Yep, new iPods will be out soon (new Nano out now, and the others around about September 28th).The iPod Shuffle stays the same. The new ones we get are the iPod Touch (like an iPhone but with no phone - just the video and audio playback with touchscreen etc), the iPod Classic (which looks like the 5G iPod but slightly better sound and nicer navigation), and the new iPod Nano which also plays video but with a smaller screen size (2 inch diagonal) .
I did a search on Dick Smith, and the Nano (which is on sale now) is pretty much sold out in all their stores; not that I need another iPod - I have a 30G 5th Generation model. The bigger video screen would be nice though.
Seriously though, rather than buying another iPod buy AAPL shares. Is there anywhere another company that gets such a free ride from the starry-eyed press and its loyal DRMed fans?
ReplyDeleteI just can't get into the iPod thing.
ReplyDeleteI got given one at a conference some years ago and it just doesn't do it for me.
They are poorly made and do &*%! all in my opinion. I would rather buy a Dick Smith MP3/MP4 player.
Mr Tips, if it was "some years ago" you might just be surprised now how nice they can be.
ReplyDeleteEven on the smallish screen of my 5th Gen model the video is very clear and surprisingly watchable - not that I often watch anything on it, but if you had to take the bus into work, or the tube in London (as my brother did; 2 hours each way) it might be a worthwhile thing.
...but most devices over $300 play video now (eg. iRiver, Zune, SanDisk, Creative) and usually have more capacity than similar priced iPods.
ReplyDeleteFor me it's not the device itself but the fact you're tied into Apple's proprietry codec and supply chain.
It's all akin to everyone NEEDING AIR in their sneakers during the early 1990's. Foam was no good, gel was nasty, it had to be air - Nike Air.
Like 1990's Nike, Apple is a "lovemark". In fact, it's a "lustmark" judging by Amazon sales ranks!
Greg, hmmm.
ReplyDeleteI've done a little comparative pricing on MP3/video players (not recently, mind); looking in stores, Dick Smith online, the MyMobile magazine (digital players section - handy because players are ordered by price).
From what I could see, it was exactly the opposite: rivals were charging almost the same for their 1, 2, or 3G product as Apple does for their 30G iPod; buying an iPod was pretty much a no-brainier - at least last time I looked; it might be different now.*
As far as codec goes, does it really matter? As long as you can get your movie from DVD to iPod :)
ps, best player for your PDA, Smartphone or Symbian device is the CorePlayer - I have it on my N95. It plays just about anything.
* Just looked on Dick Smith site - a new 80G iPod Classic is $389, whereas an iRiver with only 6G memory is $399.
For bigger screens, the 2G iRiver Clix is $369, but the new iPod Touch with the bigger screen and 8G memory is going to be priced $479 - another $79 for 6G more.
I just don't see how most people would even consider anything else.
That's where Apple has the upper hand - they always stay ahead of the game bringing out better products. Not that I consider myself an Apple ambassador or anything. As far as DRM goes they also have iTunes Plus where now there is no Digital Rights protection and the songs are encoded at 256kbps. You pay a little bit more for the 'plus' singles, but albums are the same price as the albums encoded at the 128kbps bitrate.
another $79 for 6G more.
ReplyDeleteOops, that's $110 more, of course.
Still seems a better deal to me though.
Fletch
ReplyDeletefair enough call. My one is circa 2004 or so, so its prob not as falsh. But do the new ones get radio?
Can you dictate on it for secretaries say?
I don't care about video or Powerpoints because I can do all that on my flash drive etc.
Mr Tips, true enough, the iPod has always been lacking a radio and doesn't have a mic for dictation (although you can get one to plug in).
ReplyDeleteI guess it all depends on what you're going to use it for.
It might even be better to get a Sony K750i phone or similar - they have a radio and can record and playback audio and video.
Memory capacity for those is dependant on a Sony Memorystick Duo. The guy who installed our phone system here had one; he used to listen to the radio while he worked and any incoming call would interrupt the radio and he could answer it (the headphones included have an in-wire mic for answering calls).
Sheesh, I'm sounding like a salesman now...lol
I'm sold! Gimme one of dem Sony things!
ReplyDeleteLOL
ReplyDeleteDid I mention it also has a 2 Megapixel Camera?
Quite a good review on this site. I like this guy's reviews; he's very thorough.
I actually have a K750 in my drawer, now that I have upgraded to a Nokia. Of course, there are probably models that supercede the K750 now with better cameras etc.
Yeah, cool toys but I reckon DSE is a littel slow to refresh inventory.
ReplyDeleteCompare amazon.com prices, US$.
Basic mp3.
1GB SanDisk mp3 player $35
1GB iPod Shuffle $79
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Mp3 and images.
2Gb Nano $132
4Gb Creative Zen $99 (also has FM radio)
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Mp3, images, and video.
8GB iPod Nano with video $199
30GB Zune with video $149.
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Full singin', full dancin', uber- players.
160 GB Archos Wi-Fi media player $399
30 GB Creative Zen Vision player $269
20 GB iRiver media centre $199.
16 GB iPod Touch $399.
(1/10 capacity of the Archos device but 10x the shiny plastic!)
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Conclusion: AAPL runs killer profit margins on loyal customers, buy AAPL. :)
Buy at amazon.com and ship using shipbuktu.com a NZ service run to get around the shipping restrictions.
The O2 Flame PDA looks very cool.
Hmmm, good work!
ReplyDeleteLooks like we're not getting the full range of choice here in NZ.
Try shipbuktu it's a neat service particularly when we have a strong dollar :)
ReplyDeleteWhich propietary codecs would they be? What DRM? EMI have non DRM stuff on iTunes and none of the music I have on any of my devices is DRM nor is it proprietary...
ReplyDeleteS
You're right about DRM-free EMI but that liberty only applies to EMI. Otherwise songs are in Apple DRM "AAC" aren't they? That immediately limits you to playing on Apple devices only.
ReplyDeleteThat sure is nice of them.
Apple iTunes still reserve the rights to change your playing rights as they feel appropriate.
MSFT's 'play for sure' WMA isn't perfect either.
Um, not really greg. It depends what you want to do...I have a DRM free source of music - they're called 'CD's'. They're ripped to mp3. DVD's are ripped to mp4
ReplyDeleteThat sounds awesome Scott. Where can I download this so called "CD" ? This is a codec I hadn't heard of.
ReplyDeleteIt is illegal to rip CDs.
ReplyDeleteSure, you rip 'em, I rip 'em, Zen rips 'em, WinMplayer encourages you to rip, the whole planet rips CDs but in New Zealand it is illegal.
Indeed, before iTunes opened here last year all those iPods loaded with CD ripped music were and still are illegal.
So, technically, within the legal framework available to us we are corraled by DRM (except EMI titles).
Yes I was aware of that having worked with a copyright lawyer...however, the technical point still stands. Given that and that Amazon has just released DRM free music I would argue that the tide is changing
ReplyDeleteS