New iPods (Again...)

[Joe Matt]

Seems that Apple is hitting all their competitors as much as they can. New iPods will feature a slightly larger screen (about 2.5 inches big), available in two configurations (40 & 80 gig), two colors (yes!), and finally............

VIDEO PLAYBACK

Watch iLounge.com and Apple.com today for more info. Live updates will be available at engadget.com and http://live.macobserver.com/article/..._keynote.shtml .

[Rafi Ahmed]

Originally Posted by JosephM

Seems that Apple is hitting all their competitors as much as they can. New iPods will feature a slightly larger screen (about 2.5 inches big), available in two configurations (40 & 80 gig), two colors (yes!), and finally............

VIDEO PLAYBACK

Watch iLounge.com and Apple.com today for more info. Live updates will be available at engadget.com and http://live.macobserver.com/article/..._keynote.shtml .

Thier making it 30 and 60 gigs.

Finally!!! i was expecting this a long time ago. but i would have like if they made an update for the photos instead of making a whole new one. now i have to go and buy another iPod.

Thier making it 30 and 60 gigs.

[Ryan M.]

I could have sworn they had a press release saying they didn't plan to do video...

[Ian Curtis]

Mac... Overload.... SWEET! Although I don't plan on buying an iPod (although I really wanted a mini) it's nice to see my favorite computing company coming out with new and innovate products.
However, I really don't see the point in video playback. Chances are it'll just give you a headache, or at the least it would give me a headache. I mean if you wanna watch a movie, buy a PSP ...

[Conor Ryan]

i'm pretty sure that joe was sitting here with the submit thread button as everyone was clicking on the refresh button on numerous sites reporting news. Well anyway with the Education Discount it goes down to $269 and $369. Theres not much of a market for it yet, but apple products have a tendency to create their own markets, pretty good startegy.

Did anyone else notice that the new iMac G5's don't have intel processors?

Also, look at the 20 hour battery on the New 60 gig ipod, the 30 gig only has 14 hours.


Don't Forget to upgrade to iTunes 6! It's free!

[Kyle Greer]

*cough* Just wait til the Mac QUAD intel hits the market.

http://www.hardmac.com/news/2005-10-10/#4588

http://www.macrumors.com/c.php?u=ht...10-10%2F%234588

Yes folks 4 CPUs!!!!!

[KenWittlief]

Will be interesting to see how this video Ipod does.

One of the problems with Mpeg video players is there is no agreement for fair use of copywrite protected movies. You are allowed to copy your own music CDs to MP3 devices (fair use)

but presently it is illegal to copy your own DVD to your own Mpeg player if the DVD is copywrite protected.

I have a RCA Lyra 2780 that copies movies directly from DVD players (if you know the secret to over-ride the copy protection) - and its an excellent way to watch movies and TV shows when you are travelling, esp if you use VideoEyewear instead of the built in 2.5" LCD

but if the video Ipod cannot record from a DVD player directly, or from a cable or satelite receiver, then what are you going to watch on it? where will you get your content?

[Joe Matt]

Originally Posted by KenWittlief

Will be interesting to see how this video Ipod does.

One of the problems with Mpeg video players is there is no agreement for fair use of copywrite protected movies. You are allowed to copy your own music CDs to MP3 devices (fair use)

but presently it is illegal to copy your own DVD to your own Mpeg player if the disk is has copy write protection.

I have a RCA Lyra 2780 that copies movies directly from DVD players (if you know the secret to over-ride the copy protection) - and its an excellent way to watch movies and TV shows when you are travelling, esp if you use VideoEyewear instead of the built in 2.5" LCD

but if the video Ipod cannot record from a DVD player directly, or from a cable or satelite receiver, then what are you going to watch on it? where will you get your content?

Spoon feed from the iTMS by Steve Jobs himself, silly!

5 TV shows are now offered, you have tons of video podcasts, and now music videos.

[Koko Ed]

I got a mini and that's probably enough for me right now (though I am quite intrigued by the 60 gig model).

[Greg Marra]

I got a 40 gig iPod Photo about 9 months ago, and I love it. I can't see myself shelling out the cash for an upgrade to a video or a nano, though I sure would love either.

I hear the TV show quality is quite poor

[Joe Matt]

Originally Posted by Greg Marra

I got a 40 gig iPod Photo about 9 months ago, and I love it. I can't see myself shelling out the cash for an upgrade to a video or a nano, though I sure would love either.

I hear the TV show quality is quite poor

Not that bad, I mean, you WON'T be watching these things on a plasma and going WOW, but still, it's usual divx quality (ie, they look as good as my bootleg TDS shows do). I imagine they will look steller on the iPod, good on a computer, and eh on a TV.

[Clark Gilbert]

I think these new iPod videos are pretty sweet, but who's going to pay $2.00 for 1 music video (just seems stupid to me)? I think the $1.99 is more reasonable for a television episode (any word on them getting more shows or maybe movies?). I'de still get the nano if my brother didn't have one, and I didn't have my normal 3g iPod. My Sony PSP still owns the iPod for video though

[Joe Matt]

Originally Posted by Clark Gilbert

I think these new iPod videos are pretty sweet, but who's going to pay $2.00 for 1 music video (just seems stupid to me)? I think the $1.99 is more reasonable for a television episode (any word on them getting more shows or maybe movies?). I'de still get the nano if my brother didn't have one, and I didn't have my normal 3g iPod. My Sony PSP still owns the iPod for video though

*raises hand*

I had to *try* it to see if it worked!

Too bad I'm not that interested in the TV shows they offer, hopefully they'll add some other content soon (The Daily Show! Family Guy! Adult Swim!)

[Mike AA]

Originally Posted by JosephM

Not that bad, I mean, you WON'T be watching these things on a plasma and going WOW, but still, it's usual divx quality (ie, they look as good as my bootleg TDS shows do). I imagine they will look steller on the iPod, good on a computer, and eh on a TV.

If you think about it, the video will probably look decent on a TV. Most TV's are lower res than computer monitors or LCD screens. I've recorded stuff off TV, put it on my computer and its OK. If I put my computer to output to TV the TV doesn't look at good nor as crisp.

If the price came down I would probably buy one, I would really like it if they had a video input port. then I could record competitions.

-Mike

[KenWittlief]

The image quality is a function of the compression ratio used. The 160 hours of video (or whatever they are claiming) is with the highest compression ratio, which will give you the lowest image quality.

There are several Mpeg players and recorders out now with 640x480 displays, that will record at 640 resolution with high image quality. The catch is a 90 minute movie will require 3 or 4 Gigs of HD space, so now your 30GB drive will only hold 8 or 10 movies, not 100

the direction the industry is taking with Mpeg video players is twords set-top boxes, like Tivo, that will record programs off the air, compress them to mpeg2 or mpeg4 format, and then you would transfer the content to your portable player, laptop, or desktop PC (wireless of course), and watch it when and where you want.

The two key factors are:

ease of recording and transfer (ie, fast and free $$$)

and image quality. 320x240 images recorded with a high compression ratio, the first time you see them you think "wow this is cool, Im watching a movie on this tiny little gadget". But after a couple movies you start to think "wow, this image quality is terrible".

To put Mpeg compression quality into perspective, DVDs are recorded in high quality Mpeg2 format. The image quality is excellent. Thats the level portable Mpeg players are striving for.

BTW, if you connect one of these players to your TV, with a low quality (high compression) 320 x 240 video, it will look like regular TV with a lousy antenna. Image quality definately shows on the TV monitor. The baseline resolution of a standard TV is approximately 640x480.