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Flash iPod - No Screen? - No Way

12K views 83 replies 38 participants last post by  Chealion 
#1 ·
Obviously we're only an hour or two away from finding out but I can't bring myself to believe that Apple would launch 1 or 2 gig flash-based iPods with no screen (this rumour popped up a month or two ago with "leaked" prototype images and has resurfaced in the past couple of days on the rumour sites).

Does it make any sense to anyone that Apple would produce a device that allowed only random access or defined playlist access to a few hundred mp3/aacs (the rumour sites have it that the ad campaign will be based on the "Life is Random" slogan?

With such a big part of the iPod UI being based on the super slick click wheel, I just can't see this happening (there is also a rumour that it will have a small screen).

Am I the only person who thinks this would be crazy?
 
#3 ·
mycatsnameis said:
Obviously we're only an hour or two away
Erm, I believe his keynote is tomorrow, not today. :D

IF a new Flash iPod is released tomorrow, with or without a screen, if it has AM/FM tuning in addition to music playback, I will likely get one. I am sure that Apple would not design a screenless iPod if they didn't have an elegant and practical way to make it work without one.
 
#4 ·
can't remember where I saw that but the "flash ipod" would be released with a screen , the same as in the mini-ipod, minus 2 lines...

Lets open the bet :greedy:
 
#7 ·
Random play for an hour's worth of MP3s is nothing. But if you're talking about over a thousand songs, that's another matter. Plus imagine an audible.com book with mixed chapters - yikes!
 
#8 ·
Audible.com books don't come in chapter form for Mac OS. They are only broken into chapters if you have a PC and want to burn to a CD. There may be multiple files for a book but you probably will only carry one file at a time on a flash based device (depending on the memory size). A 7 hour audible file will take up 70-80MB. The largest book I have put on my iPod is "The Company" by Robert Littel and it ways in at 40 hours spread over 6 files.
 
#9 ·
Well, I'm pretty sure its gonna have a display. I dont think apple is gonna post a banner of its yet to be released product in a public area!!!!. The report said they had pics of the unit but were made to erase them from the camera. yeah right!. This is likely a banner for something completely different, maybe not even from apple.
 
#11 ·
The Doug said:
Erm, I believe his keynote is tomorrow, not today. :D

Oops, remembered that onthe way home [excuse]got off 30 hour shift this am just prior to posting[/excuse].

I happen to agree that I might still buy one (since yes I mostly use my 40 gig on Shuffle and actually don't make much use of playlists except for working out). I agree that it would be useful but the beauty of the iPod is that you can listen to any song inn your collection any time with a few clicks and a few spins 'o' the wheel.

Are they really going to sacrifice that key usability feature to score an extra $20 in profits off each unit? (that's a rhetorical question son)

Btw those pics look legit to me.
 
#12 ·
no screen? that would blow.

I hope this is wrong--I was thinking a little 1 GB player would be a nice addition to the family, but in my opinion, an iPod without a screen would blow. Maybe it's on the other side? ( I didn't see any pics of the unit, just the "random" poster -- It does look like the typical iPod campaign poster though).

I'm more of an "album" kind of guy--long walks / drives / rides are great times to experience an album. I rarely use shuffle play because I listen to many types of music and I like to pick what fits my mood.

I'll probably want one as soon as I see it though...
 
#15 ·
Before I purchased my iPod just under a year ago, I had a Discman which had a display on the remote ... which was in the shape of a cylinder ... you could change tracks by turning the edge of the cylinder ... I don't see why this type of idea could not be used ... the screen does not have to reside on the player itself. I do agree some type of screen is preferable.

BTW - the Discman has not seen the light of day since the iPod arrived on the scene.

I can't wait until tommorrow ...
 
#16 ·
No screen? Could this be the $99 US iPod?

I wouldn't pay any more for something without a screen.

Maybe the screen is on the remote like some other players?
 
#18 ·
Who knows but we really know have hours to wait at this time to see what they really do come out with. All i hope is that we can buy it right away and it is not like the mini and we have to wait months and months
 
#20 ·
From Macworld UK as reported on Macrumors.com:
The micro iPod is white, and will hold 240 songs ? but has no screen so will play the unlisted tracks in a set order or in random fashion. Four buttons are arranged in a square formation ? two large buttons and two smaller ones.
:eek:
 
#21 ·
Trust me, a small cheap, screen-less ipod will sell very well. Just the amount of people who will use it for working out is enough to be a hit. The key is iTunes. The reason the other types of mp3 players stink is mainly because of the UI on your computer. iTunes is so elegant and easy to use. Plus, look at how many 3party companies make peripherals for Apple products? I'm sure the iPod Shuffle will have it's share of gadgets making it much more appealing. Do you see the competition having this sort of attention? Apple is on a roll. For those that were not able to buy iPod before solely on price will jump on these.

my 2 cents.
 
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