iPod PDA

macserverxmacserverx
Posted:
in Future Apple Hardware edited January 2014
There has been some speculation about the iPod turning into a PDA or getting a cousin. If Apple made an iPod/PDA hybrid and not straight PDA, it would be this:



<a href="http://www.transmeta.com/everywhere/products/ultra_personals/oqo/oqo_ultra_personal.html"; target="_blank">OQO Ultra-Personal Computer</a>



except there would be an Apple logo on the back and a shiny case. And run Apple software. Apple might also ditch the USB and the proprietary connect in favor of FireWire only for docking.



Discuss

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 8
    warpdwarpd Posts: 204member
    This was developed by an ex Apple employee. I forget his name, but he was quite senior on the Powerbook team. Apparently, he wanted Apple to produce it, met with Uncle Steve, who did not like the idea and declined. I will try to find the article that I read on this...
  • Reply 2 of 8
    iq78iq78 Posts: 256member
    [quote]Originally posted by macserverX:

    <strong>There has been some speculation about the iPod turning into a PDA or getting a cousin. If Apple made an iPod/PDA hybrid and not straight PDA....



    Discuss</strong><hr></blockquote>



    I wouldn't be surprised if Apple increased the ability of the iPod to be a 'mini' mobile digital hub. Let me explain.



    There was talk of a device that would allow one to download images from the camera to a harddrive and view them on a larger LCD without the need of a laptop.



    There has also been talk about putting a color LCD on the iPod (I really don't understand the push if the iPod is only a MP3 player, as it is now).



    However, what if the iPod becomes a place to store and play your audio, and store and view your images and small video clips from dig cameras? This device could still be the iPod (nothing about the name iPod causes one to think it can only play MP3s), but have a nice crisp color LCD display which can not only show the iTunes visuals, but also download pictures off your camera and allow you to view them, put them in a slide show and with a little 'ibook' type audio/video jack display them on a tv or overhead viewer. Of course, to make these really effective you'd need a remote. WHICH, would be also helpful with the MP3 player (haven't people been asking for a remote for the current iPod?).



    This could also be used as a very miniture presentation device, that would allow somebody to create a presentation using the remote. Heck, if the audio/video cord was long enough, you could use the iPod itself to manuever through the slides, but a remote would be much better in case the projecter input is far removed from the speaker. Does this make any sense?



    Basically, it seems like there are a lot of features that an MP3 player and a digital image storage/viewer/presentation device would have in common.



    1) Large storage 10GB - 20GB (coming soon?)Allows lots of MP3 on the road AND digital images on the road without having to bring or own a laptop!

    2) Color LCD screen (even nice for MP3 visuals, especially if the iPod can plug into a TV at a party or gettogether... instant color output of audio/visuals)

    3) USB/Firewire - USB would be for the digital cameras AND for the upcoming release of iTunes/iPod for Wintel machines that often don't have firewire. Unless Apple wants to use the FIrewire ONLY iPod as a way to get more Wintel people using firewire in order to keep in going after USB 2.0 starts taking over.

    4) Remote - Very useful for MP3 player when you have it in a bookbag or belt and want to switch songs or increase volume/mute without having to instrape the iPod. ALSO very useful for viewing digital images and slide shows at gettogethers or presentations.



    What do you think? Even if you think Apple wouldn't do this, do you think it is a decent device? I know a lot of people who don' own laptops or carry them everywhere their digital cameras goes who'd love to have a small storage device for storing images. And viewing them on a slightly bigger LCD for determining whether or not they should keep them. Heck, you could even have iPhoto type program (if not iPhoto iteself) that would allow you to play with contract, redeye and brightness to see if the image is salvagable, and get it ready to present on a slide show OR maybe even have printer drivers?



    Too much? Too specific? What do you think?
  • Reply 3 of 8
    iq78iq78 Posts: 256member
    [quote]Originally posted by IQ78:

    <strong>



    However, what if the iPod becomes a place to store and play your audio, and store and view your images and small video clips from dig cameras?

    </strong><hr></blockquote>



    Oops. I failed to say, store your images TEMPERARILY! They would, of course, be uploaded to your main machine if you wanted. You could have them deleted or kept on the new iPod. And, of course, you could download Albums to the new iPod for slide shows, transfers and presentations (.PDF or .PPT, viewer only)
  • Reply 4 of 8
    pevepeve Posts: 518member
    i allways thought the ipod had some cool features and looked really nice but never understood the big hype of it.



    looking how fast other companies made apps to expand the features of the ipod to act as a lowtech pda (and how many ipod-users embaced these apps) - there has got to be something coming.

    (otherwise i have evangelized my friends and foes for nothing over the past)



    i really expect a new device coming (and i'm not the "next mw a g5 1.4mhz ddr is coming with an option for a espresso machine and..."-guy).

    i'm hoping for a expanded ipod/pda-thing.



    stevie paul? are you listening???
  • Reply 5 of 8
    clonenodeclonenode Posts: 392member
    I believe Apple forsaw a long life for many generations of iPods right from the beginning. But they're smart (or, at least, practical) and decided to realease the first iPod as a music only player. This way, the next model (iPod II) could become a music player AND photo viewer. Then iPod III (or SE) will gain QuickTime video abilities and so on down the road.



    They must continue the trend of new innovations to stay alive and ahead of everyone else.
  • Reply 6 of 8
    mrbilldatamrbilldata Posts: 489member
    While Apple thinks... others do. <img src="graemlins/oyvey.gif" border="0" alt="[No]" />



    <a href="http://www.archos.com/us/products/product_jbmm.html"; target="_blank">http://www.archos.com/us/products/product_jbmm.html</a>;
  • Reply 7 of 8
    iq78iq78 Posts: 256member
    [quote]Originally posted by MrBillData:

    <strong>While Apple thinks... others do. <img src="graemlins/oyvey.gif" border="0" alt="[No]" />



    <a href="http://www.archos.com/us/products/product_jbmm.html"; target="_blank">http://www.archos.com/us/products/product_jbmm.html</a></strong><hr></blockquote>;



    And what others do..... Apple does better!
  • Reply 8 of 8
    chris cuillachris cuilla Posts: 4,825member
    [quote]Originally posted by IQ78:

    <strong>



    I wouldn't be surprised if Apple increased the ability of the iPod to be a 'mini' mobile digital hub. Let me explain.



    There was talk of a device that would allow one to download images from the camera to a harddrive and view them on a larger LCD without the need of a laptop.



    There has also been talk about putting a color LCD on the iPod (I really don't understand the push if the iPod is only a MP3 player, as it is now).



    However, what if the iPod becomes a place to store and play your audio, and store and view your images and small video clips from dig cameras? This device could still be the iPod (nothing about the name iPod causes one to think it can only play MP3s), but have a nice crisp color LCD display which can not only show the iTunes visuals, but also download pictures off your camera and allow you to view them, put them in a slide show and with a little 'ibook' type audio/video jack display them on a tv or overhead viewer. Of course, to make these really effective you'd need a remote. WHICH, would be also helpful with the MP3 player (haven't people been asking for a remote for the current iPod?).



    This could also be used as a very miniture presentation device, that would allow somebody to create a presentation using the remote. Heck, if the audio/video cord was long enough, you could use the iPod itself to manuever through the slides, but a remote would be much better in case the projecter input is far removed from the speaker. Does this make any sense?



    Basically, it seems like there are a lot of features that an MP3 player and a digital image storage/viewer/presentation device would have in common.



    1) Large storage 10GB - 20GB (coming soon?)Allows lots of MP3 on the road AND digital images on the road without having to bring or own a laptop!

    2) Color LCD screen (even nice for MP3 visuals, especially if the iPod can plug into a TV at a party or gettogether... instant color output of audio/visuals)

    3) USB/Firewire - USB would be for the digital cameras AND for the upcoming release of iTunes/iPod for Wintel machines that often don't have firewire. Unless Apple wants to use the FIrewire ONLY iPod as a way to get more Wintel people using firewire in order to keep in going after USB 2.0 starts taking over.

    4) Remote - Very useful for MP3 player when you have it in a bookbag or belt and want to switch songs or increase volume/mute without having to instrape the iPod. ALSO very useful for viewing digital images and slide shows at gettogethers or presentations.



    What do you think? Even if you think Apple wouldn't do this, do you think it is a decent device? I know a lot of people who don' own laptops or carry them everywhere their digital cameras goes who'd love to have a small storage device for storing images. And viewing them on a slightly bigger LCD for determining whether or not they should keep them. Heck, you could even have iPhoto type program (if not iPhoto iteself) that would allow you to play with contract, redeye and brightness to see if the image is salvagable, and get it ready to present on a slide show OR maybe even have printer drivers?



    Too much? Too specific? What do you think?</strong><hr></blockquote>



    I thought of exactly this the day iPod was announced. I assume the main thing holding Apple back here is cost and battery life (color LCDs suck juice). I imagine it is only a matter of timing.



    Add to this the following:



    1. Some simple PDA-like functions (Apple is already doing this with the address book functionality).



    2. Enough storage to actually install my entire work environment (a bootable X partition?) so that I could boot right from my iPod. It BECOMES my digital hub!
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