Go Play AV: Portable Audio, Video, Media and Game Players

TrustedReviews have provided an excellent review of the 5G iPod:

There’s also a fairly strong consensus that the iPod is still the best looking MP3 player out there. It’s just beautiful to look at. With its sleek frontage and the silver back it’s a desirable piece of tech jewellery. However, it is susceptible to scratches and finger prints so I’d recommend buying a protective case at the time of purchase – there’s certainly a wide choice available

In the review they do highlight one thing which we’d like to bring attention to - since we totally agree:

While £300 will buy you four times the capacity that you got nearly three years ago, Apple is certainly stingier with the accessories. Way back in early 2003 my 15GB iPod box contained a dock, a Firewire cable, a wired remote and a wall charger. None of that is now included. Where will this end? Will the box for the sixth generation iPod even include an iPod?

Enough said.

Read complete article: TrustedReviews - The UK’s Premier Source for IT Reviews & News

Lookup on Amazon:

“Apple 60 GB iPod with Video Playback Black” (Apple Computer)

Technorati Tags: Apple, digital audio player, ipod, ipod video, mp3 player, personal video player, portable audio, portable entertainment, portable media player, portable video

Carl Howe on The Consumer Electronics Stock Blog writes a very insightful article on what the Disney-Pixar merger means for the future of rich media content on the iTunes Music Store, and this the iPod:

With Jobs and Disney CEO Robert Iger joined at the hip, the days when Hollywood could just stonewall a new technology like iPods or dictate distribution terms for movies are over. Steve Jobs’ relationship with Disney is now a trump card in his hand. For players in both Silicon Valley and Hollywood, that means it’s now a whole different game.

This article really opens ones eyes to what this deal really means and is a well worth reading as this merger will ultimately affect all online media distribution.

Read complete article: The Consumer Electronics Stock Blog » What Disney Acquiring Pixar Means For Apple and the Industry (DIS, PIXR, AAPL)

Technorati Tags: Apple, Disney, Pixar, portable entertainment, portable media player, portable video, disney pixar merger

Consumer Reports report on the iPod 5G 30GB:

THE BOTTOM LINE

The new iPod is no better than competent as a video player, with limitations in display size and quality, and battery life. The selection of prerecorded content is as yet limited. And the jury’s still out on the long-term future of using the iPod for TV shows and movies, since holding it (or any other portable device) near your eyes for an extended period of time can be tiring.

But it’s an engaging way to watch rock videos and the like. And when it comes to playing music, Apple has taken an already fine player and made it even better. We recommend the $299 30-GB iPod as the first choice for most people for a high-capacity MP3 player. If you have a very large music collection or want maximum battery life, consider the 60-GB version. And only those who need a player with a radio or voice recorder need turn to other brands, some of which offer models with those features and may cost a little less overall.

Read complete article: ConsumerReports.org - The new iPod: A fine music player with video benefits 11/05

Technorati Tags: digital audio player, ipod, ipod video, mp3 player, personal video player, portable audio, portable entertainment, portable media player, portable video

Macsimum are a bit late to the party but finally managed to get their hands on a new 5G video enabled iPod and, like everyone else, where quite impressed.

I’m still not convinced that I’ll be watching a lot of video on it, but there’s no denying that the 5G (video) iPod is a wonderful update to a fine product. I’ve enjoyed watching short videos on it, such as a music video (Coldplay’s “Clocks”) and Pixar shorts. I also watched an episode of Lost (which is the best show on TV right now, by the way), but found that viewing a TV show on an iPod is not an idea situation (though “one hour” shows like Lost are much shorter without the commercials).

In case you’ve been off the planet for the past few weeks and haven’t heard, the new 5G (video) iPod sports a 2.5-inch color screen that can display album artwork and photos, and play video including music videos, video podcasts, home movies and TV shows (you’ll need iTunes 6 for some of these features). The new iPod holds up to 15,000 songs, 25,000 photos or over 150 hours of video and is available in a 30GB model for US$299 and a 60GB model for $399, with both models available in white or black designs. I test drove a white 60GB-er.

Read complete article: Macsimum News - 5G iPod: I can see clearly now

Technorati Tags: digital audio player, mp3 player, portable audio, portable entertainment, portable video

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) report success at playing a higher res on the video enabled iPod.

As a follow-up to my earlier post about compressing movies for the iPod, I just wanted to note that I just finished successfully encoding Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope directly from DVD to iPod format using the version of Handbrake linked to at Accelerate Your Macintosh!The resulting video is an MPEG4 file, weighing in at 1GB in size and at a 720×304 aspect ratio. More than is needed for the iPod itself, but it does play on the iPod and displays nicely on an external TV set. Not too bad.

Read source article: The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)

Lookup on Amazon: “Apple 60 GB iPod with Video Playback Black” (Apple Computer)

Technorati Tags: ipod video, portable entertainment, portable video

What more can we say? Apple strike gold again where everyone else found nothing.

CUPERTINO, Calif., Oct. 31 — Apple(R) today announced that iTunes(R) Music Store customers have purchased and downloaded more than one million videos since they debuted on October 12. Customers can choose from over 2,000 music videos, Pixar short films and hit TV shows for just $1.99. Top downloads include music videos from Michael Jackson, Fatboy Slim and Kanye West; Pixar’s “For the Birds” and “Boundin’”; and episodes of ABC’s hit TV shows “Lost” and “Desperate Housewives.”
“Selling one million videos in less than 20 days strongly suggests there is a market for legal video downloads,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “Our next challenge is to broaden our content offerings, so that customers can enjoy watching more videos on their computers and new iPods.”

You may remember we wrote an opinion piece the day before the video enabled iPod was released suggesting:

If (or when) Apple release an iPod video sooner or later as widely expected, the reality is there’s no established player that owns the portable video player (also referred to as the personal video player) market for them to compete with. They could find domination of that market even easier than the MP3 player market.

One million in three weeks? Seems there just might be some truth in that prediction of ours…

Read source article: iTunes Music Store Sells One Million Videos in Less Than 20 Days

Lookup on Amazon: “Apple 60 GB iPod with Video Playback Black” (Apple Computer)

Lookup on Amazon: “Apple 60 GB iPod with Video Playback White” (Apple Computer)

Technorati Tags: Apple, ipod video, personal video player, portable entertainment, portable media player, portable video

I guess this is what happens when you’re standing upside down all day, but the folks from cNet Down Under have posted a review of why the older fourth generation iPod is better than the new 5G - for audio at least.

The new Apple iPod is no doubt the most capable iPod to date. It’s sleeker than its predecessor, and it gives you the option to watch video. But if you use your iPod mainly for music, which one is best for audio only?

1. Better overall battery life
2. Faster processing
3. More Click Wheel = defter navigation
4. More robust design
5. Remote control

After comparing the two, I’ve come up with five reasons why I’d pick the 4G iPod (the 20GB photo, to be exact), and over the 30GB 5G model if I just wanted to listen to tunes.

Read source article: Five reasons why the 4G iPod is better — for audio: Commentary / Opinion
Lookup on Amazon: “Apple 60 GB iPod with Video Playback Black” (Apple Computer)

Lookup on Amazon: “Apple 20 GB iPod Photo MA079LL/A” (Apple Computer)

Technorati Tags: Apple, digital audio player, ipod, ipod video, personal video player, portable audio, portable entertainment, portable media player, portable video, video ipod

A plethora of reviews of Apple’s fifth generation iPod with video playback as flooded the internet. Rather than try to keep up with them all, we’ll take a leaf out of Engadget’s book and create one post with link to the reviews.
c|Net
PC Magazine
Designtechnica
Ars Technica
iLounge
IGN Entertainment
Playlist
AppleXnet

Overview of key specs:
Capacity: 30GB and 60GB
Display: 2.5inch
Dimensions: 4.1″ x 2.4″ x 0.55″ (60GB)
Audio formats: AAC, MP3, Audible (formats 2, 3 and 4), Apple Lossless, WAV, AIFF
Video formats: MPEG4

Lookup on Amazon: “Apple 60 GB iPod with Video Playback Black” (Apple Computer)

Lookup on Amazon: “Apple 30 GB iPod with Video Playback Black” (Apple Computer)

Lookup on Amazon: “Apple 60 GB iPod with Video Playback White” (Apple Computer)

Lookup on Amazon: “Apple 30 GB iPod with Video Playback White” (Apple Computer)

Lance Ulanoff for PC Magazine makes some interesting comments about how Apple can resurrect the ailing portable video player - or portable media player - market:

Despite the efforts by Creative, Microsoft, and Samsung, not to mention Sony with its portable PlayStation (PSP) and a slew of no-brand Taiwan-made devices, Jobs may be right. There is no portable-video market. All the initial hoopla and the subsequent release of players from Archos, Yepp, and others was followed by general consumer disinterest. Almost a year later, virtually no one is carrying the gadgets—a far different scenario than with MP3 players. What went wrong? And how are Jobs and the new iPod 30GB with video and iTunes 6.0 about to resurrect this stagnant market?

Read source article: Column from PC Magazine: Apple iPod’s Amazing Video Feat

Technorati Tags: Apple, ipod, ipod video, personal video player, portable entertainment, portable media player, portable video, video ipod

PC Magazine have kindly provided a review of what we all wanted to know - how the video enabled iPod stacks up against it’s competition, the ARchos Gmini 402 and Cowon iAudio X5. Briefly, they report that the:

Archos Gmini 402: This is a fine player that will definitely satisfy the techie crowd with its many features.

Cowon iAudio X5: The Cowon iAudio X5 offers excellent sound quality and plenty of options, but the video playback isn’t as smooth as the Gmini’s or the iPod’s.

Apple iPod (30GB): The iPod excels in ease of use, smooth navigation, and easy syncing with iTunes. The iPod also ranks among the best for sound and video quality.

Read source article: Portable Video for Everyone

Lookup on Amazon:

“Apple 30 GB iPod with Video Playback White” (Apple Computer)

“iAudio X5 30 GB Portable Multimedia Player with FM Tuner & Voice Recorder (Black)” (JetAudio, Inc.)

“Archos Gmini402 20 GB Pocket Multimedia Center” (Archos, Inc.)

Technorati Tags: archos, cowon, ipod video, personal video player, portable entertainment, portable media player, portable video, video ipod