21 replies to this topic

[Coconut Man]

Well, first off, I'd like to request that you don't bring up MP3 players that aren't an iPod, as they have no place in this thread, and I'm actually looking for responses to this idea, not someone saying "I don't know why you'd use an iPod...Samsung rules the Galaxy (see what I did there?)." I really don't. It's pointless, and if you want to make a post idolizing the Samsung Muse, go right ahead, as long as it's not here. Thanks

Now, to the topic at hand.

I certainly feel that Apple could do much more to expand their MP3 market. Sure, it's going along very nicely, but there are things missing.

If you have new ideas for a specific model of iPod, post that below.

If you have an idea for a new iPod entirely, post that too!

I also ask of you to state what iPod you currently have, and what generation it is. Give some feedback, too, please It's nice hearing back from other users.

Personally, my favorite is the iPod Classic. It feels just like the original, with the scroll wheel that's been used for so long, it was on all the models except the Shuffle and the Touch at one point. Even the Mini, which has since been discontinued (replaced by the iPod Nano).
I mean, seriously. 160GB of storage!? That's insane. Not only that, but it's cheaper than some other iPod models (i.e. the iPod Touch).
Space has never and will never be an issue, thanks to the ability to hold 40,000 songs. I love it (Incidentally, it's also one of only 2 iPods Apple still produces to use the 30 pin cable, which has been around forever. Thus, I don't have to make sure I remember where exactly I put the cable, as I had to with my iPod Touch 5). I actually got my first iPod when I was losing my hearing. It was an iPod Mini, and I got a green one, as a birthday present. The logic behind it was that I would get to listen to music before I went deaf. Well, it's scientifically possible that the music prevented deafness, as the consistent ear stimulation kept cochlear function up, albeit depleting. Thus, I went from being expected to lose 100% of my hearing within 6 months to having gone 9 years now with my hearing still going strong...ish.... at 50%, which I can boost 40% more thanks to my hearing aids.
That, by the way, is also one of the reasons that I love Apple. It's very possible to make a decent argument that they saved my hearing.
Anyways, those are my experiences. Here are my ideas:
iPod Classic: Nothing needs to be changed here, it's perfect, especially with the CoverFlow option. Perhaps more colors?
iPod Touch: Better Siri, for sure. A possible 3G-errr 4G option, just for using the internet? That would truly make it an iPhone without the phone, albeit it might cause iPhone sales to drop noticeably.
iPod Nano: The iPod Nano 7th generation is a beautiful machine, but it needs a camera. It's understandable that video cameras and playback would be dropped, considering the iPod Nano 6th gen was essentially a 4th gen iPod Shuffle with a touch-screen, but now there's not really an excuse. You can watch video, but there needs to be a camera.
iPod Shuffle: I would absolutely love for there to be a way to visually SEE the playlists. I know that ruins the point of an iPod Shuffle, but it's just an iPod without a screen. Something without VoiceOver could be nice. Plus, the memory capacity is REALLY low, so that should be increased dramatically.

New iPod Idea:

iPod Tunes (Sounds weird? Hear me out). Obviously, iPods are known for just music playability, right? Right. The iPod revolutionized the portable music industry, changing it forever. But here's my idea for a new product.

Connectivity: On the top would be the fast lightning port, while on the bottom there would be an option to use the standard 30 pin connector cable. If that couldn't happen, it should at least come with an adapter. Compatibility would be nice.

Storage: Personally, I think it'd be nice if you could literally CHOOSE an amount (not just set amounts, but like you wanted 20 gigs instead of getting a 32 since it's better than the 16). This would probably only work online, but this would allow you to pay for what you could afford. You could get the best quality affordable. Want a 32GB? Can't afford it? Buy something less than 32, but more than 16. You choose. (Again, this wouldn't work in stores, but still...) The max limit? As much as could humanly be fit on a device of said size. (I wouldn't know the dimensions, so I imagine it could have the potential to go very high).

Interface: Personally, I think it should have wifi connectivity. I don't know what kind of shape it would have, but I would love to see an iPod Nano 5th generation-style comeback. I loved that thing, and it SCREAMED iPod. I also would love to see it completely customizable. That's right, Linux for iPod, haha. That would be AMAZING. It should also be able to connect to the iTunes Store to download songs right from there. It should also come with DOZENS of nifty apps to improve the listening experience.

Hardware: Like I said, an iPod Nano 5th-Gen-Reboot would be cool, but Apple should design the hardware for the most part. However, like said before, it should at least have an adapter for the Lighting connector so your old cables are still compatible. Also, it should have (wait for it) Wireless (Bluetooth or Wi-Fi) syncing and.....CHARGING. Wireless CHARGING. Imagine how useful that could be on ANY iDevice. Finally, it should come with GOOD headphones. (Not just EarPods, either. It would be nice to have over-the-ear Apple headphones, as there is such a market). Not Apple SuckBuds or Apple MediocrePods. Superior quality headphones that actually sound good AND fit in your ear, shipped in. You'll see why the better headphones would be necessary in a minute.

Killer Feature: Audio Quality. If possible, songs could be upscaled in quality (note: If possible) and you would be given an option to, for free, "revitalize" all the compatible songs on your playlist, giving you SUPERB audio quality, better than any on the market. For a device so centered around sound, it should logically have unrivaled sound quality, right?

Price Range: Personally, I was thinking $149.99 as a starting price. This is Apple, after all...Of course, it could go lower depending on how much memory is in it, as mentioned as a possible feature above.
(I apologize if this seems like I'm advertising Apple's products. I'm not.)

Responses? Your ideas? Your memories? Post below!

[SushiKitten]

I own an iPod touch now, but my best friend in middle school was the iPod nano 3rd gen. That thing went through a lot, it was a total trooper. I had it for years until I got an iTouch for Christmas.

Then I gave my nano to my sister and it lasted a month before she broke it. I was just a tiny bit heartbroken.

I don't know if there's really anything to add on to the iPod. I was going to mention I'd like my iTouch smaller to fit in my pocket for going out running (girls pants always have tiny pockets, annoying stuff), but they have many smaller models I could go buy if I got fed up enough.

Something I'd really like is not having to rely on iTunes to sync my music.

[Coconut Man]

Oh, that? Personally, I LOVE iTunes, but it IS kinda restrictive. That's not a problem if you don't mind external applications

MediaMonkey is one alternative.

http://www.howtogeek...ging-your-ipod/

Here's a list.

[Bowsette]

Take the Apple logo off of it. That way it won't cost an asston of money for something that will do the same thing something much cheaper will. >_> Also, stop adding features that are gimmicks. Whoopee, Siri. Voice recognition is an imperfect art, and until it's perfected I don't see the point in packaging it as a feature. Kinda like the handwriting option in the DS game Scribblenauts. Yeah great, you can write things instead of typing them on the on-screen keyboard...except its handwriting recognition is awful and spits out a ton of gibberish.

[Wolf]

Remove everything Apple about it.

No, seriously, I find that the iPod touch becomes a much funner device when you jailbreak it, and arent bound to the crappy Apple store. No more having to install iTunes and all it's bloatware just to sync MP3's onto an MP3 player. No more paying $.99 for an Apple app that should be free [and usually has a free Android alternative, whereas Apple removes their competition from the store]. No more shoddy apple store, when jailbroken users have created their own better store, with plenty of free apps you know Apple would charge for.

Hell, I jailbroke my iPod touch and was able to enable wallpapers, the quick-app bar [or whatever it's called when you hit the home button twice], unlock the filesystem, and NATIVE multitasking in day one, all things disabled by Apple to make me buy the next iPod iteration.

Apple is the worst proponent of "Yeah, it's technically yours, but you use it by our rules"

[Dasherman]

I have a 4th Gen iTouch, but since I managed to obtain an Android smartphone, I haven't really used it.
I honestly think Android is better, now that I have used both: no more apple for me.

BTW: iTunes is a horrible program D:

[Dasherman]

I own an iPod touch now, but my best friend in middle school was the iPod nano 3rd gen. That thing went through a lot, it was a total trooper. I had it for years until I got an iTouch for Christmas.

Then I gave my nano to my sister and it lasted a month before she broke it. I was just a tiny bit heartbroken.

I don't know if there's really anything to add on to the iPod. I was going to mention I'd like my iTouch smaller to fit in my pocket for going out running (girls pants always have tiny pockets, annoying stuff), but they have many smaller models I could go buy if I got fed up enough.

Something I'd really like is not having to rely on iTunes to sync my music.

Best friend?
My iTouch used to be my fiancée, but then I got my HTC One X...

[SushiKitten]

Remove everything Apple about it.

No, seriously, I find that the iPod touch becomes a much funner device when you jailbreak it, and arent bound to the crappy Apple store. No more having to install iTunes and all it's bloatware just to sync MP3's onto an MP3 player. No more paying $.99 for an Apple app that should be free [and usually has a free Android alternative, whereas Apple removes their competition from the store]. No more shoddy apple store, when jailbroken users have created their own better store, with plenty of free apps you know Apple would charge for.

Hell, I jailbroke my iPod touch and was able to enable wallpapers, the quick-app bar [or whatever it's called when you hit the home button twice], unlock the filesystem, and NATIVE multitasking in day one, all things disabled by Apple to make me buy the next iPod iteration.

Apple is the worst proponent of "Yeah, it's technically yours, but you use it by our rules"

I have to agree with this. I jailbroke my iPod a while ago and it was so much better afterwards. Something I really like about Android is just how much you can personalize it and customize it to what you want and Apple fails to give that to me. I want more than a background with apps crowding the screen.

Best friend?
My iTouch used to be my fiancée, but then I got my HTC One X...

Ahaha, exactly! I used to bring both my iTouch and phone around until I got the HTC One V, then I just started using that for music, even has that audiobeats by dre thing. I don't know much about it, but one of my friends went nuts with jealously because of it.

Now my iTouch only gets use when I'm going out running and I don't want to risk ruining my phone.

[Coconut Man]

Take the Apple logo off of it. That way it won't cost an asston of money for something that will do the same thing something much cheaper will. >_> Also, stop adding features that are gimmicks. Whoopee, Siri. Voice recognition is an imperfect art, and until it's perfected I don't see the point in packaging it as a feature. Kinda like the handwriting option in the DS game Scribblenauts. Yeah great, you can write things instead of typing them on the on-screen keyboard...except its handwriting recognition is awful and spits out a ton of gibberish.

Well, you have a rather strong dislike of Apple....:/
...wouldn't go so far as to say hating....yet.

Remove everything Apple about it.

No, seriously, I find that the iPod touch becomes a much funner device when you jailbreak it, and arent bound to the crappy Apple store. No more having to install iTunes and all it's bloatware just to sync MP3's onto an MP3 player. No more paying $.99 for an Apple app that should be free [and usually has a free Android alternative, whereas Apple removes their competition from the store]. No more shoddy apple store, when jailbroken users have created their own better store, with plenty of free apps you know Apple would charge for.

Hell, I jailbroke my iPod touch and was able to enable wallpapers, the quick-app bar [or whatever it's called when you hit the home button twice], unlock the filesystem, and NATIVE multitasking in day one, all things disabled by Apple to make me buy the next iPod iteration.

Apple is the worst proponent of "Yeah, it's technically yours, but you use it by our rules"

I like to jailbreak, but it sucks if something goes wrong and you can't get it fixed because you jailbroke it (of course there's a tethered jailbreak that solves that problem).

Apple (in general) isn't the one charging that amount for the app. The developers are. My guess as to why it's more pricey on the App Store is 2 reasons: One, iPhones and iPod Touches (Regardless of what you say about Droids and Galaxys) have been both around longer and overall are more popular, so they stand to make more of a profit here, so they make it more expensive. Two (which I think is much more likely) the developers figured, "Well, if they can afford an iPod Touch, they can afford 3 extra dollars here for the app."

[Bowsette]

Well, you have a rather strong dislike of Apple....:/
...wouldn't go so far as to say hating....yet.

More like a strong dislike for overpriced shit, which is basically anything Apple produces. The supposed protection against viruses isn't worth paying 2-3 times the amount you'd pay for an item of similar caliber sans the logo. To access more than 50% of the features in iPods and iPhones you have to jailbreak, which nullifies the warranty, whereas Android and WP7 allow the majority of those features naturally. Similarly, Macs and Macbooks are exceptionally expensive for what they are. Pick a Mac, note its specs and the price of it, then go to Newegg or something and put all those components (or the closest to them in performance) into your basket. It'll be much cheaper, which makes me think the only draw to owning a Mac would be OS X. And from my experience of my college's iMacs, that's definitely not worth the price.

[SpleenBeGone]

Apple (in general) isn't the one charging that amount for the app. The developers are. My guess as to why it's more pricey on the App Store is 2 reasons: One, iPhones and iPod Touches (Regardless of what you say about Droids and Galaxys) have been both around longer and overall are more popular, so they stand to make more of a profit here, so they make it more expensive. Two (which I think is much more likely) the developers figured, "Well, if they can afford an iPod Touch, they can afford 3 extra dollars here for the app."

Taking 30% of each sell makes them partially responsible.
Also, as far as iPhones being more popular:



As far as the topic goes. I believe all mp3 players are antiquated. There's no reason to carry around a separate device when I can easily put a 32gb sd card in my phone and do just as much and more as an mp3 player. It's even easier with services like Play Music where I can even exceed the space on my phone and just stream via cellular network or wifi.

[Bowsette]

I am the 3.9%

I guess?

[Wolf]

Apple (in general) isn't the one charging that amount for the app. The developers are. My guess as to why it's more pricey on the App Store is 2 reasons: One, iPhones and iPod Touches (Regardless of what you say about Droids and Galaxys) have been both around longer and overall are more popular, so they stand to make more of a profit here, so they make it more expensive. Two (which I think is much more likely) the developers figured, "Well, if they can afford an iPod Touch, they can afford 3 extra dollars here for the app."

The Apple developed apps were the apps in question. If someone releases a similar app on the Apple store, Apple removes it. If someone releases an app that has /planned functionality/, Apple removes it. Hell, if your app has features /similar/ to an Apple app, they remove it. Basically Apple has monopolized their own market, and it shows.

So, if you want an app that genuinely adds something to your phone, you'll have to get it through Apple, and you'll have to pay their price. Even if it isn't from Apple, they get a generous portion of the sale, meaning developers have to increase the cost to see good profit.

But, I digress, Installous is much less restrictive, and completely free.

I don't even fit on that pie graph, I'm so edgy.

Pffft, I'm so hipster I don't even own a phone.

You wanna contact Wolf? Tough luck.

Try looking at your local starbucks, I'll be the unappreciated writer with the scarf and square-rimmed glasses. [read: half the people at starbucks]

[Affray]

Two words, bottle opener.
The only feature that could make me desire one mp3 player over another.

Another idea, portable turn tables.
Small enough to fit into a backpack, awesome enough to change the way you listen to music.
If more people were okay with this idea mp3 players would have never became popular, and would fall of the market in current times.

[SpleenBeGone]

I am the 3.9%

I guess?

It was Q1 2012 before WP became more popular, I couldn't find a Q4 one.

[Coconut Man]

I said overall. Get the statistics from the first iPhone and it's share of the market, then the iPhone 3G, the 3GS, 4, 4S, 5, etc. You'll see that overall Apple had more share of the market.
Trust me, that number will change. (Apple won't be the 30% for that much longer.)

Personally I think more phone options could help Apple a lot.

[SpleenBeGone]

That's all iphones in use.