Would you buy the new video playing iPod?

[Paul William]

Curious to gauge the interest in the new Apple video playing iPod. Would you buy it?

[ROF]

No sale here. I already have an archos that has better construction then those razor thin begging to be broke in half iPods. I can sit on my archos without fear of damage. The price isn't bad though and the option for downloading TV shows sounds interesting.

[ozymango]

Well, if I didn't have an iPod and was looking to buy one, I'd definitely get the video iPod. Is there even a choice anymore?

But I ain't looking for one so nope, not at this time. But then when it comes to watching TV shows from the day before, I still have a VCR (bought for $20) and a stack of blank tapes (couple of bucks each) that work rather well for me. Course it does mean I have to sit at home in front of the TV set to watch the show, maybe with some pizza and a beer, I don't get to sit on a bus with a bunch of other people and stare at a 2" screen for an hour so there is that drawback to my current viewing habit.

[ROF]

The TV show downloads are going to be a boon for other than US markets where TV shows tend to take years to be broadcast in their countries. I forsee Steve Jobs getting either slapped with a lawsuit or forced to give up $1.89 per $1.99 episode download to the production companies.

[Ironballs]

Bought a PSP not really for the games, but the top notch video playback. I love it

As for the Ipod, no way

[oldfart13]

As I understand it, the downloads will only be available in the U.S. I won't buy one since I can't make anything out on a screen that small. Also, I believe it will only accept H.264 and MOV formats. That's pretty lame, no?

[redwudz]

I've got a pocket PC that will show video in about any format and I tried a movie once, but lost interest because of the small screen.

[ROF]

As I understand it, the downloads will only be available in the U.S. I won't buy one since I can't make anything out on a screen that small. Also, I believe it will only accept H.264 and MOV formats. That's pretty lame, no?

That is rather lame. Releasing the TV episodes only in the US is probably a smart move by steve and co.

[oldfart13]

Specs from Apple site:

Video support
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

So, I take it no support for DivX and Xvid and definitely no support for QPEL and GMC...

[lordsmurf]

Nope.

[Paul William]

I can't think of any time when I could use it, other than when I'm eating lunch by myself. And the content? Despearate Housewifes on pay-per-view? Please. I won't even watch a single episode for free, and they want me to pay for it? Lame.

However, the price points for their different models are interesting...

Video iPod = $299.

iPod Nano = $199.

iPod shuffle = $99.

I'm going to guess that the cost (to Apple) of the Video iPod is the same as that of the Nano, so however many Video pods they sell will = additional profit.

They must be wondering what they can sell for $399!

- Paul

[GullyFoyle]

I might consider investing in these if they played video.
http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_1570835.html?menu=

Musical breast implants

Computer chips that store music could soon be built into a woman's breast implants.

One boob could hold an MP3 player and the other the person's whole music collection.

BT futurology, who have developed the idea, say it could be available within 15 years.

BT Laboratories' analyst Ian Pearson said flexible plastic electronics would sit inside the breast. A signal would be relayed to headphones, while the device would be controlled by Bluetooth using a panel on the wrist.

According to The Sun he said: "It is now very hard for me to thing of breast implants as just decorative. If a woman has something implanted permanently, it might as well do something useful."

The senors around the body linked through the electrical impulses in the chips may also be able to warn wearers about heart murmurs, blood pressure increases, diabetes and breast cancer.

[GullyFoyle]

I can't think of any time when I could use it, other than when I'm eating lunch by myself. And the content? Despearate Housewifes on pay-per-view? Please. I won't even watch a single episode for free, and they want me to pay for it? Lame.
Paul

With a VR headset or HUD you could use it while riding the bus, or riding in a car. With a HUD you could possibly even walk down the street while viewing.
This doesn't even take into account the bathroom breaks with porn. 8)

( Doesn't this remind anyone of Strange Days?)

[Paul William]

O.K. porn bathroom breaks. Now I see the market... Actually, I remember a time years ago (15 years) when a buddy handed me a keychain containing a little peepshow eyeglass you could see if you squinted and held it up to the sun. Now we can turn our buddies on to little porn flicks whenever the boss isn't around... If that ever catches on, worker productivity is going to tank! And there will be one more item added to the sexual harassment in the workplace class we are required to take every once in a while!

[mbellot]

With a VR headset or HUD you could use it while riding the bus, or riding in a car. With a HUD you could possibly even walk down the street while viewing.

Great. Now you'll never know if you were actually mugged or if it just happened on the latest episode of Law and Order.

This doesn't even take into account the bathroom breaks with porn. 8)

( Doesn't this remind anyone of Strange Days?)

I was actually thinking an older movie (80's) whose title escapes me at the moment. The one with the actress who died halfway through production...

Right down to the VR porn tho.

[handyguy]

Being deaf, I would want to know if there were caption options for any video. Matter of fact, is that an option on a PSP?

[edDV]

What is this thing for again?

[MOVIEGEEK]

What is this thing for again?

Watching porn. :P

The specs above look interesting,I wonder if it supports Nero Digital?

[CaptainVideo]

This device will tank like all of the Sony Digital Walkman's that didn't support MP3. No support for DivX/XviD means it is useless. Just like the first Creative PMC that didn't support either format.

Sure, you'll get people looking for just a regular iPod that will buy the video one because of the price, but they most likely won't use the video part of it.

And at $1.99 a TV show sales will be nonexistant. You can buy the whole 1st season of Lost on DVD for the same price they are selling the compressed downloads. At least with the DVD you can control the quality level and format you want it in. Okay, correction for $1 more you can own the DVD. It's $35.99 at DeepDiscountDVD.com

[mysticgohan17]

The number of people who aren't certified nerds and videos has to be considerably larger than the know-it-alls who'd never get one for this reason or that reason.

[celtic_druid]

It should playback Nero Digital as long as you stick with baseline profile features.

Tiny screen, base profile only, 2 hours battery life. I think not.

The PSP has a larger screen, supports main profile and probably has a longer battery life. Also there are numerous other portable video/audio players on the market already and as mentioned pocket PC's.

[vitualis]

No.

I would not buy an iPOD as an MP3 player and the "video" iPOD as woeful as a video player: tiny screen, no DivX/XviD support (means no content) and a 2 hour battery life is pathetic.

Regards.

[GullyFoyle]

There is an episode of Shameless where Agoraphobic Sheila has a therapsit run her through VR shopping. I imagine this could be a nice little gadget for therapy.
Or acid trips.

[mastersmurfie]

I was actually thinking an older movie (80's) whose title escapes me at the moment. The one with the actress who died halfway through production...

Right down to the VR porn tho.

Brainstorm??

I have no need (or want) whatsoever for one of these

[gadgetguy]

Nope. No interest at all.

[mbellot]

I was actually thinking an older movie (80's) whose title escapes me at the moment. The one with the actress who died halfway through production...

Right down to the VR porn tho.

Brainstorm??

I have no need (or want) whatsoever for one of these

Thats the one.

Having kids rots your brain.

[jdizzy40]

2 Hour Battery Life. Where are you reading this? Are you talking for Video?

[junkmalle]

What is this thing for again?

Watching porn. :P

Watching porn on that 2.5 inch screen will definitely make you go blind!

[celtic_druid]

For video, yes and I can believe it. My iPod photo doesn't run much longer than that. The only reason I got an ipod though as it was as far as I could tell the only portable player that you can control via a car stereo's head unit. So to me the battery life doesn't. Screen doesn't matter either since I never see it.

Raw video playback is working already via iPod linux. Who knows, maybe in the future they can get XviD, etc. working?

[Noahtuck]

Well...
I have looked at this thread more than a few times & no matter what, it wont let me vote

But no.... i won't buy a standard ipod let alone one that i could watch video on what ?? a 1" X 1" screen ?? i'm blind enough as it is!!!!!!!



Edit:
Now that i have posted, it gave me the option to vote