It's been nearly a year since we've seen a new addition to Apple's popular iPod line, and that's causing tech industry pundits and journalists to dig deep for speculation as to what could be lurking around the corner. In the lead up to WWDC the iPod phone was a nearly fore-gone conclusion. It didn't happen and the rumor and speculation died off like a grizzled character from a game of Oregon Trail.
Now rumors about Microsoft's Zune are running hot and heavy, and the bleed through to the iPod is becoming noticeable. Jason O'Grady of ZDnet wrote today about possible wireless tack-ons for a next gen iPod, "a WiFi-equipped iPod would be able to stream music from Internet radio stations and even purchase and download songs Over The Air (OTA) from the iTunes Music Store. The problem with streaming is that it's only as good as the WiFi access point that you're connected to. I don't know about you but my MacBook Pro seems to have consistently poor Airport reception. If the iPod is going to rely on WiFi it's going to have to be well implemented."
O'Grady makes some good points about not just the iPod but, any future PMP devices. WiFi may not be the panacea for PMPs that everyone seems to think but, with Microsoft pushing the idea heavily in the run up to the release of Zune, it's an unavoidable industry meme for the foreseeable future.
1. I think the iPod will probably get the latest version of bluetooth and wireless earphones, but no wifi.
True wireless connectivity will come with some sort of high speed cellular network, like HDSPA. When the iPod will become an always on-line phone there will be no need for microsized hard disks, it will simply stream content from the network.
Microsoft had to put wifi on Zune as a marketing gimnick, just to have a chance against the iPod.
All this is IMO ;-)
Posted at 9:39PM on Aug 28th 2006 by dr. Zoiberg