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Apple launches Video iPod & iTunes 6 with video/TV show store

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Apple launches Video iPod & iTunes 6 with video/TV show store
Posted by Seán Byrne
Posted on 13/10/05 00:00
Number of views 941
Apple launches Video iPod & iTunes 6 with video/TV show store

As some sources expected, Apple has launched its Video iPod series to replace its existing regular iPod series.  The Video iPod comes in a capacity choice of 30GB and 60GB and both feature a 2.5" 320 x 240 resolution colour display, AV-out (requires optional cable) and a colour choice of black or white.  Both support AVC video up to 768kbps @ 320x240, 30fps and MPEG4 at up to 2.5Mbps @ 480x480, 30fps.  The 30GB model features a thickness of only 0.43" (11mm) and a battery life of up to 14 hours of music or 2 hours of video, while the 60GB model features a thickness of just 0.55" (14mm) and a battery life of up to 20 hours of music or 3 hours of video. 

Apple has also launched its iTunes video store with a catalogue of over 2,000 music videos, shows and movies, including six short films from Pixar Animation Studios.  The majority are charged at $2 a pop.  The new iTunes version 6 adds support for the Video iPod as well as the video store.  Like iTunes music downloads, music video downloads are DRM protected and according to a source, these will only play in QuickTime and are encoded in AVC with a resolution of 320 x 176.  The Video iPod 30GB and 60GB versions are available for $299 and $399 respectively.

Apple today introduced the new iPod, featuring a gorgeous 2.5-inch color screen which can display album artwork and photos, and play video including music videos, video Podcasts, home movies and television shows. The new iPod holds up to 15,000 songs, 25,000 photos or over 150 hours of video and is available in a 30GB model for $299 and a 60GB model for $399, with both models available in white or black designs.

The new iPod plays music, audiobooks, audio Podcasts, video Podcasts, home movies, music videos and popular television shows like 'Lost" and 'Desperate Housewives." The unrivaled combination of iPod and iTunes 6 now provides customers with a seamless experience for buying, managing and playing video as well as audio content, including over 2,000 music videos, six short films from the Academy-Award winning Pixar Animation Studios, and five television shows from ABC and Disney Channel, including the immensely popular 'Lost" and 'Desperate Housewives."

According to another source, videos must be converted to QuickTime, such as using QuickTime 7 Pro in order to play these on the Video iPod.  However, QuickTime's export features are limited to its premium Pro version, which means that consumers will likely have to purchase the full version if they want to use their own videos on the iPod.  In my opinion, QuickTime is bad enough as it is to limit full screen viewing to its Pro version also. 

With the addition of Video support, it seems like Apple has added pretty much everything it can to the iPod besides an FM radio and removable battery.  Hopefully, these will come down the line as I'm sure that there are probably more consumers interested in either of these two features than video support. 

Feel free to discuss about iTunes and music download services on our Music Download, Peer to Peer (P2P) & Legal Issues forum.

Source: Physorg





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So proprietary..

Must use Quicktime.. Must use their battery and have them replace it.. Must use iTunes..

While its look is sleek (I like the black version), why have to be limited in using their stuff..
I would have bought an iPod when it first came out (6, 7 generations ago?) if it had an FM Receiver.

Still missing out, Apple.
AM and FM radio please, I want to be able to listen to the hockey games where I live
so it doesn't even play divx/xvid?
obviously the most request thing is a radio for the device, so there not paying attention to what the customer wants?

It carnt even play industry standard MPEG files, how lame
:S Isn't it obvious? Apple are just going for the bucks! They can't sell you radio as pay per view but Quicktime DRM'ed video will make them loads of $$$
Have any of you had an mp3 player with fm radio? It is pretty pathetic no matter the mp3 player (i have used Creative Micro). Most stations wont come in and if they do it just dosn't sound right. FM radio missing is ok in my book.
The usefulness of a radio really depends on the area of reception and whether there are alternatives. For example, an MP3 player's radio is of no benefit for those who listen to music while driving, since they can easily pop on their car stereo instead. The same goes for people travelling in hilly areas were reception keeps coming and going.

However, as I have been a frequent traveller by bus (until I got a car), I found having a radio quite useful for listening into programmes (not available as download) and news reports. Radio reception on a portable device is also a lot better on a bus than in a car from my experience, likely due to the seats in a bus being much higher up.

The one thing I have noticed about portable radios (on MP3 players, cassette walkmans, etc.) is that the reception depends a lot on the headphones as most rely on the headphone cord as an aerial, for example some headphones give better reception that others. Headphones that have shielded / twisted cable do not work well with portable radios, since these are designed to resist radiowaves, where as a basic pair of earphones tend to do a good job.
[edited by Seán on 13.10.2005 15:20]
Isn't IRiver Portable Mp3/Movie players better than IPoos anyday? Still thinking about picking up the 20gb PMC-120:

http://www.iriveramerica.com/prod/multi/

Or H10s

http://www.iriveramerica.com/prod/hd/h10_20gb.aspx

Clearly superior and open-OS/formats vs "George Orwell would be proud" IShiet..
They would have to pay royalites for each video ipod sold, whereas they own quicktime so there's no extra expence.
I suppose sometime in the future they could even charge the movie companies (or the MPAA) if they want to release movies in QT format.
"Have any of you had an mp3 player with fm radio?"

Yes, I have an iAUDIO M3L

"Most stations wont come in and if they do it just dosn't sound right."

Sorry you are wrong.
I'm using Creative's Muvo2 with the optional remote which also adds the FM radio option to the player. The stations sound good. I must say that I've only listened to the radio on couple of occasions (something about having 4gigs of music and not wanting to listen to commercials), but it sounds just fine to me.
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