Video iPod Apple's First Bad Move?

An anonymous reader writes "Apple has had a lot of success with the iPod brand the past few years. The NYT has an article up wondering if, just maybe, this week's release of the video iPod was too soon." From the article: "Everyone from Microsoft to Comcast - in other words, the usual suspects - is working on or looking at similar pocket-size recorders. At least two companies, Pace Micro Technology of Britain and Samsung of South Korea, have said they plan to introduce models early next year. There is also TivoToGo, a service that can forward recorded shows to various mobile devices, even Sony PSP handheld gaming units ... [anyway,] the video iPod only has it half right: if it took material from the television as readily as it did from the Internet, it could be a blockbuster. But then who would pay $1.99 to download an episode of 'Lost' from iTunes if the iPod could also hook up to your television and record that same episode free? Unlike its musical forebear, the video iPod may not be ready for prime time. "

Say what?

[rosewood]

People who spend $400 plus accessories and bitch about spending $2 on a missed episode can shampoo my crotch.

$.99 for a song, 4-5 minutes. $1.99 for a TV show for 40 minutes.

Re:Missed the Point

[Saven Marek]

Here's some iPod history of all the bad moves apple has made with the ipod that clearly show how successful it can't be. except it still is.

Original iPod 2001
"Too expensive ($400)"
"Can't use regular batteries"
"No PC support"
"No Games"
"Big flop.. Apple is through"

Second generation 10/20 gig iPods 2002 (PC support)
"Too expensive"
"Can't use regular batteries"
"The 10 gig will cannibalize 20 gig sales"
"Big flop.. Apple is through"

Third generation 10/15/30 gig iPods 2003 w/ITMS and docking
"Too expensive"
"No one wants to buy just one song"
"Not enough titles in ITMS"
"10 gig will cannibalize 15 gig sales"
"Big flop.. Apple is through"

iPod mini 4 gig (end of 2003)
"Too expensive" ($249)
"It's ugly"
"Will cannibalize iPod sales"
"Not enough storage"
"Big flop.. Apple is through"

Fourth generation 20/40 gig iPod 2004 (Clickwheel)
HP Branded iPod
iPod Photo (40/60 gig)
U2 black iPod (October)
"Too expensive" ($299/$399, $499/$599 for photo)
"HP will cannibalize Apple sales"
"No one wants little photos on an iPod"
"Black iPod is ugly"
"Big flop.. Apple is through"

iPod Shuffle 2005
Second generation iPod mini 4/6 gig
"One gig shuffle is too expensive" ($149)
"No screen"
"4 gig mini will cannibalize Shuffle sales"
"6 gig mini will cannibalize iPod sales"
"Shuffles will cannibalize mini sales"
"Big flop.. Apple is through"

iPod nano 2005 (September)
"Too expensive" ($199/$249)
"Should have kept the mini"
"Will cannibalize iPod sales"
"No one will buy the Shuffle now"
"Big flop.. Apple is through"

iPod with Video Playback 30/60 gig (October 2005)
"Too expensive" ($299/$399)
"No one wants little videos"
"Big flop.. Apple is through"

Re:and ring tones?

[sedyn]

Ring Tones are important to me because when I'm intrupting a meeting with my mobile, I need a professional sounding ringtone to salvage any credibility. Or when I'm in a lecture hall during an examination. Or on a bus, where I'm sure that people want to hear the 82nd remix of "fly me to the moon." And my personal favourite, during wedding vows, I'm sure the couple wants to hear "She Fuckin' Hates Me." But, hey, that's just me.

Re:Say what?

[doubledoh]

I'd rather pay $0 without the commercials and watch it on a big screen. Oh yeah, I do. (Bittorrent).

Re:iRiver beat them to it.

[mtec]

Oh right... the iRiver H300 series devices! Catchy name. All over the press right? I just saw someone carrying one, uh - well it was... it was on a - trip - I think - or was it in an airport? Oh whatever. Yeah, I think I've heard if them.

Troll?!

[Anonymous Coward]

Apparently the RIAA has mod points on Slashdot.

The Apple Demographic

[Anonymous Coward]

Well, here's the problem. The iPod, and the entire Apple experience, is intuitive for a certain kind of person. Artists, fashion mavens, leftists, and other creative personalities can sit in front of a fifth-generation iPod and just "get it," but accountants and everyday pencil-pushers don't have a prayer. Unattractive squares should stick to Linux and Windows. Macs are for different thinkers.

Evidence?
http://img399.imageshack.us/img399/5269/img01318be .jpg [imageshack.us] *NEW!*
http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/3639/img66457jy .jpg [imageshack.us] *NEW!*
http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/4251/img02729pu .jpg [imageshack.us] *NEW!*
http://img371.imageshack.us/img371/7792/img08079iy .jpg [imageshack.us]
http://img25.imageshack.us/img25/3600/img10156rv.j pg [imageshack.us]
http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/2539/soho0uj.jp g [imageshack.us]
http://img191.imageshack.us/img191/5614/img66606pq .jpg [imageshack.us]
http://img95.imageshack.us/img95/6756/img64271jj.j pg [imageshack.us]
http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/5082/bleeder0wq .jpg [imageshack.us]
http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/1672/img85083cm .jpg [imageshack.us]
http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/7234/img82642ay .jpg [imageshack.us]
http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/787/img60047ow. jpg [imageshack.us]
http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/4819/img58719td .jpg [imageshack.us]
http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/9681/img46882wk .jpg [imageshack.us]
http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/8519/img45081gg .jpg [imageshack.us]
http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/3102/img39464ta .jpg [imageshack.us]
http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/7783/img07414pv .jpg [imageshack.us]
http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/5816/img07328rd .jpg [imageshack.us]
http://img340.imageshack.us/img340/5096/img07309mk .jpg [imageshack.us]

Versus:
http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/3118/ms1by.jpg [imageshack.us]
http://img270.imageshack.us/img270/7789/linuxnylug boothsized0hs.jpg [imageshack.us]

Re:Missed the Point

[Anonymous Coward]

> there simply is no "anti-iPod" faction out there making these complaints.

You really haven't read anything on the net since 2001 have you.

Re:Missed the Point

[Anonymous Coward]

Anybody who claims to prefer DivX to H.264 has nothing of interest to say on the topic of video formats.

Re:Missed the Point

[Golias]

That's already been out for a year and a half. It's called the Treo 650. Plays Music, movies, tv shows, is a palm organizer, has internet access.

Funny that you Apple nitwits ignore it, because it does't have a little fruit logo on it.

Wow!!!!! Please provide a link to where I can get a Treo 650 with a 60GB hard drive. I thought the Treo was just a PHONE with only 23 MB of available flash memory. Obviously I don't know shit, and need to get this miracle device.

Oh, also please, please, please tell me where I can get an unlocked Treo (with all that storage space you seem to think it has) for less that $500, without signing up for a two-year phone service contract along with it. I'll gladly paint my own fruit logo on it.

Re:Missed the Point

[NutscrapeSucks]

Geez, I guess butts are still too sore for a little joke at crappy ol' MacOS's expense. Macintosh -- Most Applications Crash, If Not, The Operating System Hangs. badoom*boom*

(PS: System 7 drove me away, OS X brought me back.)

Re:Missed the Point

[multiplexo]

Hilarious! :) You forgot the obligatory iPod flop prediction though: "No wireless. Less space than a nomad. Lame."

Shouldn't that be "No wireless. Less space than a Nomad. Doesn't support Ogg Vorbis. Lame."?

Re:Did anyone watch the presentation????

[Zhe Mappel]

So is Steve just smoking crack here? Of course not. Now consider the Apple 30" cinema display hooked up to that remote. Things become a bit more compelling, don't they? Am I saying that Apple is going to make a Tivo? They might, but I'm guessing they won't. Here's why.

Are you going to answer another rhetorical question? Yes, you are. Will it be as inane as the last? You bet. Do I hope you and your carload of TV-addicted children never run off the road? Just barely.

Comment removed

[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion

Re:Did anyone watch the presentation????

[cloudmaster]

Duct tape costs less, an if you tint the windows no one will know to call DCFS. :)