Apple went ahead and released a product without my stamp of approval. The nerve! Steve, you and I need to have a little talk. I don’t care who is CEO of what multi-billion dollar corporation, or who is responsible for bringing an almost dead computing platform back from an eventual grave (in the mid to late nineties), or who has access to a private jet, or who can keep an audience of eager consumers on the edge off their seats waiting to hear those now legendary words, “One more thing…” I don’t care about any of those things. They don’t matter. And I’m not intimidated by your stylish black turtleneck either. Steve, you and I, we’re gonna chat.
Ok Stevie, didn’t you read my post? (Oh… don’t try to deny it. I know you’re a huge a fan of sambot. I get hits from Cupertino. Whom else could it be?) I clearly stated that I didn’t think Apple should release a video iPod. What more do you need? Jeez! How could I have been any more clear? I don’t support this. I mean it’s not like you have the power to tell the consumer populous what they want… or do you?
<reality distortion field>
Hmmm… you know, now that I really sit down and think about it, it makes perfect sense. Of course I want a video iPod. No, scratch that. I need a video iPod. Yes. It’s all so clear now. Someone needs to drive me to the Apple Store… cuz’ on the way back, I’ll be watching Desperate Housewives* in the palm of my hand. And, maybe while I’m there, I’ll pick up one of those snazzy new iMacs too. I didn’t know that I needed one of those either. Thanks Steve.</reality distortion field>
Sarcasm aside, it will be very interesting to see how quickly and to what extent a video iPod will be absorbed into this culture. Personally, I still maintain the opinion that a device of this sort will not fit neatly into my life (in the way that the original, audio only, iPod has). Aside from the occasional Simpsons episode, I rarely watch TV. I realize that the weight of that statistic puts me very much in the American minority. Maybe that is why I am so reluctant to accept the, now very real, fact that a video iPod is what the people want. From an outsider-to-television-culture‘s point of view, this should prove to be a fascinating experiment in societal acceptance of media infiltration.
*Oh… and I have no clue as to what the hell Desperate Housewives is or what it is about. I’ve never even heard of it until iTunes told me how important it is to my livelihood. Again, thanks Steve. You always know what’s best for me.
I like the idea of a video iPod but I don’t really want one. I mean the audio iPod is perfect for me because it does everything that I want it to do and more. I really don’t need the added danger/temptation of having TV at my fingertips while driving. I watch enough TV when I am in my house the last thing I need is to be able to carry it around with me.
It’s interesting that Jason d mentions Lost, because I thought the video iPod was a stupid idea…until I fell asleep watching Lost and the next morning, there it was in my itunes!! I had to watch it on the computer, but with a video ipod I could easly plug it in to the TV…oh the possibilities! First On Demand, now this…another side street on the inevitable road to Tivo! And think, video blogs! (And on the smarmy side, lots of porn to choose from without having to go to a store or pick from the meager selection of On Demand).
I don’t know how the video iPod will do, specifically compared to other portable video players out there. Most Apple products are well conceived and thought out, so success remains to be seen.
The one thing I’m both excited and disappointed about is purchasing Music Videos. Until now, you could watch free streams of them, but the selection bit. Now…if the selection rocks, it certainly maybe worth it. However, if it’s still the whopping 500 videos they managed to acquire since the release of iTunes, then they can bugger off.
I think the TV thing will be good. Especially if they can get a large selection, including non-local channels (Comedy Central, etc).