Right, iPod news time – do you want the good or the bad? The good is that ThinkSecret are reporting the sixth-gen iPod will be launched in the first-half of August, with an updated OS and height shaved off. The bad is that it’ll have neither the touchscreen from the iPhone nor any cut-down version of OS X.
Instead, this iPod – sources claim – is far more a bridging model until 2008 brings an Apple PMP with touch-sensitive widescreen occupying the front and a similar OS to that running on the iPhone. The sixth-gen will instead keep the click-wheel and 320 x 240 resolution display, a move which will severely disappoint anyone who has used the iPhone’s glorious screen to enjoy widescreen videos.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpYWvKXJgC4[/youtube]
It’s also suggested that, while still available in black and white varieties, the black will more closely resemble the black MacBook, being matte rather than shiny, while an array of coloured versions are supposedly being considered (though nothing is yet decided).
What do you think? If it all turns out to be true I’m personally disappointed that they haven’t at least given the iPod a widescreen display, something it’s increasingly being criticised for in comparison with other video-loving PMPs.
Disappointing news if you are ‘iPod only’ user as you will not be able to enjoy the best iPod Apple has ever developed (iPhone) unless you make the switch from your present crappy cell phone to an iPhone.
On the other hand, where is the motivation to shed your current crappy cell phone and make the switch to an iPhone (with only 4g or 8g) if you can buy a widescreen, touch screen iPod with iPhone interface and 30 or 80g hard drive probably for half the price or less than an iPhone??
If the iPhone is just an improved cell phone, it likely won’t sell at its current prices.
On the one hand, Apple keeps the great iPod features of iPhone exclusive to iPhone users, an incentive for non-iPhone users to switch over, which supports the iPhone platform.
Downside is they lose potential revenue from a touch screen iPod, not to mention all of the potential users of a touch screen 6G iPod who might like it so much they switch to an iPhone.
This is just smart business by Apple. The iPhone is a widescreen iPod that has other important features.
If Apple were to release the supposed widescreen iPod with touch-screen, it’ll just be counter-productive for Apple.
While they’ll get an increase in the sale of iPods, the sale of iPhones will decrease.
Therefore, Apple wants to get the maximum profits from the sale of its iPhone and then about a year later, come out with the release of the wide-screen iPod.
I think this is great news. The only weakness of my current iPod is hat 80gb is not enough space. 1.8 inch drives are now available with 160gb, as long as the new iPod includes one, I’m buying it.
I only use my iPod for music (yes, I have that much) so a bigger screen doesn’t do much for me, and I’m worried that a large touch screen would just be prone to scratches.