The Future of iPod Video

The Future of iPod Video

The release of the fifth generation of iPod players opened us to the possibility of video streaming with our iPods. When Apple launched the iPod video last October 2005, we began to see the potential of this popular gadget in the field of entertainment, marketing and advertising.

The fifth generation iPod video is available in 30 GB size and 60 GB size capacity models and priced the same between $299-$399 USD. They feature the ability to read and play MPEG-4 and H.264 video. iPod video resolutions of up to 480 x 480 and 320 x 240 are available to users. Some of them though have said to play wide screen resolutions of up to 640x360 in using MPEG-4 and 400x192 while using H.264. The screen capabilities are often dependend on what the users can tinker around with.
The iPod video has a 65,536 color (16-bit) screen, and is able to play video on an external TV through the use of an AV cable accessory. It plugs into the headphone mini-jack and the connector splits into composite video and audio output with RCA jacks. However, video watched on via television often has poor quality due to the compression.

The iPod videos are encoded at 480x480 or less. This iPod resolution is similar to conventional VHS recordings. The screen size is 2.5 inches diagonally, 0.5 inches larger than the previous iPod. The iPod video is also 30% thinner than the previous full-size iPod. The battery life for the 30 GB size is 14 hours and for the 60 GB size is 20 hours. Watching movies reduces that time to two to three hours.

It’s not an Apple Ipod without the click wheel and the iPod video has that feature. It gives you access and control to your entire photo, music and video library — from one thumb. You can control the volume and browse it using the iPod’s touch-sensitive surface. The iPod video’s click wheel provides easy control and access right at your fingertips.

What this gadget can do is the usual music player function plus play video downloaded from iTunes Music Store or other external sites that offer the same video file format. With this unit, you can put music in the pocket and still have room for practically everything else. You can read your audio books with iPod video. Browse through your picture gallery

with iPod video’s photo slideshows. Refer to your iPod video calendar or look up an email address in the address book. You can also check time from your favorite city and record your fastest lap. With this iPod, you can watch video pod casts, music clips, videos and also the TV shows you missed. This is what makes the iPod video so exciting. Everything you need in one ipod.

The major advantage of the iPod video is how advertising can use it to promote other products and services for sale. Think of a preview of J. Lo’s next music video to be released and only those with an iPod video can watch it. That’s hitting four birds with one stone; promotion for the album, the song, the iPod unit and whatever else the marketers can think of. Indie artists can also use create a fan base using the iPod video through self-promotion via iPod video-accepted formats and by giving out free music clips or video clips.

And what about television shows that wants feedback from iPod video users? They can easily hook up a pilot episode, test the initial reaction to the public and have immediate response through the website or mobile phone replies. Another great idea is to make available instructional video clips of cooking classes. Companies will have a ball making ads for iPod video and also make it possible for us users to get free downloads.

There are also the companies who will create accessories to fully enhance your iPod. The plans to create innovative software and content for the iPod video is just starting. The future for Ipod is very bright. In the end, we are the winners of this race to video technology.