[iguana]

Okay I lie, but an interesting article about OLEDs on CNN. I quote:

"And Kodak is quietly shipping 2-inch horizontal OLED screens to a consumer device manufacturer it refused to name. Those screens, configured in the manner of those used in digital cameras, are the first to use active-matrix technology that can play video, said Daniel Gisser of Kodak's display products unit."

The article is at:

http://www.cnn.com/2002/TECH/industr....ap/index.html

+ 2-inch looks about right (you could say that about most digital cameras too I suppose)
+ Low profile and power consumption
+ Forcing Kodak to keep quiet just reeks of Apple

I think they are trying to throw us off the scent by calling Kodak's customer a "consumer device manufacturer". Although Apple seems to becoming one...

[slider]

Wow, dude and you say "stretch"?

[Vanquish]

why would Apple use color screens ? The only thing I can think of is the coolness-factor.

[scaught]

well. i guess they could do an ipod with a color screen and have it play mpeg-4 movies and whatnot. theres some new device by sharp or sanyo or something that does that.

but talk about a battery hog. sheesh.

[Emotionally Fragile Luke]

You should have put "sex" in your title.

[satchmo]

Nah!! Won't happen.
At least as an iPod it won't. I think Apple doesn't want to get into a swiss army knife device.
Instead to make each device the best at what it does. Besides, a 2" screen for video is not exactly the best for viewing. Give it a 5" screen and then it would be.

[Nephron]

That's really wierd. When I saw that on CNN, the first thing I thought was "Apple", and was going to post it here. I never got around to it, but this is the kind of expensive geewhizardry that would be incorporated into a new Apple digital lifestyle device.

Sure, no evidence, but interesting conjecture. Glad to know someone else thinks like I do.

Cheers!

[greenG4]

Originally posted by scaught:

but talk about a battery hog. sheesh.

The article reads as if it would be very low on power consumption.

[motti]

wasn't there lately an article about the "portable quicktime"? that would fit inside this story..

[iguana]

Yes, there most certainly was:

http://news.com.com/2100-1023-976829.html

Apple seems to be trying to position Quicktime as the format of choice for creating and viewing video content on 3G phones.


Like people suggest, the iPod doesn't *NEED* a color screen, but you could say that about all the color mobile phones (and PDAs) on the market now too.

iSync already syncs contact details on your iPod. With a color screen you could display their photos too!

Ultimately, the iPod is an entertainment device. I'm sure a lot of people would enjoy their iPod more if they could drool over a 2-inch equivalent of iTunes' visual effects. Even if they had to recharge every hour.

Just like what color screens did for laptops, PDAs and mobile phones, it will allow Apple (and eventually us) more interface freedom. Before long, people will be creating 'desktop' patterns and themes for color iPods.

Nephron: Yes, it's strangely gratifying to know you are not the only person out there. But then, I guess that is sort of what attracts us all to these forums.

[satchmo]

Originally posted by iguana:
Yes, there most certainly was:

http://news.com.com/2100-1023-976829.html


Like people suggest, the iPod doesn't *NEED* a color screen, but you could say that about all the color mobile phones (and PDAs) on the market now too.

Ultimately, the iPod is an entertainment device. I'm sure a lot of people would enjoy their iPod more if they could drool over a 2-inch equivalent of iTunes' visual effects. Even if they had to recharge every hour.

Again, with respect...not at 2 inches. Look at the portable LCD, DVD players from Sony and Panasonic. They're at least 8 inches. Five inches would be minimum in my book.

[Emotionally Fragile Luke]

Originally posted by iguana:


Like people suggest, the iPod doesn't *NEED* a color screen, but you could say that about all the color mobile phones (and PDAs) on the market now too.

Um no you can't say that about phones. My Phone has a colour screen because you can hook up a digital camera to it.

Also, the iPod currently has a white backlight which is great. Cellphones have a green/gray screen. With my colour screen black text on white background is so much easier to see.

On that note though it would be rather pointless to add a colour screen to the iPod in its current form. It is just a geek dream with no practicality.

[schalliol]

Ok, who can ban this person for posting such intentionally false information in the subject line?

Seriously though, the current iPod wouldn't have a use for them, but note that the iPod's name doesn't necessarily mean just music. Perhaps there could be a version with more functionality.

[DaKiwi2788]

Originally posted by scaught:
well. i guess they could do an ipod with a color screen and have it play mpeg-4 movies and whatnot. theres some new device by sharp or sanyo or something that does that.

but talk about a battery hog. sheesh.

They previewed those tonight on TechTV. They looked...interesting I guess. I'm not really sure where it would be useful. A laptop provides a bigger screen and whatnot, but I guess not everyone has one lying around.

I like the iPods the way they are. Sleek. I think color would make them tacky. That is a color case. A color screen would be neat.

[Group51]

Originally posted by Vanquish:
why would Apple use color screens ? The only thing I can think of is the coolness-factor.

iPhoto2Go?

http://www.nixvue.com/products/Vista/index.html

Or plug-in your DV cam and offload from tape. Review, cut and paste in iMovie2Go

[timster]

a cuple things to consider when talking about OLEDs.

1. Unlike standard LCD screens, OLEDs emit their own light. So backlights are not needed. This provides three benefits, less power consumption (MUCH less), thinner profiles, since you no longer need to fit in the backlight, and cheaper production costs.

2. OLEDs give much higher resolutions. IBM has a watch somewhere on their website, the screen is only a inch diagonal, but it has a whopping 640x480 resolution.


So, a two inch diagonal color OLED would certainly appeal greatly to Apple's industrial designers. Less power consumption, greater resolution potential, color and the ability to make the iPod thinner than it is now. So dont be so quick to dismiss this.

[starman]

I have to agree about cell phones not needing color displays. It's a PHONE. Why in God's name would you want to hook up a cell phone to a camera? And people thought that a DVD player in a PS2 was a bad idea...

I'd like the iPod to have a color display so that we could store album covers on it .

Mike

[schalliol]

I have a Danger hiptop (http://www.danger.com/) It would be nice if it had a color screen on the phone, as it does have full image and web browsing capability. It might help navigation with color coordination. On a 1" square display, I agree, what's the point?

[El Magnificante]

Originally posted by starman:
I have to agree about cell phones not needing color displays. It's a PHONE. Why in God's name would you want to hook up a cell phone to a camera? And people thought that a DVD player in a PS2 was a bad idea...

I'd like the iPod to have a color display so that we could store album covers on it .

Mike

Cell phones don't need color displays in the same way that one doesn't need 980 Christmas songs, 450bhp cars, supersonic flights across the Atlantic etc. etc. Need is irrelevant. We want those things.

I have the Sanyo 5300 and while the camera is far from high quality, it can take good, candid pictures if you know what you're doing.

Plus I like the color display. YMMV.

El Mag

[Appleman]

I like the idea. Make the iPod itself in different colors as well.

[tr]

just reading the story on the news page about the possibility of video capability on the iPod, and was also reading all the naysayers putting it down, like it isn't even possible. i think this idea is completely plausible. in fact, there's already a device out there that is somewhat like this:

http://64.239.68.71/Merchant2/mercha..._Code=VISUAL01

i mean, if sharp can put this out, clearly, apple can put out something better. the sharp device uses SD, which can only go to 512mb. an iPod has a 20GB hard drive. the sharp device records in mpeg4, and i'm sure apple can get that functionality too. plus, you can save mp3's as well as videos.

i'm surprised no one else mentioned this device. it would be pretty neat, a video iPod with color screen, video and mp3 on the go (don't steal music...or movies!)


tr

[Socially Awkward Solo]

Originally posted by Appleman:
I like the idea. Make the iPod itself in different colors as well.

No way. Apple did that look 3 years ago and everyone is over it bigtime.

[Appleman]

Originally posted by Socially Awkward Solo:
No way. Apple did that look 3 years ago and everyone is over it bigtime.

Then explain to me why the changeable covers for cellphones are such a hit.

[Socially Awkward Solo]

Originally posted by Appleman:
Then explain to me why the changeable covers for cellphones are such a hit.

For the same reason neon lights around your licence plate is cool and some guys have mulluts.

BAD TASTE!

[benbargagliotti]

Wired last month or so had a blurb about OLED. Once of the things you can do with it is bend it and conform it, since it is plastic. Wired gave the example of a campbell's soup that can have moving people and rising steam constantly changing on the label. Anyone remember the patent apple filed LAST FEBRUARY about a device that could change its appearance. an oled skin for anything would allow that to happen.

ben

[Graymalkin]

An interesting extra tidbit is Apple filed a patent for devices that can change color electronically. If anyone can find the link that would be cool. It was on slashdot a few days ago in the Apple section. Maybe iPods that light up in different colors or something to the rythym of the music maybe?

[G4ME]

blah blah blah, i want pics damnit. we saw the wind tunel G4 way before it was released. comonfolks lets get the pics.

Oh wait mab those crazy Canadian Time Folk have some let me give them a call.

[Agasthya]

Originally posted by Group51:
iPhoto2Go?

http://www.nixvue.com/products/Vista/index.html

Or plug-in your DV cam and offload from tape. Review, cut and paste in iMovie2Go

All on a 2 inch screen?

[Agasthya]

Originally posted by Graymalkin:
An interesting extra tidbit is Apple filed a patent for devices that can change color electronically. If anyone can find the link that would be cool. It was on slashdot a few days ago in the Apple section. Maybe iPods that light up in different colors or something to the rythym of the music maybe?

I'm sorry, but a music player that would change colors with the music would be ridiuclously annoying and not to mention it would eat all possible battery life - you could probably play one or two songs before you need to go charge your iPod again.

[JB72]

Originally posted by Vanquish:
why would Apple use color screens ? The only thing I can think of is the coolness-factor.

Maybe the iPod will be a music player/digital camera/video player. Heck maybe they even figured out a way for it to act as a tiny video camera writing directly to it's drive (and useful as an iChat camera.) It would certainly tie in to the whole iTunes/iPhoto/iMovie thing.

Yes that's a stretch. I'm feeling overly optimistic today.

[pseudo]

Why do people think an iPod that can do MP3, photos and video is far-fetched? The Sony Clie does that already. I have owned a CLIE NX70V for more than a month now and it has a tiny camera that can capture JPEGs and MPEG4 video clips (they are then stored on memory sticks). I don't see why Apple can't do the same, but with a HD-based system. In fact with QT6 Apple should be in a better position to make this work than anyone else. Another thing that I think most people don't realise is the fact that one of the key feature of the original iPod is the scroll wheel. Combined with Apple's intuitive menu navigation system it makes the iPod truly "hand-held". True one-hand operation that anyone can learn to do in no time. If Apple is to make a video iPod this would have to be a key feature. I think of this as the iPod signature.

In fact months ago I have written some notes about a video iPod. I am sure I will get flamed for this... but I am posting it anyway Sorry that it is so LONG...

"This is what I want Apple to release: It will be almost the same size as the current ipod, but in a clamshell enclosure (like ipod with a cover). There is the same scroll-wheel, and the cover is a LCD screen. A camera is located right on the axle that connects the screen and the body. The form factor is somewhat like the Sony CLIE NR70V but thicker because of the hard drive). The wheel will be used to zoom in or out while in record mode (record/playback can be toggled by a new slide button on the right-hand side where you rest your thumb if you hold it with your right hand... hmmmm maybe even have a special left-hand version?). The fact that the display is on a "flip" means that you can see it better even outdoors in the sun. While in playback mode the wheel will be used to browse (photos) or edit (video). OK here is the killer bit... the device captures video in MPEG4 format, with decent frame rate (24/s?). I know there are other devices that are capable of this, but what sets this apart is the simple fluid interface (sort of like the current B/W PIXO but in color) and its ability to do simple editing using the wheel. If the current iPod is a portable iTunes, then this new device is a portable iMovie AND iPhoto. The wheel is perfect for controlling timelines, and navigating in a gallery (I imagine that in browse mode, the photos would glide by as you scroll, like a long roll of film). It will also have a headphone jack and a microphone (this should be on the same axis as the camera) so you can monitor sound while recording, and of course listen to as many MP3s (or probably MP4s) as you want. The cool thing is you can use these files as background music to add to your videos or slideshows! Other editing functions should include basic cutting and dissolves hopefully. So you can cut a simple movie right after you have captured the footage. What would make it even better is if iMovie will import MPEG4 files so you can always use firewire to connect and download to your Mac , then use iMovie to edit. There should be some ways to synchronize them just like with iTunes. Pictures will automatically go to iPhoto. The big LCD screen will allow it to do simple photo editing like brightness, contrast etc. Photo stitching function for making panoramas will work very well too bacause of the size of the display... It will be really cool if the cam can have a macro mode then Apple can sell a stand (with built in light) to turn it into a scanner. It will be your scanner while it is "docked" to the computer! I think this will be a huge hit!!! What do you think?”

[Group51]

Originally posted by agasthya:
All on a 2 inch screen?

I didn't say anything about screen size. I'll say that 2 inches is a third bigger than on my digicam, but with others mentioning OLED and skins, anything is possible.

(What is probable, I think, is bigger TFT).