iPod Ad-Ons Coming Soon!
Earlier today I contacted Griffin technology (the makers of the iMic (external USB sound in card) and a handful of other Mac add-ons) to find out what (if at all) their plans are with regard to incorporating a Microphone into the iPod so that I can get digital sound-in.
The answer I got was very telling.
Apparently they (Griffin technology) have in fact been working on a Microphone for the ipod, but because the OS on the ipod is both proprietary and undocumented, companies like Griffin need to get a blessing from Apple to get access to the appropriate hooks into its OS for hardware ad-ons to function as they need to.
Apparently, Apple's response to Griffin after making the request was that they (at least initially) didn't want consumers to be detracted from the primary focal-point of the iPod which of course is to PLAY MP3s, (not record them) and that once companies start adding things like recording capeabilities (and more), apparently, it would would cause the less-tech-savvy iPod users among us to regard it as something more complicated than what it is, and possibly be scared away.
The individual at Griffin implied that Apple has always intended to make gradual steps to increase the iPod's functionality. I can only imagine that this might be necessary once the iPod's user-demographic feels comforable-enough with using its current capeabilities.
The individual at Griffin said that they had to go through the appropriate blessing process to get access to the hooks for the company's new "iTrip" ad-on device for the ipod (unvelied at Mac World this week) which allows the ipod to brodact MP3s over radio waves to a nearby sterio.
He then said that Apple is just now starting to become more open to the idea of iPod ad-ons and said that he expects that they and other 3rd party manufacturers should be given the green light to unveil the ipod Microphone that I inquired about in the near future.
He also said that I could probably expect to see a slew of other iPod add-ons from these third parties (and possibly even Apple) in the next month or two!
:cool: :cool: :cool:
[ 01-10-2003: Message edited by: COS ]</p>
The answer I got was very telling.
Apparently they (Griffin technology) have in fact been working on a Microphone for the ipod, but because the OS on the ipod is both proprietary and undocumented, companies like Griffin need to get a blessing from Apple to get access to the appropriate hooks into its OS for hardware ad-ons to function as they need to.
Apparently, Apple's response to Griffin after making the request was that they (at least initially) didn't want consumers to be detracted from the primary focal-point of the iPod which of course is to PLAY MP3s, (not record them) and that once companies start adding things like recording capeabilities (and more), apparently, it would would cause the less-tech-savvy iPod users among us to regard it as something more complicated than what it is, and possibly be scared away.
The individual at Griffin implied that Apple has always intended to make gradual steps to increase the iPod's functionality. I can only imagine that this might be necessary once the iPod's user-demographic feels comforable-enough with using its current capeabilities.
The individual at Griffin said that they had to go through the appropriate blessing process to get access to the hooks for the company's new "iTrip" ad-on device for the ipod (unvelied at Mac World this week) which allows the ipod to brodact MP3s over radio waves to a nearby sterio.
He then said that Apple is just now starting to become more open to the idea of iPod ad-ons and said that he expects that they and other 3rd party manufacturers should be given the green light to unveil the ipod Microphone that I inquired about in the near future.
He also said that I could probably expect to see a slew of other iPod add-ons from these third parties (and possibly even Apple) in the next month or two!
:cool: :cool: :cool:
[ 01-10-2003: Message edited by: COS ]</p>
Comments
You just KNOW (considering Steve and Apple's fascination with the whole "digital hub" thing) this little iPod is destined for more than just playing Smashmouth songs on.
I see photos, video, input capabilities, etc. When it's all said and done, the iPod will be cooler (and more useful) than the Newton ever thought about being.
[running to hide from Fran441...]
[ 01-10-2003: Message edited by: Matsu ]</p>
<strong>I'm still looking for a good FM transmitter attachment so I can listen to the radio.</strong><hr></blockquote>
...either i'm slow or that sentence didn't make sense
do you mean that you are looking for a FM receiver so that you can listen to the radio on ur iPod
-or-
do you mean that you are looking for a FM transmitter so that you can listen to songs broadcasted from the iPod to ur radio
<strong>also are there any transmitters like that for a regular CD player? I like the size of that, i dotn need vast distance either</strong><hr></blockquote>
I wonder if it would "just work" on a regular cd player. Its connected to the audio out, so you'd think it was just taking the audio signal and broadcasting it on an FM frequency.
<img src="graemlins/hmmm.gif" border="0" alt="[Hmmm]" />
<strong>
I wonder if it would "just work" on a regular cd player. </strong><hr></blockquote>
It's powered by the Firewire port so I can't imagine it would work.
<strong>
...either i'm slow or that sentence didn't make sense
do you mean that you are looking for a FM receiver so that you can listen to the radio on ur iPod
-or-
do you mean that you are looking for a FM transmitter so that you can listen to songs broadcasted from the iPod to ur radio</strong><hr></blockquote>
No, I'm slow. Sorry I meant a FM receiver so I can listen to the radio on my iPod.
Then the iPod's market increases from youth oriented music lovers to:
1. Business people dictating letters, documents etc.
2. Journalists doing media interviews (Finally good press coverage for the platform!)
3. Business people lugging around Keynote.app presentations.
<strong>also are there any transmitters like that for a regular CD player? I like the size of that, i dotn need vast distance either</strong><hr></blockquote>
There are several. (This one wouldn't work simply because itutilizes the Firewire port... but these types of devices are fairly common... I'm sure you can find something on e-bay for pretty cheap.
[ 01-11-2003: Message edited by: COS ]</p>
IM also hopeing the iPod will develop into a streaming hardisk device for video camcorders it's possible that firewire 800 is required for this as it let's you connect digital device together without the need for a computer...
Come back K-Man!!!
:cool:
Go Kormac Go, away.
<strong>
It's powered by the Firewire port so I can't imagine it would work.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Woops, didn't know that. I probably should have read the specs.
<strong>I'm not sure the iTrip uses the FireWire port since Griffin mentions that you can swivel this while in use and plug in FireWire to charge the iPod. iTrip does, however, use software in the iPod to control the FM channel it outputs to, and because of this probably can't be used with any other device.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Look at the freaking tip of the iTrip, it definately uses the headphone jack.
I was thinkin earlier... what about text2speech support in the iPod, you simply load on a text file (already possible with pod2go) then you select it as a song and the Mp3 player reads it to you as you are driving to work/working out/doing anything else that would not let you easily look a the screen.