New Video iPods Underwhelming

[nbourbaki]

I just took a quick look at the new iPods announced today:

- Apple is introducing a new video capable iPod with 60 percent brighter screen. Battery life has been increased from 2 hours to 3 and a half hours when playing videos

- $249 for the new 30GB iPod video and $349 for the new 80GB model

I was really hoping to see a much larger screen for the video iPod. I can't believe we are looking at a second generation video product that has a screen size of 2.5-inch (diagonal). I was looking forward to updating my 3rd Gen 10gb iPod.

 

[uofmtiger]

I just took a quick look at the new iPods announced today:

- Apple is introducing a new video capable iPod with 60 percent brighter screen. Battery life has been increased from 2 hours to 3 and a half hours when playing videos

- $249 for the new 30GB iPod video and $349 for the new 80GB model

I was really hoping to see a much larger screen for the video iPod. I can't believe we are looking at a second generation video product that has a screen size of 2.5-inch (diagonal). I was looking forward to updating my 3rd Gen 10gb iPod.

The main issue here is portability. Creative, Archos and others make fairly decent sized video playing hard drive based devices, but they are too heavy to carry around when you are not interested in video. I guess that it what is causing iPod to stay so small.

I really do not understand how people watch movies or programs on screens as small as the iPod. I have a Treo 650 smartphone that can handle movies and mobitv, but it is rare that I want to watch movies on it. It has that cool factor, but after you get passed that, it is just another feature that I rarely use.

 

[Fisherdude]

The hottest new portable video players have screens the size of a postage stamp.

They come with a 40" diameter magnifying glass.

 

[willyrover]

LOL

Imagine that on the subway.

Seriously...why can't people just relax for 2 hours in front of their TV at home to watch a movie? No need for these silly little gadgets.

 

[nbourbaki]

I guess the short answer is I travel at least 40 weeks per year. I can watch a movie on my laptop, but it's a hassle on a plane and the battery doesn't last very long. I've resisted buying a portable DVD player thinking that a hard drive unit would be more compact.

 

[Fisherdude]

The new video iPod just moved squarely into the "you've got to be kidding!!" category.

I just read this morning that the ONLY movies available for download from iTunes is DISNEY ONLY!

You've got to be kidding!?!

I'm going to buy one so I can watch "Dumbo" on a flight to LA??

 

[uofmtiger]

I guess the short answer is I travel at least 40 weeks per year. I can watch a movie on my laptop, but it's a hassle on a plane and the battery doesn't last very long. I've resisted buying a portable DVD player thinking that a hard drive unit would be more compact.

This, and the subway example above, are the best reasons to buy the video iPods. I think I would get an Archos player if I traveled that much, but they are not as small. This addresses the reason they keep the screen so small on the iPod. Of course, they could expand their horizons and come out with a much bigger ipod that has a bigger screen (for those that do not mind having something larger) and I would not be surprised if they went that route sometime in the future.

I just read this morning that the ONLY movies available for download from iTunes is DISNEY ONLY!

I am not sure about the ipod, but there are programs that can take a vob file (the format from burning a DVD to a computer) and shrink it to play on portable machines. This is how my Treo 650 works, so I would not be surprised if there was a workaround for the ipod.

 

[nbourbaki]

Two thirds of the face of the new video iPods is click wheel and white space. I don't understand why they don't integrate the click wheel into the display which should occupy at least 90% of the face. This is a great opportunity for some other company to establish themselves as the standard for portable video while Apple seems content to milk the iPod name. I just don't see any innovation in the iPod video product line.