iPod Video vs iPod Music

Blackstar_solar · 22 Mar 2006 at 12:27

I've been meaning to post this for quite a while, ever since I saw this:

http://guides.macrumors.com/Gallery_of_Video_iPod_Mockups

If this is truely the way that Apple are taking the iPod, i.e. making it have a huge screen and able to play hours of video...I for one hope that they bring out an iPod Music only version.

I don't want, a huge screen, the ability to play videos (I have a PC/TV/DVD player for that), I don't want to have hold up my player on a train if I'm watching a movie (I have a portable DVD player for that) I want an MP3 player to just play MP3s!!! Is that too much to ask?

I have the same argument with mobile phones, give me a phone that looks good with a decent UI and can make phone calls and sends texts and I'm happy!

What are your thoughts on this? If Apple move the iPod primarily to a video player, should they also bring out a cheaper music only ipod?

Spunj99 · 22 Mar 2006 at 12:30

The reason i bought a Shuffle rather than a Nano or the other waste of spaces.

It's a PORTABLE Mp3 player, now unless you're planning to walk around the world 2 or 3 times a day you don't need frikkin 20gb of music with you at all times.

Everybody seems to be missing the point of an MP3 player these days, and they go; "Lol, it's only 5gb?! That's only about 100 albums or something dude!!"...

:/

But, i guess it's all about the gadget factor nowadays, rather than actual practicality.

Tommy B · 22 Mar 2006 at 12:31

A portable DVD player is like carrying around records and a record player.

It'd be so much easier if you could have 100s of films and 1000s of songs in one device. If only they could make iTunes copy DVDs then it would be awesome.

Vegeta · 22 Mar 2006 at 12:35

I find it unbelievable people are sad enough to take ages and using a lot of effort making these images lol, got nothing constructive to do with their time.

Blackstar_solar · 22 Mar 2006 at 13:53

Spunj99 said:
The reason i bought a Shuffle rather than a Nano or the other waste of spaces.

It's a PORTABLE Mp3 player, now unless you're planning to walk around the world 2 or 3 times a day you don't need frikkin 20gb of music with you at all times.

Everybody seems to be missing the point of an MP3 player these days, and they go; "Lol, it's only 5gb?! That's only about 100 albums or something dude!!"...

:/

But, i guess it's all about the gadget factor nowadays, rather than actual practicality.

Thanks you!!

Tommy B said:
It'd be so much easier if you could have 100s of films and 1000s of songs in one device. If only they could make iTunes copy DVDs then it would be awesome.

But like I said i don't WANT to watch films, the iPod started off as a music player and I feel that it is getting lost in the hype to stick more and more into the iPod casing!

TooNice · 22 Mar 2006 at 15:17

I don't care so long as:
1) The price of the iPod remains consistant. So far they have remained pretty consistant from one generation to the next.
2) They don't neglect improving sound quality. They have gone a long way from 1G to 5G, but they can still improve.
3) The size do not increase significantly.. preferably at all.

But I disagree that MP3 players should only be [insert your definition of portable MP3 player here]. Not everyone use their players the same way, there is no "right design".. just like there is no right way to use your MP3 player.

For some of you, a Shuffle is enough. For others, the MP3 player built into phone is enough. And why would it not be? Not everyone uses high end IEMs, meaning that the quality the player built in mobile phones is adequate for them. The shuffle may be small, but carrying phone + shuffle still takes more space than just having the phone alone.
Some phones have gotten so small that some people think it is -too- small. So rather than shrinking them some more, I don't think it is bad to add features such as MP3 playing capability. All phones can do calls/text messages already, companies can't stay competitive if they don't innovate.

On the other scale, we have MP3 players with 30-60GB. Not a waste of space either, for many reasons. I will only list a few random ones:
- Having most of your collection mean you won't have to change your playlist often at all. It's a trade between convenience and size. There is no "right" here, it's user preference.
- It can act as a proper HD, you may not need it, but it doesn't mean no one does. Some people use it to transfer images from their camera when they run out of space. Saves from carrying a laptop around. Do everyone need it? No, but I am sure some do. For some it may save from carrying a laptop HD around. Again, not applicable for everyone but it doesn't hurt.
- Some people rip their music into lossless. Sure they can transcode into more portable format, but larger capacity gives the choice.
- If you have the habbit of carrying a bag when you commute, then the increased size may not add that much inconvenience.
- Actually, you don't need to travel the world 2-3 times a day to appreciate a large capacity. A single trip to Asia, Australia, US/Canada or a coach trip around Europe (not in the same day) can easily cause your 512MB player to loop more times then you can count. I'd know

And I don't have the habbit of changing my playlist when I travel, so I am stuck with whatever I have when I leave home.

Bottom line: I have historically said that I don't care about the video playing feature of the iPod 5G. But I can certainly understand Apple's stance. From a business point of view, they can't not have this feature when their major competitor has it. I am pretty sure a larger screen *will* sell. So so long as they don't neglect the music side of things, I'll put up with it

[It might also open a niche market for low cost music only MP3 player - so everyone wins]

Amp34 · 22 Mar 2006 at 15:34

Spunj99 said:
The reason i bought a Shuffle rather than a Nano or the other waste of spaces.

It's a PORTABLE Mp3 player, now unless you're planning to walk around the world 2 or 3 times a day you don't need frikkin 20gb of music with you at all times.

Everybody seems to be missing the point of an MP3 player these days, and they go; "Lol, it's only 5gb?! That's only about 100 albums or something dude!!"...

:/

But, i guess it's all about the gadget factor nowadays, rather than actual practicality.

I disagree, I have a 4GB player and its too small. The point of a 20GB player is not so you can listen to all the music in one go, its the fact that you have the choice of all your music at your fingertips. If i had a 1GB player i would have to spend as much time swapping the music as listening to it. The good thing wth 20GB players is that you can spontaniously, say, "oh I know what lets listen to a bit of bloc party" wthout having to go back to your house and loading it up.

I do agree with you on the fact that an mp3 player should be an mp3 player. It doesnt need a colour screen. If i wanted to watch films while i was on the move i would get a media player.

Tommy B · 22 Mar 2006 at 15:57

Exactly I don't see what your problem is.

There will always be something like the Nano for music, and then something like the Video which is big, but allows you to carry EVERYTHING around with you.

Blackstar_solar · 22 Mar 2006 at 15:59

TooNice said:
[It might also open a niche market for low cost music only MP3 player - so everyone wins]

Now THAT is exactly what I want...I'm not saying get rid of the iPod video, I see why people want it, but I don't think apple should ignore those who DON'T want all these advanced features, but would still like to be able to store lots of music, AND have play lists...something which, at the moment, isn't possible.

You get cars with all the gixmos, but some people just want to get from A-B. I just think apple should apply the same principle to MP3(!) players

Spunj99 · 22 Mar 2006 at 16:24

Amp34 said:
I disagree, I have a 4GB player and its too small. The point of a 20GB player is not so you can listen to all the music in one go, its the fact that you have the choice of all your music at your fingertips. If i had a 1GB player i would have to spend as much time swapping the music as listening to it. The good thing wth 20GB players is that you can spontaniously, say, "oh I know what lets listen to a bit of bloc party" wthout having to go back to your house and loading it up.

Yet I've never known anybody that listens actively to more than 10 albums at any one time.

Maybe that's because I don't know any pop chart hoes though.

Wouldn't buy a proper iPod anyway. Seen as they're the ultimate mugging magnet. At least if my Shuffle gets nicked it only cost me £60 new.

james.miller · 22 Mar 2006 at 17:20

i dont either, but the choice is very handy. When i turn mine on, i dont always know what i want to listen to at that moment, some im hardly going to know the night before when im deleting and adding more music all the time. That's why people like more storage space.

IMO, 5gb is just right for me. dont really need more, and i certainly dont need a video player

TooNice · 22 Mar 2006 at 17:49

Blackstar_solar said:
Now THAT is exactly what I want...I'm not saying get rid of the iPod video, I see why people want it, but I don't think apple should ignore those who DON'T want all these advanced features, but would still like to be able to store lots of music, AND have play lists...something which, at the moment, isn't possible.

You get cars with all the gixmos, but some people just want to get from A-B. I just think apple should apply the same principle to MP3(!) players

I see your point, but, well, Apple is a business like any other and it might be that not keeping up with the latest add-ons will make them uncompetitive (just note how often you get people recommend the Creative M:Vision because it is better for video).
Stripping features off their flagship products just won't do. Even if they make an iPod with the same SQ as the 5G, without the colour screen most people would just say it is a smaller 3G. I think that is the reason we don't see a direct competition to the iAudio M5 (which you may want to take a look if you haven't): there is not enough demands. It might just not be worth it from Apple's perspective. If the M5/its successor suddenly becomes a big hit, then perhaps it'll shake Apple into producing an iPod Lite

From a branding perspective, it is better for them to keep the price and add features than to remove features and drop the cost (again talking flagship products).

As for iPod being mugging magnet, sure, most MP3 players are. But no one need to know you have one of them expensive players or the popular iPod

Eliot · 23 Mar 2006 at 23:16

Spunj99 said:
Yet I've never known anybody that listens actively to more than 10 albums at any one time.

Maybe that's because I don't know any pop chart hoes though.

Wouldn't buy a proper iPod anyway. Seen as they're the ultimate mugging magnet. At least if my Shuffle gets nicked it only cost me £60 new.

i doubt thats a problem any more as their so common, with no exageration i can say that in school in a class of 20, 7 have a ipod of sorts.