Prompt's TechBlog
Video iPod's here, but where's the decent content?
13 October 2005
Posted by Sean McManus
So Apple's launched a new video iPod. It's priced the same as the old 60GB iPod, has a slimmer figure and plays videos on its colour screen. Those who have already been sold on the idea of carrying 60GB of music around will effectively get video playback for free. But I can't see the video convincing anyone else to get one. For one thing, the hardware might be sorted, but the content isn't. At the moment, all you can get is pop videos (at £1.90 a time) and some US TV shows including the shockingly poor Lost.
You can't import your own DVDs into the device, and the content isn't any more engaging than the average slice of lazy channel hopping.
Even if you would like to own the video that accompanies your favourite single, you'd have to be a pretty hardcore fanboy to want to carry it everywhere with you.
Don't get me wrong: the introduction of video to the iPod is a great step forward. It could well help create the market for downloadable video, including independent productions. It's just a shame that they've made this great kit and you can't really do anything with it yet.
You can't import your own DVDs into the device, and the content isn't any more engaging than the average slice of lazy channel hopping.
Even if you would like to own the video that accompanies your favourite single, you'd have to be a pretty hardcore fanboy to want to carry it everywhere with you.
Don't get me wrong: the introduction of video to the iPod is a great step forward. It could well help create the market for downloadable video, including independent productions. It's just a shame that they've made this great kit and you can't really do anything with it yet.
# posted by Sean McManus at 4:28 PM 
Comments:
Hmmm, I was thinking the exact same thing yesterday while skimming the Web for a hard drive media player.
I'm about to start making a longer commute and so I finally have a decent excuse to buy a high capacity player. But now video is here to blur my purchasing decision. Mind you, some of the nattier Archos models boast DVR capabilities, which I'm rather taken with, especially the PMA 400.
But I certainly won't be recording the 'shockingly poor Lost'. Well said!
Maybe I should just save some cash and catch up on a bit of reading instead?
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