Spielburg disses iPod Video

Macaholic · Nov 21st, 2006, 11:08 AM

http://today.reuters.com/news/articl...src=rss&rpc=22

Can't say I blame him. For a film maker, the format SUCKS... and really, portable video will never gain the traction that portable audio playback has, because there'll be the constant battle between big screen real estate and mini -- or dare I say, "nano" -- portability. Plus, of course, music and how it can be background can accentuate WAY more experiences an times in one's life than how video demands your complete attention.

kloan · Nov 21st, 2006, 11:43 AM

It's true... I've found I rarely use the video.. after wanting it for so long, I use it much more for music than video playback... at home I've got my computer so I don't need the iPod for movies... maybe with a large capacity I'd be more inclined to store movies on it, but I've got over 100GB of movies anyway... so it'd have to be much larger... plus having to re-encode every one of them is quite a hassle.. so far I've got Family Guy on there, and that's it...

Macaholic · Nov 21st, 2006, 11:48 AM

I think Jobs went iPod Video under duress. "Due to poupular demand (from idiots who don't know what they're asking for), we present the iPod Video!"

Now iTV, online distribution and in-home wireless content access? THAT's a different story. Totally viable. It's early-ish in it's maturity, but it is totally the way of the future (to use a cliché)

madgunde · Nov 21st, 2006, 11:57 AM

There's a purpose for video on the iPod, and it's not movies, so Spielburg is perfectly right in his opinions. TV programs, podcasts and YouTube shorts are what the iPod is best suited for, and it's great for that. I take it with me when I'm going to wait at the doctor's office or getting my car serviced. Looking forward to having it on my next flight overseas. Helps pass the time nicely. I'd have taken it with me if I was planning on lining up overnight for a PS3 or Wii, and the hours would have flown by pretty quick.

Macaholic · Nov 21st, 2006, 12:02 PM

It certainly has its occasions of advantage...

Is that a proper sentence??

satchmo · Nov 21st, 2006, 03:27 PM

I know a film director who uses it invaluably for his dailies (stuff he's shot for the day). He plays them back often on a plane jotting down notes and ideas. So for some professionals, it really is a tool more so than an entertainment device.

Personally, I just watch a few music videos and the occasional one hour TV show. But that's about as long as I can endure with the small screen.

Macaholic · Nov 21st, 2006, 03:58 PM

Yes. The iPod can be an invaluable tool.

switch · Nov 21st, 2006, 05:40 PM

The current video iPod is just a transitional device in my opinion. I see the video as being an added option just to keep the iPod as fresh as possible. I think once the iTunes movie/TV section becomes readily available in other countries and iTV+ comes out, we'll see the "true video iPod" come out.

elmer · Nov 22nd, 2006, 10:10 AM

I think the killer app for mobile video is YouTube. Little (free) videos that everyone just has to see. And the way to get them should be WiFi and/or Bluetooth directly, not through a computer. Really, a phone is just as good as an iPod for such "single-serving", throwaway video, which need not be stored for very long.