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iMac Businesses Media Media (Apple) Apple Hardware

New iMacs (and iPods) 748

Dilaudid writes "According to this story at MacWorld Apple has just announced three new iMac models - all with Bluetooth and AirPort Extreme. More importantly there are new iPods too. Cool." The iMacs got a speed bump up to 1.25GHz, and the iPods were capacity-bumped up to 40GB.
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New iMacs (and iPods)

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  • Still no OGG (Score:3, Informative)

    by AkaXakA ( 695610 ) on Monday September 08, 2003 @10:09AM (#6899889) Homepage
    *cries*

    Good thing I have an iRiver discman though ;)

    -----Article:
    >>>Apple upgrades iMac range

    By Jonny Evans

    Apple today introduced new iMac configurations featuring up to a 1.25GHz G4 processor and faster 333MHz DDR memory as standard.

    Three models of iMac are now available as standard from the company: the 1GHz 15-inch screen Combo drive (CD-RW/DVD-ROM) iMac; the 17-inch model (with SuperDrive), hosting a 1.25GHz processor; and the 17-inch SuperDrive Plus model, which offers 1.25GHz, and ships with AirPort Extreme and Bluetooth built-in.

    The 15-inch iMac costs 999; the 17-inch SuperDrive costs 1,449; and the 17-inch SuperDrive Plus costs 1,713. Prices include VAT.

    All models are AirPort Extreme and Bluetooth ready, though the highest-end model is the only iMac with these features pre-installed. Other features common across the range include: 80GB hard drives (high end, 160GB); 10/100Base-T Ethernet; 56K internal modems; and Apple Pro speakers.

    The new iMacs have three USB 2.0 ports and two FireWire 400 ports. They do not offer the new FireWire 800 standard.

    The 15-inch model has an NVidia GeForce4 MX graphics card installed with 32MB dedicated DDR video memory - up from a GeForce2 MX. The two 17-inch iMacs offer NVidia GeForce FX 5200 Ultra graphics cards with 64MB DDR memory installed. Previously the 17-inch models featured the GeForce4 MX.

    With Mac OS X 10.2 and Apple's iApps (iPhoto, iMovie, iTunes and iDVD), the software bundle includes: QuickTime, iCal, iChat, iSync, DVD Player, AppleWorks, Mac OS X Mail, Internet Explorer, Mac OS X Chess, Otto Matic, Deimos Rising, FAXstf, Acrobat Reader, and the Apple Hardware Test CD.

    Apple has also introduced new iPods with a maximum 40GB storage:

    >>>40GB iPod launched

    By Macworld staff

    Apple has introduced a 40GB iPod for 398.99 including VAT.

    The new version replaces the 30GB iPod, although the price is unchanged. The 40GB model can hold 10,000 songs, and weighs 176 grams.

    The 15GB version has also been replaced by a 20GB version, with pricing fixed at 299.

    All iPods include earbud headphones, an iPod power adaptor, a FireWire cable and a 4-pin-to-6-pin iPod FireWire adaptor.

    20GB and 40GB models include the iPod Dock, a carrying case and wired remote.
    • Re:Still no OGG (Score:5, Informative)

      by hype7 ( 239530 ) <u3295110@@@anu...edu...au> on Monday September 08, 2003 @10:18AM (#6900014) Journal
      this was the other big piece of Apple news today:

      http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2003/sep/08musicst ore.html [apple.com]

      iTunes Music Store Sells Ten Millionth Song

      Cupertino, California--September 8, 2003--Apple(R) today announced that music fans have purchased and downloaded over ten million songs from the iTunes(R) Music Store since its launch just over four months ago, averaging over 500,000 songs per week. The ten millionth song, "Complicated" by Avril Lavigne, was purchased and downloaded at 11:34 p.m. (PDT) on September 3.

      The combination of the iTunes digital music jukebox, the pioneering iTunes Music Store and the market-leading iPod(TM) digital music player provide users with a complete solution for buying, managing and listening to their digital music collections anywhere. The iTunes Music Store will be available to Windows users by the end of this year.

      "Legally selling ten million songs online in just four months is a historic milestone for the music industry, musicians and music lovers everywhere," said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO. "Apple offers the only complete solution for digital music with iTunes and the amazing iPod, which now holds 10,000 songs in your pocket."

      "We are honored and grateful to be one of the top selling artists in the iTunes Music Store," said Chris Martin, singer/songwriter of the Grammy-award winning band Coldplay. "It's clear Apple has delivered a working and successful platform for music fans to discover artists and purchase both albums and single songs instantly with ease. We embrace these efforts enthusiastically and see them as the future of our business."

      The revolutionary online music store offers songs from major and independent music labels, groundbreaking personal use rights, and one-click download directly into Apple's integrated digital jukebox software, iTunes--all for just 99 cents per song. Users can listen to free 30-second previews of any song in the store, then purchase and download their favorite songs or complete albums in pristine digital quality. Songs can be burned at no extra cost onto an unlimited number of CDs for personal use, played on up to three computers, and listened to on an unlimited number of iPods.
      • by edremy ( 36408 ) on Monday September 08, 2003 @10:53AM (#6900376) Journal
        is how little money this must be making Apple

        10M songs? Yeah, but it's only 0.99 per song, so that's less than $10M. IIRC, Apple keeps about a third of that, so ~$3M.

        How much did it cost to program, to feed the lawyers to get all the contracts, to set up the servers/bandwidth needed? (And the Apple Store is *fast*- they didn't skimp here.)

        I can't imagine this is going to have a big positive impact on Apple's bottom line, unless (and it's a big unless) the publicity they are getting sells more Macs/iPods. I wouldn't be surprised if this is the sole reason they are bothering.

        • by hype7 ( 239530 ) <u3295110@@@anu...edu...au> on Monday September 08, 2003 @11:09AM (#6900507) Journal
          is how little money this must be making Apple


          10M songs? Yeah, but it's only 0.99 per song, so that's less than $10M. IIRC, Apple keeps about a third of that, so ~$3M.

          How much did it cost to program, to feed the lawyers to get all the contracts, to set up the servers/bandwidth needed? (And the Apple Store is *fast*- they didn't skimp here.)

          I can't imagine this is going to have a big positive impact on Apple's bottom line, unless (and it's a big unless) the publicity they are getting sells more Macs/iPods. I wouldn't be surprised if this is the sole reason they are bothering.


          All those costs you talk about are fixed costs.

          In other words, when this is deployed to Windows (the other 95% of the computer using population) - it will suddenly make up a lot more than 10 mill in revenue. It will go spastic.

          That will in turn encourage iPod sales, and those iPod sales will in turn encourage more music store purchases. Then they can start the real cross-pollination; "buy an iPod, get 10 free songs at the Apple Music Store".

          If enough people start doing it, it's gonna hit a critical mass then just explode. The only risk Apple faces is if MS/whoever starts eating Apple's dinner. OTOH, very few of the other solutions will work with the world's most popular MP3 player - the iPod.

          -- james
          • Just to nit-pick:

            Servers and bandwidth are not a fixed cost.

            When your load increases by a factor of 19, your costs for servers and bandwidth also go up.

        • by discstickers ( 547062 ) <chrisNO@SPAMdiscstickers.com> on Monday September 08, 2003 @11:09AM (#6900510) Homepage
          Actually, I think that Fred Anderson, Apple's CFO, basically said that. The iTMS is a trojan horse to get people to buy iPods and the iPod is a trojan horse to get people to buy Macs.
        • 10M songs? Yeah, but it's only 0.99 per song, so that's less than $10M. IIRC, Apple keeps about a third of that, so ~$3M.

          Forget about the money Apple is making from the store, and notice that it is a great big Get Out Of Jail Free card for Apple.

          The Apple platform is so great for digital media because it provides a set of powerful and easy tools for manipulating digital content. With a moto like "Rip, Mix, Burn," and products like the MP3-playing iPod apple was about half a step from Napster's legal
    • Re:Still no OGG (Score:4, Insightful)

      by Anonymous Coward on Monday September 08, 2003 @10:42AM (#6900261)
      Complaining that Ipod doesn't support Ogg is like complaining it doesn't support LP's. Put simply on the consumer digital music scene Ogg is a noshow. That's not to say nobody uses it, but the people who do probably make up .002% of all consumers. Why should Apple even bother with a format nobody uses?

      MP3 is freely available and is the defacto standard. There is no shortage of MP3 players both hardware and software based, nor apps which rip to MP3. Ogg while not "patent encumbered" is a solution in search of a problem.

      I think its great that game companies are going Ogg(although where's the savings for me??) and I think its nice that for commercial products you have this good free codec. But for the rest of us will stick with what works and what is standard, free, and easily available.

      So cry all you want for Ogg but don't be surprised when we all ignore you and stick with what works.(Not a flame)
      • by Anonymous Coward
        Why should Apple even bother with a format nobody uses?

        Because they sell computers that nobody uses? Sounds like providing OGG would be par for the course.
      • Re:Still no OGG (Score:5, Insightful)

        by larkost ( 79011 ) on Monday September 08, 2003 @12:35PM (#6901498)
        Just a small note: MP3 is not free. It is owned by the Fraunhofer [fraunhofer.de] institute in Germany. They license it to a number of companies, in this case Apple. Apple pays a fixed sum per year to them on their customer's behalf.

        There are a number of free players and encoders out there that are not liscenced, but these are explicitly infringing on Fraunhofer's patents. They simply have not been taken to court. This is very similar to the whole gif case (the algorithm behind the gif format was patented... recently expired in the US).

        Ogg Vorbis is a small player, but it is a truly free one.

        And as an owner of a iPod, why would you use mp3 when AAC is so much better.
    • Get a Neuros (Score:5, Informative)

      by Joseph Vigneau ( 514 ) on Monday September 08, 2003 @10:57AM (#6900409)
      Get a Neuros [neurosaudio.com].
      • Plays Ogg Vorbis files (DI employs one of Vorbis' founders).
      • Can sync w/ Linux.
      • "Backpack" system lets you remove the hard drive when you want to go solid state. Also allows for upgrades (like the upcoming USB 2 backpack).
      • Open source cross-platform song manager (NeurosDBM [sourceforge.net])
      • Built-in FM tuner.
      • "MiSi" feature, which allows you to record a clip from FM, and have it identified when you sync.
      • Low-power FM transmitter, which can be picked up by a car stereo, boom-box, etc.
      • Embraces the open source [neurosaudio.com] community.
      • Stands behind a social contract [neurosaudio.com]

      • Re:Get a Neuros (Score:5, Informative)

        by PhoenixK7 ( 244984 ) on Monday September 08, 2003 @11:57AM (#6901018)
        You forgot something.

        • Big and honking
      • Re:Get a Neuros (Score:5, Interesting)

        by ZackSchil ( 560462 ) on Monday September 08, 2003 @12:09PM (#6901145)
        Does not play iTMS DRMed files
        Costs the same amount as the iPod ($399, 20GB Models)
        Is larger and heavier than the iPod: 5.3" x 3.1" x 1.3", 9.4 oz. vs 4.1" x 2.4" x .62", 5.6oz.
        Cannot use Firewire or USB 2.0 without a special "backpack" (iPod uses a USB/2.0 adaptor kit to translate pins)
        Not nearly as good looking
        Difficult syncing
        No smart playlists
        No Mac support

        Your average listener does not have any OGG Vorbis files. The FM transmitter and tuner sound cool but not cool enough. Apple will add voice recording to the iPod with a firmware update, the hardware to do so is already in place. This player sounds cool but it's by no means at all an iPod killer. Has any one out there actually used one as well as an iPod? How do their features compare? Ease of use?
  • Wrong link... (Score:5, Informative)

    by Viceice ( 462967 ) on Monday September 08, 2003 @10:09AM (#6899895)
    The link to the actual article is:

    http://www.macworld.co.uk/news/main_news.cfm?New sI D=6857

  • Headless iMacs (Score:5, Insightful)

    by Anonymous Coward on Monday September 08, 2003 @10:09AM (#6899896)
    Why can't Apple make a less expensive headless box? All thier lower-priced units have some sort of monitor attached (e/iMac). Why not have an iMac-class system without the screen? Their product line seems to be all or nothing (G5 tower or iMac with integrated monitor).

    • Re:Headless iMacs (Score:5, Insightful)

      by Chuck Bucket ( 142633 ) on Monday September 08, 2003 @10:16AM (#6899983) Homepage Journal
      They did this with the Cube, but it didn't catch fire like the original iMacs did so I doubt they'll be trying that again. I think their all in one solution for the iMac is sound - it provides a great entry into Apple, at a competitive cost - while providing that 'apple' feel with the design and control of the monitor.

      Having said that, I would like to see another go at a 'cube type' solution.

      CB
      • Re:Headless iMacs (Score:5, Informative)

        by boaworm ( 180781 ) <boaworm@gmail.com> on Monday September 08, 2003 @10:35AM (#6900214) Homepage Journal
        Why can't Apple make a less expensive headless box?
        They did this with the Cube, but it didn't catch fire like the original iMacs did so I doubt they'll be trying that again.


        Not exactly true. The G4 Cube was monitor-less, but it was far from cheap. It cost just below a PowerMac with the same peformance, but with very limited expantion slots.

        The cool thing with the cube was that it was almost completely silent (no fans what so ever!). Only a 5400rpm disk.

        Another interesting thing with the cube is that it's second hand value is still very high, often around 500 to 900 dollars (ebay [ebay.com]), even though the model is old. That's about half its retail price as new...

      • Re:Headless iMacs (Score:3, Interesting)

        by PierceLabs ( 549351 )
        The cube was anything but cheap. Personally I think they should revive the cube line because its more in line with what I'm looking for in my next system - something headless because its going to be acting as a server, deco enough to sit in the living room, quiet enough to go unnoticed, and with a cheap price. The last Linux box I built to serve this purpose was just too loud. All of the Intel and Athlon processors are too hot. If Apple doesn't come out with something I may just try something with a VIA C3
      • by cosmo7 ( 325616 ) on Monday September 08, 2003 @11:56AM (#6901011) Homepage
        but it didn't catch fire like the original iMacs did

        You're thinking of the PowerBook 5300.
    • Re:Headless iMacs (Score:3, Informative)

      by jceaser ( 666366 )
      They keep using quality parts, which tends to keep the price up.
    • Re:Headless iMacs (Score:5, Insightful)

      by Angostura ( 703910 ) on Monday September 08, 2003 @10:31AM (#6900163)
      Because the iMac is postioned as a plug-and-play consumer appliance. That is its positioning, its raison d'etre. The towers are positioned as the professional boxes - lots of options, upgradable etc. Now, you can argue that this is a purely marketing-led distinction, and you would be right. But Apple has decided that consumers like their machines simple and are put of by more choice than 'fast, faster, fastest'
    • Re:Headless iMacs (Score:5, Interesting)

      by King Babar ( 19862 ) on Monday September 08, 2003 @11:29AM (#6900668) Homepage
      Why can't Apple make a less expensive headless box? All thier lower-priced units have some sort of monitor attached (e/iMac).

      I thought about this, and I came with at least 4 reasons.

      1. The demand for headless boxes is probably less than you'd imagine. Most Mac buyers are not switchers, so I don't think they are as likely to have a dreamy monitor hanging around *unless* they were already buying the PowerMac line, and that's headless.
      2. Headless has gotten more complicated to do right and do well. A dirt-cheap headless box would ahve to be pretty well integrated, but then you face the immediate problem of whether or not to provide DVI connectors, or what size monitor you want to support.
      3. A lot of monitors people have lying around to use with a headless box are pretty poor quality, and the one thing Apple *doesn't* want is people running Mac OS X and having the result look crappy. Graphics people have nicer monitors, and would know better than to blame the platform if they used a cheap monitor and it looked bad. The extreme entry level crowd is different.
      4. The notebook is the new headless Mac! OK, so it's not really headless, but the low end notebooks (iBook and 12" powerbook) can fill a part of the headless niche, and be notebooks, too. They perhaps aren't optimized for this usage yet, but they can do the job. Or, put it this way: your choice would be a $700 slab or a $999 iBook or a $999 iMac. The difference here is that one of these is *also* a notebook, one of thes comes with a *very nice* LCD monitor, and the other one is just a slab. I don't think it would be such a hot seller.
  • Nice! (Score:3, Insightful)

    by Shenkerian ( 577120 ) on Monday September 08, 2003 @10:10AM (#6899903)
    Get these (relatively) unimpressive updates out of the way to make room for the real ones at Apple Expo in Paris.
  • For a minute there, (Score:5, Interesting)

    by Mordant ( 138460 ) on Monday September 08, 2003 @10:10AM (#6899915)
    I thought you were saying that the new iPods had BlueTooth and Airport Extreme support, heh.

    Now, that would rock. Apple, are you listening?
    • by diamondsw ( 685967 ) on Monday September 08, 2003 @10:17AM (#6899992)
      What would you use it for? You're not really going to copy over your MP3's at a miniscule 20Mbps, when Firewire is 20x faster?
      • by ottffssent ( 18387 ) on Monday September 08, 2003 @12:57PM (#6901839)
        No, no, no. Not for bulk copies. For updates.

        The iPod is small enough (or thereabouts), lasts long enough (I'd imagine), has enough features, (though vorbis audio support would rock), and enough space (there abouts). What it doesn't have is enough convenience.

        When introduced, ipod + itunes were dramatically more convenient than their brethren, and rightfully won in the marketplace. Now, they need to continue to evolve to maintain that lead.

        Consider: palm pilots need to be charged / sync'd. Cellphones need to be charged and sometimes sync'd. Digital audio players need to be charged / sync'd. All of this introduces clutter and inconvenience; it's time to move forward. The ritual of coming home, plugging in all your gear, running some software, and then getting on with your evening has become familiar to many of us, but is no more reasonable a way to conduct business than using Office out of habit.

        While the ipod has come a long way, it has a long way to go in terms of convenience. Bluetooth networking, in combination with magnetic induction chargers provides the technical foundation for another leap ahead in usability. Nobody will begrudge a company a bit of one-time-setup hassle such as plugging in an ipod to grab a few dozen gig of music. But consider the long-term convenience of having a device that you can toss in a corner and expect it to just do the right thing. Personal electronics should enhance and adapt to my lifestyle, not require me to adapt my lifestyle to my gadgets. Having to periodically be within a few feet of a power outlet and a firewire or USB jack is not the right way to interact with one's gear.

        A PDA or cellphone or music player or whatever else comes along should be more aware of its surroundings. It should notice when it is in range of its home network and should download new music, new contacts, new appointments or avantgo info, whatever it needs. When it finds itself on a little charging mat, it should charge. When I pick it up in the middle of a transfer and walk away, it should deal with it seamlessly, without complaint or error.

        Apple made the first leap; others have followed. It's time for them to move again.
    • Brilliant! (Score:5, Funny)

      by green pizza ( 159161 ) on Monday September 08, 2003 @10:28AM (#6900127) Homepage
      I thought you were saying that the new iPods had BlueTooth and Airport Extreme support, heh.

      Now, that would rock. Apple, are you listening?


      Wow, I'll bet Steve Jobs is reading your Slashdot post right now thinking "wireless! Damn, why didn't I think of that!".
    • by geekoid ( 135745 ) <dadinportland AT yahoo DOT com> on Monday September 08, 2003 @11:09AM (#6900501) Homepage Journal
      sweet. then you could put on some light weight P2P software and be sharing music with inbody within range.
  • iPod longevity (Score:5, Interesting)

    by bokelley ( 563370 ) * on Monday September 08, 2003 @10:10AM (#6899918)

    It's been a while since the iPod came out, and it still seems to be one of the best MP3 players out there. So what's next? Seems like more storage doesn't make a difference at some point (ooh 15,000 songs instead of 10,000).

    • Re:iPod longevity (Score:5, Informative)

      by Shenkerian ( 577120 ) on Monday September 08, 2003 @10:13AM (#6899951)
      Making it smaller and giving it recording capabilities.

      Oh wait, they already did that [google.com].

    • Re:iPod longevity (Score:5, Insightful)

      by mrpuffypants ( 444598 ) * <(moc.liamg) (ta) (stnapyffuprm)> on Monday September 08, 2003 @10:15AM (#6899966)
      I still firmly believe that Apple would do well to release a cheapper version of the iPod ($100-200 range) for those that still want an iPod but can't drop $500 on one.

      However, I still appreciate the looks that I get walking to class with my 30GB; I sure wouldn't want to become just "one of the crowd"
    • Re:iPod longevity (Score:3, Interesting)

      So what's next?

      So how about a color LCD screen? Backlighting is good, but I hate monochrome when they can do better.

      • by IM6100 ( 692796 ) <elben@mentar.org> on Monday September 08, 2003 @11:33AM (#6900724)
        Color LCDs use significantly more power than monochrome ones.

        Perhaps, just for you, they will come out with a color plasma screen version. With a thick cord that tethers it to the big 70 pound lead-acid battery that you wheel around in a cart.

        Mercy!
        • With a thick cord that tethers it to the big 70 pound lead-acid battery that you wheel around in a cart.

          Of course not! I was thinking of one of those gas-powered portable generators, with keyed ignition, naturally.

    • Re:iPod longevity (Score:4, Interesting)

      by in7ane ( 678796 ) on Monday September 08, 2003 @01:13PM (#6902099)
      What does RIAA think about this? If you look at how many people buy the 15,000 song iPods - have as many people bought 15,000 songs, at a cost of around $15,000 (taking the price from, say, from the iTunes music store)?

      More importantly, will RIAA now subpoena the list of people who bought the large iPods to prosecute them?
  • by Gubbe ( 705219 ) on Monday September 08, 2003 @10:10AM (#6899919)
    Only the 1,713 17-inch SuperDrive Plus has BlueTooth and AirPort Extreme pre-installed. The cheaper models are just "AirPort Extreme and Bluetooth ready."
  • by maan ( 21073 ) * on Monday September 08, 2003 @10:11AM (#6899927)
    To this day I still can't forget the comment Taco made when he posted [slashdot.org] the initial IPod announcement:

    No wireless. Less space than a nomad. Lame.

    Oh well, I guess opinions change.

    Seriously though, the ipod is great...

    Maan
    • by amichalo ( 132545 ) on Monday September 08, 2003 @12:43PM (#6901633)
      Wow, re-reading the score 4-5 /. posts when the iPod was first announced [slashdot.org] is really quite interesting.

      It would be interesting for /. to run a "year in review" and highlight some threads of technology announcements and other geek worthy news with 365 days worth of hind sight to see how people's first impressions can be accurate...or not.

      I particularly like the Apple share holder who was upset at the pricing...that it won't sell because it was $400, not $200. I suppose teh same share holder is pretty happy the high margin audio player is the #1 digital music device in the world.
  • by dusanv ( 256645 ) on Monday September 08, 2003 @10:11AM (#6899930)
    All current models are pretty old and especially the 15'' (introduced November last year). The rumour is that Motorola has trouble churning out the latest G4 in any significant quantities. Or maybe they'll go G5 :) Anybody got any info?
  • by djh101010 ( 656795 ) on Monday September 08, 2003 @10:11AM (#6899937) Homepage Journal
    Before you freak at the prices, those are in pounds, not dollars. 1,713 works out to about $2,715 at today's rate.

    Still not a bad price, considering what you get. I'll probably settle for more RAM for my iMac rather than replacing it with one of these, but it's an awfully nice machine.
  • by mblase ( 200735 ) on Monday September 08, 2003 @10:11AM (#6899939)
    New iPods [apple.com]
    New iMacs [apple.com]
  • by SwissMike ( 592866 ) on Monday September 08, 2003 @10:12AM (#6899944)
    The two smaller models are just Bluetooth and Airport ready, that means you have to purchase the add-on cards for 50$ respectively 99$ (according to Apple Store).

    Make sure you order your internal Bluetooth module with your iMac, it can't be added later on (you'll need to use an external Bluetooth-USB-Dongle...).
  • iMagine... (Score:4, Funny)

    by Serious Simon ( 701084 ) on Monday September 08, 2003 @10:13AM (#6899955)
    ... an iCluster of these ...
  • Ipod question (Score:5, Interesting)

    by BenjyD ( 316700 ) on Monday September 08, 2003 @10:14AM (#6899956)
    Is there anyone out there who has actually filled up a 20Gb Ipod and would want a 40Gb version?

    I'm not trying to knock Ipods- I'd actually really like to know if anyone does have that many MP3s etc. I think my entire CD collection would fit several times over in that much space.
    • Comment removed (Score:5, Informative)

      by account_deleted ( 4530225 ) on Monday September 08, 2003 @10:17AM (#6900003)
      Comment removed based on user account deletion
    • Re:Ipod question (Score:5, Insightful)

      by chia_monkey ( 593501 ) on Monday September 08, 2003 @10:21AM (#6900048) Journal
      Is there anyone out there who has actually filled up a 20Gb Ipod and would want a 40Gb version?

      I know some people out there actually use their iPods as part of their DJ ensemble. Whereas a typical song may only be 3-4 minutes, a decent trance mix may last half an hour or so. Have a trance section in your iPod, a drum and bass section, house, trip-hop, and you'll see that it fills up rather quickly.
    • Re:Ipod question (Score:5, Informative)

      by tbmaddux ( 145207 ) * on Monday September 08, 2003 @10:51AM (#6900356) Homepage Journal
      Is there anyone out there who has actually filled up a 20Gb Ipod and would want a 40Gb version?
      My MP3 collection is too big to fit on my 30GB iPod, but that iPod is big enough that I went through my iPod playlist to remove artists/songs/albums that I did not want, rather than picking the ones that I did want. I also leave several GB of space open to transfer other data from computer to computer. The automatic updating of play counts and the ability to rate the songs I like/dislike has me using only my iPod to listen to music - I connect it to my home sound system rather than hassle with CDs. The iPod is definitely not lame, and it continues to get less lame.
  • Mirror (Score:4, Informative)

    by inertia187 ( 156602 ) * on Monday September 08, 2003 @10:14AM (#6899964) Homepage Journal
    In case the site is slow, here [martin-studio.com] is a mirror.

    Martin Studio Slashdot Policy [martin-studio.com]
  • by amichalo ( 132545 ) on Monday September 08, 2003 @10:16AM (#6899987)
    Also announced along with larger capacity ipods (20 and 40 to replace 15 and 30 GB models with no other changes in HW or SW stated) and faster iMacs (the 1.25 Ghz 17" now packing a 160 GB HD) there is even more significant news.

    The real news here is that since April 28th when the iTunes Music Store opened, there have been more than 10,000,000 songs downloaded by the US Apple consumer base runing OS 10.1 and iTunes 4. Very impressive in my opinion. The 10,000,000th song was "Complicated" and was sold on September 3rd. Apple stated they are selling 500,000 songs per week.

    The first week Apple stated they sold 1,000,000 songs so that plus half a million a week after corroberates the 10 MM song claim and shows a steady rate.

    It would be interesting to know how BuyMusic.com is doing with their knowck off...especially after all the bad press and sites like BoycottBuyMusic.com [boycottbuymusic.com] and DontBuyMusic.com [dontbuymusic.com] have exposed some shady dealings with artists, consumers, and their advertising.

    And Apple a day keeps Windows at bay
  • by jcsehak ( 559709 ) on Monday September 08, 2003 @10:17AM (#6899989) Homepage
    No, there's no actual proof that they're ever going to make one, but c'mon, isn't it the obvious next step? Record your entire classroom lecture for study purposes, record the next Phish show, record your own demos -- with a simple little multitracking app, it could kill portable 4-tracks. Or, plug your iSight into a video in and turn it into a video camera.

    Also, with a mic in, you'll be able to use Apple's speech recognition software to give it voice commands -- no more fuddling around with menus, just speak into the mic: "iPod, play Smashing Pumpkins, album Gish" or something like that.

  • by sjbe ( 173966 ) on Monday September 08, 2003 @10:18AM (#6900019)
    Interesting that these machines use Bluetooth. My Thinkpad has bluetooth built in and I've just picked up a Bluetooth phone (Nokia 6310i [nokia.com]). Bluetooth is *really* slick. I love not having to get my phone out of my bag to check contacts or sync with my address book. I can send SMS messages from my computer via Mobile Master [mobile-master.de] again without having to locate my phone or punch text into a keyboard not designed for it.

    I'm now very seriously considering getting a car speaker set for my vehicle and I'm certain my next PDA will have bluetooth. My next laptop will probably be a Powerbook and I hope they have bluetooth built in by then because I'm going to want it. It's one of those nifty technologies you wonder why you didn't bother with before.

    Oh, if you do have a Nokia phone, their Nokia Connection Manager software is a bit hit/miss as to whether it will work with a given bluetooth device. Doesn't work with my T30 but I've been able to work around it. YMMV.
    • by hype7 ( 239530 ) <u3295110@@@anu...edu...au> on Monday September 08, 2003 @10:34AM (#6900205) Journal
      Interesting that these machines use Bluetooth. My Thinkpad has bluetooth built in and I've just picked up a Bluetooth phone (Nokia 6310i). Bluetooth is *really* slick. I love not having to get my phone out of my bag to check contacts or sync with my address book. I can send SMS messages from my computer via Mobile Master again without having to locate my phone or punch text into a keyboard not designed for it.


      I'm now very seriously considering getting a car speaker set for my vehicle and I'm certain my next PDA will have bluetooth. My next laptop will probably be a Powerbook and I hope they have bluetooth built in by then because I'm going to want it. It's one of those nifty technologies you wonder why you didn't bother with before.

      Oh, if you do have a Nokia phone, their Nokia Connection Manager software is a bit hit/miss as to whether it will work with a given bluetooth device. Doesn't work with my T30 but I've been able to work around it. YMMV.


      Bluetooth is standard on the 12 inch and 17 inch powerbooks; you have to buy an adaptor to use it on the 15 inch ones, but everyone expects that will change at MacWorld Paris.

      The BT integration in OS X is fantastic. It works with a lot of different devices [apple.com], and all the functionality that you talk about in your post is built in - no third party tools required. iSync syncs contacts [apple.com] via Bluetooth (and for your iPod etc, just not wireless :) and lets you do the SMSing and dialling/answering from the computer.

      The other cool thing is connecting via GPRS via Bluetooth. You can have a semi-fast totally wireless connection without even getting your phone out of your bag, just your computer.

      -- james
      • I must have mis-spelt a HREF tag on that post - it's Address Book, located here [apple.com] that lets you do the SMSing and dialling, etc.

        While I'm at it, I guess it would be pretty hard not to mention Salling Clicker [mac.com], the most awesome little Bluetooth app I've seen. You can effectively control your mac through your phone because of this - it can run scripts to do all kinds of stuff, from presentations to controlling iTunes and DVD player. You can create more scripts through AppleScript too. The sky is the limit! :)

        -
  • ipod (Score:5, Funny)

    by MoFoQ ( 584566 ) on Monday September 08, 2003 @10:27AM (#6900113)
    D'OH!!!!

    And here I am with an out-dated 30GB ipod....

    Maybe it's time for those pitchforks and flaming torches again....
  • Please Apple, (Score:3, Insightful)

    by GoofyBoy ( 44399 ) on Monday September 08, 2003 @10:34AM (#6900202) Journal


    Could you please just make a PDA already? [apple.com]

    If anything, it will force other PDA makers to keep up with you and we call can have better products.
  • Audio in (Score:3, Interesting)

    by zoidberg2k ( 705258 ) on Monday September 08, 2003 @10:44AM (#6900288)
    The new Imacs have grown an analogue audio in port.
  • by GryphonTech ( 702482 ) on Monday September 08, 2003 @10:49AM (#6900335)
    What are they thinking? This is what everyone wants.

    This is what everyone is screaming for! (at least I am)
    I mean, what with Sony being paranoid with their MD format, the market is screaming for a digital recorder that you can actually use.

    Why is this so hard for Apple to understand.

    -- I drank WHAT!!??!! , Socrates
  • by Dave500 ( 107484 ) on Monday September 08, 2003 @10:51AM (#6900363)
    I am beginning to wonder when apple will be brave enough to release what has to be the "killer" 802.11 application for mp3 players - personal streaming.

    Just imagine how cool it would be to share your music and playlists with any other ipod user within range. Tired of your own collection? Try listening to Bob's ipod 4 seats behind you.

    The register has also thought about this - http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/39/28467.html

    What do people think? I would love this, but there are - erm - interesting legal aspects.. ;)
  • by Baki ( 72515 ) on Monday September 08, 2003 @10:54AM (#6900385)
    Argh, still no radio built in. I need an AM/FM radio and don't want to always take 2 devices with me, how much would it cost to add a radio and satisfy the wish/requirement of many?

    It has kept me from buying an Ipod until now. Once Irivers IHP-100 gets a larger harddisk (min. 15GB) I'll buy one of those.
  • by Midnight Thunder ( 17205 ) on Monday September 08, 2003 @10:59AM (#6900421) Homepage Journal
    A number of computer manufacturers are using the marketing con, of "'insert technology name here' ready". For example "bluetooth ready". In most cases taking a closer look at the specifications reveals that the computer does not come with the technology mentioned, but simply has a slot that will accept the device. So in the case of the iMac, you are going to have to buy the bluetooth card, unless it says something like 'bluetooth included'. I know of a couple of friends being caught on this one.
  • Just a thought... (Score:5, Interesting)

    by raptor21 ( 47540 ) on Monday September 08, 2003 @11:03AM (#6900453)
    Assuming that a Apple user only downloads songs legally through iTunes MS.

    The 40GB ipod would hold $10,000 dollars worth of songs. That's a little too much change to be carrying around in you pocket don't you think. You could get mugged for that kinda dough.

    Mugger: hand me you wallet.... no wait, Say, that's one of em new 40GB iPods ain't it, whats that iPod worth.
    Guy being mugged: I'd say about 5 grand, it's only half full.
    Mugger: Screw the wallet, hand me that iPod.

    • Re:Just a thought... (Score:4, Interesting)

      by mrpuffypants ( 444598 ) * <(moc.liamg) (ta) (stnapyffuprm)> on Monday September 08, 2003 @01:44PM (#6902498)
      And imagine how much more the robber could get if all that music was bought on CDs?
  • by afantee ( 562443 ) on Monday September 08, 2003 @11:31AM (#6900685)
    In fact, there are 8 iPods in the top 20 best sellers. The question is would the new models kick the competitions out of the top 10 altogether.

    http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t g/browse/-/300330/ref=br_bx_c_1_5/002-8192629-3045 663
  • by javatips ( 66293 ) on Monday September 08, 2003 @12:30PM (#6901427) Homepage
    Instead of increasing the disk capacity of the iPods, they should include bluetooth or WIFI.

    This would allow one to listen to live stream with their iPod. This could also be used to use the iPod as the computer headset so you can ear the system sounds while listening to your music.

    Another use (which the RIAA would certainly not approve) would be to allow one to stream it's music to somebody else (make it to one device at a time with not recording feature, so the "industry" is not to grumpy about it) listen to ones tracks.

  • Accessory? (Score:5, Funny)

    by Swannie ( 221489 ) on Monday September 08, 2003 @02:26PM (#6902937) Homepage
    Does anyone else find it funny that apple lists a VW New Beetle [apple.com] as an iPod accessory? Wait until I tell my wife...

The bomb will never go off. I speak as an expert in explosives. -- Admiral William Leahy, U.S. Atomic Bomb Project

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