Next iPod to compete with DS, PSP?

[Zadoc]

A report by analyst suggests that Apple Computer’s next-generation video iPod player with large screen will feature a 3D-capable graphics processor by Nvidia Corp., instead of a chip from Broadcom. This may indicate that Apple wants its new-generation digital media player to be able to play games.


“Based on our analysis, we believe Nvidia is designed into the next-generation vPod socket at the expense of Broadcom. We believe the Nvidia chip adds 3D graphics functionality in addition to all of the existing features (such as H.264 [decoding]) that Broadcom supported with the existing vPod,” said Satya Chillara, an analyst with American Technology Research wrote in a new report.

The analyst refers the next-generation iPod player with large screen and video capabilities as vPod. However, adding 3D graphics capabilities means that Apple plans to take advantage of it, making not one – video playback on large screen – but two selling points for the upcoming device – video playback and three-dimensional gaming. In fact, Microsoft's rumoured iPod rival is expected to feature gaming as well.

In mid-February it was reported that the “true” video iPod would be released in Spring. However, it was later said that the product had been delayed due to issues with touchscreen display and now it is reported that the device will see the light of the day no earlier than in 1H 2007. It is unclear, whether Apple decided to fully redesign the new iPod, or just faced issues that postponed the release by two or three quarters.

Originally it was reported that the new “true” video iPod will have 3.5” colour touch screen that will serve for both video and navigation purposes. Those, who have seen the device, reportedly said that it would have 3.5” display that will occupy the entire front face of the gadget. The new iPod features a digital click wheel, one that overlays the touch-sensitive display and appears when a finger touches it and disappears when the finger is removed.

Apple Computer did not comment on the news-story.

http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/multimedia/display/20060719044912.html


With the popularity of iPod, if anyone has the ability to break into the handheld market, I suppose it's Apple, but I predict that they get their asses handed to them N-Gage style. I also predict that the next iPod won't be a true game machine either.

[dbiersdorf]

I think the next iPod will certainly put more emphasis on gaming, but nothing that really eats away at DS and PSP's marketshare. I can see iTunes opening an Xbox Live Marketplace type of system where you never actually posses games, but it's simply distributed digitally. On top of that, the majority of the games will be basic acrade type games that are meant for pick up and play. I just don't see the next iPod adding a ton of new buttons and joysticks to cater a gaming crowd on a MP3 player. So FPS, fighters, complicated action games - they're all out of the picture. Pac-Man? Card games? Off Road Racing? Oh for sure.

[Mr.FoodMonster]

Yeah, I see them putting out simple games through iTunes. A full-fledged gaming system? Doubtful. Just because they're getting some 3D processing power dosn't even mean it's for gaming, just possibly a new menu system or a visualizer during the music or something.

[Pico956]

I doubt the iPod will put alot of effort into gaming. Maybe some homebrew, or casual gaming but it's not its' main focus. It's all about the music IMO. The only time I watch any sort of video on mine is for pod casts. I don't bother putting episode on there or movies. The battery life as of now is only 2 hours of playback for vid. That's not nearly long enough. Hopefully within the next 2 generation of iPod they'll extend it a decent amount.

[smork]

The new iRiver already supports gaming out of the box (comes bundled with some games). So, if that's Apple's game they've been beaten to the punch.

Don't think that Apple will really try to compete with DS/PSP -- people don't ususally like hardware that does TOO much.... (see: NGage)

[tholly]

the 60GB iPod that I have also has some basic games on it.....

[Mr.FoodMonster]

the 60GB iPod that I have also has some basic games on it.....
Yeah, they've pretty much always had games. Each generation it seems they add a game or so, my 20g 4th gen has 'Brick' a breakout clone, 'Solitaire' and 'Parachute' as well as a music quiz game.

[tholly]

the 60GB iPod that I have also has some basic games on it.....
Yeah, they've pretty much always had games. Each generation it seems they add a game or so, my 20g 4th gen has 'Brick' a breakout clone, 'Solitaire' and 'Parachute' as well as a music quiz game.

yea, i didnt know....i never had an ipod, or a mac for that matter, until this past saturday.....

[poloplayr]

would be pretty foolish to ruin the brand/image of THE mp3/music player in the world, no? start confusing people who only want portable music, which i believe is 99% of all ipod users.

[tholly]

would be pretty foolish to ruin the brand/image of THE mp3/music player in the world, no? start confusing people who only want portable music, which i believe is 99% of all ipod users.

excellent point...
yea, thats why i got my ipod...for music....if i wanted a game machine that played music id get a psp (which i did), but i wanted something with a little more room than my 512mb memory card had....and i didnt like the idea of carry and switching out extra memory cards, so, 60GB of memory on the ipod should be good enough for me.....

[Lothars]

I don't see them making a dedicated gaming machine/ipod

I think it's basically just for some screen functions and the like.

[jmetal88]

I'll never buy an iPod myself. For music, my Minidisc player is great. For movies and the best homebrew games around, I have my GP2X.

[GizmoGC]

Sounds kinda neat. People said the video iPod idea would fail...and look at it now.

[SirDrexl]

One thing that I think would be a problem: who would make games for it? Obviously Nintendo has their games which are a strong point for the DS. Sony makes some decent games for the PSP, plus they control developers like Naughty Dog and Polyphony Digital.

Apple would have to either start up their own games division or rely only on third parties. With just third parties, they aren't likely to get the exclusive titles they would need to be successful.

[cyberfluxor]

Well, I just saw a short news story on MSNBC that said Nintendo's stock went up 10% due to their current sales on average of 23 DS units every minute worldwide. :D

[boatofcar]

One thing I will never understand is why companies still think that the public at large is looking for an all-in-one-do-everything portable media device, when there are so many examples of how this is not the case and the spectacular failures of said devices when they hit the market.

I love Apple. I'm a diehard Mac user. I own an iPod.

That said, the iPod is not number one because it's the best portable music player on the market; it's number one because Apple finally figured out how to successfully market a product in the mass media.

I really, really hope Apple does not pursue gaming on the iPod to the degree that it takes away the simple functionality of it's main use as a portable music player.

[Xizer]

The iPod is terrible. It barely supports any file formats and it's overpriced.

The PSP is a much better choice. It's cheaper, and it plays games. Who has more than 1 GB of music anyway?

[SirDrexl]

Who has more than 1 GB of music anyway?

Well, lots do, actually. The question is whether you feel the need to carry around everything in your pocket. I don't, so a flash player suits me fine, but some just want to be able to listen to anything at any time.

[dbiersdorf]

The iPod is terrible. It barely supports any file formats and it's overpriced.

The PSP is a much better choice. It's cheaper, and it plays games. Who has more than 1 GB of music anyway?

Are you kidding me? The iPod is by and large a superior device for music playing. Why would I pay $200 for a device that half asses music playing with minimal features and custimization, not to mention extremely bulky, and then pay an additional $60 some dollars for 1GB of memory? I don't know about you but I have well over 1,000 songs and I want all of them on me when I want to listen to music. Not just a select few that might appeal to my tastes at the time.

[Xizer]

Fine, but the iPod still doesn't compare to the Creative Zen. Not only is the iPod way more than the Zen, but the Zen has more features, and supports things like wma. Why the hell would you spend so much money on an iPod when a Zen is available for less? There's no different in audio quality.

[tholly]

the iPod is a fashion accessory (yes, i have one).....everyone tom dick and harry knows what an ipod is, but most normal consumers have never heard of the zen, or, if they have, they probably just call it an iPod.....

...also, most people will got with iPod over anything else bc it is the name they hear all the time....when the first decide they want a portable mp3 player, apple ipod is the name that comes to mind, just like some people will call any video game a playstation or a nintendo, etc......

its all about brand recognition.....

[dbiersdorf]

Regardless it's not like the iPod is a vastly inferior MP3 player, sure other ones are better, but it's all relative. Joe might think believe the presentation of the iPod is unmatchable while Jim might think Zen is superior in every which way. It's all personal prefrence really, and at the bottom of the pot it's the majority that sides with Joe.