arstechnica.com — The demand for video-playing capabilities on digital music players may be overblown, according to a Nielsen study. Its conclusion was that a surprisingly low percentage of iPod users seem to have any interest in watching videos on their devices, but there are some problems with the study.
Nov 20, 2006 View in Crawl 4
rcomegysNov 21, 2006
I use the video capability all the time - every time I have to get in a line. And I'll be using the HELL out of the video function (with a couple of external batteries) when I get in line for the Wii (I live in japan, won't get it til 12/2).
perfectsquareNov 21, 2006
I still have no idea why anyone buys an ipod thingy. Hard wired battery? No. Fanboys are fine with paying for their equipment every 8 months?I will get by with my phone and 2gb SD cards, thanks.<a class="user" href="http://www.cingular.com/cell-phone-service/cell-phone-details/?q_list=true&q_phoneName=Cingular+8125+Pocket+PC&q_sku=sku1000007-1&_requestid=610120&_requestid=3244">http://www.cingular.com/cell-phone-service/cell-phone-details/?q_list=true&q_phoneName=Cingular+8125+Pocket+PC&q_sku=sku1000007-1&_requestid=610120&_requestid=3244</a>
loopychewNov 21, 2006
I use my iPod's video functionality a good amount of the time. Since I download and/or transcode when I'm away from my computer anyway, I don't feel any time wasted in doing so. Since I tend to be away from my computer a lot nowadays (an unfortunate reality), the iPod tends to be how I watch my weekly dose of Heroes, How I Met Your Mother, and Veronica Mars. Also, for longer train rides and potential upcoming flights, I've got Inside Man and Serenity ready for viewing, along with a few short films and video podcasts.I don't see many people doing the same thing--considering that Jodix sucks ass and Videora takes some tweaking for optimal results, and your average Windows iPod user would have already thrown up their hands in frustration before finishing it off--so I can see the end result of this study--that most people don't really use the video functionality of the 5Gs--as feasible, regardless of how distorted the figures in the study actually are.
circusninjaNov 21, 2006
I have a 30G Ipod Video, and I watch video's on my ipod everyday! From the latest Diggnation to a few episodes of Red vs Blue. I watched ALL 5 seasons of Scrubs on my Ipod to and from work, on lunch breaks etc. Granted, it is a MAJOR pain in the ass to watch subtitled video (for obvious reasons). Ghost in the Shell: 2nd Gig, I'm looking at you!Converting the video's to ipod format is a piece-of-cake. I use Xilisofts Video-to-ipod convertor: <a class="user" href="http://www.xilisoft.com/ipod-video-converter.html.">http://www.xilisoft.com/ipod-video-converter.html.</a> It's so simple, even my girlfriend can do it!! Heck, with something like AutoHotkey (<a class="user" href="http://www.autohotkey.com/)">http://www.autohotkey.com/)</a> you could probably automate the whole thing. Try it! :)The battery life is quite adequate for an entire day's worth of entertainment, including listening to tunes, till I can get back home and recharge. And after I updated the firmware, it feels like the ipod is squeezing out more juice than before.
sentinelNov 21, 2006
I knew it!
Closed AccountNov 21, 2006
Unless you ride public transit or fly a LOT most folks don't have a time in which watching video on a little video player is compelling. Sure I can do so at home, but instead of my full size TV? I'm either at work, at home, outside, or out socializing. Very few hours in my month are spent somewhere I would have any desire to fire up a portable video device, and most Americans prop ably would say the same thing. I do listen to music quite a bit via my iPod, both in my car and when running. But in both circumstances I wouldn't be watching video. Portable video will never be huge like portable audio has become. I can drive and listen to music, not watch video. I can exercise outside and listen to tunes, not watch movies. I can walk down the street and listen to a Pod-Cast, not watch video.
Closed AccountNov 21, 2006
@NanoStuffThe one I found that you could use for the same price as a very good pair of head phones is available right here at:<a class="user" href="http://www.dynamism.com/i-theater/pricing.shtml">http://www.dynamism.com/i-theater/pricing.shtml</a>It's called the Mikimoto Beans i-Theater. I just wish there was a portable video device that can output HD 1080p and have something like this come with it. Then that be sweet. That's when I'd get a portable video player.