“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.
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”smile” style=”border:0;” />
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.
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”wink” style=”border:0;” />
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.
‘How long can Apple keep stalling a 6G iPod?’
My answer would be as long as people are still buyng the 5G.
Yes, have the 6G ready to market, but don’t pull a ‘Mini’.
No Squirt-
be careful, there is a new PC sheriff in town. I’m sure you noticed…
The world is not populated with geeks. It’s still setting boatloads now. I’d bet Christmas time this year, so October. Let the iPhone have some time in the sun by itself. And any new flux capacitor Macs that are due.
All four of Apple’s 5.5G iPods are in the top 20 spots on Amazon.com, #1, 2, 9, and 16 currently.
Seems like demand for the existing video iPod is still solid. There will probably not be a widescreen iPod released before the iPhone.
Apple does not want anything getting in the way of the iPhone, whether it takes some of the buzz away or competes for components. And they are right. The iPhone could provide the largest part of Apple’s business in a few years. Apple should not risk the upside loss for a much smaller possible gain with an early launch of the full screen video iPod. It will come a little late, but only after the iPhone is off and running and Nokia’s stock is sinking like a lead bowling ball.
TT: And doesn’t “need no stinkin’ badges?”
Besides, it’s still too zune to release a new iPod while the current batch is still kicking micro-booty.
To me, the more interesting quetion is: at what price point?
Apple will be introducing it’s Iphone starting at $499 & $599. At what price do you introduce a 6g with a wide screen and, let’s say an option of an 80 or 120 gb hard drive? (Video content seems to be making the larger hard drives a necessity).
Apple wants to seel the 6G Ipod without canabalizing the Iphone. Or are they two seperate markets? Or does the lack of hard drive space balance things out? The Iphone has the ipod+phone+internet and the 6G has the ipod+signifigant hard drive space?
Thougts?
The iPhone and a wide-screen iPod will be 2 different critters.
The top-of-the-line iPhone will have 8GB of storage… (maybe 16GB by the time June rolls around?).
A full-tilt wide-screen iPod will need LOTS MORE storage capacity than the measly 8GB of the iPhone. It WILL be the VIDEO iPod, after all.
Let’s speculate a bit more and say it’ll be 100GB, since 1.8″ 100GB hard drives were announced a while back and none seem to have made it into the wild yet.The low-end vidPod will probably get a bump to 40GB. It’ll be a PERFECT time for Apple to release both.
ME? I’d REALLY like to get a new iPod and was HOPING a wide-screen would be out by now. But dammit, that’s not the case! What to do?
My thoughts:
Bump the 30GB ipod to 40GB or 60GB (current top model) and keep the current features but drop the price to $299. This would be ideal for users with large music libraries and who watch ocassional videos.
Introduce a new 6G ipod with multi touch and a 100+GB HD as a true video ipod. Maybe even two models:
80GB – $399
100GB 0 $499
But first, Apple needs to offer all video content in a 16:9 widescreen ratio. Will owners of 5.5G ipods be able to even watch 16:9 content with black bars on a screen that small?
I agree with LinuxGuy and Mac Prodigal Son. Apple will do nothing to interfere with the launch of the Iphone.
However… the new Itunes update positions Apple to use the new CD cover interface across the Itunes Ipod Iphone product spectrum. Look for this to become the dominant interface across all product lines… which means that the true video Ipod really is coming. I’d look for it at the beginning of Q4 2007, just in time for the back to school rush and the holiday shopping season. I’d look for the click wheel to disappear on all but the nano unless apple decides to ship a full screen nano in that time period as well.
If Apple is going to use the same UI as on the iPhone, then Apple can’t release a 6G iPod until Leopard is finished. So give ’em a month or so.
The model with the wide screen and multi-touch will not come before Leopard, but that would not prevent them from another capacity upgrade of the click-wheel versions at some point before that. They also have no reason to upgrade anything before sales for the 5.5G versions slow noticeably, but they have plenty of reasons to delay the introduction of the WSMT models until after the initial buzz for the iPhones is handled.
justified
What actually is the point of running Linux on an iPod? What can you do with it?
Good question,
If you can run an OS you can run its applications
Using Podzilla you can record CD quality in stereo in WAV format, makig the iPod an excellent filed recorder for concerts wher eou need to be stealthy about it.
http://www.ipodlinux.org/index.php/Main_Page
Apple will be releasing the new iPods on Tuesday along with speed bumped MacBook Pros. I know this absolutely. How? Because I made it up. Someone PLEASE tell Apple to stop pre-announcing products and thinking that’ll fill the void of consumers wanting to transfer their funds to Apple for cool products. Come on Steve, let me send you some money!
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.
Answered their own question.
Macnut222 wrote: …when Apple was updating iPods about every nine months, people said it was too fast. Now that it’s been…six months since months since Apple… the iPod people are complaining the updates are too slow.
This only takes into consideration owners of the 5G iPod.
You completely fail to consider all other owners. An example is the 3G owner who knew the video iPod was coming, weren’t impressed by the mediocre one that’s currently out, and decided to wait for the real one to hit the market.
Just judging from my group of friends, there are quite a few of us.
The REAL Updates are too slow!
>Falkirk wrote: Apple wants to seel the 6G Ipod without canabalizing the Iphone. Or are they two seperate markets?
Great question!
Being that the two products (future) iPhone and (future) video iPod have many overlapping features, I’m sure Apple wrestled with that very notion — How to sell both without damaging the sales of either.
I think you answered it yourself. Emphasize the strengths of each – one is a information & communication device and the other is a media playback device.
If Apple were to lessen the amount of overlap of each device in there interest of preserving iPod sales, the iPhone wouldn’t be the blockbuster product it looks to be. Crippled, it would still look nice, but it wouldn’t have the impact it would need to gain the market share Apple needs it to, being new to the crowded field.
I see the iPhone as leveraging Apples iPod accomplishments in order to gain market relevance. iPhones may prove to help sell more iPods. iPhones may even prove to sell more iPhones since cellphones tend to be replaced rather quickly.
So although there is overlap, I think Apple needs exactly that.
—
What I’m wondering is:
Will the iPhone kill off sales of “secondary” iPods?
How many of us own 2 or more iPods? I do – a 3G for capacity and a Nano for portability.
Since the iPhone is priced at the iPod level, I’d probably not buy a second iPod. The iPhone would have to serve as the second iPod.
The iPhone may kill of secondary iPod sales.
Apple wouldn’t be doing its job if it hadn’t inspired a generation of techno-addicts. Pleasant digital dreams to all and to all a good night.
“How long can Apple keep stalling a 6G iPod?”
Answer: Sept. 2007
Does anyone think there is a very good chance Apple will not release a wide-screen iPod until 2008? Just to give the phone a full year and a half to saturate the high end phone market?
What will the new christmas time ipod be then? Flash based!
Just a bump like last years ipod. Maybe a facelift (snazzy menu rather than this 5 year old layout)
Better battery life. Will widescreen be on the phone only?
You know how Apple works. Look at the Nano. It could have video (like the Sandisk) but it doesn’t, that way you have to buy the vpod. You want the Nike stuff? NOpe. you have to have a Nano. I only have the 30G ipod, outta luck.
They want you to chase the higher margin product.
Wait until people figure out they can stream their itunes from hone into the phone as long as they are within a wifi area.