iPod NoteReader Notes

An anonymous reader writes, "Apple has released a document on how to use the new iPod NoteReader." The highlights: you can link to other notes, or to tracks on the iPod, or to dynamically generated playlists. It handles 1,000 notes, up to 4K each, and caches up to 64K of notes in memory so the hard drive doesn't spin up. The notes are stored as text files in directories and can be organized by directory.

Interesting, but impractical for me

[nilepoc]

I just can't see myself taking the time to program my notes. Especially since I cannot do it on the device that it is intended to be used on.

This will be espceially hard for the masses, I think this apeals to a low number of people.

Niche stuff at best.

Re:It's gravy

[adso]

Meaning that's this is just an extra feature, surely not a selling point.

Carrying around a Palm (or any notebook PC) for me would be a waste, I'm not that organized (nor do I want to be). My iPod is first and foremost an MP3 player and secondly a FireWire drive to haul large files to and from work. Once in a blue moon I might actually need an address or write down an appointment, and it's a nice thing to have. Being able to put notes with links in them really doesn't affect me much, but it's just one more side ability the iPod has.

That being said I hope Apple doesn't expand the PDA abilities of the iPod too much. Trying to cram a bunch of PDA-like functionality in there (add-on keyboards and touch screens) would detract from what it does well- play music. If it ain't broke...

Good for museum applications

[shunnicutt]

One application for the iPod notes feature would be in self-guided museum tours.

A note you can read on the iPod screen that will link to an audio file or to another note? A self-guided tour unit that will sync changes automatically and charge via the same cable? A system that only requires one base computer to synchronize changes (connecting multiple iPod docks via a firewire hub or perhaps some third party will come out with a multi-iPod dock)?

I don't know how much museums pay for each self-guided unit they use currently, but the 10Gb model is $300.

Surely there must be other applications?

Re:Good for museum applications

[geekwagon]

Considering that Apple refers to the notes feature in its documentation as "Museum Mode" I would say this is exactly what they had in mind.

Re:Also for learning a new language

[Anonymous Coward]

I could also see this as a viable way for learning a new language. The audio could be in Spanish and the text could be in English with links to Spanish (text) translations, etc... Perfect activity for a long plane ride over seas.

Another use that's missng from portable audio players is the ability to read liner notes. You could download them with the song.

Re:It's gravy

[Fear the Clam]

I'm one of those people who uses a Palm just for appointments and a few simple apps. I'm still using my US Robotics brand Palm Professional that I bought in 1997. It does what I want except sync with iSync because it's not supported (grrr). So now, just to get everything integrated with the Address Book, I need a new(er) Palm, like a Zire.

I'd also like to have an MP3 player, and a way to transfer geneology files to my aunt's iMac (she doesn't have broadband), like a USB pen drive.

If an iPod came out that would let me do basic text entry -- something as simple as adding my next appointment to the calendar when I'm at the doctor's office -- I'd buy it instead of a Palm, because this single device would do everything I want.