iPod Jr. Rumors Become More Substantial 494
sdimbert writes "Rumors of a new, smaller, "iPodJr" have been floating around the Rumor Sites for a few weeks (as well a here at Slashdot). But now, the rumors have gained credibility and become more substantial. London's Evening Standard reports today (30 Dec 03) that "Apple has announced a cut-price mini version" of the iPod, "costing 65 [~115 USD], which will be able to store 800 songs." Despite the assertion that Apple "announced" the product, there is no mention of it at their official News Page or their product page for the iPod."
Aiming at the low end (Score:5, Insightful)
Flash-based player market. I was looking at Fry's this weekend, and everything in the $49-99 range only came w/ 128MB, upgradeable to 640. Even assuming that the low-end Apple mini-iPod is only 1-2GB, it's got those other players beat by a mile, and hey, it works w/ iTunes!
I'm really looking forward to next year
The Evening Standard? (Score:5, Insightful)
If you're looking for NEWS in the Evening Standard, you're looking in the wrong fucking place.
Press Release (Score:3, Insightful)
Maybe someone at the Evening Standard is a
Probaby some fab time involved (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Aiming at the low end (Score:5, Insightful)
Flash-based player market. I was looking at Fry's this weekend, and everything in the $49-99 range only came w/ 128MB, upgradeable to 640. Even assuming that the low-end Apple mini-iPod is only 1-2GB, it's got those other players beat by a mile, and hey, it works w/ iTunes!
I just got a 10GB iPod for Christmas. If it were not given to me, I would never have purchased it. I have wanted an iPod since they were announced, but $300 is more than I think an MP3 player is worth. I looked at the sub $100 MP3 players several times, but none of them were as good as the iPod. It's just not even close (even when you ignore the storage capacity). If Apple truly delivers this product (1GB iPod for $100), it will be a smashing success. I think that I am not alone in looking for a low end iPod (of course, I'm looking no more).
First "announced", then "expected to unveil" (Score:5, Insightful)
I'm not saying Apple isn't going to have them. I'm just saying this is another glorified rumor (or rumour since it's a UK site).
Re:Aiming at the low end (Score:5, Insightful)
When you can get me a DVD recorder/MP3 player that fits in my pocket, costs $100, and is super simple to use via iTunes, then sure, I'm all over it.
In the meantime though, my money goes to the R&D demigods over at Apple. The fact that it's miniature firewire storage ALONE would make it worth a hundred bucks to me, but it's also designed by the current most successful and easy to use mp3 player?
We all know how this will end. (Score:3, Insightful)
What makes no sense is the timing. When a mainstream site makes an assertion about this sort of thing Apple is usually within days of release. If that were the case, why not launch before christmas.
I don't think we'll see this for some time. Previous rumors put stripes and patterns on the case. I suspect we'll see a Pepsi branded model some time in Feburary.
Super keen idea we'll probably never see:
Use the printing technology used on the blue dalmation and flower power iMacs, and tie in with iPhoto to let buyers have their photos molded into the case of their mini-ipod, rather than just simple laser engraving.
*ahem*. rumour press. (Score:3, Insightful)
"announced" in quotes simply because the press want to get it right before anyone else, and throw guesses and suppositions around regarding beta or even non existent hardware.
Re:We all know how this will end. (Score:3, Insightful)
Job's keynote speech is January 6th.
If that were the case, why not launch before christmas.
Pure guess on my part, but I'd suggest in order to shift stock of their high-margin existing players. Happy to hear better ideas though if someone has them.
Cheers,
Ian
Re:Aiming at the low end (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Aiming at the low end (Score:5, Insightful)
the ipod has been out for a while now and given its fairly long use-life just about everybody who was willing to get one at $300 has probably done so already.
now apple is gunning to pick up the people who wanted one but balked at the price point. kinda like publishers who put out the hardcover for the the $30 crowd and then eight months later release a paperback for the $7 folks.
Great Price Point? (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Aiming at the low end (Score:5, Insightful)
And CDs have the same playist issues, along with lesser capacity.
# Songs (Score:3, Insightful)
1.44mb Floppy = 0.3 songs
250mb Zip Disk = 50 songs
650mb CD = 130 songs
4.7gb DVD = 940 songs
Re:Aiming at the low end (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Aiming at the low end (Score:3, Insightful)
Those features are enough to justify another fifty bucks.
iCarPod (Score:2, Insightful)
This has to be next obvious step to take. There are no decent, fairly priced, good looking, easy to install mp3 players for the car.
If not a full player, maybe just an iPod dock w/ a led that you could permanently install in the car, and just plug (insert) your iPod in.
Just wonder how much time it will take...
-Facun.Doesn't really make sense to me. (Score:2, Insightful)
any color you like, as long as it's black (Score:2, Insightful)
What will we lose? (Score:4, Insightful)
So what could we potentially lose from the iPod?
- Firewire. It seems unlikely apple would cut their technology from a product, but this is something obvious to cut. These cheapo iPods are going to be heavily focussed on iTunes users, which are largely windows based. USB could be good enough.
- Built in rechargable battery. A good way to lower production cost is to make the unit require conventional batteries.
- The unit interface. The iPod's screen and dial for selecting music are great. A good way to cut production cost would be to remove these features.
In summary, my expectation is that apple will design their iPod jrs without many of the features which we have come to expect from iPod products. This will lower their production costs, and provide additional motivation for people to buy higher priced units.
Apple doesn't need to provide any of these features to sell iPod Jrs, the larger storage capacity, iTunes, and apple chic design will ensure these things just fly off the shelves.
Re:Aiming at the low end (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:We all know how this will end. (Score:3, Insightful)
Look at some of the past product releases (pick a keynote, any keynote): The product is announced, and ordered are taken immediately after the keynote. Orders for higher end models are backordered and "expected to ship in ____." Something very similar might have happened if Apple released this device over a month ago (actually it would have had to have been 2 months ago to get volume up to hit Black Friday and make holiday shipments, in all liklihood). It makes sense to release it now, since they get to couple this with the Pepsi Superbowl spots, and they get all year to roll up production, release a point update for the iPod, iTMS, and iTunes itself, letting the product reach critical mass (if it hasn't already) in time for *next* year's holiday season.
Of course I don't have the foggiest idea what I'm talking about! This is slashdot!
Re:any color you like, as long as it's black (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Aiming at the low end (Score:5, Insightful)
The MP3 player market is a whole new ball game, and a second chance. Apple is again the market leader in an emerging market (just as they were in the long ago days of the Apple II). This time I think they are going to go for marketshare. They have to maintain the quality that people expect from the brand, and for that reason they're ever going to go for the very bottom of the bargain barrel. But if they can use superior industrial design/engineering and relationships with vendors to beat their competitors on price while still delivering high quality they are going to go for it.
Re:Aiming at the low end (Score:3, Insightful)
(I'm being generous with file size)
10G/7M = 1428 songs *
Re:any color you like, as long as it's black (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Hard Drive (Score:2, Insightful)
miniPod to get you buying songs from iTMS.
Buy a bunch of songs from iTMS, until they no longer fit on the miniPod.
Buy an iPod to be able to fit all the music.
Buy a G5 because you've taken a hit of that Mac crack and can't turn back.
World domination.
Re:Aiming at the low end (Score:3, Insightful)
Put another way, it's that first byte after 10G that's expensive. The rest is dirt cheap.
Re:No way (Score:2, Insightful)
I have a feeling a mini ipod could be subsidized by the larger ipods in an effort to get more users for the itunes music store. Get those users hooked on it and later on they may consider the larger player or at least continue using the music store.
I really don't think apple would be selling a new player at a loss in order to make people use iTunes again at a loss, so they can have a slightly higher chance of selling more iPods. It could increase sales of iPods when people upgraded, but not by anywhere near enough to make it a valid strategy.
Re:Why the hell would anyone buy this? (Score:3, Insightful)
I have approx 2.5 gigs of music. My collection is pretty stagnant. I do not want a 10+gig iPod because I will never fill it with music. I already have a portable firewire drive so I don't really need the iPod for that. I can not justify paying $300+ for a super walkman, but I would pay $100-$150 for one.
Also, I know my neices and nephews will ALL get one of these $100 miniPods(if true). They currently do now own a single iPod between them. Sounds like a lot of sales/desires met with this miniPod.