Filed under: iPod Family, Rumors
Cable company offers "Video iPod" as prize
Ok, now it's getting weird. We've all been speculating about the possibility of Apple producing a video iPod for so long now, it's almost a spectator's sport. Today, I was pointed to a company that is (supposedly) giving one away as a contest prize. I'm just as bewildered as you are. Consumers for Cable Choice is a national alliance of consumer advocacy
groups that focuses on cable, video and broadband
services. They're currently running a contest that is looking for a video that best describes how you would use broadband video-on-demand in a new and creative way. The grand prize is listed as "an Apple Video iPod." The website goes on to say, "...this product is not yet released but eagerly anticipated as the next 'must-have' gadget." They will reveal their winner on November 9th.Now here's where it gets really weird. In the comments section of their blog, someone pointed to Cinematology.com, a website that says right on its front page, "Feed your Video iPod. Download advanced H.264 video with DRM-free, pristine digital quality."
Either I've been had, or something's going on. Thoughts?
[Via Macsimum]

![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)


Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Dan Pourhadi said 8:46PM on 9-06-2005
They're probably jumping the gun. They read the rumors, say, "This would make a great prize!" and stick it in the contest hoping to God that the rumors are true.
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Ed said 8:50PM on 9-06-2005
Read the fine print...
17. Prizes: One prize will be given for the winning entry. The Grand Prize is one (1) Apple Video iPod (Approximate Retail Value ("ARV") is $800). No prize substitution or cash redemption allowed by winner(s). Prize(s) are not transferable. Taxes are the sole responsibility of each winner. Sponsor reserves the right to substitute prize with similar prize of equal or greater value due to prize unavailability. If Apple does not release a Video iPod for retail purchase by December 31, 2005 at 11:59 PM EST, the winner will receive a non-negotiable prize of Creative Technologies’ Zen Vision Portable media player (ARV is $399.99). If prize, prize notification or attempted notification is returned undeliverable, prize will be forfeited and may be awarded to an alternate winner. By entering and/or by accepting the prize, you agree (where permitted by law) to use of your name and likeness for publicity purposes without further compensation. Unclaimed prizes may not be awarded. One prize per person.
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Todd said 8:55PM on 9-06-2005
"Buzz has hit an all-time high for the much hyped Apple Video iPod that ...MAY... be released next week. Several blogs like Gizmodo and Engadget have photoshopped their best guess what it may look like. Om Malik is more definitive: "Apple Will Do a Video iPod.” Apple’s big announcement is expected to make the announcement at a special event September 8th in San Francisco."
Key Word Here is "MAY"
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J said 8:58PM on 9-06-2005
Not likely, the release of a Video iPod probably wont happen next week. I believe that when we get iTunes 5, with movie downloading, then we will see a 'vPod" if you will.
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justin said 9:08PM on 9-06-2005
u gusy r prob going to shoot me, but id rather see a bluetopth ipod (or i like to call it a "wipod") before a video ipod.
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Dave Caolo said 9:10PM on 9-06-2005
Good catch, Ed. Now, don't you think it's kind of unscrupulous of a company to offer a product as a prize that may not even exist? That's kind of unsavory if you ask me.
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Sean Finn said 9:10PM on 9-06-2005
But if it is true, I'm going to cream my jeans.
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Paul Applegate said 9:26PM on 9-06-2005
Plus a Whois lookup shows:
Administrative Contact:
Word.Net Communications
David Holst (ambigram@foundhumor.com)
+1.4178943166
Fax: +1.6034150121
PO Box 14463
Springfield, MO 65814
US
Come on, foundhumor.com :-)
Ha -Ha-Ha
Paul
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iBode said 9:39PM on 9-06-2005
Wow, that would suck.
Getting stuck with a Creative Zen when you thought you would get an iPod video.
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Marian said 10:34PM on 9-06-2005
The chip in iPod photo (gen 5) at least, if not also in iPod gen 4 has native support for MJPEG. Thus an iPod video can be made just by a firmware update.
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Wheels said 11:30PM on 9-06-2005
Video iPod! Damn, I'm not going to sleep tonight!
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Rob Knight said 1:45AM on 9-07-2005
WOWOWOWOWOWOW
How freakin ripped off would you feel to enter a contest for a vPod and get a ZEN MICRO?!?!?!?!?!
I'm sure a lawyer could have field day with that. Talk about false advertising.
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Rob said 2:42AM on 9-07-2005
If they come out with an iPod video, they better make a bigger screen than what we are currently seeing!
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Pete M said 6:27AM on 9-07-2005
It's not a Zen micro it's Creative's portable video player which has been around for a long time!
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Peter Koritschan said 8:12AM on 9-07-2005
Well 'IF' a video iPod would be released, whether today or any later date, as some people have pointed out earlier in other posts:
I would not need a bigger screen to watch anything on the road (given the fact that I now live in the Bahamas where on-the-road never means more than 15 minutes, anyway), but what I would want a 'vPod' for would be just simply to load the movies and clips on it, and watch it over any external device (TV, projector, etc).... so no bigger screen needed for me.
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Rick Ludwig said 8:45AM on 9-07-2005
Okay, so before the announcement is made and it turns out to be nothing exciteing (as has past Apple events...), I figure I'd get in what I want to see out of the next iPod: psPod.
Sony and Apple should get togeather and create the PlayStationPod, a device about the size of the current PSP, but have Apple design the exterior of the device and the OS (so it's much better for playing music), add a 60 GB hard drive, add an sd slot (i can take or leave the memory stick slot), keep the WiFi and UMD drive. Add a full Web Browser (i.e. FLASH!!!), and an optional keyboard so you can enter in addresses notes and calander appointments.
Make HP sorry they dumped Apple!!!
(I know it won't happen, but one can dream, can't they?...... Can't they????)
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ZuDfunck said 9:29AM on 9-07-2005
ZuDfunck would look so cool on a vPod...
Lets hope it is a vPod...
I will click my shoes together
Wiggle my nose
Touch my toes
Come on vPod!
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Harry Richman said 10:57AM on 9-07-2005
Seems like a modern case of "Paul is Dead".
Everyone is being so hyper-observant that they are saying that because two sites (of seemingly not the best reliablity) which in any other circumsatnce no-one would pay any attention to. I think they just dont really know what they are talking about, when the first iPod came out the newspapers over here got all the facts wrong, saying it held 500 songs eg.
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