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If iTunes does this, there will be absolutely no reason to buy a CD at Best Buy. Lossless downloads for the regular $9.99 album price would be awesome.

AppleInsider Reports Apple Lossless Format Coming Soon

Well, another month is almost gone and nothing from Apple on the new iPod. While Amazon is showing price reductions on Nano models making a soon-to-be-announced larger Nano capacity likely, there is nothing for the disk-based unit on the horizon.

Sites are speculating on recent patents that there is everything from voice command to neural implants coming for the iPod, but I seriously doubt that is likely. The size of the disk-based iPod seems to be a forgone conclusion in the minds of all the fan-sites, but you really have to wonder…

To date, the iPod has been a vertical device with controls on the lower half of the face and the display taking the remaining upper portion. This puts the dock connecter on the bottom, a feature which has spawned an entire industry of iWantSomeMoneyToo accessories. And face, we buy them — clock radios, speaker systems, car interfaces, you name it. In fact, Apple has so many systems hooking up to the iPod at this point a change is design would mean disaster for add-on products.

But here comes the new iPod video, most certainly to have a widescreen interface because face it — movies are widescreen, most TV is now in 16:9 and consumers are going to demand it. So… Where do we put the dock connector? Uhm. Well, if it’s on the end, how are we going to watch a movie in our iPod Hi-Fi? If it’s on the side, our iPod isn’t going to fit in the narrow width of the dock. So… Hmm… What to do?

Also, the dock connector doesn’t have any provisions for a component video output and noisy composite isn’t going to cut it. I realize that they want to sell minis with Front Row for the home viewing, but being able to hook up your player to a projecter for a presentation would be a nice feature. I don’t expect 1080p, but I would at least hope to get an s-video or component output for the video content. Maybe that’s just too much, I dunno, but what about cars with video screens? They’re going to want to watch the video too.

At this point, I think they realize they are in a tough position. They need to keep accessory vendors happy but at the same time, they need to figure out how to handle the landscape presentation format while at the same time keeping the music people happy too.

It’s no wonder it is taking so long to reach the market.

Saw this linked on Gizmodo, very slick and clean. Might be the ticket for those of us that hate the bulk of most iPod condoms.

GelaSkins

My previous post almost turned into a rant about how Apple needs to get on the ball in terms of video support for the iPod. I certainly have a high level of expectation of what would really push Apple over the top in terms of an end result. While I don’t expect everything, it seems like Apple has been forced to practically go back to the drawing board on the iPod video.

Rumors and news reports have indicated that the touchscreen version of the iPod with the full front side being the display are delayed for what could be a year. With size upgrades coming for the Nano (8gb or more), it seems like Apple is throwing a bone until it can get two things done. The first is a solid, reliable touchscreen interface that evokes the usability for which Apple is well known. The second is a contract to sell movies through the iTMS. Without a solid content base of video, who’s going to want it? And 3 minute 30 second music videos are not what people want to watch.

We want subscriptions to our shows so that we can watch them in their 16:9 glory on our way to work. Or perhaps while sitting at our desk being sneaky. Either way, between all the things that have to be done (you know, epic raids, video games, poker night, etc.) we want to be able to catch up on simple shows like Scrubs, CSI:Miami and whatever else without a lot of effort.

The real clincher is the networks that are going to be shows online the day after they air. This is a twist that Apple isn’t going to be able to handle without somehow adopting the model. You see, the networks are making it so that you can’t skip the commercials. Apple doesn’t sell it with the commercials. But people are going to want to play it on their portable device. Now, Microsoft has shown they’ll cater to anything to sell products (including censorship) so it’s a given they’ll sell out to the networks and release Windows Media Player version 2,740,212.1 with the new rewind-only video feature. So Apple, it sucks, but you’re going to have to join the club. And just like with the free podcasts, you’re going to have to integrate the network offerings into your iTunes client to make it easy. Otherwise, people will look for something else.

I commonly will download an HD XVID version of CSI:Miami, use PMP Video to convert it to the format used by the PMP Video Mod for the 1.5 firmware PSP. This let’s me watch a full 480×272 movie converted from the HD source on my PSP at my leisure. Yeah, it’s a pain in the ass and sometimes takes more time than it is worth, but it’s really the only way to get quality video on-the-go (unless I care to lug my 17″ Dell laptop around – which is unmatched for HD, but the glare is horrible even in a car with the daylight).

Convergence is coming, and people are ready for it. But it’s going to take some time. Even the Windows Vista Media Center that promises CableCard support for digital TV DVR (and the likely ability to put the content on any PlaysIfYoureLucky(tm) compatible device) are long delayed into next year at the earliest. Throw in a high-definition format war (HD-DVD vs Blu-Ray) and you’ve got an agenda for delayed products, questionable content deals and outta-luck early adopters.

But I can wait, after all, I’ve got over 6,473,712,372,120 Sudoku puzzles that need to be solved.

Nothing new on your 30th birthday. I enjoyed the silence.

You did put out a new Mac Mini, pretty reasonable device if you don’t want a laptop and don’t have demanding system needs. I would get one if it wouldn’t clash with my XP network.

Now get out of your chair and throw the real video iPod to the masses.

So, it seems the French government wants to ban iTunes because you can play your songs on a $20 MP3 player you pick up at the corner store. Sure, Apple rules the online music marketplace. And anyone with a small amount of will and a search engine can figure out how to get their iTunes purchases to play on any MP3 player. So what’s the big deal? Apple is where it is at because of adequate copyright protection for users who download music from the iTunes Music Store. And publishers use Apple because of their popularity and protection (not to mention the brand buzz, “We’re on iTunes, we’re hip!”).

I guess Apple can reconsider building their “Jerry Lewis” video library on iTMS now since they may be forced to make their site unavailable to his biggest fan base.

For the past few years, I’ve worked on various electronic amplifier projects — including the MINT headphone amplifier. For those that don’t know, a MINT headphone amplifier uses two 9V batteries, a small circuit board and some connectors to add power to your standard iPod (etc…) player when used with quality high-end headphones. The end result is a powerful sound from your puny player without overdriving the stock headphone output.

They are called MINTs because they are often stuffed into a small Altoids tin for easy portability. Well, now a company has managed to slam an iPod into a designer tin of the same size.

It’s called the TinPod. Seems like a pretty fancy way to do the same thing that can be done yourself with some careful tin snipping on a standard Altoids tin. Pretty slick though.

Engadget is reporting that Morgan Stanley indicates an iPhone on the horizon. While I’m not completely sold on it since details are paper thin (even the photo is fake), it would absolutely destroy the Razr and other options since anything with the iPod name on it sells.

I’m obviously somewhat excited about the possibility, but given the vapor-nature of the phone, I will hold my breath for now.

Details on Engadget