Even virtualization requires a licensed copy of Windows. There's no reason for MS to be angry at Apple for giving them more business.
But, you have to agree that it would be interesting if Apple did a deal for Crossover. Apple could have the guns to get more API's working that would make it more useful. That could piss off MS.
Right, then maybe a keyboard, a trackpad and an AC Power adapter, throw in a CD Drive, it could be the best iPod yet.8)
Yeah, that's funny, but it is not unreasonable to add an AM/FM option that isn't just a $30 dongle ... because I know lots of people who want it. Just the option .... option ... we're talking option ... that maybe only 8% will buy, but that is 8% not going to the MS mp3 player. You understand options?
If the "wireless" merely means BT, then it won't be much of a factor on attracting anyone.
If free iTunes library means a rebate on downloads of WMA, then it means new player, same DRM, lots of downloading time ... and it won't be much of a factor.
If the new MS Media Desktop software is set up for easy TiVo-ing to portable video player .. then we're getting more interesting ...
If all of these combine with a wide range of good devices, cheaper or with better video resolutions, then we are talking about a real challenge to iPod/iTunes and Apple needs to stay ahead of the curve .... and you know what that means?
Bluetooth has some immediate tangible advantages...
Wireless headphones ...
There I was, writing this great long post about why bluetooth headphones suck, when I went over to Cambridge Silicon Radio's website to get some evidence.
I found this new product, which for the non-technical among you, is a solution for bluetooth headphones, including a Bluetooth radio, battery charger/power manager, DSP for AAC/mp3 decoding, high-quality DAC, and headphone amplifier, all on one tiny, low-power chip!
So, if you're using one of these, Bluetooth headphones no longer suck! Woot!
(Apple use CSR chips in their computers so one would expect them to be aware of this chip a while ago and to be planning to use it for BT headphones if indeed they do want to make BT headphones)
If Apple has sold 50 million iPods and 1 billion songs, that breaks down to an average of $20 worth of iTunes purchases for each iPod sold.
Which is only $10 per convert that Microsoft will have to play? Surely they will just price that into the player. My guess is that the profit margins on these things is absolutely huge.
I just can't see a reason or an advantage to a Wi-Pod... however, if they would just make a larger screen, add a bloody AM/FM radio and GPS capability... I would be stoked to the max!
AM/FM is a disincentive to buy songs from iTMS, so never. Yes, Apple doesn't have your best interests in mind here.
GPS - maybe, if it's free. Which leads to software-defined radios. Texas Instruments has had a decent SDR chip for a year or so now. This lets you have all of the above, on the fly, as you need. So, if you have a big sync to do, fire up 802.11n or UWB FireWireless and slurp over your library. But then fall back to extended-data-rate Bluetooth for listening in the car or on headphones. And offer GPS with some interesting new 3G data services. Maybe the iPod can finally live up to its name.
AM/FM is a disincentive to buy songs from iTMS, so never.
Hmmm...
There are a couple of problems with this theory.
1.) Apple doesn't make that much money from the iTMS (it operates at just over break-even).
2.) Many people use the radio to discover new music and then buy the music that they like. You would have thought that someone with an mp3 player with large amounts of storage space would want to listen to the radio either for "music discovery" purposes, or for accessing non-music services such a talk-radio, sports commentary, news, traffic information etc.
We won't see an AM/FM radio in an iPod (except maybe in a bottom-end shuffle) because Apple doesn't think that enough people want one)
AM/FM is a disincentive to buy songs from iTMS, so never. Yes, Apple doesn't have your best interests in mind here.
GPS - maybe, if it's free. Which leads to software-defined radios. Texas Instruments has had a decent SDR chip for a year or so now. This lets you have all of the above, on the fly, as you need. So, if you have a big sync to do, fire up 802.11n or UWB FireWireless and slurp over your library. But then fall back to extended-data-rate Bluetooth for listening in the car or on headphones. And offer GPS with some interesting new 3G data services. Maybe the iPod can finally live up to its name.
Don't forget that Apple sells what has been called the best FM add-on. I'm not sure they worry about it stopping people from buying from iTunes. They just don't want to add the cost because Jobs has already said that very few of their customers want it. Though, the ones who do are very vocal about it.
Why in the name of all that is sacred would I want to weigh down an iPod with a CD drive....?!
In case it wasn't clear to everyone else, my comment was sarcasm. I was pointing out what most realize - the beauty of the iPod lies in it's simplicity. Most features people suggest would destroy that beauty. I think wireless (BT) music transfer could be made beautifully simple, but it isn't there yet. If anyone can do it, Apple can. As far as BT headsets for listening, that won't happen until the new BT standards come out in a couple years. BT just doesn't have the bandwidth for music playback. The new BT will have that.
As far as a built in radio tuner, yes, I think that should be standard. Certainly before any other feature, that would be the one mose likely to draw in new customers. The built in wireless BT would also be great for new products like Nike's pedometer and similar innovations that might be on the horizon.
Might it be possible to make a headset device that connects as the dock/usb/firewire connection does at the bottom of the iPod, thereby allowing BT, or other options, to be included in the "headset"?
I wonder if there might be some people out there who would want to convert a huge library of iTMS purchased songs, into a uncontrolled format (Assuming MS won't just create their own) through MS's device, and continue using Apple/iPod, but now with music files they own in a less restricted way.
people want simple, simple interface, simple solutions and my wife is a good example of a typical ipod owner. she uses a computer ibook g4 but as far as computer savy no way, she doens't want to learn the nuances of any computer thing. when she plugs in the ipod she only has to select what she wants to load, or is automatic. dealing with two sites, two formats two devices. no no no way. she trusts her ipod and itunes, in that it works so well there is no reason to move to another source. most analysts see this as well, MS has a tough row to hoe, but if apple stumbles it allows a vacuum....i don't think apple will stumble in the near future. as soon as analysts sense lower than expected use of the MS gizmo, people will read react and push it aside.
now i could use a BT, wifi ipod, IF it had a browser then i could make it do double duty as a mini net access device when i travel. but it would have to have a way to input stuff even if it was using itunes and search.
Might it be possible to make a headset device that connects as the dock/usb/firewire connection does at the bottom of the iPod, thereby allowing BT, or other options, to be included in the "headset"?
This would really be quite easy, and any hardware company worth its salt could put one together with a bit of research. The reason why you haven't seen one yet, or at least heard of one (this would have been possible even a couple years ago), is because bluetooth headsets don't work well for music. They do not have enough bandwidth even to make 128kbps sound good. I know, because I've listened to music from my MBP on my headset, it was a novel thing to see if I could do it, but it sounds terrible. BT is great for talking on the phone (not great it terms of reliable quality, but great in terms of not having to hold a phone up to my head or mess with any wires.
A second problem is that the wireless headset for a portable music player would eat through battery life. There haven't been any great advances in battery technology in a while, and until something happens, wireless headsets are not worth putting into a device that you want to keep very small.
This is why I think that the wireless download part of the MS player rumors are either just rumors, or else MS is going to make a big flop with their first player. Some may buy on impulse thinking "Wireless, how cool!", but then they'll quickly realize the folly, since getting their music wirelessly isn't that much better than plugging in to a PC (a device much more suited for an easy Music Store interface), especially when you consider that they have to plug in to SOMETHING to get power for the device.
On thing that would be VERY cool would be the option for wireless syncing with your PC for an automobile integrated iPod. When you park in the garage, it notices the proximity with your computer and updates the library. Since most people are parked in the garage over night, the slow transfer speeds of Bluetooth or WiFi (faster, but not compared to USB 2.0) would not be a problem.
...is because bluetooth headsets don't work well for music. They do not have enough bandwidth even to make 128kbps sound good. I know, because I've listened to music from my MBP on my headset, it was a novel thing to see if I could do it, but it sounds terrible. BT is great for talking on the phone (not great it terms of reliable quality, but great in terms of not having to hold a phone up to my head or mess with any wires.
A second problem is that the wireless headset for a portable music player would eat through battery life. There haven't been any great advances in battery technology in a while, and until something happens, wireless headsets are not worth putting into a device that you want to keep very small.
See my previous post.
Your headset sounds bad, not because of bandwidth problems, but because it is using Bluetooth's built-in voice codec, which makes music sound awful. Before the arrival of the chip that I linked to above, to make a decent bluetooth headset for music, you'd need separate chips for: bluetooth, codec (e.g. AAC/mp3) decoder, DAC/headphone amplifier, battery management. All of that leads to low battery life and high weight. However, the BlueCore5-multimedia has all these functions in a single chip measuring 8 mm x 8 mm. That means good battery life and low weight.
"2.) Many people use the radio to discover new music and then buy the music that they like. You would have thought that someone with an mp3 player with large amounts of storage space would want to listen to the radio either for "music discovery" purposes, or for accessing non-music services such a talk-radio, sports commentary, news, traffic information etc."
That'd be me. People definitely want/would love at least FM radio. Reeeally needs to be added. And a mic! Bluetooth, now that would be hot. I am surprised whoever makes BT chips doesn't heavily lobby Apple. Why? Because then if Apple added BT, so would every car manufacturer. The iPod is the next car radio. Just watch. Another thought just occurred to me. It's also the next DVD collection. Once far in the future you can wirelessly beam HD-DVD from your 8 Terabyte iPod to your screen (or brain?) it'll be sweet. In the meantime, once they add higher-quality video content to iTMS, people will be buying high capacity iPods and videos from iTMS rather than a giant stack of DVDs. I've always HATED removeable media. It just gets lost, takes up space, and eventually dies.
Man I can't wait to buy the next iPod. They definitely haven't added anything I'm interested in since the first one came out. That's why I'm still rockin' it old-school, 5 gigs baby.
Comments
Originally posted by SpamSandwich
Why in the name of all that is sacred would I want to weigh down an iPod with a CD drive....?!
It wouldn't be an iPod. It would be an Apple mini portable.
Originally posted by tonton
No, they're not.
Even virtualization requires a licensed copy of Windows. There's no reason for MS to be angry at Apple for giving them more business.
But, you have to agree that it would be interesting if Apple did a deal for Crossover. Apple could have the guns to get more API's working that would make it more useful. That could piss off MS.
Originally posted by bdj21ya
Right, then maybe a keyboard, a trackpad and an AC Power adapter, throw in a CD Drive, it could be the best iPod yet.8)
Yeah, that's funny, but it is not unreasonable to add an AM/FM option that isn't just a $30 dongle ... because I know lots of people who want it. Just the option .... option ... we're talking option ... that maybe only 8% will buy, but that is 8% not going to the MS mp3 player. You understand options?
If the "wireless" merely means BT, then it won't be much of a factor on attracting anyone.
If free iTunes library means a rebate on downloads of WMA, then it means new player, same DRM, lots of downloading time ... and it won't be much of a factor.
If the new MS Media Desktop software is set up for easy TiVo-ing to portable video player .. then we're getting more interesting ...
If all of these combine with a wide range of good devices, cheaper or with better video resolutions, then we are talking about a real challenge to iPod/iTunes and Apple needs to stay ahead of the curve .... and you know what that means?
Options.
Originally posted by Johnny Mozzarella
Bluetooth has some immediate tangible advantages...
Wireless headphones ...
There I was, writing this great long post about why bluetooth headphones suck, when I went over to Cambridge Silicon Radio's website to get some evidence.
I found this new product, which for the non-technical among you, is a solution for bluetooth headphones, including a Bluetooth radio, battery charger/power manager, DSP for AAC/mp3 decoding, high-quality DAC, and headphone amplifier, all on one tiny, low-power chip!
So, if you're using one of these, Bluetooth headphones no longer suck! Woot!
(Apple use CSR chips in their computers so one would expect them to be aware of this chip a while ago and to be planning to use it for BT headphones if indeed they do want to make BT headphones)
Originally posted by solsun
Agreed.
If Apple has sold 50 million iPods and 1 billion songs, that breaks down to an average of $20 worth of iTunes purchases for each iPod sold.
Which is only $10 per convert that Microsoft will have to play? Surely they will just price that into the player. My guess is that the profit margins on these things is absolutely huge.
Originally posted by melgross
It wouldn't be an iPod. It would be an Apple mini portable.
Or the Ultra-Mobile-Mac...
Now with 50% more absorbency!
Originally posted by SpamSandwich
I just can't see a reason or an advantage to a Wi-Pod... however, if they would just make a larger screen, add a bloody AM/FM radio and GPS capability... I would be stoked to the max!
AM/FM is a disincentive to buy songs from iTMS, so never. Yes, Apple doesn't have your best interests in mind here.
GPS - maybe, if it's free. Which leads to software-defined radios. Texas Instruments has had a decent SDR chip for a year or so now. This lets you have all of the above, on the fly, as you need. So, if you have a big sync to do, fire up 802.11n or UWB FireWireless and slurp over your library. But then fall back to extended-data-rate Bluetooth for listening in the car or on headphones. And offer GPS with some interesting new 3G data services. Maybe the iPod can finally live up to its name.
Originally posted by ClimbingTheLog
AM/FM is a disincentive to buy songs from iTMS, so never.
Hmmm...
There are a couple of problems with this theory.
1.) Apple doesn't make that much money from the iTMS (it operates at just over break-even).
2.) Many people use the radio to discover new music and then buy the music that they like. You would have thought that someone with an mp3 player with large amounts of storage space would want to listen to the radio either for "music discovery" purposes, or for accessing non-music services such a talk-radio, sports commentary, news, traffic information etc.
We won't see an AM/FM radio in an iPod (except maybe in a bottom-end shuffle) because Apple doesn't think that enough people want one)
Originally posted by Kickaha
No, no... the Maxi-Pod.
Now with 50% more absorbency!
I was wondering where you've been. Now I know.
Originally posted by ClimbingTheLog
AM/FM is a disincentive to buy songs from iTMS, so never. Yes, Apple doesn't have your best interests in mind here.
GPS - maybe, if it's free. Which leads to software-defined radios. Texas Instruments has had a decent SDR chip for a year or so now. This lets you have all of the above, on the fly, as you need. So, if you have a big sync to do, fire up 802.11n or UWB FireWireless and slurp over your library. But then fall back to extended-data-rate Bluetooth for listening in the car or on headphones. And offer GPS with some interesting new 3G data services. Maybe the iPod can finally live up to its name.
Don't forget that Apple sells what has been called the best FM add-on. I'm not sure they worry about it stopping people from buying from iTunes. They just don't want to add the cost because Jobs has already said that very few of their customers want it. Though, the ones who do are very vocal about it.
Originally posted by SpamSandwich
Why in the name of all that is sacred would I want to weigh down an iPod with a CD drive....?!
In case it wasn't clear to everyone else, my comment was sarcasm. I was pointing out what most realize - the beauty of the iPod lies in it's simplicity. Most features people suggest would destroy that beauty. I think wireless (BT) music transfer could be made beautifully simple, but it isn't there yet. If anyone can do it, Apple can. As far as BT headsets for listening, that won't happen until the new BT standards come out in a couple years. BT just doesn't have the bandwidth for music playback. The new BT will have that.
As far as a built in radio tuner, yes, I think that should be standard. Certainly before any other feature, that would be the one mose likely to draw in new customers. The built in wireless BT would also be great for new products like Nike's pedometer and similar innovations that might be on the horizon.
I wonder if there might be some people out there who would want to convert a huge library of iTMS purchased songs, into a uncontrolled format (Assuming MS won't just create their own) through MS's device, and continue using Apple/iPod, but now with music files they own in a less restricted way.
now i could use a BT, wifi ipod, IF it had a browser then i could make it do double duty as a mini net access device when i travel. but it would have to have a way to input stuff even if it was using itunes and search.
Originally posted by LotharSNL
Might it be possible to make a headset device that connects as the dock/usb/firewire connection does at the bottom of the iPod, thereby allowing BT, or other options, to be included in the "headset"?
This would really be quite easy, and any hardware company worth its salt could put one together with a bit of research. The reason why you haven't seen one yet, or at least heard of one (this would have been possible even a couple years ago), is because bluetooth headsets don't work well for music. They do not have enough bandwidth even to make 128kbps sound good. I know, because I've listened to music from my MBP on my headset, it was a novel thing to see if I could do it, but it sounds terrible. BT is great for talking on the phone (not great it terms of reliable quality, but great in terms of not having to hold a phone up to my head or mess with any wires.
A second problem is that the wireless headset for a portable music player would eat through battery life. There haven't been any great advances in battery technology in a while, and until something happens, wireless headsets are not worth putting into a device that you want to keep very small.
This is why I think that the wireless download part of the MS player rumors are either just rumors, or else MS is going to make a big flop with their first player. Some may buy on impulse thinking "Wireless, how cool!", but then they'll quickly realize the folly, since getting their music wirelessly isn't that much better than plugging in to a PC (a device much more suited for an easy Music Store interface), especially when you consider that they have to plug in to SOMETHING to get power for the device.
On thing that would be VERY cool would be the option for wireless syncing with your PC for an automobile integrated iPod. When you park in the garage, it notices the proximity with your computer and updates the library. Since most people are parked in the garage over night, the slow transfer speeds of Bluetooth or WiFi (faster, but not compared to USB 2.0) would not be a problem.
Originally posted by bdj21ya
...is because bluetooth headsets don't work well for music. They do not have enough bandwidth even to make 128kbps sound good. I know, because I've listened to music from my MBP on my headset, it was a novel thing to see if I could do it, but it sounds terrible. BT is great for talking on the phone (not great it terms of reliable quality, but great in terms of not having to hold a phone up to my head or mess with any wires.
A second problem is that the wireless headset for a portable music player would eat through battery life. There haven't been any great advances in battery technology in a while, and until something happens, wireless headsets are not worth putting into a device that you want to keep very small.
See my previous post.
Your headset sounds bad, not because of bandwidth problems, but because it is using Bluetooth's built-in voice codec, which makes music sound awful. Before the arrival of the chip that I linked to above, to make a decent bluetooth headset for music, you'd need separate chips for: bluetooth, codec (e.g. AAC/mp3) decoder, DAC/headphone amplifier, battery management. All of that leads to low battery life and high weight. However, the BlueCore5-multimedia has all these functions in a single chip measuring 8 mm x 8 mm. That means good battery life and low weight.
That'd be me. People definitely want/would love at least FM radio. Reeeally needs to be added. And a mic! Bluetooth, now that would be hot. I am surprised whoever makes BT chips doesn't heavily lobby Apple. Why? Because then if Apple added BT, so would every car manufacturer. The iPod is the next car radio. Just watch. Another thought just occurred to me. It's also the next DVD collection. Once far in the future you can wirelessly beam HD-DVD from your 8 Terabyte iPod to your screen (or brain?) it'll be sweet. In the meantime, once they add higher-quality video content to iTMS, people will be buying high capacity iPods and videos from iTMS rather than a giant stack of DVDs. I've always HATED removeable media. It just gets lost, takes up space, and eventually dies.
Man I can't wait to buy the next iPod. They definitely haven't added anything I'm interested in since the first one came out. That's why I'm still rockin' it old-school, 5 gigs baby.