Flash-based iPod reportedly on its way - anybody have the scoop on it

For Pete's sake, all it does is play music. It's not like that's important or anything; it's just another form of rubber-nipple-pacifier for people who are over three years old.

John

I've wondered for a while why no company has added sounds to make the interface more usable when not looking at the screen.

For example, if there exists a directory called "buttonsounds", then volume_up.mp3 gets used whenever the volume is turned up, recording_voice gets used when voice record is turned on, ...

With the profusion of modes on many players, it's impossible to perform some functions (say delete playing song, or store FM preset) reliably without getting it wrong most of the time, unless you are looking at the screen.

It could somewhat replace the screen, if it added the ability to read out track names.

But it could probably do with some sort of display. Perhaps a microdisplay, that you have to bring to the eye, as this might be significantly smaller (and more robust) than a LCD. This would only be used for scrolling through long lists of stuff.

Over here we call it an "MP3 player"