A ‘pod’ to rule them all
Rumors are buzzing that a new iPod will be coming soon. Even normal consumers are aware when a new iPod is just around the corner and boy do I get to hear them complain about it too. They claim that they just got an iPod in December and it’s too early to have a new one. The fact is, iPods are on 6-10 month product cycles like the nano that came out at the end of summer and the full size iPod released in mid October. So April – June is way overdue and I would not be surprised if we got iPods earlier than that.
I’m especially excited about the ultimate iPod. One with an entirely new user interfaces and touch sensitive controls. Daily, I have to tell friends to be easy on my click wheel because it will become indented if you push too hard. A 3.5� iPod face which is the screen will be incredible for wide angle high definition movies because watching the Dukes of Hazard on my iPod on the way to work was difficult from two feet away and I wished the screen was slightly larger.
I have used the nano and I don’t understand why album artwork is even included because the screen is so darn small album artwork looks like pixilated trash. The artwork on the original iPod photo was almost readable but that was pushing it. The nano is not going to revert to something less but it has its shortcomings including an interface that has remained unchanged since 2001. A new iPod with such a large screen could be used similar to a PSP with volume controls on the side, a magically appearing click wheel in the middle and the menus on the left and right side of the click wheel. The menu on the left showing what menu you are currently viewing and the right showing either now playing or a preview of the movie, photo or podcast you currently have selected. Selecting a movie takes you full screen and the click wheel disappears.
Having volume controls on the side would allow you to control volume without interrupting the viewing of your movie. The fact that this entire piece relies on heat means you could customize your experience to just audio or hybrid mode. Audio mode puts the click wheel always on at the bottom of the pod’s screen with classic vertical style navigation as we do on today’s iPod. Video style forces you to hold the iPod sideways as you navigate. Both will be popular amongst consumers but also give us choice because not everyone wants videos on the go.
My iPod 60Gb is full and I need more! Many music videos are 20Mbs a piece so if Apple wants me to continue buying these 12 track video CDs from artists like Coldplay and Jack Johnson, then an 80 and 100Gb flavor of iPod are in order and you can make the iPod longer and a little thicker but give me more storage. I hear every day from people that I don’t need more than 15 thousand songs at any given time and I agree but with only 100 hours of video at my fingertips, I think that’s a good gauge that I need more storage. I have 9 thousand songs and I’m content with that but only having a few hours of video hurts so get to work Apple.
So new iPods are coming but when are they not? April is expected timeframe and they will probably be in the 600-dollar range for 100Gb hard drives and 3.5� screens and you know where to find the first review.
