“Industry analysts at American Technology Research have raised their Apple stock purchasing recommendations from ‘hold’ to ‘buy’ on their belief that NVIDIA has secured its place in the much anticipated device. They believe that NVIDIA’s entrance into the iPod can be viewed as a strong sign that Apple intends to support 3D on the video iPod, and they believe that this will translate into significant sales… ‘Based on our analysis, we believe Nvidia is designed into the next-generation vPod socket at the expense of Broadcom,’ said Satya Chillara, author of the report. ‘We believe the Nvidia chip adds 3D graphics functionality in addition to all of the existing features (such as H.264) that Broadcom supported with the existing vPod,'” Ken Fisher reports for Ars Technica.
“If true, NVIDIA’s claim to the video iPod goldmine would be a major loss for Broadcom, which to date has supplied most of the iPod’s brains. Nevertheless, it must be noted that Chillara is not certain that 3D functionality is at the heart of the NVIDIA’s offering; it does stand to reason that NVIDIA’s main edge over Broadcom would rest in the company’s 3D prowess, which already extends to mobile phones, however,” Fisher reports.
“On the programming front, Apple appears to be investing in gaming development. The company has reportedly been in the market for game developers, and rumors back in May even indicated that the position was somehow related to the iTunes Music Store. Could Apple be selling Zuma and Wik: Fable of Souls for the iPod in a few short months? It’s all starting to add up to a real posibility,” Fisher reports.
Full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Fred Mertz” for the heads up.]
Gee, an iPod capable of real gaming (plus music, video, and the usual extras) wouldn’t be that successful, would it? 
Related article:
Report: Nvidia beats out Broadcom, wins inclusion in Apple’s ‘true’ video iPod due ‘first half 2007’ – July 18, 2006
Add gaming, wider screen and you have an SPS Apple style. But games with click wheel? I agree that does stink. I tied the built in games … blah
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I just downloaded 10,000 games from itunes to play on my ipod.
maybe they should start calling Macs ‘ipods’ instead…
Ok as someone raised the word stupidity here. Just answer a few easy questions.
1) is a vPod the same beast as a iPod?
2) does it have exactly the same market?
3) Would a video player that has good gaming abilities likely be more popular than one without?
At some point a video player will be expected to include good gaming within its capabilities ‘watch the film play the game’ is an obvious marketing ploy. To try to compete with an xbox branded video device when you have no games capability is likely to be like trying to compete with the iPod if you are Creative, if not now certainly 5 years down the line.
One I don’t see SJ being that stupid not to see that.
Two I can’t see him ignoring the linked film/game marketing posibilities especially at the store with his background.
Three I certainly hope that he sees that just because certain rules dictate in the music player market that they inevitably will do the same in the video (indeed any other) market. Hey rules change over time even with the greatest of successes- AOL anyone. After all thinking that way is why Microsoft has been so bogged down with using the Window’s methodology it hasn’t noticed that it hasn’t been working for its other products except where they are leveraged upon it.
I don’t think apple should try and join the gaming industry. Very bad industry for a company that creates high-end rather than cheep products.
…will be the day when Apple releases an iPod/Gameboy device. This is the most ridiculous rumor yet. Video is one thing, and it’s taking them long enought to get a true video player to market, but a freakin’ handheld gaming iPod. Yeah right, because Apple is the first thing that comes to mind when you think video games. This thing would probably cost $800 if it were true, maybe even more knowing Apple.