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Video iPod: Could it really happen?

by Dave Caolo Jul 18th 2005 at 11:00AM

vid_podDiscussing the possibility of Apple releasing a video iPod is certainly nothing new, and this morning the Wall Street Journal has chimed in (subscription required). According to the article, Apple has been in talks regarding the licensing of music videos for sale through the iTunes Music Store, fostering speculation about the release of a video-capable iPod, possibly by September. From the article: "Any foray into video would represent a major gamble by Apple that it could translate its smash success in digital music into a broader entertainment franchise. If successful, such efforts could help create a significant new source of income for media companies that are stepping up efforts to distribute video content on the Internet, in part to counteract the growing volumes of pirated movies, television shows and other programs being traded online." I know what you're thinking, we've heard all of this before. I certainly agree, and I've even said that I don't see the usefulness of a video iPod, but now I'm rethinking the whole thing. More after the jump.


This morning at Apple Matters, James R. Stoup published an article in which he discusses the possibility. Mr. Stoup foresees an Apple-branded video download service with a set up similar to that of the iTunes Music Store. For a set price of, say, $10, you could download a DVD of Rocky II to your video iPod, plug it into your TV and enjoy the film. Perhaps the DRM worked into the deal would prevent burning a movie to DVD and require iPods to act as surrogate DVD players. An interesting idea, and my very brief synopsys does not do Mr. Stoup's article justice, so I recommend you go and read it.

He's got me thinking, tough. I've been wanting a television download service for ages now. If I suddenly have the urge to watch the Chinese restaurant episode of Seinfeld, followed by the season premiere of Monk and then The Simpsons, I simply navigate to each, purchase them and make a "lazy afternoon" playlist (or "viewlist?"). I'd also love to take my favorite television shows with me when I travel without having to lug along a slew of DVDs.

When the iPod photo was initially introduced, I failed to see the point. Then I remembered sitting around the slide projector when we were kids to view my father's slides. Connecting an iPod photo to a television is simply a contemporary equivalent, and I've found that people really like viewing photos this way. If I could carry several movies around with me on this tiny device I certainly would.

I also make lots of home videos of the kids. Imagine a future release of iLife with built in video iPod integration. Complete your iMovie project and export directly to your video iPod. Or better yet, send an iDVD project over, and view it on you television, complete with DVD menu controls that can be selected with the iPod's click wheel. Sure, you could still watch video on the iPod's tiny screen, but the real fun is the tremendous convenience of bringing countless photos plus comercial movies and home made videos with you in such a tiny little package.


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Discussing the possibility of Apple releasing a video iPod is certainly nothing new, and this morning the Wall Street Journal has chimed in...
 

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video iPod

The funny thing to me is that Apple gets all of this attention about a video iPod when many, many other companies have already developed something of this nature.

August 09 2005 at 6:00 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
MC Delta T

I don't like to add to these rumours but I have heard through a personal connection that had lunch with an old friend of him. This friend works for apple's iPod division. He said not to buy any new ipod this week. What will happen?

August 03 2005 at 8:05 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Mrono

god what are you guys stupid, or just too far sucked in to the apple scam from having smoke blown up your asses from apple to notice the better things then ipod, www.iriver.com they have already done video, been there, done that, it's the H300 series, and guess what the 20gb with the standard 16hr battery costs......$300, wow, i say, isn't that about $700 cheaper then the proposed "ivideo", open your damn eyes and get the white out, ipods are all hype and no good, open your Frickin eyes.

July 24 2005 at 8:06 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Mrono

god what are you guys stupid, or just too far sucked in to the apple scam from having smoke blown up your asses from apple to notice the better things then ipod, www.iriver.com they have already done video, been there, done that, it's the H300 series, and guess what the 20gb with the standard 16hr battery costs......$300, wow, i say, isn't that about $700 cheaper then the proposed "ivideo", open your damn eyes and get the white out, ipods are all hype and no good, open your Frickin eyes.

July 24 2005 at 8:06 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Hopesome

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July 24 2005 at 1:28 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Mrono

god what are you guys stupid, or just too far sucked in to the apple scam from having smoke blown up your asses from apple to notice the better things then ipod, www.iriver.com they have already done video, been there, done that, it's the H300 series, and guess what the 20gb with the standard 16hr battery costs......$300, wow, i say, isn't that about $700 cheaper then the proposed "ivideo", open your damn eyes and get the white out, ipods are all hype and no good, open your fucking eyes.

July 24 2005 at 3:35 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Mrono

god what are you guys stupid, or just too far sucked in to the apple scam from having smoke blown up your asses from apple to notice the better things then ipod, www.iriver.com they have already done video, been there, done that, it's the H300 series, and guess what the 20gb with the standard 16hr battery costs......$300, wow, i say, isn't that about $700 cheaper then the proposed "ivideo", open your damn eyes and get the white out, ipods are all hype and no good, open your fucking eyes.

July 24 2005 at 3:28 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Mark

I would start honing your skills at shooting and editing video because Podcasting will have a whole new meaning. Think of the how everyone will be able to make their own Quicktime TV show and the "iTunes Video Store" will index everyone of the RSS feeds. I've also heard that current movie download services can't display on a Mac because Apple won't negotiate a deal to allow them to download to a Mac. Could that mean that they are saving that opportunity for the "vPod"? I agree, it is a foregone conclusion. Let's start thinking about how to make the most of a great opportunity.

July 22 2005 at 7:30 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Kevin

Ill admit it, im a PC guy, ive always disliked macs, i think they're useless. But Apple got me on the iPod. i just bought my iPod Photo a few days ago and fell in love with it. i can take all my music an all my pictures on the go or whatever else. As to these people who say that an iPod Video will be useless, lets think back to just as Mp3 players were coming out. A lot of people said that they would fail, that they're impractical. look what happened. go back to when the bigger memory Mp3 players came out. Some people said "Why would you want all that music on one thing, you can't listen to all of it." well, again, look what happened. the point that i'm trying to make is that our society loves technology, and we love the "useless" and "impractical" little gadjets. i know that i do. The iPod Video will succed, i have faith in it. but it would be nice if they made updated firmware for the iPod photos to play video. if Apple did that, they could get a feel for what the iPod Video market will be like. Thats just my opinion.

July 22 2005 at 7:15 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
JM

An iPod video would be cool, but the only way I'd buy it is if I could rip dvds to my hard drive and put them on my iPod.

July 19 2005 at 2:49 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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