iPod mockup... - Page 2

[quote]Originally posted by pscates:
<strong>I'll figure something out. I wanted to keep "iPod" on the face, just because a) I dig that new Apple font and b) the iMac, eMac and iBook have it on the front, visible to the user, and I dig consistency and stuff like that.

I don't like the name of what it is on the back, like the current one has.

Also, no laser etching on mine because the entire think is like the iBook (or the front of the current iPod): white glossy plastic, encased in a think shell of acrylic (or whatever that clear material is...VERY thin though. Hardly noticeable.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Apple needs it to be metal, another chance to make more money.

Seeing your mock-up screen, pscates, it struck me how incredibly cool, useful and innovative it would be for iPhoto to be more like iTunes...with "smart albums."

I work in a museum and to be able to take digital photo's of exhibits and displays, and have the viewing software be able to let me sort and produce albums of exhibits by date, ratings, most often viewed, etc. is such a great idea! I know digital photos don't have as much meta-data as mp3's, but if the cataloging interface were elegant enough, there would be a whole world of business and academic situations where you could use this.

I don't think it would replace the laptop with Keynote presentations as the device of choice, but imagine having 2,000 photos ... some of them downloaded from special download sites, just like mp3's .... available on your handheld where you could call them up in "smart slideshows".... while you're on that excrutiating bus from Winnemucka to Walla Walla Washington. I think a photodevice could be almost as compelling as a music device...and if you could do both...?!?!

Of course a QT/video device remains the Holy Grail of hand-held Nirvana.

So anyway, good job Paul (if I can call you Paul), on jogging my brain in a cool software direction as well as a hardware one.

Edited for really bad typing....

[ 01-19-2003: Message edited by: MacGregor ]</p>

Part of the problem with designing handheld devices is that the basic components are square (HD, screen) and thus only with difficulty can be fit into an ergonomically correct enclosure.

Aesthetically, your design is based on classical geometry (square, circle) which is in line with Apple's recent form philosophy (post-iMac I, post-Pismo). Unfortunately, your "frame-stand" idea dictates a cut-off of the bottom of the circle which breaks it up and takes away the visual serenity associated with simple geometry.

May I suggest that you alleviate it by softening up the lines? Firstly, instead of having a straight edge at the top, you could make it into a circular arc. The space could be used for the microphone and for the "iPod" text. This would leave you with space to either expand the screen size or (aesthetically better - think visual proportions) push the screen down, enabling the top edge-to-bottom edge to remain as it is now.

Alternately, you could redesign it, using ovals as the basic visual unit...

Good work, though.

engpjp

Forget the design discussion, tell us more about that dream night of yours!

Hi,

First post! Long time reader. I had an idea for an iPod/iCam/iVideo player. My idea was that the whole thing was modular. You could just buy the parts that you want. I made an example with the old iPod as a size reference. PS (I'm not sure if I'm doing this right for adding photos. If there are broken links when I post, my apologies in advance.)

F*%K!

[quote]Originally posted by mello:
<strong>F*%K! </strong><hr></blockquote>

<img src="confused.gif" border="0">

i like it being all plastic like the iBook...i wonder if there is a reason of the current iPod to have the metal back?? go with your design young man....just maximise the screen if possible...more screen on an iPod = yum...g

Second attempt:

Some help here!

I've got the images on my desktop.

My first attempt: I copied the code from the "displaying images" section of the "what is UBB code?". I then replace the "footer_logotype.gif" with my "ipods.gif"

That didn't work.
Second attempt: I dragged the ipods.gif into a new browser window & got:
"file:///Mac%20OS%209/Desktop%20Folder/images/ipods.gif" in the location
which I copied in front of the "http://"
That didn't work either.

Any help would be appreciated!

[quote]Originally posted by mello:
<strong>Any help would be appreciated!</strong><hr></blockquote>

Register a .Mac account for the 60 day trial basis. Host the pictures off of that site.

don't think you can copy them from your desktop...images have to be on the web somewhere on a server....like at your homepage if you use .mac or someother site with a homepage for you (like earthlink or comcast)...perhaps people here will host your mock ups and post them here...ask brad or you can email them to me and i could do it when i get home (use a pc at work and can add to .mac from a pc)...g

All that work Mr Scates and you've yet to make it like the Tungsten. Must have bigger screen, period. A small screen is the bane of all PDA's existance. Make it square again. Slide the wheel over a portion of the screen in compact mode and out for picture viewer mode. Banish superfluous labels to the back of the unit, screen size is much more important.

A digital wallet function MUST include USB, USB is the digital camera standard. Dumping images to a computer and then to the device seriously negates its utility. Most people don't need a digital album, they need a digital repository for their limited camera capacity.

I like the idea of having iPhoto on this device...but you can then plug it into a monitor, tv, projector etc... and play a slideshow, right off of the iPod!

[quote]Originally posted by mello:
<strong>Some help here!

I've got the images on my desktop.

My first attempt: I copied the code from the "displaying images" section of the "what is UBB code?". I then replace the "footer_logotype.gif" with my "ipods.gif"

That didn't work.
Second attempt: I dragged the ipods.gif into a new browser window & got:
"file:///Mac%20OS%209/Desktop%20Folder/images/ipods.gif" in the location
which I copied in front of the "http://"
That didn't work either.

Any help would be appreciated!</strong><hr></blockquote>

If you have the internet at home, then there is a good chance you have some sort of webspace included with your account.

Find out how to set your webspace up (It usually isn't set by default) and post a (small) jpeg of your valuable contribution to society to your webspace. Take note of how the Http:// structure is for how to get to your site (and your image) and use the IMAGE button to type in that same Http address on Appleinsider.

Then test it by looking at your entry.

Then edit it like I always seem to have to.

I made it all in photoshop. I just used the photo of the original image as a base & just expanded on it. Glad you like it.

I wanted to point out that the the little nub over the menu rotates the buttons 90 degrees which also would rotate the screen for photo/movie mode. Kind of like the outside ring of some watches that you can rotate.

I still don't know.

I think the scroll wheel and buttons aren't in Apple's style for hardware design. Do you see any scroll wheels or multiple buttons on Apple's mice, or volume adjustment knobs on Apple's other hardware? The only reason they're there on the iPod is that the alternative is not suitable. For example, on the current iPod, a larger screen for the controls would serve no point in a device solely meant as an audio player, not to mention a large grayscale screen would look a little stupid, these days. If we are enlarging the screen, and it's going color, and the device is going to be used for both visual data and possible data input, even if limited, why not make it a larger touchscreen to use Ink(well)? You can improve usability, flexibility, viewable area increase would obviously be a good thing, and you could decrease the moving parts, move towards a more solid-state device (for the parts that users interact with physically, at least). Depending upon the size of the batteries and the brains in this thing, going with a slightly larger screen rather than a physical scrollwheel and buttons could even reduce the size of the device.

I'm sure someone will object to using a stylus or pointer of some sort, which is a valid point for the touchscreen-interfaced devices of today, but not only am I sure that Apple could make one hell of a stylus, I know they can design an easy to use and quick method for storing/removing it, as well as an operating system for the device that can handle being pressed by the fattest of digits, poked by a stylus, listening to our natural voice commands, and even controlled by a nearby Mac, wirelessly.

I still don't know.

I think the scroll wheel and buttons aren't in Apple's style for hardware design. Do you see any scroll wheels or multiple buttons on Apple's mice, or volume adjustment knobs on Apple's other hardware? The only reason they're there on the iPod is that the alternative is not suitable. For example, on the current iPod, a larger screen for the controls would serve no point in a device solely meant as an audio player, not to mention a large grayscale screen would look a little stupid, these days. If we are enlarging the screen, and it's going color, and the device is going to be used for both visual data and possible data input, even if limited, why not make it a larger touchscreen to use Ink(well)? You can improve usability, flexibility, viewable area increase would obviously be a good thing, and you could decrease the moving parts, move towards a more solid-state device (for the parts that users interact with physically, at least). Depending upon the size of the batteries and the brains in this thing, going with a slightly larger screen rather than a physical scrollwheel and buttons could even reduce the size of the device.

I'm sure someone will object to using a stylus or pointer of some sort, which is a valid point for the touchscreen-interfaced devices of today, but not only am I sure that Apple could make one hell of a stylus, I know they can design an easy to use and quick method for storing/removing it, as well as an operating system for the device that can handle being pressed by the fattest of digits, poked by a stylus, listening to our natural voice commands, and even controlled by a nearby Mac, wirelessly.

Give it a try, Mr. Paul?

just seeing if my profile pic show up.

trying once more

<img src="confused.gif" border="0">

AI doesn't allow avatars or image signatures... so unfortunately you're out of luck.