Manage updates with the Download AppOctober 12, 2005 10:12 AM PDT
Apple unveils video iPod, new iMac
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great opportunity for consumers to stay connected to their favorite programs."
Six short films from Pixar Animation Studios also will be available for $1.99 each.
Apple last week sent invitations that included the words "One more thing..." Wednesday's announcements took place at the California Theatre, where Apple introduced the U2 iPod and the first color-screen iPod Photo last year.
The video iPod arrives just one month after Apple unveiled its pencil-thin iPod Nano. Company executives said Tuesday that demand for the Nano is strongly outstripping Apple's ability to supply the flash-memory-based music players.
Still a music machine
While highlighting the new iPod's video features, Jobs appeared careful to stress several times that it was still fundamentally a music-playing device, with video features added as a "bonus."
The careful language may have been aimed at avoiding a repeat of the introduction of the Photo edition of the iPod, which was not initially a top seller despite the addition of the color screen and photo features.
However, Jobs did show a new iPod ad, focused wholly on the new video features, with the tagline "Watch your music."
Sam Bhavnani, an analyst at Current Analysis, noted that the appeal of video is more limited than music. "You can't use it when running. You can't use it while working. You can't use it while driving," he said. However, downloading a TV show to use on an airplane flight, for example, will appeal to some consumers.
Apple "did a small step," Bhavnani said. "It doesn't take Einstein to know the next step is more shows. Maybe ultimately you get to where the next 'Toy Story' is going to be downloaded through iTunes."
Apple's video device isn't the first to hit the market. Studios currently market a handheld computer in Japan called the Type U that can be used to watch videos. Consumers can also watch movies (with a tiny Universal Media Disc) on the PlayStation Portable.
Intel and Microsoft designed a portable media player in 2002 that some manufacturers brought to market last year. (First it was known as Media2Go and later as the Portable Media Center.) In addition, Samsung and others have released phones that can receive TV signals, thereby allowing commuters to watch shows on their cell phones.
So far, though, portable video hasn't been a big seller. The screens on these devices are far smaller than those on TVs. Video also can sap battery life. Watching TV over cellular signals, some Korean consumers have found out, can rack up high bills. (New versions of the cell-phone televisions use a TV tuner card, rather than deliver TV over the cellular network.)
Sony executives, though, recently said sales of Universal Media Disc movies for the PSP are a little better than expected.
CNET News.com's Michael Kanellos contributed to this report.
262 comments
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because it's not gonna happen.
because it's not gonna happen.
living room.
What I'd like to have Apple include is a Tivo like application "iPVR"
for instance that would schedule and record TV. Better yet, have it
encode it for iPod playback, additionally.
I paid $200 for my 81 hour TIVO that also plays my MP3s through my stereo and displays my photos on my HDTV. I can transfer recorded video to my laptop or other home computers, burn to DVD and schedule recordings on my TIVO from a web site.
$200 vs $1200??
living room.
What I'd like to have Apple include is a Tivo like application "iPVR"
for instance that would schedule and record TV. Better yet, have it
encode it for iPod playback, additionally.
I paid $200 for my 81 hour TIVO that also plays my MP3s through my stereo and displays my photos on my HDTV. I can transfer recorded video to my laptop or other home computers, burn to DVD and schedule recordings on my TIVO from a web site.
$200 vs $1200??
Good question though about the DRM technology and encoding
you own video. I definitely want to put my OWN video projects on
it!
* H.264 video: up to 768 Kbps, 320 x 240, 30 frames per sec., Baseline Profile up to Level 1.3 with AAC-LC up to 160 Kbps, 48 Khz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4 and .mov file formats.
* MPEG-4 video: up to 2.5 mbps, 480 x 480, 30 frames per sec., Simple Profile with AAC-LC up to 160 Kbps, 48 Khz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4 and .mov file formats.
is QT7 pro. the upgrade is $30. Pretty cheap for such great
software.
<a class="jive-link-external" href="http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/" target="_newWindow">http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/</a>
AppleStore.woa/wo/StoreReentry.wo?productLearnMore=D3380Z%
2FA
Good question though about the DRM technology and encoding
you own video. I definitely want to put my OWN video projects on
it!
* H.264 video: up to 768 Kbps, 320 x 240, 30 frames per sec., Baseline Profile up to Level 1.3 with AAC-LC up to 160 Kbps, 48 Khz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4 and .mov file formats.
* MPEG-4 video: up to 2.5 mbps, 480 x 480, 30 frames per sec., Simple Profile with AAC-LC up to 160 Kbps, 48 Khz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4 and .mov file formats.
is QT7 pro. the upgrade is $30. Pretty cheap for such great
software.
<a class="jive-link-external" href="http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/" target="_newWindow">http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/</a>
AppleStore.woa/wo/StoreReentry.wo?productLearnMore=D3380Z%
2FA
I think, since that means you have to be pretty much line of sight for it, right?
I think, since that means you have to be pretty much line of sight for it, right?
I'd love to be able to pull it out if my pocket and show people my
video projects, just to give them a flavor of the project.
Definite cool factor.
I'd love to be able to pull it out if my pocket and show people my
video projects, just to give them a flavor of the project.
Definite cool factor.
(macs only started shipping with usb 2.0 1 1/2-2 years ago)
I'm sure they didn't make the decision lightly - it basically concedes defeat for Firewire.
lightning fast uploads), a G5 1.8Ghz and a new iBook G4...
wouldn't trade 'em "up" for anything - plus a Bronze
keyboard PB and a vintage Performa 6400/200 all still in
working order.
AND I am an older mac user myself. Must be I like the way
Jobs has been F ing me over all these years!
Seriously -- if you take good care of the Macs you've got,
they'll take good care of you. So don't get all in a twist over
these new babies and the changes.
steve >>jobs loves to F over older mac users. (macs only started
>>shipping with usb 2.0 1 1/2-2 years ago)
Funny that you say that. Mac users have the slowest upgrade
cycle among PC users for exactly the opposite reason. Why is
that, pray tell? Perhaps because their macs remain exceptionally
functional even into late life?? I have an original TiBook
500mhz. Aside from the slow processor, it's still basically
cutting edge. Wifi, large screen, USB, Firewire, DVD...
Your argument doesn't fly unless you really believe that the
lawsuit brought against apple that it would support ancient
legacy systems is a true indicator of it's malicious nature. Apple
is great at keeping old computers running like new. Sometimes
it just messes up. (great men will inevitably be plagued by great
mistakes)
(macs only started shipping with usb 2.0 1 1/2-2 years ago)
I'm sure they didn't make the decision lightly - it basically concedes defeat for Firewire.
lightning fast uploads), a G5 1.8Ghz and a new iBook G4...
wouldn't trade 'em "up" for anything - plus a Bronze
keyboard PB and a vintage Performa 6400/200 all still in
working order.
AND I am an older mac user myself. Must be I like the way
Jobs has been F ing me over all these years!
Seriously -- if you take good care of the Macs you've got,
they'll take good care of you. So don't get all in a twist over
these new babies and the changes.
steve >>jobs loves to F over older mac users. (macs only started
>>shipping with usb 2.0 1 1/2-2 years ago)
Funny that you say that. Mac users have the slowest upgrade
cycle among PC users for exactly the opposite reason. Why is
that, pray tell? Perhaps because their macs remain exceptionally
functional even into late life?? I have an original TiBook
500mhz. Aside from the slow processor, it's still basically
cutting edge. Wifi, large screen, USB, Firewire, DVD...
Your argument doesn't fly unless you really believe that the
lawsuit brought against apple that it would support ancient
legacy systems is a true indicator of it's malicious nature. Apple
is great at keeping old computers running like new. Sometimes
it just messes up. (great men will inevitably be plagued by great
mistakes)
And even the dumbest reporter could figure that out by lunchtime.
And even the dumbest reporter could figure that out by lunchtime.
__________________________________
R.K.
<a class="jive-link-external" href="http://www.Remove-All-Spyware.com/" target="_newWindow">http://www.Remove-All-Spyware.com/</a>
60GB: Up to 20 hours of music playback; up to 4 hours of slideshows with music; up to 3 hours of video playback
__________________________________
R.K.
<a class="jive-link-external" href="http://www.Remove-All-Spyware.com/" target="_newWindow">http://www.Remove-All-Spyware.com/</a>
60GB: Up to 20 hours of music playback; up to 4 hours of slideshows with music; up to 3 hours of video playback
If they dont support peoples favorite format (like they did mp3 with the original ipod) how can this take off?
But you can settle for LESS and buy the iPod. It's really up to you. ;-)