Last-minute iPod rumors reaffirm cameras for touch, nano

[AppleInsider]

Though Apple is especially tight-lipped for its annual iPod event set for Wednesday, John Gruber has shared what little he has been told will be unveiled by the hardware maker in just hours.

Calling them "sure thing bets," the Daring Fireball blogger said that both the iPod nano and iPod touch will receive cameras. He believes the new iPod touch will have the same RAM and processor speed as the iPhone 3GS, and the new media player will sell in capacities of 16GB, 32GB and 64GB at prices of $199, $299 and $399, respectively. He also said that the hard drive-based iPod classic will remain, likely with a 160GB capacity for $249.

Gruber admitted that he has heard "very little" prior to Wednesday's event in San Francisco, reaffirming reports that a veil of secrecy returned when co-founder Steve Jobs returned to work at Apple. And all of what he's confirmed, including the addition of cameras to the iPod touch and iPod nano, was known months ago.

Beyond the information Gruber is confident with, he also offers a number of unverified rumors and personal speculation. Among them:

Rumors that the new iPod nano will have a "top-secret new material/treatment" on its exterior, and will include an FM tuner.

A prediction that the iPod shuffle will be redesigned once again, as Gruber believes the no-button model has been a flop.

Because iTunes is run on both Windows and Mac, and most iTunes users are on Windows, it would not make much sense for Apple to write iTunes 9 in Cocoa for 64-bit (it is currently a 32-bit Carbon application). Instead, Gruber predicts that iTunes will be rewritten using WebKit, the same browser engine used in Safari, to allow the application to be developed simultaneously for both Windows and Mac.

Rumors of Apple's "Cocktail" offering, designed to incentivize sales of full albums, have existed for months. Gruber believes that this, too, will be rendered in WebKit. "My guess is that Cocktail is going to be like a sort of next-generation Dashboard."

While analysts have engaged in a will he or won't he debate on whether Jobs will appear Wednesday, Gruber does not believe he'll be on stage.
Apple's keynote is scheduled for 10 a.m. Pacific, 1 p.m. Eastern on Wednesday. AppleInsider will have full coverage and analysis of the event.

[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

[chriskeo]

I think it is supposed be at 1 pm eastern, otherwise i'll stay up

[brucep]

Well a 3.5to 5 mega pixel anything pod like is fine

and a MIFI ipod of any stripe is also fine

and a ipod with a beatle logo on the outside and filled with the whole beatle collection on the inside would fine too


>>>>>>>>>>

When I get to the bottom I go back to the top of the slide
Where I stop and I turn and I go for a ride
Till I get to the bottom and I see you again.
Do you, don't you want me to love you.
I'm coming down fast but I'm miles above you.
Tell me tell me tell me come on tell me the answer.

[satchmo]

I wonder if the cameras in both iPod Touch and Nano will be video capable.
One would think so for the Touch...but the Nano's display may be just too small.

[DaveGee]

Originally Posted by chriskeo

I think it is supposed be at 1 pm eastern, otherwise i'll stay up

Yep.. 1PM out our way... means I can sleep in and still not miss... whatever it is they plan on underwhelming** us with tomorrow.. Fact is, nearly every Apple event leaves more than a fair share of us jaded and battlescsarred veterans are left typing: "Ummm okay, Steve actually held a special EVENT for THAT?!!"

**BTW dibs on being the first to claim the event as totally underwhelming!

Dave

[VL-Tone]

Originally Posted by AppleInsider

Because iTunes is run on both Windows and Mac, and most iTunes users are on Windows, it would not make much sense for Apple to write iTunes 9 in Cocoa for 64-bit (it is currently a 32-bit Carbon application). Instead, Gruber predicts that iTunes will be rewritten using WebKit, the same browser engine used in Safari, to allow the application to be developed simultaneously for both Windows and Mac.

I highly doubt that iTunes 9 will be rewritten using Webkit. It simply doesn't make any sense. Webkit is a web rendering engine and writing iTunes using Webkit would essentially make it a "Web App" that uses javascript, html and css.

Windows users are already complaining how iTunes is slow and bloated on Windows, javascript simply wouldn't cut it to manage 10,000+ songs in a library.

Safari wasn't ported to Windows using Webkit. It was Webkit itself that was ported to Windows, along with Core Graphics and Core Foundation, with some of the Cocoa API's, to enable Apple to easily port Safari using pretty much the same code-base as the Mac OS X version.

Anyone remembers "Yellow Box for Windows" from the Rhapsody days?

Apple could indeed use the same method used with Safari to port a Cocoa version of iTunes.

[al_bundy]

Originally Posted by VL-Tone

I highly doubt that iTunes 9 will be rewritten using Webkit. It simply doesn't make any sense. Webkit is a web rendering engine and writing iTunes using Webkit would essentially make it a "Web App" that uses javascript, html and css.

Windows users are already complaining how iTunes is slow and bloated on Windows, javascript simply wouldn't cut it to manage 10,000+ songs in a library.

Safari wasn't ported to Windows using Webkit. It was Webkit itself that was ported to Windows, along with Core Graphics and Core Foundation, with some of the Cocoa API's, to enable Apple to easily port Safari using pretty much the same code-base as the Mac OS X version.

Anyone remembers "Yellow Box for Windows" from the Rhapsody days?

Apple could indeed use the same method used with Safari to port a Cocoa version of iTunes.

itunes is already mostly a web app. every time you click somewhere it calls to an apple server somewhere. it just uses the same interface as it did 10 years ago.

[jawporta]

Who cares about FM radio? The iPod killed it 8 years ago. The whole point of an iPod is because radio plays crap and has to many commercials.

As for the shuffle, it's true, the no button idea was a flop. I work at a place and we still sell the 2nd gen shuffle because no one wants the new one.

[jawporta]

Nice ad for yourself. HandBreak does the same thing for FREE!!!

[VL-Tone]

Originally Posted by al_bundy

itunes is already mostly a web app. every time you click somewhere it calls to an apple server somewhere. it just uses the same interface as it did 10 years ago.

iTunes works very well to manage a media library even when you're not connected to the internet.

You must be talking about the iTunes Store.

Sure the store part could be ported to WebKit, I don't see any major problems with that. I'm talking about the rest of iTunes, namely the media management part. As I said, Javascript simply wouldn't cut it when it comes to sorting/managing 10,000+ songs and dealing with all the meta-data of a large library.

Even with a small library, on an old/cheap computer the interface would be slow as molasses if it was running entirely in WebKit.

[Gazoobee]

Originally Posted by Howard KKN

Make iPod like a half of iPhone. Is it really need to attach a camera? I don't think so.
Give me one more hand, although I have two yet.

Whatever, this tool is very useful for iPod users.

'Accelerate DVD to iPod Converter'...

Go somewhere else if you want to spam people. I reported this post and I hope they delete it.

[al_bundy]

Originally Posted by VL-Tone

iTunes works very well to manage a media library even when you're not connected to the internet.

You must be talking about the iTunes Store.

Sure the store part could be ported to WebKit, I don't see any major problems with that. I'm talking about the rest of iTunes, namely the media management part. As I said, Javascript simply wouldn't cut it when it comes to sorting/managing 10,000+ songs and dealing with all the meta-data of a large library.

Even with a small library, on an old/cheap computer the interface would be slow as molasses if it was running entirely in WebKit.

I think the rest is just a bunch of XML files that tell it where the files are on the file system and what is in which playlists. They could probably use a lite version of mysql and get better performance than XML files

[al_bundy]

Pita editing posts on iPhone

I'll be shocked if apple goes for oracle lite instead of mysql. And really shocked if they use SQL 2008

[Flaka]

Originally Posted by jawporta

Who cares about FM radio? The iPod killed it 8 years ago. The whole point of an iPod is because radio plays crap and has to many commercials.

Maybe, but a Nano or Shuffle with an FM radio would be awesome (but unlikely). I go to the gym with my iPod, and often see something on one of the overhead TV's that I'd like to tune into!

[AppleBiter]

wake me when the tablet arrives. tomorrow is a non-event. sure it'll do something to boost holiday sales and put a blip on the stock ticker, but is this really news? cameras? puh-leeeez.

[BeyondYourFrontDoor]

How about adding the GPS to the Touch? That seems like a no-brainer that would make it a lot more useful for the un-connected world.

And... they are ready to announce the Tablet... just not ship it...

[Wiggin]

Originally Posted by AppleInsider

A prediction that the iPod shuffle will be redesigned once again, as Gruber believes the no-button model has been a flop.

The fat nano, Leopard's iCal "bubble", Firewire on the 13" laptop, matte screens, and the buttonless shuffle... On the one hand it is nice to see an Apple willing to correct their obvious design mis-steps and not cling to bad decisions (ie, the hockey puck mouse). But on the other hand it's a little worrisome that they made those mistakes in the first place as they were clearly poor design choices from the beginning.

Now if they would get to work correcting the most glaring design mistake with the AppleTV (can't play the content I already own, ie, an optical drive) it might not be too late to save it.

[polar315]

I already have a great camera so don't need another one on the iTouch that I have to pay for again. Would like the FM tuner as there are times I like the radio (getting ready in the morning when the Song Teaser comes on I know I should already be at the door).

I would like GPS instead of the camera.

Not sure what else they can add to it. Like a new version of Excel...how many features go completely unused but, are added to say there are new features..

While I will like to see how the presention goes tomorrow don't see getting to excited for an iTouch with a camera. Now if it was an X-ray Camera that would be cool...

[u2mr2os2]

I agree that the iPod touch will get the 3GS treatment with faster processor and camera with video and that it'll go to 64GB. I also agree the iPod classic will carry on at least one more time, but I'm going to go with it dropping in prices and sticking to 120GB to get replaced by next year's 128GB iPod touch.

shuffle redesign this soon? I think not. I think it's a typical response of those that don't understand it. What are they going to do, put the buttons back and say "we've now figured out how to get buttons on the smaller device"? No. Price drop, yes.

I agree with VL-Tone that Safari for Windows proves you don't need to use Carbon to have a Windows port of a 64 bit Mac app. We should see a Cocoa iTunes sporting some new feature as a result. And doesn't iTunes already use WebKit for the store rendering?

Cocktail? Don't know, but I do hope that whatever they do that they'd let me do it to the albums I already have.

[mpantone]

Originally Posted by BeyondYourFrontDoor

How about adding the GPS to the Touch? That seems like a no-brainer that would make it a lot more useful for the un-connected world.

The usefulness of a GPS connection without an always-on Internet connection is limited. After all, what good is knowing what coordinates you're at if you can't see them on a map, just a blank grid?

As to people wanting the GPS more than the camera, that makes no sense. Digital cameras far outsell personal GPS devices. The iPhone is basically the number one "camera" on Flickr. Far more people want to take pictures or record video of stuff going around them than people who need GPS or "front-facing cameras for video conferencing."

Apple generally does not pre-announce new products. The iPhone was an exception because the FCC must approve new devices and the application would have been noticed by others. The tablet would not really benefit from an early unveiling, plus that's really the antithesis of highly-secretive Apple (unreleased products are walked through the company hallways under black cloth).

And the iPod classic is dead.

[bdwaycas]

Originally Posted by mpantone

And the iPod classic is dead.

I don't want to read too much into the announcement, but the graphic they're using would seem to be an iPod classic. The shape looks like it, and while that could be a Touch, there's no microphone/volume control clicker on the earbuds.

...just my thoughts.

[7600/132]

Originally Posted by mpantone

The usefulness of a GPS connection without an always-on Internet connection is limited. After all, what good is knowing what coordinates you're at if you can't see them on a map, just a blank grid?

The map data could be downloaded to the iPod so it would still be available even when the internet is not. I don't know if Google maps can do this now, but I think some third party software, like Tom-Tom does.

Also, the GPS can be put into geo-location tags on all those photos people will upload to Flickr.

[Wiggin]

Originally Posted by mpantone

The usefulness of a GPS connection without an always-on Internet connection is limited. After all, what good is knowing what coordinates you're at if you can't see them on a map, just a blank grid?

As to people wanting the GPS more than the camera, that makes no sense. Digital cameras far outsell personal GPS devices. The iPhone is basically the number one "camera" on Flickr. Far more people want to take pictures or record video of stuff going around them than people who need GPS or "front-facing cameras for video conferencing."

Apple generally does not pre-announce new products. The iPhone was an exception because the FCC must approve new devices and the application would have been noticed by others. The tablet would not really benefit from an early unveiling, plus that's really the antithesis of highly-secretive Apple (unreleased products are walked through the company hallways under black cloth).

And the iPod classic is dead.

There are plenty of navigation apps that include the maps, you don't need to get them with an active data connection. I'd also love it if the touch could act as a geo logger, both to tag the photos it takes with location data and to provide a track log for the many Mac applications that can read them.

I think GPS would be a very nice addition, but not sure how much it would cost to add it. I also agree with you that a camera would be of use to more people than GPS, and therefore more likely. The odds of getting both are even lower.

As far as the Classic being dead. Save that prediction for next year.

[NonVendorFan]

Originally Posted by Gazoobee

Go somewhere else if you want to spam people. I reported this post and I hope they delete it.

You go girl... Way to report someone or having an opinion.

[NonVendorFan]

Originally Posted by al_bundy

Pita editing posts on iPhone

I'll be shocked if apple goes for oracle lite instead of mysql. And really shocked if they use SQL 2008

MySQL is Free that is what Apple has always used for FileMaker.

They won't pay for anything unless they have a chance at a profit.
SQL is Micosoft. MySQL isn't. Do the math. Oracle is out of the equation. Why pay for what you can get for Free.

[JeffDM]

Originally Posted by al_bundy

itunes is already mostly a web app. every time you click somewhere it calls to an apple server somewhere. it just uses the same interface as it did 10 years ago.

Do you mean the store part or the general app? I think there is a misunderstanding in the discussion here. Some people seem to be thinking the store part of the app, some seem to be thinking the whole app.

Originally Posted by Flaka

Maybe, but a Nano or Shuffle with an FM radio would be awesome (but unlikely). I go to the gym with my iPod, and often see something on one of the overhead TV's that I'd like to tune into!

I hadn't heard of that, but it sounds like a good idea, no need to bother everyone with the sound, and you can tune out the room noises. I think that's the most compelling case for an FM tuner, that, and live events.

Originally Posted by Gazoobee

Go somewhere else if you want to spam people. I reported this post and I hope they delete it.

Originally Posted by NonVendorFan

You go girl... Way to report someone or having an opinion.

You mean "for" instead of "or"? Believe it or not, what Gazoobee replied to was spam, and spam doesn't count as an opinion on this forum, people (or bots) like that don't contribute to the discussion in the slightest degree. Even deliberate trolls (people deliberately saying things to make others angry) rate higher than spammers in my opinion. Link spammers try to make their post topical now, but the problem is, they're trying to push a product for free without paying for ad space.

[NonVendorFan]

Originally Posted by JeffDM

Do you mean the store part or the general app? I think there is a misunderstanding in the discussion here.



I hadn't heard of that, but it sounds like a good idea, no need to bother everyone with the sound, and you can tune out the room noises. I think that's the most compelling case for an FM tuner, that, and live events.





You mean "for" instead of "or"? Believe it or not, what Gazoobee replied to was spam, and spam doesn't count as an opinion on this forum, people (or bots) like that don't contribute to the discussion in the slightest degree. Even trolls rate higher than spammers in my opinion. Link spammers try to make their post topical now, but the problem is, they're trying to push a product for free without paying for ad space.

You mean like 5% of your posters that have links in their signature? If you're going to pass judgement then pass it on everyone that has a link in their signature.

A little late to get holier than thou when you've allowed it for years.

Edit. Is this like Apple's App rejection not being consistent?

[souliisoul]

Originally Posted by Gazoobee

Go somewhere else if you want to spam people. I reported this post and I hope they delete it.

This not spam, he has been very clever in advertising his product. Spam is repeatable mail to a mass audience, he has only posted once to my knowledge.

Nothing to get 'anger' about.

[Olternaut]

If Jobs is not on stage tomorrow then I believe he is saving himself for the tablet reveal.

[coolcatdaddy]

as to whether the concept was awesome or sucked. i for one was skeptical of it. the fact that they still sell the button tells us something. also there are numerous complaints about malfunctions due to sweat. not a good thing for a device many buy primarily to exercise with. shuffle is just a blip on apple's radar, but they can't have a crappy entry level device. i'm curious to see if tomorrow will bring answers to the original debate.

[Gazoobee]

Originally Posted by souliisoul

This not spam, he has been very clever in advertising his product. Spam is repeatable mail to a mass audience, he has only posted once to my knowledge. ...

Incorrect.

"Spam" is merely an unwanted email (usually advertising).
"Spamming" is the act of sending spam, usually multiple times to multiple hundreds of people.

On forums, there is usually a kind of scale of appropriateness.

1) It's generally considered distasteful and "low class" to put an ad in your signature.
2) It's completely inappropriate to put an ad in the body of the text.
3) It's way "over the top" inappropriate make your entire post about the ad.

He did the third one.

[NonVendorFan]

Originally Posted by Gazoobee

Incorrect.

"Spam" is merely an unwanted email (usually advertising).
"Spamming" is the act of sending spam, usually multiple times to multiple hundreds of people.

On forums, there is usually a kind of scale of appropriateness.

1) It's generally considered distasteful and "low class" to put an ad in your signature.
2) It's completely inappropriate to put an ad in the body of the text.
3) It's way "over the top" inappropriate make your entire post about the ad.

He did the third one.

So if AppleInsider has allowed the first 2 that I know for a fact does it make 3 over the top or just putting it in a different spot in their posting. It's the same either way you look at it.

It has been allowed, it is now being punished. It doesn't matter (according to Global Moderator) where it is in your posting

If it's not allowed now then AppleInsider is FlipFlopping on their rules. If they are going to forbid it then EVERYONE with an agenda (gay marriage seems to come to mind in many sigantures) then don't allow any links for a personal agenda.

By the way. I'm Gay. But if you're going to make the rules enforce them across the board. I don't need to advertise my life choice or partner. It's personal and doesn't matter on a forum posting other than to advertise an agenda.

[VL-Tone]

Originally Posted by al_bundy

I think the rest is just a bunch of XML files that tell it where the files are on the file system and what is in which playlists. They could probably use a lite version of mysql and get better performance than XML files

I think it's a gross over-simplification to say that iTunes is "just a bunch of XML files" outside of the iTunes store. I also think that having iTunes install MySQL would lead to tons of potential problems on Windows.

And you still haven't addressed the problem that the interface could get very slow if you don't have a recent computer. You really seem to underestimate the complexity of iTunes.

While Apple can entice people to upgrade their Macs when adding new cpu-intensive features to new major versions of OS X and iLife, they would be crazy to try to do the same to all the iPod/iPhone users that have older and/or underperforming PCs, and that depend on iTunes to get their device working.

[MacTel]

I believe most of his predictions are wrong.

1) The Classic is out (love it or like it). It doesn't support the iTMS so it is a goner.
2) iTunes 9 through Webkit - isn't it already using that API?
3) Steve Jobs will be on hand.
4) Shuffle redesign - not likely this early. They will more likely redo the headphones and controller as that's a bit confusing. The form factor is fine.
5) FM tuner - if you mean for HD radio then yes.
6) Cocktail the next dashboard? Maybe, but I see the music labels getting a tie-in to FrontRow to create custom menus to browse their digital content. Hence FrontRow will go cross platform and AppleTV will get an update to support that.

[elroth]

Originally Posted by jawporta

Who cares about FM radio? The iPod killed it 8 years ago. The whole point of an iPod is because radio plays crap and has to many commercials.

That's why there's public radio (NPR) and "community radio" (if you're in NYC you have a community station (a Pacifica affiliate), maybe others too. Boston doesn't have any). FM would be interesting to me, but it's not a deal maker or a deal breaker.

[SGSStateStudent]

Originally Posted by AppleBiter

wake me when the tablet arrives. tomorrow is a non-event. sure it'll do something to boost holiday sales and put a blip on the stock ticker, but is this really news? cameras? puh-leeeez.

The tablet will not be announced.

[SGSStateStudent]

Originally Posted by Olternaut

If Jobs is not on stage tomorrow then I believe he is saving himself for the tablet reveal.

And the 2010 iPhone.

[SGSStateStudent]

Originally Posted by satchmo

I wonder if the cameras in both iPod Touch and Nano will be video capable.
One would think so for the Touch...but the Nano's display may be just too small.

Nano, no.
Touch, maybe..

[souliisoul]

Originally Posted by Gazoobee

Incorrect.

"Spam" is merely an unwanted email (usually advertising).
"Spamming" is the act of sending spam, usually multiple times to multiple hundreds of people.

On forums, there is usually a kind of scale of appropriateness.

1) It's generally considered distasteful and "low class" to put an ad in your signature.
2) It's completely inappropriate to put an ad in the body of the text.
3) It's way "over the top" inappropriate make your entire post about the ad.

He did the third one.

Acccording to your opinion he has undertaken #3, where as I see it has NOT "over the top"!

Secondly you do not have to visit the site, if you do not want to, so how is it spam, since it is not email sent to you.
You better report all the people that put advertsing of their web site (including personal web sites) even if it is a known site like apple.com, in their signature.

I do not like spam, but lets not try and make ultra clean society for internet, when such things happen in REAL world and we say nothing.
Btw: How many paper mails from credit cards, banks, cars companies, do you get in your postbox every day without requesting that infromation!

[JLL]

Originally Posted by NonVendorFan

MySQL is Free that is what Apple has always used for FileMaker.

No they haven't

PS: Can we stop the spam discussion? The post has been deleted.