iPod going wireless?

[Nightblade]

It seems that Apple's engineers are trying to cook up a way to make iPod compatible with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi technology.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/08/25/apple_ipod_wifi/

 

[Lasha]

Wow, if this really happens, that'd be so cool! You'll be roaming around your hours with music streaming from your PC! LOL!

 

[unixdude]

Sound's like a bad idea to me. Now my iPod has 1/2 the battery life and everyone within 1000' of me can steal my music.

 

[ChicoWeb]

Bad idea. Bluetooth is for low bandwitdh data transfer. I would bet the thought never crossed their minds.

 

[PinkPhishDoors]

I am thinking that may have just been a concept apple was hinking about, and that this site was trying to milk it.

 

[iSheep]

Bad idea. Bluetooth is for low bandwitdh data transfer. I would bet the thought never crossed their minds.

Considering your can stream digital video over Bluetooth, I don't see the problem with streaming music

 

[citystar2k]

I think Apple should focus on the battery power first, maybe even consider making future iPods with replaceble batteries.

 

[m1k]

Wi-Fi and bluetooth wouldn't be that bad I guess. But the transfers of music wouldn't be half as fast as FireWire, 54MBPS is as slow as a guy in a mental hospital compared to 400MBPS that you get with FireWire. Bad move if it is in the next gen iPod. Plus it would have to be much bigger to accommodate BlueTooth/Wi-Fi, plus a bigger battery so that the battery doesn't lose any of its capacity.

And citystar2k, the fact that iPods have non-replaceable batteries is part of their charm. It's an all-in-one design, with very few visible screws or anything. It's why most people buy iPods. If iPods had an ugly side-panel where you could put in a new battery, it wouldn't be as popular because it would be ugly. Unless Apple engineers managed to put a side-panel somewhere else...

 

[ravenstor]

>And citystar2k, the fact that iPods have non-replaceable batteries is part of their charm. It's an all-in-one design, with very few visible screws or anything. It's why most people buy iPods. If iPods had an ugly side-panel where you could put in a new battery, it wouldn't be as popular because it would be ugly. Unless Apple engineers managed to put a side-panel somewhere else...<

so your a fan of form over function then?

 

[iSheep]

This Bluetooth lark:

I don't think Apple intend you to copy your music onto your iPod from your PC using it, I think they are more interested in getting Bluetooth headphones and Bluetooth stero-adapters. This means you could stream the music from your iPod. Apple will continue to use FireWire until the day that Bluetooth (or whatever) is faster.

 

[m1k]

>And citystar2k, the fact that iPods have non-replaceable batteries is part of their charm. It's an all-in-one design, with very few visible screws or anything. It's why most people buy iPods. If iPods had an ugly side-panel where you could put in a new battery, it wouldn't be as popular because it would be ugly. Unless Apple engineers managed to put a side-panel somewhere else...<

so your a fan of form over function then?

Well, not really. The iPod is the best-looking digital music player on the market, but it's also the most functional. That's why it sells so much, because both form and function are excellent. If the iPod's looks get shabby, consumers might not like it that much anymore.

 

[mode7girl]

Maybe it's for iPod iChat or something?

 

[Aptmunich]

The wifi is for streaming music to your airport express & hifi system...

Think of it as a ultra-remote control for your stereo system.

The bluetooth could be for headphones, syncing contact /calenders with mobile phones and organisers, or to remote control your ipod with a mini-bluetooth remote for those without airport express.

I think they'll only add wifi though...

 

[s_i_t_h_l_o_r_d]

It's possible. But they have to go with bluetooth since thats much faster than wi-fi and the range for a wireless LAN to a nearby PC/MAC would be 5'. Apple needs to upgrade the bluetooth software so we can use the latest printers that use bluetooth technology.

 

[iSheep]

I've had no problems at all using Bluetooth with the new HP printers. What needs updating?

 

[Aptmunich]

It's possible. But they have to go with bluetooth since thats much faster than wi-fi and the range for a wireless LAN to a nearby PC/MAC would be 5'. Apple needs to upgrade the bluetooth software so we can use the latest printers that use bluetooth technology.

Sorry to quibble, but that's not true.

Wi-Fi is a lot faster than bluetooth.

Bluetooth transmits at something less than 10MB/s whilst the slowst WiFi runs at 11Mb/s.

More common are wifi systems that run at 56MB/s. (called airport extreme by apple)

As for the range:Bluetooth systems CAN theoretically broadcast over a distance of 100m, but most devices have a range of 10-15m.

With WiFi it depends on multiple factors, but in my experience you get about 20-30 m, enough for useage in the home at any rate.

 

[Benjamindaines]

>And citystar2k, the fact that iPods have non-replaceable batteries is part of their charm. It's an all-in-one design, with very few visible screws or anything. It's why most people buy iPods. If iPods had an ugly side-panel where you could put in a new battery, it wouldn't be as popular because it would be ugly. Unless Apple engineers managed to put a side-panel somewhere else...<

so your a fan of form over function then?

any one that buys an ipod is because thers alot of more cheeper uglyer ipod like mp3 players that have alot more features. That being said i have a 40 gb ipod.