Briefly: Nike+, iTunes video downloads, iSight

[AppleInsider]

Nike this week announced that it has managed to sell six times as many Nike+iPod compatible shoes as it has the actual sport kits. Meanwhile, Apple holds a commanding lead on the legal video download market. And, yes, the iSight has mysteriously disappeared once again.

Three million and counting for Nike

Nike, which reported financial results for the fiscal quarter ended November 30, said revenue grew 10 percent to $3.8 billion, compared to $3.5 billion for the same period last year.

During an ensuing conference call with analysts and members of the media, chief executive Mark Parker said the shoemaker's recent line of sneakers and accessories that work with Apple's iPod nano have turned out "to be huge."

Parker said runners have now logged over 3 million miles and over 3 million Nike+iPod compatible shoes have been sold since the first pair was introduction alongside the Nike+iPod Sport Kit in July. Several new Nike+ sneaker models are set to debut soon, he said.

Sales of the Nike+ shoes appear to be well ahead of the actual Nike+iPod Sport Kits, which as of September totaled 450,000.

Early next year, Nike is expected to introduce yet $80 Nike Amp+ bracelet that will allow runners to interact with their iPods without constantly fiddling with the players' sweat-slicked click wheel.

Apple dominates paid video download sector

According to NPD data recently cited by Forbes, approximately 1.2 million U.S. households purchased at least one video download from an online store during the third quarter of 2006.

Unfortunately, the bad news for networks and picture studios is that about five times that many households downloaded a video from a free file-sharing network -- and most of that was porn.

"Among the free video downloads from file-sharing networks recorded in the third quarter, nearly 60 percent was adult-film content, 20 percent was TV show content and 5 percent was mainstream movie content," the report states.

Of the paid downloads, 62 percent was reported to be TV content, 24 percent music video content and 6 percent mainstream movie content.

Not surprising, about 90 percent of the legal purchases came from Apple's iTunes Store. Another 5 percent came from movie-subscription site Vongo, 3 percent from movie download service Movielink and less than 1 percent from movie download service CinemaNow."

iSight gone again

Several readers have written in to AppleInsider this week noting that the Apple iSight webcam has once again disappeared from the company's online store.

One shopper claims to have been told by an Apple Store representative that the product is now officially discontinued.

However, a subsequent check produced a slightly more comical explanation. A store rep said he "wasn't given any information" on the disappearance from his superiors aside from being told that "it's just not there anymore."

[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

[Ireland]

iSights gone?

iSpy with my little "i" something beginning with "C".
Who wants to solve that riddle?

[sharp_spot]

Pity about the iSight going MIA. Would like to have seen Apple release a 2.x version, smaller and USB 2.0. Something about the size of a v2 Shuffle that could attach easily to the lid of earlier model laptops.

Ah well... "case o' rum, case o' rum".

[Macvault]

Glad to see iTunes taking the lead in video/movie downloads. But I HATE DRM! All DRM does is #$*^ up the world even more!

DOWN WITH DRM! DOWN WITH DRM! DOWN WITH DRM! DOWN WITH DRM! DOWN WITH DRM! DOWN WITH DRM! DOWN WITH DRM! DOWN WITH DRM! DOWN WITH DRM!

[Ireland]

I heard a rumor that "Macvault" hates DRM.

[eAi]

Originally Posted by Ireland

I heard a rumor that "Macvault" hates DRM.

Where did you hear that? I thought he was a huge fan...

[MacTel]

Originally Posted by Ireland

iSights gone?

iSpy with my little "i" something beginning with "C".
Who wants to solve that riddle?

An Apple branded camera that double as a webcam eh? A sure fire replacement for any iSight.

[rtdunham]

Originally Posted by AppleInsider

...approximately 1.2 million U.S. households purchased at least one video download from an online store during the third quarter of 2006...Of the paid downloads, 62 percent was reported to be TV content, 24 percent music video content and 6 percent mainstream movie content...Not surprising, about 90 percent of the legal purchases came from Apple's iTunes Store.

if my math's correct that means only 72,000 mainstream movie videos sold in a full quarter, about 64,800 of them by apple.

that's 21,600 per month, 720 a day, 30 an hour.

if those numbers are correct, that can't bode well for movie sales on iTMS. somebody tell me my math's wrong. the only glitch i can see is that the original stat (1.2 million) refers to households, not videos. What's a fair assumption: 2 per household? (I'd bet yes) 3 per household? that still only translates to only 125,000 to 195,000 videos sold by iTMS in a full quarter--or a rate of less than 800,000/yr and possibly less than 500,000/yr. iTV better be the bomb!

[aegisdesign]

Did Apple ever fix the 'dangerous materials' compliance problem with the iSight? It was illegal to sell it in Europe as it contains banned substances.

I wonder if they'll replace it with something cheaper/simpler soon or just sell the remaining iSights in the USA where the laws are slacker.

[mpconnick]

Originally Posted by rtdunham

if my math's correct that means only 72,000 mainstream movie videos sold in a full quarter, about 64,800 of them by apple.

Your math may be correct, but it might not be. It says 1.2 million households downloaded at least one video. Some of those households conceivably downloaded more than one, which would make your math off. Possibily just slighty, but there's a chance it could be substantially off.

We would need to know the total number of movies rather than households to determine the exact number.

[SpamSandwich]

Originally Posted by MacTel

An Apple branded camera that double as a webcam eh? A sure fire replacement for any iSight.

I'd buy that. I really don't care for my iSight. I don't want to mess up my monitor by sticking it on it.

Also, I've seen PC cams that are pretty interesting. There's one out there that can track your head movement and stay with your face, based on eye, nose, mouth orientation. Their software also can replace your head and body with an avatar that will lip-sync to your speech and movement. It's pretty impressive, and a shame there's nothing like it for Mac owners.

[kenaustus]

I think that the iSights are going to be replaced and Apple simply let the inventory sell out. Inventory is gone now, apparently, and we'll just have to wait and see what the replacement is - hopefully in a 3 minute slot at MWSF.

[Johnny Mozzarella]

Originally Posted by MacTel

An Apple branded camera that double as a webcam eh? A sure fire replacement for any iSight.

It would be a nice complement to the iPod, iCam.
It would be nice to have a very compact camera with good video and great photo quality.
And of course Apple simplicity and design.

[Bageljoey]

Originally Posted by rtdunham

What's a fair assumption: 2 per household? (I'd bet yes) 3 per household?
<Snip>
iTV better be the bomb!

Well, my household only bought one. It actually looks fairly good on my iMac 20" but it is not a place that I ever watch movies. iTV could change that, I suppose, but I still doubt that I'm gonna shell out $10 for a movie...

[SuRpRiSe]

Its time for an ADC refresh with inbuilt iSight 2.0 (like all the laptop screens). I think this will happen at the Mac World.

You either get a MacBook or a MacBook Pro (inbuilt cam) or get an iMac (inbuilt cam) or a Mac Mini or Mac Pro with an ADC (inbuilt cam)

Now everyone has cams!!!

Only thing left now is the iPods which will become the iPhone

[Slewis]

I've purchased about 5, 3 Movies and a couple of Music Videos. 2 of them in November, and the rest probably October, maybe one in September, in iTunes anyways.

Personally I rather like being able to purchase video in iTunes. But I agree with Macvault.

Originally Posted by Macvault

But I HATE DRM! All DRM does is #$*^ up the world even more!

DOWN WITH DRM! DOWN WITH DRM! DOWN WITH DRM! DOWN WITH DRM! DOWN WITH DRM! DOWN WITH DRM! DOWN WITH DRM! DOWN WITH DRM! DOWN WITH DRM!

[Ireland]

Originally Posted by MacTel

An Apple branded camera that double as a webcam eh? A sure fire replacement for any iSight.

Try again, the riddler is still standing.

[cherrypop]

Originally Posted by AppleInsider

Nike this week announced that it has managed to sell six times as many Nike+iPod compatible shoes as it has the actual sport kits. c][ View this article at AppleInsider.com ][/c]

Hands down, the Nike+iPod SK is the best Apple product I've bought in years (my first was purchased in 1986).

The Web interactivity is absolutely killer. If you're at all curious about the SK, log into Nike's site and see what they offer. It's insanely great.

I'm hoping against hope that Apple and Nike offer a cycling-specific Sport Kit.

I'm also looking for Apple to introduce a iPod Sport, which will have the Nike+ built in.

[Caribou Killa]

this really sucks for the iSight. I have an eMac and want a good webcam for Skype and what would go better than a camera built specifically for the mac? Certainly nothing from Logitech! Not to mention that if I try and get one now I'm going to have to pay a crazy amount from some ass on eBay. And putting them in the cinema displays is just not a very apple thing to do. I dont see that happening.

[aegisdesign]

You should be able to use at least some of the Logitech webcams with the free open source macam driver...

http://webcam-osx.sourceforge.net/cameras/index.php

[solipsism]

Originally Posted by Caribou Killa

this really sucks for the iSight. I have an eMac and want a good webcam for Skype and what would go better than a camera built specifically for the mac? Certainly nothing from Logitech! Not to mention that if I try and get one now I'm going to have to pay a crazy amount from some ass on eBay. And putting them in the cinema displays is just not a very apple thing to do. I dont see that happening.

I'd just wait until MacWorld; the 2nd Tuesday of January. I have a feeling that Apple will be releasing a new and improved iSight camera with integrated IR sensor.

[Ireland]

Originally Posted by Ireland

iSights gone?

iSpy with my little "i" something beginning with "C".
Who wants to solve that riddle?

Here

[ThinkingDifferent]

Maybe the iPhone will have an integrated iSight.

[Ireland]

Originally Posted by ThinkingDifferent

Maybe the iPhone will have an integrated iSight.

Res isn't high enough for a compact camera.