The transformation of Apple from a computer manufacturer to electronic device manufacturer has begun. Mark it down as the iPod.
The iPod is one nifty MP3 player/recorder, but I believe Apple may have an underlying strategy with the device. Has everyone noted there been no Apple-branded PDA device announced? Could iPod possibly be the handheld device that will deliver this technology to Mac (and possibly Windows) users? Think about it.
Now I am not familiar with the underlying technology in iPod. However, what I do know is that it can serve as a hard drive for Firewire-equipped Macs and has its own operating system used to select and play songs. If you take this one step further it would be noted that programs theoretically could be installed and run on the device. Now , you tell me, how hard would it be for Apple to write PDA software to run on iPod? They already know how to do it (Newton) and they would have had to been blind not to see the tremendous potential out there (Palm, Microsoft CE devices).
You may say, well Newton was a bomb, so why would they want to go after this market again? Well, the answer is simple: iPod wouldn't just be an MP3 player/recorder, PDA or whatever. Depending on software installed, it's a cool and extremely portable extension of your computer desktop. Steve Jobs said it himself during the introduction of iPod: it will go places only PowerBooks dream of.
Well, there's my theory. Hey, I may be wrong, but it's interesting speculation nevertheless, huh?
No matter what happens with iPod, it appears Apple will be introducing more non-computer based gadgets in the future and attempting to migrate to more of a computer electronics company.
Click here for an example from Mac Directory that shows the iPod can be more than an MP3 player!