 |
 |
Steve Gilliard, 1964-2007
It is with tremendous sadness that we must convey the news that Steve Gilliard, editor and publisher of The News Blog, passed away June 2, 2007. He was 42.
To those who have come to trust The News Blog and its insightful, brash and unapologetic editorial tone, we have Steve to thank from the bottom of our hearts. Steve helped lead many discussions that mattered to all of us, and he tackled subjects and interest categories where others feared to tread.
Please keep Steve's friends and family in your thoughts and prayers.
Steve meant so much to us.
We will miss him terribly.
Ice Weasel: "Wi-Fi…why?"
Labels: apple, ipod, technology
Everybody wants one (or already has one)
Thanks to Ice Weasel for this technology post!Apple's iPod may
gain Wi-Fi by holidays
By AppleInsider Staff
Published: 10:50 AM EST
Apple plans to launch new iPods featuring Wi-Fi during the second
half of 2007, according to a report at DigiTimes, the same
publication which first reported that Apple would be forced to push
out Leopard's release until October.
In a brief posting, the Taiwanese rumor publicized cited "portable
music player component makers" who say that Universal Scientific
Industrial (USI) has been contracted by the Cupertino-based iPod
maker to produce the Wi-Fi modules and that Foxconn will act as the
OEM system assembler.
USI will reportedly begin the first shipments of its Wi-Fi modules to
Apple later this month, while Foxconn isn't expected to deliver the
completed players until the third quarter, which runs July - September.
DigiTimes's report is somewhat in line with expectations published by
AppleInsider over the course of the past few months. Sources
initially reported that three distinct iPod models lie on Apple's
roadmap for 2007, later adding that one of those players --- a next-
gen video iPod -- was tracking for a third quarter release.
Thus far, Microsoft's Zune has led the way to increasing development
of Wi-Fi portable music players, with Creative and SanDisk most
recently showcasing such players at the 2007 Consumer Electronics
Show. According to DigiTimes, Samsung and Sony are also planning to
offer similar products in the near future.
So we know what the 3G iPod Video will look like, we’ve seen the
iPhone. It will look like that. Widescreen, higher resolution,
higher pixel count with “multi-touch” (Apple’s touch screen
technology). All of that makes perfect sense. But Wi-fi? Why?
Apple’s DRM prevents the widespread sharing. As an owner you are
limited to the number of devices you can “share” your music with.
Even this sharing is limited in its applications. So the idea that I
could grab stuff, at random from anyone with iTunes and wifi
connection is out. Or is it? Could this dovetail in with Jobs’
earlier plea to end DRM? It’s the only that seems to make sense.
Let’s look at how we use our iPods. I’m unusual. 90% of the time my
iPod is docked at my desk. I use it as a standalone device,
connected to audio system, in my home office. This way I don’t have
to use iTunes (it eats up CPU cycles) and this frees up my computer
for the other very intensive CPU activities I’m normally engaged in
(graphic work). For me, this is a great solution. But adding wifi
doesn’t enhance the device at all. My Pod is usually connected to
something.
What about you? If you’re like most people, you carry your iPod with
you. When you do, do you have a need for wireless connectivity with
it? What would you connect to? And if you connected, to what end?
See what I mean?
There are some changes coming. It doesn’t make sense to add
something that will tax the battery and add weight and size to the
device for no reason. You certainly wouldn’t do it merely to say
that you know have features that other companies, such as Sony or
Microsoft. They’re not even in the same realm as the iPod
competition wise (Apple just announced the sale of 100 million
iPods). There must be a purpose. What is it I’m missing?
- posted by ice weasel