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"The market isn't ready for video iPods"

updated 01:15 pm EDT, Thu September 1, 2005

Market, video iPods

In light of recent video iPod rumors, one columnist at TheStreet.com predicts that for the devices. The columnnist says that Apple is wise to postpone the device, as it did with the iPod. "Apple is going to try to dominate the portable (and stationary) video player world and duplicate the success it has had in the music world. But the video iPod and iShow products just aren't reality yet, and the market is probably not ready for them anyway. Part of the secret of Apple's success in the MP3 market was that it had let the market develop and get beyond the very early adopter stage before it got into the business. Being the first mover is not always advantageous, especially in the consumer market."

by MacNN Staff

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l008com
Addicted to MacNN

Joined: Jan 2000

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09/01, 01:45pm | report spam | close Reply |
I think

the main thing apple waited for with the ipod, was hard drives with 5 gb capacity that were cheap enough to put into a music player. Apple is known for jumping in very early and then everyone else immediately follows suit.

Zaren
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Aug 2001

0

09/01, 01:51pm | report spam | close Reply |
iShow?

Wuzzat? Did I miss a memo?

scotty321
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Nov 1999

0

09/01, 02:15pm | report spam | close Reply |
Exactly

NOBODY wants a video iPod right now. NOBODY. Early adopters ALWAYS LOSE. ALWAYS. Apple will be wise to sit out this "trend" for at least several years, and see if it even develops into anything.

RAVH
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Jul 2002

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09/01, 02:24pm | report spam | close Reply |
VIdeo IPOD yes

I would love a video iPOD with the ability to download my favorite episodes of Spongebob at .99 cents and episode. I would love to dowload favorite episodes of cartoons, sitcoms, music videos with the abilty to make my own custom DVD. Also I have to be able to easily the plug the ipodvideodevice to any TV.

I welcome it with open arms. The ability to make a custom DVD with episodes from my kids favorite TV shows for those rainy days and long car trips is fantastic.

ffurillo
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Joined: Sep 2003

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09/01, 02:26pm | report spam | close Reply |
Not worth my time

Anytime one of these columnist start off by saying or implying that the IPod saved Apple, that lets me know that they really don't know what they are talking about and I immediately stop reading the rest of the article.

Feathers
Grizzled Veteran

Joined: Oct 1999

0

09/01, 02:28pm | report spam | close Reply |
PSP Anyone?

Yup, a wait and see attitude, particularly in relation to the video capabilities of the Playstation Portable, is probably very wise. Let Sony do the market testing and suffer whatever criticism is appropriate...and then...!

P.S.- I know there have already been video jukeboxes like the Archos, but let's face it, Archos wouldn't exactly score high on a high-street brand recognition survey!

koolkid1976
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Joined: May 2003

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09/01, 02:34pm | report spam | close Reply |
re:VIdeo IPOD yes

Did you notice the stuff you claim you need a Video iPod for has little to noting to do with a video iPod?

"I would love a video iPOD with the ability to download my favorite episodes of Spongebob at .99 cents and episode." This is what you would use iTunes or iVideo for. Not a Video iPod.

"I would love to dowload favorite episodes of cartoons, sitcoms, music videos with the abilty to make my own custom DVD." You use a computer to make DVD. Not a video iPod.

"Also I have to be able to easily the plug the ipodvideodevice to any TV." What do you need a TV for? The Video iPod screen wouldn't offer you sufficient viewing pleasure?

RAVH
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Joined: Jul 2002

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09/01, 02:45pm | report spam | close Reply |
Yes video ipod

Having all the video on a pod would negate the need to carry all my dvd movies with me and a dvd player. JUst carry my video ipod ad plug it in grandmas TV

rwahrens
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Joined: Sep 2005

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09/01, 02:45pm | report spam | close Reply |
get real

Get real, folks!

What most users want a video iPod for is just that - music videos! Apple already lets you view them on the iTMS - its just s small step to start selling them to you!

They're not ready for selling movies or TV content yet - what they want to do is build an installed base of video iPods, then when they have a large number of them they can entice Hollywood and the TV content providers to come on board.

There's one thing more they need before they can sell movies - bigger hard drives. When the small HDs they use get up in the bigger ranges, and Hollywood and the TV content providers are on board, THEN you'll see movies, TV shows, etc. getting sold over the iTMS.

Till then they'll sell music videos - the music folks are already on board anyway - it just takes a few additional wrinkles in the DRM and the agreements to iron that idea out.

How much do you think they'll sell a music video for? $1.99? $2.99? Or maybe $5.99?

paulc
Junior Member

Joined: Aug 2000

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09/01, 02:55pm | report spam | close Reply |
Buy???

BUY "music videos?" Surely you jest... what lame-o idiot loozer would pay money for music videos?

Oh wait, I forgot we gots scads oif such types... h***, apparently the tlecons grossed close to 3 billion bucks selling... ring tones!

rjlawrencejr
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Joined: Aug 2004

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09/01, 02:56pm | report spam | close Reply |
Video iPod is neat idea

The prospect of a video iPod is a neat idea that many of gadgetphiles might lust after, but take a step back and you can see there really is no market there.

The mp3 player market took off much like the portable cassette/CD player market did in the 80s and 90s. However, the portable TV or DVD player market has seen nowhere near the kind of sales numbers Walkmans and their kind saw or iPods and their kind are seeing now. I know I am stating the obvious, but it's not hard to figure out why since video demands more of your attention and does not afford you the ability to multitask in the same way you can with audio only files.

While it is true that portable video game consoles have had enormous success, keep in mind that you can play the same game over and over again and achieve new experiences. You can't attain that feeling watching the same episode(s) of your favorite TV series or a film repeatedly.

jbiskupiak
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Joined: Dec 2004

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09/01, 03:16pm | report spam | close Reply |
SONY PSP

Where do these so-called journalist experts come from? The market is ready and the SONY PSP is the first such device. Granted, it does not have the features that many are currently asking for, but it clearly demonstrates that such a device is possible and wanted.

Ambigram
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Joined: Oct 2002

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09/01, 03:19pm | report spam | close Reply |
I think it's a video iPo

I have a hunch it's going to be a video iPod. Sites like http://www.Cinematology.com are prepping for it, with full H.264 Quicktime 7 video downloads, DRM-Free to boot! Sounds good!

sc_markt
Forum Regular

Joined: Aug 2002

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09/01, 03:36pm | report spam | close Reply |
Video ipod not good idea

I don't see a video iPod doing nowhere as well as an iPod.

With an ipod, you don't have to watch the screen. Plus, the screen will be small.

A video iPod will probably sell about 11.30% of the total amount of music iPods have sold. How is the photo iPod doing?

A BETTER idea would be to make a video ipod that can drive a full size tv and that can be easily connected to it. Then, with iTunes, you can download a movie (vs using Blockbuster or Netflix) to your computer then to your video iPod, and then connect the iPod to your TV to watch the movie.

- Mark

koolkid1976
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09/01, 03:53pm | report spam | close Reply |
re: Yes video ipod

"Having all the video on a pod would negate the need to carry all my dvd movies with me and a dvd player. JUst carry my video ipod ad plug it in grandmas TV"

Now you are changing your requirements. But a video iPod would certainly not interface with your TV in the first revision. Do you have any idea what hardware power it would require to play movies on your TV? How many other Video players out there you see that does that?

koolkid1976
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Joined: May 2003

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09/01, 04:02pm | report spam | close Reply |
re:SONY PSP

I think more people buy it for the games, and not the movie playing capability. But I could be wrong since I don't own one. Anyone here has one? Why did you buy it?

iolaire
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Joined: Mar 2001

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09/01, 04:17pm | report spam | close Reply |
who says Apple is first?

???Being the first mover is not always advantageous, especially in the consumer market.???

Who thinks the Apple would be the first to have video? Others have had it for years, and a few people even like those players.

What Apple would do is release a product that would be become the gold standard when the time is right.

sc_markt
Forum Regular

Joined: Aug 2002

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09/01, 04:20pm | report spam | close Reply |
Apple make sure you

PATENT any ideas for this asap!!!!!

- Mark

ibugv4
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Jun 2003

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09/01, 04:21pm | report spam | close Reply |
WTF?

Ok.. again... iPods don't have a "photo" anymore, they all do that. Likewise, they can connect to a TV. If it can do a photo slideshow, then yes, the video output hardware could decode MPEG video and audio at the same time. iPod does not multifunction, it won't play music and a movie at the same time. So the current lineup could be modified for video easily.

Onto the iShow and all: yes, it'll happen in due time. I'd love to pay per show for my content and burn my own discs for my friends or family. Parents will love this as it alows them to monitor what their kids watch. Those who say it won't take off are naieve and are like those who said iPod would be a flop.

FYI: Kiddio who said you stopped reading when he said iPod saved Apple: IT DID. GET OVER IT. Apple would not be nearly as strong if it was not for iPod. I'm a tattooed veteran of the company, I know iPod saved them. Get over yourself.

jpellino
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Joined: Oct 1999

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09/01, 04:42pm | report spam | close Reply |
repeat the model...

I'd love to see them come out with an end-to-end solution for video as they did with iTunes/iPod (though IIRC they did it piecemeal that time).

In other words, an app that can be a virtual Tivo on your mac, then move videos to your video pod.

rjlawrencejr
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Joined: Aug 2004

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09/01, 04:47pm | report spam | close Reply |
Re: WTF?

"Those who say it won't take off are naieve and are like those who said iPod would be a flop."

If a video capable iPod comes to market and is a bonafide hit, I will stand tall and say I was totally wrong. However, I just have a hard time believing the masses will be drawn in.

As far as the iPod saving Apple, I wouldn't say it necessarily saved the company, but I think you're absolutely right that the company is much stronger and might I add, more relevant, because of it.

bommai
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Joined: Feb 2001

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09/01, 05:17pm | report spam | close Reply |
Video Audio

Video is not the same as audio. With audio, people don't mind lossy MP3s, WMAs and AACs. Their biggest criteria are 1) Does it sound good enough 2) Is it portable 3) User friendly 4) Store all of my music 5) Allow for a personal time alone (home, travels, etc).

With video, the trend has been BIG SCREEN TV with high resolution. Miniaturization has not been popular with people when it comes to video. If this was the case, people won't be buying big screen TVs in droves. To compare, people are NOT buying SACD and DVD-Audio players in droves and buying high-end audio equipment.

For these reasons, while I think iPod video may make it to the market, the real revolution will be a media center from Apple. Microsoft is more than half way there in terms of features, etc. but it is still too cumbersome and hard to use. With the unique style, user friendliness and system integration, Apple can wow the consumer with a media center that actually works!!

testudo
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Joined: Aug 2001

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09/01, 05:50pm | report spam | close Reply |
Not going to happen

Onto the iShow and all: yes, it'll happen in due time. I'd love to pay per show for my content and burn my own discs for my friends or family.

Sorry, but the video industry is NOT going to let you buy a show for $1 or $2 and burn it to DVD. I just don't see it happening. They'll want DVD prices, nothing less (look at the music industry, they already regret what they have now, and want to find a way to charge more, and limit more). And they won't want you burning copies for friends or relatives. h***, they won't let you take stuff off your Tivo without 600 protections against theft, and yelled when Replay added the capability to share a show with another replay device.

Parents will love this as it alows them to monitor what their kids watch. Those who say it won't take off are naieve and are like those who said iPod would be a flop.

How does this allow a parent to monitor what a child watches? First, they'd have to lose their TV service completely. Then make sure they go nowhere that a TV exists (like a friend's house). And then make sure they can't buy or borrow video from anyone else. Of course, to say this let's a parent monitor a child just shows me you're one of those people who don't actually want to activiely monitor what their kids doing, but be able to view a report that'll tell them (like you get with internet tracking software and the like).

You know, its really hard to argue that a service will succeed when you have no idea what such a service will offer. (If iTunes charged twice as much for music, allowed a song to be burned only twice to a CD, the iTMS would be a huge flop).

In other words, an app that can be a virtual Tivo on your mac, then move videos to your video pod.

It wouldn't be a virtual Tivo. A Tivo is more than just "I want to record this show and show it to me later". What you're talking about is a virtual cable 'on-demand' service that allows you to move videos to your ipod.

Ralf_Wiggum
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09/01, 06:06pm | report spam | close Reply |
I already have a 'vPod'

Its called a Sony PSP.

Plays movies, music, views photos, has WiFi and works great. It also plays tens of thousands of games via emulators or the assorted few PSP titles.

I usually don't even bother taking my iPod anywhere. 1GB cards for the PSP hold enough music - I imagine with 2GB I'd be happier, but those are awfully pricey still.

LordJohnWhorfin
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09/01, 06:24pm | report spam | close Reply |
Bull...

Of course the market is ready for a video iPod. Go to any store like Costco, Walmart, Target, etc... and you'll see portable DVD players with built-in screen flying off the shelves. It's pretty obvious millions of people are ready and willing to buy video on-the-go devices. What's NOT ready is content providers willing to face reality and realize that content is going to end up on portable devices with or without their collaboration. Until they collaborate with Apple to come up with a reasonable scheme that allows distribution of digital files without putting in so many DRM restrictions that they become useless, the files will circulate on P2P networks and play on homemade portables (Archos, PocketPC devices...) without the program owners getting a red cent for them. Fine with me, but let's not misrepresent reality. The public is ready, the market is ready, the content providers are just not willing to let go.

Miniryu
Mac Elite

Joined: Oct 1999

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09/01, 06:51pm | report spam | close Reply |
episodes yes- videos no

If you read around the internet, there is a way to download music videos from the iTMS already (latest version. I have the ability to geet all of those videos for free, yet I don't. I have a few really good ones (like Eminem's Mosh, Gorillaz' Feel Good Inc., and Green Day's American Idiot) but I can't see myself spending beyond a buck or two for videos. I see the general public wanting to spend even less than that. Epsidoes of a T.V. show are different. I hate commercials (the main reason I don't even watch T.V. anymore) and Tivo has demonstrated that people want to watch their television shows during their free time and not during schedules time slot. Me, I download an anime show weekly that is not available in the U.S. I would gladly pay a few bucks per episode to download it directly from an online store.

mhuie
Dedicated MacNNer

Joined: Sep 2004

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09/02, 01:22am | report spam | close Reply |
No way

I highly doubt the video ipod will hook up to a TV.

1. DVD quality content is huge. Who's going to pay $400+ for a device that hold 10-15 movies? I could buy a device for less than 1/2 the price, has a bigger screen and will play my DVD's without having to recode them... zzzzz. 2. Reading that much data constantly is going to kill the hard drive and the battery. Plus the hardware decoder is going to get hot. Fast.

3. Watching those TV-resolutions on its own small screen is going just as much a burden as watching them on a TV, plus it has to resize.

Selling content designed for the video iPod will bomb. That video played on my desktop is going to look like a postage stamp. No way I'm paying for a video that will pretty much ONLY look good on the video ipod.

koolkid1976
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Joined: May 2003

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09/02, 08:09am | report spam | close Reply |
Re: Bull

"Of course the market is ready for a video iPod. Go to any store like Costco, Walmart, Target, etc... and you'll see portable DVD players with built-in screen flying off the shelves."

How the h*** can you put a portable DVD in the same category as a video iPod? 1. Portable DVD Player doesn't have a microscopic screen like the iPod. 2. It uses DVD's. Most of us own DVD's. We don't have Movies laying around on our computers. 3. You don't have to sit around and upload a 4.7GB movie. You insert a DVD!

lightning225
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Joined: Jul 2004

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09/02, 01:37pm | report spam | close Reply |
ishow

i don't know if the world is ready for the video ipod but i know that many are ready for Ishow. i would gladly spend $40.00 a month on movies and tv shows to watch from my laptop (which i can hook to a tv) i used to be a big bittorrent guy and loved it i would love to dl seasons and shows i missed if apple can get the content vaults open (steve jobs is ceo of pixar) Ishow will be a hit also having new episodes available right after they premeir on tv will help. I think the success of bittorrent and the fear of the iraa (look for all the signs @ the movies about piaricy and on tv. as far as dvd pricing walmart has already cut into the profits. (i think $2.00-$.299) per movie or $.99-$1.99 per episode (with discount for entire season) would be a hit. you have to think it is alot cheaper to sell movies then it is to press them print covers ship and sell them. h.264 seems to take care of many of the bandwith issues. these are just a few thoughts. if you don't agree with me... Remember this is Americia you can be wrong if you want to.

mad_nasty_nizzle
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Joined: Aug 2005

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09/04, 07:45pm | report spam | close Reply |
tranfer speed rate

Correct me if i'm wrong, but wasn't it around the time the iPod came out that FireWire started getting really popular? It was a really easy way to get a lot of your music onto your iPod in nothing flat. My dad recently got a PowerBook off of eBay, and he copied over 40GB of stuff from his old computer over to it. Over FireWire, it took about two hours. Depending on the quality of the video, 40GB could be a lot or a little video. Then you also have to take into the equation the average size of a consumer's hard drive. Since my family is computer-crazy, we have a couple of external drives (one 200GB and one 250GB). Not everyone has that much storage space available to them. I thought most Macs had on average about 100GB of space (and usually that was another step up, usually from 60 or 80GB). I could see a video iPod, but I would probably say wait until FireWire 800 (or maybe something brand new?) is more widespread.

weevie833
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09/08, 12:59pm | report spam | close Reply |
p*** model

I think we have to take the historical view of how these sorts of technologies have grown as a result of the demand for privacy in consuming pornography (in all seriousness). The vcr was largely driven by p***, as were video projection, the Internet(s), DVD, video CD, compression, streaming, payment via internet, and now 'personal video devices'. The question is whether the p*** industry will see an opportunity to combine the market-proven delivery system of iTunes Store or other p-to-p with a particular end user device that 'satisfies' the consumers' needs. Once major cities get WiMax, there could be hotspots that one could receive live video streaming as well.

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"The market isn't ready for video iPods"

updated 01:15 pm EDT, Thu September 1, 2005

Market, video iPods

Related Articles

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I think

iShow?

Exactly

VIdeo IPOD yes

Not worth my time

PSP Anyone?

re:VIdeo IPOD yes

Yes video ipod

get real

Buy???

Video iPod is neat idea

SONY PSP

I think it's a video iPo

Video ipod not good idea

re: Yes video ipod

re:SONY PSP

who says Apple is first?

Apple make sure you

WTF?

repeat the model...

Re: WTF?

Video Audio

Not going to happen

I already have a 'vPod'

Bull...

episodes yes- videos no

No way

Re: Bull

ishow

tranfer speed rate

p*** model

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