Thursday, May 19, 2005
iPod SDIO?
I came across an article propposing that Apple add the ability to connect the iPod to cell phones and cameras via an SD memory card slot. Summarizing:
"Hadley's statement on Nextel, Verizon blocking the iTunes mobile version got me thinking - if the smartphone market is going to be so crucial, what can Apple do to bypass these wireless companies but still have a presence in the smartphone market ?
...Thanks to IDC's IdaRose Sylvester who opened up the iPod Shuffle and identified the key components - a Sigmatel STMP3550 chip (costs $7.50 volume pricing) and a Samsung 512MB/1GB Flash memory chip.
...If the iPod SDIO really existed it could instantly be added to a Smartphone (based on Palm OS or PocketPC OS) with a SD slot with SDIO capability, and iTunes mobile software could take advantage of the GPRS/EDGE or EVDO services so that customers could directly access the iTunes store and download songs completely bypassing the wireless company but using the data service offered by the wireless company.... Also if the Smartphone is like the latest Samsung with 3GB storage (although Samsung uses Transflash slot, this idea could be extended), the iPod SDIO could use its internal flash chip just for buffering but store the tunes on the smartphone's internal hard disk."
Note: This looks to me like it could be done by a third party.
Read the full proposal at: http://sastwingees.blogharbor.com/blog/_archives/2005/5/15/861385.html
"Hadley's statement on Nextel, Verizon blocking the iTunes mobile version got me thinking - if the smartphone market is going to be so crucial, what can Apple do to bypass these wireless companies but still have a presence in the smartphone market ?
...Thanks to IDC's IdaRose Sylvester who opened up the iPod Shuffle and identified the key components - a Sigmatel STMP3550 chip (costs $7.50 volume pricing) and a Samsung 512MB/1GB Flash memory chip.
...If the iPod SDIO really existed it could instantly be added to a Smartphone (based on Palm OS or PocketPC OS) with a SD slot with SDIO capability, and iTunes mobile software could take advantage of the GPRS/EDGE or EVDO services so that customers could directly access the iTunes store and download songs completely bypassing the wireless company but using the data service offered by the wireless company.... Also if the Smartphone is like the latest Samsung with 3GB storage (although Samsung uses Transflash slot, this idea could be extended), the iPod SDIO could use its internal flash chip just for buffering but store the tunes on the smartphone's internal hard disk."
Note: This looks to me like it could be done by a third party.
Read the full proposal at: http://sastwingees.blogharbor.com/blog/_archives/2005/5/15/861385.html
# posted by Lynn Wegley @ 10:27 PM 
