iPod video
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ezGear's ezVision Video GlassesHMD
Until full-color flexible displays start hitting the market in who knows how many years, the only way to get big-screen video enjoyment on the go (besides holding your iPod right up to your face) is by attaching your device to a head-mounted display. Far from the bulky eyesores they once were, HMDs have thankfully evolved to the point where you don't look completely goofy sporting a pair in public, so there will probably be some interest in a new low-profile model called the ezVision Video iWear Glasses. Typical of these devices, instead of advertising the actual size of the LCDs, manufacturer ezGear only claims that the ezVisions simulate a 50-inch widescreen TV at some undetermined distance. You also get an 8-hour rechargeable battery, iPod and RCA breakout cables, and a replaceable nose piece, all for $400 direct from the manufacturer, or perhaps less when they arrive at retailers later this month.[Via Yahoo]Update: Sounds like ezGear was using "iWear," a trademark belonging to another company, without permission. Woops! Call 'em the ezVision Video Glasses.
Improve your at bat with an iPod
The Colorado Rockies are using iPods (with video) to help their players improve their batting skills. It seems that one iPod can hold five seasons worth of at bats for a particular player, letting the ball player review his performance at his convenience. The Rockies also plan to equip their talent scouts with iPods containing videos of potential draft picks.[via iLounge]
macTV offers up iPod ads
Our friends at macTV let us know that they now have a special section devoted to only to iPod ads. This way you can all every iPod ad on your iPod (in case you need to let others know about the wonders of the iPod). You can subscribe via iTunes or simply subscribe to macTV's RSS feed.
Apple trying to include iPod video content on Blu-ray discs?
Straight from the rumor mill to your ears/eyes/brain: iPod Hub is reporting that "anonymous film industry insiders" are claiming that Apple is attempting to get iPod video-friendly versions of theatrical releases included in movie studios' Blu-ray offerings. Since Blu-ray discs can theoretically hold 50GB or more, there would certainly be room for the small iPod-compatible files, which would presumably sport pretty strong encryption in order to placate piracy fears of content providers. The move would certainly be beneficial to Apple, as it would create a substantial library of full-length films available at what seems to be the inevitable launch of a "real" video iPod. Further enhancing the believability of this rumor is the fact that Apple already has strong ties to both Sony and Disney, two of the major studios. Still, until we hear official word from one of the players here, consider this to be simply idle chatter for now.[Via TUAW]
Flickr Find: I Want to Believe
Alternate title: If Agent Mulder were a Mac geek. Sometimes it's necessary to break the wild speculation and rumor mongering with a bit of humor, and jyunderwood's poster does the trick. This is also a good opportunity to address what's inevitably going to happen tomorrow. Legions of Mac users are going to cry foul when the device of their dreams isn't announced. That's the problem with these rumors: They look so good, and we get so excited about "...how cool that would be" that we are disappointed when it doesn't happen. Well, it was a rumor in the first place, but we can lose sight of that in our fervor.So, tomorrow, clear your minds, drink some herbal tea and forget about all that crazy stuff that's been swirling around your head for the past seven days. We're still getting some cool stuff.
iPod video "spy shot" a fake
Well, well, looky here: Turns out that widely-distributed image of the supposed 6G "true video" iPod was a total and utter f-a-k-e fake. MacRumors points to this video (YouTube) that documents the creation of the original image, and this blog post right here shows why the second pic is also a fake.That's too bad. I really wanted one of those.Update: Readers are posting links to various sources (link, link) that point out discrepancies in the video vs. the actual image, hinting that the video itself may be the fake. This whole thing is starting to hurt my head. How about you compare them yourselves and make your own judgement -- and then we'll wait to see what Apple actually announces, making all of this speculation pointless anyway.
iPod as a catalyst for DMCA reform?
CNET News has a really interesting perspective piece highlighting the video iPod's potential for being a catalyst for DMCA reform, specifically: the (outlandish) portion that makes it illegal to sell or distribute DVD-ripping software.The idea behind the article is that, until now, these measures of the DMCA haven't really hit the radar of an audience outside the comparatively small segment of digital-rights advocates. Declan McCullagh, the articles author, believes that the video iPod could finally be the spark large enough to get a much greater portion of consumers interested in (and angry about) the non-DVD-ripping limits on today's software. While McCullagh mentions a few DMCA-reform bills that are already floating around, he's also quick to point out that none of them, at present, have a very bright future.The video iPod, according to McCullagh's logic, might be able to help all of this. With its wide popularity, he thinks more and more users are going to start questioning why it's so easy for iTunes to rip a CD to their library (and iPod), and yet the software balks at a DVD movie. Yes - before you start firing up the comment form, there are still ways of getting a DVD off a plastic disc and onto your favorite media player, iPod or otherwise. But for the greater community of users out there, DVD ripping is still a thing of mystery and magic.I recommend you check out the full article as I think it's a really interesting read, but there's one thing I want to add to the discussion; a factor that neither the industry nor these politicians seem to examine: price. I wholeheartedly believe that if these companies cleaned all of their "market research" and "value perception" statistics out of their ears, they would realize that people are stealing content because they know the providers are taking them for a ride - and they won't put up with it anymore. Everyone knows CDs cost pennies on the dollar, and DVDs cost even less than VHS tapes to produce, yet they retail for a far higher price. The rampant (and as-yet unstoppable) success off the iTMS is real world proof that people will pay for the content, maybe even more content, as long as it has a fair price.But alas, as with all other political affairs, our ability to copy DVDs that we own will only change at the speed of bureaucracy.
Forty-Two DVDVX Plus v3.0 = movie encoding heaven
Apps that convert video for portable devices just keep getting smarter, and Forty-Two DVDVX Plus v3.0 is a prime example. Recently updated to version 3, I think this just might be the perfect tool for the job, whether you're rolling with a 5G iPod, a PSP, a Nokia series 60 phone or a handful of other devices. They main feature that makes Forty-Two DVDVX Plus (could that name get a little shorter, please?) so appealing in my eyes is that, on top of encoding for all these different devices, it also handles batch encoding of both movies files and individual chapters from a DVD. But wait, there's more: its UI has that easy-to-use "inspired by iLife" feel to it, and it offers a bunch of other goodies like automatically adding files to the iTunes library and Automator actions, as well as a choice of format, quality, resolution and more.I'm encoding some stuff into H.264 with the demo right now, but just from playing with it I'm really impressed. This should definitely give both iSquint and that Automator action I found earlier a run for their money - which, of course, is the only ding here: Forty-Two DVDVX Plus will set you back a cool $19.99 (upgrades are only $9.99). But if you're serious about all this video on the go stuff and are looking for one app to encode everything from local files to DVD folders, chapters and DVD's themselves - Forty-Two DVDVX Plus just might be the app for you.
Apple brings FM radio to the iPod
No, it's not as sexy as the iMac and MacBook Pro (I'm still not thrilled about that name), but today Apple announced the availability of the Radio Remote, which adds FM radio to the iPod nano and iPod with video.When connected to your iPod, a "radio" menu option becomes available. When selected, you're presented with an interface that looks like an analog radio dial. Search for a station within the range of 87.5MHz to 107.9MHz (US and Europe) or 76MHz to 90MHz (Japan). Also, you can save favorite channels for future reference and move from station to station with either your iPod's clickwheel or the wired remote.My feeling on this is "eh." The interface looks pretty cool, but I would have been happier had it supported satellite radio. The Radio Remote costs $49.00, works with the iPod with video and iPod nano and is shipping now.
Plastic Bugs offers 'the last iPod video guide you'll ever need'
The video enabled iPods have created a number of new people interested in converting their various videos into another format (i.e. something that will play on their iPods). Plastic Bugs has heard their calls for help and has answered with 'The Last iPod Video Guide You'll Ever Need.'The guide is very comprehensive and offers up loads of great tips. Highly recommended if you are interested in snagging some more video content for your iPod.
EyeBud - iPod Video Display for One
A company called eMagin Corp. is developing a wearable headset system that uses the iPod Video to display video in front of the eye to make the picture appear larger than on the iPod's screen. The EyeBud 800, as the device is called, uses a separate control module, about the size of the iPod itself and which includes a rechargeable battery pack. It will retail for about $599.00."Suddenly you've got this big-screen, movie-screen, home-theater experience, wherever you are," said Gary Jones, eMagin's president and CEO.I'm not so sure about this one. I think the significant extra cost, the extra weight of the battery pack and control module, and the cumbersomeness of the headset make this product a questionable one. It's definitely an interesting application of technology to the video playback market, but I can't really see a market for it. But I'm willing to be wrong
Handbrake Lite
The fine folks who brought us iSquint, now give us Handbrake Lite. You may remember Handbrake as that super cool app that rips DVD's into tons of different formats. Handbrake Lite is just like that, only it rips your DVD's into an iPod ready format (320x* MPEG-4 SP, ffmpeg, 1000kbps avg, 48000KHz 128kbps audio) and that's all it does.What if you want more options? Use Handbrake.Thanks, Tony.
