A Pilgrim’s Digression

Friday, Apple released the long anticipated Video iPod. This was an iPod many people believed Apple would never make—no one wants to watch a movie on a two inch screen (they said); why would Apple want to be a jack of all trades when they could do just one thing, music, really, really well (they said).

Apparently, Apple has decided that video can be incorporated into the iPod’s functionality without compromising the integrity (or the profit margins) of the device. Apple has so far made available only a few films for download from the iTunes music store: the Pixar short films were an obviously good choice; episodes of ABC television programs, “Lost” in particular, will also provide a good test of whether people really want to watch video on an iPod.

The truth is, no one has to watch the video on the iPod at all, which perhaps circumvents the chief criticism of the new device. One can connect the iPod to a TV and watch the film on a regular TV screen (probably with some loss of resolution, however, though I don’t know that for sure). One can also watch the films on the computer to which they have been downloaded. iTunes stores them in the iTunes Music folder.

I know this because, even though I don’t yet own a video iPod, I downloaded two of the Pixar shorts, “Boundin” (my favorite!) and “Luxo, jr.” At $1.99, the price isn’t bad at all. The drawback as I see it is that watching the video in iTunes is unsatisfying; the video plays in the tiny window at the bottom left corner, where album art usually appears. Watching the movie with the Quicktime Player is not satisfying, either, because first of all you have to find the file of the film, which is buried in your iTunes Music folder under a generic “album” name. Second, in full screen mode, the video loses sharpness. Apple is going to have to resolve these issues, perhaps by giving its film offerings their own dedicated applications, an equivalent to iTunes and DVD player. Until Apple gives video its own stage, it will just be an ugly Siamese twin sewn onto iTunes.

Putting aside any criticisms, if someone asked me before this announcement, “Would you buy a video iPod?”, I would have said, “No way.” My problem is that now that the video iPod is a reality, I have to say, “I want one. Now.”

I am anticipating that downloadable, full-size films are going to be the next thing in terms of media distribution, and I am excited. I am already thinking about how I will finally be able to keep up with TV programs I routinely miss, even with my DVR. I am thinking about how great it’s going to be to download my three movies a week from Netflix, “returning” them by in some way expiring the rights to the film and rendering it useless so that I can download another. Right now, the video iPod seems to me not only a harbinger of things to come, but the right move by Apple at exactly the right time. The first rule of business—not that I know much about business—is to stay one step ahead of the competition. Apple has done that and gone even further with this iPod. They have not only launched the iPod into a new arena, they have likely broken ground on the first successful online video store. If this iPod is a success, and if downloadable video is a success, I seriously doubt Apple will continue using iTunes as a store window for its film wares. I expect an application, maybe called iFilm, to come along which will spin off the video market.

Thus one can begin to see how momentous this might be, not just for Apple but for all of us. Compared to previous iPod iterations, the video iPod and its inherent potential is like a Homo Sapiens compared to a Neanderthal. It is the natural, inevitable evolution of the iPod.

Even a couple weeks ago, I didn’t think I’d see it that way. My own cluelessness is just another reason why Apple keeps picking my pocket. Apple knows what I want even before I know what I want.

Accordingly, I’ve put one of my iPods up for sale on eBay. It’s my original, first generation 5GB iPod. All proceeds go to fund the acquisition of a new, black 60 GB video iPod.

I am even considering selling my perfectly functional, well-cared-for, third generation 30GB iPod. However, doing so would mean I would be iPod-less for a week or two while awaiting the arrival of my new iPod. I can’t do it. I’d rather sell my antique iPod and then wait until I have the remainder of the necessary money to buy the new ‘Pod.

The question is, why do I need a new iPod? I just bought a new iPod last year, shortly before the click wheel iPod, before the color screen iPod, before the iPod photo, now before the video iPod. The answer is clear: my iPod is a relic, and it isn’t even a year old! It’s as clunky-looking as the first generation iPod I’m selling on eBay! It can only do music and a rather lousy, monochromatic game of solitaire! I must have a new iPod.

The problem with technology today is that it just doesn’t break fast enough. If I waited for an iPod to die before buying another one, I’d still be using my 5GB iPod, which still works quite well. I am still using the 2MP Canon digital camera I bought in 2001 for my son’s birth. The thing just keeps working, beyond all reason, and I want to buy a new camera! Why can’t it just die? I thought I had lost it after awhile, a belief that lasted just long enough for me to say to my wife, “We may have to start looking for a new digital camera.” Then she found the piece of junk at the bottom of her purse.

Personal entertainment technology should have flaws built-in which causes it to break after a period of no more than two years, thus giving us a ready excuse to buy anew. “Damn, Honey, the television set is dead. Guess we’ll have to buy that new HD TV monitor.”

In the meantime, I’ll just have to think up more creative excuses for why I need a new iPod every year. At least I can sell my old junk on eBay to assuage my guilty, consumerist conscience somewhat.