The video iPod is here
Sony's video iPod.
http://www.dynamism.com/hvp20/
It's 0.66lbs [11 oz], has 4 hour battery life (2 movies), a full 3.5" color screen, and integrated video-out.
Why can't Apple do something like this? Sony has shown that it is possible.
Now this product is about twice as heavy as the current iPod, but I'm sure Apple could work it's magic and reduce the size/weight under 8oz [eg to the original iPods' specs]. Apple could also add a low-power audio-only mode for music which the Sony seems to lack.
http://www.dynamism.com/hvp20/
It's 0.66lbs [11 oz], has 4 hour battery life (2 movies), a full 3.5" color screen, and integrated video-out.
Why can't Apple do something like this? Sony has shown that it is possible.
Now this product is about twice as heavy as the current iPod, but I'm sure Apple could work it's magic and reduce the size/weight under 8oz [eg to the original iPods' specs]. Apple could also add a low-power audio-only mode for music which the Sony seems to lack.
Comments
Originally posted by Existence
Sony's video iPod.
http://www.dynamism.com/hvp20/
It's 0.66lbs [11 oz], has 4 hour battery life (2 movies), a full 3.5" color screen, and integrated video-out.
Why can't Apple do something like this? Sony has shown that it is possible.
Now this product is about twice as heavy as the current iPod, but I'm sure Apple could work it's magic and reduce the size/weight under 8oz [eg to the original iPods' specs]. Apple could also add a low-power audio-only mode for music which the Sony seems to lack.
$700 for a square 3.5" screen to watch movies?
And with typical viewing angles, you're going to have to hold it for two hours while you're watching the movie. Maybe they'll market it as an exercise device also?
Originally posted by Existence
Sony's video iPod.
sony's video hunk of crap that's so big you might as well be carrying a dvd player or laptop.
looks useless to me. all I can think of is that it might attach to the back of a car or plane seat.... but then I think the screen is too small.
seems like a gizmo product just to have the gizmo product.
I don't think they are expecting to sell a lot of these.
This is why Apple doesn't make a video video pod. Who needs one?
Originally posted by concentricity
$700 for a square 3.5" screen to watch movies?
Some Japanese company demoed a wrist watch with a built-in TV many years ago (was it Casio?). I don't know if the gadget ever went to mass production, but it's as crazy as the Vaio.
Originally posted by ~ufo~
yeah...
looks useless to me. all I can think of is that it might attach to the back of a car or plane seat.... but then I think the screen is too small.
seems like a gizmo product just to have the gizmo product.
I don't think they are expecting to sell a lot of these.
This is why Apple doesn't make a video video pod. Who needs one?
Originally posted by Ichiban_jay
all I have to say is... eww
Originally posted by ipodandimac
sony's video hunk of crap that's so big you might as well be carrying a dvd player or laptop.
Gosh, what a bunch of fanboys. Wouldn't feel differently if the same device was white and featured on apple.com, would you? Props to Sony for innovating, or at least attempting to.
dglow
They approach ideas with the "should we" question, not the "can we" question.
that is why they are not building a video iPod, that concept is just virtually impossible to make as good as the iPod.
earbuds are relatively easy to cary around and give you a good quality sound, close your eyes and you're gone....
A 3.5" screen won't give you the same effect, cos you'd have so many moving things in your eyesight other than from the screen that it's just not relaxing to watch a film, Plus you'd have to look at the damn device all the time.
So goggles anyone? Very handy to cary around, you'd need a container like the ones you're supposed to cary your glasses around in. It needs be a hardcase of course, it would be big, very big. perhaps bigger than the vidiPod itself.
Also you can't share goggles, so if yer girl wants to watch she's just gonna have to wait for an hour and a half and hope the batteries last long enough to have her watch the film.
it's not that I'm against anything other than apple products, not at all.
it's just that the vidiPod idea just makes very little sense.
build it with a 3.5" screen and it would be a so so product.
build it w/ goggles and only freaks would use it.
As you might have noticed, Apple are trying to get out of the "freaks" field and into the high end consumer field whilst keeping the pros happy too.
copeland
Originally posted by dglow
Gosh, what a bunch of fanboys. Wouldn't feel differently if the same device was white and featured on apple.com, would you? Props to Sony for innovating, or at least attempting to.
dglow
But it's been done before like 4 times now... You're right about them attempting.
That's not innovation (And I am almost as much a fan of Sony as I am for Apple!) That's clunky and looks like it would end up where my old Sony walkman is now, at the bottom of one of the drawers in my room..
Firstly: They ripped the scrollwheel from the iPod and turned it into uglysville.. As well as the menus. (Which may I add, are only in Japanese...)
Secondly: I know because my dad bought a 'handheld DVD player' a few years ago. Aesthetics is a huge deal. Half the reason I'm a fan of Apple technology is because it is very aesthetically pleasing. You cannot fit that thing comfortably into your hand by the looks of it, well, not for the length of a two-hour movie anyway. It looks like that hand can barely grip it.
Try to fit that thing into your jeans pocket.
Jimzip
Agreed anyone wanting to watch "Lord of The Rings" on a 3.5" screen must be out of their minds. But there are plenty of other uses for such a device.
With the new insurgence of video mobile phones, sharing video clips, pictures etc. among friends is becoming increasingly popular. You could see something cool on the net, downloaded it to your iPod and show it to friends. With the increasing number of iPod attachments this idea doesn't need to be limited to showing comic clips down the pub. It could be fairly simple to attach an iSight camera to capture your own clips or with a video out option you could watch LOTR on your 30" Wide-screen TV. No need for a dedicated DVD player or VCR. A higher res colour screen would also be useful for showing off your digital camera snaps or even latest computer art work to a perspective employer.
Moving on to business opportunities the uses for such a product grow exponentially. As a student film maker I've long been using my 2nd Gen iPod to transfer rushes from the University editing suites to Final Cut at home. Back to LOTR and Peter Jackson and crew were doing the exact same thing. With a video option this idea becomes even more interesting.
With other devices like this Sony monstrosity pushing the boundaries and promoting portable video players to the public, Apple sure needs to have a Video iPod up their sleeve. And at the risk of repeating previous comments, we already know they are designing one (A certain Apple Job listing earlier this year). The video functions of such a device will never be its main usage. Steve Jobs knows that iPods will always be bought to listen to music, but that hasn't stopped them adding calendar support, notes or games.
A high res colour screen and video out option is simply the next logical progression. I mean why would anyone want a colour screen on a telephone??
Just think, if Apple shrunk this to ipod size, like Existence says (or used the iPod for this), you could have a nice small almost-PVR type of product. Alot of people have been asking for a PVR or set-top box, others have been asking for a iPod with video capability. Combine the two and you have a nice PVR/iPod combo. Add some of the nice features I seen mentioned above.
users will not watch a movie on a small colour screen. the smallest size is that used by some of those portable dvd players on the market, and they are generally bigger than what we are talking about here.
its delivery -- put a video out in, and you watch the movie on *your* tv of choice.
imagine this...
you walk in blockbuster. plug your ipod into a docking station, select the latest movie you want to watch. insert your credit card and it downloads to your ipod. then watch at home...
Now this product is about twice as heavy as the current iPod, but I'm sure Apple could work it's magic and reduce the size/weight under 8oz [eg to the original iPods' specs]. [/QUOTE]
What makes you think Apple can do any better in reducing size? Sony is only the master of electronics minituriaztion.
I don't see the need of this device, but I give Sony props for continually bringing new stuff actually to market. They have the balls and the audience(Japan) that eat up this kind of stuff. Even if it flops, they still try. Apple on the other hand, can't afford any mistakes and hence is more conservative in bringing it's products to market.
Originally posted by fred_lj
How would one actually go about putting DVDs, etc. on the unit? Will Sony (or Apple, if they ever do this---which I doubt) provide its own proprietary encoding software to take the stuff off the DVD? And wouldn't this be a tad touchy in terms of relations with movie production companies (at least not Sony, but you get the picture)?
well its the same issue as with music. DRM and all that jazz...
Originally posted by ~ufo~
apple ARE
Originally posted by dglow
Gosh, what a bunch of fanboys. Wouldn't feel differently if the same device was white and featured on apple.com, would you?
I wouldn't buy one. Whats the point? For a few hundred more get an iBook. Basically the same non-market as those tiny little "almost laptop" style DVD players. Neat and all... but do people really buy them?
Originally posted by dviant
I wouldn't buy one. Whats the point? For a few hundred more get an iBook. Basically the same non-market as those tiny little "almost laptop" style DVD players. Neat and all... but do people really buy them?
but thats not the point -- yes for a few hundred more you could get an ibook. but can you put your ibook in your pocket?
so small that you can carry with you anywhere (which is the USP of the ipod). as shown by the way things keep getting added to it -- notes, ical data etc.
so small you can keep it in your jacket pocket and not notice its there, or worry about that laptop bag its in.
as they say, size matters