iTunes 7.0.1 points to the iPhone, life moves on

Throwing an iPhone rumor to the gadget-obsessed is a fair bit like burning paper in a fireplace -- sure, things will flare up for a few seconds, but shortly thereafter the flames calm back down again. We recently caught wind of the fact that the new iTunes 7.0.1 update is packed with a bunch of text strings that say things like:" 4301.022" = " ^0 was not copied because the video format is not supported by the mobile phone ^1 ."; and so forth, implying that an iPhone is forthcoming. Now remember, we've seen similar language embedded in Apple software before, but we've yet to see an actual product, although the internet's Magic 8 Ball as of late seems to be pointing to Macworld Expo 2007. But then again, we've heard for months now that our friends in Cupertino are working on such a device, with everyone and everything from analysts to patent filings saying as much; so we're just hoping that Apple is waiting until it's good and ready to release it. For all you Apple and iPhone fanboys, take a moment to do a little jig, and then resume your daily routine.

Read - iLounge
Read - Mac Rumors

[nVidiot @ Sep 28th 2006 1:42PM]

Don't Motorola SLVR phones support iTunes?

[Alex Padilla @ Sep 28th 2006 1:44PM]

Look, we all know the iPhone is coming, it's just a matter of time. Why doesn't Apple just come out with it already, or, at the very least, announce it?

[PEZ @ Sep 28th 2006 4:24PM]

I Dont know, I have a feeling the iphone is just going ot be some rebranded phone where, in 6 months the company who is OEMing it, will just come out with one themselves and dilute the look - (as is bound to happen anyway).. It would be a great thing if apple had EVERYTHING to do with the design, and not just the music software - we will hope!@

[Regbo @ Sep 28th 2006 2:00PM]

Couldn't this just apply to the Rockr phone with Itunes? Wouldn't the file fail to copy simply because the phone only supports music?

[Pete_L_P @ Sep 28th 2006 2:42PM]

>

True, but the iLounge article has quotes showing that itunes WILL be syncing video to a phone. Given the other reports of an impending iPhone release, I�d bet Apple would hold off giving itunes/video features to motorola until well AFTER the iPhone release. I think it�s too much of an edge to give away at this time. Thus it sounds to me like the iPhone's coming soon.

Here are some of those quotes:

"Are you sure you do not want to manually manage music and videos on your mobile phone?�; �The mobile phone is synced with another photo library or folder. Do you want to sync with your photo library and replace all existing photos and albums on this mobile phone with those from your photo library?� and �Are you sure you want to sync TV shows? All existing TV shows on the mobile phone will be replaced with TV shows from your iTunes library.�

[Mike @ Sep 28th 2006 9:38PM]

I tend to believe this *particular* code will be used for syncing video with iTunes. Like it was mentioned earlier, Rokr phones support video. Why not allow those users to move video over to that phone, much like an iPod?

Also, just my 2 cents, but I don't forsee an iPhone, but rather a device that connects to an existing cell phone via bluetooth, and also includes Wi-Fi.

Imagine a small Newton with bluetooth integrated to connect to you cell phone and/or laptop.

[Aaron @ Sep 29th 2006 7:36AM]

Since when did Engadget suck so much?

I used to like the site but there is an obvious Zune bias here that is creating an Anti-Apple (not just impartial) atmosphere.

[Jeff @ Sep 28th 2006 2:29PM]

Apple is not going to call their *own* phone a "mobile phone" in their own software, any more than they call the iPod a "mobile media device". They're going to call it by the brand name.

So this has nothing to do with the "iPhone", which I remain convinced doesn't exist. This almost necessarily refers to Motorola's iTunes phones - which is where this whole "iPhone" rumor started in the first place. So now we've come full circle on this thing.

[zoara @ Sep 29th 2006 5:28AM]

Jeff, with you totally on this one. This says nothing about the chances of an iPhone, and it really bugs me when people bandy around rumours as fact; "We all know the iPhone is coming, it's just a matter of time"... er, no. We don't.

[shon @ Sep 28th 2006 2:33PM]

Jig completed.

[Lee @ Sep 28th 2006 3:12PM]

remember that these script lines were proven NOT to have anything to do with the Motorola phones before you try to chalk it up to SLVR/ROKR

[Jeff Foster @ Sep 28th 2006 3:58PM]

"remember that these script lines were proven NOT to have anything to do with the Motorola phones before you try to chalk it up to SLVR/ROKR"

...and how exactly was that proven? because i remember nothing of the sort (in fact, the exact opposite, that phone references were showing up in way earlier versions of iTunes EXACTLY because of iTunes on moto phones.)

[disciple83 @ Sep 28th 2006 3:12PM]

I think it's kinda silly at this moment in history to combine functions like media player and phone under 1 battery. I think that it would totally suck to have an important call cancelled because the battery conked out from too much media player usage. I will wait until power supplies become more reasonably equipped to handle the demand. Not to mention what could potentially happen if Apple ever found a way to implement FairPlay into a cell phone conversation. I know that that remains currently impossible since they can't scrwe with cell phone plans, but hey, if Apple wants to put a cell phone out in the open, they have just as much say in standards as every other cellphone company.

[Lee @ Sep 28th 2006 3:17PM]

Disciple, I see where you're coming from. I mean, I used to have an old Kyocera 7135 with Alltel, and that thing would ALWAYS die because I couldn't stop playing games on it. But, it was WONDERFUL because it combined several of my devices into one convenient package. Perhaps batteries need to be stepped up to support the demand, but if there is no demand (aka - people don't make these products) then where will the ingenuity begin?

[SubGenius @ Sep 28th 2006 3:32PM]

"Apple is not going to call their *own* phone a "mobile phone" in their own software" -Jeff
Maybe "mobile phone" is a CODE NAME
Once marketing decides on a name, I'm sure the iTunes team will get a memo.

"So this has nothing to do with the "iPhone", which I remain convinced doesn't exist." -Jeff
So Apple is going to sit back a twiddle it's thumbs while consumers upgraded their phones and discover that they can play music without an iPod?
So Apple isn't interested in the billion dollar, global ringtone market which still happens to be bigger than legal music download market?

[Jeff Foster @ Sep 28th 2006 3:58PM]

"...while consumers upgraded their phones and discover that they can play music without an iPod..."

I've had a high end music phone for a while, and it simply doesn't touch my ipod. (the form-factor is nice, but battery life sucks, or visa versa)

Apple has nothing to worry about in "phones replacing ipods" until the phone manufacturers get their shit together and release a product that isn't crap (which basically gives Apple all the time in the world.)

[Jeff Foster @ Sep 28th 2006 3:58PM]

show me a phone with the capacity and battery life that comes within HALF of what apple offers in it's ipods, for as much as even twice the price. - then (and this is apparently the hard part) show me one that's well designed, with an intuitive interface, that works as flawlessly as my ipod.

apple has nothing to worry about in the wireless phone market. maybe they'll release an 'iPhone" sometime in the future when there's even a hint of validation to do so. at this point, i say there isn't.

[Jeff Lewis @ Sep 29th 2006 3:16AM]

Guys, there are two things that have to be discussed: how cell phones are sold and why people buy them.

Apple can go ahead and make a phone - but unless it's GSM (and thus can be sold unlocked to work with anyone's GSM card), Apple will have to sell it through a phone network like Cingular.

If they DO make it an unlocked GSM and sell it retail, then they have to compete against the kinds of incentives that the phone networks offer. Which means it'll be either very expensive - or Apple will be losing a bundle on each one.

If the phone is really amazing, they might get away with it - but Apple has shown that it tends to build the minimal needed to get into a market - and that's the low end market in cell phones.

Also, making phones isn't like making laptops. There are far, far more complex regulatory issues involved. It's way more likely Apple will just hire someone like HTC to make a phone for them, integrate iTunes and slap an Apple logo on it.

I really don't know why anyone cares.

[clemonator @ Sep 28th 2006 4:23PM]

You ever think they do stuff like this just to mess with the people who get all worked up on what Apple will come out with next? I think that's an absolutely awesome idea.

[paul @ Sep 28th 2006 4:31PM]

I'm so tired of this rumor. It's getting really annoying, but really good for bloggers... All blogs are packed with such spam.
Here is my thing. I believe that until the USA actually gets a descent 3G technology for cell phones, and has the ability to stream videos from video conferencing enabled phones, APPLE will not be interested on getting an iPhone out. Think about it. iPhone would speak iChat, iTunes (movies and music), iPhoto, iCal languages at the same time. Until all American cell phone Co. pass the long awaited gap of 3G streaming for cell phones... APPLE will say NO to an iPhone...

[justin @ Sep 28th 2006 4:45PM]

we have phones, we have ipods. a combination? ::yawn::

but still... addressing the battery life issue:

"I think it's kinda silly at this moment in history to combine functions like media player and phone under 1 battery. I think that it would totally suck to have an important call cancelled because the battery conked out from too much media player usage. I will wait until power supplies become more reasonably equipped to handle the demand."

what if it had... ready for this ... 2 batteries? i know i just blew your mind.

i'd be more excited to see a device that is just a screen and can become multiple devices. an ipod if you want to listen to music, or a phone if you want to make a call, or a clock if need be, or a widget of some sort, etc.. i'd drop that in my pocket.

[10layers @ Sep 28th 2006 5:11PM]

This article is fake. I have searched the iTunes 7.0.1 binaries and resources completely and they do not contain the claimed strings. Sorry. They contain only the mobile/phone strings that were there in 7.0 and that seem to relate the the Motorola phones.

This was a manufactured article with manufactured strings. Ask the author to where in iTunes these strings were found...

[Michael R @ Sep 28th 2006 5:34PM]

I dont see the iPhone being launched until this time next year. Apple is not gonne let a device like the iPhone share the lime-light whith thier other launchs. This holiday season the new ipods will be acompanied by updates in the macbook line to core 2 duo. This will draw attention to thier brand again and keep the new ipods in mind closer to the holidays. Than Q1-Q2 07 will be all about the "iTV". Once thats rolled out the iPhone will have its time.

[shirizaki @ Sep 28th 2006 5:46PM]

They might be trying to make the new moto KRZR synch with video. I mean, quicktime does handle the 3GP video format.

[boy1der @ Sep 29th 2006 12:59PM]

I synced up my SLVR to test out the theory of it being the itunes phones, and I can confirm that I did not receive this message, it won't even allow me to add video files to my phone in a playlist it just skips over them as if they don't even exist.

[Leeks @ Sep 29th 2006 12:53PM]

Just some misc comment, but somehow it seems fishy that news of the BenQ-siemens' Oxyon surfaces after a long while ago. We know BenQ deals with Apple with some of its production, could this Oxyon be a coverup for a possible iPhone? LOL.