Apple Takes on Television. Watch Lost on Your iPod for $1.99 an episode.

[William C. Maune]

Today Apple yet again rolled out another update to its iPod line and now they play video. Besides music videos and Pixar shorts available for $1.99 each, episodes of Desperate Hosewives, Lost, Night Stalker, That's So Raven and The Suite Life of Zach and Cody are available for $1.99 each. Rather than just watch these on an iPod, you can also hook it up for your television.

Dang, that's mighty nice pricing, especially considering that it seems this isn't just for a one time/one day viewing of the episode (like some Video on Demand stuff). If this grows, it could change a lot of the DVD releases that have higher price per episode costs (especially anime titles).

[silverwings]

Today Apple yet again rolled out another update to its iPod line and now they play video. Besides music videos and Pixar shorts available for $1.99 each, episodes of Desperate Hosewives, Lost, Night Stalker, That's So Raven and The Suite Life of Zach and Cody are available for $1.99 each. Rather than just watch these on an iPod, you can also hook it up for your television.

Dang, that's mighty nice pricing, especially considering that it seems this isn't just for a one time/one day viewing of the episode (like some Video on Demand stuff). If this grows, it could change a lot of the DVD releases that have higher price per episode costs (especially anime titles).
Which iPod players does this work on? Any? All? A new one?

Will it play other forms of video like .wmvs, .avis, .mov, etc?

*highly curious*

[William C. Maune]

I'm not sure if all the details are out yet, this was just announced a few hours ago. At least I haven't done much digging yet, perhaps someone else has.

Depending on what video formats are supported, this could very well blow away the music/video capability of the PSP (especially due to the giant amount of memory that comes built in to the iPod).

[Funkatron]

http://www.apple.com/ipod/ipod.html

They'll be all new ipods, which will replace the current regular ipods

The screens are wider, and the ipods themselves will be thinner than the current ones. Apple will carry a30GB and 60GB Models with 75 and 150 hours of video respectively. Black and white available :D:D:D http://images.apple.com/ipod/gallery/images/ipodgalleryblackspin2005101.jpg

[Ed Liu]

Howdy,

The newly released Apple iPod Video (http://www.apple.com/ipod/ipod.html) is the only one that will play videos, although you will be able to watch them in iTunes 6 as well. 30GB and 60GB models at $299 and $399, respectively.

The exact formats that the iPod video supports are MPEG-4 and H.264 video (http://playlistmag.com/news/2005/10/12/ipods/index.php). I know both of them are supported through Apple's QuickTime (big surprise there), but I'm pretty sure there are other players that support MPEG-4, at least.

At $2 an episode, I may actually try watching Lost. Was curious about it after realizing that it was Paul Dini's show, but didn't feel like trying to get into the story halfway through the season, and REALLY didn't feel like spending the bucks to buy the DVD boxed set.

I'll probably give it a spin once I get home to see what's what. Pretty cool news, although I'm a bit disappointed that there were no new pro machines announced. The new 20" iMac is pretty sweet, though.

-- Ed/Ace

[William C. Maune]

I'll probably give it a spin once I get home to see what's what. Pretty cool news, although I'm a bit disappointed that there were no new pro machines announced. The new 20" iMac is pretty sweet, though.

ThinkSecret.com seems to think we will finally get new Pro Macs next week, maybe even dual core for the high end.

[Nin-Nin69]

Remember folks these are hard drives. So there is no real need to purchase episodes when you can rip your DVD's instead.

[William C. Maune]

Remember folks these are hard drives. So there is no real need to purchase episodes when you can rip your DVD's instead.

Unless you don't own the DVDs.

[Sigma]

Im glad I didn't buy an iPod photo yet. :D

[Nin-Nin69]

Unless you don't own the DVDs. Well that's the legal term I could throw around here. ;):p

Even so I'm still enjoying my Mini Disk player since the disks hold over 13 hours.

[Lord Dalek]

Doesn't seem like it's worth $399.

[livingfruitvirus]

Episodes are 320x240? Yawn.

[Aquadementia]

Well, it can also do
MPEG-4 video: up to 2.5 mbps, 480 x 480, 30 frames per sec
Which is SVCD quality. Some people may not care but that's still not DVD quality.

The good thing here is you can pick and choose the episodes you want to buy.

It's interesting that this comes the day after Microsoft settled their anti-trust suit with Real Networks, by forming a close partnership.
That's good in a way because Media Player sucks.
I'm sure they will be trying to get their slice of the video pie soon.

[William C. Maune]

Episodes are 320x240? Yawn.

A widescreen iPod (I wonder if you will turn it sideways to watch stuff) is supposed to be in the works for next year with a full-length movie selling service similar to iTunes, this is kind of testing the waters. Does anyone know how this compares to the resolution of the V-Cast stuff commercials have been running for? At the very least, the iPod has a ridiculous amount of harddrive space compared to a cell phone (or a PSP). And you can easily hook it up to a television.

[William C. Maune]

Doesn't seem like it's worth $399.

It's the same price as the old iPod, only it does more now. It's out of my budget, but they seem to sell like hotcakes.

[TylerL]

Doesn't seem like it's worth $399.
How about $299?
You don't always have to quote the hi-end price, y'know.

I already have people bothering me for TDA2Go(™) content. Is it worth it? :shrug:

[sKorpia]

What exactly is the market for this type of technology? I mean, 2.5" is a tiny screen. Sure, visual detail isn't so important for something like a sitcom or stand-up comedy routine, but for Lost, part of the fun is in noticing the little details in the background, especially now. Or is this ultimately the first step towards Star Trek-like PADDs?

And where would you use it? I can see in places that have a large percentage of the population using public transportation where a small visual device could be fun to have. If it'll be 10 minutes for you to get from one subway stop to another, may as well watch something in the meantime. America doesn't really have that though. So walking down the street? Exercising? Or doing housework? Then you've got the visual distraction plus you've lost the functionality of one hand cuz you have to hold it up to watch it.

I guess my main question is: Who will be the ones willing to buy them and why? Right now, it sounds like a product in search of a market.

[Tak Mazé]

I personally think it's a waste of money. I mean, you can use the iPod for it's intended purpose while walking around, even driving. But you can't easily watch video while doing this. Onlyn time I can see it bein useful is if you're sat waiting for something, and even then you usually aren't waiting long in this day and age. I can't think of any scenarios where I'd want to watch low-res movies on a tiny screen. At least with PSP and Palms you can watch with your mates using the built-in speakers.

[halinar]

Howdy,
At $2 an episode, I may actually try watching Lost. Was curious about it after realizing that it was Paul Dini's show, but didn't feel like trying to get into the story halfway through the season, and REALLY didn't feel like spending the bucks to buy the DVD boxed set.-- Ed/Ace
I guess I'm easily confused. $2 X 22 episodes = $44. That's more than the season box set.....

[Tak Mazé]

Hot off the presses! This is what Apple should have done :) http://www.pezmp3.com/index.php

[Ed Liu]

Howdy,

I guess I'm easily confused. $2 X 22 episodes = $44. That's more than the season box set..... I meant that I spend $2 to watch the premiere, and maybe another episode or two before deciding whether I like the show or not. If I do, then I buy the DVDs and get extras and all that other good stuff.

I also thought the box set was closer to $80, but I must have been thinking of Deadwood.

I guess my main question is: Who will be the ones willing to buy them and why? Right now, it sounds like a product in search of a market. I think everybody, including Wall Street, is focusing on the iPod video as the breakthrough, when I think it's the on-line video store that's the important change to the status quo. I don't own an iPod video, and if I buy one it's going to be to replace my venerable old 5GB iPod. However, I'm totally on-board to give a crack at a TV show on my computer at home.

The fact that Apple isn't charging extra for the iPod videos vs. the older iPod photo models can be interpreted as Apple still selling them as MP3 players primarily, with video functionality added for free. It's a gimmicky way to give all the people asking for iPod video players what they want, and is a retort to the critics who say that iPods are overpriced.

I think the iPod video is a stopgap -- if the video store does well, I'd expect a better, dedicated video player in the future.

EDIT: One other thought -- the missing link in the video store is getting shows from the computer to your TV, since 320x240 video is more or less what you get from broadcast TV anyway (I think). For this reason, the iMac with a remote control is also a bigger deal than most people are making of it. I could, at this moment, spring for a new iMac and a wireless keyboard/mouse setup, hook it up to my TV, and have a combo DVD player/iTunes video on demand setup with a remote that normal human beings can actually use. I don't think the iMac setup is the perfect solution, but it is a step in that direction.

I personally think it's a waste of money. I mean, you can use the iPod for it's intended purpose while walking around, even driving. But you can't easily watch video while doing this. Onlyn time I can see it bein useful is if you're sat waiting for something, and even then you usually aren't waiting long in this day and age. I can't think of any scenarios where I'd want to watch low-res movies on a tiny screen. At least with PSP and Palms you can watch with your mates using the built-in speakers. Wait, am I missing something? You can't watch movies or play games on PSPs or Palms while you're walking around or driving, either, so I don't see how the iPod functionality is a waste of money just because you can't use it while walking or driving.

As for the long waiting times, mass transit or plane travel would be a perfect time to watch video on an iPod. Mass transit only applies to those who live in a sufficiently urban area (I see tons of white headphones on the PATH and NJ Transit), but lots and lots of people fly.

-- Ed/Ace

[NinjaJack]

Wow, they raise prices just a little bit every time, this is going to spoill Apple more than Bill Gates children.

[The Dork Knight]

Kind of a dumb question here. I was wondering, I have a 20GB 4th Gen iPod. If I download a update pack, would I be able to view the video files or would I have to buy another iPod?

[Nobuyuki sama]

What are you talking about, NinjaJack? The price of the new video iPod with a 30GB drive is the same as the 20GB audio-only 'pod it's replacing. :confused:

Kind of a dumb question here. I was wondering, I have a 20GB 4th Gen iPod. If I download a update pack, would I be able to view the video files or would I have to buy another iPod?
You have to buy the new iPod. Different screen, different processing hardware, different line-out (although the Dock connector's the same).

[Chris Wood]

What exactly is the market for this type of technology? I mean, 2.5" is a tiny screen. Sure, visual detail isn't so important for something like a sitcom or stand-up comedy routine, but for Lost, part of the fun is in noticing the little details in the background, especially now. Or is this ultimately the first step towards Star Trek-like PADDs?

And where would you use it? I can see in places that have a large percentage of the population using public transportation where a small visual device could be fun to have. If it'll be 10 minutes for you to get from one subway stop to another, may as well watch something in the meantime. America doesn't really have that though. So walking down the street? Exercising? Or doing housework? Then you've got the visual distraction plus you've lost the functionality of one hand cuz you have to hold it up to watch it..

The way I see it, once the iPod can produce DVD quality video you just throw out your DVD player and hook up your iPod to the TV.

What's the advantage? Simple. It holds dozens of movies, so you can save on shelf space. Better yet, you can take it anywhere. Use it in hotel rooms, friends' houses, the office, etc. Anywhere you can find a semi-modern TV it's movie time.

[William C. Maune]

Wow, they raise prices just a little bit every time, this is going to spoill Apple more than Bill Gates children.

The prices didn't change it all. Now you actually get more functionality for the same price they were previously charging.

[Tapout]

Well, they're selling the entire season 1 of lost for $35, which is actually less than the DVDs. It's just 1.99/episode if you're buying them seperately, which I have to do since I forgot to set my VCR on Wednesday. :(

I've downloaded the first 3 episodes of season 2 and I'm trying to get them onto my PSP but I don't know where to begin. Does iTunes have some sort of "screw PSP owners" policy and is purposly not letting me do this or am I just an idiot?

[atf487]

Dirtbag: Welcome to the world of DRM. You won't be able to play those videos on your PSP.

I think the video iPod is a hell of a deal, though. For an extra 0 dollars, you get 10 more gigs and video capabilities. The only thing that you may want to be wary of is that a 30 gig player only gets 2 hours of video off the battery, which personally is unacceptable. 60 gig gets 3 hours, but thats still not up to snuff with the PSP's 5 or so hours.

[Tapout]

Dirtbag: Welcome to the world of DRM. You won't be able to play those videos on your PSP. Yes you will. At least now I know you're not supposed to be able to play them on PSP, but the devs have figured a way around everything else. They'll get this too even if it takes awhile.

[catwoman]

This is exactly why I haven't bought an Ipod yet.

My phone plays video, mp3 and has word, excel and outlook. I can update appointments, listen to my lectures, read class notes, and watch videos if I want. And it only cost me 300 $ (that's with my 100$ and signing on for another 2 years).

We are moving closer to all in one devices. I don't know why anyone would shell out over 100$ for something that has 20gigs and can only play mp3s. Whenever I see someone with an iPod, I think "Tool". Whenever I see someone with the "latest Apple technology", I think "Tool with money".

There are a lot better devices out there.

On the other hand, I would kill for tv companies to start selling their episodes online. I would totally shell out 2$ for the latest "House, MD" or "Law and Order".

[Ed Liu]

Howdy,

I've downloaded the first 3 episodes of season 2 and I'm trying to get them onto my PSP but I don't know where to begin. Does iTunes have some sort of "screw PSP owners" policy and is purposly not letting me do this or am I just an idiot?
There's a suggestion for how to do this (http://www.macintouch.com/itunes31.html#oct18) on Macintouch's report today. Unfortunately, I think they say these are for the "free" videos, meaning the music videos and not the ones that are encoded with DRM from the iTunes Music Store, but it can't hurt to give it a shot.

-- Ed/Ace