“The video iPod and powerhouse iMac G5 are mighty weapons in the battle to dominate entertainment in the home and on the road,” Arik Hesseldahl writes for BusinessWeek. “As with the first iterations of iTunes, which sported a library of only a few hundred thousand songs to download, the video offerings are off to a modest start. It won’t stay modest for long. With a device that can store 150 hours of video, the program choices will have to grow — and fast.”
Hesseldahl writes, “Portable video players aren’t a new idea. Microsoft has pushed its portable media centers since last year, through hardware partners such as Creative Labs, Samsung, and others. It also tried to create its own digital hub with the Media Center PC line, developed with hardware partners including Hewlett-Packard, Dell, and Toshiba. But neither the mobile devices nor the Media Center PCs have sold well.”
“Until recently, Jobs had been dismissive of the idea of turning the iPod into a portable video platform. Why watch videos on a tiny little screen when you can see them on a much bigger and better screen in the living room? This argument had — indeed still has — a lot of merit. But the iPod or a device like it has a lot of potential as a portable storage medium that connects directly to a larger screen, like a TV or a PC display. This iPod — note there’s no change to the name — does both, allowing you to watch video on its small screen or connect to a home monitor,” Hesseldahl writes.
“Microsoft had the vision, but lacked the ability to push it through in a way that consumers find compelling. It built an ugly portable product that’s confusing to use. Apple has a proven record of turning the needlessly complex into beautifully simple designs. Music videos and a few TV shows may be the first of its iTunes video offerings, but Hollywood can’t be far behind. The iPod, the new iMac and a faster wireless network will tie this digital media environment together. If Apple can’t do it right — and make billions of dollars in the process — I don’t see who can.”
Full article here.
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It appears that the “Digital Hub” Steve Jobs introduced several years ago is gaining more substance.
absolutely brilliant to not change the name. I hadn’t noticed that until this writer pointed it out. iPod Video immediately turns off anyone who doesn’t care much for video playback, they might not take the time to realize that he has all the same specs as the regular music ipod in a smaller enclosure for the same price.
Yeah, for me the idea of having the iPod as a music device controlled by the remote is awesome. Will we see Bose or other brands being able to use Apple’s remote in their speaker solutions?
I am gonna buy one of those new imacs!!
I bet Bill Gates and Monkey Boy are spitting bullets of envy!!
As usual Apple does what only others can not do.
R.I.P. Microsoft – 12th October 2005
They say Microsoft had the vision but not the ability, this is true – they have no ability, however it’s a stretch to say they even had the vision. I’m quite sure Jobs and Apple had the vision but then dismissed it as impractical at the time – it still is to an extent but these announcements push the market along nicely towards convergence between media.
They should have called it the VPX-1500vi.
yeah, the iPods are awesome.. but I can’t get over Front Row.. very slick
absolutely brilliant to not change the name
Can you imagine Micropoo exercising such restraint?
I think the video is great…
HOWEVER!!!
I have a nice HD screen. I don’t need an iMac, just a mini.
Please upgrade the mini to have a)better graphics card and b)Front Row.
BTW, no one is mentioning the fact that the iMac got a slight speed bump.
What makes this a great product is that everything announced yesterday are free add-ons to existing equipment with no extra cost.
If you are looking for an iPod the video is a free extra feature.
If you are looking for a computer the media center is a free extra feature.
hmmm…
I wonder.
Does anyone know how the Apple Remote works? via BT or irda?
I would think BT. Then Apple then just needs to release the Front Row software and sell the remote separately.
The remote is IRDA, hence the dark dot on the front of the universal dock and the dark plate on the superior face of the (upstanding) remote.
agree with AL, a better graphics card along with frontrow AND a digital output for 5.1 sound would turn the mini into the ultimate media center!
I watched the video feed of the announcement; very nice presentation (as usual). Jobs stated that the juxtaposition of the Apple remote with the monstrous MediaCenter remotes suffering button-pox was the best image demonstrating Apple’s goal.
MW: special, as in: “There is something so SPECIAL about Apple Announcements.”
I think the remote does both ir and bluetooth. I think the one you can get for the new iPod universal dock and the one included with the new iMac are the same.
On the tech specs page for the iMac, there isn’t any mention of ir.
I think the remote must have BT abilities, but that would be a huge battery drain.
I loved the slide with the remote, also. However, in Microsoft’s defense, the Media Center remote controls broadcast/cable TV where Apple’s does not.
al and emil-
the computer you guys are talking about is a powermac, not the mac mini. there’s a reason it’s $600. apple would kill powermac sales by making the mini as good as you guys are talking. they must keep product models noticably different. sad, but true.
Now we need a nanopow.