Rumor: iPod networking in "The Circle"

Of all the rumors coming out around tomorrow's big Apple event, this one is the strangest: The Circle. Engadget has it on good authority (a.k.a. a French blog called "generation mp3") that Apple, in an ironic turn, will steal an idea from the Zune and start their own "social" concept, called The Circle.

What exactly that entails, no one seems to know. Wifi sharing? Web radio? iPod-to-iPod connections? Steve will choose a new Lion King? Anything (and nothing) is on the table.

While it would be nice to see a way to transfer music and video between iPods, a closed concept like "The Circle" seems un-Apple, and so of all the unsubstantiated rumors, this seems the least substantiated. I have no doubt at all that we'll see a new iPod, and it's turning out to be pretty likely that both a touchscreen and a new Nano are going to appear, as well as a CoverFlow interface in one or both. But "The Circle"? Don't hold your breath. We'll find out tomorrow morning at noon central.

View Tags

Source: http://generationmp3.com/index.php/2007/09/04/7166-the-circl…

Categories

Analysis / Opinion iPod Family Rumors Other Events Apple

Of all the rumors coming out around tomorrow's big Apple event, this one is the strangest: The Circle. Engadget has it on good authority...

Add a Comment

Sign in »

15 Comments

Filter by:

Michael

Heh! As noted, it should be "The Loop."

So next time a politician says, "They're not in the loop." it'll be an instant advertisement for Apple. :D
At least something good would come out of it, anyway...

September 05 2007 at 11:48 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Tony C

Wasn't "The Circle" what MCI used to flog their "Friends & Family" calling plan way back when? I sincerely doubt Apple would resurrect something associated with cheezy commercials full of old Star Trek actors hawking long distance phone services. "Are you in the circle?"

September 05 2007 at 8:59 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

basscadet

wireless networking on any mp3 player would be ace. Zune implemented it and at the same time crippled it till it had no practical use. I fear ipods will have a similar fate (if it would ever be announced) as copyright problems would make it a pirate pod, target for all sorts of complaints. What would really be neat though, would be a wifi network support with "any" device that signals, not just ipods. Wishful thinking...

September 05 2007 at 8:57 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

artifex

Apple asks, would you like to buy an O?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9vvKeaxfnE

:)

September 05 2007 at 6:20 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Neil Cochrane

Heard about it a few years ago; it was called Bonjour then, maybe Rendezvous...

September 05 2007 at 6:05 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

djc

Well you can already "share" music between computers using iTunes - just turn it on in the preferences. I often find myself listening to someone else's library (connected to the same network in the same building).

So if it happens for iPods it's hardy a new idea for Apple. Just a new implementation.

September 05 2007 at 5:10 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Amit Bhowmik

Ok so Apple is launching new iPods today. Will you still buy those or pick up the iPhone instead ??

Here are my views on what could be announced:
http://techtrod.wordpress.com/2007/09/05/apple-all-set-to-launch-new-ipods-today-so-will-you-buy-the-new-ipod-or-go-for-the-iphone/

September 05 2007 at 4:43 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Dave

Oooh. This might be kinda cool. It would be fun to scroll around peoples pods and see what they got.

September 05 2007 at 4:06 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Kalessin

@4: Nice, but why would Bajorans be afraid of a high-speed Intel processor?

September 05 2007 at 3:50 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

lakiolen

Wouldn't The (Infinite) Loop make more sense, Apple-wise?