“A tear-down of Apple Computer’s newly refreshed video iPod reveals potentially high margins for the company and confirms that both PortalPlayer and Broadcom have retained their respective sockets inside the device,” Katie Marsal reports for AppleInsider.
Marsal reports, Craig Berger, an analyst at Wedbush Morgan Securities who covers PortalPlayer, had predicted that the iPod chip maker would retain its slot in the device and ripped one open just to be sure. ‘We do see both the PortalPlayer MP3 processor and the Broadcom video processor chip inside this device, consistent with our prior expectations that this device would remain a discreet two-chip solution for the time being,’ he told clients in a research note on Thursday.”
Marsal reports, “Berger said Apple made very few hardware changes over its fifth-generation iPod with video playback, but did update the player’s power management chips. ‘The lack of hardware changes implies that this device is a short-term, stop-gap device intended to buy Apple more time until it is ready to launch its true iPod Video later this year or early next year,’ he said.”
Full article with graphics and photos here.
Related article:
Apple debuts new iPod in 30GB and 80GB with Hollywood movies, games and new lower price – September 12, 2006
#1 throwing bolos like i’m the numero uno solo
Can’t wait for the wPod. Widescreen iPod!
Or maybe there is just no need to change alot on a device that works so well?
Michael Gartenberg at http://www.JupiterResearch.com, who I believe is NDAed with Apple, says this on 9/13:
“Well, we heard from Apple earlier this week (but don’t think that’s the last word. Last year Apple followed up the Nano announcement with the 5G iPods just a few weeks later)”
and this on 9/12:
“Also, it’s still early in terms of holiday announcements, we might yet hear another one or two things from Cupertino before the first frost hits in the East.”
Odds are the 6G widescreen touch-screen iPod is a-coming soon… And it could be priced at $299 or $399 …
Maybe on the iPod’s 5th anniversary on Oct 23 (though it’s a monday)? It would be a perfect time to announce how movie sales have done.
The lack of hardware changes implies that this device is a short-term, stop-gap device intended to buy Apple more time until it is ready to launch its true iPod Video later this year or early next year,
could someone offer an explanation for the logic behind this claim.
Oh, yeah, one more thing about a new iPod on Oct 23rd:
Apple introed 640×480 but to really make use of it, you’ll have to wait for the iTV next year, since the 5G iPod still uses 320×240. Sound like a gap?
Well, the 6G iPod will use 640x 480 won’t it?…
“could someone offer an explanation for the logic behind this claim.”
There is no logic behind that claim.
Apple should’ve given the 5G’s screen a slight increase and turned it on its side for the widescreen effect. That’s all Microsoft did. Call it the 5.5G. Then release the touchscreen 6G early next year when the movie store gains some traction and hopefully other studios are signing on.
Zune may be a piece of shit but I’d sure as hell rather watch movies on that screen than the iPod’s. Apple’s lucky I’m a nano man.
“could someone offer an explanation for the logic behind this claim.”
Apple has had about 11 months to improve upon the 5G iPod, and this is all they could do? Just change some power management chips so as to get a few more hours?
In other words, obviously, Apple is working on something else as Plan A, and these minor changes are a Plan B.
So the question I have is will the widescreen device be a 6G iPod and replace the 5G iPod, or will it be an iTablet that is in addition to the 5G iPod with larger dimensions that is not as really pocketable?
The PSP has a sharp 480×272 on a larger 4.5″ screen. Will Apple go larger since it has content at 640×480?
Well, Zune is 3:4 @ 320*240 but on its side. Just 0.5 inch bigger. It’s nothing too fancy.
I love it…I will start partying now!!!!
“Zune may be a piece of shit but I’d sure as hell rather watch movies on that screen than the iPod’s. Apple’s lucky I’m a nano man.”
———-
Uh, yes, they’re very luck you’re “a nano man”, because otherwise they’d no doubt be reaping the whirlwind.
<<< Insert rolly eyes here >>>
Come on Apple Olivia Newton John said it best:
“There’s nothing left to talk about
Unless it’s horizontally”
Lets get that screen done right <hoo-wah>
“could someone offer an explanation for the logic behind this claim.”
And, while you’re at it, explain to me what a “true video iPod” is. Have I been watching false videos? I’ve never quite understood this term…
To those who moaned about slightly lower resolution of films in the new iTunes store offerings:
1) on common TV common people can not differentiate resolution 720 and 640 — which is about 10%;
2) it was not Apple’s malice to make quality of films “worse”, but the necessarity of technology. iPod screens have 320×240 resolution, and higher resolution that is not multiple (aliquot) to those numbers (like 720 points horizontally) would cause artifacts on the screen after being shrinked.
I’m just glad they got Gapless playback… that was my biggest problem with the iPod
“Oops.” The same thought your father had when the condom bust.
If Apple released a new iPod this holiday season (meaning, a month or so after they release updated iPods), then wouldn’t that just p*ss you off???
I mean, as a customer who’d rather wait and pay $50 more for higher resolution and better features, that’d just frustrate me to death!
I don’t think they’ll do that. Instead, they’ll be smart to wait until sometime next year.
You mean like when they released intel IMacs a little over two months after the update to the iMac line. Nahhhh… Apple dosen’t do things like that!
R,
My father didn’t need a condom for your mother, bro.
For the record, that is a different “R.” I am the original. Less filling and less abrasive.
The latest ipod update for 5G was barely a 0.1 upgrade.
The 6G is coming – even the French have a better form factor for video playback (ARCHOS 404)
I hope mark is right. If we have a near full screen ipod ( as the 404 has) and its touch sensitive, ie. virtual scroll wheel, then the whole iTablet scenario is opened up – using inkwell etc. etc
and that will leave Zune where it belongs – in the dunny.
Here’s what I think will happend:
First version of the 6G iPod will be an expensive
device ($399 – $449), and will available before Christmas (late November – early December).
If Apple hadn’t annonced the 5.1 G iPod Video this week, everyone would have expected an all new iPod Video before Christmas, and sales of the 5G iPod would tank for the next couple of months. By reducing the price of the 5.1G iPod, the people who buys one won’t feel so cheated, once the more expensive 6G iPod Video is launched.
Sometime next year the 5.1G iPod Video will be removed from the lineup, and cheaper versions of the 6G ipod will take its place.
Soren.
Sounds plausible. However, if 6G looks anything like the fakes we’ve all seen, the price for a 6G version will stay at launch price for at least 9 months – Zune certainly isn’t going to force Apple to boost sales by lowering prices.
Oops! Guess you’ve mistaken me for that other R. Unlike his mom, mine never associated with the diseased vagrant that partially conceived you.