iPhone/iPod Pairing?

[jmadlena]

One of the biggest complaints people have with the iPhone is it's lack of storage space (which is kind of funny to me, seeing as how 4GBs is the max for removable media; but please let me know if I'm wrong about that). I was thinking of ways that Apple could get rid of this problem, without having to change the iPhone hardware.

I thought that Apple might do something similar with the 6G iPods that they are doing with Tvs. You pair your iPhone to a new 6G iPod with wifi capabilites (or even bluetooth, but I'm guessing that that would be impractically slow). You could pair your iPhone to one iPod, and the libraries would merge, and you would browse it just like it was on one device. It would just stream to the iPhone.

So, in my limited theory, people that wouldn't have bought an iPhone due to lack of storage capacticy may buy an iPhone because now they have up to 88 GBs (iPhone + iPod) of space (or even more in the case of higher capacticy 6G iPods), and a 6G iPod as well.

Or, nothing would change because it would be too expensive/power hungry.

Any thoughts on that idea?

 

[Sobe]

see: Kryder's Law

 

[jmadlena]

If what you are trying to say with the article is that eventually space won't be an issue soon, I know that.

Am I right in assuming that is what you are trying to say?

I am just exploring the ways Apple can get rid of the storage problem now, without having to change hardware.

I genuinely think I missed your point with the article. I hope you don't mind clarifying it for me.

 

[Sobe]

right, I think it won't be an issue.

Your suggestion isn't absurd or anything...I think it could work quite well.

The question is do people really need to carry around every multimedia file they own?

I think the 4/8 is a nice size point -- enough to hold enough audio and movies for a transcontinental plane trip. If it's longer than that, you'll have access to your laptop/desktop anyway.

If we're going to HD which I assume takes more memory, we'll need more space for the same content so I can see it going up as tech allows for it.

But pairing an ipod and an iphone just feels....un-Apple like.

I'm not trashing your idea I just don't see it ever happening.

But who knows I could be wrong.

 

[jmadlena]

"The question is do people really need to carry around every multimedia file they own?"

I don't personally carry around every multimedia file I own, but it has been proven (by iPods 75%ish marketshare) that people do indeed want gigs and gigs of music/movies. I have a 30GB iPod Video, and I'm nowhere near filling that up, but I certainly have more than 8GBs. And there are people that need all or more than 80GB.

Don't get me wrong, I fully understand that this is just a phone, but if it had the ability to expand it's storage capacity with no change to current hardware, I think it would be a good idea for Apple to persue it.

"But pairing an ipod and an iphone just feels....un-Apple like."

I wouldn't say that pairing the two devices is un-Apple like. The TV is paired with one computer, and streams from others. The technology for streaming multimedia is already there, it just needs to shift to a more mobile perspective.

What better way to hush the critics (about the capacity issue, at least) than to 'add' up to 80GBs of storage to a device with a simple software update.

It's basically a RAID setup, in the most basic of forms at least. But I may be wrong about how RAIDs work, so I could be way off.

 

[Sobe]

"The question is do people really need to carry around every multimedia file they own?"

I don't personally carry around every multimedia file I own, but it has been proven (by iPods 75%ish marketshare) that people do indeed want gigs and gigs of music/movies. I have a 30GB iPod Video, and I'm nowhere near filling that up, but I certainly have more than 8GBs. And there are people that need all or more than 80GB.

Don't get me wrong, I fully understand that this is just a phone, but if it had the ability to expand it's storage capacity with no change to current hardware, I think it would be a good idea for Apple to persue it.

"But pairing an ipod and an iphone just feels....un-Apple like."

I wouldn't say that pairing the two devices is un-Apple like. The TV is paired with one computer, and streams from others. The technology for streaming multimedia is already there, it just needs to shift to a more mobile perspective.

What better way to hush the critics (about the capacity issue, at least) than to 'add' up to 80GBs of storage to a device with a simple software update.

It's basically a RAID setup, in the most basic of forms at least. But I may be wrong about how RAIDs work, so I could be way off.

I definitely see merit in your concept, the question is how badly does apple want to "hush the critics."

Selling god knows how many iPhones in a couple of weeks isn't exactly a strong incentive to change their business model.

They'd probably rather have them buy a 30+ gig iPod and an iPhone and do nothing.

 

[jmadlena]

That is true. I could see them doing that too. I just think that there is a large group of customers that would want an iPhone, but consider the space too restricting to stop using their iPod. Like me, if I bought an iPhone, I woud definitely still use my iPod. And it would be annoying to lug both around.

I can see the positives in doing this, and I can see negatives.

Anyone else have an opinion? Come on, there's more people on this post than me and Sobe!

 

[pr5owner]

One of the biggest complaints people have with the iPhone is it's lack of storage space (which is kind of funny to me, seeing as how 4GBs is the max for removable media; but please let me know if I'm wrong about that). I was thinking of ways that Apple could get rid of this problem, without having to change the iPhone hardware.

currently the iphone is not the top of the list for internal storage,

the HTC X7500 has an SD slot + 8GB internal upgradable HDD, thats 16GB possible for only $40 more.

4GB SDHC Microsd's are out, and even phones as old as the HTC Hermes from over 1 year ago can read them with a software update (update has already been rolled out)

8GB SDHC are in very small quantities however they are avalible if you can find them.

some phones like the ipaq's have dual storage, mini + micro, 4GB mini's and 4GB micros are common, however the ipaq should be able to support more in the future.

since the iphone is completly enclosed, the only way to add more storage is the 30 pin connector at the bottom, apple may be able to implement something for ext storage (something like a battery clip on but with flash mem)

 

[jmadlena]

currently the iphone is not the top of the list for internal storage,

the HTC X7500 has an SD slot + 8GB internal upgradable HDD, thats 16GB possible for only $40 more.

4GB SDHC Microsd's are out, and even phones as old as the HTC Hermes from over 1 year ago can read them with a software update (update has already been rolled out)

8GB SDHC are in very small quantities however they are avalible if you can find them.

some phones like the ipaq's have dual storage, mini + micro, 4GB mini's and 4GB micros are common, however the ipaq should be able to support more in the future.

since the iphone is completly enclosed, the only way to add more storage is the 30 pin connector at the bottom, apple may be able to implement something for ext storage (something like a battery clip on but with flash mem)

Thanks for the info. I wasn't sure about all of the different storage options there are. While the iPhone isn't at the top of the list, it is pretty high up there. I hope Apple will figure out some solution for the 'storage problem' (I don't see it as a very big problem at all). But some people do. Maybe it will be via the 30-pin connector, or wifi, or something else, I hope they can add more.