“Apple’s long-rumored flash-based iPod will be introduced at Macworld Expo in 1GB and likely 2GB versions, Think Secret has confirmed,” ThinkSecret reports. “Rapidly falling flash prices have enabled Apple to buy 1GB modules from Samsung at a relatively low cost, sources report, which in turn will allow Apple to sell the device for $149. Sources have also suggested that a 2GB version, packing two tiny 1GB flash modules, may sell for $199… insiders report that recent manufacturing issues may postpone the device’s full-scale roll-out for as long as a month.”
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: If other rumors are true that Apple will bump the ‘iPod mini’ up to 5GB for the same $249 price as the current 4GB ‘iPod mini,’ these new 1GB and 2GB ‘iPod flash’ units, for US$149 and $199 respectively, will fit pretty nicely into the iPod family’s price/storage framework.
Finally…a rumor that is close to what the price point will be.
Not 99 like everyone is pining for…where everyone would be disappointed afterwards…
Creative just announced that they will be shipping a 6 GB Zen micro by the end of the month. I think Apple will use this drive to be able to stay on top.
Two once winners and overweighted forces are joining to fight tiny Apple …..!
Man, that dude at ThinkSecret either has big balls or a small brain (or perhaps both). Who wants to take bets on whether he’ll get another nasty letter from Apple Legal by the end of the day?
BTW, Daring Fireball has a great article regarding the lawsuits. I highly recommend it: http://www.daringfireball.com
I don’t have an iPod..
The iPod flash 2GB would kick ass.. and i could get it and just put a handful of awesome playlists on it..
*drool
I could go for a 1 gb ipod flash. It would allow me to use it for running since my 3G ipod skips all over the place whenever I use it for that.
1 gig for 149 seems like a fair price to me. I was expecting a 0.5 gig model would be released for 100-150.
ndelc,
The question of the legality in reporting rumors isn’t that they’re doing it, it’s about how they are getting the info. If they are coercing it out of Apple employees somehow, then both TS and that employee are breaking the law. If someone from Apple comes to them with info, they are very much within their legal right to pass it on. In that scenario, only the employee is at fault, and rightfully so.
I still don’t believe they’ll drop below the 1,000 song mark.
More likely they’ll have a 4GB model with a huge battery life and charge a premium for it.
1GB= approx 250 songs. Sounds pretty fair given the prices being charged for the current crop of flash players. Last January, all the “experts” and many of the Mac faithful claimed that a $200-250 miniPod would be too expensive and would flop.
BTW-Piper has reported that iTunes Music is now selling at about 6.7 million songs per week. It would appear that all those Christmas pods are being put to good use.
Has anyone put much thought into whether the flash based iPod will just be an iPod mini with different storage. The form factor is small already, peripherals already exist, and people recognize what it is. You could buy a 1GB and “claim” it was a 4GB to impress people, but in reality you saved yourself about $100.
How do those prices comapre to what’s out there? Anyone? Don’t feel like doing my homework today.
A 1 GB iPod flash would be a breakthrough price at $149. Rio’s Forge 128 MB player costs $139. Their Forge 256 MB player costs $169.Their Cali 256 MB player costs exactly $149.
iRiver’s 512 MB player costs $199 and their 1 GB player costs $249.
Who says Apple’s overpriced?
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iRiver store: https://secure7.nexternal.com/shared/StoreFront/default.asp?CS=iriver&BusType=BtoC&Count1=529796779&Count2=446937203
Rio store: http://www.digitalnetworksna.com/shop/_templates/cat_list_Rio.asp?cat=73
me want smaller iPod… iPod Micro. That wish requires a smaller form factor.
I’m with Mike… <drool>
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Not you,
I understand the question of legality at hand. My point is, ThinkSecret’s author has decided to concede to Apple legal’s demands (removing the info on the four products) because he wants to avoid costly litigation which he would have to deal with regardless of who is found right or wrong. One would think that, under the circumstances, he would decide it prudent not to talk about any of the four products in question to avoid having to retain the cost of his lawyer’s services again. Apparently not.
They are trying to cow and break Think Secret. They cannot control their own employees and/or suppliers so they employ a scortched earth policy to intimidate rumor boards.
Enough. Stop it, Apple. You are acting like assholes.
We are a mixed pre-press service. We use both PC and Mac … some clients want it one way, others another. I prefer Mac, but I do not like becoming wholly dependent on either. Apple has a way of double crossing, and is as predatory as Microsoft given the opportunity.
We will stay in the present mode, albeit not perfectly efficient. The heavy handedness that Apple is using on Think Secret is a manifestation of the underlying beast that is there. We have seen this behavior since 1992, and will NEVER completely trust Apple, nor Steve Jobs.
Still love their products.
For those that want a lower cost player, Apple could keep the form factor and just change the labeling and the chip. $99.00 for 512MB might really grab a lot of folks that just couldn’t swing a Mini at $249.00; then they would have a representative all the way up the capacity/price structure.
Just had an idea. What if the iPod flash (or whatever it’s called) synched up with a new version of iTunes which had a special “iPod flash” playlist that allowed you to move songs in and out of it, but would not hold more data (in the playlist) than would fit on the iPod. Then all you do is you set the parameters for your playlist (like an updated version of a smart playlist or the “Party Shuffle” and when you plug in your iPod flash it loads your special playlist and updates and charges your iPod.
Even better if you could integrate it with Party Shuffle and it would grab the current song and as many songs ahead as would fit?
I think the Party Shuffle could use more flexibility and customizabiity it’s a very killer feature that definitely could be taken further.
It’s called Smart Playlist, Max MB = __GB! Duh!