Flash Memory iPod – What’s the Point?

Well, the rumor mills are at it again. Apple, according to “sources”, will unveil a flash-memory iPod at the San Francisco Macworld Expo in January. Um, so what?I have to say, I find this a non-event. Unless Apple can do something truly revolutionary, a flash-memory iPod will still be way too expensive as compared with an iPod mini or a white iPod. (Of course, I said the same thing when the mini came out, so I’m not a good example of reliable predictions.)

But seriously, what could a flash-memory iPod offer? Perhaps 1 GB of storage, or the equivalent of a dozen albums? Not even enough for the Complete U2. Hardly enough to make shuffle interesting.

However, a flash-memory iPod could provide a smaller, lighter alternative to people who want to use their iPods as they exercise. When you run or cycle, you don’t need hours and hours of music; you want enough to carry you through your exercise routine, and that’s it. But as I mentioned above, you won’t enjoy shuffle play; you’ll get a lot of the same songs over and over.

One group of people who might like a flash-memory iPod are audiobook fans. Many people buy iPods solely to listen to audiobooks, and you don’t need a lot of disk space to carry around a few days worth of listening. But I doubt that the audiobook market is enough to drive sales sufficiently.

Yet as we all know, Apple is full of surprises. If they do indeed release a flash-memory iPod, count on it being something unique. In shape, size or function, it will have to be original. We’ll see in a month…