What would make you buy a new iPod?
The rumor mill is buzzing about new iPod models that Apple will apparently introduce in a press event on Wednesday, September 5.
That date comes from "sources within the company" who spoke to Ars Technica. The article goes on to cite AppleInsider, which is suggesting that there will be four new models, all incorporating Apple's OS X (like the iPhone) and based on flash memory (like the Nano). The consensus seems to be that these new models will not feature a full touchscreen like the iPhone, but will have some of the music-interface features from that product, and that they will be thinner but with wider screens than the current generation.
None of this sounds particularly exciting. The iPod became the gold standard for portable music players because of its design, particularly the clickwheel, and iTunes' ease of use. The gradual rollout of smaller, cheaper models--Mini, Nano, and Shuffle--drew new users in and spurred existing iPod owners to buy a second or third model for the household.
But by now, I'm not sure interface and design changes are enough to keep the iPod juggernaut rolling. The iPod's no longer a novel product--nearly everybody knows what it is. If you want an iPod, you've already bought an iPod or are saving your money for an iPod (which means you would have bought one regardless of whether Apple rolled out new models or just kept selling the 5Gs).
I personally think that segmentation's gone as far as it can--there's no more room for a lower-priced BabyPod. So to keep sales growing, Apple either has to attract new users who were holding off for some reason, or convince existing iPod owners to replace their current one. And the only way to do that is with significant new features.
How about a Wi-Fi connection? Add Safari and some links to online services (YouTube) like the iPhone has. Wireless downloads, iTunes radio, maybe even a subscription version of iTunes. (I know Jobs has resisted, but he also said that video was a bust on a portable device.) It wouldn't cannibalize the iPhone because it wouldn't have cellular data or phone capabilities. Its range would be limited, but who cares--it's not a business tool, so you don't need to be connected all the time.
Let's hear from iPod users--what would make you throw your current one away and replace it? And for those of you who have been holding off, is there anything Apple could do with the next version to get you to buy one?
Matt Rosoff is an analyst with Directions on Microsoft, where he covers Microsoft's consumer products and corporate news. He's written about the technology industry since 1995, and reviewed the first Rio MP3 player for CNET.com in 1998. He is a member of the CNET Blog Network. Disclosure.
phone) I would be in line. I'd like it to line-up as:
-Music
-WiFi - Internet
-Video
The same form as the iPhone. I'm sure I'm out of luck since Apple would wait
until the cost of implementation is less than today.
(dang).
I'd also like to see an iTunes that doesn't delete songs from my library. I'm down to 13,000 songs. That's a lot. I had 15,000 3 months ago.... I'm spending a lot of money on my catalog. I'd like to keep it
over the long term I would get more songs for less money by paying for one
song at a
time. The flaw in that argument is there are roughly two-thousand songs I
want
right now that I can't afford on this method. Maybe to fix this flaw people
could get creative and
I could pay $20 dollars a month to have unlimited access to the itunes library
on my iPod and
get to pick five songs to download and keep (Just like $.99 songs). If any type
of subscription service were offerred I could subscibe and give my self the $5
allowance. This would allow me to have my old favorites, which I lost when
my last PC crashed, and still get new songs without spending a fortune
upfront. I
would also like to see more along the line of the nike+ perhaps something for
helping track what I've eaten for a day (scan a barcode on a Big Mac or search
thorugh a database of common foods) to tell me how far I should run at night
to
burn those calories.
Especially if it includes mating up with a cell phone like the new Samsungs that were talked about on BOL yesterday.
Until I see Bluetooth, I've really got no need to give Apple any more of my money.
Why shackle myself to one single company (Apple)?
The iPod is meant to do only one thing well: BUY MUSIC FROM APPLE.
It can't record off of the radio. Wait, does it even have a radio?
You can't even replace the iPod's batteries. So, when the battery dies, you have a tiny, cute, but useless brick.
There are so many good MP3 players and recorders out there that do so much more than the iPod can do, that one would be really stupid to buy an iPod.
The next player for us will not be an Apple.
it, gave it away. Satellite radio is what you need. An iPod is just a jukebox for all
the music I own & have listened to so much I don't want to hear it again. It's and
endless exercise in pressing the "next" button.
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by vinylMatt
December 4, 2007 9:05 AM PST
- I am about to replace my 30G photo with an 80G classic as I have no space left!
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(18 Comments)I would like a line-out selector built in like the Sony walkman has. Much better sound through a decent stereo. It is annoying to be tied to docking stations / pocket docks etc.