Apple is sneaky.

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Oct 052005
 

There are dozens of stories like this one on the internet today. Basically, there are a lot of rumors going around that Apple is introducing a video iPod in a week. If these rumors tell us anything, it’s that Apple is not introducing a video iPod in a week. More likely, they’re releasing something new–a revision of the Powerbooks, maybe, but my guess is the long-rumored iPDA. Steve Jobs has said that Apple had developed a PDA but never released it (he’s never been a big fan of the devices–he killed the classic ahead-of-its-time Newton). I’m sure they didn’t let that field lie fallow. An intriguing possibility (and one I find pretty unlikely) is that they’ll be releasing a Treo-ish smartphone. More likely it’ll be a standard PDA, demonstrating the viability of a mobile OSX–and setting the stage for a smartphone next year with seamless iTunes integration and solid state memory.

Or maybe they will release an iPod Video. If they do, it’ll be the same form-factor as the iPod Photo, basically, with the ability to play short movies (like music videos) synched through iTunes. Note, though, that a new version of iTunes was just released (and cleared all my song ratings, incidentally) just a couple of weeks ago.

So, in summary: no iPod Video. Probably a PDA. Maybe a smartphone. Possibly a crappy iPod Video, despite my protestations to the contrary.

 Posted by JHW at 2:48 pm
  • http://blog.zunta.org catherine

    good speculations. i’ve also read that it might really be an ipod video, but with built-in movie/video service.

  • http://www.en-dash.com Jake

    It’s always possible, but I just don’t think the market for a serious portable video device is significant–it’s just impossible to have something that’s simultaneously small enough to be pocketable and big enough to sport a watchable screen. So your buyers are people willing to sacrifice one or the other of those–early adopters. That’s why I figure that any iPod Video is just going to be a regular iPod with the added feature of video (on its tiny screen)–maybe it’ll have a TV-out cable, too, but I just don’t see the mainstream interest in a serious PVP at this point.

    Anyway, if they do release a video playing device, I guarantee it will coincide with the introduction of a video iTunes store (or a video section in the existing iTunes store).

    Tangent:
    Honestly, I have no interest in watching video on the train. It’s bad enough having someone read over my shoulder, imagine having someone watch the daily show over your shoulder (or, worse, some WB show you’re ashamed of liking).

  • http://www.supinefever.com supine

    Jake, I always knew you were a closet Gilmore Girls fan too.

  • http://www.en-dash.com Jake

    um… smallville

   
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