NVidia GPU in the next iPod?

[bapenguin]

Gamespot (http://www.gamespot.com/news/6154279.html?part=rss&tag=gs_news&subj=6154279) got the scoop straight from some trusty analysts. It looks like we might see a gaming capable iPod in the near future, and it'll be powered by an NVidia GPU.

"Based on our analysis, we believe Nvidia is designed into the next-generation video iPod socket at the expense of Broadcom," ATR analyst Satya Chillara told the EE Times, referring to the maker of the graphics processing unit (GPU) in current-generation video ipods. "We believe the Nvidia chip adds 3D graphics functionality in addition to all of the existing features that Broadcom supported with the existing vPod."
Interesting. But I don't think I necessarly want to play games on my music player. Isn't that what a PSP is?

[Everlost_MI]

The battery life on my iPod sucks now, I don't want to know how quickly it would disappear if I was able to play video games on it. But...oh can I play Marathon on it? :)

[Norse]

I don't care for these devices that does "everything". I want a music player to play music, a handheld console for gaming, a cellphone for calling. I rather have several gadgets than all-in-one solutions. I guess I just like gadgets :)

[easi]

I wonder if you could SLI those suckers.

[Dr Quincy]

Could just be for the sake of OS-X style GUI features.

[Syl]

The battery life on my iPod sucks now, I don't want to know how quickly it would disappear if I was able to play video games on it. But...oh can I play Marathon on it? :)
Strange, cause my iPod can last for almost an entire day if i'm only listening to music, 15+ hours constantly, easily.

Now video drops that down to about 3 hours or so - but i got my ipod for music anyway.

[SexualChoc]

I have a PSP with a huge memory stick. I don't need any new portable music player that plays games, or a game player that plays music. The PSP fulfills my needs.

[Everlost_MI]

Strange, cause my iPod can last for almost an entire day if i'm only listening to music, 15+ hours constantly, easily.

Now video drops that down to about 3 hours or so - but i got my ipod for music anyway.

Really? I've burned through two iPod 4Gig minis with the same problem. What are you using?

[shnastybiznastic]

Could just be for the sake of OS-X style GUI features.
Seconded. Video overlays can really eat cpu cycles, piping the overlays through openGL "xGL style" would probably cut down on the overhead, but it requires a dedicated GPU.

[jacktion]

Interesting. But I don't think I necessarly want to play games on my music player. Isn't that what a PSP is?


You don't want to play games on your music player? Why?
You like carrying 3 things when you could be carrying one?

I got a new phone that takes kickass pictures and I am more than stoked. I don't need to haul my camera around now.
I like my ipod and I like my dslite. I don't like having all my pockets filled with expensive electronics though.

If I could have one machine to make calls, take pictures, play games, and listen to music I'd be very content.
I can't understand people who say they don't want this. I think it boils down to fearing change. They like the status quo and don't want things to change.
Or maybe what they are really saying is that they don't want a machine that compromises the quality of the experience in order to combine functionality. And I think we are all in agreement there.
But it is only a matter of time until the quality is good in one of these combo units.
What if you had an ipod's drive size and ease of use and design characteristics, and the dslite's library of games and touchscreen inventiveness, and the PSP's screen and power, and a kickass phone's calling ability, and a 7 megapixel camera with video ability and a 40 hour battery and it was all just the right size. Wouldn't that be nice? Who could say no? ANd it was cheap. I think that will be the killer app that pushes electronics forward.

[Triprotic]

Could just be for the sake of OS-X style GUI features.

My thoughts when I saw this. I expect it to have a fancy pixel shader enhanced interface, and the ability to have visulizations, nothing more.

A nVidia gfx chip *should* be better on the battery for video than the current processor... but that's only speculation from me :)

[Xerxes]

How about they go find someone to help them get stonger, scratch resistant cases....

[Barrapa]

More features? What about the doesn't have to be charged all the time feature. That's the one I want.

I have always like the simplicity of the ipod interface. I'd hate to see it get turned into some horrid Pocket PC Frankentstein of a GUI.

[Roc Ingersol]

What, did they finally release some PSP games?

[Nite_Moogle]

Yes, let's put a very heat-intensive feature in a tiny device with no ventilation. Good call.

[Magnanimous Gnome]

Yes, let's put a very heat-intensive feature in a tiny device with no ventilation. Good call.


Yeah, I'm sure they'll just stick it in there and call it a day. :rolleyes: