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I thought the $99 was a typo, too. That's absolutley ridiculous. I thought the prices were absurd for the existing iPod cases, but this takes it to another level. And the "HiFi" speaker? The sound might be great, but damn is it ugly. No diplay. No integrated airport. This did not justify a special event.

If you think you are unhappy check out the engaget page

http://www.engadget.com/2006/02/28/apple-ipod-hi-fi-hands-on/#comments

And the stock just keeps on slipping.

andy stated:

"leather cases for ipod 5G - not even ready yet! - this means no ipod update for some time, which indicates recent rumours are for a pda or tablet - this bad news therfore could turn out to be good"

That thought crossed my mind also, but what if Apple was planning a true video iPod in the (relatively near) future with the same size dimensions? That might explain why they chose a slip case design with no control openings for an arguably very expensive cover, because it could then be used for the next generation as well without people whinning that they "just paid $99 for this thing and now it won't even fit their newest iPod!"

Just another perspective...

Underwhelmed has got to be the word of the day. All this hype for a SPEAKER. I have a great stereo reciever that hooks up to my TV and to an Airport Express and plays my entire iTunes library from my computer and a cable that hooks up the reciever to an iPod dock where I can hook my iPod up if I want. Who needs or wants this boxy, clunky very large piece of junk? I'm sure the sound is going to be great, but $350! Come on. It's larger then my stereo reciever.

I was so ready to break out the credit card today, boy am I disappointed. No Airport Express built in, THE REMOTE STILL CAN'T BE USED TO BROWSE BETWEEN MENUS! This means for $350 I still have to walk across the room to change a playlist! Why not have it hook up to your TV so you can use the TV screen to use the remote in the same way you use it with Front Row?

With all the effort put in to creating this product, wow, what a waste. Very uninspired design and funtionality.

Hehe, you are are going to be so surprised. On April 1st, we're going to really let things fly! You think we're going to let out some really cool stuff with our 30th anniversary just 32 days away?

Huh, as if...

This is the first time I've seen apple release iCRAP.

I'm completely whelmed under

Isn't Jobs partially deaf in one ear? He calls himself an audiophile... I hope this unit is stereo!

Sorry you all didn't get the next major lifestyle product that you deserve.

APPL is simply trying to benefit from the iPod momentum with an iPod peripheral. Its a reasonable move. There's lots of pink mini's out there waiting for a cute place to sit ...

That's it?

A friggin leather iPod case?

Yeah I know the mini and boom box.

That's it?

I know I enjoy the Apple mystique. But I can only imagine how the tech press feels schlepping all the way to Apple Headquarters via a mysterious invitation? I know as a consumer how I feel.

I can only assume Jobs is giving Gates the opportunity to shine today with whatever he's announcing. Unless it's a leather case for carrying around your Windows install cd!

The financial markets, consumer markets, music markets and film markets as a whole have been looking as Apple/Jobs as the innovators and visionaries of the tech sector leader for the future of technology innovation. They lost a lot of credibility today in my opinion. Calling an event and summoning the press to them for a truly non-event amazes me. And I bet everyone else too. As the stock fell almost $3.00 so far.

I'm an Apple devotee. But a non-event is damaging to Apple and the leadership they've earned the last two years.

Stop stroking your ego Steve with the ability to make the press jump. You introduced nothing today. These items are a press release at best. But in reality these products should have just shown up in the Apple store and marketplace.

A friggin leather iPod case. I got mine on eBay for about 1o bucks each. Yes for my 40 gig, 20 gig, mini, 30 gig video, 60 gig video and shuffle ipods. So yes I am a Mac person. Always will be. But today is a shame. or sham?

"...you guys have to realize that there is an amazing product around the corner. Just wait."

Sam - pass the blunt. puff puff give. You know how it goes.

Yes, there will be fantastic new products, but I doubt something was nixed from this preso.

I'll stick with my $7000 of "Proper" Hi-Fi thanks. Steve Jobs knows better, he has VERY expensive Hi-Fi kit.

Am I missing something? I've been plugging my ipod into my stereo for years. And I get a radio and an obsolete casette deck thrown in.

I thought the 99$ was a freaking typo!

I thought it would be at least 199$.

Geez what a bunch of jerks. Now all of my friends will be able to afford it, it's already worthless. Gosh I'm so going to shop at D&G;tomorrow.

Could it be we had our expectations set just a little too high?

Steve, next time just put out a press release with no advance warning. Then post a well crafted video showing off the new gismo on apple.com

Mac fanatics just can't deal with anticipation. They expect too much. You show them the best selling iPod mini and they piss all over it. Well, it's happening again.

You can't win Steve. Come at the new product releases from a different angle.

YOU BUNCHA F-CKTARDS ARE ALL PISSANT WHINERS!!!!

Shut the f-ck up and let the first-person assessments come in, ferchrissakes. This pathetic reaction by you pantywaists reminds me of the reactions to the first iPod. "What the f-ck is that? It looks like a little brick! Geez, Apple blows!" Blah, blah, blahhhhhhhhhhh. And then everyone saw it in person, heard it, and . . . WAS BLOWN AWAY!

Why don't you wait until you, oh, I don't know . . . until you READ THE F-CKING SPECS a little closer!!! Try doing that before posting your stupid flameboy sh!t! This thing IS priced perfectly based on external market factors and its capabilities.

Buncha assclowns.

Wow, nifty product, and woo hoo on the upgraded mini, but I was waiting for "One more thing....." and judging by the current stock price, apparently so were alot more people

Oh well, nobody's perfect....

MDN: "our" "Our favorite company left alot of us wanting more today."

Must admit $99.00 for the leather cases is a bit much - That's about 1/3 the price of a decent iPod itself.

As for the speaker system, I don't really know what to make of it. I'm not saying it's bad because I haven't heard it yet, BUT, with iTunes being at only 128Kbps it's not playing audiophile quality files. Maybe in the future iTunes will offer lossless, then this box can show what it's really made of.

It's really not a problem with the box or design - it's probably very high quality. The problem is your iPod only plays at 128Kbps - NOT audiophile quality.

Today's Apple announcement sucked.

Microsoft's Origami will be what we're waiting for.

That second picture at the top looks like a cheap microwave. You know, the kind that only makes popcorn and heats coffee, that only has a dial, and is sitting right now in every crappy workplace break room in the country.

Nice announcments, though I really didn't think these were worth a 'media event'.

Still, as far as the iPod HI-FI goes, don't knock it 'til you've tried it. As others have pointed out, you get what you pay for.

All the moaning is strangely reminiscent of those "all that for just an MP3 player" type comments a few years ago.

John Lewis on Oxford St. sells stacks of Bose SoundDocks at £250 a throw, and that can't be used on the beach or in the park. What's the UK pricing for this? £250.

These aren't perfect, but they will sell.

Those that play .mp3 files through this new "box" will be amazed at the decibel levels (102?) and will have their ears free to insert a key to clear wax.
Overblown (and over priced) and it will not replace a good tuner and amplifier (something I bought 20 years ago).
The leather iPod case is a different story. These were made by 90 year old Italian women from the wallets Steve Jobs used to carry all of his Pixar cash after the Disney purchase.
The Mac mini was the "event". Lots of doubles in it.
Speed.
USB ports.
DVD burner.
And a major speed boost in the ethernet (now giga good).
Stock price will recover.

Although somewhat taken aback by the iBrick...if the sound on this thing is top notch, and high volume with clean sound....i think these will fly out of the store.

Most of you complainers are going to be stunned into silence when Apple sells a shitload of these little iPod Hi-Fi's. Sure, this is no replacement for a real living room stereo system, it's not really meant to be. For many, many people there are other places that people want to hear their iPod music collection without tuning out of the real world by stuffing earbuds in. Small offices, bedrooms, bathrooms, garages, kitchens, a small barbeque at the park or beach, dorm rooms. The list really can go on and on. You guys are thinking small while Apple has no doubt done studies on iPod owner demographics. Apple is smart enough not to go after true audiophile environments, or compete against entrenched brands. They are expanding the usability of their flagship consumer product. If you don't need or want this product, that's okay, but I'm willing to bet that enough people will to further make the iPod the continued portable music player of choice.

Steve will come out with the real magic soon, no doubt.

Steve
your baby is ugly
I won't consider it even at $150

I'm surprised that all of those with complaints didn't notice the most relevant one - there's no USB connection to your computer, so you can't sync your iPod while it is docked to the HiFi.

In my opinion, this is the most egregious omission. This thing should have had all the capabilities of the iPod dock built in (S-video, Front Row remote control, etc.) and should have also been allowed to act as a sound output device for the computer.

And for total HiFi gravy, if there was an option to hook satellite speakers to it, it have been the perfect answer for people looking for a genuine Apple computer speaker solution to go with their new Mac and iPod purchases.

May this was a ruse to find out what Microputz was up to ???

You notice the announcement was at Apple and not elswhere?

MDN: make
Make them go first

I'd hate to say it, but who designed that thing? DELL??? Ugliest thing to ever come out of Apple. I don't think the price is as bad as some of you are making it out to be for what you get, but UGLY UGLY UGLY... was Ives drunk that day?

"when Apple sells a shitload of these little iPod Hi-Fi'"

Spark
First of all I seriously doubt it. look at the response so far but even if as you say Apple sells tons of them does not make it a good product -look at Dell there are tons of them around, do you want one?

As the last guy who posted said I wouldn;t buy one for $150 and NO there is no stereo effect in ONE speaker.

ATTENTION NUMB SKULLS:

The very fact that this "event" was held at no additional cost to Apple at their campus, tells you not to expect Earth shattering® new tech.

Got that?

So all you ThinkSecret, MacRumors, iKnow, etc. fans, give it a rest. And yes, $350 for a portable hifi powered speaker system with dock is not outlandish, if the sound rocks.

Side note: the thing between your ears has a purpose.

Where is the TV screen?

Whats going on here! Apple's anouncement at their HQ told you it was medium, not major. The Boom box thing looks cool and probably sounds great since it has a direct digital connection to the Ipod (reg boom boxes have only an analog connection). Its got a full blown hi fi amp built right in, not some cheap boom box amp. Folks wake up, "its the music stupid" The Ipod accessory market is HOT and Apple wants a piece. This has also been part of the rumor build up. The real announcement is the Mac Mini media hub. This, we all know, is what the Mac mini should have been with the addition of digital sound out. With the Front Row and Bonjour upgrades media can be streamed around the network, including to your mac mini attached to your hi def TV. This thing is going to sell like HOT HOT Cakes and people are going to buy alot of those boom boxes at the same time. The Ibooks will be out in the spring. Oh and I wouldn't be suprized if their wasn't a "Just one more thing announcement" soon-- maybe that wireless video Ipod.

Shameless Google bomb - why are you still reading this far down?
http://www.bkpfd.org

Sam said:
"Any kind of PDA device was put on hold because of Microsoft's origami"

Possibly. Let's see if Microsoft still makes their major announcement. then apple can release iNewsomething and steal their thunder instead. we'll see.

Get comfortable with the price of the boombox, you'll need to buy 5 of them as satellite speakers when the media hub debuts

I love the leather pouch. It is the best iPod case I've ever seen. I keep it in my pocket all the time and I'm not always fidgeting with it, so I don't need some kind of exposed controls. The thing is stylish, like a good wallet.

I'll need to see it up close to tell whether the price is worth it, though. There are varying grades of leather, people. Your $25 Belkin case isn't the be-all end-all.

MDN word "alone", perhaps apt.

I waited and waited for this? I am sure it is a nice music box but geez....my expectations were too high.
Sob....where is my bottle of scotch......

hmmm... is it me or is white beginning to look a bit tired and erm cheap.

How sad and how expensive

----

hahahaha.. you really should check out the features.. you can't SEE the sound quality on the website, if you don't care, then you don't have to buy it... Apple showed examples of $1000 systems that did the same thing..

did it ever occur to you that some people are willing to pay that much??

wait, don't tell me.. you DON'T have a Porsche either?



God you guys are so negative.

Goes great with the $499.00 iPod Photo intro.

Give it 4 months and it'll be $199.00.

Apple stores are going to be rock'n out..because everyone will want to test the limits of these.

Dave...
"First of all I seriously doubt it. look at the response so far but even if as you say Apple sells tons of them does not make it a good product -look at Dell there are tons of them around, do you want one?"

Dave: The regulars here at MDN don't represent the vast demographics of iPod owners. And as a businessman or an Apple shareholder, I would disagree with you. If Apple sells tons of them, it is by definition a good product.

"As the last guy who posted said I wouldn;t buy one for $150 and NO there is no stereo effect in ONE speaker."

Dave: There is NOT ONE speaker in this new product. If you've looked at it at all there are three: two mid-high range and one small woofer. This is one more than the Bose Wave, and that product has been a huge success for that company. I've not yet listened to Apple's new box, but I"ve heard the Bose Wave, and in a smallish area it sounds great. Some places aren't conducive to setting up a full stereo system. Apple iPod Hi-Fi is designed for those occassions. You don't like it, don't buy one. I'm just saying that this new product will satisfy more people than those here recognise.

Although as and addition to my home system, the Hi-Fi is a complet so-what. However, for a small college dorm room, it isn't so bad. But when you add up the price of an iPod and Hi-Fi, it's reaching pretty deep into a wallet.

The new mini is the most compelling thing. Get us some good DVR software and integration with some STBs and you have a fabulous device!

Oooh leeeeaaaattthhher iPod cases... The perfect accessory for your iPod when you vist your Dominatrix.

Zupchuck..

You can forgot about the mini ever incoporating DVR functions in the mini..

Apple sells video content for $1.99 per episode iTMS... They'd be shooting themselves in the foot and pissing off a lot of network partners if they suddenly started bundling DVR functions in a Mac...

Apple is going to price itself right out of buisness

One speaker, no FM, no cd player, not even a frigging clock.

Competing with hundreds of other companies who are supporting the iPod universe by making similar products.

Apple is greedy, taking all of us for a ride.

Fsck you very much Steve Jobs.


MacDude

I'm small.

This would rock in my office....oh, too bad I can't play music in my offce...corporate lifers have turned into 'headphone' zombies.

MacDude Says, "One speaker, no FM, no cd player, not even a frigging clock."

1. There are 3 speakers in the unit, NOT one. 3 speakers with stereo output. This is ONE more speaker than what is in the wildly successful Bose Wave.
2. Who the F needs FM with an iPOD. I don't get this continual argument. I bough an iPod so I could turn off the FM wasteland.
3. No CD player????? I've got every CD I've ever owned ripped into my iPod. This is an iPod accessory, not a stand alone stereo system.
4. No clock?? Hello, there is a clock in the iPod, with alarms and sleep function.

The Hi-Fi enable anyone with an iPod to bring their library of music to any room or even outside, jettison the earbuds, join a group and experience music as it was originally design: as a shared social event.

This unit is not a earth shattering. It's not even a big deal. But it is one more foundational element that shores up the iPod empire. These are going to sell like hot cakes (whatever that means).

I don't know what to thik about this. It seems pricey and rather bulky.