“To placate the masses of people hungry for a ‘video iPod,’ Apple released the fifth-generation iPod in October 2005, then modestly refreshed it in September of 2006. Though its battery life for video playback has improved, users have never been fully satisfied with the squint-inducing size of its screen – a factor that led Apple to announce a larger, ‘widescreen iPod’ feature for its upcoming iPhone. But as a consequence of iPhone’s introduction, many believe that Apple will wait until after the iPhone’s June launch to announce a standalone iPod with a similar screen,” Jeremy Horwitz writes for iLounge.
Horwitz writes, “Since everyone’s expecting that a sixth-generation, widescreen iPod will eventually be released, we asked our editors three questions: what do you think will happen? What should happen? And is Apple becoming too slow with updates its customers want and expect?”
Full article here.
Related articles:
RUMOR: Don’t hold your breath for Apple’s next-gen multi-touch iPod – March 03, 2007
Briefly: NPD data indicates Apple iPod units tracking above Street – February 28, 2007
You can tell it’s been awhile when people start running Linux on the “latest” iPod version.
Aside from the fanbois, nobody is even thinking about iPods that don’t yet exist.
@ No Squirt for You,
What actually is the point of running Linux on an iPod? What can you do with it?
“And is Apple becoming too slow with updates its customers want and expect?”
Oh brother, first, when Apple was updating iPods about every nine months, people said it was too fast. Now that it’s been..count ’em…six months since months since Apple (admittedly barely) the iPod people are complaining the updates are too slow.
Quit whining/complaining/speculating. Apple will update the full-sized iPod in September or October. Not earlier, not later.
The next time we’ll see another one of these articles, however, will be sometime in April.
You don’t have to be a fanboy to want a true video widescreen iPod player. Everyone knows they can do it since the iPhone debuted in January. So the next logical step would be to release eventually an iPod with that capability.
Nah,
Let it sit right where it is. I know everyone has one…heck, I have a mini…but the newest ones are top of class, and will be…
Then let Apple come in and reset the standard this Fall. Too early. Not desperate for money, and our batteries are just fine.
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justified: I have no idea other than I think tinkerers like to try things because they can. A tiny server? A Linux PDA?
Seems like a waste of a good iPod to me, IMO. I do respect people that like to try new things, however. It’s their money.
justified is right. Moreover, most people do not have know about the iPhone.
No worries here.
“Users have never been fully satisfied with the squint-inducing size of its screen”
I have no problem with the 5G ipod’s screen. But thanks for putting my opinion in writing without even asking me first.
They have to get it right first. They are not going to rush
to market with a second rate product just for appeasement.
That’s why they succeed. Are people going to switch to Sandisk
because of this? I don’t think so.
justified: I found the answers the modders give for loading Linux on an iPod. See link.
http://www.ipodlinux.org/FAQ#Why_would_you_want_to_do_that.3F
This reminds me of the 8-track/casette tape debacle that occured in the 60s. Both technologies were available near simultaneously however, it was obvious that the 8 track was inferior but the market could be milked until everyone became familiar with the casette.
I think the bean counters at Apple are holding off until they really have to so they don’t eat into the iPhone market.
The 6G iPod and/or a video iPod (iPhone without phone) will be launched in September in time for the holiday season. This is the consumer electronics business so everything is timed around Christmas. Plus Apple will be concentrating firstly on getting iPhone’s out of the door which will constrain any common components.
The laws of basic marketing guarantees that the 6G iPod will not see the light of day until after June, or when the iPhone launches.
What do you think would happen to iPhone sales if people suddenly could get a multi-touch iPod with a widescreen for about half the cost (but no phone features?)
Apple needs to get iPhone out the door and established as a hot seller before they can even consider introducing the 6G iPod.
Besides, the currrent 5G iPods seem to still be standing up well against the competition – it’s not like Zune is catching up or anything.
The smart thing to do would to release 6G iPods in time for the holidays – October/November, no sooner.
Apple either has people complaining that they are changing their product too fast or taking too long to come out with something new. No one is ever happy with what is currently available. Everyone out there needs to lighten up and be happy with what we have. 5 years ago no one had ever imagined that we would have what we have now. Now we have these awsome toys and no one can do anything except complain. SHUT UP AND BE HAPPY WITH WHAT YOU HAVE!
You’ll get it in time for Christmas…only if your good.
“. . . and no one can do anything except complain.”
Yeah. But, you’ve got to feel a little sorry for the terminally ill who have committed themselves to the “He who dies with the most toys wins” philosophy.
Tick, tick, tick, tick, tick . . .
“SHUT UP AND BE HAPPY WITH WHAT YOU HAVE!”
But that’s un-American.
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Till June…oh, and it will also have Phone, and internet functionalities.
When I worked at Apple retail customers (i.e. parents) would constantly complain that Apple updated iPods too quickly and their kids would want the latest model.
Now apparently another group of people aren’t happy that it’s too slow.
‘Jeremy the Hor’ is a typical attention-getting asshat. Tell him to go back to making kosher dill pickels, and stfu.
Al,
yes I agree. It’ll probably come in September.
But before then, they might do a minor update (more memory, improved battery-life) and/or price reductions.
The answer to the article’s question is…..
Holiday Season 2007….that way the iphone and ipod will look similar. And both will be must have item… Elmo Extreme’s will be left on the shelves this year.
“. . . go back to making kosher dill pickels”
WTF is wrong with you? Seriously.