Apple Unveils iPod Capable of Playing Videos

[UPSyours2]

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http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory?id=1208980

Apple Unveils iPod Capable of Playing Videos, Deal With ABC to Sell Episodes of TV Shows

SAN JOSE, Calif. Oct 13, 2005 — After revolutionizing the way people listen to music with the popular iPod, Apple Computer Inc. is trying to do the same with video.

The company introduced a new iPod on Wednesday that is capable of playing everything from TV shows to music videos.

Citing a groundbreaking deal with ABC Television Group, Apple chief executive Steve Jobs said video offerings via iTunes will include episodes for $1.99 each of the hit shows "Desperate Housewives" and "Lost," which will be available the day after they air on television.


Apple Introduces Video iPod, TV Deals

The purchased video can be watched on a computer or taken on the road for viewing on the new iPod's 2.5-inch color screen.

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 version will cost $399. A 30 GB model can hold about 7,500 songs, 25,000 photos, or 75 hours of video, Apple said.

Apple hopes to repeat with Hollywood the coup it achieved with music labels: Ease an industry's piracy fears and transform its business models to include convenient, legal distribution of digital content over the Internet at reasonable prices for consumers.

"It's never been done before, where you could buy hit TV shows and buy them online the day after they're shown," said Jobs, whose other company, Pixar Animation Studios Inc., has a long relationship with ABC's parent, The Walt Disney Co. Short films from Pixar also will be sold via the iTunes store.

But that's just the beginning, Apple executives say, noting that the iTunes store catalog has grown to 2 million songs from 200,000 at launch in 2003. More than 600 million downloads have been recorded since.

"We've gained a lot of credibility in the industry in the past two and a half years with what we did with songs," said Eddy Cue, Apple's vice president of applications. "And that's what we're trying to mirror in the video space."

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.

Apple Computer Inc. CEO Steve Jobs holds up the new iPod showing an episode of hit television show "Desperate Housewives," during the introduction of the new device in San Jose, Calif., Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2005. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma

[Sara Noel]

I can't imagine what else will be available in the upcoming years.

[UPSyours2]

It's a really kewl multi-tasking pricey gadget not sure about the screen size how good the pic will look!

I'll probably want one after I see it & how good it works!

Not like my PALM Pilot I bought w/the camera which has a defective cable inside breaking if I use the camera...cause opening & closing causes problems w/the cable

I can't charge it in the cradle anymore the only way to charge it now is hooked into a USB port on my PC.