[bravedeer]

After reading about the "Zune" I found a good concept that would actually work if Microsoft didn't screw it up.

The problem: The Zune is based on what songs you want to send, not what songs you want. What does this mean? If you are sitting at a coffee shop and you there are other Zunes around, the only songs you can get is what people send you, which is stupid.

It should work the other way around. iTunes already has the concept for home networks, in the Share iTunes Library. Basically the iPod would do the same, allowing people to leech off your library songs THAT they want, not songs that others want to send them.

The other thing that Apple can get right is by making it much faster by using 802.11n.

And the other killer would be to offer an add-on to make every iPod already in the market have the feature.

I know I'll take some heat for this post but I just believe that the concept if done right could work!

[parsec_kadets]

I don't think you'll take heat for it. Hell, even Steve Jobs implied that wifi isn't such a bad idea. All he said what that Microsoft's implementation of it sucked. Apple could do it right and steal Miscrosoft's thunder. Considering that's the only truly unique feature the Zune has right now, it could be a death blow (not that it won't die on its own already).

[ghporter]

802.11n does not exist yet. There are "draft implementations," but they are NOT at all based on a final standard. There IS NO STANDARD YET. Apple is apparently biding its time in rolling out something related to the N standard because they don't want to have to recall anything, nor publish an extensive update for anything either.

The biggest problem I can see with a WiFi (or Bluetooth for that matter) connection is that adding yet another feature to the device would erode the core functionality of it. Games are overboard as far as I'm concerned, and adding the necessary user interface to configure even Bluetooth connectivity certainly wouldn't enhance the music (and video) player function of the iPod. The best solution I can think of is the kind of BT connectivity you have with a cell phone headset, and that should probably be limited to updates of the iPod's contents, not a full restore or even an initial load-that would be a LONG process!

Wireless would be a good thing if it didn't interfere with the basic purpose of the device, but I don't see how it could NOT interfere.