There are a lot of rumors and speculation in the blogosphere about the future of the video iPod with the upcoming iPhone release. Some are saying that the iPhone, once available, will cannibalize sales of the iPod. Others believe Apple will release a beefy version of the iPhone minus phone in order to offer a widescreen video iPod. I believe something entirely different because Apple is a company that, afterall, sloganized "Think Different".

[Note: Thank you to the great philosophers Calvin and Hobbes for verbing nouns like "slogan".]

The anticipated 6G video iPod should have a beefy 80GB or more of storage in order to allow the neediest video junkie the ability to download all the feature films, video podcasts and music videos they desire into the palm of their hand and watch in the brilliant resolution of an iPhone form factor. They should be doing so under OS X for handhelds (ala iPhone) and with multi-touch user interface.

Or should it?

What if it was instead the iPhone form factor with OS X for handhelds with less storage but wireless synching to Apple TV? What if the package still had WiFi and still allowed internet connectivity and all the IM ability of the Sony Milo?

The market for the iPhone and the video iPod are not the same. Though the ballyhooed iPhone is the convergence device, the widescreen iPod contained in the device and sixth generation Video iPod are - in my opinion - two different things.

What is the target market for the next generation iPod? I think it is likely we will see a device that does not require signing a two year expensive monthly contract. I think it is likely we will a device that incorporates the sexy aspects of the iPhone, bringing the iPod line into the OS X world. I think it is likely we will see Apple push the Apple TV as the hub device and a slimmed down (not beefed up) video iPod with less focus on storage and more focus on user experience.

Labels: Apple TV, iPhone, iPod, multi-touch, OS X, widescreen

One of the big concerns I have been reading about and discussing with people since the unveiling of the iPhone is the potential for that widescreen iPod to turn into a widescreen scratch attractant. Many folks, myself included, are quite simply used to tossing our phones in pockets, backbacks, car seats or purses. And all these places are just begging to scratch the multi-touch screen surface.

So although there are likely to be as many (if not more) accessories made for the iPhone as there are for the iPod, I think the aftermarket for protecting the device from wear and tear is going to be enormous.

So here's my idea (one of them):

Remember the old jelly bands people used to put on swatches to keep the face from banging into things? Well that wouldn't exactly work on an iPhone, but the concept of wrapping something around the upper and lower parts of the device where there is no screen is sound. What if you had what amounted to a jelly band on each end of the iPhone with a tear-off (velcro even?) cloth that would act to protect the screen and could even double as a cleaning cloth much like those for eyeglasses?

The "bands" at either end could of course be something other than those no longer trendy jelly bands - they could even be a more rigid material to match the sleekness of the unit. Point being there are thousands of people out there right now thinking of devices, accessories, programs and more for this beast.

I have several of them myself. Stay tuned.

Labels: accessory, multi-touch, widescreen