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Apple Music Event Sept. 7

922 said:
Umm... why? Why not make a new device just for video? A widescreen device that's just small enough to fit in your pocket. With new, innovative controls. iTunes goes to iFlicks, gets your H.264 movies, and shrinks them down to video iPod size. 1000 movies in your pocket! THen plug into a TV and play them on a big screen if you want.
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iPod brand name, maybe vPod, but that's all. I don't want to have to carry both a vPod and an iPod. Think about it.
 
Hattig said:
iPod brand name, maybe vPod, but that's all. I don't want to have to carry both a vPod and an iPod. Think about it.
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I understand completely. The iPod AV form factor could play music, but there should still be a smaller, lighter, music-only version so that people have the option. All I'm saying is that changing the form factor on the iPod is a bad idea branding-wise, but that the current form factor can't handle full-length movies well (2" screen!?), only music videos. Which would be a waste of video capability.
 
Applespider said:
Not a dig at you, Hattig, but am I the only person who really can't see the point of being able to download music videos or watch them multiple times. On the UK iTMS the new sniffies album was £7.99 normally or you could pay £9.99 to get a video of the current single and a digital booklet. I really just don't see the appeal given there are sites online where you can watch the videos streaming.

Movies and TV shows, slightly more although again, it would be more for those on long plane/backseat trips - commuters likely wouldn't use them much for more fear of mugging! Music videos just don't seem to have the massmarket appeal that would be required to make this thing take off particularly with Sony pushing the movie aspect of the PSP.
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Music videos = gateway drug.

Starting small and introducing the service with music videos would give Apple an opportunity to throw the record labels a bone and give them a couple of months to bask in the glory. An announcement that "we're working with a full range of content providers and hope to expand the content in the coming months" would let the world know what's coming. (And I'm talking about "Simpsons" downloadable episodes each week... and pocket porn.)
 
922 said:
Umm... why? Why not make a new device just for video? A widescreen device that's just small enough to fit in your pocket. With new, innovative controls. iTunes goes to iFlicks, gets your H.264 movies, and shrinks them down to video iPod size. 1000 movies in your pocket! THen plug into a TV and play them on a big screen if you want.
Click to expand...
Actually, the idea of low-resolution movies (ipod resolution = 220x176) would make a whole big lot of sense. It would be attractive to movie companies (there's no market for lo-res movies now, and might actually attract someone to buy the DVD), would be considerably less size than traditional DVD's and so easier to download - someone with more know-how could calculate how big a 2-hour 220x176 movie would be. And because of these last two, it probably wouldn't be all that expensive to the consumer (prob $4.99 for new releases/popular, $3.99 otherwise.) Who wants to bet you can make a movie that size to fit 60MB or 80MB (1/1000 of a 60GB or 80GB iPod).

dave
 
There is an article in the Wall Street Journal stating that Apple finally sealed the deal with Cingular and that the ROKR should be out by the holiday season. Supposedly this is what is going to be released on September 7th along with an update to the iPod line. However whether the phone IS the update to the iPod line I'm not sure.

Also Engadget is reporting rumors that THE iTunes phone will not be the ROKR but based on the Motorola E680i which has a touch-screen and stylus. Further speculation says that Apple could always come in and blow us away with a mobile-OS X although I don't see that likely. Here's the engadget link:

http://www.engadget.com/entry/1234000577056585/

Alls I have to say is that this looks like an event for the iTunes phone, nothing more, nothing less. To all you video iPod people I think you'll have to wait...
 
zwida said:
"Apple Computer Inc., in an effort to extend its strength in digital music to a potentially large new market, has reached an agreement with Cingular Wireless to offer a Motorola Inc. cellphone that will play songs from Apple's iTunes Music Store, according to people familiar with the matter."

They go on to discuss the event next week, etc.
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Pretty well torches my hopes of Apple as a micro-carrier reselling Apple-branded wireless on someone else's pipes.

Here's the Reuters article.

An iPod video is starting to make more sense now. Transition current iPod owners to an iTunes-capable phone, reap the licensing fee for doing little more than developing and supporting the software, and up-selling the buyer to an iPod video. Cingular will carry the ball as far as marketing the RAZR, and Apple can focus this Christmas on a new product that current iPod owners will want to buy.
 
Porchland said:
Pretty well torches my hopes of Apple as a micro-carrier reselling Apple-branded wireless on someone else's pipes.

Here's the Reuters article.

An iPod video is starting to make more sense now. Transition current iPod owners to an iTunes-capable phone, reap the licensing fee for doing little more than developing and supporting the software, and up-selling the buyer to an iPod video. Cingular will carry the ball as far as marketing the RAZR, and Apple can focus this Christmas on a new product that current iPod owners will want to buy.
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I don't see the iTunes phone being the new iPod. Apple sells hardware for a huge profit. Why would they shift that business away to other manufacturers for licensing fees? I can see them doing it as an add-on business, but it will never the be the main event for iPod music players.

I can see a video line of iPods, and havign that line eventually trickle down to the other players. Perhaps have a model with a bigger screen and video abilities at first, and them move the 'guts' of that machine into the regular ipods (with small screens) eventually so they can play video as an extra feature, but not the main function.
 
Dave00 said:
Actually, the idea of low-resolution movies (ipod resolution = 220x176) would make a whole big lot of sense. It would be attractive to movie companies (there's no market for lo-res movies now, and might actually attract someone to buy the DVD), would be considerably less size than traditional DVD's and so easier to download - someone with more know-how could calculate how big a 2-hour 220x176 movie would be. And because of these last two, it probably wouldn't be all that expensive to the consumer (prob $4.99 for new releases/popular, $3.99 otherwise.) Who wants to bet you can make a movie that size to fit 60MB or 80MB (1/1000 of a 60GB or 80GB iPod).

dave
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Even though a licensing buck is a licensing buck, the media companies have an incentive to protect their networks. If full episodes are not in the offering, I would like to see "bridge" content: a subplot that broadens and deepens a series without detracting from it, such as five-minute bridge episodes of "Lost" that would come out each Tuesday during the season. Or a series within a series that follows minor characters in a more major way or follows reality storylines in more detail.

If the networks can recoup production costs through licensing the original content, it makes for great brand extension of existing content and provides stuff that can be repackaged later on full-season DVDs.
 
mrgreen4242 said:
I don't see the iTunes phone being the new iPod. Apple sells hardware for a huge profit. Why would they shift that business away to other manufacturers for licensing fees? I can see them doing it as an add-on business, but it will never the be the main event for iPod music players.

I can see a video line of iPods, and havign that line eventually trickle down to the other players. Perhaps have a model with a bigger screen and video abilities at first, and them move the 'guts' of that machine into the regular ipods (with small screens) eventually so they can play video as an extra feature, but not the main function.
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I think we're both right.

There's a huge market for portable devices, and Apple is going to work every angle. I'm just saying many consumers that already own an iPod may be more likely to buy an iTunes-enabled phone or an iPod video than another plain-jane iPod. As the market grows, Apple will have to continue to find ways to market products to existing customers than want more than just the updated iPod.

I am a good example: I've got a 3G 15GB iPod that I did not replace with a 4G iPod just to get the color screen and bigger hard drive. But I am getting ready to replace my phone and would consider an iTunes-enabled phone. Apple didn't gross anything from me on the 4G iPod, but it might recover a licensing fee for my next phone or for a video advice.
 
Porchland said:
Even though a licensing buck is a licensing buck, the media companies have an incentive to protect their networks. If full episodes are not in the offering, I would like to see "bridge" content: a subplot that broadens and deepens a series without detracting from it, such as five-minute bridge episodes of "Lost" that would come out each Tuesday during the season. Or a series within a series that follows minor characters in a more major way or follows reality storylines in more detail.

If the networks can recoup production costs through licensing the original content, it makes for great brand extension of existing content and provides stuff that can be repackaged later on full-season DVDs.
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That's a really interesting idea. I'd like to see something like for 24 as well, but on the other hand, there are so few shows that could pull the audience for a tie in product like that that I am not sure it would work.

Yes, they need to protect their networks, but if they released shows later, as in around DVD release time, they wouldn't be hurting anything... They could also release the first episode or two of a show as a free download right as the DVDs go on sale as a promo/incentive to buy.

Along those lines, they could release the first episode of a new show as a freebie to encourage people to watch the series. Alternatively, you could sell the episodes a month or six weeks after release. Long enough that they shouldn't hurt TV viewship, but current enough that online sales could still ride the TV marketing/buzz coattails.

Whatever station carries Rock Star:INXS is selling either audio downloads or video downloads of the contestants performances via the MSN website. It seems to be fairly popular, and may start something if a big name player in online media distrobution (Apple) jumps on board. As big as MS is, they don't have the reputation and clout that Apple does nt he online media world...
 
Porchland said:
I think we're both right.

There's a huge market for portable devices, and Apple is going to work every angle. I'm just saying many consumers that already own an iPod may be more likely to buy an iTunes-enabled phone or an iPod video than another plain-jane iPod. As the market grows, Apple will have to continue to find ways to market products to existing customers than want more than just the updated iPod.

I am a good example: I've got a 3G 15GB iPod that I did not replace with a 4G iPod just to get the color screen and bigger hard drive. But I am getting ready to replace my phone and would consider an iTunes-enabled phone. Apple didn't gross anything from me on the 4G iPod, but it might recover a licensing fee for my next phone or for a video advice.
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That's true. I think the shuffle was as successful as it was because it was both a companion to someones 'full sized' ipod, and also a cheap way to get an ipod and try out iTMS, etc.

Phone licensing will be a market they will go after for sure, but you wouldn't want it to be as good as an actual iPod, as they don't share profits on the iPod with anyone, as they would have to with a phone.

If nothing else, Apple HAS to release a video iPod (and soon) along with some form of video store just in case someone else does it first. They had the first successful/profitable online music store, and the first mass adopted portable music player. There are already some portable media players, but nothing that would come even close to the numbers of vPods that would sell. If it flops, oh well no biggie, they move on. If it doesn't, well, I don't think Apple can afford to miss out on the next big 'thing'.
 
Porchland said:
I am a good example: I've got a 3G 15GB iPod that I did not replace with a 4G iPod just to get the color screen and bigger hard drive. But I am getting ready to replace my phone and would consider an iTunes-enabled phone.
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The keyword in there is 'replace'. I had a 3G iPod which was only replaced by a 4G one because of theft and my insurance company. It works fine and I have no need to upgrade it for a colour one, or even for a video one. When its battery life starts to die, or it fails, then I'll buy whatever the current model iPod is as a replacement whether that's 5G, 6G, 7G.

There's a small % of people who feel they 'need' the lastest model and upgrade often (since they can often sell at a higher price secondhand, they don't always lose out either) but most people work on a replacement model. You need a new phone so you'll consider an iTunes one. I've recently got a new phone so I won't.
 
Prepare for a let down.

Y'all get CRAZY with your pipe dreams to the point of getting all worked up over impossible gadgets (or impossible to make money off of).

It will probably be interesting and attractively designed, but it's not going to be the ultimate technogeek's wanker toy that so many are imagining because Apple has NEVER released something that lived up to the ideals and hype that their fans have created.

Best to wait and see and stay on your meds...
 
I think that it will be wireless video iPod, introducing iTunes 5 with downloadable movies at DVD quality with Dolby Digital 5.1 quality sound. It will be introduced first, but Steve will wrap up with a Apple home theater device with integrated TiVO killer that records HD plus tuner that will sync with the video iPod and allow you to watch your shows on the go.

That would revolutionize how we watch TV the same way the iPod revolutionized the way we listen to music. C'mon Apple media center. I'm tired of all the ugly Microsoft ones.
 
Titanium protection anyone??

I am sure it's about the iPants...after all, how are ya gonna carry the Moto Rokr phone with ya?? But I wonder...will they have the same sort of titanium protection as some Levi's models had in the past?? Ya know, to avoid mobile radiation in your crotch... :rolleyes:
 
From the people who gave you a way to put 1000 songs in your pocket: now the ability to put 1000 names, 1000 phone numbers, 1000 addresses, 1000 apointments, 1000 photos, 1000 documents, 1000 songs, 1000 videos, 1000 webpages, 1000 e-mails, and 1000 applications to run/organize/edit/play/view all these things into your pocket! (ok, a LARGE pocket)


No, I'm not kidding...I think the idea of the tablet/vPod thing is great! But PLEASE don't give me something large enough to comfortably view videos/DVDs/etc, that can't do anything else!!! I'm not going to carry both my 12" PB & something about 1/2 or 1/4 the size just so I can view videos... the small form factor of the iPod/mini/shuffle is great, and I can justify carrying both an iPod and a notebook. But I will not carry a notebook and a 6" screen video player... that's nuts...
 
Dave00 said:
Actually, the idea of low-resolution movies (ipod resolution = 220x176) would make a whole big lot of sense. It would be attractive to movie companies (there's no market for lo-res movies now, and might actually attract someone to buy the DVD), would be considerably less size than traditional DVD's and so easier to download - someone with more know-how could calculate how big a 2-hour 220x176 movie would be. And because of these last two, it probably wouldn't be all that expensive to the consumer (prob $4.99 for new releases/popular, $3.99 otherwise.) Who wants to bet you can make a movie that size to fit 60MB or 80MB (1/1000 of a 60GB or 80GB iPod).

dave
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I think you grossly overestimate the amount of people who would shell out lots of money for a VASTLY inferior experience. Audio works because you don't lose anything by making it portable. Only super-geeks would draw any enjoyment out of watching a 220x176 movie.
 
TobyM said:
all that excitement, and comparisons to the revolutionary launch of the first ipod, just for this ugly phone...
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The engadget report, earlier in the thread though, of it being a version of their recent touchscreen phone (currently running Linux) with stereo bluetooth headphones possibly running a mobile Mac OS X would be more exciting though.... ;)
 
Dave00 said:
Actually, the idea of low-resolution movies (ipod resolution = 220x176) would make a whole big lot of sense. It would be attractive to movie companies (there's no market for lo-res movies now, and might actually attract someone to buy the DVD), would be considerably less size than traditional DVD's and so easier to download - someone with more know-how could calculate how big a 2-hour 220x176 movie would be. And because of these last two, it probably wouldn't be all that expensive to the consumer (prob $4.99 for new releases/popular, $3.99 otherwise.) Who wants to bet you can make a movie that size to fit 60MB or 80MB (1/1000 of a 60GB or 80GB iPod).

dave
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I'm not worried about the resolution, but the screen size itself (2"). Who wants to watch a 2" movie on the way to work? It has to be at least 4" widescreen or 5" square for me to use it.
 
VidPod

I like the comment where the guy said 100 movies in your pocket. Steve, make 'em ship with Toy Story please?!?! :D
 
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