Hey, you can't tell me Apple's NEXT major upgrade version after this brand new one won't have moving images...as in television and film!! The natural progression is from black and white with just music...to color and music...to motion color with music. They deny it of course, but come on.

If they're making a huge spash success with selling music with this thing, and record companies are currently happily on-board....movie studios are next. It's going to happen.1

http://www.apple.com/ipodphoto/

I still don't have an iPod, but once it becomes the "all in one" that it eventually will be...I buy one. :)

Murph

Check out Iriver, they have a portable movie player coming out 'REAL SOON NOW'

IRiver (http://www.iriveramerica.com/)

Called the 'PMP-120'. I can see it now, it will be the number one player for the 'Players' of the world(pun intended). If you don't get it, just add an 'I' to the name.

HAHA! Good one, playa! Actually, Apple does have a pimped-out model of the iPod for U2 fans, all red and black with autographs of Bono & da boyz on the back. Hope they do a Snoop Dogg model encrusted with bling-bling!! :-)

Until they do one that plays movies, I'd at least like to see one that can play a PowerPoint show through a projector and to use as a substitute for the laptop (like I use the iPod as a backup for the laptop for DJing).

Looks like MP3 players are moving in the direction of PDA's. Something like the iPaq has the music capability as well as the PPT wirelessly to a projector, ability to play WMV video, and all the other email and calendering stuff.

Ed

Murph, why would I need an Ipod to do that? My cell phone already plays MP3s and video. :)

There was an article in the NY Times a week or so ago that talked about cell phones having multiple channels of color TV in them in the next few years. I think eventually almost all forms of communication/media playing will be combined into one piece of equipment. Something that has phone,PDA, gaming, camera, multichannel TV,Internet and mp3 capabilities. Apple has a good part of the mp3 world covered with the IPOD, it would only make sense that they add some other great features to it in the future. If they dont, someone else will.

Hate to say it, but the Ipod is way behind the times, almost obsolete. What I said about my cellphone in the above post is true. Medium to high end cell phones, or even a half decent PDA blows them away in terms of features. Now that I can put a 1GB card in a cell phone, that's a heck of a lot of MP3's. Most people don't need 5000 songs on hand. Who cares if I can watch photos on an Ipod, I can watch fullscreen video on the Archos player, even Creative Labs has a decent one. Heck, even the Leapster and Juice Box, both kids toys, are better featured than Ipods.

However, you can't beat Apple's fantastic marketing campaign.
Maybe Sony/Ericsson should hire Metallica and Motorola should hire Brittney Spears...

Heck, I don't know why you can't already buy a TV tuner adapter for a PDA.... You can get one for a laptop I think.
My vote is for the cell phone as the future all in one device. Why? It is the only thing I won't leave the house without, besides car keys and sunglasses. I can't put a PDA in my pocket.

good point about the marketing Dylan. That is really what it comes down to. Right now we see U2 promoting an IPOD. That sells. We dont see much marketing that can compare to that. Other companies need to step up to the plate in that department to get the ball rolling.

There's more to the iPod than marketing. The product is best in it's class. The iPod is successful because of ease of use, simplicity and the elegance of it's design.

<<<-- Originally posted by Jeff Donald : There's more to the iPod than marketing. The product is best in it's class. The iPod is successful because of ease of use, simplicity and the elegance of it's design. -->>>

it very well may be, but do you even see TV marketing of competing products?

<< it very well may be, but do you even see TV marketing of competing products? >>

Sure do. The Dell Juke Box for one. Lots of spots for that going on right now.

Sony has an ad out for their "iPod killer," the Network Walkman. It doesn't even play mp3's.

I'll have to keep an eye out for those other spots, I have not seen them yet. Do you suspect they are just not as "catchy" as the vibrant colored U2 IPOD spot or that they are maybe not on TV as often/primetime hours? Or maybe I just do not pay enough attention to them. Anyone have an online link to other spots to view?

<<<-- Originally posted by Jeff Donald : There's more to the iPod than marketing. The product is best in it's class. The iPod is successful because of ease of use, simplicity and the elegance of it's design. -->>>

Well, I half agree, but half disagree.

Ease of use may be the case for Apple users, but not as much for PC users. Ipods seem to have some compatibility issues with PCs, regardless of what Apple says. I have three PC friends, who have had 7 Ipods collectively over the past 2-ish years. Of those 7 Ipods, every single one they've had has had a serious issue with the PC, right up to the recent Ipod minis. Usualy they just stop wanting to connect, but one would crash my friend's computer. My friends are somewhat loaded, and (believe it or not) just throw out the Ipods and buy new ones (one even threw out his Klipsh 5.1 speakers when he got a new set). I got offered one twice, but I'm not installing anything that crashes my system. Hmm... I just realized I could have sold it on here to an Apple user. Damn.

Anyway, as far as ease of use, I don't think it is any easier or harder to use than anything else out there, but I agree, it is the prettiest. Pretty stuff sells. I like pretty stuff.

Back to marketing, I've counted 4 Ipod commercials in the last hour of channel surfing I've done. I did see one ad for the Dell about two weeks ago. Apple is the US Air Force of marketing and advertising. Total superiority.

There was an Ipod in the first 15 seconds of 50 Cent's smash hit PIMP video last year, seen dozens of times by every single person in it's target market. Played on every pop music station around the world, probably four+ times a day, every day, for months. There's nothing that can compete with that. U2, Lenny Kravits, and others on top of that in some fantastic eye catching commercials? Total marketing superiority.
Heck, I'm a PC lover, but I have to admit, Apple rules for style and marketing. Overall I think their product is no better or worse than anything else. Same stuff, prettier box.

I understand the iPod has had some issues USB2 issues for PC users. I use FireWire and students that I know with iPods have far fewer issues with their PC's if they use FireWire. However, the latest iPod software address more of the USB issues. Your friends may not me familiar with checking the Apple support site for the latest iPod software.

Like it or not, Mac or pc user, the iPod is the most popular music player since the Walkman. This is despite the fact that the cheapest iPod is at least twice as expensive as its "competitors". Apple has time and time again said that it is not a PDA platform.

Jeff, they are definitely using USB ports, although I know at least one of them did go to the Apple site for updates.

I could tell them about the firewire, but I might wait until another one of their Ipods conks out and I get it for free and "fix" it.


Dave, and rightfully so. They took a market and made it theirs, can't argue against success. All I'm saying, is, well, I forget, cause I'm going to score a free Ipod for sure now. :)

I got my niece a pmp-120 for her birthday. It rocks. It can also act as a server to transfer picutures from your digital camera or music from another device. It plays divx, mpeg4 and other formats along with music formats. Built like a tank and the battery is removable/replacable.

Man that iRiver is awsome! Looks to be about the size of an Ipod too.

Isn't the iRiver 120 series th eonly current models than can record through line-in? Is it capable of providing us DVers with a secondary recorder (like th eoriginal minidisc players used to be) ?

Seems to me the best combination would be a PDA phone + MP3 player + satellite radio tuner. People carry their phones everywhere... but if you have an MP3 player that connects to your car stereo, you have to carry that too. And then if you want a satellite radio receiver, and have the versatility of having it connect in home and in the car, you have to carry that, too. It would be nice to have one thing that does it all.

I already have the Treo 600 which is a PDA and phone and also plays MP3s. Haven't figured out yet how to attach it to the car stereo, or even if that's possible.

John:

I too have a 600 and have only scratched the surface with the MP3 aspect--are you using the Missing Sync software?

Also, thanks for pointing out that there was another thread going--I'll repost the unit I mentioned in that thread here:

DVX/Pod (http://amatechnologies.com/)

I was using a friend's Treo 600 while on working vacation once.
I liked it as a PDA, but hated it as a cell phone. Very good for games though, although his only had a 4### colour display.

Charles,

If you go to the Treo site and register your phone, at the end they'll give you the option to download one of two free gifts offered. One of them is an MP3 player that works great!

Hold on though...I can't remember if it's for registering the phone, or for registering the Palm software. I'll check into it and let you know. You'll need to have the extra memory card to use it.

Dylan...how come you don't like it as a cell phone???

Andrew, all the HD based irivers, whethere video, picture or audio only, have a line in and can record audio without a pc. They can record up to 16bit48khz stereo, but selecting high bitrate mp3 (350kb) might be a better option to save disk space. Plus they have no way to adjust loudness. Best if hooked up to a small field mixer or something like a beachtek.

The new pmp 120 can copy pictures, audio and video from just about any source via usb. Even another player as long as the file system is based on existing standards. From what I've heard, it's using an embedded version of linux to do everything.

<<<-- Originally posted by John Locke :

Dylan...how come you don't like it as a cell phone??? -->>>

Simply for the ergonomics. I just didn't like the way it felt in my hand or against my ear. That's all.

It's all about Toshiba, or whoever will make the highspeed super mini harddrives to Power the IPOD. They can only go as fast as the HD manufacturers.


I'm going to break down and buy a flash Ipod Micro when they whip it out, for say..$99.00

How much HD space do you need in an MP3 player???
80gb for the latest Ipod? That's crazy. I know, I know.... It's still crazy.

It's also a FireWire hard drive. I use it in working on computers and it carries a complete Mac OS X start-up system. It also carries complete diagnostic programs for working on Macs. It syncs with my Palm, phone and calendar on by Power Mac and Power Book. I transfer files and data with it (including gigs of digital photos) from by home to my office. It's much more than a MP3 player.

I'll say it is! That's more than the HDD on my laptop! I only went with a 20GB pod, even that's big and I'm still less than half full. Plenty of room to bring projects to and from work. That is, when they're too big to fit on the CF card out of my camera.

BTW, I still can't see myself taking anything like a Treo, Palmpilot, or even a future iPod and holding it up to my head as a cellphone handset! Talk about lousy ergonomics to say nothing of looking silly. My attitude is, the less other gadgets you add to a cellphone, the more likely it is to work well in its original intended function--as a phone! And don't even get me started on camera phones! There are places where I have worked that don't even allow you to bring them in, due to security issues. So, the guy with the plain ol' cellphone is actually better off. Funny, they don't let you take pictures there, but they let people walk in and out every day with laptops and related data storage devices--how much confidential material could a sneaky employee or consultant steal with the available space on a iPod?? :-)

Why... I think I look rather cool talking on my Treo.

I don't know about my personal cool factor, but I don't find the Treo 600 series odd to hold against my head at all. It's honestly not that much bigger than one of those phones you get free for signing up for service, i.e. not the teeniest ones around. The older Treo, the 270, was a bit awkward.

BTW, check out this contender for the Video iPod (www.amatechnologies.com) throne...even co-opts the name.

Just read that Apple and Motorola have a plan to release an iTunes service for mobile phones in the first half of 2005. The all-in-one dream is getting closer and closer.

Charles, I'm sure you look cool using your Treo too.

Actually, my problem with the ergonomics of the Treo was the keypad. I've got big hands so I didn't like the tiny number buttons, and also didn't like the touch keypad.
On the other hand, it was much more game friendly. The P800/P900's are a little weird for games. Some work really well, like driving games are fantastic with the jog wheel. Some games work really well with the touch screen. Doom however, has the most messed up interface ever, with a hybrid touchscreen/wheel interface for a game that was never made for it. Doom would have been fantastic on the Treo.

<<<-- Originally posted by Mike Butler :

BTW, I still can't see myself taking anything like a Treo, Palmpilot, or even a future iPod and holding it up to my head as a cellphone handset! Talk about lousy ergonomics to say nothing of looking silly. My attitude is, the less other gadgets you add to a cellphone, the more likely it is to work well in its original intended function--as a phone! -->>>

The bigger Palm sized PDA/phones do look goofy against your head, but you can't beat a Bluetooth headset for that. The Treo600 and the Sony/Ericsson P800/P900's are smaller than an opened flip phone.

As far as them not working well as a phone, my P800 gets better and clearer reception than cheaper single purpose cell phones on the network I use, and is also louder and crisper than my home phone. Plus, when I'm sitting in an airport, the plane is delayed two hours, the guy next to me is playing pong on his cellphone, and I'm watching Hellboy on mine, which is better? :)

Once you go to a good phone/PDA, you might never go back.

Charles,

The download is called "Pocket Tunes" and as I said, it's a free download when registering. I can't remember which registration it is, so best bet is to just register both the phone and the software. One of them will allow you to download it.

It requires a memory chip to be able to use it.

How does the Treo compare against the Blackberry? I'm looking to purchase, maybe for christmas?

Joe,

Can't make a comparison since I haven't tried a Blackberry...but I can say about the Treo that I find that it isn't too large to use as a phone, it works well as a phone (for me), and the speaker option is great (good quality sound). As a PDA it also functions well. I don't find the buttons to be difficult to manage and I've gotten pretty fast with them. And you can't beat it for reading and sending e-mail since the large screen makes it convenient.

Maybe the Blackberry is better...I dunno. But you won't be disappointed with the Treo.

I guess I was thinking of the regular size Palms, haven't played with the newer downsized PDAs...although I'd have to guess that for anything like that to be sized like a cell phone, the keyboard would be too small for my middle-aged eyes and fingers to find enjoyable. And as for watching movies, I'd like a much bigger screen...like the one in my 15.2" Titanium. Everything is a trade-off, I guess, and one of these days when I'm feeling a gadget craving, I'll have to try out one of the newer PDAs...might be handy to stick in my pocket when i can't bring along my laptop.

Hmmm, Hellboy...interesting choice! :-) Throw in Season 3 of Buffy. hee hee

Hey, I called it first!!

http://www.applelinks.com/pm/index.php

Which story, Chris?

Yes, I was the first to call it!
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/business/12167275.htm

Dammit, I hate those newspapers that make you sign up just to be able to read the story!

You and me both, Mike! I refuse to sign up for a news site.

So what's the deal, Christopher?

Yeah, me too. Perhaps it has to do with the WSJ's recent prediction of a video iPod?

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=47752

I was just kidding...a long time ago I said video pods were coming and everyone slammed me. I was right :)

Hey, I never tried doing any video on previous versions of Itunes, but I just downloaded 5.0 and it allowed me to import Quicktime and MPEG video!!!! I was amazed...if this is a new feature that is extremely cool and even more evidence of a video IPOD...if its not a new feature I've apparently been missing out...

iPod Nano

http://www.apple.com/ipodnano/

HOW DID I MISS THAT? That's amazing! I love my 30 gig but I gotta have one of those...but still, the question at hand...anyone else notice the unmentioned video capabilities of 5.0 or was that available before? I didn't think Jobs would talk about it until the was a mobile product to support and be like " Hey and guess what...the Itunes you been using for the past month can already import video"

Noah,

This begs the question: what happens if tries to sync their video playlist in iTunes with a color screen iPod? Very interesting. I wish I had a color screen iPod to try it with. I have an iPod Mini which now is discontinued since they introduced the Nano.

Video playback has been part of iTunes since 4.8. There are music videos in the iTunes Store as well.