Filed under: iPod Family
New iPods with Video Capabilities
I never thought it would happen, but here it is and I'm buying one. The new iPod, in 30GB and 60GB flavors, sporting a wider screen and frame and coming in both white and black. The 30GB model will run you $299 and the 60GB (which I will be buying) will run you $399. Featuring a 2.5-inch color 320 x 240 pixel TFT display, the new iPods have all the features of the old color iPods with the added ability to watch both MPEG4 and H.264. They are advertising it as having 20 hours of battery life, but I doubt that's while watching the video with the backlight on. It can also play video or photo slideshows on your television via the optional Dock. And... ready? It comes with a case! Nice!Oh, yeah. I'm getting a black one. The only question is: do I order now or wait for it to show up in the Apple Store?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Henry Casey said 3:34PM on 10-12-2005
What does the case look like? Traditional black belt clip case, or otherwise?
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Debbie said 3:38PM on 10-12-2005
I had the exact same thought process...order now (engraved) or get one from the store when it arrives? I already called the store...not there yet.
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Cumlord Jesus said 3:58PM on 10-12-2005
Does anyone know if I'll be able to convert existing videos for use on this ipod?
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C.K. Sample, III said 4:05PM on 10-12-2005
If you go to the Apple Store's page for the iPod it lists the case as one of the things included.
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D said 4:17PM on 10-12-2005
Didn't you just buy a nano? I was wondering what do you do with the old ipod you buy.
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glad said 4:25PM on 10-12-2005
It's all too much for me too many great products released all at once, I need to sit down and look for my credit cards as I want the new video iPod and the new iMac G5! Well done Apple
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Ffats said 4:25PM on 10-12-2005
I'm quite disappointed that they got rid of the external accessories port that used to be right by the headphone jack. Notice on the new iPod, the headphone jack is on the very right of the top. No more iTrip, no more inline controller, a lot of remotes will fail to work..
Kind of sucks that you spend money on accessories (including Apple, 1st Party ones) and they break them with a new device.
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Tom said 4:36PM on 10-12-2005
Bad news on video playback battery life. Apple's site says 2hrs for the 20gb and 3hrs for the 60gb. That's not very long at all. But still, I think the biggest thing with this iPod is that it's effectively a little mini tivo. Convert all your favorite shows to dvd, bring it over to your friend's house and watch to your heart's content. Obviously, if this is at all successful, we'll see a proliferation of complete seasons of tv shows on the itms. They'll obviously have to lower the price for entire seasons to be significantly less than the dvd versions because of the lower quality/lack of extras. The possibilities are huge and I predict in one year a million little apps that change the way we all watch tv/videos.
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donovan said 4:59PM on 10-12-2005
Looks like no downloadable video for Canada. Sucks.
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oliver said 4:59PM on 10-12-2005
R.I.P. Firewire
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oliver said 4:59PM on 10-12-2005
R.I.P. Firewire
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Serge said 6:01PM on 10-12-2005
WHYYYY couldn't they just put a freakn mic in it. why.
will it include usb on the go software to upload photos to it from a digicam?
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Graham said 6:17PM on 10-12-2005
comes with a case? the only thing i see is the availiablity to buy iPod socks....
does anyone else find the OBVIOUS photoshopping in the car integration page funny?
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Brad said 7:49PM on 10-12-2005
I'm disappointed.
The iPod is too large horizontally for it to be comfortable in my pocket or hand. And the screen is too small to watch anything on.
Apple, you dropped the ball in my mind. I will keep my 3G for much longer now.
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Derek said 7:55PM on 10-12-2005
Well, actually, playing movies on your TV at 320 x 240 for H.264, or 480 x 480 (??) for MPEG-2 is not a real option. Essentially, they will look like shit. And with the aforementioned battery life too ... you gett he picture. This is not a movie-toter!
I really don't understand this strategy. The screen is too small to really experience video on, and the output to a TV will be worse than VHS movie. Leaving what exactly as the point? Sure it's cool as a new iPod for music and better photo-viewing, but the video aspect is like a new option in the "games" menu basically.
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jesseg said 10:47PM on 10-12-2005
http://www.tuaw.com/2005/10/12/new-ipods-with-video-capabilities/#comments
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Sherry Taylor said 12:57PM on 10-31-2005
The case which came with the Ipod video 60 gb is not really a case but a plastic slipcover just to protect the finish I guess. Don't be disappointed when you find out that Apple is falsely advertising the case thing. I had to buy a case for this as I did for the other iPods. Also, existing video just don't work on the iPod --you have to buy the Quicktime Pro 7 to convert it--how disappointing. More $$ for Apple. You can download from Apple store but I am too cheap to pay $1.99 for something I can get for free.
The iPod video is still just a music player and the sound is excellent.
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