Apple Unveils Video iPod

Rob Updegrove (GHoosdum) Apple has finally lifted the curtain for the long-hypothesized but previously unconfirmed Video iPod.

October 12, 2005 2:31 PM ET in News,

Reuters reports that Apple has finally lifted the curtain for the long-hypothesized but previously unconfirmed Video iPod.

The video iPod — a long-rumored product that could further spark sales of the popular brand — has a 2.5-inch screen and comes with 30 or 60 gigabytes of memory. It will sell for $299 and $399, respectively.

The company also plans to offer music videos for $1.99 each at its iTunes online music store, along with short films from Pixar Animation Studios Inc. It also said some ABC television shows would be available on iTunes a day after broadcast for $1.99.

Thanks to Zanthian for brining this story to my attention.

Source: Reuters

24 Comments:

  1. primesuspect
    12 Oct '05, 6:44 pm

    Apple is really making the right moves lately. Now you can buy TV shows, ad free, for $1.99 each

    Sound crazy? Apple is going to make ma-ma-millions off of this.

  2. Enverex
    12 Oct '05, 6:50 pm

    hmm... TV show... $2 a show or $50 for the box set (normally ~16ish episodes)... on the other hand... quality... or lack of...

  3. Gargoyle
    12 Oct '05, 7:04 pm

    I haven't seen anything about what file types it supports, but I'm betting it doesn't support Divx or Xvid, leaving true geeks out in the cold again.

    In other news, I'd probably buy an iPod if they supported OGG.

  4. drasnor
    12 Oct '05, 7:05 pm
    Quoting Gargoyle

    In other news, I'd probably buy an iPod if they supported OGG.

    OGG FLAC for me.

    -drasnor

  5. entropy
    12 Oct '05, 7:42 pm

    Ohhhh crap. So now I'm probably going to get an iPod video (I'm assuming it'll be just like an iPod, but can play vids). Also guys, there's bound to be some homebrew way to play regular avi files (with whatever codecs you prefer) on it.

    I think this just pushed me over the edge. I want 80gb though (or more!)

  6. Gargoyle
    12 Oct '05, 8:45 pm
    Quoting entropy

    Also guys, there's bound to be some homebrew way to play regular avi files (with whatever codecs you prefer) on it.

    My guess is that Apple will have an option to transcode .avi files into some other (possibly proprietary) format, which would reduce quality in the process.

    Not trying to be cynical, just using the precedent set by iTunes and the regular iPod.

  7. Buddy J
    12 Oct '05, 8:58 pm

    What's the point of a video iPod? Seriously? Are you going to walk down the street watching Lawrence of Arabia or The Simpsons? I've yet to see anyone actuall watch a movie on a PSP in public (except for my buddy who watches Mean Girls on mute cuz he likes Lindsay Lohan) so why would they do it on a video iPod?

  8. gibbonsl
    12 Oct '05, 9:17 pm

    you have not seen me then...............

  9. celcho
    12 Oct '05, 11:27 pm

    i could see people who commute by mass transit (bus, subway, or train) or those that fly a lot using them. kids might watch shows or movies in the car. it's the fact that we have to drive or walk that prevents it from being useful in those situations. it also has tv out, so you can take it with you and play stuff on a tv anywhere.

  10. Nightwolf
    12 Oct '05, 11:32 pm

    W00T, Christmas is coming up....

  11. primesuspect
    13 Oct '05, 12:11 am

    just stretch those ol' imagination muscles a little bit

    Kids beg their moms and dads for $20 to watch three episodes of Dora the Explorer and other Nick cartoons on a FREAKING GAMEBOY CARTRIDGE - and they will watch these things on a freaking horrible gameboy display.

    Are you nuts? This is going to make kabillions of dollars! Laugh all you want, apple is laughing all the way to the bank with this one.

    Plus, it has video outputs so you can hook it up to a screen.

  12. Gargoyle
    13 Oct '05, 12:39 am
    Quoting primesuspect

    Are you nuts? This is going to make kabillions of dollars! Laugh all you want, apple is laughing all the way to the bank with this one.

    Definitely. And I'll be laughing too. Just not for the same reason

  13. Enverex
    13 Oct '05, 12:41 am

    /me looks at his PDA and the movies on it and wondering what's new about an old concept...

  14. primesuspect
    13 Oct '05, 12:53 am

    What's new is that you can go to itunes, search for episode xx of The Blah-de-Blah show and buy it for $1.99 without a hassle.

    It's the same thing that's revolutionary about iTunes - obviously it's not the technology that is revolutionary, it's the delivery method and the simplicity of it all. This is what the mass market wants. Yes, the 32 geeks on short-media will find this-and-that wrong with it, but the 17-year old crowd will be just pouring money down this thing.

  15. entropy
    13 Oct '05, 2:51 am
    Quoting primesuspect

    ...but the 17-year old crowd will be just pouring money down this thing.

    Not I, said the goose.

    I will buy it once and will not use iTurds for anything. I'm sorry, I just don't agree with iTunes anything. Besides, downloaded TV shows aren't technically illegal (yet) I don't think, are they? I have a feeling that the iTunes shows will be limited to a few, not tons. My guess is stuff like the O.C. will be on, because teenie boppers love that crap.

    I'd use this sucker for study hall. I've got my small mp3 player now, but it gets old. I could certainly sit and watch Arrested Development or Stargate(s) or House or...

    But the more I think about it, the more I realize I don't know if I could actually watch TV on such a small screen. It'd be worse than just a Gameboy since it's a lot more indepth. Then again, I've never seen a video on PSP, so it could be perfectly fine.

  16. primesuspect
    13 Oct '05, 2:54 am

    technically, it is illegal to download tv shows, yes... even though you are allowed to watch them for "free" on TV.

  17. sfleuriet
    13 Oct '05, 3:02 am

    yeah theres going to be a bunch of hacks for the iPod Video just like all of the PSP hacks and programs being made

    Every time a new gadget comes out.. I'm like "Oh I might want that for Christmas!" Then something better comes out, and idk what to think!

  18. entropy
    13 Oct '05, 3:58 am

    I'm definitely going to ask for it for Christmas. I don't think I'll get it, since that'd be a super expensive gift, but it's worth a shot.

  19. djstubbs
    13 Oct '05, 4:52 am

    Here goes my 200 shares of AAPL. ^^^^^

  20. TheSmJ
    13 Oct '05, 5:25 am

    I could do all this stuff with my phone (MP3s, movies, etc) AND make phone calls.

  21. celcho
    13 Oct '05, 3:12 pm

    it's all about how elegant this solution is. it's just a slick way to get this functionality.

    the screen is reasonably big and pretty high resolution it seems. and... the 30gb is a lot thinner than the old 20 and the even the new 60 is smaller than the old 20. the functionality of hooking the new dock up to your stereo and controlling the ipod with the new remote is pretty cool.

  22. kanezfan
    13 Oct '05, 4:07 pm
    Quoting Buddy Jesus

    What's the point of a video iPod? Seriously? Are you going to walk down the street watching Lawrence of Arabia or The Simpsons? I've yet to see anyone actuall watch a movie on a PSP in public (except for my buddy who watches Mean Girls on mute cuz he likes Lindsay Lohan) so why would they do it on a video iPod?

    Because it's Apple and they tell you that you need a video iPod and because all the "cool kids" get one, well you have to keep up don't you?

    It's yet another example that people are sheep.

    I dig the concept of being able to go to itunes and buying tv shows at $2 a pop, but if I can only watch them on an ipod, forget it.

  23. NiGHTS
    13 Oct '05, 6:28 pm

    Are you really that surprised it might be a proprietary format?

  24. celcho
    13 Oct '05, 7:24 pm

    now getting into an arguement over whether the ipod is the best or not is probably a bad idea, but it is a lot better than most of the haters say. i mean it's one thing when people that are buying into a fad are buying crap, but apple's ipod is not exactly a crappy device.

    the fit and finish are without question better than any other mp3 player available. there are some others that are pretty good, but the ipod is at the very least at the lead of the pack in that category. the materials are better and it just feels well made and expensive. the creative zen series is nice, but the materials are inferior (plastic, and much lower quality plastic abound). the interface is pretty much the best. i mean creative would love to just be able to use the clickwheel. it's a better way to get around on a device this size.

    i'd be saying the same things about people being sheep except that the ipod is a little better for most people for the extra few bucks. it's not like it's double the price of other players. i know you can get old old creative xens for half the price of a the same capacity brand new ipod, but you can't get the latest creative for half the price of the latest ipod. for most people, who are less skilled with computers, itunes is easy as pie, even though it restricts them in some ways, not being able to figure out the software is a whole lot more restrictive.

    apple just has a great product from construction to design to software to accessories. it's the standard, and for once the standard isn't a crappy product.

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