updated info..
Macwhispers updatted their info today:
Macwhispers Advance iPod Dock Report
http://www.Macwhispers.com reports:
Details Emerge On Coming iPod Super Docks
Continued investigation on the previously reported upscale iPod docking product has painted a fairly detailed picture of not one, but two upcoming products. One is a mild step up from the basic dock, with more I/O features for integrating into a home stereo system; the other is much, much more than that.
Both of the new advanced 'Pod docks are slated for near-term production, and are to be released concurrently with a host of updates in v3.0 of the iPod software, and about the time that Apple unveils its iTunes Music Store for Windows, later in 2003.
The first product we will see released is a white plastic dock, physically similar to the stock iPod dock, but with stereo RCA jacks on the back, and an IR remote "eye" on the front. A small, white plastic IR handheld remote will be included that provides not only basic transport functions not handled by the stock wired remote, but also gives forward/back controls for album, chapter, and playlist, as well as adds a mute control. We have not been able to confirm whether the remote will include an LCD display, but this has been suggested as possible by one unproven OEM source.
The second dock product, possibly released at the same time as the "hi-fi dock," will include all of the above mentioned features, plus will add recording and playback of line input or microphone level stereo audio, as well as Rendezvous-enabled 802.11G Airport networking capability. This much we have verified with a high degree of confidence. Beyond these features, we have, again, an unproven OEM source telling us that that this "network dock" will go "well beyond" these core features in a way that "seamlessly integrates the iPod into both the home stereo system and the home LAN." We consider one suggested feature to be farfetched, and offer it here only as a claim that has been made to us: this particular dock is said to be able to surf and control the iTunes Music Store as a standalone client, over an Airport or Ethernet-based shared internet connection to a Mac or PC.
To clarify this report, we have established the reality of two upcoming upscale iPod docks from Apple. One adds RCA jacks and an IR remote for fairly advanced iPod remote control. The other adds some degree of on-board processing capability, Rendezvous-enabled Airport networking, and stereo audio recording. Any more than these points are offered more in the sense of informative speculation, until such time as we have more history established with the particular source of these more advanced claims.
