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Freeflyer · Feb 14, 2003, 12:39 AM

Does anyone know if there is anyone working on a solution for this.

Couldn't find much info, but it sure would be a nice thing to have.

Cheers,

J.

Landos Mustache · Feb 14, 2003, 02:32 AM

Huh

Zim · Feb 14, 2003, 07:47 AM

Originally posted by Freeflyer:
Does anyone know if there is anyone working on a solution for this.

Couldn't find much info, but it sure would be a nice thing to have.

Cheers,

J.

So far no Apple solution. (instead of thinking different, they just stopped thinking it seems)

The Archos MMJ will accept USB card readers.

I'm hopeful that the Linux hack that is in progress will make this possible for the iPod. I don't think the kernel is ready enough yet, but plan to put my money where my mouth is on this subject once those efforts are further along.

Mike

Freeflyer · Feb 14, 2003, 10:58 AM

That sounds promising. Does it mean you would have to remove the mac os for the ipod and run linux at the ipod operating software, or would it be a hack to the current ipod software to allow it to download files from a card reader?

I'd like to keep the ipod as it. I can't believe apple don't see the market for this. Lots of people are coming out with these devices and apple have a big head start.

Not being a programmer I wonder how difficult it would be to update the software to enable this feature. They have a perfect set of controls and displays built into the pod already.

thanks,

J.

GORDYmac · Feb 14, 2003, 11:29 AM

I've read that Apple is trying to keep the iPod as "low tech" as possible. The last thing they want is a bunch of techno-geeks (like me) walking around doing everything under the sun on an iPod. I'd love a flash card reader, photo browser, games, microphone input, etc., too. Apparently, these things will creep into the iPod's feature set as time goes on. I think that Apple realizes the opportunities, but they need to capture the market first.

They are keeping it simple so that they can sell a high quality MP3 player to a mass market. Their rationale is simple: If the iPod gets an image of being a robust handheld computer (read: geek toy), many consumers may find it less atractive. I understand this logic.

Zim · Feb 14, 2003, 02:41 PM

Originally posted by Freeflyer:
Not being a programmer I wonder how difficult it would be to update the software to enable this feature. They have a perfect set of controls and displays built into the pod already.

thanks,

J.

For Apple, this should be a slam dunk considering they have a firewire code base and the iPod code base. It might take some work, but should be straighforward. Naming these files might be problematic, but, ya know, I could deal with pic1, pic2, pic3, etc if they'd add this feature.

Without Apple's help, if linux was running, and there were some firewire drivers, then it would be some work, but I still think doable.

I'm amazed that Apple has yet to add this.

Cheers,
Mike

Freeflyer · Feb 14, 2003, 04:40 PM

Originally posted by Zim:
For Apple, this should be a slam dunk considering they have a firewire code base and the iPod code base. It might take some work, but should be straighforward. Naming these files might be problematic, but, ya know, I could deal with pic1, pic2, pic3, etc if they'd add this feature.

If it was a straightforward file copy, you wouldn't need to sort out naming, because if the files come from a camera (which is what I'd like to do) then they are already named. The other devices on the market just create a folder each time a card is uploaded.

I'm going to have to buy a separate unit for this, because I'm going on an extended trek. I'm taking my ipod and a home-made battery pack to recharge it. It would have been so cool to just take a firewire card reader to plug into it when I wanted to clear the compact flash cards.

Never mind, if apple do upgrade the firmware, i guess I can always ebay the other unit.

I'm amazed that Apple has yet to add this.

yes, so am I. It doesn't seem to require anything other than a firmware upgrade, and I would expect a LOT of mac owners who have digital cameras, but might not be able to justify the cost of the ipod purely as an mp3 player, would happily get one if they could use it to store their pictures without taking a laptop or alternative.

Cheers,

J.

Mac Zealot · Feb 14, 2003, 05:25 PM

They could just release a special version of ipod OS on apple's website

This way only geeks would bother to get it.

G4ME · Feb 14, 2003, 10:31 PM

get bigger flash untill they release it

Mac Zealot · Feb 14, 2003, 10:54 PM

It'd actually be *very cool* if you could buy a compactflash/SD sized dongle that can plug into a camera and it'd just act like an infinate-storage sd card

Zim · Feb 15, 2003, 03:34 PM

Originally posted by Mac Zealot:
It'd actually be *very cool* if you could buy a compactflash/SD sized dongle that can plug into a camera and it'd just act like an infinate-storage sd card

It'd be cool if Apple would just start to "think different" and realize what the iPod could be.

Hopefully, even if they don't, the Linux project will produce something that the rest of us can use and contribute to.

I'm also suprised that no(?) PDA has a HD.
That would be coming at it fro the other direction, and maybe the mp3 part would suffer a bit, but darn, think of how easy it would have been to add all of the features people on the mp3 side want
(playlists on the fly, etc), with a PDA with HD.

Mike