tons and tons of people here at talking like they're for sure that Apple's February 28th announcement will be a true video iPod / post-Newton iPod. They've got mock-ups, fake pics, and spec lists.
sorry to say, but it's all wishful thinking, as far as a relatively-soon release date.
I'd love to see a touch-screen iPod, and soon, I'd rather not sit here stuck with my 4G non-color iPod for much longer. But sorry guys Apple won't be releasing one anytime soon. The soonest it will: this fall.
Why?
1. The current 5G iPod is still selling very well. Why introduce a product that would make Apple's current cash cow virtually obsolete? I highly doubt Apple would try to sell the new video iPod and the old iPod with video side by side. It'd be disaterous.
2. This announcement isn't that big. Remember the "....One more thing" announcement? Apple sent more than just simple emails. The company played it up quite a bit more than the current "fun new products" announcement. Plus, Apple is holding this announcement in their smaller auditorium, which only holds several hundred people, as opposed to the one used for the latest iPod, which held thousands.
The iPod is Apple flagship product. They're not going to use some small venue, relatively low-key, end-of-February announcement to announce a potentially earth-shattering, revolutionary product like a touch-screen iPod.
As much as I want one, it'll be a while.
http://www.appleinsider.com/article.php?id=1554
http://www.appleinsider.com/article.php?id=1553