Video iPod with 4 Inch Screen? iTunes Movies?

[boncellis]

.Mac Storage

This is absolutely right. Almost no one has the hard drive space to store even five or ten movies. The rumor from late last year about streaming (a la the incredible front row trailer streaming) seems like the best way to go on this issue.

If I'm not mistaken, the storage allowance of the .Mac services were recently upgraded to 1TB. Is that correct? I always thought this would somehow be related to something like the provision of high(er) quality and longer video content within iTMS.

 

[vienna]

What about the cost of bandwidth ?

Wouldn't a subscription (or let's call it what it is - a rental) based system cost Apple much more in terms of bandwidth per dollar as opposed to a buy and own system ?

I can see why the movie studios would not care but it could make it much less attractive to Apple if they are hosting servers pushing out an unlimited number of movie downloads for a limited amount of money.

 

[narco]

With respect to ThinkSecret, I'll believe it when I see it. I think it's obvious a full screen iPod is the next step in iPod development and the recent patent filings seem to confirm this.

Don't get me wrong, rumor sites are all well and good (and obviously I'm posting on one, so hey ), but it is annoying when the rumor sites quote "reliable" sources who give nothing more than vague and general information. \

Well, ThinkSecret has been pretty spot-on with their rumors, so I usually give them and AppleInsider the benefit of the doubt. It is the next logical step, but I think they'd have to have a little bit more info to actually post it on their site. Otherwise, they'd have posts about how Apple plans on using 1GB of RAM standard on all new Macs and iLife '07 will come out sometime in 2007.

Fishes,
narco.

 

[pale9]

Movie Company Marketing Boneheads

the big tamales in the movie business are just as stupid as their counterparts in the music industry when it comes to marketing over the internet.
it took steve jobs to show these overpaid dudes how to sell their own product. now, the greed in the movie business once again trumps their understanding of how consumers think. they just want to shove their idiotic subscription model down the customers throat, like it or not. i think it all comes down to a severe case of jealosy. they want to prove to themselves that they are also able to come up with good ideas and that jobs was just lucky.

 

[age234]

I wasn't kidding. I know about the previous mockups... but is that really a 4" screen with a 1/4" border on a 5G iPod?

Oh. I thought you were being festitious.

I don't have a 5G iPod, but judging from my 4G, I would feel comfortable saying the mockups are accurate to the story's description.

 

[nxent]

makes sense, maybe that's why tuesday's product release was weak. i really hope the movie industry comes around with the 'pay to own' system.

 

[RonR]

I for one would prefer a movie subscription service. As other's have said, music I can listen to over and over, whereas most movies I watch just once. And currently I would just buy a DVD of movies that I want to own. So the subscription plus option to buy would be perfect for me.

The big question is what would the movie format be? I can't imagine anything much less than DVD quality would be viable. Some type of HD format be even better, but then you run into problems with selecting which format (720p, 1080i, etc), time it takes to download, storage space requirements, etc.

Can't wait to see what Steve unveils for the April 1st anniversary...

Ron

 

[boncellis]

Hear Hear

the big tamales in the movie business are just as stupid as their counterparts in the music industry when it comes to marketing over the internet.
it took steve jobs to show these overpaid dudes how to sell their own product. now, the greed in the movie business once again trumps their understanding of how consumers think. they just want to shove their idiotic subscription model down the customers throat, like it or not. i think it all comes down to a severe case of jealosy. they want to prove to themselves that they are also able to come up with good ideas and that jobs was just lucky.

I wholeheartedly concur.

 

[Avicdar]

Am I off base in thinking that the success of the iTMS hinges largely on its unique DRM model?

I think that is part of it. Most likely though, Apples seamless integration, interface, and the overall 'experience' is what made the ITMS what it is. Apple thought through everything from browsing the songs to getting them onto the iPod. One click purchasing, nice interface, nice price, you own the songs, and the DRM isn't obtrusive.

With regard to movies, however...I believe the subscription model would be best. My thinking here is that it doesn't make sense to keep a movie on your hard drive forever, given that its likely only to be of 'viewable' value on this yet to be announced iPod. It wouldn't be of sufficient resolution to enjoy on a home theatre HD panel. A subscription model would let you watch unlimited movies only when you need them, as opposed to having to pay and therefore carefully choose what you buy on a per movie basis.

The 'owning' the song model is a much different animal. I own thousands of songs, but am unlikely in my lifetime to want to own thousands of movies. I can listen to a 30-50 songs in a two hour period, but can only watch one movie. I am likely to want to listen to a song dozens and dozens of times, but the movie - maybe 2-4 times. For the space it takes up on a disk, that isn't good space management for so few views. And there are some movies that I might watch once and never care to again. Four bucks (or whatever it would be) for a so-so movie doesn't excite me.

I'd enjoy a subscription model simply from the perspective of being able to watch a dozen or so movies every month, and not have to worry about downloading one that turns out to be crap. If I want to own a flick, I can buy it on DVD (and eventually blu-ray) where it will be rippable to put on my iPod if I really want to view it that way.

 

[ipod0324]

Microsoft Origami

Could this new iPod be trying to compete with Microsoft's new Origami project?

 

[Butters]

Oh. I thought you were being festitious.

I don't have a 5G iPod, but judging from my 4G, I would feel comfortable saying the mockups are accurate to the story's description.

Putting a ruler against my 5G shows that a 4 inch display is just smaller than what there is actually enough space for and what is shown in the mock ups and also the border around the current display is a little less 1/4 inch

 

[yac_moda]

I wouldn't be surprised if they had planed to show the video iPod and great new steaming capabilities on the 28th and then at the last minute decided to add MORE WAY COOL FEATURES to the vPod.

How long before we get our pPod ???

 

[crees!]

Am I off base in thinking that the success of the iTMS hinges largely on its unique DRM model? Where iTMS users own copies of their data, the languishing competition went into this arena thinking they could outsmart Apple by providing a more financially efficient service, but without considering the permanence and simplicity that consumers desire, and are willing to pay for. I believe the success of these competitors speaks to their shortsightedness.

I would stipulate that the difference between the short media currently offered by the iTMS and full length feature films is enough to revisit the iTMS model. However, I tend to concur with Mr. Jobs with respect to maintaining consistency within the iTMS. Though not the most cost effective to the consumer when considering the price per instances viewed of a full length film, the desire for the simplicity and permanence of ownership among consumers, I believe, remains. Function, simplicity and style--it's what Apple is all about.

By doing this the public is being forced in a different direction they are used to. Regarding music, you're used to purchasing music. Movies you rent and/or purchase. You don't rent music from a store do you? Unless you're talking about the library but that's totally different. People buy music. That's why the subscription model for music hasn't soared. People want to keep their music. With movies it's a different story. People either rent, buy, or rent then buy. Blockbuster lets you rent a movie then purchase it discounted after you rent it if you want. Maybe iTunes can have something like that. Purchase movies at one price. Have a rental subscription, then if you want to purchase that movie you just rented you can at a discounted price. Anyways, I think it's a little different than with music. We'll just have to wait and see.

 

[Stella]

I don't mind subscription for movies - if its good I'll buy the DVD. However, movies are different from music - i want to own my music. Apple have it absolutely correct, the rest, IMO, are waaaay off.

Any music announcement will unfortuantely be redundant for the majority of this planet, because I suspect apple will be once again focusing on the u.s. Its about time apple announce whether or not they will be rolling out video content for the rest of the world. Therefore, any video ipod won't be that attractive - whats the point of owning one if there is no video content.

 

[derajfast]

but wouldnt a subscription model basically make the vid ipod obsolete if you could only stream? id have to think the ipod itself would have some tpye of connectivity wirelessly to itunes....

the vid ipod would work great on a buy each movie like music is now, but i think most people (myself included) would rather have the subscription model

 

[Stella]

Well, ThinkSecret has been pretty spot-on with their rumors, so I usually give them and AppleInsider the benefit of the doubt. It is the next logical step, but I think they'd have to have a little bit more info to actually post it on their site. Otherwise, they'd have posts about how Apple plans on using 1GB of RAM standard on all new Macs and iLife '07 will come out sometime in 2007.

Fishes,
narco.

the reason ts have been spot on is because recently they've predicted every possible outcome at some point or another!

that, is really, not impressive.

 

[zuckthetree]

Everybody take a deep breath and relax

Ok kids - before you all get your panties in a twist, just remember what happened after the HiFi came out. If you start expecting this iPod to have lazers, hot-vibrating action, and 37" holographic projection - just remember how let down you all were on Tuesday.

How many iPods does one person really need to own? Really... talk to me. Right now, I'm sure, Steve is sitting in his lab, complete with bunsen burner and petri dish concocting the next bloody iPod that we don't need. Hell, my video iPod (or iPod with Video, I should say) is still in mint condition with no blemishes at all (thanks to Agent 18).


Remember Kids. Apple is a coporation, not your friend.™

Enjoy the next month of going nuts as the rumors flare up again.

 

[nagromme]

Mockup

can someone mock up a 4" screen with 1/4" border on the current 5G iPod Form factor?

Here's a mockup with the following specs, accurate within a pixel:

EDIT: I uploaded the wrong image before I fixed my math! New image has the margin dimensions of .3 and .23 as stated below. The attachment here is NOW correct.

* 4.1" x 2.4" housing, identical to 5G.

* 4" diagonal screen (the image, NOT the black border).

* 16:9 screen ratio (which results in the margins that you see).

Bonus points if you recognize the TV show, currently offered on iTunes

(Note that the Flickr photo from last week showed the same white margins all around--which means either it's a fake, or the dimensions aren't QUITE the same as 5G, or the screen isn't exactly 16:9, or the black border around the screen isn't 16:9 even if the image is. Now, if a 5G were photoshopped to make the Flickr photo, you'd get the exact even margins that were seen. Only the Chinese characters remain a mystery.)

 

[macdong]

I don't know, it seems like from these articles, Jobs wants people to buy movies, but at probably at least $4 a piece I'd much rather go for a subscription model...like netflix, there is something to be said about going through a stack of movies every month without actually buying them.

I think most consumers would prefer to watch many movies without owning them. So for something like that, a subscription model would be fantastic.

What do you guys think? 3 movies you keep for $12 or more...compared to $15 for unlimited viewing/take-it-with you/timestamped videos....I'm just guessing on the price by the way, but it seems like it would be quite a bit more than $1.99 (like music videos) and hopefully less than $10 a piece.

why not both?
$15 for unlimited viewing, with the option of paying $3 to keep the movie forever.

 

[arn]

Here's mockup with the following specs, accurate within a pixel:

* 4.1" x 2.4" housing, identical to 5G.
* 4" diagonal screen (the image, NOT the black border).
* 16:9 screen ratio (which results in the margins that you see).

Nice work nagromme. Now, what about this supposed 1/4" border? Not possible it seems at least all the way around. What's the dimensions of those borders with a 4" diagonal screen?

arn

 

[boncellis]

Most likely though, Apples seamless integration, interface, and the overall 'experience' is what made the ITMS what it is. Apple thought through everything from browsing the songs to getting them onto the iPod. One click purchasing, nice interface, nice price, you own the songs, and the DRM isn't obtrusive.

With regard to movies, however...I believe the subscription model would be best...The 'owning' the song model is a much different animal...For the space it takes up on a disk, that isn't good space management for so few views. And there are some movies that I might watch once and never care to again. Four bucks (or whatever it would be) for a so-so movie doesn't excite me...If I want to own a flick, I can buy it on DVD (and eventually blu-ray) where it will be rippable to put on my iPod if I really want to view it that way.

I appreciate the time you spent in artciulating your point. The only counterpoint I would submit is that surely, innovation in the delivery, storage and viewing of video content is around the bend. I agree that it is difficult to envision the conformity of new service to existing hardware as the most elegant solution.

Remember that the iTMS did not supplant the system of purchasing new or used CDs, rather it supplemented what was already out there. I suspect the same would be true for full length films available through similar means.

 

[revfife]

Bonus points if you recognize the TV show, currently offered on iTunes

Believe it is BSG

 

[Jerry Spoon]

If you start expecting this iPod to have lazers, hot-vibrating action, and 37" holographic projection - just remember how let down you all were on Tuesday.

Who told you I was hoping for hot-vibrating action on my next iPod?

 

[nagromme]

Nice work nagromme. Now, what about this supposed 1/4" border? Not possible it seems at least all the way around. What's the dimensions of those borders with a 4" diagonal screen?

The short sides are ~ .3" (again not couting the extra black which LCDs have around them) and the long sides are thinner at ~ .23" (Averaging around .25")

EDIT: The image didn't show that before--I've change my attachment above. It's accurate now.

(Now, should you count the black or not? How thick would the black be? Even with a fixed LCD and housing size, the white margins can vary based on how much extra black is around the image.)

Anyway, I can see this rumor being total vapor, but if it's real, the dimensions need not be precise: the margins could be "about" a quarter inch. The case could be "about" the same size as a 4G. The screen could be "about" 4". Etc.

Believe it is BSG

Correct From the VR of the CIC.

 

[boncellis]

Yessir

By doing this the public is being forced in a different direction they are used to. Regarding music, you're used to purchasing music. Movies you rent and/or purchase. You don't rent music from a store do you? Unless you're talking about the library but that's totally different. People buy music. That's why the subscription model for music hasn't soared. People want to keep their music. With movies it's a different story. People either rent, buy, or rent then buy. Blockbuster lets you rent a movie then purchase it discounted after you rent it if you want. Maybe iTunes can have something like that. Purchase movies at one price. Have a rental subscription, then if you want to purchase that movie you just rented you can at a discounted price. Anyways, I think it's a little different than with music. We'll just have to wait and see.

I agree with you. I believe you are helping me make my point by asserting that the iTMS would have to include some option for purchasing, even if it's after a "rental."

Also, a "rental" is not coterminous with a "subscription." Close as it might be, they are discrete concepts.