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Media (Apple) Businesses Media Apple

New iPod Firmware Released 52

Posted by michael from the singing-the-no-pudge-blues dept.
An anonymous reader writes "Apple has just released their newest firmware for the newer generation of 'dockable' iPods, version 2.0.1. This is the update that gives the iPod USB2 support for Windows computers, and also includes an 'enhanced' on-the-go playlist, with an 'improved' backlight."
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New iPod Firmware Released More

New iPod Firmware Released

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  • What flava? (Score:3, Funny)

    by gmhowell ( 26755 ) <gmhowell@gmail.com> on Friday June 20, 2003 @04:02PM (#6257117) Homepage Journal
    What kind of USB 2.0 is it? Real, high speed, what the customer expects USB, or the fake, bitch ass 'we-call-it-usb-2.0-but-it-is-really-1.1' type?

    • Re:What flava? (Score:3, Informative)

      by Stigmata669 ( 517894 )
      USB 2.0 For PC users, the iPod is able to sync files via USB 2.0*, which transfers data at up to 480 Mbps and comes standard on the latest Windows computers. USB 2.0 is also compatible with USB 1.1, although data transfer speeds are much slower.

      pilfered from : http://www.apple.com/ipod/autosync.html

  • How can (Score:2, Interesting)

    by shibbydude ( 622591 )
    the backlight be improved by the firmware? And what of this USB2 support? Is it Full-speed or High-speed?

    • Re:How can (Score:3, Interesting)

      by loquacious d ( 635611 )
      It's probably the backlight timer. With the old firmware, the backlight would go off 1 second or 5 seconds (or whatever you set it to) after you turned it on, not after you stopped fiddling with the buttons. Way annoying.

    • Re:How can (Score:5, Informative)

      by Golias ( 176380 ) on Friday June 20, 2003 @06:08PM (#6258172)
      Having installed the update, the backlight now seems to fade out slowly when the timre runs out, rather than blinking off suddenly.

      A much bigger deal is that this update got rid of that annoying little click noise that happened between tracks during playback. A lot of iPod owners have been complaining about that bug ever since 2.0 was released, and it's nice to see that Apple was listening to them.

      I have no interest in the USB2 support, as I use Firewire. I would reccomend most Windows users do the same, unless your system happens to already have USB2 installed for some reason. Last time I checked, a Firewire card was cheaper, and the iPod updates faster on Firewire than on USB2.

      • >>That this update got rid of that annoying little click noise

        THANK YOU APPLE!

        Not that the clicking was a deal-breaker (this thing is the best 'gadget' I have ever bought), but it is annoying, esp when put through a stereo. I know what I will be downloading tonight ...

      • Re:How can (Score:2, Interesting)

        by am46n ( 615794 )
        The click may be gone, but if you have a CD that has track markers in the middle of songs or movements (Abbado's CSO Mahler 7 anybody?) there is still an annoying little gap between the tracks.

        • Re:How can (Score:3, Informative)

          by Golias ( 176380 )
          That's true of nearly every MP3 player. The solution is to use the "Join CD Tracks" feature in iTunes when you are ripping it. On my iPod, side one of Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon" is one track, so there are no gaps between songs.
      • Having installed the update, the backlight now seems to fade out slowly when the timre runs out, rather than blinking off suddenly.
        Hmmm, the backlight of my iPod already faded out before I installed the new firmware.

  • argh (Score:3, Interesting)

    by evel aka matt ( 123728 ) on Friday June 20, 2003 @04:03PM (#6257136)
    This firmware needs to be released for the older iPod. That would make me a happy camper.

    • Re:argh (Score:3, Informative)

      by BigBir3d ( 454486 )
      new hardware = new firmware series (2.x)

      old hardware = old firmware series (1.x)

      If you want "the latest and greatest" go buy it. This has always been the Apple way.

    • Re:argh (Score:4, Informative)

      by TwP ( 149780 ) on Friday June 20, 2003 @07:55PM (#6258890) Homepage
      This firmware needs to be released for the older iPod.

      The newer firmware will not be released for the older iPods anytime in the near future. Apple outsourced the firmware development for the rev 1 and rev 2 iPods. With the latest rev 3 iPods, Apple did the firmware development in-house; hence, the annoying tick between tracks and other little bugs.

      For Apple to release new firmware for the two older iPods models, they would have to talk with the outsourcing company to update the firmware or hack through the code themselves to update the older iPods. I do not see Apple doing this anytime soon. They have a newer version that they are pouring money into.

      You could give Apple a hundred thousand dollars (US) or so, and they might consider adding the newer features to the older models. But again, they have a newer version they are pouring money into.

  • About Friggin Time! (Troll +1) (Score:4, Interesting)

    by numbski ( 515011 ) * <numbski&hksilver,net> on Friday June 20, 2003 @04:10PM (#6257201) Homepage Journal
    Sorry. Had my 30GB since nearly the day it came out, and the thing locks up usually once per day.

    Hopefully the crash bug is fixed. Allelujah for the improved backlighting. :)

    I'm still waiting on the dev kit so I can make games and even better, code something for direct inputs from the iPod into the Calendar and Contacts.

    • Re:About Friggin Time! (Troll +1) (Score:4, Insightful)

      by dhovis ( 303725 ) * on Friday June 20, 2003 @04:34PM (#6257420)
      I'm still waiting on the dev kit

      Don't hold your breath. Apple has no interest in making it easy to hack the iPod. The support headaches would be a nightmare.

    • Re:About Friggin Time! (Troll +1) (Score:5, Interesting)

      by damiam ( 409504 ) on Friday June 20, 2003 @05:36PM (#6257948)
      Dev kit [sourceforge.net]. Not finished yet, but that's an even better reason to start hacking on it.
    • You got one too, eh? I haven't had mine lock up once, with quite a bit of daily use. Perhaps it's a particular problem with your MP3 or AAC files, but I'd take it back to the store and get a replacement unit (assuming 2.0.1 doesn't fix it).

      I'm just glad the click is gone. Now if only they could implement true gapless playback, plus all the other little suggestions I've already submitted...

      Oh, and it still has the bug where if the hard disk spins up too slowly when you first start playing, it'll skip th

      • Yeah, only mine is company fodder. Or at least was supposed to be. They kept telling me I needed a PDA. I told them that I'd split the cost of an iPod with them since it could double as a backup for our XServe if I used Carbon Copy Cloner. Then they decided I could just have it. Nice guys. :P (Translation, they feel guilty because they don't pay me nearly what I'm worth)

  • How's about and update for 1st gen Windows IPod! (Score:4, Informative)

    by dapantzman ( 595438 ) on Friday June 20, 2003 @04:18PM (#6257271)
    In April the message on Apple's site was "Windows version available in Mid May" to the current one "Windows version available soon". Looks like some IPod owners are getting sent to the back of the line.
  • apple really needs to start making people feel like they get more for the money. i bought might ipod 8 months ago, they have practically discontinued support for it already. with a simple firmware upgrade, i would have playlist on the fly BUT NO. cheap tricks to sell expensive ipods. if apple would get over this bs, i would buy a new macintosh but i am afriad they will release some new technology overnight that will cause them to forget about my 2 month old powermac.
    • First of all: How do you know the old and new iPods have the same chipset, so they can just roll out the update for the older iPods as well? Most likely, they are different, and when the iPod team has to choose which unit to develop for, of course they'll develop for the new model.

      Also, I think it's a bit strange that when you buy a product, you expect it to get new features in the future. Apple never promised you "playlist on the fly" when you bought the unit, so stop complaining! Things develop, and the
      • As it was pointed out earlier, they are not asking for something like a colour screen that might come with a newer model, but something more analagous to a OS update. How is this dislike buying a computer and being told you have to buy a new computer to run the new OS six months later? I agree with the anonymous coward who posted earlier about the shameful coverage in the Mac press. The only people who covered this story acurately were the register: http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/39/30486.html [theregister.co.uk]
        • It's not fair to call it shamefull. PLenty of people around here don't consder it a crime for apple to not add features to the old ipods, perhapse the news thinks its just whining as well?
    • Playis on the fly isn't nearly as cool as you'd think it would be. I hadone of the old ones, sold it to a freind when the new ones came out. I've used th eonly the fly feature maybe twice. It clears itself when you plug your pod in, and it can't be used to manage existing playlists. That said, there's nothing wrong with you old pod. It still works beautifully. It's not lik they're adding new stuff to the new pods, its just the new pods have some features the old ones don't. I don't really see this as
  • Is this a firmware update or an OS update? The iPod has a hard drive after all. Firmware is stored in EPROMs and other such chips. Or maybe slashdot readers these days are too distant from real technology these days to know the difference?
  • My bag with my 30GB ipod in it was stolen like about a month after buying it.

    Bloody irritating - I'm buying a new one and hopefully get something back on my credit card insurance..

    The funny thing was is how depressing going to and from work is without it, and the ability to choose ANY of my music to listen to...
    Apple are making themselves one loyal band of customers with this kind of quality. I just wish they would fully document the iTunesDB, its boring reverse engineering it for every new feature to use

  • No more clicks (Score:2, Informative)

    by navig ( 683406 )
    I have installed this latest update during the weekend and am pleased to say the little 'click' between tracks has vanished :-)

    I also notice that my iPod is a lot more stable and somewhat more predicatable when coming out of sleep.

    It still erks me that the response time between selecting a smart playlist and the visual feedback is so laggy. That extra second or so while the playlist is built can feel as if the system is ignoring your selection.

    Still a fantastic player and a help to my sanity on the way t

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