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TMO Reports - Apple Unveils Video iPod, iTunes 6

by , 2:20 PM EDT, October 12th, 2005

Apple announced a new iPod sporting video capabilities Wednesday at its "One More Thing..." event. The new model is 30 percent thinner than previous models, has a larger 2.5-inch QVGA display with 320 x 240 resolution, H.264 support, and either a 30 or 60GB hard drive.

The new iPod is still primarily a music device, but the larger display should make it easier to watch videos, and the video out port will let you watch recordings on your television. We'll have to wait and see what kind of quality comes from connecting an iPod to a television, since the videos are stored at 320 x 240 resolution. Battery life on the new iPod is pegged at 14 hours for the 30GB model, and 20 hours for the 60GB model.

Apple is also shipping a new iPod Universal Dock that supports the new Apple Remote, also announced today.

The iPod ships with the traditional iPod earphones, USB 2.0 cable, dock adapter for use with the Universal Dock, and case.

Along with the new iPod comes iTunes 6, which is available today. The new version supports downloading music videos and television shows for US$1.99 apiece. Fans of ABC's "Desperate Housewives" and "Lost" will be happy to know that they can download those programs, along with several other ABC programs.

Look for the new iPod in 30 and 60 GB hard drive models in both white and black to be in stores by next week. The 30GB models will sell for $299, and the 60GB model for $399. The Universal Dock retails for $39.00, the Apple Remote is $29.00, and iTunes 6 is a free download form Apple's web site.


The new iPod video

Observer Comments

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Close Name:Lavode Posts: 144 Joined: 03 Dec 2001
Subject: Movies?

I wonder if we'll be able to rip DVDs to the required specs, transfer them to the ipod, and watch?

Close Name:boodle Posts: 42 Joined: 13 Jun 2004
Subject: Sweet!

Apple gets 5 bytes.

View Name:Guest
Subject: lol
Close Name:mrmgraphics Posts: 824 Joined: 05 Sep 2003
Subject: correction

+

The $299 iPod video has 30GB, not 20.

View Name:Guest
Subject: Powerbooks?
View Name:Guest
Subject: its 30 and 60 gig
View Name:Guest
Subject:
View Name:Guest
Subject: lame... come on.
View Name:Guest
Subject: Snappier Name for H.264
View Name:Guest
Subject: iTunes 6 ABC Shows
View Name:Guest
Subject: Re: Powerbooks?
View Name:Guest
Subject: One More Thing
View Name:Guest
Subject: Name
Close Name:Biff Posts: 1479 Joined: 08 Apr 2004
Subject:

Quote
Guest wrote:
Does somebody know wether Apple will keep the actual iPod Photo line up or will it be phased out in favor of the new one?
They already got rid of the iPod photo line. They became just the iPod. And now these are the iPod. So I would assume the iPod Photo features are present here as well.

View Name:Guest
Subject: What does this mean?
View Name:Guest
Subject: That has to be the shortest "Major Release" in His
Close Name:JTHapp Posts: 12 Joined: 08 Sep 2004
Subject: the viPod is born

Yes folks, the viPod.

View Name:Guest
Subject: iMac
View Name:Guest
Subject:
View Name:Guest
Subject:
Close Name:acdc1174 Posts: 679 Joined: 16 Apr 2004
Subject: Not bad all in all.

I find the update to the iMac line to be very nice. Speedy 1.9 and 2.1 ghz G5 processors, remote control, new software, and builit-in iSight are some very attractive "value-added" features sure to keep the line fresh and sales numbers climbing. No news on the professional lines yet though...I would expect to see your major revision in that arena at MWSF though. Apple is getting the consumer stuff out and advertised as the Christmas shopping season encroaches- hence the iPods and iMacs.

As for the iPods. I can sum it up with one word...wow. Up to 15 hours of H.264 encoded video (Which will look great on most TVs) on a new slimmer iPod with what promises to be a very nice display AND the price points are very reasonable...I think Apple hit a home run here. The universal dock and remote with the A/V output makes this a MORE than viable portable "media" device.

iTunes 6 is likely to be the sleeper of the event. I think that this is going to be huge in that it we'll see video INTEGRATION throughout, rather than it being a novel "bolt-on" feature courtesy of QT which is how I feel about iTunes 5. Apple also was very smart to have a respectable library of video content (2000+ titles) at launch. I for one like the idea of some of the ABC and Pixar content (Admittedly if given a choice between C-SPAN 5 and That's So Raven, I'll take C-SPAN) and I think that the library will only continue to grow form the "big media" end as this becomes a commercially viable option for distribution. For the amateur Podcasters wanting to and already distributing video, this is fantastic. All in all a great announcement

View Name:Guest
Subject: i Have iTunes6 ... no videos..!
View Name:Guest
Subject: Re: What does this mean?
Close Name:Biff Posts: 1479 Joined: 08 Apr 2004
Subject:

The codec and bitrates are probably the more significant factor. I don't know enough about H.264 to know if the length might have any impact.

Obviously if the movies on the iPod must be 320x240 then the TV out will only be 320x240. And that seems really lame. So I wonder if the iPod just scales to 320x240 in real time during playback on the screen. I'll keep my fingers crossed.

View Name:Guest
Subject: re: Powerbooks (+Powermacs)
View Name:Guest
Subject: Re: What does this mean?
View Name:Guest
Subject: battery life
Close Name:Biff Posts: 1479 Joined: 08 Apr 2004
Subject:

I'm starting to think I was wrong. I have a feeling you're gonna get 320x240 on your TV. That'll look good on a 50" HDTV!

Maybe Steve meant 2006 was the year of HD.

Close Name:algr Posts: 282 Joined: 07 Aug 2003
Subject: Video quality

320 x 240 will look fine on your 13" set in your kitchen, but videophiles with big screens will not be impressed. These videos will probably be watched on your computer screen.

At $1.99, I can see a big market for people who didn't set their VCRs correctly or didn't know the show was good until they hear about it from their friends the next day. Also, stuff that isn't getting shown in the US, like the new Doctor Who, which is very good.

Can you make DVDs of these downloads the way you can burn audio CDs?

Close Name:acdc1174 Posts: 679 Joined: 16 Apr 2004
Subject: Re: battery life

Quote
Anonymous wrote:
Quote
acdc1174 wrote:
As for the iPods. I can sum it up with one word...wow. Up to 15 hours of H.264 encoded video


Read the tech specs again! From Apples website "Video playback time: Up to 2 hours when fully charged." The 15 hours is only for music.


I was referring to storage capacity, not playback time. Besides, if I am going to use this as a video storage/playback device and I plan on watching a lot of video at a sitting, I am going to plug it in for power.

View Name:Guest
Subject:
View Name:Guest
Subject: Missing Powerbooks
Close Name:Bosco Posts: 999 Joined: 03 Jun 2002
Subject: Sweet

Say goodbye to TiVo... In rent vs. own, I think Apple has another winner here. And TV content owners will be scrambling to get on iTMS. Seriously, count me in for buying American Chopper, Reno 911, and SouthPark as they become available. All back episodes too. This is way better than getting the DVD because season DVDs are just sooooo stupidly wanna-be-techie with director interviews and 10 picture galleries and all that other dumb DVD stuff designed for the 100 IQ crowd . Raw cuts baby. No commercials. Way cool.

View Name:Guest
Subject: Firewire gone?
View Name:Guest
Subject: Shows all content, no ads
View Name:Guest
Subject: Importing QT movies into iTunes, video on demand
View Name:Guest
Subject:
View Name:Guest
Subject: No Firewire for New Video iPod?
View Name:Guest
Subject:
View Name:Guest
Subject: Bose SoundDock
View Name:Guest
Subject: Re: No Firewire for New Video iPod?
View Name:Guest
Subject: still no gapless playback no graphic eq. iPoo is paperweight
View Name:Guest
Subject: Re: no gapless playback
Close Name:burrito Posts: 176 Joined: 07 Aug 2005
Subject: re: firewire

firewire is still the de-facto leader in the dv world... just because a consumer playback device doesn't support it doesn't mean that it's being phased out... it just means that the device is designed for a mainstream audience that doesn't require the high performance that firewire provides... usb stands for "universal serial bus", and while firewire is the surperior technology, it is far from universal, mainly because it's costy and more difficult to impliment in devices than usb. however, if you want to connect a dv camera or external hard drive to your computer-- firewire is the way to go.

View Name:Guest
Subject:
Close Name:BATTY@ Posts: 52 Joined: 28 Jun 2003
Subject: It's an interesting step....for the most part.

PAY for ITUNES MUSIC VIDEOS,

Why the hell would I want to pay to watch a music video, that's crap.
Music videos are a advertising tool for musicains and perhaps more but primarily to market themselves. It's ridiculous that instead of listening and viewing completely to new upcoming songs/ bands I have to preview or buy it.

Bad move here, maybe I stick with Yahoo video selection atleast all I have to do is sign up.

just my 2¢

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

Bad move? Cause you don't like videos? Apple would be better off if they didn't sold less things? How would that be better? I'm sure plenty of MTV watching teens will buy music videos. Heck I don't ever buy music from iTMS, but its certainly doing OK and I don't think the iTMS was a bad move.

Close Name:edtekker Posts: 56 Joined: 13 Dec 2002
Subject: Just the start

First off, this is just the start. Just 'cause the videos are VHS resolution to start with means nothing. For heaven's sake, you think this will be the standard resolution forever? As high-bandwidth network access makes increased reach into homes, you will see HDTV downloads.

But for a video iPod, the current resolution is all you need. And you just watch - the next huge phenomenon will be video podcasting.

Close Name:BATTY@ Posts: 52 Joined: 28 Jun 2003
Subject: Bad move

Yes, not necessarily iTunes, but the request to pay to watch basicallly a commerical. I am talking solely about music videos that's it. It should be maybe a flat fee or something for those who just want to view it not own it.

I mean if people are willing to pay no skin off my back but it will dampen new bands exposure who are just starting out. I wouldn't pay $2.00 to watch a known band much less a new one, and I'm sure I'm not alone.

To each their own.

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