This entry was posted on Thursday, May 25th, 2006 at 13:21 and is filed under Analysis & Commentary. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
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Thursday, May 25, 2006
Early reports late last year had the next iPod coming with wireless functionality. That functionality is said to be using the RDS protocol popular in Europe for nearly a decade now. While this wireless scheme is pretty cool and all, it still doesn’t bring the iPod into the new millenium. What it needs is some true network connecting goodness. Wi-Fi, baby!
Why Wi-Fi? Some would suggest the ability to purchase music on-the-go would be great and ya, I guess that would be cool, but I’m thinking more power — personal power. If there was a WLAN connection available for the iPod to jump onto, it could then do a wireless sync. One could leave their iPod in the car parked out front (for those that think a garage is meant for storage of anything but a vehicle) and it could then sense the Airport connection and start its sync. If stupid Microsoft Windows Mobile devices can sync via Wi-Fi, why can’t the coolest DAP?
This is not a new concept, either. Rockford Fosgate Wi-Fi Car Mp3 Player never really caught on, but it did put the idea to good use. Other DIY kits exist dating far as back as four years ago. So why not the iPod?
Sure, playing music on your RDS equipped car stereo would be cool, but like any wireless connection to your cars deck, it ain’t going to sound that good. Direct connect is the only way really. So instead of wasting battery juice on a few hundred people that even have an RDS equipped head unit in their car, let’s go with Wi-Fi so we can start really using the power of our network where our digital music lives. Come on Steve, it’s another way to sell Airport. 
May 25th, 2006 at 17:35
That’s retarded. When the Ipod goes to a wireless syncing solution, they’ll use something short ranged, cheap and small. Wifi is none of those. I’m thinking that when it hits the market, UWB (Ultra-wide bandwidth, aka the next blue-tooth/wireless USB) is a good option. It will be able to transfer files extremely fast, which is ideal for the ever increasing capacities of the iPod lines.
I guarantee you that the next iPod WILL NOT have any wireless interface (well… maybe IR for front row/Apple remote, but that’s not what you’re talking about). It’s not practical enough, to large for the space constraints and to expensive.
May 25th, 2006 at 17:53
My airspace is so crowded that I’ve replaced all bluetooth devices with ‘wired’ ones. The last thing I need is a Wifi iPod, specially if I can’t turn off the Wifi.
May 25th, 2006 at 19:59
Retarded? UWB isn’t even close to being excepted by IEEE and those trying to get UWB going gave up on IEEE over two years ago! Ya, TWO. Look at 802.11n and how long that standard is taking. You really think Apple is going to use a protocal that isn’t even ratified yet? Sorry Mtt, but *that’s* retarded.
Wi-Fi is *not* expensive and the latest improvements in battery life is all that Apple is waiting on.
With every new Mac fitted standard with Wi-Fi and Airport AP’s that are easily set up for full integration, it would be retarded NOT to move to the next step with Wi-Fi.
Stay tuned, one of us will be right.