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.
Yeah, I was thinking about that just last night. Thinking of perhaps a combination of voice and handwriting recognition and not even having that wheel?
I don't know enough about that sort of stuff to know what's feasible and practical and what's still "Jetsons" territory.
I like the iPod wheel and the thinking/use behind it. Maybe it could be redesigned (shrunk, reconfigured, etc.).
Between voice, handwriting and SOME sort of hardware input/control, that would be three nice, well-implemented ways to work with this device.
For example, could you actually go "iPod: Music, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, Damn the Torpedos, The Waiting, play" or "iPod: Photos, Paul's Birthday Party, Photo 6, enlarge" and the song simply begins or the requested photo displayed?
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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?
I don't know enough about that sort of stuff to know what's feasible and practical and what's still "Jetsons" territory.
I like the iPod wheel and the thinking/use behind it. Maybe it could be redesigned (shrunk, reconfigured, etc.).
Between voice, handwriting and SOME sort of hardware input/control, that would be three nice, well-implemented ways to work with this device.
For example, could you actually go "iPod: Music, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, Damn the Torpedos, The Waiting, play" or "iPod: Photos, Paul's Birthday Party, Photo 6, enlarge" and the song simply begins or the requested photo displayed?
Now THAT would be cool!