It's a little thinner and everything. My current library is just over 20 GB and it needs to be filtered as it is.

Ah well.

PS. So long gold.

Did the previous versions of iPod photo not come with FireWire? Apple's online store only shows that they come with USB 2.0 cables... and no docks!

They did come with FireWire cables. The newest models still work with Firewire, you just have to buy the cable now

They old version also came with docks - that's probably how Apple got the price to come down so much.

Quote

mshoaf wrote:
Did the previous versions of iPod photo not come with FireWire? Apple's online store only shows that they come with USB 2.0 cables... and no docks!

In lowering the price by $150 to $449 for 60G, they dropped the dock, the Firewire cable, and the AV cable, while keeping the USB 2.0 cable. The dock now costs $39, and each cable $19, so they really only reduced the price $73.

So the 30G model at $349 isn't that much of a better deal than the 40G model at $499 (with dock and two cables), since for $73 less, you give up 10G. From a marketing standpoint, it is a lower initial price point, so it will probably sell better nonetheless.

Apple must really be selling way more iPods to PC users than to Mac users, for it to forgo the Firewire cable.

So, as a shareholder, I shouldn't be too concerned since the margins haven't really been reduced much although the prices "look" like they've been reduced greatly. So the lower price will bring it many more buyers at $349 (who will then later buy the high-margin accessories!)

Same is true for the iPod mini (going from 249 to 199) - the Firewire cable is now a $19 add-on.

Quote

Anonymous wrote:

Apple must really be selling way more iPods to PC users than to Mac users, for it to forgo the Firewire cable.

I'm sure that's true. At first I was annoyed by the fact that it had USB 2 and not firewire, but then I thought for a minute. ALL of the Macs for sale now come with USB 2. Although firewire is made for DV video and better for that, when it comes to simple file transfers, USB 2 should be very similar in speeds to firewire. And as you said, a PC is more likely to have it then to have firewire.

And having only 1 cable with the product surely makes things cheaper.

So all in all I can't say that it's a terrible idea. It's not great for people with older computers, but if they wanted to reduce costs, I have to agree that this was a fairly good way to do it.

hmmm.. let me get this straight

you can now buy a 60gig iPod Photo for cheaper, but without the accessories that made it worth the money in the first place.. ?

i was getting anxious with all this talk about a new and updated 60gig with bluetooth etc. now im actually relieved!

the new connector gadget should work with the original iPod Photos, because it dosent look like any internal parts have changed.. here's to hoping!

Small White Car: Agree with you totally. But I still have a beige G3 with a Firewire/USB1.1 card (but running 10.3.8) and a Ti Powerbook. So no USB charging there. So this is the "halo" effect - His Steveness is going to make me buy a new Mac. I'm just waiting for Tiger's release - no need to waste $129.

But these changes really put a pricing squeeze on all "iPod-killers" (hey, that phrase is being used less and less - need RC to find another one for us). Apple now has a player at $99, $149, $199, $249, $299, $349, and $449 (and any leftover B&W 40GB at $399).

The $199 price point for the 4GB mini is significant and will really be tempting for all those thinking of buying a $120-$150 flash player, even the shuffle. Someone releasing a 2GB flash at $150 will have a hard time now.

And the $349 price point for photo will be a no-brainer temptation for anyone looking at the $299 20GB.

Quote

Guest wrote:
hmmm.. let me get this straight

you can now buy a 60gig iPod Photo for cheaper, but without the accessories that made it worth the money in the first place.. ?

i was getting anxious with all this talk about a new and updated 60gig with bluetooth etc. now im actually relieved!

the new connector gadget should work with the original iPod Photos, because it dosent look like any internal parts have changed.. here's to hoping!

Well, the cable and dock are only about 15% of the cash value of the iPod. It that's what makes it "more valuable" to you, so be it.

Quote

Guest wrote:
So, as a shareholder, I shouldn't be too concerned since the margins haven't really been reduced much although the prices "look" like they've been reduced greatly. So the lower price will bring it many more buyers at $349 (who will then later buy the high-margin accessories!)

AAPL is definitely looking to maintain or beat profits in 2005. any drops or warnings and their stock price is gonna get slaughtered. profits will be a bit bigger this year, just by how much

Don't be relieved too much. Adding all the extra gadgets is still $73 cheaper. That's more than enough left over to pick up that camera connector and still have $34 for a nice meal. But you're right that its not paradigm shifting like bluetooth2 would've been.

And yes, it looks like the dock connector is truly a long-term standard so accessories for/from older iPods should still work.

Oops! That should be $44 leftover for the nice meal.

Quote

Anonymous wrote:

Apple must really be selling way more iPods to PC users than to Mac users, for it to forgo the Firewire cable.

i discovered that my iBook G4 933mhz has USB 2.0... But FireWire on a Mac is just so much.... cooler... and convenient... because your jamming everything but the kitchen sink into USB ports all the time. Don't you keep running out of USB ports??? LOL

iPod mini 1st gen is my baby silver never happier, 4GB is fine for now, i've dropped out of web design for a while so i don't need external backup, just tunes to keep sane... 30GB photo looks bloody sweet now compared to the 'duller' 20GB

apple has definitely got some full-on kick-ass market research for their iPod division nowadays that can build off their success... i just hope it translates into the Mac division !!! arrrghh Switch you losers... RealityCheck this means you!!!

Quote

Anonymous wrote:
30GB photo looks bloody sweet now compared to the 'duller' 20GB

Definitely - I was planning on buying an iPod to take on vacation and use in the car this summer. A mini seemed the best solution, but now if you can dump your photos on to it as well, that means digital camera can come too if we had the iPod photo.

Mmmm, color screen....

Now there's 3 different sizes of the largest version of the iPod. Won't this just make it more difficult to find cases and accessories?

Before, were the 20 & 40 GB mono coloured screens the same size? Because the 2 photos were for sure right? At least that was only 2 different sizes.

Quote

Small White Car wrote:

Quote

Anonymous wrote:

Apple must really be selling way more iPods to PC users than to Mac users, for it to forgo the Firewire cable.

I'm sure that's true. At first I was annoyed by the fact that it had USB 2 and not firewire, but then I thought for a minute. ALL of the Macs for sale now come with USB 2. Although firewire is made for DV video and better for that, when it comes to simple file transfers, USB 2 should be very similar in speeds to firewire. And as you said, a PC is more likely to have it then to have firewire.

And having only 1 cable with the product surely makes things cheaper.

So all in all I can't say that it's a terrible idea. It's not great for people with older computers, but if they wanted to reduce costs, I have to agree that this was a fairly good way to do it.

Also, most Mac users have fire cable lying around.

"Oops! That should be $44 leftover for the nice meal."

No, $34. You gotta tip the valet and the doorman and the hostess and the maitre' de and....

A 30 GBytes iPod will follow after current stock is run down and Toshiba has ramped up its production.

Apple is partnering with Sony and Toshiba fairly closely to compete in the consumer electronics market. Will we see a Sony and Toshiba branded Mac soon? They are very good partners if Apple want to expand its marketshare in Asia Pacific.

Quote

Mace wrote:
most Mac users have fire cable lying around

The problem with that line of reasoning is that iPods have not had FW ports since the 2nd gen. A generic FW cable will not be of any use.

Quote

Sydde wrote:

Quote

Mace wrote:
most Mac users have fire cable lying around

The problem with that line of reasoning is that iPods have not had FW ports since the 2nd gen. A generic FW cable will not be of any use.

Thousand apologies. I realise that I'm speaking more from an existing iPod owner's perspective.

OK, so technically with student pricing i'm down AUD $30ish.. i can live with that, especially after 4months of service!

Cheers Apple!

I see. When Dell revs their DJs, it's pathetic, but when Apple revs their iPods, it's "simplifying." Get some decent stories.

Quote

ben sanders wrote:
I see. When Dell revs their DJs, it's pathetic, but when Apple revs their iPods, it's "simplifying." Get some decent stories.

Context, context. The Dell DJ has tanked in the marketplace, for all the reasons pointed out in this and other threads. If it was the iPod tanking, not only would Apple be pathetic, they'd be desperate, and every Wintroll in the world would be gleefully pointing at them. Further, Dell continues to react to Apple; every time Apple does something, Dell feels compelled to do something "equivalent". Truly innovative companies don't have to react.

Dell is pathetic.

Mac idiots.