes it more than just a portable music player. Look at the number of manufacturers that are offering iPod connectivity in their cars. The iPod will continue to grow, it may lose its buzz but, until someone comes along with something that can take its place, it will still provide a solid revenue stream for Apple.

    --
    You may think me a tired, old, cynic. I'd have to disagree about the tired bit.
  15. Re:Market Saturation... by GiorgioG · · Score: 4, Insightful

    How Apple's iPod is innovative: Sleek design combined with a great navigation system. I own a Creative Zen Micro. It's small, maybe you can call it sleek (not by iPod standards), but the navigation system is absolutely terrible. Which is why I can't even give it away to my father (he gave it back, too confusing.)

    Innovation isn't all about coming up with something brand new - in fact, most 'inventions' aren't ground-breaking (read a book on Triz, it spells out the various levels of innovation.)

  16. Re:Plans..? by Poltras · · Score: 5, Funny

    A iPod software developper friend told me he was writing coffee-making code.

  17. Re:They Better by 10Ghz · · Score: 4, Informative
    Getting dumped by their chip supplier was a death sentence for the Mac hardware.


    I find it interesting that you said this right after Apple announced that sales of Mac-hardware increased by about 50% when compared to last year. If that means that Mac is "dying", I would LOVE to see what it would be like when it's thriving!
    --
    Lesbian Nazi Hookers Abducted by UFOs and Forced Into Weight Loss Programs - -all next week on Town Talk.
  18. Gaps between tracks? by emm-tee · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Do the current models still insert a couple of seconds of silence between every track?

    I'd love one, but if they still have this problem, then no way. Nobody would buy a CD player that had the same issue.

    1. Re:Gaps between tracks? by iainl · · Score: 4, Informative

      Not a couple of seconds, but a small fraction of a second (yet still noticeable that its there)? Yes, they do.

      However, iTunes includes the ability to turn your multiple tracks into one big file in order to cut the gap out, if it really bothers you. It seems to be some sort of problem with the way mp3 files decode, as Winamp does it too if you don't use an additional plugin that crossfades on the fly.

      --
      "I Know You Are But What Am I?"
  19. Re:Video on the iPod by iainl · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Do I want to watch a 2 hour movie on an iPod? No.

    Do I want to watch a 10 minute news bulletin podcasted to my iPod? Yes.

    Do I want to watch a 22 minute episode of the Simpsons on my iPod? Yes.

    Don't think films, think TV.

    --
    "I Know You Are But What Am I?"
  20. Re:They Better by NMerriam · · Score: 4, Funny

    I hope if I ever get a "death sentence", it only lasts for a year and I get 30 billion dollars in the bank. That's the kind of death I could get into.

    The 1990's called -- they want "Apple is Dying" back.

    --
    Recursive: Adj. See Recursive.
  21. Apple by ogiller · · Score: 5, Interesting

    You all know what Apple is missing in its line up. A Apple DVR. There is Tivo, MythTV, and Microsoft Multimedia Center. Apple needs to enter the arena.

    They have the QuickTime technology.
    They have the UI skills to make a better DVR.
    They have the Hardware experience.
    Wait and see.

    Think about it. Why would you buy a iPod Video? Because, you have episodes of Star Track Enterprise, and Lost on your Apple DVR. You want to take them on the road. You need a Apple iPod Video that allows you to quickly download those programs over firewire right to a little hand held video player.

    By Apple introducing a DVR they create instant content for the iPod Video. They are struggling to get the Movie Studios on board. So they need another way to create content for the iPod Video.

    With out the Apple DVR where is the added value of a iPod Video?

  22. Re:That's great! by Golias · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Enough with the battery FUD.

    I just replaced my iPod battery last month. It was $20, including shipping, and came with a funky little plastic tool for opening up the iPod case. Changing it was easier than a memory upgrade on most laptops.

    The hardest part of the entire operation was lining up the pins to plug the hard drive back into the motherboard. That took me all of about thirty seconds.

    If you can't change the battery on an iPod while following the instructions that come with almost every replacement battery, you are a goddamn idiot.

    --

    Information wants to be anthropomorphized.

  23. Re:Plans..? by SimGuy · · Score: 3, Funny

    I rather hope it is standards compliant.

    --
    I don't care, but don't let that stop you from trying to tell me anyway.
  24. Linux!? by photon317 · · Score: 3, Insightful


    How about announcing an iTunes client for Linux? Or at the very least, allowing third parties to release iTunes Linux clients and not constantly thwarting their attempts to bring new customers to the platform? I don't run anything but Linux, at work and at home. I haven't bought an iPod yet because I cannot get reliable iTMS services.

    --
    11*43+456^2
    1. Re:Linux!? by PureCreditor · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Linux is primarily for servers, and the desktop market share is what? less than a couple percentage points?

      not trying to be a troll here, but if you put yourself in Apple's shoes, is the R&D budget giving a good ROI by creating an iTunes Linux client?

      On top of that, many Linux folks have their entire collection of OGG, which Apple won't bothering supporting either, so an iTunes for Linux that plays MP3 and AAC is simply not value-adding.

  25. Please release a new one today, please! by ChePibe · · Score: 3, Funny

    My iPod just died for good last night (my own fault, really... shouldn't bang around a device like that as much as I did), and now my wife just feels really sorry for me. If they release a new one today, I can capitalize on her sympathy and talk her into letting me get one!

    Apple, please take note! If you don't release one today, my accountant... er... wife will never let me purchase one of your shiny white products! Her sympathy won't last forever, act today!

  26. Re:Too many choices? by cayenne8 · · Score: 3, Funny
    I don't know about you, but, when it comes to electronics for Xmas or other presents,

    I make sure and give written descriptions and model numbers so they can get it right. I give lots of choices, but, I do help them out so as to make sure they get me what I really want...

    --
    Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
  27. Re:Market Saturation... by Shenkerian · · Score: 5, Funny
    So far Apple have succeeded at beating them off.

    May I suggest that you, in the future, choose between the phrases "beating them back" and "fending them off?"

    --
    You tell me how "whilst" differs from "while," and I'll stop calling you a pretentious jackass.
  28. Re:Ogg Support? by Pxtl · · Score: 3, Insightful

    There is more than simple raw technical comparison. The iPod wins out hands down against any other player in terms of form factor and UI. Plus, the consistency of quality of their products keep people coming back. Creative can't capitalize on a name the way iPod can because iirc Creative had a string of mediocre mp3 players before the iRiver.

  29. This statement makes no sense: by spyrral · · Score: 3, Insightful

    "If you're talking about a video iPod, what would drive the demand? Music videos? You have a whole generation of people already conditioned to getting those for free," said GartnerG2 research analyst Mike McGuire. Uh, hello? Apple makes money on the iPods! If there a big suppy of free music videos for people to watch online (and there is) so much the better! I could be a research analyst, if that's the kind of insight they bring to the table.

  30. Re:It's "good better best" across the product line by nine-times · · Score: 4, Insightful
    This model is one of those Steve Jobs things. Most any other company would have kept the Mini in its lineup when the nano came out, but Jobs believes religiously in giving the consumer a pretty clear set of choices that way.

    It certainly seems to be a "Jobs thing". From what I remember, you could just watch it happen when he returned to Apple. It's not just an issue of limiting options or anything, it's offering what is basically a standardized lineup with standard naming conventions, and then a little variation in configuration. It's the whole thing. It's called "marketing", and it's one of Jobs' big talents.

    You get the iStuff, which is all white plastic consumer goods, and then the PowerStuff, which is all aluminum power-user/business goods. It gets to be pretty clear to the consumer what he's getting himself into. You know exactly which models are "better". They're mostly the same, except the more expensive one is faster, has a couple extra features, etc.

    I'm still waiting for a "PowerPod".

    And then Apple plays this whole "$50 more" game. More marketing. It's smart. People can say, "You can buy an iPod for only $99!" And that draws people in. They think, well, $100 isn't bad. But then, for $50 more, you can get twice as much memory. But for just $50 more than that, you can get a color screen AND twice as much memory. For just $50 more, you can get a whole lot more memory, 5 times as much. Next thing you know, you're thinking about spending $500 for something where you justified the purchase because it was cheap at $100.

    And that's what the "$50 more" game is all about. Make your entry level product cheap enough that people feel like it's silly to think it's "too much money", and then add genuinely useful features at regular and small price increments. Consumers will naturally rise to the highest level of money they're willing to spend.

  31. Re:No mention of the rumors? by jatemack · · Score: 3, Informative

    Here's the info so far: - iMac: faster, larger disk, built in iSight. Includes FrontRow (app)
    - iPod: 30GB/60GB with Video - realtime decoding of MPEG4 and H.264. 260,000 colors. Video out.
    - FrontRow and PhotoBooth Apps.
    - 30GB iPod: $299 - 31% thinner than current 20GB; - 60GB iPod: $399.
    - New iPods avail next week. Comes with case
    - iMac: $1299 for 17" model with 1.5GHz, $1799 for 20" model with 2.1GHz
    - iTunes 6 to be released
    - Front Row - comes with new iMacs. Lets you enjoy video/music/pictures from sofa. Everything
    still displayed on iMac screen. iPod-like remote. 6 button remote.
    - Photobooth - appears to be slide show application.
    - Music Videos. 2000 available to buy. $1.99 each.
    - Can "gift" music to other people. Peer reviews and recommendation service.
    They keep updating and aren't /. yet at macrumors.com

    --
    // no