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willed · Oct 12, 2005, 03:06 PM

Well there's no thread about it. So here you go. Bitch away.

starman · Oct 12, 2005, 03:10 PM

Can't find the videos easily.

320x240 only.

Meh. Pass.

iLikebeer · Oct 12, 2005, 03:17 PM

bittorrent has nothing to fear for now.
Apple needs to redesign the iTMS, you can't find anything on that front page.
And TV shows link is broken.

turtle777 · Oct 12, 2005, 03:19 PM

$ 1.99 per episode is not bad at all.
I hope they are going to extend this to more shows soon.

-t

starman · Oct 12, 2005, 03:22 PM

Here's what I'd buy: 720p, DD 5.1. Then I'd buy them.

Mike

turtle777 · Oct 12, 2005, 03:23 PM

Originally Posted by starman

Here's what I'd buy: 720p, DD 5.1. Then I'd buy them.

Mike

Won't happen anytime soon. ABC still wants to sell their DVDs.

-t

starman · Oct 12, 2005, 03:30 PM

I know.

nbnz · Oct 12, 2005, 03:36 PM

Originally Posted by turtle777

$ 1.99 per episode is not bad at all.
I hope they are going to extend this to more shows soon.

-t

£1.89 in the UK store

And that's for music videos, no TV shows yet.

SSharon · Oct 12, 2005, 03:37 PM

Originally Posted by turtle777

Won't happen anytime soon. ABC still wants to sell their DVDs.

-t

You would think that they would make more money selling through itunes though. Lost season one DVD is just under $40 on amazon and its 24 episodes. Considering the cost of distribution that apple would pay for and production which they wouldn't have to do, itunes is the clear winner. Now the real question is why would I pay so much to get it through itunes when the dvd has much better picture, sound, and director's stuff?

starman · Oct 12, 2005, 03:38 PM

Then again, NOBODY sells anything in HD yet. They'd make a damn fortune.

turtle777 · Oct 12, 2005, 03:44 PM

Originally Posted by starman

Then again, NOBODY sells anything in HD yet. They'd make a damn fortune.

Wrong. They ARE making enough money w/o HD. Why give more than the most customers would care for ?

-t

starman · Oct 12, 2005, 03:48 PM

Because I wouldn't buy the series in SD with HD around the corner. I'd rather buy the HD versions.

baw · Oct 12, 2005, 03:52 PM

How lame.

turtle777 · Oct 12, 2005, 03:55 PM

Originally Posted by starman

Because I wouldn't buy the series in SD with HD around the corner. I'd rather buy the HD versions.

That's ok. Apple is going to have enough people buy it anyways.

I'm sure Apple would want to offer HD, but they were not allowed to. Heck, it's the year of HD video. But Apple is (as always) restricted to what the content providers are willing to go for...

-t

ort888 · Oct 12, 2005, 03:56 PM

When will porn be available?

Will we be able to upload any video or are we limited to iTunes content? I couldn't find confirmation anywhere on this.

Paco500 · Oct 12, 2005, 04:12 PM

Originally Posted by ort888

Will we be able to upload any video or are we limited to iTunes content? I couldn't find confirmation anywhere on this.

If I understand it, you can load your own content, and it looks like the decoder handles HD- there is just no HD content at iTMS yet.

I personally think it's a pretty good first step, it's just a bit of a shames that

A: You can't find the content on the store
B: There is not enough of it yet

One great thing about the iTMS was how much content they had out of the gate. It gave them a huge head start. With the limited content they are offering, competitors will not have a difficult time catching up.

Personally, I'm all about it.

TETENAL · Oct 12, 2005, 04:13 PM

Originally Posted by turtle777

Wrong. They ARE making enough money w/o HD. Why give more than the most customers would care for ?

The videos are 320x240 i. e. VHS quality. They will look very blurry in fullscreen (except on an iPod). I believe most customers will be disappointed by the quality.

VideoPodcasts of the Tagesschau I would watch though (if free).

turtle777 · Oct 12, 2005, 04:18 PM

dp. F**** hamster !

-t

RAILhead · Oct 12, 2005, 04:18 PM

I grabbed one just for the crap of it, and it's NOT EVEN WIDE SCREEN. Yes, the ratio is small, but I thought Apple would at least LETTERBOX the thing.

Actual size:

I think they should also use an encoding format that makes the picture even DARKER and less viewable.

n:

Maury

turtle777 · Oct 12, 2005, 04:19 PM

Originally Posted by Paco500

One great thing about the iTMS was how much content they had out of the gate. It gave them a huge head start. With the limited content they are offering, competitors will not have a difficult time catching up.

The PHYSICAL ability to put it out there is nothing. The tricky parts are the contracts and terms. Apple has much more bargaining power than anyone else. You can not just put video content out there, that's why there is nothing big going on yet. And be assured, it's NOT going to be easy to copy Apple because of the contractual side and copyright issues.

-t

willed · Oct 12, 2005, 04:28 PM

Originally Posted by RAILhead

I grabbed one just for the crap of it, and it's NOT EVEN WIDE SCREEN. Yes, the ratio is small, but I thought Apple would at least LETTERBOX the thing.

Apparently Apple's released a new video iPod. Apparently it's not widescreen. I don't know if this is related to your complaint?

I think they should also use an encoding format that makes the picture even DARKER and less viewable.

n:

Maury

Err, the shot is a night shot. It's going to be quite dark. That's what happens at night.

I'm not saying the iTMS videos are brilliant, just that these are the wrong reasons to criticise them.

RAILhead · Oct 12, 2005, 04:38 PM

Originally Posted by willed

Apparently Apple's released a new video iPod. Apparently it's not widescreen. I don't know if this is related to your complaint?

Err, the shot is a night shot. It's going to be quite dark. That's what happens at night.

I'm not saying the iTMS videos are brilliant, just that these are the wrong reasons to criticise them.

Come now, surely you don't insinuate that I opened the file, clicked the scrubber, and declared TOO DARK!!11!

The whole movie is way too dark, and it's due to the encoding.

Ratm · Oct 12, 2005, 04:44 PM

Everything is not up and running yet. I'm sure they'll have everything squared away.

Synotic · Oct 12, 2005, 04:50 PM

Originally Posted by RAILhead

Come now, surely you don't insinuate that I opened the file, clicked the scrubber, and declared TOO DARK!!11!

The whole movie is way too dark, and it's due to the encoding.

Can you post a picture of a day shot?

FulcrumPilot · Oct 12, 2005, 04:51 PM

Ok, I have decided to wait for the iPod Holo.

RAILhead · Oct 12, 2005, 05:00 PM

I'll post some comparison pics tonight, after I get home.

Maury

milhous · Oct 12, 2005, 05:16 PM

maybe it's just me, but the video ipods kind of look like blackberrys because of their width.

sminch · Oct 12, 2005, 05:18 PM

Ok, I have decided to wait for the iPod Holo.

are you serious? awesome! when are they scheduled for release?

sminch

ort888 · Oct 12, 2005, 05:21 PM

I want an iPod that stores odor. 1,000 smells in your pocket.

Kerrigan · Oct 12, 2005, 06:14 PM

Try wearing the same pair of underwear for a few days and you will get the same effect.

GSixZero · Oct 12, 2005, 06:15 PM

Originally Posted by milhous

maybe it's just me, but the video ipods kind of look like blackberrys because of their width.

They just look different because of the different screen/click wheel proportions. They're the same width/height as the old white iPods.

Kerrigan · Oct 12, 2005, 06:26 PM

On the whole I think it is a decent step forward.

The new form factor is great. As is the new black version of the iPod.

The video capability is meh, but this isn't Apple's fault. Steve has been saying over and over again that people don't want to watch video on a tiny screen, and he's right. For people who want to watch TV shows or porn or music videos on a tiny screen, now they have the capability.

Basically Apple is keeping the ball rolling which is very important as the iPod risks becoming stale now that everyone and their grandmother owns one.

And I imagine that white earbuds are still considered cool in the very lame, backwards parts of the world where it takes 3 years for fads to creep in, like the American South or Eastern Germany.

kcmac · Oct 12, 2005, 06:28 PM

I downloaded Lost. Quite honestly, I am surprised and delighted. Will work great on my 12" PB. Sound is really quite loud as well. More so than when I watch a DVD.

I will do this many more times. Thanks Apple. Great first attempt.

Pendergast · Oct 12, 2005, 06:49 PM

I like the idea.

But there is no way I can purchase anyting of these TV shows since I am in Canada.

Also, I would be more interested if feature lenght movies were made available (iTunes 7?).

Anyway, kudos for a nice product, but limited impact yet, Looking good for the future though.

mdc · Oct 12, 2005, 06:51 PM

does it look okay full screen?

Kerrigan · Oct 12, 2005, 06:58 PM

That depends on what you think is okay.

If you download TV shows through BitTorrent then you will be sorely disappointed by the iTMS resolution.

If you like VHS and have no problem with low-resolution video then you won't mind the full screen quality.

kcmac · Oct 12, 2005, 07:03 PM

I think it looks really good full screen on my 12" PB. (At least, plenty good enough for me and how I would use it.) Will try to get it onto our 20" iMac and see what happens then. The file is 197 MB.

waxcrash · Oct 12, 2005, 07:16 PM

I bet the next version of EyeTV will have an export for the Video iPod.

TETENAL · Oct 12, 2005, 07:20 PM

QuickTime Pro has an export option for the iPod already. If EyeTV supports the normal QuickTime export then it has it already.

mdc · Oct 12, 2005, 07:49 PM

i just bought all 6 of the pixar movies and they all look great. i have not bought any tv shows yet.
i can't wait until i can put these onto the new ipod.

apple has a winner on their hands. i'm waiting patiently for the new content.

edit. oh i'm loving this. music videos

FulcrumPilot · Oct 12, 2005, 07:51 PM

I bet someone is going to add a bigger screen to this ipod on the reverse side.

tomasboudr · Oct 12, 2005, 09:12 PM

Originally Posted by TETENAL

QuickTime Pro has an export option for the iPod already.

Thats what I have been looking for THANK YOU THANK YOU!

jonasmac · Oct 12, 2005, 10:14 PM

Bah, I've been downloading LOST for over an hour! DSL must be slow today, or the iTMS server is getting a ton of traffic.

Ghoser777 · Oct 12, 2005, 10:48 PM

200 megabyte files will take a little while to download... I'm on episode 4, season 1 of Lost right now.

mdc · Oct 12, 2005, 10:56 PM

Originally Posted by jonasmac

Bah, I've been downloading LOST for over an hour! DSL must be slow today, or the iTMS server is getting a ton of traffic.

applications folder > utilities > activity monitor
click the network tab

you can see your download speed there. i got a few movies today and it was going at 650kps (my cable modem's max)

deej5871 · Oct 13, 2005, 12:02 AM

Originally Posted by RAILhead

I grabbed one just for the crap of it, and it's NOT EVEN WIDE SCREEN. Yes, the ratio is small, but I thought Apple would at least LETTERBOX the thing.

Lost isn't shown on TV in widescreen AFAIK. From mdc's pic of "Geri's Game" it looks like if the content is wide then that's what they give you. So, they give you Lost in 4:3 because that's what it is.

JoshuaZ · Oct 13, 2005, 02:04 AM

Hmm... I'd be super happy if they'd put Battlestar on the iTMS... and maybe Family Guy.... then I'd be set over here in the land of no home internet.

Cubeoid · Oct 13, 2005, 02:10 AM

The Simpsons!

Cubeoid · Oct 13, 2005, 02:11 AM

Also..does anyone give a damn about those shitty Disney children shows?!

OldManMac · Oct 13, 2005, 02:18 AM

I'm underwhelmed! I'm going to watch video on a screen not much bigger than a postage stamp, or watch grainy video on a notebook? I don't think so, but thanks. I already have several TVs.