Hmm, hmm, I keep using my Treo650 as a walkman too, but, hey, RealPlayer stinks! (included as mp3 player software in the Treo…) The sound quality is waaay far from the iPod one, but I don’t want to walk around with a Palm, a Phone and an ipod…I just want one device (that’s why the Treo, which is a smartphone plus a palm organizer is not too bad…9
I look forward to the day when Apple delivers an iPod phone organizer…after all, they created Newton…I am sure they have something like that in their plans, it’s only that nowadays iPod is selling a lot, so it’s not the right time for them to produce it…It may be presented at the end of 2006 or 2007, depending on how well iPods keep selling…
Today has Mac news about Apple buying up more office space in and around home territory in Cupertino, CA. That may say something about the immediate future for Apple as there is much the company can do to grow new markets. On my list are the following:
- an Apple-designed iPod phone: either Apple does it, or the cell phone makers do it.
- an Apple videoPod: this is a no brainer. Add wireless connectivity to a Mac and a TV.
- Apple as record company: this is somewhat farfetched but could happen.
We are more into evolution than revolution so Apple will build on current product base rather than venture too far from home.
Extra office space can mean a number of things; Apple’s growing would be one of them. More engineers, more marketing, more sales, more products.
As much as everyone says Apple is pumping out the products, I think they’re really scheduling products and updates more carefully and efficiently.
For example, what’s the newest Apple product? iPod nano is just an evolutionary model, nothing really new. iLife? Same stuff for over a year and a half. Apple Pro products? Upgrades, but nothing new for 18 months. iBook, eMac, iMac, PowerMac, PowerBook are all the same thing for a few years now.
Where’s the new products from Apple? Even the ROKR phone wasn’t Apple, it was Motorola with iTunes stuffed inside.
I’m beginning to wonder if the famed RDF hasn’t hit the masses.
This has been the funniest couple of week sof Mac rumors I’ve ever seen. No one believed the ‘switch to Intel’ rumor. The Mac mini rumor was freaky. The rest of the iPod announcements have been well guarded.
Think Secret says new PowerBooks and PowerMacs and iPods, and no video iPods. Then, the day before the announcement, they turn around and say, ‘yep—video iPods’ but no PB, PM yet.’ Oh, and there might be ‘One more thing…’
Duh.
Think Secret needs to watch their sources more carefully, what with the law suit and all.
Here’s my take on ‘One More Thing…’
First, Airport Express AV: it’ll be Airport with a video out capability to hook up to the TV.
Second, iTunes 5.1: There needs to be a way to send the audio and video to the TV.
Third, Music Videos: iTunes Music Store will sell music videos and other video content on iTMS.
Fourth, new iPod HD: smaller, lighter, bigger HD, bigger screen, ‘possible’ with video out.
Fifth, updated PowerMacs and PowerBooks, but hardly worth a whole ‘Event’ don’t you think?
Dark Horse? The vPad, a much larger iPod with OS X, wireless, HD, the works, touch sensitive screen. Woo hoo!!
I’m hoping for a set top box. Apple previously designed and was about to manufacture a set top box (1995?,) but for some reason dropped it two or so weeks before its introduction (Applefritter.com has more about it.) I mean wouldn’t it be great to have all your music, videos and photos all accessible from your TV? Although thin-client macs would be great too…. that’s basically where you’d have one or two (or more) macs all hooked up together where everything is stored, so no matter where you logged in in your house you’d get the exact same account and could access your files from anywhere.
Jeff
I think we’ll be dreaming about this one for a few years. There’s no real money in set top boxes, but if Apple could ‘pull together’ all the pieces into an ‘ecosystem’ similar to the iPod, iTunes, iTunes Music/Video/TV store and let it run on a souped-up Mac mini, we might have something worthwhile.
People would not only continue to buy an iMac or PowerBook or iBook or whatever, but they’d buy the Mac mini and iPod, too. That would be necessary as part of Apple’s holistic ‘ecosystem.’
I’m hoping for a set top box. Apple previously designed and was about to manufacture a set top box (1995?,) but for some reason dropped it two or so weeks before its introduction (Applefritter.com has more about it.) I mean wouldn’t it be great to have all your music, videos and photos all accessible from your TV? Although thin-client macs would be great too…. that’s basically where you’d have one or two (or more) macs all hooked up together where everything is stored, so no matter where you logged in in your house you’d get the exact same account and could access your files from anywhere.
Jeff
I think we’ll be dreaming about this one for a few years. There’s no real money in set top boxes, but if Apple could ‘pull together’ all the pieces into an ‘ecosystem’ similar to the iPod, iTunes, iTunes Music/Video/TV store and let it run on a souped-up Mac mini, we might have something worthwhile.
People would not only continue to buy an iMac or PowerBook or iBook or whatever, but they’d buy the Mac mini and iPod, too. That would be necessary as part of Apple’s holistic ‘ecosystem.’
One of the things that struck me during a recent visit to the Apple store was the number of people in line with iPod accessories.
If the average iPod costs, say, $200, and users buy an average of $200 more in accessories (I read somewhere that the number is well over $150 for each iPod), then maybe Apple is looking at the same marketing gimmick elsewhere.
For example, many Mac mini sales are going to current Mac users. Add an iPod with IR for remote. Add the IR Apple Remote. Add the Universal Dock. Add a Mac mini. Add a TV/CABLEcard Tuner. Add Front Row to iLife so everyone ‘upgrades’ when they buy the extra toys.
See how that works?
Buy a new iMac for $1,500 and you get some of the functionality, otherwise, you buy all the extras—
- Mac mini
- TV tuner/CABLEcard device
- iPod w/video/IR
- Universal Dock
- Apple Remote
- iLife ‘06
It’s beginning to look like an annual Apple membership dues.
This is another area where Apple has always been ahead of the curve÷?They understood the profitability of accessories long before other PC makers it seems. The margin on accessories is generally considerably higher than the product itself; ranging from 60-85% or more on cables to maybea low of 30% for the more upmarket accessories. If Apple’s median iPod sale price is $250-$300, and they are making 20% margin at the store level (guess), that’s $50-$60 they make on the iPod. With an average of $150 in accessories (not necessarily at time of purchase, but likely most is), at a reasonable 50% average margin at the store level ($75), the retail store has just made more on the accessories than the iPod itself.
This is not uncommon at least at the retail level (I have no experience with manufacturer’s margins). If you buy a PC computer and printer at Best Buy or CompUSA or whatever retail chain, the retailer can potentially make more money off of the USB cable and an extra set of ink than they generally do from the printer and PC.
Just as a side note if you need a bunch of standard cabling for your PC, stereo, whatever, it’s much much cheaper to find a decent cable discount house online rather than dropping in at your local big chain retailer, as they mark these things up big time. I mean you can end up spending one quarter to one fifth the brick and mortar price for cabling.
I was in the Apple Store yesterday and had two people behind me with accessories in both hands. I asked them if they already had iPods. They said ‘yes—the mini.’ The accessories totaled over $150 for each and they already had other accessories from when they bought their iPods.
This time next year I bet we have half a dozen new ‘toys’ that all work together in the Apple ecosystem.
I found this on another post but the more I think about it, the more it makes sense. Apple will develop the iPod into a full-fledged WiFi data device with an insertable card which makes it a cell phone, similar to the cell phone data cards that go into laptops.
Imagine an iPod version of iChat that connects to the internet. Woo hoo!
I found this on another post but the more I think about it, the more it makes sense. Apple will develop the iPod into a full-fledged WiFi data device with an insertable card which makes it a cell phone, similar to the cell phone data cards that go into laptops.
Imagine an iPod version of iChat that connects to the internet. Woo hoo!
Do you think they would brand is as an iPod?
or make it a new line?
I want the iPod to become a cell phone. No, serious. It could happen. Sooner or later those PCMCIA cards which make laptops connect to the internet via cell phone carriers will get small enough to insert into an iPod. Add iChat, a little camera, Mac OS X, and whoopie, an iPod does music, videos, and iChat over the internet. I’m ready with my credit card.
