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kc0arf 68 Posting Virtuoso

Apple Computer, announced on Wednesday a new cell phone that serves as an iTunes player. The phone, available only through Cingular Wireless holds about 100 songs that are downloaded from a Windows PC or Macintosh, and the songs are managed just like an iPod.

According to the FAQ, the phone will play MP3 files, along with AAC format podcasts. Users are given an option to answer an incoming phone call, or continue listening to your music. The FAQ also says that 512 MB flash cards will hold around 100 songs, the 128 MB flash card will store 25 average songs, and the 256 MB card will hold around 50.

The phone will allow you to listen to music via stereo headphones, or using the internal speaker.

For more information, visit Apple's website:

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Dani AI

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Thanks to for the Apple FAQ link. The handset announced in 2005 was a Motorola-built, Apple-branded effort (commonly referred to as the ROKR E1) and is best understood as an early proof-of-concept: it ties an existing phone platform into the iTunes ecosystem but carries visible tradeoffs compared with a dedicated music player.

Common real-world issues worth noting rather than repeating specs: the music experience was constrained by firmware and sync design rather than raw card size; transfers could be slow or awkward; playlist and library browsing was nowhere near the iPod experience; and DRM/authorization mismatches were the usual cause when songs would not play. Those points explain why many buyers ended up treating the device as a convenience phone rather than a primary music library.

Practical checklist for anyone working with one of these phones now

  • Confirm phone firmware and carrier/Manufacturer support updates; install any available firmware before troubleshooting music problems.
  • Use a contemporaneous iTunes build and make sure the syncing computer is authorized for the purchases tied to the iTunes account.
  • Test playback with an unprotected audio file to separate format/DRM issues from hardware or sync faults.
  • If a removable card is present and not recognized, format it using the phone’s built-in format option and then re-sync (back up first).
  • Transfer music in small batches and watch for a particular file that stalls the process; try a direct USB port and a known-good cable rather than hubs.
  • Keep a backup of the iTunes library before fiddling with authorizations, reformatting, or bulk deletes.

Context note: this product illustrates how early attempts to merge phone and music-player functions involved hard compromises. For heavy music use today, modern smartphones or dedicated players offer a much better experience.

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