For The Wall Street Journal, Walter S. Mossberg and his assistant Katie Boehret “took a couple of the new video iPods — officially called simply ‘the iPod,’ or the ‘fifth-generation iPod’ — for a short test drive.” Mossberg writes, “Our verdict is that this new iPod is an excellent music player. It has all of the strengths that have made prior iPods monster hits, and a few subtle refinements. Plus, it’s a surprisingly decent video player, with crisp, smooth vivid playback of TV shows, music videos, short films, video podcasts and home videos.”
“We wouldn’t want to watch a full-length movie on this iPod — the screen is just too small. But, for short things like music videos, video podcasts or even hourlong TV shows shortened by stripping out the commercials, as Apple is doing, the new iPod provides a pretty good experience,” Mossberg writes. “…just as the original iPod blew away the existing products with a superior combination of design and functionality, the video iPod has a good chance of doing so, provided enough video content becomes available for it, and people prove willing to view video on a 2½-inch screen… We found in our tests that it can get annoying to hold the new iPod in a good viewing position for long enough to watch a TV episode, because it doesn’t come with a stand.”
Mossberg writes, “Because these conditions are unknown, even by Mr. Jobs, Apple wisely calls this primarily a music player, with video playback thrown in, at no extra cost, as a bonus. And that description seems both fair and right. In essence, this iPod’s video capability is kind of a business or social experiment… The new iPod can display its video on a TV, with the right cable. But the cable costs $19 extra. And there’s a nifty dock, which might even double as a viewing stand — but it’s $39 extra.”
Mossberg writes, “To test the video, we downloaded two episodes of “Desperate Housewives” from the iTunes Store… a short film, Pixar’s “Boundin'”… a music video, “Weapon of Choice,” by Fatboy Slim… a free video podcast called “Rocketboom”… [and] we obtained from a friend an illegally downloaded episode of the TV show “Battlestar Galactica,” which she had converted to one of the video formats the iPod supports. All of these videos played very well on the iPod, though each looked better on our Windows and Mac computers, where they play back in a window that is much smaller than the computer’s screen, but much larger than the iPod’s.”
Full article here.
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Just a note, videos can also be played full screen via Apples iTunes. To watch a downloaded video, double-click it in your library or playlist. By default, the movie plays in the Artwork pane in the lower-left corner of the iTunes window. Use the iTunes Volume, Play, Pause, Rewind, or Fast-forward buttons in the upper-left corner to control the video playback. If you don’t see the Artwork pane, click the Artwork button in the lower-left corner of the iTunes window. To see the video play in a separate window, click the movie in the Artwork pane. To watch the video full screen, click the Full Screen button in the lower-left corner of the iTunes window.
To choose a default location (iTunes window Artwork pane, separate window, or full screen) for video playback, choose iTunes > Preferences, and then click the Advanced button. Make sure the “Play videos” checkbox is selected, and then choose a playback location from the pop-up menu.
Also note that the new iPods can display audio and video on any TV or other video device using a US$19.99 Apple iPod AV Cable. An Apple iPod Universal Dock ($39.99) plus an Apple Remote ($19.99, included free with the new iMac G5) are a nice solution for using your iPod to play video on any size screen. You can also use Apple’s $19.99 VGA Display Adapter to connect the mini-VGA port on many Mac models to any VGA-equipped monitor or external projector for video-mirroring. The VGA cable plugs into the VGA video-out port built into your Mac. Or use Apple’s Apple Video Adapter to connect the mini-VGA video output port on your Mac to any S-video or Composite enabled device (TV, VCR, or overhead projector’s S-Video or RCA (composite) cable).
Related articles:
NY Times Pogue: ‘watching video on new iPod’s 2.5-inch screen is completely immersive’ – October 19, 2005
MSNBC columnist: after initial coolness wears off, Apple’s video iPod will wind up in dresser drawer
Apple’s $1.99 iTunes TV show downloads may be ‘the savior of good television’ – October 17, 2005
Apple opens Pandora’s box for the media business, could have profound long-term consequences – October 17, 2005
BofA analyst: Apple video play an ‘evolutionary opportunity,’ 9.3m iPods to be sold this quarter – October 17, 2005
Apple has the potential to change not just the audio industry, but the whole entertainment industry – October 17, 2005
Advertisers welcome Apple’s iTunes Store commerical-free content – October 17, 2005
New York Times writer can’t think different: ‘video iPod may not be ready for prime time’ – October 17, 2005
Podfather: iPod porn is going to be huge – October 14, 2005
Forrester Research: Apple transformed music distribution, now it is doing the same for video – October 14, 2005
Watching episode of ABC’s ‘Lost’ on 2.5-inch iPod screen surprisingly compelling – October 13, 2005
Get ready for the iPod video torrent search sites – October 13, 2005
Apple’s new iMac G5, iTunes 6, iPod video designed to bait Hollywood – October 13, 2005
Apple video iPod+iTunes could create mass audience for video on the go, despite studios’ misgivings – October 13, 2005
Using QuickTime Pro to create videos for playback in new Apple iPods – October 13, 2005
Analyst: Apple has just produced ‘the tipping point’ for entertainment content – October 13, 2005
Apple’s video play likely to unsettle movie, TV, advertising and retail markets for years to come – October 12, 2005
Apple unveils new 5th generation iPod, now plays music, photos, and video – October 12, 2005
As always an excellent review
First POST!
I love the fact that they even tested illegal downloaded stuff too. LOL. The Movie industry is going to get screwed too just like us (the music industry) save yourselves Movie Industry!!!!!!!
Does everyone steal in today’s world? Sad.
MW–faith…says it all.
I think what i like most about MOssbergs reviews is that he actually uses the device in a way regular people would and also does a littel research before attaching his name to a story.
Far to many of the current crop of tech “journalists” skim a press release and maybe just maybe play with a product for a minute before sitting down and penning a silly and uninformed review.
Because these conditions are unknown, even by Mr. Jobs, Apple wisely calls this primarily a music player, with video playback thrown in, at no extra cost, as a bonus. And that description seems both fair and right.
And this statement shows why Mossberg is the preminent technology journalist out there today, and why MSNBC’s Krakow are clueless hacks who are more interested in trying to play “gotcha” with Apple.
It’s not right for Mossberg to out his friend who stole “Battlestar Galactica”. I’m sure men in black suits and sunglasses are knocking on her door as we speak. They’re probably even roughing up her dog.
“Youz steals one more movieses from us, and Beepers sleeps with the fisheses!” (One man holds dog by paws, other man punches dog in stomach) “I’lls tells the boss dat youz will be cooperatin’s!”
Yay, the first video I downloaded is the same as the first video walt mossberg downloaded. Weapon of Choice is an amazing video and currently its number one on the video store. It won best music video ever from a VH1 survery of music professionals and I’m glad that the itunes music video store is bringing it the recognition it deserves. It didn’t get nearly enough play time on music channels. Fatboy slim and Spike Jonze, the director must be psyched.
i think it is funny whenever people write FIRST POST but then get beat out…
anyway, i find that the ipod extras are way overpriced for how outrageously simple they are.
I can’t wait to try out the video ipod, it will be my first baby..order status says 7 days and as done for the last week…..anyone know how long it will be before they start shipping these things?
Where are all the video podcasts? iTMS has 16 of them at present. This should explode, quickly, but early adopters may be disappointed at the lack of content currently available.
Whelp .. a good ol’ New York minute (or two) is comin’ up pretty quick here. Hope we’re headed north.
Weapon of Choice was one of the four music videos I have purchased in the last week. Seldom do I see it played on VH1 so it is nice to finally own it.
My 3rd generation iPod does a great job for me but I’m really tempted by a new iPod in black…
Hey Music Industry Executive who posted above:
GO SCREW YOURSELF. People only stole music because of your greediness at exploiting consumers, and your lack of ethics in stealing from the artists themselves in the first place. You are worthless on this planet, and I’m ashamed to be breathing the same air as you, you piece of crap.
The new iPod can display its video on a TV, with the right cable.
I’m not so sure that this is true. I don’t think Jobs demoed this or mentioned it. His was ‘hotwired’ to mirror the display ‘bit for bit’ .. i.e. not usnig the composite out.
The iPod pages say that photos can be viewed on TV, but they don’t say that for the video.
Maybe they can, maybe they can’t, but I’m assuming that they cannot right now.
Scott Rose – You silly person. People stole music, AND people steal in general because its FREE. Go back to your basement you hate filled man you. Don’t speak while grown ups are talking.
MW Lack: You lack a brain.
I got mine. It is absolutely amazing. it shipped monday and I got it yesterday by the grace of god. It is revolutionary. The quality of the video is revolutionary. apple has done it again in a big way. This is going to blow up even bigger than music. I got the 30 gig white one. it is thin. I watched desperate housewives, lost, and pixar films. AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOW!!!!!!!!!!! it is the video ipod. it plays videos. It has the ipod video feeling. It’s what we expected the video ipod to be. Much better than that. Apple is supposed to be announcing amazing stuff today. digital camera, photo app, new powermacs/powerbooks, airport video? God bless. Good luck everyone.
Quite right calling out the Music Exec. People are only exhorting as much value as they can from the exhorbitant pricing your monopolistic ways have forced on us…
Oh, And I wish to to take back from you labels all your earnings from the LP’s and tapes I have bought over the years and am no longer able to use. Take that ya problem makers and start listening more to problem solver like Mr (to you) Jobs.
Scott Rose – u steel because it is u who is greedy and u do not want spent money on anything which may be “free”.
A quick test – have u donated anything via iTunes to Red Cross????????????
Macaday, using your argument why dont i wish to take back from Apple what I am loosing by having firewire and usb 1.0 on my first gen imac because lets face it. its pointless and useles to wait that long to sync my entire music library.
You are talking about taking back money becasue you are standing still(with your tapes and LP’s) while technology has moved forward?? LOL what a funny silly person you are! Go sue apple for making the ipod, and sony for making the cd walkman. They killed your radio star!
Warmest Regards,
Music Label Executive – ANON
I’m more than happy to buy new technology. It’s all new and necessary.
Conversely, the music I buy on iTunes is often music I have already paid for twice before. Same music different format.
That some people choose to share to mitigate the cost is not surprising. Because, as you must know by now, people feel you have been pulling our whatsits and getting very very fat on the proceeds – and often even at the expense of artists.
What we want is good honest trasparency – no more gut-bucket labels for us thanks.
Go iTunes: the only music label we need for the 21st century.
Article in the news today in the UK saying every person spends between £20k and £40k on music in their lifetime. So, they dedicate one or even two years of their working lives to making you labels as fat as you are. That adds up to an awful lot of money for what is perhaps 200,000 musicians?
….and even for the other half million Music Execs.
Going back to work now!
Hey Music Guy,
If I bought an LP, Cassette or CD from you wonderful distributors then I am legally entitled to use any tune on those recordings as a digital file on my iPod.
It does not matter how I get that digital file. I have the right to fair use. I have a right to own that file even if I download it from a P2P site. There is no legal way you can prove how I got it.
I am not living in the past. I am just not buying the same tune over and over again in ever changing new formats. Not all of your customers are stupid sheep.
Big AL et al,
If thats true then you also bought Max OS X didn’t you? go ahead then.. rip, burn and sell it do whatever you want with that copy cause its yours right YOU bought it afterall? I mean afterall you did write the code yes?
Oh and let me guess. you had all the tapes for star wars didn’t you? but when the dvd box set came out.. guess what happened.
Lame Big AL Lame.
P.S. All you lameos b*tchin about LP’s and old tapes.. there are devices out there to make your music digital and also, if you like wear a cool get up like “SUPER GREG” ..http://www.talonse.com/supergreg.swf…
and scratch away.
LOL Mac Losers!
I don’t believe people are actually arguing with a semi-illiterate troll because he calls himself “Music Executive”. Yeah, like he really is one.
Then again, if someone can rise to the level of Music Executive while writing like a high-schooler who gets C’s in English, that would explain the general retardedness of the music industry…