Video iPod Screen Test

Carl Bialik writes "The Wall Street Journal's Walter S. Mossberg has an interesting review of Apple's video iPod. From the article: 'It's a surprisingly decent video player, with crisp, smooth vivid playback of TV shows, music videos, short films, video podcasts and home videos. We wouldn't want to watch a full-length movie on this iPod -- the screen is just too small. But, for short things like music videos, video podcasts or even hourlong TV shows shortened by stripping out the commercials, as Apple is doing, the new iPod provides a pretty good experience. However, there are some significant downsides to the video function on this iPod. Some of them are due to Apple's design decisions, while others are due to restrictions imposed by media companies, or to the simple human factors that go into watching video.'"

Comments

Technology Changes, and so do preferences..

[LikwidFlux]

We wouldn't want to watch a full-length movie on this iPod
How many years ago was TV created, and how long after that was their Color. People improve ideas, the video ipod doesn't seem to be marketed as a "Buy me and you'll never need a tv again". I really don't think it will become people's primary mode of entertainment.
Of course then again.... how big is the PSP screen? I'm sure it's much bigger but by how much? And they are still able to mass sell DVD's made only for the PVP.

Re:Technology Changes, and so do preferences..

[vicgolgo13]

There's always the option to connect the AV jacks to a tv or monitor so that you would be able to see a movie/show/whatever on a larger screen. Regardless of that, the big thing here is definitely portability. It's just one step closer to having the all-in-one Personal Digital Experience. Ultimately, we will have a device that not only allows us to play audio and video, and has a built in calendar (ala PDA), it will also be a full featured schedule planner, phone, and camera. I'm sure there's a ton of other features I'm missing here, but the point is that devices like the video iPod and the Sidekick mobile are one step closer to a fully integrated device that will remove the neccesity for us to carry around 4 or 5 separate devices.

Re:Technology Changes, and so do preferences..

[vicgolgo13]

I understand exactly, but as with most technology, miniaturization comes after the fact. As a matter of fact most technological devices follow the reasoning of function over form within it's first stages of release [Miniaturization follows along the lines of form (although there are many functional benefits to having smaller devices) and integration follows the path of functionality.] But that being said, we also live in an age were aesthetics are everything. Take the iPod for example. It is very aesthetically appealing (and was very well packaged and marketed) and therefore appeals to the mass market. Many other companies are now thinking along the same lines and before they release a fully functional item, nowadays, they make sure that it has similar appeal.

So ultimately, my answer to you is, we should definitely focus on device integration and ultimately the function of the device as a whole and then focus on miniaturization. The first generation of these devices will be under the greatest of scrutiny. If it does not perform as well as the sums of its whole, then the device will flounder whether or not it is small.

cell phone

[42Penguins]

To steal a line from cell phone users:

"All these iPods with video, picture, portable storage...All I want is an iPod that plays music well!"

Which, of course, it already seems to do.

Re:It's a surprisingly decent video player

[Oxen]

"I don't know why the guy is that surprised. Apple lately has a reputation of making good products, minus some untested issues with first generation products like scratches on iPod Nano." So let me get this straight. You don't know why someone would be suprised that apple made a good first generation product. Then admit that apple is known for making poor first generation products. Yeah... you're not an apple fanboy. /*sarcasm*/

Missing accessories

[blackmonday]

I can forgive Apple for discontinuing Firewire on the new iPods, but I can't forgive them for not including the charger in the box. I understand that the USB cable doubles as a charger, but I want to charge it in a hotel room, friends's house, etc. How much could that little charger possible cost Apple? 2-3 bucks? I'll stick with my 3rd gen until it dies, then I hope my existing accessories will still work on the newer iPods.

Plays music well?

[Anonymous Coward]

No gapless playback. No ogg support. Lame.

Re:Plays music well?

[Yahweh Doesn't Exist]

but it supports Apple Lossless so if you care about quality rather than ideology you're fine. if you care about ideology then you'd find some other reason not to buy one anyway.

sign of the times

[rebug]

Even the Wall Street Journal editors think nothing of downloading and sharing TV shows. I think this pretty much reflects the average person's stance: it's just not a big deal.

IP owners sure have a tough battle ahead of them.

Re:It's a surprisingly decent video player

[That's Unpossible!]

I don't know why the guy is that surprised.... I think the guy probably has IBM Good and Apple Bad idea stuck in his head from the 80s

Mossberg generally likes Apple products, read his past reviews of other ipods.

No, I think he used "surprisingly" in the context of "here is a small video screen that is surprisingly good quality," not meaning that he was surprised due to it coming from Apple.

Other interesting comments

[mblase]

This video format and conversion problem is a mess that will hold back the video iPod unless Apple fixes it by incorporating free, reliable, and easy video conversion in iTunes.

He's got a point. Quicktime Pro is a $30 upgrade no user should have to pay for just to do this job. iTunes can easily convert between MP3, AAC, WAV or AIFF -- it ought to do the same for MPG and MOV videos.

Apple should also include a stand with the video iPod, to get around the problem of holding the thing in viewing position for long periods.

This comment I don't get. It's supposed to be a portable video viewer, not a comfortable one.

Re:Other interesting comments

[SeaFox]

He's got a point. Quicktime Pro is a $30 upgrade no user should have to pay for just to do this job. iTunes can easily convert between MP3, AAC, WAV or AIFF -- it ought to do the same for MPG and MOV videos.

Keep in mind codes are patented and people expect licencing fees. This is probably part of the reason Apple charges for QuickTime Pro. If it gave away the encoding ability in the downloadable version of iTunes they would have to pay licencing fees on every download, whether the person used the features or just used iTunes as an mp3 player/encoder.

I think they should include a version of iTunes that can convert video files with the iPod, but it would pop up on piracy rings so fast...

Re:Other interesting comments

[badasscat]

Pretty simple premise, really. If you're sitting in a plane, having a little wire stand would mean the iPod could sit up on the tray table for you to watch without having to hold it the whole time.

It's called a dock, and Apple sells them for $39.

If you don't need docking functions, try one of these, or these, or these, or these.

Would it be cheap for Apple to have included one? Sure - that $15 one is just a little piece of plastic, I'm sure it costs about 45 cents to make. But what would Apple gain from it? They're not going to sell any more iPods because it comes with a stand, and they're just going to annoy their accessory makers. One of the things that's kept the iPod so popular is this cottage industry of accessories that's grown up around it - people know they have many options to customize their iPods, so it makes them more likely to buy (vs. another player that may have a smaller selection of cases, stands or other products available).

I do personally wish the iPod still came with a dock, but I don't just want a crappy little stand. And I understand why Apple took the dock out of the package - it hasn't hurt sales any and it's let them do these feature and spec upgrades without raising prices at all. I'm not defending their removal of the dock from a consumer's standpoint, but I do understand it from a business standpoint.

Re:It's a surprisingly decent video player

[jhoffoss]

Mossberg takes every opportunity to suck Apple's core, as does Slashdot's editorial staff, evidently.

This isn't to say I disagree, but the only reason anything Mossberg writes deserves a place on /. is to show what the "suits" of the world are reading about the geekiverse. Even then, the cover-story from Saturday's WSJ was a better insight into that than anything from Mossberg.

Another, previous poster under the story "WSJ approves of iPod nano" or some-such quoted Mossberg, who could (paraphrasing, here...) "hear his iPod nano with crystal clarity while flying down the freeway @ 70 with the top down in his convertible." Which is funny, because that's exactly the setup I would use to assess clarity and quality, driving at 70 with all that wind noise.

Re:Sweet!

[KylePflug]

On the one hand, that could just be a general iPod video site, with pictures of video on the iPod, reviews, etc.

On the other hand, and this seems more likely, it could be entire not-safe-for-work/school.

As the network nazis are always looking over my shoulder, I'm afraid of your link.

Re:Et tu, video iPod?

[mblase]

Archos has had a portable media device that records video/audio from analog inputs for a number of years now.

Yep, and it's got a lot of features an iPod will probably never sport. Being able to record video from an analog source is something Apple probably will never do, because they're trying their best to play friendly with the media companies. Plus it's got a smaller screen, a focus on music and not video... but since Archos hasn't been selling their player nearly as well as Apple's been selling iPods, it's reasonable to assume that portable video just isn't there yet.

But despite what critics have said about TV on the iTMS, I think it'll be the next big thing. Sure, TV is free -- so is radio. What you get on the iTMS is commercial-free video, on demand, with no commercials. Sure, you can see the new episode of "Lost" on TV this week, but what if you missed last week's and didn't tape it? What if you want to watch a few episodes of season 1 without waiting for a DVD rental to get to your house? It won't replace TV or DVD by any stretch, but it fills in a gap in the viewing experience that's been there for some time. And hey--you don't need a new iPod to watch those episodes. They look pretty good on a 17" monitor, too.

I think it's safe to say that the iTMS/iPod combo and the Archos player fill two different niches--one's a system for video-on-demand, the other's basically a portable TiVo. The iPod has never been designed to record radio, and you can only record voice with a plug-in accessory -- it's a player, period. Let each device do its job well and there's room in the market for everyone.

Re:Scratching...?

[KylePflug]

Ask it this way: Seeing as how it's essentially teh same design that ALL iPods use, why does the Nano suffer exceptional scratching?

A: Because people stick it in their pants pocket with keys and change.

Sure, the iPod line has always been prone to cosmetic damage, that's by far my biggest gripe with the units. But the reason the nano was particularly suspect to thise was not because of construction, but becuase of form factor. Same reason my tablet PC gets teh screens scratched to hell; not because it's not scratch-resistant (it's far more so than many laptop screens), but because it's designed to be used with your palm resting on it and a pen tapping on it for hours at a time.

It's an iPod regardless.

[vicgolgo13]

I don't see why everyone is having a hissyfit about not wanting to buy the video iPod. It's essentially an iPod with video added on for no extra cost.

What's that you say?

Did I stutter??? It's an iPod with Free Video Capabilities.

If you don't like the video aspect of it and just want an iPod that plays music, guess what? It still plays music! Just don't download any videos to it and you'll be fine.

People are missing the point that the new generation iPod is an improvement altogether: Thinner case and improved battery life.

Re:It's a surprisingly decent video player

[eclectic4]

"...minus some untested issues with first generation products like scratches on iPod Nano."

"Apple said that the screens on the iPod nano are made with the same material that is found in the company's fourth-generation iPod, which, to date, is complaint free. 'We have received very few calls from customers reporting this problem - we do not think this is a widespread issue,' said Schiller. 'If customers are concerned about scratching we suggest they use one of the many iPod nano cases to protect their iPod.'

FUD. And from a PCMag article, "Apple has, in fact, stated that the nano has the same screen material as the iPod mini. So where are all the angry mini users?"

Yes, the worlds best selling mp3 player... the iPod Mini.

I don't want to sound like an apologist, but this was hardly "untested" material they used for the Nano screens. This was more accurately a study in sociology, American style.

Re:It's a surprisingly decent video player

[jhoffoss]

Yes, and that makes just as much sense, no matter whether he's talking about clarity or volume. In both cases, his car stereo is the factor that affects it, not the source, iPod or not. And my entire point was mossberg's irrelevance, spending his time reviewing macs..."holy crap! Apple made a postitively *AMAZING* product, and it works! It really does what the box says it can do!"

Video iPod not good for full length movies? What? Stop the presses!

I realize we are not his audience, but his "reviews" still rub me wrong.

And to the other poster: no, the geekiverse is not the blogosphere. The geekiverse is much cooler!

Re:lousy photo storage, so-so MP3 player

[danigiri]

"And the fact that after all these years, Apple still hasn't figured out how to let you safely remove removable devices without dragging them into the trash can first is sad."

Have you tried to remove a removable device on a PC (say, an USB memory stick)? You need to go to a tiny icon on the task bar, use a contextual menu, and two crazy screens show up with non-intuitive options, etc. Ridiculous.

At least the MacOSX option is consistent.