Apple Preparing to Unveil 4th Generation iPod?

[Kent Pribbernow]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.appleinsider.com/article.php?id=393' target='_blank'>http://www.appleinsider.com/article.php?id=393</a><br /><br /></div>According to rumor site <a href="http://www.appleinsider.com">Apple Insider</a>, Apple is preparing to debut a radical new iPod, perhaps the fourth generation of this product. <br /><br />"While sources could not pin-point a specific day or month of introduction, they said the soon to be released player would boast a 50GB hard disk capable of holding 12,500 songs and carry an approximate cost of $499.<br /><br />Unlike the recent capacity-centric revisions to the iPod line, the 4th-generation iPod will host a number of architectural advancements and new features. Most apparent, sources say, is the presence of a 2-inch color screen for displaying photos stored on the pod, from the palm of your hand."<br /><br />I wonder if this will just be ONE high-end product, or whether Apple will totally replace the entire iPod line (except for the mini) with these newer models? We shall see.

[that_kid]

presence of a 2-inch color screen for displaying photos stored on the pod, from the palm of your hand."


Kiss your battery life goodbye.

[Gary Sheynkman]

not that it was great on the ipod anyway....


give me audio in encoding a flash slot and more playable formats and I might just take the plunge

[Perry Reed]

Apple keeps raising the bar! If only they'd do WMA... Rumor has it they can do it but have the functionality locked. Perhaps when HP releases their iPod they'll have the feature activated and someone will figure out how to turn it on on the Apple iPods... if it really exists, that is.

But if Apple keeps adding features, pretty soon they'll have backed in to the PDA market.

[Lee Yuan Sheng]

Kiss your battery life goodbye.

I thought iPod users already did. =P

[Cameron K]

Some over at ipodlounge are speculating that the new iPods will have OLED displays, which should have minimal effect on battery life over the current screens used.

[OSUKid7]

When does this cross into the PDA category?

[klinux]

I have never been a fan of the Gen3 design of 4 buttons on type. The Mini design, and by extension, Gen2 design (I own a Gen2 iPod - 20GB) of a wheel surrounded by 4 buttons is much more hand intuitive.

[mrkablooey]

Apple keeps raising the bar! If only they'd do WMA...

http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=5304

[Suhit Gupta]

When does this cross into the PDA category?
That is a great question. More and more PDAs have greater disk space (though nowhere near enough to compare to PMPs) while music players have more and more PDA like features. There is a convergence between personal music players, PDAs, cell phones and handheld gaming devices. Waiting for the ultimate one I guess :).

Suhit

[Kacey Green]

WHAT ABOUT THE FREEKIN' HP IPOD?

[Mojo Jojo]

It is blue. =)
.
.
.
Other note I wonder about convergence when you get the 'Jack-of-All-Trades' issue going on. Sure they can do alot of things, but can they do them well?

I still think each will go on for quite awhile specializing in what they do.

If my PDA could store 4 gigs (or more) of music, and had an eight hour battery life, then I wouldn't need my iPod.

If my iPod could store and search contact information, some useful applications like budget recording/e-book reading/news, and remind me of appointments then I wouldn't need my PDA.

The rumors of the new iPod, even if they turn out untrue, show that it is the direction people want small devices to go. Now we just have to wait for the economics and technology of making it possible to catch up.

[Perry Reed]

Apple keeps raising the bar! If only they'd do WMA...

http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=5304

Well, that's... almost useful. Letting users convert WMA to AAC in iTunes is ok, I guess, it's better than nothing. But it's still far cry from being able to copy a WMA file to the iPod and play it there.

[Kacey Green]

It is blue. =)


I meant is the project still on?
When is are we going to see this pretty blue ipod?
Will the screen be color?
Will it really play wma files?
Will the iPAQs be able to play apple AAC files?

[James Fee]

I meant is the project still on?
Yes, some believe Apple is holding off releasing their 4th generation iPods until HP is ready. This could mean the HP will be 4th generation or Apple will have newer iPods than HP (doubtful).

When is are we going to see this pretty blue ipod?
I've read no, just the HP logo instead of the Apple logo, but I haven't seen any proof other than people talking. I'd assume it would be the same color because all the accessories would match.

Will the screen be color?
4th Generation iPods may have this so if the hPod is a 4th generation, there is a chance. I doubt either will have one.
Will it really play wma files?
Doubtful, now that there is a WMA -> AAC converter
Will the iPAQs be able to play apple AAC files?
Again, doubtful. Apple doesn't view PDAs as music players. They assume (and hope) you'd just get an hPod/iPod.

[Jonathon Watkins]

There is a convergence between personal music players, PDAs, cell phones and handheld gaming devices. Waiting for the ultimate one I guess :).

Let me know when you find it! ;-)

[Jonathon Watkins]

give me audio in encoding a flash slot and more playable formats and I might just take the plunge

Seconded. If I had a CF slot then I could use it to upload pictures on longer trips. Those 8Mp cameras really eat up the storage you know. :wink:

[Kacey Green]

Will it really play wma files?
Doubtful, now that there is a WMA -> AAC converter
Will the iPAQs be able to play apple AAC files?
Again, doubtful. Apple doesn't view PDAs as music players. They assume (and hope) you'd just get an hPod/iPod.

:evil: :evil: :x :evil: :cry: :evil:

[James Fee]

:evil: :evil: :x :evil: :cry: :evil:
Yea, I love my iPod, but WMA would be great.