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they have to do it whether they wanted to or not.
Apple is creative enough to keep iTunes on computers relevant.
More features on itunes. Maybve a deal with Netflix for video rental downloads (or Apple's own)

I don't believe rumors, as if they are wrong, they lead to upset. We will just have to wait and see.

They wouldn't be removing the computer from the equation MDN. It still takes servers and routers on their end to make the transaction work. Geeesh!!!

Thanks everyone, your complete stupidity has now run so amok that our fine hosts here are now infected, I hate you all.

jarrettnewsdaily,

You make me extra tired. Narcoleptic, in fact.

MDN means on the user's end, you fscktard.

Silly. No I don't think they'll remove the computer from the equation.

Thems computers in thems iPods!

jarrettnewsdaily, obviously, MDN meant removing the computer from the CUSTOMER'S viewpoint!

When talking about stupidity, it is incumbent upon one to be sure one isn't looking in the mirror!

This is what I mean be stupidity, of course that is what MDN meant. You all are the same people who actually believe that Zune Tang is a real windows lover, when in fact he is a mac user. I swear, all of your parents must be really proud.

It makes perfect sense if the new iPods are powered by OS X. The iPhone is an iPod in part, after all. It also means that across their entire product line, there's One OS To Rule Them All

I think that Apple will continue to amaze us for some time to come.

=:~)

Damnit! Can't we just be surprised anymore?? It's such a buzz kill to know exactly what Stevo has in store for us! Ugh! It's like xray vision for all your Christmas presents! Stevo will probably have some snide comment about these rumors again. I bet somebody's making some serious money leaking that info!

MDN, I like the new end of statement for this article.

Thank you for changing that, because we would have had a bunch of people here selling their machines on Ebay and spreading the word that Apple doesn't make computers anymore.

MDN, Thank you for saving Apple.

"Do you think Apple will actually remove the computer* from the iTunes+iPod/iPhone equation?"

If they want to have any kind of success in Japan they will have to. I say yes.

Oh, and...

ALL IPODS ARE POWERED BY OSX.

Thank you.

I don't think that Apple will do something like that right now when there still is DRM, right now iPod and iPhone don't worry about DRM, they just play. iTunes app is what handles the DRM stuff. To get wireless iTunes purchasing, iPods and iPhones would have to handle all the DRM encoding and stuff.

Roughlydrafted has a bunch of articles about the DRM handling in iTunes and iPod

It's a very good question; especially if you consider the possibility of a web-based iTunes and library via .Mac.

Buying songs via iTunes on an iPod is not the tricky part it's how they manage the rest of the iTunes library system. Does your iPod then become one of the 5 devices you're authorised to play stuff on? how does it then sync with your main library? Currently your iPod just mirrors your main library (or at least the portion of your library you specify). It will be interesting to see how they do it.

I think that Apple has been working on this for a while now. They added the ability to copy purchased content from your iPod to all of your authorized computers. This could be awesome. But what about the AppleTV.

Three iPods for the masses plugged in their ears
Five Macs nice and shiney all in a row
One iPhone for mortal man - we want more next year

One OS to rule them
One OS to find them
One OS to bring them all
and in the (MS) darkness bind them
In the land of Macintosh where the computers are

Your Rollover Expanding Ads are working GREAT on my
iPhone guys. Keep-up the good work.
Hope you're making tons of money...
Thanks again in advance,

E R

FWIW, here's my two cents....

Yes, the focus of the announcement will be a phoneless IPhone--a wifi-enabled OSX iPod. It will be a multitouch OSX based black on silver device slightly shorter and slightly less width than the iPhone. Here's why:

If you arrange the capabilities of the iphone in order of complexity the natural break comes after mobile connectivity. See the chart below (which may or may not be readable once I send it--some vowels eliminated to keep columns intact--my apologies in advance);

iPhone iPod1 iPod2 iPod mini shuffle
phone x - - - -
sms x - - - -
mail x x - - -
web x x - - -
map x x - - -
weather x x - - -
stocks x x - - -
youtube x x - - -
vid plybck x x x - -
calendar x x x - -
contacts x x x - -
clock x x x - -
calc x x x - -
notes x x x - -
pictures x x x - -
camera x x x - -
mus. titles x x x x -
music x x x x x

price point 500 350 250 150 75
market phone+ wi-fi vid player music sndtrack

formfactor rect long rect short no chng no chng no chng
bodycolors blk/alum blk/alum yes yes yes
multitouch yes yes no no no
OSX yes yes no no no
scr. wheel no no yes yes no
memory 4 GB 4 GB 80 GB 2GB 1 GB

Everything from mail on down can be done when you're at a hot spot. This eliminates the components for mobile phonecalling and the expensive contract with a phone company. So the new device should fit nicely in the big price and component gap between the iPhone and the current iPod.

That's the iPod's new niche and fits seamlessly with the iPhone's 2G phone capability and wi-fi internet dependence. This is a very Apple type move--as it gives added capability to their leading edge of the iPod line without it really being anything that hasn't been done before. Because it shows video it will have a similar surround as the iPhone but to make it distinctive it will be slightly smaller--and form following function, doesn't need to reach from mouth to ear. Their price points will remain the same with memory bumps for the older models and the new model coming in between the iPhone and the existing iPod price.

This new model will be aimed at everyone who can't (or don't) want to afford the $2500 required by the iPhone purchase but want access to the rest of the iPhone goodness. That's certainly a large segment of the population but the most interesting point too this is that it will be perfect for the teenage male market. So my secondary guess is that we will also start to see this new device emerge as a gaming platform.

btw, I am aware that there are some additional capabilities in the iPod's operating system such as games, etc.but these are so limited that I did not choose to make them equivalent in the chart to the very useful items in the OSX versions of these tools on the iPhone.

So that's my prediction. Oh, and the Beatles catalogue on iTunes, too. Paul McCartney to sing.

Arthur Dent

oh well, my chart is pretty unreadable. the first line is:

iPhone/iPod 1/iPod 2/iPod mini/shuffle

and then every thing below lines up underneath that....

Arthur Dent

Jarrett, you make some valid points; yes, some people miss your sarcasm. But aren't you painting with a rather broad brush, calling us all idiots? So, on that note, go hug a root. Elitist fsck.

I suggested this back in 2001 on a MacObserver forum soon after the launch of iPod, another of my suggestions was iPods in cars

But then we always think of features we might like, implementing them is the tricky part.

If this is true about the wireless downloading to the iPod, I think Apple wants to do this to keep people buying from the iTunes store.

From your home computer you can have a choice of your own CD's or other downloading sites and from the iPod it will most likely have only one source to be able to buy content.

Especially since Universal is letting other stores sell DRM free music to take the iPod out of the equation.

But, this will not happen any time soon because the iPod is and will always be the best and coolest looking media player.

Thanks Arthur.... that made it real understandable. ;-p

This scenario sounds plausible. If you purchase a song(s) on your iPod or iPhone, iTunes on your Mac/PC will sense that the next time you connect (wired or wireless), and then would transfer the song(s) to your main library. You are then free to remove the song from your iPod/iPhone.
It sounds like an easy preference setting: Remove purchased music on next sync Yes/No.

Does that mean a version of iTunes will now run on the iPod ?

Whatever they announce next Wednesday, I can assure you that Stever Ballmer will be squirting all over himself.

Charlie was one of the first to use wireless in the L.A. area. Yep, was always calling in on the wireless so he could speak on that little box. 'Course, all the angels had them fancy wireless phones in their cars, too.

No, I don't think Apple will remove the desktop/laptop computer because lots of people use iTunes for music w/o ipods.
The desktop/laptop just may not remain the center of the universe. OSx will be the center...

Wireless music downloads would be a great feature and would probably increase sales in iTunes. However, this would be a radical change in the philosophy of iPod+iTunes. Somehow the user should be able to transfer those wirelessly bought songs to their computer too, and as we all know very well that hasn't been officially supported.

And wouldn't this also lead to... squirting?

MDN MW: 'called' as in "One more thing: we have added a feature called squirting to our iPods!"

Wireless purchasing: this is an analyst wet-dream that is currently inconsequential to the consumer. Sure, some day when an iPhone has a 64 GB flash drive, but this wireless downloads does not really add anything to iTunes other than a novelty. What % of people buys the majority of music on iTunes? What % of people are going to buy mostly wirelessly? This is an idea that sounds cool, but really does not add that much to the vast majority of consumers. People will add a song or two occassionally, but things like random iTS shopping and organizing music libraries, the screens on iPods and iPhones are simply not large enough.

At least this is a little less stupid than things like "Oh, Apple should start their own label!" and "there should be kiosks in stores to buy digital music!", but only because those ideas were galactically stupid.

That would be huge. iPods for the millions who are music lovers but computer-phobic. And ever song that this customer-group buys will be from the iTunes Store. If this is true, it would yet another move that competitors cannot hope to emulate.

Why not remove the link to the PC/MAC from the iTunes - iPod equation??

Millions of iPod users are Windows, not Mac, users.

Allowing immediate downloads via iTunes (through Safari??) to a wireless enabled iPod that will NEVER need to be connected to a PC to be useable cuts Microsoft out of the equation altogether for millions of iPod users. That can't be a bad thing for Apple.

And it drives sales at the iTunes store to boot.

Yes, you will be able to download songs directly onto your new iPod, but your new songs will automatically sync back to your iTunes library on your mac or PC the next time you plug it in. iTunes just does a better job in managing your library. Besides, you don't want your only copy of songs to be on an iPod that can be lost or stolen.

Less than two months ago with his interview with Walt Mossberg, Steve Jobs said this is not going to happen.

Personally, I think it will be something like the .Mac Web Gallery....your purchased music also remains online and when you want to listen to some of your music already not on your iPod, it will perform a sync over WiFi. Just like you can view your .Mac Web Gallery photos the same way.... If I am correct, it will most likely mean the end of hard drive music players, and further cement iPod users into buying music from Apple.

It's amazing how many people do not know that currently you can sync your purchased content from computer to computer with your iPod/iPhone. I think it was added in iTunes 7. I back up my purchased music to my work computer this way. Just in case the house burns down with my computer and iPhone in it.

It's even more believable that it will happen because Steve Jobs said that it won't.

I will buy more songs through iTunes with my iPhone because when I think or hear a song that I want to buy, I can't remember it by the time I get home and get iTunes fired up on the mac.

Yes, this makes sense as the next step in Apple's evolution with all things wireless.

And, will go you one better - betcha the iPhone already has this ability to connect to iTunes store and download, just not active.

Then, along with the new iPods, starting next week, the iPhones will be 'magically unlocked'.

Let the instant/wireless downloading begin, cha ching.

And, for those who wonder who/why would anyone want to instantly download a song anywhere at anytime -- well, let me enlighten you, grasshopper.

One senario - as a Mobile Disc Jockey (very successful for 25+ years, tyvm), I'll score some serious points with the Bride at a Wedding when her Granny comes up asking for some obscure Perry Como song (hang on a minute please Ma'am, and let me find that for you

Granted, Apple won't be making a lot off me and others in similar situations, but ...

When you consider that something like $3-4+ Billion is spent each year just on ringtones, then there must be something going on with all this 'impulse buying' among teens, 20-somethings, etc.

Screw the Zune Social Sharing stuff - SELL a copy of 'something' to everyone who HAS to have that latest, greatest song/whatever .. and has to have it RIGHT NOW.

100,000,000 iPods out there already? And figure they'll all buy one of these new ones over the next few years? Or an iPhone?

Don't forget this biz model, and think Steve has even mentioned it - Gillette sells razors, but their real cash cow is the blades.

Once the Major Record labels finish eating themselves and everything goes 'indy' with our favorite Music Store as THE vehicle - hummm ...

Apple will have a license to print money.


Thank You
BC Kelly
Tallahassee Fla

Someone please explain the security measures in place to prevent someone from running up my credit card when my wireless iPod is stolen.

Thank you.

Downloads will be from the iPhone for ringtones.

$0.50 per ringtone
$0.25 per ringtone if you already have purchased the song

Got the new Paul McCartney song 'Nod Your Head' today. I sure am glad I didn't pay for that thing. Deleeete.

iTunes purchases direct from your Apple TV! My Apple TV in OZ now has a new setting to choose the country for the iTunes music store under the settings menu!

I could see Wi-Fi syncing with iTunes on your Mac/PC, but you can't remove the PC from the iPod. First, most people, especially if you're talking about a Shuffle or Nano, have far more tunes and movies in iTunes than can fit on their iPod. So you need to have iTunes manage your library. Also, this allows Apple to keep control over hackers and others who would try to break into FairPlay or some other aspect which Apple wants to control.

Frankly, except for a video iPod which basically has the playback features of the iPhone, I'm at a bit of a loss to come up with what could be so "amazing" as to shock me. Additional features would be nice, but what more can you do with the iPod that is revolutionary (and hasn't been done with the iPhone)?

If true, this will be fabulous. MS can just fire its whole Zune team and save some money.

I can tell you one thing...

iTunes Store on a iPod via wireless will sell a sh*tload of iPods to the non-computer tech savvy.

Hopefully the iPod "dock" will have a automatic backup hard drive.

I can't begin to tell you how many tech illiterate types, who simply love music, that would buy such a thing.

It's got to be the iPod "for the rest of them"

It would sell well to country music lovers and women.

I can't believe no-one has talked about the "Transfer Purchases from"XXX's" iPhone" link under the iTunes >> File menu? It seem pretty clear what it means to me or am I missing something?

@LorD 1776
Isn't that the worst song ever? I'm a Beatles fan but I listened to the 20 second version and never did down load the thing. Horrible!

@PhilTag...

Good catch, I hadn't noticed that. For me, never having synched with either an iPod or an iPhone, the menu item is disabled and reads "Transfer Purchases from iPod"

Barring accidental deletion from the Library after a song has been synched to an iDevice, how could one possibly end up with an iTMS on the device and NOT in the Library? And it seems unlikely that Apple would add the functionality just for that rare case.

It also says "purchases" not "files" - implying that it won't import MP3 or unprotected AAC... unfortunate, but understandable to avoid pissing off the record labels. Presumably it will deal with non-DRM iTMS purchases appropriately and allow reverse synching those...

@PhilTAG & @Random

Apple added that functionality last year some time claiming that it would allow you to sync iTMS media between your primary computer (personal home machine) and a secondary computer (office machine) using your iPod as a conduit.

This doesn't really debunk the idea of iTMS mobile/TV and this functionality was announced around the time that they were rumors of an Apple iPhone, so it may have just been the intent all along for a solution to a future feature of mobile iTMS.

I thought there might actually be some good information here. But its just another distraction for shut-ins, isn't it?