Apple Now Selling Expensive, Restricted TV Shows Too
from the cue-the-fanboys dept
The long-running rumors of a video iPod proved to be true, with Apple today announcing new iPods with a bigger (though still small) screen that can play video, and the availability of music videos and Pixar shorts through the iTunes Music Store for $2 a pop, as well as episodes of some ABC and Disney TV shows. This seems fairly pointless when DVRs are so popular and so cheap now -- although, of course, getting your DVR content onto a portable device is another matter. There doesn't seem to be a lot to get excited about here, when Apple's selling a small collection of rather uncompelling video content in a format that's locked to the iPod thanks to Apple's copy protection (though you will be able to watch your pricey downloads on your TV, in stunning QVGA resolution). Part of the success of the iPod and iTunes was the ease with which it rips CDs, and organizes and transfers music. For a video iPod to be successful, Apple needs to come up with some software to make video ripping, conversion and transfer just as easy -- the idea that the only video content people will watch on their gleaming new iPod is content they buy from Apple is way off base. It's not the case with music, and it won't be the case with video either.
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You can put home movies and stuff on it, but there
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Niche market that can expand
I don't see this being a major feature ... yet. But let showtime or HBO or ESPN (hey, they're part of ABC) join in and a lot of adults who are constantly on the go will opt for this over something that might sit on their DVR for a few days and be old news by the time they get for it. Hey, take sportscenter with you on your ride to work or just to sit on watch on your lunch break. Everyday ?? No but maybe on Monday after the Sunday football is over.
This is all said with out trying it out yet so there may be a major gotcha in here but on the surface, I can see a niche.
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Re: You can put home movies and stuff on it, but t
I suspect that's the case for the iPod video, too. I SERIOUSLY doubt Apple would be idiotic enough to hamper their iPod video by requiring you to get Quicktime Pro after purchase.
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No Subject Given
As it stands right now in order to do this the official way, you need buy QT Pro. And you can not use protected content like I'm doing now with DVDs you currently own.
I might hire some people to stand guard and alert me to any HALO drop by the MPAA.
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Story of my life....
The video doesn't really appeal to me that much, as I've already got a Treo 600 that will play video and I still have my aging iPaq 3765 with a much bigger screen than the iPod so I've already got a gadget to do to that if I ever really need it.
But, still... not even a week old and it's obsolete...
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Firmware Upgradable
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Re: Story of my life....
Remember when the consumer cycle used to be about 18 months ? Think it's down to 3 months now and getting shorter and shorter as companies race to keep up with each other.
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iPod videos
like Microsoft. We should fully support innovation, not pushed demand. Pushed demand will never help our country's economy only support monopolists who stifle innovation.
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Kinoma Producer
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Re: You can put home movies and stuff on it, but t
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this is not a bad thing
I know that free, ad free TV shows and terabit ethernet to each house is what everyone wants, but that's not the case right now. $1.99 per show isn't bad.
This is not a bad thing. This is a pretty cool thing. For example, being able to watch a TV show on your iPod while on BART is a good thing. BART is usually too crowded to whip out a laptop, but a video iPod is small enough.
Also, you can put your own videos onto the iPod.
"Apple needs to come up with some software to make video ripping, conversion and transfer just as easy"
I hate to tell you, Mike, but Apple got a LOT of grief for the "Rip, Mix, Burn" campaign, courtesy of the RIAA. If Apple ventured into the "here, you can convert DVDs!" market, the MPAA would have an absolute heart attack.
Besides, Roxio already makes software for that, so why kill off their market?
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Re: You can put home movies and stuff on it, but t
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Expand the market
Apple can cover the kids (disney) ... someone else can step up for the 'adult' content and send this over the top.
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No Subject Given
Of course the dyed in the wool entertainment industry types are having mild strokes right now. "What about over-the-air viewing?" "What about ratings?!" Apparently, this announcement is akin to the sky falling for them, which pleases me. All they can think about is advertisers and their standard business model. Maybe this will knock them out of their oh so precious dream life and understand that media and the way people consume media is changing and will continue changing.
Locked to the iPod or not, this is a good move in the way of digital media. Putting power shows in the lineup of available content will make sales steady which will in turn make other networks and media outlets see the viability of this form of distribution. Although it may be a small step in the way of change, it is still a step, where before there was nothing but stubborn resistance.
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Re: Story of my life....
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This thing is SwEEt
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Re: Story of my life....
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QT Pro
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Re: QT Pro
http://www.audioutilities.com/ipod-video-converter/convert-dvd-ipod-video.htm
It can convert DivX, XviD, MOV, MPEG, VOB, DVD, WMV, AVI to iPod Movie / iPod Video format
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Re: dvd to ipod converter
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I can't wait to put my own mpegs & tv shows I mad
But I can't load them onto my iPOD??!!
This is outrageous. I can't wait for the free-source community to create some way for me to be able to load this content, on my iPOD.
Yep I bought the 7 Night Stalker TV series, so I could see how great it looks. I'm not even mad that songs are a buck, just that I can't even transfer them from one desktop to another, to load different things from different PC's
Apple needs to get off, it's protected content high horse, just as Sony(bmg) needs to get off it's loading DVD's with that stupid copy prevention software, that makes a PC think the disk has redundancy errors(AnyDVD 5.5.3.1 took care of that anyway)
Just my opinion,
John C
Pittsburgh
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oktayatko79@hotmail.com
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Re: Re: dvd to ipod converter
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Re: Re: You can put home movies and stuff on it, b
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re
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