The flash based iPod is coming, according to rumor mongers such as Reuters and Think Secret. What would it take to make a flash based player worthy of the iPod name? Well, who says it would be called an iPod? Read more…
The flash based iPod is coming, according to rumor mongers such as Reuters and Think Secret. What would it take to make a flash based player worthy of the iPod name? Well, who says it would be called an iPod? I think the Mini certainly qualifies as an iPod. It is better in every way, except storage capacity. It is a premium product – just like the iPod. I suppose some folks who max out with an iPod Photo 60GB can use a Mini when they want something smaller and cooler to jog with. In for a penny, in for a pound. Most people, due to the reality of budgets, are either or.
I would like to see an iCard. Something with the same size screen and clickwheel as an iPod Mini only about 20% shorter and 10% narrower. Just make it half as thick or less and price it at $200 and it becomes a real supplement to an iPod.
My first iPod was a 5GB model. I am not a potential Mini customer because I feel I need at least 20GB to carry a reasonable mix of songs from an 80GB music collection, which reminds me, I have got to make some new playlists soon because I am getting a bit bored by what is on my iPod right now.
Do the math and see that a flash based iCard is going to be significantly lower in capacity to keep under the price of the Mini. I am guessing at 2GB. A lot of people could live with this as their only player, but a lot of iPod owners may want to supplement with something really small. Not a pod at all, but a card!
Update: Gizmodo has posted some cool looking iCard (our name for it) mockups (1, 2). -Ed
