Apple’s three new things
October 12, 2005 by Mike Wendland
I confess, I’ve been preoccupied today from tuning in to the big Apple press conference. I was interviewing Bill Gates today in Ann Arbor and just finished filing that story - which runs in tomorrow’s Free Press.
But it turns out Steve Jobs’ “One More Thing” press event was actually three: the much anticipated video iPod, an updated iTunes with video downloads and a new iMac.
If you want to see to see all this stuff yourself, Apple has posted a QuickTime video of the entre 1:21 event.
There is some criticism from industry observers that the new iMac only has a video out function and can’t, unlike Media Center PCs, record video through a “video in” jack directly from a TV or cable box.
On the other hand, Apple’s new “Front Row” remote-control software is “Media Center PC done right,” according to other analysts.
As to the video iPod, with more than 2,000 music videos and TV shows that can be downloaded for $1.99 each, the raves are pouring in.
The best overall piece I’ve read today is this one from the Financial Times.
To me, the coolest thing was the new iMac, with the built-in iSight, lower price, Front Row, and faster processor. I tend to buy a lot of the latest gadgets very soon after they come out, but I’m not going to run out and buy a video iPod. I have no interest in seeing video on a screen that isn’t much bigger than a postage stamp.
Karl, you must have some big postage stamps.
The iMac was the only thing exciting. Even Jobs himself didn’t seem overly enthusiastic about the video iPod (he has stated in the past that he didn’t like the idea of a video iPod).
If you look at the new iPod (5G) as just a video player, it has a lot of short comings. Not enough media, small screen, and it’s somewhat time consuming to put your own videos on it. If you look at as a upgraded music player, it has a lot of great features. Larger screen, smaller form factor, able to play video including home video, more extra features, and all at the same price as a 4G iPod. Myself, having a first generation iPod, it’s probably time to upgrade.