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Kool!

I was planning to buy my 80g video ipod in a couple of days. I guess I will wait for the new ipod.

First Post ???

DAME IT!!! i just got me a new 80GB...

Multiple sandwich guys said it's true this time, really!!!

Zune Boom!! HaHa

Ok, we've been hearing about this one for awhile now. So color me dubious.

But. while I still have my doubts about some the things attributed to this in the press, I for one would be delighted if Apple delivers something that gets those mindless Zune fan-boys to shut up about their "wireless" and "big screen" capabilities - when they are neither big nor capable!

This coming from the same Engadget that is so in love with Zune?

Not a credible source, IMHO.

kelly, just get your 80gb now and enjoy it. don't hold your breath for this new one. you can easily sell a well-kept 80gb online if you want to later anyway.

Nut, don't worry about it.

Just fingering a Black Nano which my friend bought this afternoon - what a beautiful piece of industrial design it is..

And now another marvel is due to be born from the Cupertino birthing rooms.. Apple is unstoppable!

The wireless video iPod is our generation's flying car.

"Very near future"?

Like, say, MacWorld?

I really doubt that Apple would announce a "video iPod" before Christmas unless they were ready to ship before Christmas. Why? Because if they announced it and said it'd be shipping in January, iPod sales would tank for the holidays.

And if "Steve Jobs & Co." have just now completed the design, the factory has to get ramped up, etc. There's no way they could have sufficient numbers on the shelves before Christmas.

Now that would be delicious timing...

the day MS launches Zoon on the market it is sucker punched by Apple...again!

Revenge is oh so sweet.

The Zune slayer !!!

It's a Zune aborter.

This is nothing but FUD!

I expect Microsoft asked them to state this to put off potential buyers of the iPod this holiday season, hoping they will buy a Zune instead.

I expect to see a widescreen, horozontally held iPod at some point, but not until next year, and not replacing the currently available iPod.

Don't forget though that sometimes, Apple just seems to do things that no one really expected.

@Peter: Maybe you underestimate thos Foxconn workers and how many they can put together in a short amount of time, especially working the 15 hour days that they are forced to work.

I do have to say with the improved battery life, they might be able to support wireless although I still do not see much use in this since you still have to plug it in to charge it.

I would love to see a video iPod and updated MacBooks and MacBook pro's late Oct/early Nov. Then at MacWorld, they announce the iTV's new name and avalible that day, and then some new, lower-end Mac tower, that is about the same spec's as the iMac, only without the built in display and with expandability. Something starting equal to the highest Mac Mini and stopping about the middle of the iMac road, as far as spec's are considered. They like to announce something at these events that no one knew about (ie. OS X on Intel since the beginning). Also, look for a much more detailed preview of Leopord, plus a set release date.

zune will be coming out Nov. 14th. what about video ipod release as the same day? it will be very very hilarious! it's like the day when Steve introduced ipod nano last year. Motorola itunes was screw up at the same time. it will be very interesting if they will do it.

October 23rd maybe? That's the five-year anniversary of the original iPod launch. Seems a little to close to the last product launch/upgrade, but here's hoping.

wireless + widescreen = no battery

This is a BS rumor... It was started by someone who wants to stall holiday sales of the current iPod... If enough people hear about a "new" iPod in the very near future, they won't buy now.

Hey, Jooop....

For which generation will the flying car be that generation's flying car?

Just wondering...

Or maybe: "On Wednesday, October 18, 2006 at 2pm PT / 5pm ET, Apple Computer will announce its Q4 (fourth quarter) 2006 and Fiscal Year 2006 earnings."

The people in the 1950s own the "flying car". Poodle skirts, Wally and the Beaver. Mildred and Joyce and Beatrice. They thought it was "just around the corner" and "the next logical step" that just never seemed to arrive. Just like us and the widescreen video ipod. It's always "just around the corner" but never quite gets here.

Zune Zune Zune

it wouldn't surprise me if apple announced the widescreen video ipod and set a release date around the time the zune is released. makes perfect sense actually. not only did apple dominate by announcing the lowered pricing, but they'll cut off all circulation by releasing a top of the line product that does everything...and more! w00t

mr

Um....I dont think so. This sounds like total bullshit to me. Have some FUD with your Zune. Ewww! Now that is nasty.

I don't think that this will be wifi. It will be bluetooth so that you can listen in your BT car, BT earphones, BT dock, BT remote, BT sync, BT radio link, BT phone, et cetera.

Sharing is lame, too many restrictions imposed by the music and video industries. This is why MS had to wrap it in DRM to playcate the content providers.

I will see it when I believe it.

I say to all you "oh no I just bought a 80 Gb iPod!" people: the video iPod is NOT a replacement to the current iPods. The iPods (30 and 80 Gb) we have now are MUSIC players, with video playback as a secondary feature, and so it will remain. The new video iPods will have video playback as primary and music playback as secondary features. It's simple as that.

Wifi??? I don't see the need, unless, it can couple with the "iTV" via wifi. I think that would be interesting.

Scott-"especially working the 15 hour days that they are forced to work."

If you believe that Scott, then don't buy from Apple.

I don't buy it, I do buy from Apple.

Any chance that this could be the iPhone and not a video iPod? I know a lot of people that would love to get an iPhone for christmas, myself included.

@moe: These features would be able to turn off and it doesn't matter how big the screen is, as long as it can turn off for music, and videos you'd be able to get two movies.

Since you'd have to connected it to charge it anyways, wireless updating and iTunes purchases wouldn't be too impressive. Now a way to wirelessly charge the iPod, that's a different story. I can hear Steve now;
"Introducing the new Video iPod. With Bluetooth to update. And this new amazing feature, wireless electricity! Simply amazing. Lost of people have put a lot of hard work into this one. Isn't it exciting?"

Scott. I worked three jobs and 16 to 18 hours a day when I came to the USA. I'm retired now and happy that I came here. Where's my new iPod?

Yeeeee Haaaaww, finally!

@ron: I was just kidding. I saw that they thought that and found out they weren't working that long. I was implying though, that most people could be surprised at how fast new iPods could be put together. I know they aren't working that long, well they might be working 15 hours, but it'd be split into two shifts worked by two people. I buy from Apple. Probably more than I should, but their products are great, and seem to work.

Why would Apple release a widescreen iPod when the movies on itunes arn't even widescreen?? Are the going to switch all the movies to widescreen when this is released? Or have an option?

Agree with switched - if there is a new iPod, it will be a video iPod - a new class of iPod. And it will be ready to ship soon - definitely before Christmas.

To those who think it's too close to the last update: last year, they introed nanos in mid-Sep, and then new iPods with video in mid-Oct. So there's precedent, especially with a new class of iPod.

Remember Gartenberg of JupiterResearch's comment from last month that there's more to come.

So my guess is either Oct 21 or Oct 28. We should have a bit of a clue on Oct 18th when Apple gives its revenue and earnings forecast for next quarter - if it's much higher than we could expect, it foreshadows further product intros (updated MacBooks, MBPs, and possibly iPods)real soon.

@DS: The movies are widescreen. Well some of them are, it changes from film to film.

@mark; not only did Gartenberg say that, if I remember correctly Steve Jobs said "see you again soon" at the end of the last announcement. I don't recall him always saying that but maybe I am just dumb.

All movies at the iTunes store are widescreen already, but I still smell BS.

Scott,

Pratically speaking, I don't think we can have wireless P/S before we have useable super conductivity.

They did it last year...just when the Nano was getting all the talk, the video iPod came around the corner.
What better strategy to knock the top off of the Zune's Christmas plans than to ship a true video iPod by Thanksgiving.
Also, with the iPhone, iLife '07, a real Leopard feature preview all in January, Apple doesn't need a new video iPod to muddy the waters of all the new stuff.
Lastly, look back to see the numbers of iPods sold last Christmas.
Do you think Apple would miss out on that again.
Cut M$'s throat by releasing a wide-screen touch-screen share-screen 100 gig 5th anniversary video iPod and show no mercy by
dropping the price of the nano to $99!!

So soon after I purchase a new iPod. Less than a month after the release of the upgrades....

THAT'S ANNOYING!

If I had known, then I would've waited.

I am now a bit suspicious of this... why would Engadget of all places get this news ahead of other Apple insider sites???

Has this been an attempt to whip up expectations for them to be dashed..?

If they have done that then they can deserve to see some serious comeback. Negative that is.

I have always expected the new widescreen Video iPod to happen on or before the Zune ship date (November 14). I think Apple planned this all along, just to take the wind out of any Zune marekting blitz.

Yes, that is a smirk and smile on my face.

Okay everybody here's a test:

Take your finger and rub it around in a circle on the display of your ful-sized iPod. While you're doing this, imagine that this is the beloved touch-screen iPod that you all have been fantasizing about for months. Now ask yourself a few questions:

1. Do you like the fingerprints that are left on the screen? (Correct Answer is NO)

2. Without a physical click-wheel, what prevents you finger from moving outside of the scroll wheel circle? (Correct Answer is NOTHING)

3. Does moving your finger around in a circle on a completely flat surface (without a groove) feel like a natural way to navigate? (Correct Answer is NO)

4. With a 5" display and built in Wi-Fi, do you honestly think there is any way possible for the battery to last more than 30 mintues with current the current batteries available? (Correct Answer is NO)

These (and more) are the reasons we won't be seeing a "true wide-screen/touch-screen video iPod" anytime soon.. Get used to the idea.

It would be great if it had wireless so that you could access the ITS on any available hotspot. Also if it is a true widescreen iPod then MS will need to order a new batch of chairs

Some Truth, thank you for pointing out some legitimate reasons as to why this rumor is bogus. There is however, an even bigger concern.

Displays that use touch-screen technology are FAR from ideal for viewing video content. Hasn't anyone noticed that touch-screen displays look like shit? They are not crystal clear looking like what you are used to on your iPod.. Touch-screen displays are much thicker and they produce extremely hazy picture quality because of all the sensore used in them. There is no way (currently) for a touch-screen display to be used on an iPod.. In a few years, maybe. But the technology does not currently exist.

YES!!!! HOLDING OUT ON THE 5.5G iPOD PAYS OFF!!

By the time it's announced I'll have about $500 in my "iPod Fund." That's the most I'm willing to pay.

Gates: Balmer?

Balmer: Yes, Bill..

Gates: I'm concerned that Apple is going to sell to many iPods this Christmas... What can we do to prevent consumers from buyin these things?

Balmer: I've got it! Apple fan-boys believe anything... Let's leak a rumor that a wide-screen, touch sensitive iPod is going to be released in the very near future.. We'll tell em that it's from "multiple sources," but we won't give any of the sources a name... This way everyone will hold off buying a new iPod this Christmas and iPod sales will plumett! Looks like Zune is gonna have a chance afterall!

Gates: Balmer, you are smarter than a monkey!

Microsoft internal memo.

Start nailing your chairs to the floor.