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More Rumblings on Apple Video iPod
Chris Holland writes "Beyond the WSJ Story, Om Malik gives us inside information obtained by Business 2.0 Magazine about the Apple Video iPod. 'Steve Jobs has spoken with Disney President and soon-to-be CEO Bob Iger about ways to license various Disney content for a video iPod, according to an internal Disney email I have obtained. That could include anything from clips from ESPN and ABC News to short cartoons.' "
I don't like these tiny videoplayers - there is no adequate thing for video like an earplug for audio. The only thing where it comes handy if you can connect a TV or a Display to it.
Spelling mistakes: My is english spoken not tongue of mother.
While I wouldn't want to watch feature films on a 45 minute bus ride to work, it would be great to have a podcast of the hilights of last night's games to watch...
-JMP
Especially when MTV and VH1 already pump out the same drek day in, day out.
Ofcourse this is a double edged sword, if the ipod plays itunes clips only that severely limits the appeal (i sure as hell won't pay for videoclips) of the vPod. Then again if the vPod is as open as the iPod is (calm down, ogg users) then Apple stands to gain almost nothing in the way of being a new contect provider.
And i don't think videoclips will be the new iTunes hot item. People want to pay for music because they've been doing it for decades and they are inherently lazy. Clicking together a few songs to listen on the commute to work is a whole different ballgame than downloading videoclips at an even higher pricepoint, especially when this is a "new" type of content. A type of content which has a too narrow appeal of the same techno hipster show-offs who insist they keep their iPod mini's in their hands so they can show it off to the world.
Will wank off Linus Torvalds for fame.
While I occasionally see gadget-obsessed teenagers whining for something like this, I really wonder if there's any real demand.
If the iPod has the raw power to play video, I see no reason why Apple shouldn't put the software on it to do so. At the same time, I think that a lot of companies and people are overestimating the appeal of watching pirated movies on a 2-inch screen.
On the other hand, video podcasts would be nice.
On the other other hand, if Apple expects anybody to actually watch video (not just as a novelty), they're going to have to rethink the external interface of the iPod. You can't have a good sized screen and the vertical orientation of the device like it is now. There will have to be some big changes, and I really wonder if Jobs is willing to do that.
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this is a pic with a video ipod pictured, from the ge annual report that a listener to my show submitted. now its a mini, so this may just be annual report fluff. http://infonomicon.org/images/ge.jpg
When the video cassette recorder (VCR) became popular and economical, theater owners issued dire warnings that the end of the theater was at hand. These warnings were wrong. People go to the theater for reasons beyond just viewing the latest movie. People patronize the theater for social reasons; it is a place to enjoy a shared experience with your friends.
For this reason, the video iPod will not rival the success of the audio iPod. Music is something that many people enjoy by themselves. Witness all the cars equipped with stereos: the lone occupant of the car listens to music on her way to and from work.
The only exception to the above reasoning is pornography. Many people do, indeed, watch pornographic movies alone.
Here's an idea. To spur sales of the video iPod, Apple could offer 10 free jars of Vaselino for each purchase of a video iPod.
man... there already is video playing on the original ipod: http://ipodlinux.org/Video_Player I'm masturbating to videos on it right now... it's not bad with the backlight turned on - almost seems like there is color; I could use computer, but this is just so damn cool
What I don't get is how these analysts are making the leap that because Apple is negotiating video content, it must be for the iPod.
OS X Tiger shipped with Quicktime 7, and H.264 which delivers awesome HD video. Slap a beefier processor in the Mac mini that can keep up and you have yourself an Apple DVR.
MP3s. AAC. Music Videos. Disney Cartoons. The Matrix Reloaded Again For The Second Time. What have you. It will play it all.
So enough of this "Apple selling video = iPod Video" nonsense.
I only came here to do two things; kick some ass, and drink some beer...looks like we're almost out of beer.
So after the video iPod has been out awhile will Steve announce an ultra portable version without a screen?
The comment has already been made. Let's move it along people. Nothing to see here.
There are too many companies who get really famous because of the fact that they looked at the market, saw the need, and filled it. There was a need for the iPod. Apple filled it. Joy of joys. People used to take their CD-players and tape players around, but many couldn't get the full use out of them because they could only hold one CD. Radio was too restrictive because you couldn't choose the content. Enter the iPod. Nice stuff!
:-)
Enter the knockoffs. The companies that can't read the market, because they're too big to have real risk-taking guts.
Then the iPod gets big and Apple somehow loses touch with the market. It's a rarity (except for long trips and sharing with friends) that people say, "Man, I wish I could watch a video clip right now." Or at least wanting it to the point that they would pay money for each clip that they put on it. Full Movies, yes, but ESPN recaps, no (though, a few bucks for all ESPN recaps this month would be very impressive).
Step 1: Read the market
Step 2: Find what the market needs
Step 3: Do it
Step 4: Profit
Step 5: Lose the market view
Step 6: Make a new product to ride on your popularity, with a market that doesn't exist yet
Step 7: Cross your fingers
But then again, if they weren't willing to fail, they'd be in the ranks with the big dogs that we tend to not like because they don't take risks (they just copy others). So, uh, even though I won't buy one, best of luck to them. If the market isn't there, at least their operating system rocks
Luke
----
Help your boss understand you: Send them to ChristianNerds.com (The Free Online Computer Encyclopedia)
I've become a very loyal customer in the last 2 years. From being a lifetime PC (Linux) user I've completly made the switch, by getting an iBook G4 first and a Powerbook later. I've since then migrated all of the PCs of my small company to Mac computers, and I constantly predicate about the digital lifestyle that you promote.
However, I'd like to request you that please, please, PLEASE add gapless playing to the iPod. How good can it be to listen to the Dark Side Of The Moon (or any other Pink Floyd album for that matter) if there is a frickin' gap between every track, cutting out all the inspiration of such masterpieces. I don't mind if it's added as a global option or as some sort of metadata hack for each track, I want gapless playing on my iPod (and iTunes too).
I can't stress enough how important this feature is for me as for many other users, I think it's by far the most requested one (even than OGG playback!)
Truly yours, a happy but desperate customer.
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No, that's not how the tech works. "Video goggles" (at least, the types I've seen) don't actually project an image out in front of you. They use the glasses as a screen, and project a very tiny image on the glasses, which *looks* as big as a 60" TV, and is completely private. in a sense, they *are* "eyeplugs".
Depending on the implementation, the images have varying degrees of opacity, and with most of them, you could theoretically walk down the street while watching Futurama.
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I don't think video is the killer app for these things, but photos are with video as a useful secondary function.
I know they have a iPod photo already, but it is essentially a iPod which happens to be able to display photos in a small screen, there photos are clearly the secondary app to music. Yet digital photography is clearly dominating the photo market but most people still struggle to find the right way to carry and display these photos. Printing them out is time consuming and expensive, either at home or the photo lab.
The ideal solution is a device with a screen of a similar size to a standard print which you can pass around friends and family to show off your collection. The interface should be so simple grandparents can use it, and Apple have a clear lead in this area. Add in an interface to iPhoto which rivals the iTunes interface and I think you have a winner.
If you can then watch movies on it then I think this will be a useful secondary app, but not what the real selling point will be for most users.
If you leave can I have your UID? : D
I'll turn into a supernova and burn up everything. Well I'll turn into a black little hole and you'll turn into string.
Will Apple want to sell movies via "itunes" to just any drm 'box' that can do h.264? All that we know about owning video will change with better broadband. Adsl2 and better cable will allow any .com to put a h.264 chip in a drm box and connect it to the end of their fat pipe. A quick download and you have your new or classic movie. The trick will be how to deal with the h.264 data when it moves to the end user. That is where Apple will come in. Do you want to rent it for a day or a week in a .com black box or 'own' it on your Mac for a few $?
End users want to be able to find and click on any past download and play it - just like a dvd or cd you own now. No waiting for 5 -15 min for your 'next' rental.
Domestic spying is now "Benign Information Gathering"
Phew. The *great* thing about a video iPod is that I'll no longer have to be in the bathroom trying to watch pr0n and balancing a huge laptop with one hand!
... or playing pacman
It seems a lot of folks are making the presumption that the current iPod screen would just become color for a video iPod - is that based on anything beyond the photo iPod?
Turn your iPod sideways and flip it over to the nice chome area. I don't have mine in front of me, but I'd guess you could get a 5"-6" 16x9 screen there. Has everyone noticed Apple's dedication to HDTV protocols with iMovie, iDVD, Final Cut Pro, etc. ? Somehow it would be contrary to their mission to give a video iPod a 4X3 when everything else there doing is designed for the future (16x9).
just my 10.
-pjc
Broadcasting LIVE from a Bonus Room Over the Gara
It's coming on the 19th of October
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There are many, many good news aggregators out there now, people who want to have aggregated news feeds WILL USE A NEWS AGGREGATOR. Slashdot should be original news.
But couldn't I just as easily say "There are many, many good original news feeds out there now, people who want to have original news WILL USE AN ORIGINAL NEWS FEED. Slashdot should be news aggregator."
Admittedly I haven't used slashdot for as long as you have but in my recollection it hasn't changed considerably over the years. And it's not like the name "slashdot" suggests it should be anything else than what it is. It's always seemed to me that slashdot's mission is simply to post stories for discussion that the editors would like to post. Yes that is an incredibly narcissistic mission but it turns about people have shown up in the 1,000's to discuss these stories. Just because slashdot is popular it "should" have to change what it does?
Depending on the implementation, the images have varying degrees of opacity, and with most of them, you could theoretically walk down the street while watching Futurama.
Studies have shown that driving while talking on a cell phone is four time more dangerous, I can only imagine the problems involved with watching TV.
Most people can't multitask media consumption and other activities. I know that when I'm on the phone, I have to turn off the TV, other wise the person I'm talking to doesn't get a very interesting converstion ('uh huh.. uh huh.. yeah... right....')
Actually, since Apple switched to Intel chips, basically, any crazy rumor anyone told me about Apple now, I'm likely to believe.
For instance, you could tell me that Steve Ballmer inserted a brain parasite into Steve Jobs' ass, and now Steve Jobs is Microsoft's puppet, and Apple will be building Palladium support into OS X, I would believe it.
Never in a million years did I once think Apple would actually switch to x86 chips. I mean - I thought that MAYBE they'd pursue a dual-platform strategy: x86 for iMacs, laptops, and Minis, PPC for servers and high-end workstations. Never thought they'd dump PPC entirely. Just too surreal for me.
These are my friends, See how they glisten. See this one shine, how he smiles in the light.
I vote that we stop giving free hype fuel for the apple hype machine.
I agree. Let's get back to real stuff like Longhorn, an easy to use Linux GUI, and all that SCO code in the Linux kernal!
\... Runs and hides.
The only drawback is that video takes up huge amounts of space on your SD cards, which are pricey. But, if you're willing to spring for 'em, there's two SD slots on the Zodiac, so you could buy a pair of cheaper cards instead of one large, expensive one.