Flash based iPod minis?

i think that as time goes on that they will make the ipods even smaller

i want to win this competition

i like this comp

kool

I agree with what some people are saying and in October or sometime in fall of 2005 I would guess a flash-based mini simply added to the product line between the Shuffle and the IPod mini. I don't think it will confuse customers because it would get a new name, maybe the IPod micro, and would be smaller than the IPod mini but include a smaller screen that is probably grayscale. The prices for it will probably fall closer to the upgraded minis than the upgraded shuffles, but it will be differentiated from the IPod mini by its even smaller size, excellent battery life, flash storage, grayscale screen, slightly lower price, and possibly feature a very small click wheel or even a DPad more similar to what the shuffle has than the IPod mini has. Other upgrades to the other lines will be made in the fall, with guesses below. And one of these may be simple video support being added to the full-sized IPod, only to the full-sized IPod, and possibly only to play music videos for now. This would give Apple 4 product lines of portable music and media players. More in the future I see possibilities for three new products from Apple. A widescreen, landscape-oriented portable media player that takes the early support for video on this fall's video IPod to a new level and larger screen. A networked set-top box and DVD player somewhat similar to Tivo or Windows MCE boxes, that would be silver or white and look like an electonic component with audio and video inputs and outputs. It would basically take Airport Express to a much higher feature level and price point and would run on an Intel M processor, come with a remote and tv tuner, have its own operating system which is based on Mac OS, and have a simple onscreen UI easily operated from the remote. And less likely yet is either a wireless PDA or cellphone, with a hard-drive and slideout or clamshell thumb keyboard. I would love if they already had a networked set-top box come out in October to basically replace Airport Express, obviously at a much higher price point though, but I don't think it's very likely. As for the shuffle, instead of completely ceasing to exist already, I think the Shuffle will still hang around for a couple years but I agree it may ultimately stop being produced. But at least for this October, they can bump the Shuffle up to 2GB still, add a couple small features, and sell it at such a low price. BY FALL 2005 (OCTOBER) Shuffle = Flash, Upgrade to 1GB/2GB, Price drop on 512MB/1GB to make way for "micro" IPod "micro" = New Flash mini, 1GB/2GB/4GB, Grayscale screen, Smaller than mini, DPad instead of clickwheel possibly? IPod mini = Upgrade hard-drives to 6GB/8GB, Upgrade to colour screen IPod = Upgrade hard drives to 60GB/80GB, Video support, Wifi to Airport Express? FUTURE IPod Media = portable widescreen video and media player, 3"-4" screen, Wifi? DPad instead of click wheel? IHome = Networked set-top box, Special Mac OS, Remote controlled UI, Wifi, ITunes/Media, Web/Email/IM, PIM ICell or INewton = Wifi, Thumb Keyboard, PDA or cellphone, ITunes/Media, Web/Email/IM, PIM, Games?

In analyzing Apple's current marketing and product introduction strategies, it seems most likely, that they will probably upgrade the Shuffle to 1 and 2GB, the iPod Mini to 6 and 8GB, and add a 40 and 60GB iPod video to their lineup, and eventually phase out the 20GB...look at how they introduced the iPod Photo. They would never get rid of the standard iPod, as it is immediately the most recognizable iPod of them all, as well the reason for Apple's current success

Exactly. People like the size and weight (or lack thereof( of the shuffle. It's the standard iPod that will eventually disappear as the iPod mini's drives grow larger. And the video iPods (with their larger drives) will take their place as the largest of the line.

The Shuffle will not cease to exist. It's a big seller. For a while I was seeing nothing but iPods and iPod minis at the gym; everyone seems to have the Shuffle now.

Whether it will happen by October is questionable, but it seems inevitable to me that as these technologies get smaller and cheaper, the following will happen: 1. The iPod Shuffle will cease to exist, and a low end mini will take its place. 2. All minis will be flashed-based and smaller (at least thinner)

Well, this post seems to have been hijacked slightly by the video iPod discussion, so I apologize for continuing the hijacking. I have a theory about the video iPod. For some reason, I haven't seen this theory posted anywhere, so I'll share: The so-called "video iPod" will not be an iPod. It will be a wireless remote control device with a video screen for home use. It will preview clips and TV channels on the screen, control iTunes on your computer, control your home theater devices, and do it all through AirPort Express. Look at the facts: Apple has hinted before that AirPort Express isn't nearly pushing its limits with digital audio; Apple has been wining and dining their current iTMS providers who also produce video material; Apple has been granted a patent for a wireless home remote system with a screen; and larger-capacity 1.5" hard drives will be available from Apple's current suppliers soon. It's also been rumored that Apple has been developing a Windows Media Center-like home appliance. Given all this and Apple's history of the "wow" factor, doesn't it make sense that the rumored home device is the rumored video iPod?