Apple's upcoming iPod will make its debut this November and will definitely feature a touchscreen, Gizmodo has learned. Let's just say that we have a couple of people fairly high up the Apple food chain who have made it known that the iPod's touchscreen is truly the bee's knees. Apple is also apparently working its tail off to make sure that the planned November launch of the new iPod will still happen.
Our super secret sources didn't reveal any information regarding the iPod's rumored wireless capabilities, however.
Oh, and those pictures? Those were supplied by a fine reader of ours, Samuel Mularczyk. Supposedly, they were found on Apple's Web site. Granted, they pictures do read "iPhone," but no one ever said that the iPod and iPhone won't be one in the same, right? (But yes, it could just be another silly mock up.)
UPDATE: Oh, vanity, thy name is fake iPhone picture! Ok, so we're pretty darn sure the above picture is as fake as fake can be. How do we know? Well, the Darth Vader artwork was actually done by another reader, Kreg Steppe, some time ago. We'll work on getting better sources for pictures next.
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DISCUSSION
I don't like the stylus idea. I use my mp3 player in my car, plugged
into the speakers via a cassette adapter. I like my microphoto because
it has touch-sensitive buttons. If a shitty song comes on or if I need
to change the volume, I can skip to the next track or turn it up
without taking my eyes off of the road.
If I'm using my mp3 player and not driving, odds are that I'm either
a.) trying to fall asleep or b.) at work, with the mp3 player in my
back pocket with the wire threaded up the back of my shirt (possibly
secured in place with first aid tape, if I'm feeling meticulous) and
the unused earbud (usually the right) tucked under one of the straps of
my bra.
If the former, having to pull out a stylus to skip songs instead of
just moving one of my fingers would wake me up. If the latter, I
couldn't just reach into my back pocket and make a minor adjustment
without actual buttons to feel my way.
Touchscreens will ruin all three of these activities.