Apple Computer last week unveiled its long-anticipated video iPod, designed to dominate the online video-download market.
Apple CEO Steve Jobs believes that this may have a large impact on the film industry, in a similar fashion to that of the impact on the music industry when the iPod first was released.
The much-anticipated new iPods, available starting next week, will replace Apple's current 20-gigabyte and 60-gigabyte models. A 30 GB version will sell for $299 and a 60 GB will cost $399. On the 30GB iPod, 75 hours of video can be stored, and on the 60GB iPod, 150 hours can be stored. Despite these features, people claim that the screen may be too small for people to enjoy. It should be noted, however, that there is a feature where you will be able to plug your iPod into your television, and view video there.
To help complement the new video section, Apple and ABC have agreed to a deal in which episodes of television programs such as Lost and Desperate Housewives will be available the day after airing for $1.99 per episode. Other plans for the video section involve Pixar, an animation company owned by Steve Jobs, as well as Pixar's parent, Disney. In addition, music videos will also be available on the music store for $1.99 each.
The iTunes store catalog has grown to 2 million songs from 200,000 at launch in 2003.
The Video iPod was announced along with a thinner iMac, a multimedia manager, and an iMac with a remote control.
Analysts consider a video iPod a test of whether consumers would embrace video on such a small screen. Over-the-air TV services are already available for cell phones but the quality remains substandard.
According to Sony's chief executive producer Phil Harrison, the company isn't fazed in the slightest by Apple's decision to launch a video-enabled version of the iPod, a move which essentially means that the world's favorite portable music player can now compete with the PlayStation Portable on yet another front.
Harrison is correct in implying that the video iPod isn't really a threat to the PSP; while it has major advantages in terms of size and storage capacity, the iPod Video has a very small screen compared to the PSP and a very limited library of video content. However, this is just a toe in the water for Apple, and it would be short-sighted to assume that the company doesn't have a much more capable video device in its labs with a view to releasing it further down the line.
-- Compiled from wire reports
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