RSSMore indications of Apple iPod refresh September 9
By Ed Oswald | Published August 26, 2008, 6:33 PM
The buzz from analysts who have begun to speak out about what they expect to see during an Apple event that for now has only been rumored, lends new credence to the theory that iPods could be revamped as soon as 9/9.
JupiterResearch analyst Mark Mulligan says he would like to see Apple start to offer pre-loaded content, and like many analysts, continued to beat the drum for an iTunes subscription offering.
"Don't just play the Rhapsody/Napster game and offer portable rentals for ten dollars a month," Mulligan argued. Instead, the service should be inexpensive and allow for permanent downloads within the offering.
He also suggested some unique possibilities, such as an option for a pay-as-you-go subscription that could last for short periods, and including music videos within the mix as well.
Over the weekend, Digg founder Kevin Rose claimed on the This Week in Tech podcast Monday that he had been informed that Apple is preparing to refresh its music players for the holidays.
On Saturday, Rose gave the same prediction for his blog, pointing to a revamp to the entire iPod line. Specifically, the nano would see the biggest change: Its shape would revert to something similar to the iPod Minis, but with a significantly larger screen.
Another aggressive move would be "significant" price drops in order to put the iPod line closer to the $199 iPhone 3G. Software updates would arrive for the iPod touch, and the company is said be ready to ship the 2.1 update for the iPhone soon afterward.
Rose's statements also bolster claims by Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster early this month, who said in a research note that he expected a refresh to the iPod line along with a possible update to its MacBook line. As if to confirm Rose's predictions, more leaks have appeared on Alibaba and iDealsChina, where silicone cases that match the shape of Rose's image of the iPod are being sold, or are about to be sold.
The Digg founder's track record in predicting Apple's future moves has been mixed. While he has often broken information early, such as some early details surrounding the iPhone, he hasn't always been 100% accurate.
Along with the hardware, Apple would push the next major 8.0 update to iTunes. It would include several updates, one of which would apparently scan your music and recommend content, similar to the "Just for You" feature of the iTunes Music Store.
Swoon...
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I hope iTunes 8 is a lot less buggy then iTunes 7 on Vista!
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yawn. who cares...really.
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iPod? Good lord, soon everyone will have the SAME player (ipod) and SAME phone (iphone). This is SO SO pathetic. And the funny thing is that for other devices, there is more software (Windows Mobile; it might not be the best/ideal OS, but it has a TON of software that makes my life easier) and they are more user friendly (why do I need to use some crapware iTunes, when I can just copy [as in copy>paste] the music using the build in file manager, like windows explorer, total commander or any other?).
People, STOP buying apple, this is NOT original anymore, since everyone has one of those!
http://www.engadget.com/...uch-display-impresses-k/
Who needs ipod? I dont
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That S9 looks nice.
Too bad it's not available yet...
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iPhone advert banned in UK for being misleading about "full internet access"...
http://www.guardian.co.u...g/27/iphone.advertising
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Looking forward to it...
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And the usual crowd whines...
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The Apple flock would easily buy into a rental model. Sure the flat-rate model would be nice, but I don't know how keen our RIAA friends would be about it. Just consider their displeasure with the current model and the resistance against DRM.
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Hooray for price drops.
Boo to inevitable hardware cheapening.
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Not with Apple. You'll get a cheaper price BUT with better hardware as usual. This is the Apple way.
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Could have guessed it'd be you who responded.
iPhone: metal back
iPhone 3G: plastic back
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troll
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You just don't get the Apple "way." That's quality plastic that makes it even better because uhhh...yeah, I got nothing...
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Do you even own any apple products?
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Cheaper to replace when it breaks?
/teehee
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We already determined he doesn't.
I own two, soon to be three and I hate them both.
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wouldn't it be pretty difficult to add subscription functionality to current itunes sw? how would it coexist with purchased music? also, check out http://www.apple.com/hotnews/thoughtsonmusic/ - if steve jobs wants to lose drm, having a subscription service would really complicate things.
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"Along with the hardware, Apple would push the next major 8.0 update to iTunes"
So its gotta be something big to jump to 8.0
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Keep drinking the koolaide.
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Well one shouldn't forget that backdating options and then not reporting it is also the Apple way:)
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Plastic back=cracks
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Since Apple's warrenty program isn't all that good, the platic is designed to crack on the day after your warrenty runs out unless you cough up more gold for Apple and bu one of their silly extended warrenty that goes beyond 90 days.
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