Apple iPod with Video and WiFi Capabilities? 225
An anonymous reader writes "Apple is currently seeking an engineer for its iPod hardware division. However, they are not looking for just any engineer. They are seeking an engineer with WiFi and Video integration experience. 'The iPod group is looking for a Hardware Engineer. Experience in the following areas is important: system integration, digital logic, SDRAM, Flash, ASIC's, processor selection, ATAPI, various communication protocols (ie: GSM, Bluetooth, IEEE 802.11, Firewire, and USB), display types and video and analog integration.'"
Slashdot's posting help wanted ads now? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Slashdot's posting help wanted ads now? (Score:5, Insightful)
I know slashdot isn't "the press" but something to suggest that this is something more than randomly created news would be interesting.
New profit model:
1. Write interest, speculative quote
2. Make guesses about the quote
3. Get slashdot to bump your article
4. Google ads on make-up article
5. Profit!
Re:Slashdot's posting help wanted ads now? (Score:2)
Re:Slashdot's posting help wanted ads now? (Score:4, Informative)
Here are the jobs:
Hardware System Integrator - iPod [apple.com]
Hardware System Integrator - iPod [apple.com]
Hardware System Integrator - iPod SPG [apple.com]
Now, how easy would that have been for the slashdot editors to check? Took me about 1 minute.
Re:Slashdot's posting help wanted ads now? (Score:5, Informative)
The listings did, in fact, say bluetooth and 802.11 just a week ago when i checked it.
Re:Slashdot's posting help wanted ads now? (Score:3, Insightful)
Why work at Apple? (Score:3, Interesting)
If you were that good of an engineer why work at Apple? Why not pick and choose. Go to Creativelabs/Sony and give them an edge and more.
Re:Slashdot's posting help wanted ads now? (Score:2)
Anyway, this of course means a WiFi/video iPod is not in development yet, IOW we'll have to wait a bit for it to come out.
Re:Slashdot's posting help wanted ads now? (Score:5, Informative)
It has more details on the source of the rumor, and this is very old news that's been spreading around the web for a week. It was also on Macrumors and several other sites last week.
Jason
ProfQuotes [profquotes.com]
Re:Slashdot's posting help wanted ads now? (Score:2)
It's scary that we now consider news more than a week dated "old".
Re:No wifi/video..but maybe a built in FM transmit (Score:5, Interesting)
1. AirTunes-capable überDock. Play AirTunes from your iPod over 802.11g with a Bluetooth remote. This would involve the various protocols: FireWire & USB for the dock, 802.11g for the network, Bluetooth for the remote...
2. iPod PVR? Store video to your iPod & play it at any A/V capable dock or computer. Not, repeat not to play video on your iPod. Just as you can purchase audio copies of various radio broadcasts, you could purchase video copies of television programs at the Apple Media Store. Same simple anti-copy restrictions would apply. H.264 codec w/ FairPlay wrapper?
I don't see Apple putting the time and money into making the iPod more expensive for a feature set that so few people will use (wireless xfer, video iPod).
Is this free for Apple? (Score:4, Interesting)
A more interesting story might be is hearing how Apple worked through all the applications this piece generated.
myke
salary? (Score:3, Funny)
In other words... (Score:2)
Career choice (Score:4, Funny)
What??? (Score:4, Insightful)
My head is going to explode....
Re:What??? (Score:5, Funny)
Now articles are appearing based on what's in the classifieds? Next we're going to see headlines like this:
"Bill Gates is looking for whores!"
with a link to:
"Seattle, Washington local single white male is seeking hot blonde."
very likely that it's likely? (Score:5, Funny)
"The iPod group is looking for a Hardware Engineer. This person will be an individual contributor on a top notch team with responsibilities for the design, implementation, and integration of digital and analog electronics. Experience in the following areas is important: system integration, digital logic, SDRAM, Flash, ASIC's, processor selection, ATAPI, various communication protocols (ie: GSM, Bluetooth, IEEE 802.11, Firewire, and USB), display types and video and analog integration."
Does this mean we are very likely to see an iPod with a video display and capable of sending and receiving music via WiFi? This is very likely.
What strange language the author uses there. Is he answering his own question about whether it's very likely by saying yes, it's very likely? Or is he saying that it's very likely that it's "very likely?"
I think it's very likely that I'm confused
Re:very likely that it's likely? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:very likely that it's likely? (Score:5, Funny)
It's like, "How much more likely could it be?" and the answer is "None. None more likely."
Re:very likely that it's likely? (Score:5, Funny)
It's many more more likelier. Moosen.
Re:very likely that it's likely? (Score:2)
<grin>
What's likely is that the author is jumping to conclusions. The first thing you do (well, maybe the second or third) before designing for production is to build a prototype. That seems likely. Whether you and I see a video- and wifi-capable iPod is a prediction best made with chicken bones or dice.
Expanded iPod (Score:5, Insightful)
However the amount of battery consumption for such a beast would be epic.
Re:Expanded iPod (Score:5, Funny)
The ivpod. The only digital music player you can wire directly into your veins!!
Re:Expanded iPod (Score:2)
Hopefully They will... (Score:3, Insightful)
Synapse (Score:3, Funny)
picture goes fuzzy...
Disinformation? (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Disinformation? (Score:2)
Re:Disinformation? (Score:3, Interesting)
Besides, Microsoft has already started releasing specs for their own portable multimedia handhelds. Apple announcing that the
Re:Disinformation? (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Disinformation? (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:Disinformation? (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Disinformation? (Score:5, Funny)
Luckily I have access to that hyperbolic time chamber. It's hard to code in there though, this pointy headed glowing guy is always throwing energy beams at me.
Re:Disinformation? (Score:5, Insightful)
Of course, it could also be written by a complete idiot.
Re:Disinformation? (Score:2, Insightful)
Skillset requirements list = What we want you to do plus some buzzwords some manager read in a magazine that are supposed to be "hot" right now. Example: "Must have 3+ years experience with ASP, J2EE, MSSQL, Oracle, IIS, Apache and Photoshop."
Position title = What we're willing to pay you. Example: "Seeking intern with the following skills..."
2 things (Score:4, Insightful)
1) Why do they feel the need to complicate the iPod? People love the fact that it does one primary thing, and does it brilliantly. The iPod is expensive enough without any more frills.
2) If they are just looking for an engineer now, just think how long before any product sees the light of day.
Re:2 things (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:2 things (Score:2)
That said, they did advertise the iTunes for Windows dev job openly before admitting the product was pending.
Re:2 things (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:2 things (Score:3, Insightful)
a.) Complication? Eventually the market will be saturated. There is competition out there. They need to distinguish themselves to keep getting new sales. Besides, how much more complicated would it really be? It's all passive entertainment.
b.) The iPod's not being sold at cost. They have some wiggle room on the pri
Re:2 things (Score:2)
I wouldn't worry about Apple putting out a video iPod or a wireless super-iPod a
Re:2 things (Score:3, Insightful)
Meh. I own one, and while I think it's the best MP3 player on the market, I wouldn't call it "brilliant". The fact that I've had to restore on 2 different generations is reason enough to call it "great, but not perfect".
Re:2 things (Score:3, Insightful)
A Wi-Fi iPod will allow you to stream internet broadcasts. It will be the beginning of a terrestrial competitor to what we now know as radio.
Worth doing.
Isn't it enough already? (Score:2)
Diamonds (Score:4, Interesting)
Sigh... (Score:2, Insightful)
Everytime Apple hires someone, people want to think it has to do something with the iPod.
They make pretty good computers too, you know?
Re:Sigh... (Score:2)
Re:Sigh... (Score:2)
job requirements can lie (Score:5, Informative)
Obviously Apple knows their job announcements are scrutinized, and it wouldn't surprise me if they were casting a broader net than they need to be, as insurance against future needs that may or may not materialize.
Logical Next Step (Score:4, Insightful)
The only thing I wonder about is how the MPAA and its member companies will take this. Hopefully Apple's talked to them already or is in the process or they could find themselves with a wonderful videoPod without any way to get movies for it legally. Given their success with iTunes and the iTunes store I'm inclined to believe they have this worked out already though.
I wasn't as excited about the iPod since I have a portable CD/Mp3 player and it works fine for me. I would be quite excited and interested in a video device though.
iP0D (Score:2, Funny)
Not only carries music, but it'll take in 40 gigs worth of divx or mpeg for your viewing "pleasure"
Included in the posh packaging is the new ipod, battery charger, headphones, and hand lotion. How thoughtful, Apple. Thanks.
My guess goes for revamped Airport Express (Score:3, Interesting)
Not feasible?!? (Score:3)
Re:Not feasible?!? (Score:3, Funny)
I'd say it's a quite important issue for a commercial enterprise
Re:Not feasible?!? (Score:2)
Add video-out, and the 3-inch-screen complaints are meaningless. It's a handheld VCR. Anyway, a tiny screen is more watchable than you might t
Ipod + Airtunes (Score:2)
Nothing succeeds like success. (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Nothing succeeds like success. (Score:2)
Re: engineer (Score:2, Insightful)
Re: engineer (Score:2)
Why only one engineer?
Because this is a replacement position for an already existing project team.
SteveM
Re: engineer (Score:2)
On a side note.. I think that the next iPod should have some kind of celluar integration. It would be nice to talk about with a 60 GB hard drive that does more than play music and solitare. It would also be nice to walk about with a picture phone that does more than ring when I am needed.
Think of the
Re: engineer (Score:2)
I've been wondering when this would be announced. (Score:3, Insightful)
No mention of ultra wide band in there. It would be interesting if they tried it though. The iPod might have enough buy-in with consumers to make this technology finally take off.
The Ultimate Plugin? (Score:5, Interesting)
It functions exceptionally as an MP3/AAC/AIFF/Audible player - no dispute about that. It works well as an audio recorder from what I've heard. And it also functions "decently" as a calendar/address book/note taker.
Apple might be seeing something beyond a "video iPod". Personally, based on what Mr. Jobs has said, I'd be surprised if it went that route. Most people I know don't care to be watching video as they walk/exercise/work/drive.
But what if the iPod became more of a hub? Take the current Airport Express device - 802.11 device plus audio player and print server. What if your iPod could wirelessly transmit audio to it, so you wouldn't need another computer on all the time - just pick up the iPod, and it would be like a little remote. Or you enter the room with your iPod, and the Airport Express starts playing what's on there, so you have seamless music from your earphones to your speakers.
Imagine if that could be done with video as well - just take the videos you made with iMovie or one of Apple's major movie editors, and plunk it onto the iPod. Now you can go to the other room and demo the movie on the TV set.
Remember how The Lord of the Rings was downloaded onto iPods and transferred to the editing room? Imagine a digital video camera that, instead of a small tape, just plugged in an iPod - direct from video to hard drive, and then just plug it into the computer and edit away. Or, if you have a digital camera, same thing - and now you can wirelessly transmit those photos to your computer for editing/emailing and the like.
So rather than a "video iPod", I wonder if Apple won't make the iPod an extension of the "digital hub" idea. Of course, knowing Apple, those features will work best with a Mac - but if they get other companies like HP to jump on the bandwagon and support these functions with their devices and software, Apple won't care - they'll still be selling iPods and cashing in the checks at the bank.
Of course, just an idea. I could be wrong.
Mind Control! (Score:2, Funny)
Plug-ons (Score:3, Interesting)
Why burden the base unit down with this stuff when you can blast it to a plug-on? As long as the firmware supports it, of course.
Shipping (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Shipping (Score:2, Interesting)
how could this not be true? (Score:3, Insightful)
This particular story may be a hoax, as others have pointed out, but how could Apple not be looking to add wireless to the iPod?
Wireless means:
With mp3 functionality being integrated into all-in-one cellphones, Apple could also being looking into this market, which may be critical for the survival of the iPod. And who better than Apple to give a simple interface that controls all these functions? BTW, I'm willing to give out gmail invites in exchange for completed referrals at freeipods.com.
How can I get one of this... (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:How can I get one of this... (Score:2)
(yes, I am an English major...)
Apple Psyops... (Score:5, Interesting)
If I were running Apple, I would do it just to read what all of us armchair quarterback types have to say about it. Think about it... People's guesses may be combinations of tech that Apple didn't think of yet, and they get free market feasability research at the same time. Plus, it's funny.
Of course, if I were running Apple I'd stop making products that get handled a lot out of white plastic (iPods, keyboards, and the like).
I qualify with my A+ cert!! (Score:5, Funny)
system integration - Check. I installed Samba last week
digital logic - Check. That's ones and zeros, right?
SDRAM - Check. I use that in my camera
Flash - Check. I flashed my DVD-rom thingy to be region free
ASIC - Um. That's like a CPU for a nintendo.
processor selection - Check. AMD beats Intel every time. Only fan boys use Intel.
ATAPI - Check. I've installed Harddrives before
various communication protocols (ie: GSM, Bluetooth, IEEE 802.11, Firewire, and USB) - Check: I've got a GSM phone and a USB flash drive.
display types and video and analog integration. - Check. How easy peasy! Just match the colors on the cable plugs and the sockets.
Apple, here I come!
Wonder if I should change my name to "iMateito"?
I love my iPod, but really.... (Score:3, Insightful)
That being said, do we really care about an Apple job posting? I think bluetooth or Wifi integration would be very cool in the iPod. But this story just seems down right silly. If Sony posted an ad in their Walkman division for the same skills would it be noticed? What about Rio? We don't even know what this means, and speculation before they have even gotten going on the hiring process just seems like a waste of time.
This is pre-vaporware, if there is such a thing.
Battery drain is the Achilles heel (Score:2, Insightful)
Ninety percent of the time, an iPod does nothing more than decode MP3's from a RAM cache and drive a pair of headphones.
If you add to that a backlit color LCD, a WiFi transceiver and video decoding, you'd be lucky to get an hour's worth of play time. For that reason, I don't expect to see a video iPod any time soon.
Jebus... (Score:3, Insightful)
"OK, we need to find someone that can take our flagship, multi-million dollar product and add a layer of function and complexity onto it not yet realized in the electronics field anywhere."
I mean, unless the designers of the Walkman or Gameboy come strolling in, what kind of candidate is it going to take to fill this position?
The iPod as data repository (Score:2, Interesting)
I could care less if I can watch movies on it -- I think the portable movie-player market is tiny anyway. Functionality that WOULD be great for me would be a firew
Does no one else have an Apple ID? (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Does no one else have an Apple ID? (Score:2)
Yeah, the group that also came up with the iSight has no reason to be looking at "display types".
I would be interested i
Re:Does no one else have an Apple ID? (Score:4, Interesting)
Still, looking at job adds is an old trick for competitors and journalist to 'research' a company, and Apple of all places should know that.
On the other hand, it's not terribly reliable though. I've known plenty of companies that posted job openings that did not exist, just to get competitors on the wrong foot.
So this 'news' really isn't 'news'. What it basically says is either:
a) Apple is going to do something with video; their job add said so and then they tried to cover it up, see?
or:
b) Apple wants there to be some spread of rumors about video; they released a fake job add and then deleted certain parts to make it more believable.
(b) is maybe too tin-foil, but if I can think of it, I'm sure the people at Apple can too.
Why is Apple beating out Sony? (Score:2, Interesting)
Just to point out the obvious (Score:3, Insightful)
My guess? They'll make an ipod with a color screen, but it probably still won't do video.
Speculating on Vaporware... (Score:3, Insightful)
I think that Sig I saw was correct after all: The earth's intelligence if finite yet the population is growing.
BTM
another nice feature... (Score:2, Troll)
more likely ... (Score:3, Informative)
If this link/posting was indeed true, I would think this would be more for someone working on the video version of the airport express base station, as the audio/WiFi version is already out there.
Little steps at a time folks, little steps ...
Still no radio? (Score:3, Insightful)
Important distinction (Score:3, Insightful)
iPod group, not necessarily iPod product. It's possible that this group will evolve into a multi-faceted consumer electronics effort, but there's no point in Apple publicly acknowledging as much now. So for now, they call it the "iPod" group, after its one product.
Or, maybe someone actually wants to watch videos on a twinkie little 2" screen.
--realinvalidname
Re:Ok, we know /. is anti-M$ (Score:2)
what the hell is going on?
lets all submit our resumes as a story on slashdot and see if we can get a large audience for our job searches?
Better yet, lets submit stories that are nothing but amazon affiliate links?
sigh
Re:Ok, we know /. is anti-M$ (Score:5, Insightful)
Plus the
Re:it shows you that... (Score:5, Informative)
I usually don't reply to ACs, but the Objective-C bashing is just ignorant. Objective-C is not used much outside of the Mac OS X development community, but that does not make it a bad language. I've programmed fairly extensively in it, and I can say that it is a truly incredible language that makes tasks really simple. It is a true object oriented language (everything inherits from NSObject) yet you still get to keep pointers, which gives you a lot of power as well. It has the power of C++ and the ease of use of Java or C#.
I have yet to meet anyone with significant experience in Objective-C who can say they dislike the language.
Comment removed (Score:4, Funny)
Re:it shows you that... (Score:4, Funny)
The only reason I'm replying is to congratulate you on the benign post. Oh god, lame hex humor. I truly apologize. If I wasn't programming registers on a chip today that joke would never have happened. I promise. I'm going to crawl into a corner now.
Re: (Score:2)
Re:it shows you that... (Score:2)
Re:it shows you that... (Score:2)
Not that I like or dislike Objective-C (never used it), but this statement hardly proves anything. All the ones that disliked it didn't hang around long enough to get significant experience... and its not like Java or
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Archos functionality + Apple design = the a nsw (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:job description continues: (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Archos (Score:3, Interesting)