Foxconn to build Wi-Fi iPod?
updated 08:30 am EDT, Fri April 13, 2007
Foxconn Buildng WiFi iPod
Apple is planning to release a Wi-Fi iPod in the second half of the year, according to component makers in Taiwan. The sources allege that local business Universal Scientific Industrial will be responsible for supplying the Wi-Fi chipsets needed for the design, while long-time Apple partner Foxconn will be responsible for building finished units. Parts from USI wold begin delivery as soon as this month while Foxconn could be ready to ship during the summer, the report said.
Manufacturing reports such as these can sometimes be inaccurate, as suppliers will not have a clear image of a company's product strategy. Similar sources have correctly surmised that Apple would ask Foxconn to produce the iPhone for the first half of 2007 but would ship 12 million units without explaining the terms of when the figure would be reached, calling them into question. Apple itself has only advised that it would expect to sell 10 million iPhones by the end of 2008.
Other technical details were unavailable in the report, including heavily speculated switches to a touchscreen control mechanism.
Apple may be responding to increased pressure from other media player manufacturers, the sources claim. Microsoft's Zune was the first mainstream device of the kind to include Wi-Fi and uses it for sharing songs between users. Second-place iPod rival SanDisk has also released and expanded upon the concept with its Sansa Connect, which uses the wireless standard to listen to music and view friends as well as photos.
Yay!
04/13, 09:27am reply
Still holding out for a phone-less iPhone-iPod! Hope this means one is coming out later this year...
howdesign
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2005
agreed!!
04/13, 09:34am reply
... I want an iPhone without the phone and with 80GB disk (or more)
TiDual
Forum Regular
Joined: Nov 2001
iPod as remote?
04/13, 10:03am reply
I hope they use WiFi to make the iPod work as a visual remote. It would be a great way to control your home audio system, without having to start up your tv. Just thinking about reducing unnecessary energy usage here... This would be a very nice alternative to SlimDevices Squeezebox. It is a nice device, but I like the idea of the visual interface being inside the remote.
furrylogic
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jun 2005
Apple TV
04/13, 10:37am reply
I think Apple is trying to tie it in with the Apple TV. Makes sense. A friend comes over to your house and has a wi-fi iPod. He can stream music and movies to your Apple TV. Of course, that wi-fi would need to be at least 802.11g. Seeing as how the iPhone has it, it would be easy to incorporate it into the new iPod.
Pismo
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Feb 2006
Oh, yes!
04/13, 11:34am reply
Whoop! Wireless iPod! Now... I know i'm alone in this camp, but I want to see an ipod that doesn't have a bigger screen. I just want an iPod with a small touchscreen. I don't care about thickness.
cwinnipeg
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Dec 2006
iPhone-less-pod
04/13, 02:10pm reply
100 to 120GB with a big touch screen. Nothing less...
Eriamjh
Addicted to MacNN
Joined: Oct 2001