The new iPod video
October 12th, 2005 -- by Augie De Blieck Jr.
It’s quite spiffy looking. They’ve put to good use the things they learned in building the Nano, by the looks of it.
Of course, now my 10 month old iPod looks completely ancient. ::sigh::
Perhaps bigger news for its future implications:
The announcements came in conjunction with the news that the new version of the iTunes Music store in iTunes 6, Apple’s popular music-playing software, will sell both music videos and television shows from ABC Disney which can be loaded and viewed on the new video iPods. Apple states that both will begin shipping next week.
October 12th, 2005 at 3:56 pm
I bought mine 3 weeks ago. Talk about bad timing . . .
October 12th, 2005 at 4:12 pm
As much as I would like one of these, my iPod is barely a year old, so I really can’t justify the expense. This time next year, however, I will be taking a serious look at whatever update Mac has then. At the rate they’re going, a surgically implanted iPod wouldn’t surpise me overly much.
On an unrelated note, knowing your love of all things Shatner, did you see Boston Legal last night, Augie? Shatner’s reaction to what sea lice on salmon are called was priceless. I woke up my wife i was laughing so hard (oddly, she didn’t find it as funny).
October 12th, 2005 at 5:23 pm
How much are they selling TV shows for? That’s not the streaming TV model I’d go for — I’d have it subsidized by advertising, like regular television — but it is indeed the beginning of a brave new era in earnest.
Apple and ABC are very smart to use Lost to push this new technology.
October 12th, 2005 at 8:59 pm
Yeah… but it’s such a TINY screen. 2 inches? The PSP has a much bigger screen, in anamorphic format btw, that I’m sure is sharper than Apple’s.
As for the whole iPod, I’m not enough of a techno-geek or music addict to want to buy one of the things. I’m sure they’re great for people on the go or the businessmen who travel regularly, but it’s not for me!
While I’m sure the I’ve-gotta-have-it-first-on-the-block early techno adopters will snatch this up, do people REALLY want to watch any of today’s TV shows on this thing? Nope, still not sold on this and I LIKE Apple computers.
… Even if I think Jobs is spending too much time pushing iPods and not enough time figuring out how to sell more PowerMacs. And get overall Apple hardware prices down. I figure they pretty much don’t care how much market share they lose as long as Apple is profitable. That probably means we’ll stay pay premiums to buy Mac hardware for the forseeable future.
October 13th, 2005 at 8:13 am
“I figure they pretty much don’t care how much market share they lose as long as Apple is profitable.”
Bingo!
I am a huge music fanatic. I have over 7600 songs in iTunes, with more added every week. I keep considering the merits of an iPod or similar player, but I just can’t justify it. Ten years ago, when I was still in my twenties and single, I’d probably have bought one without thinking twice. Now, something has to really grab me and convince me I need it.
The iPod doesn’t do that. And adding video, while adding a “cool” factor, doesn’t help in that regard.
Now, if they want to make it cost less than a computer or a new high-end car stereo, maybe that would push it over the tipping point for me.
October 13th, 2005 at 9:40 am
I have had my iPod for a few years now and when they announced the photo iPods a while back, I was very interested in buying one. Now with the video iPod released, I am glad I didn’t buy the photo one. And with the new Black color, I am very tempted!
October 13th, 2005 at 4:34 pm
Man, I couldn’t live without my iPod. Dragging my computer into my car to play my whole music collection just isn’t viable for me …