Why is a color screen better. How much time do you spend looking at the screen when listening to the music? Color can actually make it more difficult to read typeface. Also, since Apple has just recently started to offfer the iPod in a Windows version I seriously doubt they will come out with a new one until next Spring. Possiblly they may drop the price of the 5 Gig or completely eliminate it from the lineup.
The only enhancement that I'd like to see is sound-in capeabilities.
I've been scouring the web for an MP3 player that has the capeability to digitally record to MP3. So far, there's only a small handful.
The posabilities would be incredible. Such devices would replace DAT audio recorders. Imagine going to a meeting and rather than taking notes... just setting your ipod to record... or going to a concert and recording it... or simply taking notes in class... then haveing text to speech software transcribe it for you.
A color screen has little use for me... what I want is either a firewire microphone or a firmware update that allows the headphone jack to double as a microphone.
The iPod sells because it is easy to use, has fabulous sound and appeals to adults as well as 20 somethings. I'm not interested in playing games, leave that for consoles and computers.
If apple was to add the ability to save games, that wouldn't require a new ipod - just an update to the software. Same with if they added new games.
I can't see them making any major changes to the hardware for a while. It still sells very well for them - I read somewhere they have 30% MP3 player market share world wide or something like that.
In another new ipod thread I posted an extremely hypothetical direction i wish Apple would take the ipod towards. ie, 5" color screen, .mov playback etc. But since this thread seems to be geared on a more serious note then:
I would expect that IF Apple were to update the ipod at MWSF we should expect the product direction to address its more serious concerns such as where it fails to maintain a competitive advantage against other portable MP3 players.
I can't think of any off hand simply because I never really looked at other Mp3 portables, but if you can think of features other portables might have that are causing a loss of sales for ipods, expect those enhancements very likely.
After those issues are addressed we may see Apple take their differentiated focus strategy of product to a new level ie, color screens err video playback.
Even so, price is often a false economy - or am I the only one who has ended up spending MORE in the long run because I tried to save money, was dissatisfied, & replaced the unit w/ a better one?
In reality, "just as good for a lot less" rarely works out according to expectation!
Price won't come down, at least not dramatically. Apple, as far back as I can remember, has never used a cost focused strategy for it's products. I don't imagine they will start now. Apple is "think different" "the products are different, and so they "charge you different"
There has to be several things other Mp3 players can do that iPods can't? no? I guess i should do my research, I'm just plain lazy.
Music Videos Stunned. 50mb music videos, thats about 600 MTV music vids on a 20GB ipod. But can't imagine the iPod would be quicktime video capable in its next update
There's some color screen talk, and that's possible, but video on a 2" screen? More a case of gee whiz isn't this cool and useless all at once! A useful color screen mod might involve a digital wallet function. Dump stills to the iPod and preview them with an iPhoto companion (just to check) then keep shooting. iPod's small, photogs carry around alot more bulky stuff than that, and photographers out for a day of shooting can certainly appreciate the extra capacity of a digital wallet. One caveat though, to hav e any meaningful interaction with digital cameras you NEED USB!
The only big thing I can think of is if they added the ability to directly save video to the iPod's hard drive from a Firewire video camcorder. I know a few people who would kill to have that ability in such a small package...
Another killer app would be adding a cardreader slot, so people could turn the iPod into a digital wallet. Snap photos with your digital camera, pop the CF card into the iPod and the pictures automatically download to the iPod. The CF card is erased, and ready to use in the camera again!
Comments
[ 12-20-2002: Message edited by: MacsRGood4U ]</p>
what if they can hook up two iPods together to transfer Address <like beaming on a Palm Pilot> and also play two player games.. fun? insane?
flick.
Merry Christmas.
I've been scouring the web for an MP3 player that has the capeability to digitally record to MP3. So far, there's only a small handful.
The posabilities would be incredible. Such devices would replace DAT audio recorders. Imagine going to a meeting and rather than taking notes... just setting your ipod to record... or going to a concert and recording it... or simply taking notes in class... then haveing text to speech software transcribe it for you.
A color screen has little use for me... what I want is either a firewire microphone or a firmware update that allows the headphone jack to double as a microphone.
I can't see them making any major changes to the hardware for a while. It still sells very well for them - I read somewhere they have 30% MP3 player market share world wide or something like that.
Whatever sells....
In another new ipod thread I posted an extremely hypothetical direction i wish Apple would take the ipod towards. ie, 5" color screen, .mov playback etc. But since this thread seems to be geared on a more serious note then:
I would expect that IF Apple were to update the ipod at MWSF we should expect the product direction to address its more serious concerns such as where it fails to maintain a competitive advantage against other portable MP3 players.
I can't think of any off hand simply because I never really looked at other Mp3 portables, but if you can think of features other portables might have that are causing a loss of sales for ipods, expect those enhancements very likely.
After those issues are addressed we may see Apple take their differentiated focus strategy of product to a new level ie, color screens err video playback.
In reality, "just as good for a lot less" rarely works out according to expectation!
There has to be several things other Mp3 players can do that iPods can't? no? I guess i should do my research, I'm just plain lazy.
[ 12-21-2002: Message edited by: xXTitaniumXx ]</p>
I hope there will be a FM tuner though. It will be great listening to e radio once in a while.
And i can also listen to the lottery results
Another killer app would be adding a cardreader slot, so people could turn the iPod into a digital wallet. Snap photos with your digital camera, pop the CF card into the iPod and the pictures automatically download to the iPod. The CF card is erased, and ready to use in the camera again!