Flash-based iPod sneak preview

I am very interested to see how one could manage 1GB of music (~500 songs) without a screen! I think it would be a safe bet to assume that like the iMac, the more you pay, the bigger the screen. I would also bet (going off of Apple's trends) that this thing would be called "iPod Express" also continuing my speculation I think they will give it a softer feel. If you think about the apple products like Final Cut Pro HD vs. Final Cut Express there is a difference in appearance. Based on this I would venture that Apple will change to a rounder feel, or going the other direction give it a xServe feel with the brushed metal surface. We'll have to see tomorrow if anything I guessed turns out to be correct. Also another note is that Apple does seem to like to price there pro products (iPod photo) at around $499 while making there lowest version (iPod Express) around $99. I think it'll be fun to see how this turns out. I have done a lot of searching around on this thing and I haven't heard of anyone referring to it as the "iPod Express" so remember where you heard it first!!!

Mmmmmmmmm..... $99 Mmmmmmmmm..... Joystick thingie Mmmmmmmmm.....Cookies Yuck! Screenless

Sound pretty cool, it does stink about not being out before xmas...and no screen? Would be cool if it could read the name of the song or playlist to you..hmm...that would be awesome.

rohn - awesome idea. How cool would it be to plug the dock connector into iPod, the firewire connector into the flash iPod, and suck down a few playlists? Like the satellite crew docking with the mother ship. :) Since my music library actually lives on an external drive, even though I carry my laptop with me almost everywhere it would still be a real useful function to be able to do this.

I'd like it to be able to update also directly from my iPod without need for a computer.... just dump an entire playlist into it replacing whatever was in it before. I have my 20gig iPod with me at work for during the day listening, but I don't take it with me to the gym over lunch. A flash based unit - as was said - would be great for this.... but my desire for what music to hear will undoubtedly change from the prior evening when I would load it at home. Being able to update it from my iPod just moments before leaving to work-out would guarantee a purchase! :-)

I've been conceptualizing in my head a device with some sort of display, something maybe slightly smaller than the size of my cell phone - and having a hard time imagining wanting to carry around yet another device in my pocket. The concept of getting rid of the display altogether is yet another innovation from a team of some tres cool industrial designers. The idea of wearing it around my neck - yep, didn't occur to me before. Having that new image in my head definitely makes it easier to pick up the vibe of this (still hypothetical!) new device...

I don't understand, now that Apple is making a smaller flash based device, the idea of only carrying around select songs makes sense, but it never did before that?

I think they will need to do something great with the interface to make it a decent follow up to the ipod. I have a 20g G4 and love it but at the moment im a little wiery of the flash player. I think its odd for apple to be leading in this direction. They have finally got enough popularity that they dont have to conform to the low end, low quality market trend. And then they undermine one of there flagship products. Im very interested to see how they market it? In the end i think i will by one ;)

i'd buy the 1gb version depending on price. transfer files and still have my current playlist. too bad they didn't come out before x-mas, would have made a perfect stocking stuffer

Would definately look into one.. Currently I use a RCA Lyra player strapped to my arm at the gym. The iPod is too big for that, and stays at home or in the car. Something this small would definately fit the bill and let me retire the Lyra.