Apple Overlord Steve Jobs has also been getting his bearded face in the papers because he’s finally managed to settle the legal dispute between Apple Computers (now just Apple) and the Beatles owned Apple records. Interestedly Apple is now able to sell iPods preloaded with music. iPod will be the New CD is an interesting article which explores the idea that if iPod Shuffle can be sold cheaply enough preloaded with music they could completely replace CD’s. I though this theory was bizarre at first but iPod Shuffle’s are essentially flash memory drives with a few microchips for the firmware. Flash memory sticks are so cheap these days that many companies give them away like pens or key-rings. The articles author Leander Kahney speculates that the Shuffle’s could be skinned to make them more collectable, it’s certainly a good concept.

There is an interesting article on Information Architects about a theoretical iPhone range. The article is quite detailed and explains the features each model would offer and the type of consumer they would appeal to. I can’t see anything like these actual models produced as they suggest dropping music playback from the iPhone, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Apple do attempt to create a range of iPhones.

One topic the article touches upon is the huge scope for simplification and reduction of facilities in modern mobile phones. You might want the latest phone with mp3 player, camera, and video games but your Gran probably doesn’t.

To read my previous iPhone pondering click here.

/* Pete Graham */

On Tuesday this week Mac Overlord Steve Jobs unveiled the iPhone after months of speculation what the device would look like and how it would work. Now there’s no doubt that Apple with shift millions of these devices, Steve Jobs could announce a new product called the iTurd [1] and millions of Apple fanatics would still rush out to buy it. The real question is not if the device will be successful but how successful will the device will be?

Most people have an mp3 player and a phone; combining the industries best selling mp3 player and a phone makes excellent sense, one device less hassle. What Apple is aiming to do is much more ambitious they are attempting to create a portable multimedia device that will have mainstream appeal. Read the rest of this entry »