iLounge

41

Wonder how this will comapre with the new Griffin FM radio remote, which has a small lcd screen on the remote and does come in black and is shipping now($49). Has anyone used the Griffin remote?

Posted by Everyman on January 10, 2006 at 7:35 PM (PDT)

42

I use the griffen remote with my 5g and it works great. I was really surprised how well it receives fm signals. Having the display on the remote is a nice feature, I can change channels w/o taking my ipod from my pak. It has 5 station presets also. The song id thing is cool though and not with the griffen.

Posted by tanslacks on January 10, 2006 at 7:56 PM (PDT)

43

I was really hoping they’d have these in stock at my local Apple mart. No such luck. I was told they don’t know when they might have them in stock. Low and behold, I get home this evening to order one online and the shipping date has gone from 3-5 days to 3-4 weeks. Just my luck!

Posted by podeluxe on January 10, 2006 at 8:50 PM (PDT)

44

New iPod Updater is out. 1.1 for 5G units.

Posted by André Warner on January 10, 2006 at 9:14 PM (PDT)

45

Does anyone know if they’ll be getting Black ones in?? I just ordered the Griffin ifm in black… called 2 apple stores and they didn’t know… although the white one are coming in stock tomorrow.

I really like how they integrate the radio feature in the Ipod instead of being on the remote.. if there’s a black one, i’ll definetly get one!  Or should i just exchange my ipod for a white 5g??? hmm.. i still have my 30days.. muahahaha!

Posted by Sam on January 10, 2006 at 9:39 PM (PDT)

46

If you meant the 1.1 update being out now, then yes, I’d call that really quick.

Posted by Mark A on January 10, 2006 at 9:57 PM (PDT)

47

50 dollars for something that is standard on almost every other mp3 player.

What a joke.

Posted by undesign on January 10, 2006 at 11:33 PM (PDT)

48

50 dollars for something that is standard on almost every other mp3 player.

What a joke.

No joke, no laughter; only blank stare. It’s $49. Only surprise to me is that it didn’t go for more.  After all, there are only so many hours in the day to listen to an iPod, and if one is going to insist on doing an activity (listening to FM) that doesn’t directly support the habit…er, I mean…the fun of going to iTMS and purchasing oodles of 128k DRMed files…well, then, that person’s going to pay a pretty penny for that subversive diversionary activity.

‘Bout time, Apple, that you addressed this issue. However for me personally, an extra add-on to watch and fret over is not going to cut it. Considering how recently the 5G was released, this could’ve been part of the Video iPod’s original design without any extra hardware. Next generation just integrate the bloody function IN the player. With AM. Or satellite. I’ve gotta have my daily fix of sports, talk and news radio; I’d rather have it courtesy of my iPod, but I’m going to get with or without it along for the ride.

Posted by flatline response on January 11, 2006 at 12:28 AM (PDT)

49

why the hell are u guys complaning about having no AM reciver there going to cull am for fm becase am is mono and fm is stereo so it dosent mater any way cause i dont have a 5G or nano

Posted by kizza on January 11, 2006 at 12:48 AM (PDT)

50

Since no one else said it, I guess I will.  This radio is LAME…STUPID…USELESS!

People do want FM with their iPod, but they want it built into their iPod.  Not some $50 add-on that gets in the way.  Don’t your headphone cords get tangled enough as it is?  Image trying to make sense of all these cords.

I think it’s another Steve Jobs conspiracy.  He insisted that people didn’t want music on the their cell phones, so he hamstrung the ROKR so bad that no one bought it and he got to say ‘told you so’.

Jobs has been saying forever that no one wants FM with their iPod and now he’s hamstrung this FM tuner so bad that no one will buy it and he once again will get to say ‘told you so’.

This may be the worst implementation of a feature I’ve seen in the iPod line.  Wait a second, maybe the $39 in-your-ear Apple headphones (that sounded like garbage) was the worst accessory ever from Apple.

Posted by Talking Madness in Los Angeles on January 11, 2006 at 1:31 AM (PDT)

51

Man.. that’s it!! I’m exchanging my Black 5G for a White one… seems that apple doesn’t make any black accessories!

Posted by Sam on January 11, 2006 at 1:31 AM (PDT)

52

Yes ! At least, a remote for the iPod Video. I was waiting for it since I’ve got mine. And it does radio too, great idea and it’s pretty nice and small ! Gooooooooood !

Posted by Steph on January 11, 2006 at 3:41 AM (PDT)

53

What Steve Jobs (or Apple) is doing here, is seeing if users are actually interested in radio on their iPods…if they see loads of people buying the devices, then it’ll be an integrated part of the 6G, but I’d expect to see an advancement, say DAB, or what you americans called sirius…

Posted by silver_haze20 on January 11, 2006 at 3:45 AM (PDT)

54

I think its great that Apple has done this, but it does seem a little pricey, especially as my 20GB 3G ipod came with a remote as standard. Ok it didn’t have FM but it was extremely handy, and kept the ipod in a safe place.

Now having a 5G one I do miss the remote, and I’m currently using a portable radio in the morning which carrying another device, so this address both.

For those of you moaning about you don’t want a radio for your ipod, quite simple, don’t buy it!

Posted by Adam on January 11, 2006 at 6:29 AM (PDT)

55

It’s a shame it is not compatible with 4G iPods. It shouldn’t be that hard for Apple to make it work on 4G iPod.

Posted by Poekie on January 11, 2006 at 6:38 AM (PDT)

56

Poekie -

iPod (who also apparently also makes Apple branded computers) is not exactly known making consistent decisions and designing products with future and/or past generations of products in mind.  If it was backward compatible, then you’d not need to buy a new iPod to get the functionality you desire.

Apple somehow gets a free pass on this from the fanboys - but if MSFT used this approach as frequently and egregiously then there would be a lot of decrying the scruples of money grubbing Bill Gate$.

Posted by apetaster on January 11, 2006 at 6:54 AM (PDT)

57

Don’t compare this FM tuner to any other tuner nor MP3 with tuner built-in.  It has RDS (Radio Data System).  Google it.  Then look for home or car audio devices that have RDS.  You’ll see the cost is a lot more for devices with RDS.  Is RDS all that?  Well, we’ll find out.

I only wish it was black and just mounted to the bottom (like Griffin’s iTrip) with a pass through dock connector.  I may want to listen to the radio in my car or desk without all that wire dangling everywhere.

Posted by kdogg on January 11, 2006 at 7:01 AM (PDT)

58

I also have the Griffin remote/FM tranceiver. I’ve been very dissapointed with the FM reception (though it could just be where I am, I don’t know) and the FM transmission is so-so. The remote works well enough, but the cord just a little too short for comfort with the iPod on my belt, and its rather bulky.

Of course the original Apple remote had the twisted-cord problem. Will the new one have the same problem?

Posted by timewarp13 on January 11, 2006 at 9:59 AM (PDT)

59

Sorry, scratch that last comment. I was confused; I was talking about the Tunestir Remote for 4G.

Posted by timewarp13 on January 11, 2006 at 10:06 AM (PDT)

60

I’ve been waiting for them to add radio for so long. Most gyms have a closed circuit FM network you can tune into to hear the audio for TV shows they have running on the TVs there. Now you don’t have to carry around a separate FM radio. I was planning on buying an ipod video anyway, this just sweetens the deal. Has anyone noticed how much Apple (AAPL) stock has gone up since yesterday? It’s gone up $8.00 since yesterday morning. So glad i plunked down the cash in 1999, I’m up almost 800%.

Posted by Vandelay Industries on January 11, 2006 at 11:10 AM (PDT)