[Squelch11]

So what are people's thoughts on this article from MSNBC:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8614723/

Basically, Apple is in talks with some record labels to distribute music videos through iTunes, and that a Video iPod is due in September sometime. I want to get an iPod, but if there's a video one coming out soon, I may wait. Do you folks think this is genuine?

[andretan]

Just curious: Do the chips in the current 4G iPods have any video capability at all?

[wilsonng]

I'm not sure if the 4G iPod has enough horsepower and RAM to do video.

That's probably coming for the iPod 5G.

On another thought, I would probably only watch short clips like music videos, short video podcasts, and film shorts. But my #1 use for the iPod is music. Video is nice but I'm not sure it's a feature I would be using alot.

I can't imagine watching Lord Of The Rings on a small screen.

My cousins has a PSP and it is now acquiring dust on her desk. She liked the idea of playing video on it but only has Spider-Man 2 and House Of Flying Daggers in her collection. So far, the PSP has also disappointed her as an MP3 player as well.

My sister has one of those Nomad Video Jukeboxs but it is also gathering dust as well.

[CrusaderSean]

i gave away my ipod last month and got an iaudio x5 that can play video. i never though apple would come out w/ video this year but if they do then i'm quite surprised. since i've been watching video on a tiny 1.8" 160x128 pixel screen, i can probably offer some insight on what to expect.

i don't think the screen will be bigger than 2" but most of all, no tv outputs. i think its absurd to expect a small portable device to have tv outputs for now, mainly because it can barely play video at low res and framerate. portable video players on market can only do 12-15fps at 160x120. thats terrible resolution for a real tv so theres no real point in thinking about that. but what if apple puts a better processor and more ram than competition? i doubt it.. it takes more than just a processor to send tv signal. you have to add more and its not worth the cost.

so now you're stuck watching video on a tiny screen, what the heck can you watch? like what others have mentioned, music vid, short clips, cartoon/anime, and news all work quite well. use your laptop for movies if you must watch one. even psp would be much better for movies.

i have to warn you that you must convert videos before playing them on a portable player. apple will go w/ quicktime of course, but i wonder what codec.. surely not h.264? perhaps h.264 isn't as demanding for very low res/bandwidth. my biggest complain w/ my current player is the audio is limited to 128kbps when you're watching video. that's terrible quality and i hope apple won't have any restrictions like that. although from my experience w/ itunes music store selling 128kbps,. they probably will do that.

overall, even if you have an ipod video, you won't be watching it most of the time i would reckon. it's a cool feature, but think of it as a bonus. its great for showing funny clips to friends but not anything longer than 10min.

[osiris]

I'd love to see a video iPod - I'd be able to have my favorite music and videos to go. Many complain about the small screen and low resolution video, but to me it's better than nothing.

[wilsonng]

You'll probably need to convert everything to a format that the video iPod can play. Maybe mpeg-4 with AAC audio? And it will also have to have super easy software that even my grandmother can use. Currently, my sister has one of those Archos video jukebox and she still hasn't gotten around to putting her DVDs on to her Archos video jukebox.

I suspect I might make small 30-second movie clips with my Canon digital camera and transfer them into a video iPod.

It would probably be h.264 since that is what Apple has been hyping for everything from HD-TV to cellphones. I'm hoping any mpeg-4 compliant video/audio would work for it.

It's interesting that the Nyko Movie Player will only have the Windows software available in September while the Mac software should be finished by February. This will put a crimp on Nyko's Movie Player.

IIRC, the Nyko Movie Player will convert most video files into Microsft's .asf format in order to play on the Movie Player hardware.

[turtle777]

Apple should get the rights to iPorn (tm) and iporn.com then...

-t

[Randman]

Ever watch a video on a cell phone? A Video iPod would need a new form factor to be anything more than a novelty.

[buffswin]

And how would a "video iPod" compete with standard DVD players - 7 inch models are now under $200.

Why pay $500 for a 2 inch movie player when you can get a 7 inch screen - with TV output - for $300 less.

This is sort of like the iPod phone-- worthless.

[ApeInTheShell]

Why create another iPod device when they can turn the mac mini into an entertainment center? It seems like Mr. Jobs would have to eat his words if a video iPod was released within the year. The company just transitioned all of their iPods (except the iPod Mini) to color screens. A leap to video would mean another large transition unless they did the entire line all at once. I don't see people too happy watching the A-Team on an iPod Mini.
Yes video is available on other MP3 players, video game handhelds, and PDA's but they have yet to have done it easily and without a hitch for consumers.

[outsourced]

Originally Posted by Randman

Ever watch a video on a cell phone? A Video iPod would need a new form factor to be anything more than a novelty.

Right.

The only thing I'd be willing to view on such a device would be short information updates like news, weather, etc. fed through a 3G data service.

It makes no sense for full-length motion picture viewing. Even if the screen were 4" wide it wouldn't make sense.

However, it Apple made a reticle that one could wear close to the eye, one would have the perspective of viewing video as if it were on a large screen.

Great! Drivers using cell phone and now this...

[Nodnarb]

Originally Posted by macrumors

Apple Tablet Computer?
Friday August 13, 2004 11:12 AM EST
Posted by Mudbug


The UK newspaper 'The Register' published a look at a recent Apple patent filing regarding a previously rumored 'wireless display' tablet mac.
The filing, made in May this year but only published this week, covers a "handheld computer" and contains sketches of what look like an iBook screen minus the body of the computer. (sketches in comments thread)

The filing lists Apple CEO Steve Jobs and the company's industrial design chief, Jonathan Ive. It also refers to Daniele De Iuliis, Richard Howarth, Eugene Whang, Matthew Rohrbach, Bart Andre, Calvin Seid and Christopher Stringer all of key members of Apple's industrial design team, with the Power Mac G5, iPod, 17in and 12in PowerBook G4, and others under their belt.

The device is certainly a logical extension of what it's been doing with iTunes and AirPort Express. While its mini wireless access point is good for streaming audio from a host Mac to a hi-fi, it lacks a local control unit. It's tempting to view this latest design filing as the basis for just such a device.

Steve Jobs has publicly gone on record saying that he didn't see the PDA as being a viable option for Apple to persue, and has been blatent about saying the iPod won't be used for viewing video. The introduction of a 'miniMac' may suit both wants, and offer an Airport Express controller in the process.

I think if apple does ever come out with a "tablet" that this iPod video is that except that it will be an iPod but with a large screen, full pda functionallity, maybe airport etc., and it will be released alongside the iTunes movie store.