Skip to Content

Submit your nominations for the Luxist Awards' Best in Decor
AOL Tech

Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, iPod Family

Flash based iPod minis?

ipod_miniThis morning, Appleinsider is reporting on evidence suggesting that Apple will be replacing hard drive-based iPod minis with flash-based models, possibly by October. Earlier this week, iPod chip supplier PortalPlayer announced its quarterly earnings. In his speech, PortalPlayer president and CEO Gary Johnson said that revenues for PortalPlayer's third quarter of 2005 are likely to benefit from new flash-based chip designs.  

In response to this bit of news, American Technology Research analyst Shaw Wu anticipates a deal between PortalPlayer and Apple that will result in a 2GB, flash-based iPod mini. Could this replace the current hard drive-based models? More after the jump.


To tell you the truth, it all sounds pretty dubious to me. Aside from the fact that it's mostly guesswork, why would Apple move to a flash-based iPod mini? Isn't it the shuffle's role to go after the flash-based music player market? Apple typically keeps very distinct lines between products, and as such I don't see a "merging" of the hard drive players and flash players. Mr. Wu suggests that Apple would be producing a 2GB flash-based mini. Does that mean the 4GB and 6GB models would remain intact as hard drive-based devices? That's only going to confuse consumers. If the shuffle were selling poorly or not making the inroads Apple had hoped, maybe the mini could be moved over to "help out," but I even doubt that.

Perhaps you can bookmark this article now so you can say "I told you so" in October, but I just don't see this happening.

[Via Engadget]
jobs & resumes
Lead Blogger

AOL Find a Job - New York, NY (2 weeks ago)

See More Relevant Jobs ›

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Tip of the Day

Reply in the Mail.app with a specific quote.
Select the text you want quoted and then hit the reply button.
Only your selected text will copied to the reply email.


Follow us on Twitter!
 TUAW [Cafepress]

Featured Galleries

DNC Macs
Macworld 2008 Keynote
Macworld 2008 Build-up
Google Earth for iPhone
Podcaster
Storyist 2.0
AT&T Navigator Road Test
Bento for iPhone 1.0
Scrabble for iPhone
Tom Bihn Checkpoint Flyer Briefcase
Apple Vanity Plates
Apple booth Macworld 07
WorldVoice Radio
Quickoffice for iPhone 1.1.1
Daylite 3.9 Review
DiscPainter
Mariner Calc for iPhone
2009CupertinoBus
Crash Bandicoot Nitro Kart 3D
MLB.com At Bat 2009
Macworld Expo 2007 show floor

 

More Apple Analysis

AOL Radio TUAW on Stitcher