A high-resolution LCD, ultra-slim 5 gig hard drive, upgradeable firmware and a FireWire port. What next for the iPod? Pod is defined as:
3.) A casing or housing forming part of a vehicle
4.) Something resembling a pod, as in compactness.
This makes me believe that the iPod really means a digital “vehicle.” This device, with some firmware updates, could really be everything from a mini-PDA to a picture viewer.
A high-resolution LCD, ultra-slim 5 gig hard drive, upgradeable firmware and a FireWire port. What next for the iPod? Pod is defined as:
3.) A casing or housing forming part of a vehicle
4.) Something resembling a pod, as in compactness.
This makes me believe that the iPod really means a digital “vehicle.” This device, with some firmware updates, could really be everything from a mini-PDA to a picture viewer.
[For a preview of what the SuperPod could be, check out the 7-in-1 CyberBoy -Ed]
I think that Apple could have this device automatically download pictures, movies, and other digital media directly from the source. So for example you could just plug your iPod into the FireWire port on your camera and have a whole set of new menus pop up. Then you could download the stills of the pictures you want and or the portion of video you want.
Maybe you could have it sync with your Mac’s backup copy of the PDA contacts list. This way, with a simple addition of a menu, one could scroll down to the right letter of the alphabet then use the beautiful scroll wheel to find just the right contact.
The iPod could also display small black and white images of your digital photos and your Mac could automatically download those photos that you archived there and they could be easily synced with other Macs.
Maybe Apple could make a FireWire microphone. Just plug it in, select your compression, and then you can start recording by pushing the hold button. This might also be a nice way to get MP3 tracks on your iPod with just a CD player and without having to have your Mac around to rip them first.
This last one may be a far fetch, but if the iPod can charge over the FireWire cable, what if Apple could reverse the process? Low on battery life, want to finish that DVD, forgot your spare battery? Just bring your iPod for a nice boost of power.
These are just some of the devices that the iPod could dub as. Of course there is no evidence that I could point to that might prove that this is the path Apple is going to take with the iPod, but certainly the name is not MP3-player specific. I think people might be a bit more perceptive to a digital device that can display B&W stills, play MP3’s, record audio from a line-in, double as a 5 GB hard drive, list contacts, and connect directly to other digital devices to achieve ultra-portability.
With the iPod’s US$399 price tag you are also paying for the possibilities of the future of this first, of many?, digital devices.
