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Apple Starts Bundling Music Videos on iTMS (UPDATE)

TMO Reports - Apple Starts Bundling Music Videos on iTMS (UPDATE)

by , 1:00 AM EDT, May 10th, 2005

Apple Computer has begun bundling downloadable music videos on its online music service, slowly entering a new direction that could easily expand into all types of video services.

With the debut of its iTunes version 4.8 software, announced Monday, Apple quietly began selling music videos via its iTunes Music Store (iTMS) late Monday, together with selected music albums.

The videos are being sold as part of an album and can be downloaded following the purchase of the music. Some albums downloaded by The Mac Observer include one video, while others include two to four videos in small segments. Most videos are in 480x272 pixel format at 30 frames per second and use 44 kilohertz audio quality.

Various reports indicate the videos can not be viewed on any of the current iPod digital media devices, but can be viewed on other Macs and Windows-based PCs, meaning there is no embedded digital rights management technology in the video files.

In some instances, albums with videos are being discounted as a marketing incentive. It does not appear that videos are being sold separate from albums.

It is not known how many music videos are being offered, as Apple has not provided a separate page highlighting downloadable videos. At press time, TMO had found some 50 downloadable videos on both the U.S. and U.K. iTMS.


Apple has begun to bundle music videos with selected albums.

Analyst: Online music videos are just the beginning

Simon Dyson, an analyst with London-based Informa Media, believes it's not stretching it too much to think the addition of music videos on iTMS is just the beginning of a much bigger evolution.

"It's the obvious next step in the future of the iTunes Music store," he told The Mac Observer. "I would imagine there was a lot of license negotiations with record labels over adding videos, which played a big part in the timing of this release...I would imagine one reason it was launched quietly was because few music labels have plans in place to offer videos together with albums or cuts online, but now that it has started, I'm sure they will all want to negotiate similar deals."

Mr. Dyson said the next step is for Apple to offer an iPod with video capabilities so that customers have portable options that make downloading music videos a demanding option.

"Microsoft has been offering Windows Media Player together with third-party players that show videos for a little while," he said. "I think Apple knows they have to offer this option as soon as possible and this is the beginning of that next step."

Mr. Dyson believes another reason Apple probably is rolling out online video downloads slowly is the issue of broadband issues that still impact the majority of consumers with online Web access.

"It is a big step from selling music to selling videos because of the enormous file sizes and the fact most consumers don't have high-speed Internet access. Videos really need broadband and the different compression technologies. I'm sure Apple is going to test the waters, both in terms of consumer reaction and jumping through technological barriers."

Using iTunes 4.8, customers can not only store video files, but play them in the thumbnail window, normally used to display album covers, as well as a separate QuickTime window (see screen shot below). Users can default to always watching a video "in the main window," "a separate window," or "full screen" by selecting an option in the "Advanced" preferences.

Observer Comments

Show: Subjects Only | Full Comments
Close Name:Guest
Subject: Individual songs and videos

If Apple like to test this, they need to offer the possibility to purchase just the one song which has a video. That's much of the idea behind downloadable music - you're free to make your pick...
Other than that, they've made the right step forward with this! Indie label can easily get out videos this way, for instance...

When will they begin to sell movies?

Close Name:Guest
Subject: 480 x 272?

Same size as my PSP screen

Close Name:Biff Posts: 1479 Joined: 08 Apr 2004
Subject:

Yeah so I guess maybe 480x272 will be the size of a potential video iPod screen? Of course I still think a video iPod is dumb.

Is this supposed to entice me to finally buy albums on iTMS? I think I'll stick with the Dolby Digital 5.1 mix of NIN's new album on the dual-disc ($12) thank you very much. Sorry Apple.

Close Name:allanimal Posts: 28 Joined: 18 Apr 2005
Subject: Audio iPod has armband...

YOu can buy armbands for your iPods to hold your iPod securely while you jog. Ergonomically, this is a bad place for a video iPod - think of all the people complaining of strained neck muscles after watching Star Wars Ep. 3 on their iPods while jogging.
Apple will have to release some sort of headband that lets us watch our videos on the go.
I just hope everybody gets out of the way of my bike while I am doing. That includes trees too!

Of course, if Apple does release a video iPod, people will complain that it is too expensive (did I even need to say that), and that it doesnt have a TV/Satellite tuner included.

OK, I think a video iPod is kinda silly. But knowing Apple, they will figure out how to make it work and work well.

Close Name:dhp Posts: 182 Joined: 22 May 2003
Subject: liner notes

Has anyone looked at the new digital booklets? There is one included with the Dave Matthews album, but since I can't stand his music, I'm not planning to buy the album. I'm curious about what format it's in.

Close Name:Mikuro Posts: 457 Joined: 15 Jun 2002
Subject: Wide-screen?

Why are the music videos 480x272? Music videos are made for standard 4:3 TVs, aren't they? Are they cropping them, or what?

Close Name:Guest
Subject: Video content on iPod? Absolutely!

For those of you pooh-poohing watching video content on an iPod . . While movies would suck, I would LOVE to be able to cherry-pick Seinfeld episodes, or Daily Show bits, or videol podcasts, or news segments, music videos, spoken word events (political, noteworthy, etc.) and other stuff that doesn't need to be high-rez to enjoy. There is a TON of video content that would work just fine on a small screen . . . . .

Close Name:jimisweetnyc Posts: 1 Joined: 10 May 2005
Subject: Sony PSP is 480 x 272

The screen on the Sony PSP is exactly 480 x 272. (480 x 270 is 16:9) Perhaps this is the new format.

Close Name:Biff Posts: 1479 Joined: 08 Apr 2004
Subject:

Quote
Guest wrote:
There is a TON of video content that would work just fine on a small screen . . . . .
Yeah I agree! Like... um... wait I'm still thinking... uh...

Close Name:Guest
Subject: What about...

You know, there are video-out ports on the iPod photo already. What's to prevent someone from downloading music videos onto their iPod and plugging it into the front video-in ports on their TV? That would take care of any screen size concerns. A lot easier than burning a DVD of it or dragging a whole Mac over to the TV and connecting it.

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