Apple introduces updated video iPod

[AppleInsider]

Apple on Tuesday introduced its new iPod featuring a 60 percent brighter and more vibrant 2.5-inch color display for watching TV shows and now Hollywood movies right in the palm of your hand.

The new iPod features seamless integration with iTunes 7 and the iTunes Store which now includes over 75 Hollywood movies, 220 television shows and popular video games designed specifically for the fifth generation iPod. The new iPod is available in a 30GB model for $249 and an 80GB model, which holds up to 20,000 songs or 100 hours of video, for $349.

"The world's best digital music player has evolved into the world's most popular portable video player too," said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO. "The new iPod's brighter and more vibrant display and longer battery life make it perfect for watching Hollywood movies and TV shows right in the palm of your hand."

The new iPod features Apple's patented Click Wheel for precise, one-handed navigation, and is seamlessly integrated with iTunes 7 which now features gapless playback for enjoying albums the way they were intended to be listened to. iPod's new Search and Quick Scroll feature makes it even easier for music fans to find exactly what they are looking for and Apple's patent pending Auto-Sync technology automatically downloads digital music, podcasts, photos, audiobooks, movies, music videos and popular TV shows onto the iPod and keeps them up-to-date whenever the iPod is plugged into a Mac or Windows computer.



With its high-resolution color display, iPod allows users to view album art and photo slideshows while playing music, or watch video and play games in full color. Popular video games designed specifically for the fifth generation iPod include: "Bejeweled," "Cubis 2," "Mahjong," "Mini Golf," "Pac-Man," "Tetris," "Texas Hold'em," "Vortex" and "Zuma," and are available for purchase on the iTunes Store.




The 30GB model features up to 14 hours of battery life for music playback and up to three and a half hours of video playback, and the 80GB model features up to 20 hours of battery life for music playback and five and a half hours of video playback. The new iPod features brightness control allowing users to easily change the brightness.



Pricing & Availability

The new iPod models are available worldwide through the Apple Store, Apple's retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers. The new 30GB iPod model in white or black is available for $249 (US), and the new 80GB model in white or black is available for $349 (US). All iPod models include redesigned earbud headphones providing improved comfort, fit and sound quality, and a USB 2.0 cable.

Optional accessories for the new iPod include: Universal Dock for $39 (US), Apple Remote for $29 (US), Apple iPod AV cable for $19 (US), the iPod Camera Connector for $29 (US) and a new incredibly compact iPod USB power adapter for $29 (US) which at almost half the size of the previous USB power adapter, is perfect for charging your iPod while traveling.

iPod requires a Mac with a USB 2.0 port and Mac OS X version 10.3.9 or later and iTunes 7.0 or later; or a Windows PC with a USB 2.0 port and Windows 2000 (Service Pack 4), Windows XP Home or Professional (Service Pack 2) and iTunes 7.0 or later. Internet access is required and a broadband connection is recommended.

[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

[lhvide]

What happened to the horizontal full screen version?

[Caribou Killa]

Yeah i definitely feel cheated out of a TRUE iPod Video. New Nanos are cool and fine. But cmon when all you do is boost the battery life and the brightness after all this speculation (despite it just being speculation) it does kind of suck even with a movie service.

[wilco]

zzzzzzzzzz

[DeaPeaJay]

darn, I'm iPod less, and I was waiting for this. Now I'm not sure if I should keep waiting or not!

very dissapointing. But I've been without an iPod for too long, I'll probably end up getting the 80GB version.

[DeaPeaJay]

Oh, there doesn't seem to be an educational discount on these either. Maybe Apple wised up and realized they were losing a lot of money by discounting to their largest consumer base (students).... Either that or the store hasn't been updated yet

[melgross]

Originally Posted by lhvide

What happened to the horizontal full screen version?

What horizontal full screen version?

You mean the rumored one? The one that Apple never said anything about?

That one?

[1984]

Originally Posted by melgross

What horizontal full screen version?

You mean the rumored one? The one that Apple never said anything about?

That one?

Yes, the one that Apple needs to introduce to stay competitive.

[melgross]

Originally Posted by 1984

Yes, the one that Apple needs to introduce to stay competitive.

When their marketshare starts to fall, i'll worry.

It looks that they did just enough to stay competitive for the holiday season.

[bdj21ya]

So, my thought is that they'll probably come out with the real thing in October for the 5 yr. anniversary. If not, then by November to squeeze it in before the big holiday buying starts.

If that fails, than it will come out in January by the absolute latest (but not in December, that would be tacky). If not, then you can shoot me (though I'd really rather you didn't)

[1984]

Originally Posted by melgross

When their marketshare starts to fall, i'll worry.

It looks that they did just enough to stay competitive for the holiday season.

Their marketshare will fall if they don't stay competitive. That's the whole point. Microsofts' Zune goes on sale in a few weeks. While it's not something I would buy but there are plenty who will. Doing "just enough" and trying to coast by? Not a recipe for continued success. The nano and shuffle are nice but if they're serious about video they need an iPod that's not a toy for that particular use.

[ecking]

Honesly all it really needed to was to be brighter, it's makes it easier for the eyes to focus on.

I hoping for a 40gb but oh well.

And I don't remember microsoft or toshiba saying the zune could play sideways.

[drnat]

Will you be able to cue forward with it?

If you turn it off & restart, can you resume playing from where left off?

[mrtotes]

I think this takes the step towards, not the Video iPod we all know will come some day, but crucially towards a more functional device.
• The iPod now has a search function and text input.
• The games show just how versatile the click wheel can be made to be.
• The Nano gets voice recording.
Perhaps these are little details but they are steps towards a future device.

As Mr Jobs said 3 or 4 times - hopefully you get a feel for where we are going with our product lines.

[666]

BORING!!!!! Oh well, at least I don't have the want to spend money on a new iPod, that's a pretty stock update.

[WhetWurm]

Now about getting that search function on the "older" 5G ipods. Certainly the hardware is similar... just need an update right?

[Aries 1B]

Does the New and Improved iPod come with a magnifying glass? Perhaps a microscope?

V/R,
Aries 1B

[Eduardo]

Originally Posted by Caribou Killa

Yeah i definitely feel cheated out of a TRUE iPod Video. New Nanos are cool and fine. But cmon when all you do is boost the battery life and the brightness after all this speculation (despite it just being speculation) it does kind of suck even with a movie service.

My thoughts exactly (heck, I would have settled on a 100GB iPod).

[AaronHarmon]

Originally Posted by lhvide

What happened to the horizontal full screen version?

Agreed I have been holding off since April expecting the "True Video Ipod" I can no longer fit my library on my 20 gig. I'm sure as hell not buying a refresh when the next big thing is just around the corner.

If anyone wants to know when I true video Ipod is coming out, let me make a prediction. It will be a week or two after I get sick of waiting and pick up something else.

[FreeState]

Its just what I want - I do not want a full screen iPod (maybe a phone/iPod combo). Im headed down to buy the 80g as soon as I get done at work.

I really feel the "full screen iPod" everyone wants will be a new product and will not replace the iPod with Video.

[octane]

I can't seem to find the search function on my original 5G, am I missing something? It seems like this should be included in the SOFTWARE update.

Apple, if you're listening: long time hardware, software, peripheral, iTMS customer; I AM NOT HAPPY ABOUT THIS.

[monkeyastronaut]

typical. i suspected this. so it's confirmed? the older 5Gs don't get all the new SOFTWARE features? crap.

[Mr. H]

Originally Posted by DeaPeaJay

Oh, there doesn't seem to be an educational discount on these either. Maybe Apple wised up and realized they were losing a lot of money by discounting to their largest consumer base (students).... Either that or the store hasn't been updated yet

I find it takes a while for discounts to appear on Apple's education stores for new hardware. Wait a day or so, and discounts should show up.

[JeffDM]

Originally Posted by drnat

Will you be able to cue forward with it?

If you turn it off & restart, can you resume playing from where left off?

I'm not sure what you mean by cue forward.

I thought previous models can wake up even from deep sleep and start where it left off.

[Mr. H]

Originally Posted by 1984

Their marketshare will fall if they don't stay competitive. That's the whole point. Microsofts' Zune goes on sale in a few weeks. While it's not something I would buy but there are plenty who will. Doing "just enough" and trying to coast by? Not a recipe for continued success. The nano and shuffle are nice but if they're serious about video they need an iPod that's not a toy for that particular use.

When will people learn that the iPod is first and foremost an audio player?

It does that job better than ever and is now also cheaper.

I hope they never compromise on the current iPod's primary function of playing audio well. If they do want to be competitive in the video-player space, they should introduce an all-new, optimised iPod with widescreen display. This would necessarily be bigger, heavier and more expensive than the current iPod and therefore should be introduced as a separate product.

[Denton]

Originally Posted by 1984

Yes, the one that Apple needs to introduce to stay competitive.

Perhaps they'll wait until Zune is released, then pound M$ with this beauty: http://blog.wired.com/iphone/iPod_6G_by_Orson.jpeg (which you've all seen before).

It's also interesting to note that by dropping the price on the 30GB, they are forcing M$ to do the same when they have already announced that their 30GB player will debut at 399. I wonder if this was the point -- to force M$ to open even more in the red on Zune.

[ecking]

Originally Posted by Denton

Perhaps they'll wait until Zune is released, then pound M$ with this beauty: http://blog.wired.com/iphone/iPod_6G_by_Orson.jpeg (which you've all seen before).

That's a nice mockup! But at that price that guy would proactically be giving them away.

[kozchris]

just ordered the 80, should be here next week!!

[Macvault]

Apple showed updated, aluminum iPods today, except for the video iPod. The video iPod is the only one with an unchanged physical body. Could this indicate a totally new design (widescreen) in the near future?

[Aquatic]

Wow. These suck. No sideways video, no phone, not good.

Gee I guess I can wait another few months. Or a year. Or whenever they release that iPhone or at least an iPod with a GODDAMN MICROPHONE!

And the web designer needs to be slapped in the face. White text on black just looks STUPID. Man they are getting sloppy again, they need Zune to kick them in the butt and back on track. There hasn't been iPod innovation in a year.

[ApplePi]

What the heck are all you people complaining about?
What you are looking at is the video iPod, isn't that apparent now. Just because there were some rumors and mockups of full screen ipods doesn't mean Apple was ever going to make them.

Seriously, hundreds of hours of 640x480 (DVD quality) video in the palm of your hand that can also easily be hooked up to your TV. What more can you really expect out of a $250 machine at this point in time? Maybe most of you are too young or something to remember something called VHS not all that long ago. Two hours of much less quality video on a tape the size of.. well a VHS tape. Look how far things have come in such a short period of time and yet some of you are still complaining.

Enjoy what you have right now.
I don't know, I was happy with my 5G ipod and now I'm even more happy it has new life pushed into it. Would have been cool to see what you all are talking about sure, but it didn't happen and it's not a big deal. But maybe I'm just biased. Whne I bought my 5G ipod back in March people were rumoring about it being replaced a month or two later. Glad I didn't hold out. I've been enjoying it for the last six months and will continue to.

On a side note, Apple filed a patent less then a week ago for that new mutifunction device. It probably will be the new ipod/iphone/iwhatever combo. But you've got to give them at least a year to bring it to life, if it's even something that will come about. Until then enjoy the true video iPod now with movies.

[melgross]

Originally Posted by 1984

Their marketshare will fall if they don't stay competitive. That's the whole point. Microsofts' Zune goes on sale in a few weeks. While it's not something I would buy but there are plenty who will. Doing "just enough" and trying to coast by? Not a recipe for continued success. The nano and shuffle are nice but if they're serious about video they need an iPod that's not a toy for that particular use.

I don't think so. The Zune, and the service behind it will have to be much better than what Apple offers. If not, then it won't do much.

And with Apple, there is always the promise of something better just around the corner

Apple fixed some of the major complaints with bothe the Nano and the 5G.

They are also very clever. Remember that these are fashion statements as well. Somethine the Zune certainly is not.

Apple went from colored aluminun with the Mini, to black and white glossy plastiv with the Nano, and now back again to the aluminum.

People will just have to buy a new model to show that they have the latest one. They won't have a chioce.

Very clever.

[melgross]

Originally Posted by WhetWurm

Now about getting that search function on the "older" 5G ipods. Certainly the hardware is similar... just need an update right?

Not if the chips inside are different, which they very well might be.

[melgross]

Originally Posted by AaronHarmon

Agreed I have been holding off since April expecting the "True Video Ipod" I can no longer fit my library on my 20 gig. I'm sure as hell not buying a refresh when the next big thing is just around the corner.

If anyone wants to know when I true video Ipod is coming out, let me make a prediction. It will be a week or two after I get sick of waiting and pick up something else.

Then you damn well better buy one now!

[Mr. H]

Originally Posted by Aquatic

an iPod with a GODDAMN MICROPHONE!

Never going to happen.

Unless you count the microphone that will have to be in the iPhone.

[ryanx27]

The real news here is not so much the iPod -- still selling incredibly strong, btw, and no stronger than with 18-25 year olds, the big spenders -- but the iTunes movie service. I don't see how offering a digital music and movie player (one that looks slim and sexy might I add) alongside a very popular video and music download service, and making small yet steady expansions and improvements of each is "not staying competitive". My attitude is "if it ain't broke, don't fix it," but I guess I can see how this attitude can be mistaken for complacency.

That being said, I do expect a ground-up reimagining of the video iPod, possibly something along the lines of those rumors floating around this summer. As for when, well, safe and cautious to say it would arrive around this time next year. I imagine Apple's portable media strategy might need a shot in the arm then... it dosen't seem to right now.

Originally Posted by 1984

Their marketshare will fall if they don't stay competitive. That's the whole point. Microsofts' Zune goes on sale in a few weeks. While it's not something I would buy but there are plenty who will. Doing "just enough" and trying to coast by? Not a recipe for continued success. The nano and shuffle are nice but if they're serious about video they need an iPod that's not a toy for that particular use.

[F1Turbo]

I'm happy about this update, along with the price reduction. I never bought a 5G because the hard drive was no larger than my current 60 GB Photo, which is closing in on 2 years old now. I was hoping for at least 100 GB, but at $350, I bought it and it's on its way from Shanghai now. The video isn't a big draw for me, but am looking forward to having lyrics on my main iPod. And I'll probably buy a new Shuffle even though I don't need it because it's cool!

[minderbinder]

Originally Posted by lhvide

What happened to the horizontal full screen version?

It's not done yet.

Originally Posted by 1984

Yes, the one that Apple needs to introduce to stay competitive.

Sorry, I must have missed it. Who is selling a widescreen, gesture screen handheld video player? Link please?

Originally Posted by 1984

Microsofts' Zune goes on sale in a few weeks.

And it's not widescreen nor is the screen the full size of the unit. How is it even an improvement over the current iPod?


So does anyone know, does the iPod output 640x480 to a TV, when you use a dock or cable? Seems like it should, but I just want to make sure.

[farshad]

Im getting it for new games Can it finally run DOOM now without hacking ?

[WhetWurm]

Originally Posted by melgross

Not if the chips inside are different, which they very well might be.

I can't imagine something so simple as a search function would be deterred by a different chipset. Sure, there almost has to be new hardware to provide the longer battery life/screen brightness, but if they can make the 5G back-compatible to use games, why couldn't they provide a search? I guess it's because there's only so much time, and games bring in more cash than a search function.