It'll make for some really nice ringtones, if the mobile version of iTunes works that way. Not so sure how it'll mesh with the existing iPod crowd, but it'll definitely get the word out about Apple, given Motorola's actually decent ability to make cel phones . Good stuff.

It would be interesting if it's PocketPC. If Apple really wants to move into the phone market, I hope it also targets Symbian and Palm OSs.

Been urging this sort of move for ages along with integration with stereo systems, seems both options are now being developed. The phone option is very imp[ortant simply because in the future much of the music market will be in phone and similar devices, not to mention the importance of tying phones in to Quicktime.

What's interesting about all of these recent licensing deals is that Apple is NOT doing what many predicted: that they'd bring out an Apple-branded cellphone and home media player. Instead, with carefully selected partners, Apple spreads their brand awareness further into the mainstream without the risk of investing millions in already-crowded fields such as mobile phones.

Eventually there WILL be a "halo" effect as customers get more and larger tastes of the Apple experience. With these second-hand flirtations with Apple, the idea of buying a Mac will become less alien to the average customer. They might even actually walk into an Apple store to see what ELSE they have to offer!

-Ken P

This is a major step for Apple.

1) They licensed FairPlay. This will allow other companies such as Nokia to license Fairplay to work on their phones. Nokia is the major supporter of AAC.

2) This is another blow to REAL. Say goodbye to Harmony.

Jobs is making some smart moves...He just needs to make some moves in the Mac market as well.

Apple technology is truly amazing, of course it's only 6 songs if they're a little longer. Remember Steve Jobs RDF telling everyone that a device needs at least a 1000 songs to be useful, can you say iPod mini, now suddenly 6-12 is OK.

so what do you need to control iTunes over an Airport Express? ... a machine running iTunes.

what are the new phone running? ... a mobile version of iTunes.

what will the phones be available with? ... Bluetooth.

it all makes sense to me.
browse 'shared' playlists on mobile iTunes on the phone... but then 'play' them via the shared machine over Airport Express.

it would be stupid if it *didn't* offer this functionality.

Wow Another licensing deal and more noteworthy branding with another device people use every day. Must really suck to be Apple.

BTW, RC, they have antidepressants now that can possibly help you with that agoraphobia.

That would be a spiffy idea, but the problem is that Bluetooth is a short-range wireless technology; it works over a couple of feet or yards, maybe. If you've got your Mac in one room, and your Airport Express and stereo in another, even a Bluetooth phone won't be able to serve as a remote.

Incidentally, there is a program called Salling Clicker that does let you control iTunes from Bluetooth phones.

http://homepage.mac.com/jonassalling/Shareware/Clicker/

I believe this announcement signifies a couple of important things beyond just getting phones to play music. For one it will successfully launch Apple's 3G codec onto cell phones and hurt Microsoft's efforts to dominate an important market (although I'm one of those people who just wants my phone to make quality calls and receive them), PLUS, the biggie, is that it appears that the two old partners are speaking again. This to me increases the chance to see significant upgrades in a portable processor from Freescale. I just don't think the G5 will be a portable processor for several years. Apple needs Moto now.

Actually I have heard pretty bad things about recent Moto phones (bugs, bad build quality)... as well as problems just manufacturing the darn things

Quote

Mav wrote:
It'll make for some really nice ringtones, if the mobile version of iTunes works that way. Not so sure how it'll mesh with the existing iPod crowd, but it'll definitely get the word out about Apple, given Motorola's actually decent ability to make cel phones . Good stuff.

Oh I thought RC was gonna say that this is evidence that Apple is abandoning the iPod. Oh well. His post was still pretty funny though. I guess he doesn't have a degree in marketing.

Quote

RealityCheck wrote:
Apple technology is truly amazing, of course it's only 6 songs if they're a little longer. Remember Steve Jobs RDF telling everyone that a device needs at least a 1000 songs to be useful, can you say iPod mini, now suddenly 6-12 is OK.