iLounge

1

NO! NO! NO!!!!! I want a screen!!  tell me it’s not true, guys!

Posted by StinkieDMB in Pittsburgh, PA on January 10, 2005 at 8:45 PM (PST)

2

i don’t see the point in the flash ipod, unless it was the iPod mini with 4gb CF card instead of the microdrive

Posted by mp3mooch in Classified on January 10, 2005 at 8:47 PM (PST)

3

at this point there’s no such thing as a 4 gig CF card, the max out at this point is the 1 gig CF card

Posted by MATRIXsjd in Burbank, Ca on January 10, 2005 at 9:00 PM (PST)

4

It sounds like Apple’s just counting on the iPod name and style as well as the unit’s price to sell this, not its interface. If that’s true, it’s sad, compromising the brand that way. But maybe we’ll be pleasantly surprised tomorrow.

Posted by mattwardfh in Texas on January 10, 2005 at 9:03 PM (PST)

5

MATRIXsjd, from what dark place did you pull that piece of intel from?

the maximum capacity for CompactFlash cards is 8GB

http://lexar.links.channelintelligence.com/pages/prices.asp?sSKU=CF8GB-40-380

Posted by Kloan in Toronto, ON on January 10, 2005 at 9:07 PM (PST)

6

thats just too bad, i was really expecting a flash player that would blow away the competition

hopefully this doesnt ruin apple’s reputation, but like mattwardfh said, we may still be in for a surprise tomorrow.

Posted by mrwright in california on January 10, 2005 at 9:16 PM (PST)

7

hmm, 240 songs a million ways? Apple always innovates something good and unexpected. I just really curious how to control various ways only by 4 buttons without screen?

is it just slogan like any other companies do? but Apple is different company. let see that what’ll happen tomorrow.

Posted by crazypod in St. Louis, MO on January 10, 2005 at 9:28 PM (PST)

8

If this is true, then it seems that Apple’s new product is being driven more by adverstising than by innovation or features.  Lack of a screen—i.e. not being able to pick a song—is a crippling omission in my opinion.  I do realize that many iPod users enjoy the Shuffle feature, but don’t consumers want a choice?  What 1 GB player lacks a screen?  Apple is getting rather cocksure (assuming it’s true).

Posted by ww on January 10, 2005 at 10:06 PM (PST)

9

If this non-screen “life is random” = random play is true, I was thinking perhaps the buttons (or rather 1 or 2 of them) might be used for RATING the mp3s, so like the most popular ones get played more, or the ones that get rated low end up getting deleted automatically or something like that. Maybe that’s innovation, albeit gimmicky?

Posted by surfinmuse on January 10, 2005 at 10:11 PM (PST)

10

—I also think that an optional in-line remote with display holds a lot of possibilities (but would be rather devious of Apple).  Much like how printers don’t include USB cables and video game consoles only include 1 controller, the wired display+controller would be a “must buy”.  I don’t think Apple will do it, though.  Not their style, methinks.

Posted by ww on January 10, 2005 at 10:14 PM (PST)

11

muse—a really cute idea which is totally feasible (and apple-esque).  I do agree with you though—it’d be turning one of the more gimmicky features into the main way in which to select music.

Posted by ww on January 10, 2005 at 10:15 PM (PST)

12

ww, thanks! yeah i was just thinking this would be marketed as a novelty, in the sense that perhaps you get it, plug it in, it inhales a random 240 random (read: a million combinations?) songs from your library. Then you use it at the gym or whatever, and you get pleasantly (or otherwise) surprised by which 240 it picked. Something like that.

Posted by surfinmuse on January 10, 2005 at 10:42 PM (PST)

13

... then again we could all be disappointed, and the 4 buttons = 1. play/pause 2. previous track; 3. next track; 4. volume.

Posted by surfinmuse on January 10, 2005 at 10:48 PM (PST)

14

well i suppose with 240 songs, it’s really like fitting a playlist of songs you would really wanna hear and if u dun like it the next time round, just change to another one… there’s no need for a screen… cuts out the fus… if it retails for US$99?

Posted by joon on January 10, 2005 at 10:57 PM (PST)

15

I posted this eariler: if Apple doesn’t include a in-line remote with a screen either standard or as an option, I see that thing crashing and burning in flames. Apple thinks they can ride on the a name alone while offering ten year old technology for an out of this workd price. Get real Apple. Only the people that can’t afford even an Mini or are too “trend obessed” to pull their head out of ground would consider this flashbased player as an option especially considering the feature set of the current competition’s flashbased players… Apple is up crap’s creek without a paddle on this one (if what’s being touted about the flash player is true).

Posted by FallN in New York, NY on January 10, 2005 at 11:17 PM (PST)

16

depending on the price, no screen could make sense,  1gb is a huge flash player.  most retail for $200+

Posted by zip22 on January 10, 2005 at 11:29 PM (PST)

17

Although the lack of screen is crippling…

This would be pretty good for the gym. I have a solid base of 5 Star songs now…

But if they are hiding a remote with a screen (compatible with all pods hopefully) that’d be the masterstroke!

Posted by XanDaMan on January 11, 2005 at 12:58 AM (PST)

18

Even $10 CD-Players come with a “screen” which diplays the tracknumber. That this is crap. I hope Apple will not loose to much money with that. Only the right amount to tell them that they should think before.

On the other hand. Price changes everything and we havent looked at the actual product jet. But here in Germany MP3-Players with 1 GB Flash storage are sold for around $150. But they come with a nice display.

Posted by Wuddel on January 11, 2005 at 1:08 AM (PST)

19

steve jobs will say things like: “everyone uses shuffle anyway,” “the worlds best screen and song picker is iTunes and that is how you use this.”

the long and short of it is that apple had NO WAY to create a small, low cost, flash player that WOULDN’T kill sales of the iPod mini or even the iPod 4G unless they did something AGRESSIVE to set it apart… like NO SCREEN.

Posted by canyonblue737 on January 11, 2005 at 5:48 AM (PST)

20

ps: it BETTER be $99

Posted by canyonblue737 on January 11, 2005 at 5:49 AM (PST)