VideoIpod
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Bluetooth mod comes to the 5G iPod
We already thought that 4G iPod Bluetooth mod was pretty sweet, but Fstedie has managed to top himself, cramming a BT adapter into a 5G video iPod without altering the stock appearance, apart from that clear third-party faceplate. The basics of the hack are pretty similar -- replace the hard drive with a CF card, wire up a Bluetooth adapter -- but the cramped internals of the 5G case makes it much more difficult to pull off, apparently. If you're feeling brave, instructions are soon to come just beyond the read link.
No Beatles at next week's event?
No Beatles next Wednesday? Like pretty much everyone else, I figured the whole "Beat" goes on thing, not to mention that the third Beatle got added to iTunes recently, all pointed to next week's event as not only showing off new iPods, but Beatles music to play in them (and I wasn't the only one-- mockups are all over the place).But now the rumor mill (so, again, grain of salt with all of this) says it's a no go on the Beatles. There will be a new iPod, and supposedly a brand new Ringtones system will be brought to the iPhone, where you can use iTS purchased music as a ringtone, but we won't actually meet the Beatles.Then again, no one really knows but Apple-- Gruber speculates that since the event is being held at Moscone West, McCartney will be on hand to play live. And let's be realistic-- even though there is evidence for both a new iPod and the whole ringtones thing, no one's really sure what's going down anyway.So, as usual, we'll have to wait until next Wednesday to find out (or at least until next Tuesday, when the New York Times confirms what blogs have been saying all alone). What do you think?Thanks to everyone who sent this in!
Apple WiFi iPod due Q3 2007? Let's not bet the farm.
Perennial Apple rumor-ist DigiTimes has come out with a biggie today, predicting a non-iPhone, WiFi-connected iPod in Q3 this year. The rumor isn't preposterous, despite the fact that Apple would be hamstringing its own iPhone sales slightly by releasing what would no doubt be a cheaper and more roomy traditional iPod so soon after the iPhone's debut. Wireless sharing is the future, and Apple's probably going to have to squeeze it into its own players sooner or later. What gives us pause is DigiTimes' abysmal track record with Apple hardware rumors, and despite its best assurances of component manufacturers getting in on the action -- USI shipping the WiFi chipset in April, and Foxconn slapping the iPods together in Q3 -- we're going to remain doubtful on this one.[Via TG Daily]
iPod How-to videos
Need to replace your video iPod's LCD screen or faceplate? Looking to upgrade its hard drive or battery? A new website, ipodhowtovideo.com offers a number of free iPod how-to videos. These are clearly home-brew videos, but they provide well-paced step-by-step instructions and there's a refreshing lack of site-promotion in the videos. It's nice to be able to watch along with the narrative to see how the job actually gets done. I doubt I'm going to do any of these projects any time soon, but the videos made me want to go out and find a bunch of busted 5G iPods, just so I could try.
Sports fans evolve their watching style
iTunes. It may look like music. It may sound like music. But it's the new way that many sports fans are watching their favorite games. A video iPod is never going to match a plasma TV with surround sound and a really comfortable easy chair but a lot of sports watchers are turning to iTunes to download games in a more portable format. "This is all about more and more choices," said Eddy Cue, vice president of Apple's iTunes in an online report from WKRN Nashville."Watching a game live on a 50-inch plasma TV is a tough thing to beat. But when you're not in that position, having other choices is going to be something that people want." The article points out that iTunes offers collectors edition video packages that can't be found anywhere else. "To take advantage of the hype surrounding this year's Michigan-Ohio State game, iTunes put together a collector's edition type of package. For $5.99, customers got the full-length 1973, 1997 and 2002 games, as well as commercials touting the rivalry. After Ohio State beat Michigan, they got this year's matchup."
DLO kicks out video-playing HomeDock Pro for your iPod
Following the natural progression of DLO docking solutions, the company has now unveiled a HomeDock that pipes video from dock connecting iPods (including the nanos) to your TV screen or monitor. While DLO hasn't skimped on the amount of iPod-compatible goodies it's pumped out, the HomeDock Pro steps it up a notch by allowing you to navigate your music, playlist, and video menus right on your television, and they also include a 18-button remote to keep you seated while scrolling through your shows. Aside from docking / charging your Appleicious PMP, the device also sports "discrete on / off," standby mode, and a diagnostic mode in case things go awry. Unfortunately there's no pricing information to speak of just yet, but this one ought to hit store shelves here before too long.[Via iLounge]
Apple close to announcing wireless iPod?
It looks like I might be replacing my 3 week old iPod sooner than I anticipated. Several tipsters to Engadget are saying that Apple is going to be launching a wireless iPod, with a widescreen, 'very near future.' WiFi enabled, widescreen, video iPods? Sounds good to me, but let's hope they get more than 10 minutes of battery life.Oh, and as always, this is a rumor. TUAW is not responsible for any sense of hopelessness or ennui associated with finding out this rumor is unfounded. Believe at your own risk.
Apple about to announce wireless video iPod?
When it comes to Apple's product roadmap, to say there's an enormous amount of buzz and milling of rumors is a ridiculous understatement. Believe it or not we tend to have to disregard the majority of rumors floating around (or that get sent in to us); that said, when not only one, but multiple trusted sources get in touch to let us know Steve Jobs & Co. are supposedly finally about completed with the wireless / video iPod, we have to take note. Supposedly they're preparing to announce the device in the very near future, which we've been told is both wireless and widescreen (both features we've been waiting for the iPod to take on, since, well, forever) -- you didn't think last month's new nano / new shuffle / iTV event was going to be it for the rest of the year, did you? We'll keep you posted.
Apple launches "enhanced" 5.5G iPod
Not quite the video iPod we were hoping for, not by a long shot, but Apple is refreshing their flagship iPod (with video) models today with a whole lotta' software love, and a couple hardware tweaks for good measure. The screen is now 60% brighter, the battery can last up to 3.5 hours during video playback, and the iPod includes new headphones, but otherwise the specs remain the same. As for software, the iPod is finally getting gapless playback, text-based search and brightness controls, along with a whole slew of games. The 'Pod has Bejeweled, Cubis 2, Mahjong, Mini Golf, Pac Man, Tetris, Texas Hold 'Em, Vortex, and Zuma bundled, and you can nab new games for $5 each off of iTunes. Maybe the best news is that Apple is dropping the prices and bumping the storage: you can get a spankin' new 30GB iPod for $250, and the new 80 gigger for $350. No word yet on availability.
Video iPod banner for September 12th?
Last time we saw a banner shown at an Apple event was, well, last month for the WWDC 2006 extravaganza. But this banner, supposedly taken at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Theater in San Francisco for the event intended this Tuesday the 12th, pretty clearly depicts what appears to be the touchscreen (true) video iPod -- that is, if it's real. Of course, we can confirm nor deny anything, but obviously the churning machine that is the Apple rumor mill right now should not be discounted, friends. Two days until we all find out!
Princeton PCK-UAV UHF video / audio transmitter
While it seems that there's just too many of those not-exactly-functional FM transmitters for your iPod / DAP-of-choice to ever actually decide on just one (and hope for the best), the market for transmitting video from your portable media player is bit more limited. Princeton has unveiled its video (and audio) transmitting solution, dubbed the PCK-UAV, to give 5G iPod owners, as well any other PMP -- or anything with RCA outs, actually -- the ability to transmit media wirelessly over the UHF band. If you're fortunate enough to rock a TV monitor (or four) in your ride, and you've got a built-in TV tuner somewhere in there as well, you can pipe your TV shows, movies, tunes, etc. to any connected display by tuning into one of the four UHF stations the PCK-UAV plays nice with; DIP switches on the unit allow for broadcasting to channels 45, 48, 50, and 53, and you can supposedly pick these up on a standard television as well, giving you an excellent reason to dust off those 'ole rabbit ears. Contrary to most poorly complemented Japanese products, Princeton includes some thoughtful extras here, such as a 12 volt car power adapter and apparently a video / audio connector cable made specifically for the iPod with video -- although we can't quite pick up solid deets concerning price or availability, nor how well this implementation of an in-car transmitter will actually, you know, transmit, it'll supposedly run you about ¥8,000 ($69) when it drops this month.[Via OhGizmo]
Apple patents "visual buttons" to blend display and interface
Equally part Optimus keyboard and fanboy-style full-screen video iPod, Apple's new interface patents should provide plenty of fuel for the rumor fires in coming months. The two patents, filed in Europe and published yesterday, are titled "Display actuator," and "A Movable Display for Generating Input Signals." Apple is covering all their bases with these, saying the technology can apply to pretty much any type of electronic device, from phones to laptops. The basic idea is a "display actuator," which can be any type of display that can both show information and take user input like a click or a slide. This could easily be something simple like a button with an OLED display, but our hopes are high for a display that can double as a click wheel. Apple practically says as much themselves: "By reducing or eliminating the input devices, the display of the electronic device can be maximized within the user interface portion of the electronic device, or alternatively the electronic device can be minimized to the size of the display." Though we're not too clear on the patent-nese language, the technology definitely seems to be different than current pen or finger-based touch screens, so however it plays out we could be seeing a fresh interface type out of Apple before long. Or, just as likely, this could be relegated to the incredible stash of high-concept patents that Apple never seems to do anything with.[Via Mac Rumors]
Think Secret dishes on Zune, future iPods
Apple rumor site Think Secret has been busy chatting it up with all those company insiders whom Misters Jobs and Gates would love to get their rich and powerful hands on, and turned those leaks into an article which dispels some of the recently-circulating iPod rumors, along with providing a few more tantalizing deets about Microsoft's upcoming "iPod killer." For starters, it looks like we shouldn't be expecting the "true" video iPod until at least the annual MacWorld Expo in January -- though larger capacity 5G 'Pods may arrive in the interim -- and apparently the long-rumored iPhone also won't be coming anytime soon, as that project has reportedly been put on hold for the foreseeable future. Furthermore, when the 6G iPod is finally released, it will likely lack both the wireless capabilities and talking interface that some people have been anticipating; Apple is said to believe that the former feature would have too much of an impact on battery life, while the latter would only feed what's seen as a marginal consumer demand. Finally, Microsoft's so-called Zune -- which is rumored to sport WiFi for communicating with MTV's Urge service -- may also come equipped with a powerful 400MHz processor suitable for gaming, as well as a built in tuner for receiving satellite radio broadcasts. Obviously all this info is just speculation from unnamed sources for now, but if the Zune does end up duping your iTunes tracks, playing high-quality games, and giving you access to Sirius or XM on the go, then Apple may be facing its first real marketplace battle in the iPod's brief but influential existence.
Analyst analysis: nano to hit 12GB, coming in Q4
We all know the stock demons deciding Apple's current share prices don't much like it when analysts predict product delays, but at least disparate market research and analysts are coming together on a somewhat cohesive picture of the next nano. Last week Gartner predicted a 10 and 12GB nano launch for Q406, nothing unusual so we passed on it -- but today Apple's stock took a tumble when Shaw Wu from American Technology Research announced they believe the new nanos -- which they expect to jump only to 4GB and 8GB -- will be delayed until December, while the (true) video iPod might not see the light of day until 2007. What did Shaw blame the delay on? No, not content deals, NAND memory shortages, or anything else of the like, Wu's blaming it on the transition from certain PortalPlayer chipsets that was reported a couple months back, which to the best of our knowledge wasn't even expected to affect their higher end non-flash offerings.
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]
iPod Video Content on Blu-Ray Discs?
iPodHub is reporting that Apple is asking movie studios to put video iPod-compatible content on upcoming Blu-ray discs. Apple wants to ensure that there will be a substantial library of content for their existing and future video iPods. Blu-ray discs will hold up to 50GB of data, which should provide enough capacity to include even full-length movies in a video iPod format. Seeing as Apple's already in the Blu-ray camp along with Sony and Disney, this certainly falls within the realm of possibility.[via Digg]
Doctor's orders: Use your iPod
A little while ago, we pointed to some research conducted by doctor Michael Barrett in which he was able to improve the diagnostic skills of his medical students by having them listen to audio of various heart conditions on their iPods. Today, Click On Detroit has an article about cardiovascular surgeon Dr. Grayson Wheatley, who is actually giving patients video iPods with information on health, fitness and heart health. Videos of certain procedures, like bypass surgery, are also included. Already have a video iPod? You can subscribe to the Dr.'s podcast here.
Cable company offers "Video iPod" as prize
Ok, now it's getting weird. We've all been speculating about the possibility of Apple producing a video iPod for so long now, it's almost a spectator's sport. Today, I was pointed to a company that is (supposedly) giving one away as a contest prize. I'm just as bewildered as you are. Consumers for Cable Choice is a national alliance of consumer advocacy groups that focuses on cable, video and broadband services. They're currently running a contest that is looking for a video that best describes how you would use broadband video-on-demand in a new and creative way. The grand prize is listed as "an Apple Video iPod." The website goes on to say, "...this product is not yet released but eagerly anticipated as the next 'must-have' gadget." They will reveal their winner on November 9th.Now here's where it gets really weird. In the comments section of their blog, someone pointed to Cinematology.com, a website that says right on its front page, "Feed your Video iPod. Download advanced H.264 video with DRM-free, pristine digital quality."Either I've been had, or something's going on. Thoughts?[Via Macsimum]
Is the market ready for a video iPod?
Is the market ready for a video iPod? RealMoney columnist Cody Willard doesn't think so. I disagree. In Willard's opinion, a video iPod will be successful only after large numbers of regular folk have been downloading videos, burning them to DVDs, and watching them on their TV sets. Willard analogizes to the iPod, which he thinks was successful in part because it was introduced after mainstream consumers were used to trading music, burning it to CDs, and listening to those CDs in their cars and homes. The flaw in this analysis is the unspoken assumption that downloading video content is a new kind of consumer behavior. I'd argue that it is just another twist on downloading music. There's not much difference between downloading tunes, podcasts, or videos in terms of consumer behavior. The mainstream consumer, now familiar with the concept of downloading content to a portable player, already gets the drill. Demand for video is growing quickly, as evidenced by the popularity of sites like ourmedia. Conclusion: The market is indeed ready and waiting for a vPod. Bring it on Apple.
