Apple's iPod may gain Wi-Fi by holidays

[Rappy Veteran]

Apple plans to launch new iPods featuring Wi-Fi during the second half of 2007, according to a report at DigiTimes, the same publication which first reported that Apple would be forced to push out Leopard's release until October.

In a brief posting, the Taiwanese rumor publicized cited "portable music player component makers" who say that Universal Scientific Industrial (USI) has been contracted by the Cupertino-based iPod maker to produce the Wi-Fi modules and that Foxconn will act as the OEM system assembler.

USI will reportedly begin the first shipments of its Wi-Fi modules to Apple later this month, while Foxconn isn't expected to deliver the completed players until the third quarter, which runs July - September.

DigiTimes's report is somewhat in line with expectations published by AppleInsider over the course of the past few months. Sources initially reported that three distinct iPod models lie on Apple's roadmap for 2007, later adding that one of those players --- a next-gen video iPod -- was tracking for a third quarter release.

Thus far, Microsoft's Zune has led the way to increasing development of Wi-Fi portable music players, with Creative and SanDisk most recently showcasing such players at the 2007 Consumer Electronics Show. According to DigiTimes, Samsung and Sony are also planning to offer similar products in the near future.

SOURCE

[WhoTheF]

About damn time. But I think they should have had the wi-fi+ipod in the iphone. I was really expecting that one on iphone.

[Quillz]

Looks like Cupertino is starting their photocopiers...

[Blaine]

About damn time. But I think they should have had the wi-fi+ipod in the iphone. I was really expecting that one on iphone.

iphone does have wifi

[primexx]

Looks like Cupertino is starting their photocopiers...

no, they use iCopiers?.

[WhoTheF]

iphone does have wifi

Does that mean I can share songs from iPhone? :unsure:

[KingyOwl]

What would be the advantage of Wi-Fi on the iPod?

Would the only feature be sharing files between pods?

Because if it is I wouldn't be too excited about that, people can share files via the internet on their PC and I never require to share a file between portable media players on the move.

Plus, if it would be like on the Zune (can only listen to a song three times) it would be pretty pointless.

[MrCobra]

no, they use iCopiers?.

LOL. I wonder how long until they have all the Mac Zealots believing they invented wi-fi for music players.

[Johnston]

it would allow people to download music from the internet directly to their ipod rather than onto their pc, and then onto their ipod

[altermind]

for all the reasons I'd love to have wifi on my ipod... the reality is.... the power drain would be totally insane... HDD + screen + wifi.... = no battery

[+StevoFC MVC]

for all the reasons I'd love to have wifi on my ipod... the reality is.... the power drain would be totally insane... HDD + screen + wifi.... = no battery

just about anything that comes with wifi has the ability to turn it off. so that isn't a factor really for the most part. Just turn it off when it's not in use.

[PyX]

About damn time. But I think they should have had the wi-fi+ipod in the iphone. I was really expecting that one on iphone.

I don't really know what wi-fi would do on an iPod, but from what I've seen, an iPhone has an iPod integrated in it.