Real Kato Blog: Apple Watch: iPod Rumors

... and other news.

Apple has scheduled a media event for September 7th. There are widespread predictions that Apple, Motorola, and Cingular will introduce a version of Motorola's ROKR phone line that supports songs downloaded via Apple's iTunes service. In effect, it would combine the phone with a scaled-down iPod.

This rumor has been around for months now, and I'd say the odds of it finally coming true are high. We're almost certain to see this. What's not known is whether Apple will also announce other products at this event.

Some are predicting a higher-capacity iPod Shuffle, but I think that's unlikely. People will find it unwieldy to navigate through a thousand songs without a user interface. I think it's somewhat more likely that we'll see a new flash-based iPod Mini, sporting longer battery life and a reduced size.

The other widespread prediction is for a video iPod of some sort, that supports storage and playback of high-definition video. This would presumably be combined with an iMovie Video Store. I think this is in the cards for Apple eventually, but I'm still uncertain if the technology and infrastructure are present to make this a reality. But if anyone is going to be on the leading edge of this, it'll be Apple.

There are rumors that the record labels want to be able to deviate from Apple's 99-cent fixed price scheme for songs, charging more for certain popular tracks.

They want to charge more... for a bunch of bits that cost them nothing to maintain or distribute... based merely on the idea that those songs are in higher demand.

If anything, we should go the other way, and charge less for songs that suck ass. If we were to base prices strictly on demand, then 90% of today's pop music should be priced at 9 cents per track. But HUH, record companies don't like that idea. GO FIGURE.

Creative has been granted a patent that it says covers some technology used on the iPod. It seems to concern how one navigates from one screen to another to select a song to play; i.e. clicking on an artist name, then an album name, then a track name.

Just when did it get so easy to obtain a patent?

I'm really sick of technology patent blackmail. Remember when British Telecom tried to patent the concept of a hyperlink? It's that kind of thing that makes me think we really need to revamp patent law, or at least get more qualified people to staff the technology division of the U.S. Patent Office. You shouldn't be able to patent a grotesquely obvious concept for the sole purpose of extorting money off other more successful companies. The current system isn't protecting the public interest; it's creating a loophole for money-grubbing opportunists.

Apple is offering a Mac Mini "test drive". You can buy a Mac Mini and try it for 30 days; if you don't like it, you can return it for a full refund.

It's not a bad little marketing ploy, but it remains to be seen whether this brings in any new business for them. I'm not sure people go around buying computers in this fashion.

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