Apple to Introduce Bigger Video iPod

iPod-Concept06.jpg

Of course Creative and Archos have been producing these things for years but no one seems to care. Only when Apple decides to release a video iPod with a screen that covers the entire front of the device does anyone care. Though rumors have been swirling since last summer, it looks like this spring will mark Apple's introduction of a new video iPod with a 3.5 inch screen and a touch screen click wheel. No sooner have we all unloaded our wallets to grab Apple's first video iPod offering, many of us will frustratingly do it again upon release of this new device.

Apple has seen great interest in and sales of video content since the introduction of the first video iPod in October 2005 with 12 million downloads from iTunes. With content creators and networks making video content readily available for download, Apple isn't going to let this huge shift in content consumption behavior pass it by. The Register reports Think Secret has confirmed rumors Apple is nearing introduction of the device. Sadly, we're betting this touch screen click wheel is going to make for a very greasy, finger printed screen but that's not going to stop anyone from buying one.

by Steve Hall    Feb-16-06   Click to Comment   
Topic: Mobile/Wireless   

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Comments

It will come full-circle in 5 years with the rollout of Apple’s iMax. With 75' tall screen, it fits perfectly in your neighborhood.

Posted by: makethelogobigger on February 16, 2006 5:09 PM

Whats irritating about Apple is their nasty habit of repeated re-launching of a product making the older version seem like a very stupid, expensive and obselete investment. I remember doing this marathon research for the Mini on http://www.inods.com (a review search engine) and finally when I got the stuff, there they got the Video iPod.

Posted by: Greg on February 16, 2006 5:55 PM

Never has a Saturday Night Live skit been so accurate. My iPod was obsolete within 4 months of its release. Ridiculous. I waited and waited and waited for that color screen. Bang!! There it was. I bought it. Next week it'll be a doorstop seeing as how it's mammoth size and lack of video make me so ridiculously unhip. I am ashamed to be seen with it in public.

At some point, Apple is going to have to slow down before the irritation of things coming out too fast grows to an anger. I'm all about the advancement of technology and bigger and better toys, but there comes a point where I want to feel confident that the $400 I'm shelling out for a product doesn't seem like a waste of time or money 3 months later when something better comes out. Perhaps they should spend a bit more time focusing on strengthening the other departments of the company. If they want to be a consumer electronics company, great. Just tell us. But if you're going to keep saying that you are really a computer company, stop being the lesser of two evils and go back to being the better choice.

Oh, and Apple's iMax isn't coming out in 5 years. It'll be here 5 minutes after the iPod in this story is released.

Posted by: Brent Meyer on February 17, 2006 3:30 AM

Innovation is the key to technology. You want Apple to stop innovating and releasing better products? How do you think the first iPod came about, anyway? No, you just want to be the only one in your office with the best and newest iPod. That's stupid. Nobody complains about cell phone innovation, even though a new one is launched every other week. You know your cubicle neighbor has a better phone than you, but that doesn't stop you from using it. That's because you have a contract that doesn't let you drop your phone for another with better features on a whim. Thank God iPod purchases aren't contingent on a contract with Apple. I for one hope Apple continues to innovate and never stops. That's the only way they will avoid IBM's fate.

Posted by: Porridge on February 17, 2006 10:36 AM

I'm gonna agree with Porridge here. I was perfectly happy with my Shuffle until I fried it (entirely my fault), and it just happened that the iPod product that best suited me when I was in the market was a Nano. I don't need video on a 2-inch -- or 5-inch "wide" screen, and I don't need a 300GB behemoth.

It makes sense for Apple to roll out new products when they're ready so that those entering the market will buy them -- they recognize that not everyone's going to upgrade every few months.

Posted by: Josh on February 17, 2006 10:48 AM

Innovation, I don't mind. But not when they originally based the iPod on being small and cool, and now it seems to creep up in size with every new release. It can be as thin as a credit card for all I care, but if the other dimensions become too large, what's the point?

"Here's my iPoster. I know it's 30" x 40", but hey, it's only 1/64" thin and holds 1.21 jigawatts of music."

Posted by: makethelogobigger on February 17, 2006 11:46 AM

Porridge, it has nothing to do with wanting to have the latest and greatest toy. And, as much as I hate to inform you, I'm not a poor bastard who has to sit in a cubicle all day, so there's really no one sitting next to me to be envious of.

Innovation is great, I agree. But when a company flat out denies that they will be releasing any version of the iPod with video not only turns around and does it, but then will make the first version of it look obsolete in 6 months time is frustrating. I could care less about a video iPod. I don't travel or have any need to watch something on a screen that small. I was just trying to make a point. Apparently, you missed it.

Posted by: Brent Meyer on February 17, 2006 1:35 PM

Exactly the same point that started the debate on "innovation"...I agree with Brent and worse it is not even a 6 month time period.

All it takes is an "ass" behind a "smart" plan to make it "smartass" and it is "over" to begin with for "over-confidence"....I love Apple and Sony for their innovations and they really are way ahead of times...but when they are light-years ahead of an idea then I feel it is important to go a little slow. Come on, we are talking about lifestyle products and not tissue rolls.

Posted by: Greg on February 17, 2006 4:53 PM

so w/ the new one... won't the wheel get in the way of the screen? i'm not sure this one is so good... it actually looks kind of stupid.

Posted by: jackie on February 17, 2006 5:20 PM

Unless they've also innovated a scratch proof screen I don't see how this is a brilliant idea. The people that get angry about obsolescence are the people that buy $200 in protective extras. Are they really going to rub their fingers on the screen? I expect we'll see a lot disappointed early adopters with circle-pattern scratches on the left side of their iPods.

How credible are these early reports?

Posted by: Pat Smith on February 17, 2006 7:02 PM

yeah, but more than the scratch aspect --- the wheel BLOCKS almost 50% of the image on the screen -- how is that good?

Posted by: jackie on February 17, 2006 10:57 PM

If you don't care about video iPods, why care if they come out less than a year apart? I use the video feature on mine a few times/month on planes and LOVE it. Even though I just bought it, I'd definitely buy a new model, sell my old one on eBay and eat the difference as part of the curse of being an early adopter. We can't expect Apple to sell their iPods like cars -- one new model per year -- without the growth in innovation taking a backseat to what the consumer can "handle." After all, Chevy, Ford and Dodge currently have issues selling new models every year of something that's essentially the same design as a 1920 Model T.

Posted by: Porridge on February 17, 2006 11:26 PM

While I can understand the argument about a product being obsolete in 6 months with Apple's constant drive for the new, isn't that what everyone loves about Apple in the first place? Admit it, how many times do you find yourself checking the Apple website to find out what their new miracle product is? Even if this new iPod isn't realistic, the very fact that people are talking about it means that Apple is doing something right. Who would do this for Windows? And I'm a PC-user for Pete's sake!

Posted by: Doug on February 18, 2006 12:57 PM

Look back at your macosrumors.com history- when has any widely meme'd Apple rumor in the past year or two been accurate at all? Maybe 5% true. Steve has that place in lockdown. Apple is much better at generating unleashed hype than revolutionary products. Imac. Ipod. Everything else has been baby steps, although you get close to a Macworld Keynote and think the convergence of all media will be happening in a living room near you. That specultation has been going on for years. No reason to stop it now. Hell, I enjoy that kool-aid- we all need hope.

Posted by: zeek on February 20, 2006 12:39 PM

Sooo.....I didn't really hear or read the exact date for the release of the new IPod Video..I WANT TO KNOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: kathryn on July 8, 2006 12:20 AM

What really gets me is, the ipod nano 2gb is $200 while ipod video 30gb is $250!! logic would suggest that the nano should be less than half the price of the video... and another thing. i have a samsung phone, which rubs against my keys in my pocket everyday, and it has maybe two tiny scratches after about 3 months . i left my ipod video in my pocket, seldom with the keys, and it was scratched up like hell after one month. wouldn't it make sense for apple to use that same material for their screens? wtf!

Posted by: mindlessconsumer on October 18, 2006 5:47 PM

I so totally agree with your comment: mindlessconsumer on October 18, 2006 05:47 PM.

I've spent S0oooooooo much money on those clear plastic screen protectors for my and my daughter's ipods.

Posted by: Maria on February 7, 2007 9:32 PM

I so totally agree with your comment: mindlessconsumer on October 18, 2006 05:47 PM.

I've spent S0oooooooo much money on those clear plastic screen protectors for my and my daughter's ipods.

Posted by: Maria on February 7, 2007 9:33 PM