Apple releases video iPod

Thursday, October 13, 2005

Apple, the company that revolutionized how we listen to music with the iPod music player, is trying to do it again, with the release of the new video iPod on Wednesday!

The new video iPod comes in black and white flavors, as well as 30GB and 60GB models. The 30GB video iPod is capable of storing and playing up to 75 hours of video, or about 7,500 songs, or 25,000 pictures, and will sell for $299 USD. The 60GB video iPod will hold up to 150 hours of video, 15,000 songs, or 50,000 pictures, and retails for $399 USD.

Apple also announced a major exclusive deal with ABC Television Group, that will allow video iPod users to download episodes of hit television shows such as "Desparate Housewives" and "Lost" for $1.99 per episode, available the day after the show airs.

"It's never been done before, where you could buy hit TV shows and buy them online the day after they're shown," said Steven Jobs, Apple's cheif exacutive, whose other company, Pixar Animation Studios Inc. (PIXR), has a long relationship with ABC's parent, The Walt Disney Co. Short films from Pixar also will be sold via the iTunes store.

The video iPod, if embraced by consumers, could very well change the way we watch television programs.

Podcasts, downloadable mp3 versions of radio shows and audio feeds, have become very popular, especially in the past 6 months. Using similar technologies, video iPod owners will be able to download purchased video to up to five computers and transfer it to their iPods, but unlike the iTunes mp3s, they will not be able to burn the videos to CD.

One question I have, is whether or not the video iPod player will allow output to a regular television set?

Editor's note: Yes indeed, the video iPod does have TV out! Simply Brilliant!

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