Everybody knows Apple products need faster CPUs, better graphics cards and higher density displays, but what about updates you urgently want that nobody ever talks about? Let's hear what product updates you think are urgently required.
Here are a few things I want to see (but probably wont):
1. iPod "Shufflephones"
I want good quality lightweight headphones (not earbuds!) with the shuffle built in - meaning there are no wires. The headband provides ample space to put the shuffle internals - even enough space to put twice the battery of the existing shuffle. Headphones sound better than earbuds too. The shuffle can easily be operated without looking at the controls, so having it on the side or top of your head shouldn't be a problem. The main benefit of Shufflephones is the complete lack of dangling wires. I hate having iPod earbuds unexpectedly and violently ripped out of my ears when they snag on a door handle or piece of clothing (which happens about 10 times/day). Those iPod commercials with the wires bouncing all over the place are to me a perfect example of what is wrong with the iPod. They should show the silhouettes dancing and then the cord snags on something and they stop and say, "Ah, f@#% it!" while they reach for the earbuds to put them back in. It's also a pain in the arse untangling the cords every time you want to use the iPod.
2. Apple Trackball
I thought the mouse was neat back in 1985 when I first played with an Amiga 1000, but after a few months, I realized the mouse is actually a pretty stupid invention. A trackball makes much more sense. With a trackball, you don't need cleared desk space. You don't need to constantly centre it to avoid running out of space. You don't need a tacked-on scroll wheel (or other lame scroll device). And your hand doesn't cramp up into a twisted claw after hours of use like with the mouse. I think Apple should trash the "Mighty Mouse" and instead have a nice large trackball similar to the MicroSpeed trackball (but smoother rollers). Like the MicroSpeed trackball, it should have two buttons and a lock - you lock on the scrollbar to scroll. This is much simpler than the Mighty Mouse. (Apple's excuse for not having two buttons is pretty dumb)
3. Redesigned Keyboard (for desktop Macs)
I think the latest keyboard (since 2002?) for desktop Macs is cheap crap. When I first saw it, I was disgusted with the cost cutting. To me, Macs always meant "top quality", but this keyboard is cheap! It seems these days, people expect a keyboard to be cheaply made to keep the total computer cost down, but think about it: the keyboard is your main tactile connection with the computer. I think if you're touching it all day long, it should look and feel that it has a quality to it. I'd certainly pay a few extra bucks for a quality keyboard. It's pretty sad that a 1982 Atari has a better quality keyboard than a 2007 Mac.
Here are a few things I want to see (but probably wont):
1. iPod "Shufflephones"
I want good quality lightweight headphones (not earbuds!) with the shuffle built in - meaning there are no wires. The headband provides ample space to put the shuffle internals - even enough space to put twice the battery of the existing shuffle. Headphones sound better than earbuds too. The shuffle can easily be operated without looking at the controls, so having it on the side or top of your head shouldn't be a problem. The main benefit of Shufflephones is the complete lack of dangling wires. I hate having iPod earbuds unexpectedly and violently ripped out of my ears when they snag on a door handle or piece of clothing (which happens about 10 times/day). Those iPod commercials with the wires bouncing all over the place are to me a perfect example of what is wrong with the iPod. They should show the silhouettes dancing and then the cord snags on something and they stop and say, "Ah, f@#% it!" while they reach for the earbuds to put them back in. It's also a pain in the arse untangling the cords every time you want to use the iPod.
2. Apple Trackball
I thought the mouse was neat back in 1985 when I first played with an Amiga 1000, but after a few months, I realized the mouse is actually a pretty stupid invention. A trackball makes much more sense. With a trackball, you don't need cleared desk space. You don't need to constantly centre it to avoid running out of space. You don't need a tacked-on scroll wheel (or other lame scroll device). And your hand doesn't cramp up into a twisted claw after hours of use like with the mouse. I think Apple should trash the "Mighty Mouse" and instead have a nice large trackball similar to the MicroSpeed trackball (but smoother rollers). Like the MicroSpeed trackball, it should have two buttons and a lock - you lock on the scrollbar to scroll. This is much simpler than the Mighty Mouse. (Apple's excuse for not having two buttons is pretty dumb)
3. Redesigned Keyboard (for desktop Macs)
I think the latest keyboard (since 2002?) for desktop Macs is cheap crap. When I first saw it, I was disgusted with the cost cutting. To me, Macs always meant "top quality", but this keyboard is cheap! It seems these days, people expect a keyboard to be cheaply made to keep the total computer cost down, but think about it: the keyboard is your main tactile connection with the computer. I think if you're touching it all day long, it should look and feel that it has a quality to it. I'd certainly pay a few extra bucks for a quality keyboard. It's pretty sad that a 1982 Atari has a better quality keyboard than a 2007 Mac.
)
