itouch expands to 32gb

[saints]

News around apple have released the 32gb version available now, love the fact the capacity of flash is rising

[sweetspot]

Great news I guess...

Now tell Steve to make an iPod which doesn't need iTunes in order to transfer music, (or any other 3rd party app I need to pay for/or not) and I'll bite. Until then, my quest for larger capacity, non proprietary file format/software driven DAP continues.

But yeah, good news for flash based HD's..sorta. Betcha Apple cornered a HUGE percentage of that market and has some deal that prohibits (who is it, Toshiba ?) the HD manufacturer from dealing with companies other than them. Bi'ness as usual.

D.

[reddshack]

and the iPhone is now available in 16gb

[BBD]

...and the early adopters of both are in full whine....

[musichound]

Apple is not the first manufacturer to come out with a 32GB flash based playe. The Creative Zen is at 32GB and I believe there will be a Samsung P2 32GB player as well.

Regardless, it's good that flashed based DAPs are increasing in size but $499.00 IMO is still way to high to pay for one.

[pachinkoman]

Yes, the 32g's is very nice, but the $500.00 price tag is not

Plus you still have to fork over another $19.00 for the "upgraded" software - that's a worm in the apple.

You'd think when you pay 3, 4, or $500.00 for a device, they might want to let you have the new software for nuthin.

[Danfried]

Originally Posted by sweetspot

But yeah, good news for flash based HD's..sorta. Betcha Apple cornered a HUGE percentage of that market and has some deal that prohibits (who is it, Toshiba ?) the HD manufacturer from dealing with companies other than them. Bi'ness as usual.

D.

Even if Toshiba didn't agree to such a deal, no other manufacturer can buy in the bulk that Apple can, and so all the other manufacturers can't compete on price. Which sucks.

Well, I'm still hoping that Samsung's 64 gig SSDs come down in price -- but I'm worried that by the time memory gets cheap enough, Samsung will have stopped making it in an H300-compatible format...

[sweetspot]

Originally Posted by pachinkoman

Yes, the 32g's is very nice, but the $500.00 price tag is not

Plus you still have to fork over another $19.00 for the "upgraded" software - that's a worm in the apple.

You'd think when you pay 3, 4, or $500.00 for a device, they might want to let you have the new software for nuthin.

Been out of the loop lately. What is this software upgrade you speak of ? Are Apple turning into Archos for absolutely no bloody reason now ?

[Mike]

Not that I'm saying that $500 isn't alot, but that was the price of my iHP-140 when I purchased it 4 years ago (and the price of Apple's high-capacity DAP at the time).

[BBD]

They're charging owners $20 to get apps that could/should be included for free. Loads o' bitchin' @ teh Lounge about it, too.

[Mike]

The $20 is for the firmware upgrade that came out last month. It's worth that, people generally think, but it's the idea of charging for it, when the upgrade to the iPhone isn't being charged for and people buying a new Apple DAP would get the latest firmware without charge. All very dubious, despite Apple's (I believe) explanation that the charge has to be imposed for accounting reasons. (And no one's said why $20, and not $2 ....)

[Danfried]

Charging for a firmware upgrade? Compare that with iriver's behaviour, issuing free firmware upgrades long after players like the H320/340 were released. And some of those upgrades added major features too, like video playback!

[BBD]

And it's the only FW upgrade (so far) they've charged for with any of the line up. It includes 5 applications (can't recall them offhand), but still.......

They seem to be having considerable troubles with various FW packages. The Classic's numerous FW "upgrades" have caused new problems while trying to fix others.

[Step666]

Originally Posted by musichound

Apple is not the first manufacturer to come out with a 32GB flash based playe. The Creative Zen is at 32GB and I believe there will be a Samsung P2 32GB player as well.

And Sandisk.
Their 32GB View is due out this month at $349, same price as the 32GB Zen.

[saints]

I think you could justify the extra us$150 to have a browser and the cool factor (IMO)
but as others said maybe 400 is the price point, i guess they will come down the 16gb did even before this was announced.

[Step666]

So the larger size, lesser sound quality, lack of expandable storage, reliance on iTunes and inferior battery life are worth a near-50% increase in price?

[sweetspot]

Originally Posted by Step666

So the larger size, lesser sound quality, lack of expandable storage, reliance on iTunes and inferior battery life are worth a near-50% increase in price?

Word to your mother.

[sweetspot]

Originally Posted by Step666

And Sandisk.
Their 32GB View is due out this month at $349, same price as the 32GB Zen.

Hell, I would like to see a Samsung P2 in a 32 gig flavor for that price. I'd snatch it up like a little girl with a bouncy ball and a pile of jacks. Sandisk view ? Meh. They really need to spiff up their game a bit me thinks. The UI is a bit lackluster IMO.

[Step666]

Th UI may not be amazing but the sound quality is supposed to be pretty damned good.
That and full MicroSDHC support, none of this crippled stuff that Creative are palming people off with.

As for the P2, they haven't even produced a 16GB version yet have they?

[AwfulThingy]

Originally Posted by BBD

And it's the only FW upgrade (so far) they've charged for with any of the line up. It includes 5 applications (can't recall them offhand), but still.......

They seem to be having considerable troubles with various FW packages. The Classic's numerous FW "upgrades" have caused new problems while trying to fix others.

This from an iRiver owner? The only reason why it's so unusual is that a) iPods have rarely needed a firmware upgrade because in general they did what they were supposed to, unlike some other players which had really quite glaring bugs. Besides, they aren't charging for FW upgrades - they are charging for a block of new apps.


The apps thing set a slightly dodgy precedent for me though.The 'new' apps aren't worth $20 IMO, especially when third party support comes into the picture. $10 would have been a better gesture. I was pretty fortunate, my latest Touch developed a fault within the return period so I returned it, will be buying the 32Gb.


The Touch SQ is adequate IMO. On a par with most iRiver gear if you discount the crap FX that most of you I'm sure insist on introducing into the mix, and I never do. The broken EQ does bother me at times though.

[BBD]

Originally Posted by AwfulThingy

This from an iRiver owner? The only reason why it's so unusual is that a) iPods have rarely needed a firmware upgrade because in general they did what they were supposed to, unlike some other players which had really quite glaring bugs. Besides, they aren't charging for FW upgrades - they are charging for a block of new apps.

True, that was the case before, but the Classic has had three or four significant FW upgrades to fix bugs. Unfortunately, each "upgrade" created new bugs, the last of which was a hissing bug that was capable of damaging higher-end earphones. It took about three weeks for Apple to address that one. The upgrades are such jokes I've suggested Apple stop trying and just allow Rockbox to have an official crack at it.

As to the new apps: I mis-typed (I've only been following that controversy casually). My understanding is those new apps come with new Touches and early adopters still hafta pay if they want 'em.

The apps thing set a slightly dodgy precedent for me though.The 'new' apps aren't worth $20 IMO, especially when third party support comes into the picture. $10 would have been a better gesture. I was pretty fortunate, my latest Touch developed a fault within the return period so I returned it, will be buying the 32Gb.

Agreed, but what I find particularly bothersome is Apple are trying to pass off the $20 as a necessary price for accounting purposes. I think it's Apple squeezing as much profit out of it as possible.

The Touch SQ is adequate IMO. On a par with most iRiver gear if you discount the crap FX that most of you I'm sure insist on introducing into the mix, and I never do. The broken EQ does bother me at times though.

The EQ presets are an absolute joke. I use the custom presets on my U3 and e280, because they actually do enhance the sound, but the flat setting on the Classic sounds really very good. I think the problem is some people use iTunes default settings to rip CDs and/or just DL iTunes tracks. 128kbps sounds craptacular to me, regardless of EQ setting.

[saints]

If your paying that much cash, they should be included no question</