News
Touch-screen video iPod claimed in development
Two separate reports today claim that a “true” video iPod with a large touch-screen display is on the way. Both Needham & Co analyst Charles Wolf and Apple news site Think Secret believe that this new iPod will likely be introduced at a special event to celebrate Apple’s 30th anniversary in early April. Apple CEO Steve Jobs alluded to some sort of celebration during last month’s Macworld Expo keynote speech.
“Apple was careful to call the iPod capable of displaying video that it introduced in October just that—an iPod that played music but also featured a video viewing capability,” Wolf wrote in a research note obtained by iLounge. “According to our sources, the screen on the Video iPod will occupy the entire front of the current iPod with a touch-activated scroll wheel. Assuming the same form factor as the current iPod, this move will increase the size of the screen three-fold.”
A Think Secret report claims that the new iPod will feature a 3.5-inch diagonal display and shed its mechanical click wheel. “This video iPod, which has been in development and on the table since before Apple released the 5G iPod last year with video playback, will feature a display that will occupy the entire front face of the device,” the site reports. “Sources who have seen the device report that it features a digital click wheel, one that overlays the touch-sensitive display and appears when a finger touches it and disappears when the finger is removed.”
Wolf says the growing collection of video content on iTunes is a sign of a new iPod. “In our opinion, the rapid increase in the iTMS’s video offerings is a strong signal that an iPod with a much larger screen is on the way,” he said. Wolf also cites reports from Asia that fifth-generation iPod production has been reduced. “One hypothesis is that sales of this model have fallen below Apple’s previous expectations for the quarter,” the analyst wrote. “An equally plausible hypothesis is that Apple is draining inventories of the iPod from the distribution channel in advance of its introduction of the new model.”
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61
WEll i wish this ud be true but why hasnt anyone thought of the videos on itunes. they are all with a 4:3 ration 320x240 resolution i dont think that itunes is offering new videos other than the one present. Moreover wat abt the movies we already bought!
Posted by wissarb on February 13, 2006 at 3:33 AM (PDT)
62
I keep on hearing it been mentioned that if the iPod keeps the same form factor, the screen size will expand 3 fold!
Is everyone retarded or what! For one if the screen was that size it would be much less than 3 fold (more like 2 and 1 third fold. Seriously if have a 5th gen iPod and you multiply the screen size by 3, you will see right away the screen would be longer then the iPod.
Should I point out that if they go full-screen, the difference between the white iPod and the Black iPod will be minimal as just the frame of the iPod will show the accent colour (not color). They might fake the part surrounding the “magic click-wheel” (I just invented that term right now), I think Apple would use that term too! They might fake a black or white surround, when in music mode (iPod held as normal, vertically).
This time when you choose video mode, (they will use them terms too! As the will keep selling the regular iPod aswell). Until the see what happens to the sales!
Summary: iPod 5th Gen. $279 & $379 Black or White.
($20 less)
iPod Cinema/Theatre/6th Gen. $449 Just one size
(70G)
Posted by brendan Sheehan jnr on February 13, 2006 at 5:31 AM (PDT)
63
One more thing…
People are saying. “do you think the will keep the music functionality”.
HELLO! Did you guys forget about iTunes! If they droped the music functionality, that would mean that every person who bought one, would nerer be able to give Apple money for songs! And that’s just crazy!
Posted by brendan Sheehan jnr on February 13, 2006 at 5:38 AM (PDT)
64
This thng would be alsome if it wouldn’t “upin” the price wich i probily will.
if they could only do it for the nano. tats what i have
I tell ya, what will they think of next?
Posted by LawnBoy on February 13, 2006 at 2:48 PM (PDT)
65
you guys need to calm down. yeah, i admit, this will be cool (if it happens) but we’ll just have to wait and see
Posted by dave on February 15, 2006 at 3:58 PM (PDT)
66
Ok people. Apple wouldn’t be dumb enough to sport a touch screen that was made of plastic. All good touchscreens are a glass substrate, which is designed for (gasp!) touching. Granted, smudges are an issue, but is that really going to stop you from buying it?
Wash your hands and stop whining! Besides, you’ll look trendy as you start a new fad: iPod screen cleaning. They’ll probably include a nice Apple-branded screen swiffer, too.
They would not be smart to put a scroll wheel on the back, as “comfortable” as it may be. It is totally outside their design conventions to put user interface elememts out of sight. Besides, the nice shiny backside would be blotted out by a hunking scroll wheel! I side with what people have been saying: a mini scroll wheel-type controller as a headphone extension.
I’m ready for the iPod Cinema. Sure, I won’t be able to afford it, but I’ll get to play with it at some point, and maybe even get one when they’re old news!
Posted by ophello on February 23, 2006 at 11:28 PM (PDT)
67
iSwiffer would be funny. lol.
I think I see where apple is going. Suffle is for just flash-based music. The nano will become the real “music” ipod of the family, and the the new Video ipod will be kinda like a Media Center iPod—a portable way to take all your media with you. Go Apple!
Also, it would be cool if you could alter the screen from the “classic” ipod mode (mostly music playing) and the new “Frontrow 2.0” ipod mode. That would be cool!
Posted by Mike on February 27, 2006 at 5:28 PM (PDT)
68
Guys… Really love new Touch iPod 16GB, But the problem is, because I allready have iPod video 30GB… Is there anywhere I can exchange it? willing to pay all the difference. Is there any sites or places where I can find people who would exchange a new version for mine (excelent condition) with all bounuces from my part and paying the difference in cost. I became a real problem for me, coz I don’t really have 30 GB of music… It is max 5… I more use it like a remote hard drive… Anyone? any help?
Posted by Grigory on November 16, 2007 at 11:17 PM (PDT)
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