According to a reliable industry insider, the new iPods to be launched on the September 5 Apple conference will have a digital radio feature. Aside from receiving digital radio signals, it will have a “buy-now” option, which will allow users to buy tracks from iTunes and download them directly to the iPod without having to attach it to a PC or laptop. At the moment, the only music users can buy are the ones available on the iTunes store but Apple hopes to increase the number of tracks as the service grows. Sounds like an effective solution to the illegal music download problem, but I wonder if this service will be extended to countries outside the US.
Besides the digital radio, other rumors about the new iPod line say that it will have a full-touch screen, which will do away with the click wheel, as well as video suport for the iPod Nano.
[via vnunet]
September 4th, 2007 at 4:55 am
It is about time…. it only costs $1usd to add the radio function to a Mp3 / Mp4 / PMP player… and the video, that software is on “Mp4 Nano” players already… think that the younger kids are waking up on Mp4’s and seeing that ipod is looting their parents pocket-books…
September 4th, 2007 at 7:23 am
Hm, but will this affect iTunes revenues?
September 4th, 2007 at 9:17 am
Depends if there is “record” function similiar to that which allows mp4 nano’s to record radio… to be honest i think most americans like mp4’s because they are a) cheaper and b) don’t require itunes, 2) can record / listen to fm (radio big in latin america)… the video function is not used as much as have to do more to convert the videos…
apple adding fm, voice record, loud speaker and miniSD slot would probably cost them around $2.5 at most to do. I think they’d make that back on several itunes downloads…
September 4th, 2007 at 11:55 am
[...] Microsoft. With that said, it’ll be curious if Apple doesn’t take advantage of the rumored incorporation of digital radio and WiFi in its new iPod [...]