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Video iPod Screen Test

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the now-i-never-have-to-unplug dept.

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.'"

3 of 310 comments (clear)

  1. sign of the times by rebug · · Score: 5, Insightful

    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.

    --

    there's more than one way to do me.
  2. Other interesting comments by mblase · · Score: 5, Insightful

    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.

  3. It's an iPod regardless. by vicgolgo13 · · Score: 5, Insightful
    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.