The Future of iPods

The iPod craze has not only gone on longer than expected, but seems to show no signs of letting up any time soon. Although many portable audio players, and some which support video playback, have been marketed as an "iPod killer", Apple remains the undisputed king of the hill in the portable media player market. Such enthusiasm has driven Apple to continue to innovate, increasing the number of features of iTunes and the iPod regularly, and continually increasing the audio and video titles available from the iTunes Store. As a result, Apple enthusiasts are constantly speculating about future iPod models and features. Here are a few of the most popular predictions:

• Wireless: iPod users, particularly those who subscribe to podcasts, look forward to the day when their iPod will wirelessly connect to the Internet and download their podcast subscriptions and iTunes Store purchases without the need of a computer or iTunes.

• Widescreen iPods: With feature-length movies available for the iPod, many have speculated that a widescreen iPod, possibly with touch screen functionality to allow the screen to overtake the scroll wheel, is in the cards. However, many people agree that, aside from the occasional interminable plane trip, they would not sit through anything much longer than a 20-something minute episode of their favorite network television show while staring at the small iPod screen. In practice, watching movies seems to be largely relegated to connecting the iPod to a television for full-size viewing.

• iPod Phone: The "holy grail" of the Apple rumour-mill, the iPod phone is a long-anticipated and much hoped-for addition to the iPod family which has yet to be given any credibility or even be hinted at by Apple. However, for many, a portable device capable of storing a huge amount of entertainment, browsing the Internet, and making and receiving telephone calls would be the perfect all-in-one solution for those carrying multiple devices everywhere they go.
The iPod has taken over the pockets and ears of the young and old alike around the world, and Apple and iTunes are shaping the way people consume entertainment. While no one can predict what the future holds for the technology and entertainment industries, the intersection of the two meets at the iPod today.