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wvx · Apr 30, 2004, 08:49 PM

No video! No color screen! Just a great high resolution black and white screen with a lot of functionality. KISS.

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OreoCookie · Apr 30, 2004, 10:46 PM

I would like Apple to use the mini's shape on its big brother. I love the mini iPods shape.

rag on a muffin · Apr 30, 2004, 11:57 PM

there not going to make the ipod into a new system, they already tried that with the newton, which i have. if there going to make a pda, they should make it dedicated to being a pda. ie large touch screen. i also think apple is making it with the same case as the ipod mini, people are sick of the back getting all scratched up.

OreoCookie · May 1, 2004, 01:50 AM

Originally posted by rag on a muffin:
there not going to make the ipod into a new system, they already tried that with the newton, which i have. if there going to make a pda, they should make it dedicated to being a pda. ie large touch screen. i also think apple is making it with the same case as the ipod mini, people are sick of the back getting all scratched up.

Yes, I think they'll pull off something similar to what they did to the PowerBooks (when the 12" and 17" were Aluminum already, leaving the 15" with its old Titanium shell).

So I hope they'll make the 4G enclosure similar to the miniPods one and offer colors. I would like to get a golden one ...

sworthy · May 1, 2004, 02:40 AM

I really like the mock-up

wvx · May 1, 2004, 06:22 AM

Originally posted by rag on a muffin:
there not going to make the ipod into a new system, they already tried that with the newton, which i have. if there going to make a pda, they should make it dedicated to being a pda. ie large touch screen. i also think apple is making it with the same case as the ipod mini, people are sick of the back getting all scratched up.

I don't mean it will be a PDA. Think of how Apple does the Calendar, Contacts, Games etc on the current iPod. I'm thinking along those lines. For example, Apple could have an App that would sync movie times in your area and even pull down reviews for the movies from say movies.yahoo.com so if you are on the go you could read reviews etc.

mdc · May 1, 2004, 10:25 AM

wvx, i like your ideas. i use my ipod all the time for the calendar, contacts, and notes function. it would be cool to have it as the center of your "mobile office"

i take my powerbook almost everywhere, i could take it out to check something, but having it synced with all that info before i leave and just checking my ipod would be nice.

to take your movie idea even further. if they did bring out a "video ipod", when you sync your movie review it could download the trailer to the ipod like sherlock does.

Severed Hand of Skywalker · May 1, 2004, 01:48 PM

I don't' at all see the point except to bring the cost up.

biscool · May 1, 2004, 02:15 PM

So what does the high res screen accomplish? I don't need or want voice recording, I want to listen to music, not talk to myself. Features I'd like to see : Color screen at least on the high end (Battery life will suck but I use it in my car primarily so power is a non issue, color is COOL, hee hee), mini's scroll wheel, metal casings, color casings, bt headphones, fm transmitter (maybe), user removable battery, remote with LCD screen, and keep the dock connector the same. Hey, i can dream....

wvx · May 1, 2004, 02:38 PM

Originally posted by biscool:
So what does the high res screen accomplish? I don't need or want voice recording, I want to listen to music, not talk to myself. Features I'd like to see : Color screen at least on the high end (Battery life will suck but I use it in my car primarily so power is a non issue, color is COOL, hee hee), mini's scroll wheel, metal casings, color casings, bt headphones, fm transmitter (maybe), user removable battery, remote with LCD screen, and keep the dock connector the same. Hey, i can dream....

Voice recording is huge. It lends perfectly to iPod and iTunes for managing lots of recordings such as class lectures, meetings, etc etc...

Color screen, can we say Battery life? A higher resolution screen would make reading text easier. Also allow more graphics such as maps etc. My example of the movie reviews is a good one. A lot of times you are out going to choose a movie and you don't know what the movie is about. If your iPod syncs the latest movie reviews everytime you plug it in you'd always have current movie reviews. This could be one of many bonus features that the iPod would have over the iPod mini and other mp3 players.

I'm talking about extending the useful applications that an iPod can be used for. It's not a PDA but it is a wonderful device and could really become a much more useful tool in daily life than just a music player... as demonstrated by having great contacts and calander support. Look up directions in Sherlook or Safari and hit one button to copy the directions and maps to the iPod and go out the door, you already have an iPod, why couldn't this be an added feature? The screen isn't that big, it is just bigger, more real estate.

I think the bottom shape of a new iPod should conform to the current dock. Nothing p's me off more than having to explain to a minimum wager that I need the dock for the iPod "Small Scroll Wheel, Large screen model"... hey Apple... just keep the current dock!

MACMANIFEST · May 1, 2004, 02:59 PM

I like it. I actually wouldn't mind a 16 grey color screen, it would make for an overall better experience. I like the big screen, get rid of the buttons, and ad some colors to it. I would like my iPod in Silver, or black.

Excellent Work.

MacManifest

slider · May 1, 2004, 03:53 PM

Well, after reading the posts I feel I have to comment. First, the ability to record is far from Huge. I have a digital voice recorder that I bought to record my lectures in school. It is an olympus DM-1, it was really great for that. It has, however, been very much of a challenge to find a use for it now that I have completed school. I intend to go on to grad school in a little over a year, so it will be very useful then, but as a user of recorders I can say it's not huge. Apple as it down, as you stated it, KISS. Most people don't get tech, it is a fact lost on us geeks, but working in the world I am amazed at how tech-no illiterate most people are. When you come to realize this you understand why Windows sells as it does, most people have no concept of the difference and don't know enough to appreciate the difference, in the end it all comes down to marketing, but that is a different topic.

dampeoples · May 1, 2004, 04:41 PM

Originally posted by wvx:
I don't mean it will be a PDA. Think of how Apple does the Calendar, Contacts, Games etc on the current iPod. I'm thinking along those lines. For example, Apple could have an App that would sync movie times in your area and even pull down reviews for the movies from say movies.yahoo.com so if you are on the go you could read reviews etc.

Kinda like AvantGo, but for the iPod. Didn't someone make a conduit to sync that stuff to the notepad?

rag on a muffin · May 1, 2004, 05:18 PM

Originally posted by dampeoples:
Kinda like AvantGo

i think you mean vindigo.

biscool · May 2, 2004, 12:34 PM

Voice recording is huge. It lends perfectly to iPod and iTunes for managing lots of recordings such as class lectures, meetings, etc etc...

Color screen, can we say Battery life?

I have no use for voice recording. None. It you want a voice recorder, buy one, they're small and they do want they promise.

Color sells. Look at cell phones with color screens. people love them and frown upon phones with grayscale screens. Give people a choice, they should keep a cheaper grayscale model or just leave the mini grayscale, the future is color, deal with it...

LeeG · May 2, 2004, 02:46 PM

So many cool directions this could go...

Apple may only focus on the device as a music player. - This player defines the form/function standard in digital music. Continue to improve on the orginal in music related ways only.

-Add an FM tuner.

Other players boast of this as a selling point, and some people think they 'might as well get the one that is a radio also' Cost is minimal, just suck it up and put the radio in it. I know that it doesn't help iTMS sales...

-Digital out - don't underestimate how many audiophiles this can attract:

Combine the NEW Apple Lossless codec in iTunes 4.5, with digital optical output and you have a new CD jukebox for audiophiles to use on their home stereo/theater, with incredible integration with iTunes. That is a completely digital, uncompressed audio stream. Then add SACD or DVDA support for multichannel, uncompressed audio delivered digitally.

-Digital In - a concert-goers dream

The market for digital recorders for live music is enlarging, and this would be incredible - plug in your ipod, or better yet - daisychain them- from a digital source (microphones/soundboard) at a concert, and every person gets a full digital copy of the show. Great for soundboard engineers who run all these shows too come to think of it.

-More Playback options:

Enable the crossfade we love in iTunes.
Smart playlists that update on-the-fly
Continue to research battery technology to increase playtime.

Or, if they chose, add more features to increase the functionality of the device:

Larger Hard Drives -
Obviously bigger IS better, think much more than music - but not distracting from the music abilities of the iPod. The next level of function (video/photos.etc) will require more space.

Its risky to try and make the thing do everything at once - I like the focus on music, as MP3 players are just becoming mainstream, and I am not sure how much the average consumer wants a digital media center yet. The next thing I'd like is pictures - which then needs a color screen, bigger battery, etc etc...

Thoughts?

Lee

Mediaman_12 · May 2, 2004, 06:01 PM

One thing NOT to do is the FM transmitter, it just adds to many International problems. For example the iTrip thing is illegal in the UK. It's classed as a radio transmission (even though it's got a tiny range) and so to use one you would have to pay big bucks for a licence like a local radio station. Integrate this and Apple would have to build a different iPod for each country.

wvx · May 3, 2004, 07:41 AM

Originally posted by slider:
Most people don't get tech, it is a fact lost on us geeks, but working in the world I am amazed at how tech-no illiterate most people are. When you come to realize this you understand why Windows sells as it does, most people have no concept of the difference and don't know enough to appreciate the difference, in the end it all comes down to marketing, but that is a different topic.

Excellent point and very true... 86 the voice recorder, let 3rd parties keep making those.

wvx · May 3, 2004, 07:43 AM

Originally posted by LeeG:
-Digital out - don't underestimate how many audiophiles this can attract:

Combine the NEW Apple Lossless codec in iTunes 4.5, with digital optical output and you have a new CD jukebox for audiophiles to use on their home stereo/theater, with incredible integration with iTunes. That is a completely digital, uncompressed audio stream. Then add SACD or DVDA support for multichannel, uncompressed audio delivered digitally.

Digital out would be cool, would this be a SP/DIF connector on the dock? That would make sense to me.

CIA · May 3, 2004, 01:46 PM

Great mockup, well designed.