As most readers may know, I’ve been looking to get a new ipod ever since my last one was stolen. However, even the newest ipod refresh has not satisfied my minimum ipod requirements. It’s very interesting what the Apple rumor sites have been putting out. One rumor is that the “true” video ipod will be a touch screen iPod, due in early 2007. Also that a phone is a logic next step for iPod integration (especially since Motorola is already doing it). And, wireless capabilities are also a logical next step for the iPod line. So rumors are going around about an Apple cell phone with ipod like capabilities. Rumor sites also report that the next ipod must have better battery than the current ipod, however the incorporation of wireless would negate that report. So, this is my speculation: Apple will release a cell phone (possibly named iTunesPhone, since that domain is already registered to Apple), and it will have the full touch screen interface of the ““true” video ipod.” Since it’s a cell phone it already has wireless capabilities (satisfying those rumors), and since it’s a PHONE and not an IPOD, the battery life doesn’t have to be better than the newest ipods (making the rumors that the battery life must be better moot). This speculation of mine isn’t too far fetched from reality. I can see Apple doing something like this come Jan. 2007 (Also considering the Apple patent application (previously published) for switching user interfaces (e.g. phone interface and ipod music/video interface) using a touch screen (app. No. 2006/0026535)). This Apple phone, I speculate would have a hard drive in it also. Which is not far fetched, since there are some phones with hard drives already inside of them. But, I think Apple would be the first to have a phone with the largest Hard drive inside of it (for holding music, songs, photo’s etc.). I’m not sure if the phone would have bluetooth. Although that would be nice for syncing contacts, and wireless handfree devices, (the typical uses today for bluetooth) that may be too much of a battery hit along with the HD. Also, I’m not sure about a camera…although you would have a lot of room for pictures and video from the camera, I’m not sure about the battery hit associated with having it.
I’m surprised the rumor sites haven’t picked up on this possibility since the future release dates of the phone and ipod (considered separate by the rumor sites) are in the same time frame (beginning of 2007). Their job is to report from anonymous sources, and analysts, not speculate, so they are probably right in that the true video ipod is separate from the apple phone. It is also quite possible that I thought of this speculation because I 1) need a new iPod, and 2) would like a new phone also. But I’ll leave it to my few readers and time to see what happens. See http://www.thinksecret.com/news/0607ipodbuzz.html for a summary of most of the rumors discussed above and proof of some of the rumors above.
Anyhow, as for my record for speculation and mere rumors, I think I am 1 for 1 (1/1, right on one rumor, wrong on another).