AfterDawn: News

Apple may need to delay NAND flash iPod video plans?

According to memory module makers (particularly in Taiwan), an NAND flash-based iPod video is in Apple Inc.'s plans as has long been speculated. However, the company has set no launch schedule for such an iPod model. Currently available video-capable iPod models come with conventional hard disk drives (HDD), which are supplied by Toshiba and Hitachi Global Storage Technologies, for storage.

Besides the iPod Shuffle and Nano, all iPods include a HDD. Using NAND flash for storage in MP3 players has key benefits in access times, power consumption and product lifespan. Some memory makers in Taiwan have reported that over the third quarter Apple placed monthly orders for about 20 million units of NAND flash, suggesting the company is planning for increased demand.



However, based on current price trends, Apple may have to hold off the NAND iPod video model for another while as the product would not be competitive.

Source:
DigiTimes

Written by: James Delahunty @ 8 Jun 2007 17:36

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• 4 comments

• diablojot

  Apple does have a flash based iPod model coming out. It is called the iPhone. The iPhone not only uses flash, but it also plays music and video just like an iPod. How novel is that? Think before you write. The buzz around the iPhone has been astronomical. The iPhone is part of the iPod line, for the most part. And it is not because of price trends that they are holding off on iPod video. They just don't want to cannibalize sales of the iPhone initially.

  9.6.2007 07:34 #1

• Dela

  Quote:Apple does have a flash based iPod model coming out. It is called the iPhone. The iPhone not only uses flash, but it also plays music and video just like an iPod. How novel is that? Think before you write. The buzz around the iPhone has been astronomical. The iPhone is part of the iPod line, for the most part. And it is not because of price trends that they are holding off on iPod video. They just don't want to cannibalize sales of the iPhone initially.They sell iPhone as a phone and there is a bit of a gap between the price of iPods and iPhone...... along with that, 4GB and 8GB are just not good enough storage capacities for video, esp. since iTunes sells video.

  9.6.2007 11:31 #2

• borhan9

  @Dela
  totally agree 4gig and 8gig is not large enough of a capacity.
  
  What i like about Apple and also Sandisk does the same thing they wait and get their products right before they put it out for the public. This way it may make the consumers have to be patient but at least when they get their product it works and they will have less callbacks.

  9.6.2007 18:45 #3

• Unfocused

  8 GB is fine for music, but when you start throwing video in the mix, I feel that 30 GB is the minimum required.

  30.7.2007 21:19 #4