Slim Down for Summer with That's Fit

Video iPod: Could it really happen?

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.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

TUAW Features

back-to-school
Mac 101 ask-tuaw
Mac News
WWDC (251)
.Mac (66)
Accessories (654)
Airport (75)
Analysis / Opinion (1430)
Apple (1701)
Apple Corporate (583)
Apple Financial (200)
Apple History (53)
Apple Professional (54)
Apple TV (164)
Audio (452)
Bad Apple (132)
Beta Beat (155)
Blogging (87)
Bluetooth (20)
Bugs/Recalls (57)
Cult of Mac (879)
Deals (226)
Desktops (116)
Developer (282)
Education (112)
eMac (10)
Enterprise (148)
Features (415)
Freeware (401)
Gaming (403)
Graphic Design (40)
Hardware (1313)
Holidays (37)
Humor (591)
iBook (66)
iLife (240)
iMac (185)
Internet (341)
Internet Tools (1347)
iTS (985)
iTunes (825)
iWork (23)
Leopard (376)
Mac mini (112)
Mac Pro (54)
MacBook (207)
MacBook Air (83)
Macbook Pro (226)
MobileMe (47)
Multimedia (461)
Odds and ends (1498)
Open Source (283)
OS (943)
Peripherals (214)
Podcasting (183)
Podcasts (95)
Portables (198)
PowerBook (136)
PowerMac G5 (51)
Retail (615)
Retro Mac (50)
Rig of the Week (42)
Rumors (648)
Software (4483)
Software Update (429)
Steve Jobs (255)
Stocking Stuffers (50)
Surveys and Polls (98)
Switchers (115)
The Woz (35)
TUAW Business (257)
Universal Binary (281)
UNIX / BSD (61)
Video (909)
Weekend Review (84)
WIN Business (47)
Wireless (89)
Xserve (39)
iPhone/iPod News
iPhone (1814)
iPod Family (2133)
App Store (170)
SDK (30)
Mac Events
One More Thing (28)
Liveblog (2)
Other Events (228)
Macworld (489)
Mac Learning
AppleScript (4)
Ask TUAW (108)
Blogs (85)
Books (26)
Books and Blogs (62)
Cool tools (453)
Hacks (473)
How-tos (491)
Interviews (44)
Mods (191)
Productivity (592)
Reviews (114)
Security (167)
Terminal Tips (71)
Tips and tricks (577)
Troubleshooting (175)
TUAW Features
iPhone 101 (36)
TUAW Labs (4)
Blast From the Past (19)
TUAW Tips (151)
Flickr Find (39)
Found Footage (90)
Mac 101 (114)
TUAW Interview (31)
Widget Watch (198)
The Daily Best (1)
TUAW Faceoff (7)

RESOURCES

RSS NEWSFEEDS

Powered by Blogsmith

Sponsored Links

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) bloggers (30 days)

#BloggerPostsCmts
1Cory Bohon521
2Robert Palmer5037
3Steven Sande4913
4Dave Caolo310
5Mike Schramm280
6Erica Sadun251
7Michael Rose1921
8Giles Turnbull170
9Mat Lu138
10Christina Warren1326
11Brett Terpstra110
12TUAW Blogger70
13Victor Agreda, Jr.613
14Lisa Hoover32
15Jason Clarke10
16Joshua Ellis10

Featured Galleries

DNC Macs
Macworld 2008 Keynote
Macworld 2008 Build-up
Apple Vanity Plates
DiscPainter
Crash Bandicoot Nitro Kart 3D
Macworld Expo 2007 show floor
Apple Texas Hold 'Em
The Macworld Faithful in Line

 

    Most Commented On (7 days)

    Recent Comments

    More Apple Analysis

    More from AOL Money and Finance

    Other Weblogs Inc. Network blogs you might be interested in: