Great New Gadget - Apple iPod

Bob Jenkins · Nov 12, 2001

I just received my new Apple iPod.
For those who haven't heard, this is basically an MP3 player.
It is smaller than a pack of cigarettes.
It has a 5 gigabyte hard drive.
It has a 10 hour rechargeable battery.
It will hold the music from almost 100 audio CDs (converted to the M3 format).
It has a FireWire port for connection to your Macintosh (only works with Macs).
The FireWire cable will load 5 gigabytes of sic in 10 minutes.
It synchronizes automatically with iTunes software on your Macintosh.
It will also function as an auxillary 5 gigabyte hard drive.
Great user interface with a very clear, backlighted display.
Great Sound.
If you have a Mac with a built-in FireWire port, you should check this out!

Evolute · Nov 12, 2001

I'm glad you like it and are spreading the word.

For my purposes, it's basically a 5 gig hard drive the size of a deck of cards. The MP3 abilities are of secondary interest. Both are very cool, however you look at it.

I don't think it's entirely correct to think of this as basically an MP3 player (though I understand why you do--that is the way Apple is currently marketing it). It's capable of playing MP3s, but I think there are a number of hints that Apple has much bigger future plans for this device than just that. The chips in it go far beyond what is necessary for merely decompressing MP3s and running iTunes2. The firmware in it includes a full operating system originally designed for PDAs, by the people who created the Newton. The name "iPod" is neutral as far as describing it's intended function. (If it was primarily meant for MP3s, I think they would have given it a clearly music-related name.) All of these things hint that the device is going to be put to more ambitious uses in the future, as an important component of Steve Job's "digital hub" vision.

Also, don't forget that it also has the game Break Out on it. It won't be long until (A) Apple releases more games on it, (B) hackers compile MacMame for it so that you can run all existing arcade games on it, or (C) both. Then it will be a video game platform, as well as MP3 player and portable hard drive.

Finally, serious audiophiles will want to know that the iPod can also play more serious musical formats, like AIFF.

Bronco · Nov 12, 2001

Great info, guys. Thanks.

SPECIALIST · Nov 12, 2001

With napster being banned, how do you all get your MP3's? This thing sounds cool, but i wonder if you would be able to get 100 good MP3's? I was looking at a portable mini disc system as an alternative to a MP3 player, its more versitile and i can listen to my own recordings(i do quite a bit of work helping my friend's band record their demo CD, and my own musical recordings, so it would be nice to be able to review the day before's recordings) or MP3's taped off of the computer. I'm wondering can you make your own MP3's and how does that work?

HankS · Nov 12, 2001

Hi Specialiet.

Since OS 9.1, Apple has included iTunes with their computers, and it's a free download. It rips aiff, or music files from a music cd and converts them into mp3s. It also is the best player for a computer...sorry Windows users, it's only on Mac OS 9 and X! It will also let you burn music cds.

Hank

fmann · Nov 13, 2001

Specialist,

Morpheus
Kazaa
Bearshare
Audiogalaxy satellite

there are others, too.

Bob Jenkins · Nov 13, 2001

Evolute,

I certainly agree with you that Apple has a lot of future plans for this device. The firmware is upgradable. I don't know how much more Apple will be doing with the initial iPod. I see this as the first in a long line of portable devices with amazing amounts of storage and power! The way it integrates with the Mac is really amazing.

Specialist

I never really used Napster for my MP3 files. Most of my MP3s are ripped off of my own CDs with iTunes 2. The beauty of the iPod is that you can do all the ripping, arranging, setting up playlists, etc. with your Mac computer using iTunes 2. Then just plug in the iPod with a FireWire cable and it charges the iPod and synchronizes with your music files. It is like having 100 CDs and a player with a 10 hour battery in a package the size of a deck of cards! It really gives YOU complete control over the music!

GJW · Nov 16, 2001

Does anyone else mind the little "Don't Steal Music" message in the new iPod commercial?

My experience with Apple showed me that they consider their customers little more than inconveniences but now with a message like that it looks like they've become downright insulting.