ipod - Video ??

[bobw]

Apple job description;

Title: Playback Firmware Engineer
Req. ID: 2075781
Location: Santa Clara Valley, California
Country: United States

Seeking a highly motivated engineer to develop next generation iPod product. Must have experience in overall system design of audio and video products.

- Requires a thorough knowledge of multimedia file formats (MPEG-4, QuickTime).
- Minimum 5 years of development in embedded system environments.
-Strong C, C++ and RISC assembler is required, experience with DSP
programming is highly desired.
- Knowledge intricate interfaces details associated with audio and video codecs.
- Familiarity with audio and video compression standards (MP3, MPEG-2, H.263)
- Work seamlessly with third party vendors.
- Familiarity with overall architecture of consumer electronics products.

[fryke]

Yep, sounds like they're seeking 'production' staff now. The QuickTime people have been preparing this for years now. However: The question is really where and how far Apple wants to go with the video iPod. Several options...

a) An iPhoto like 'album' for videos in QuickTime compatible formats. Synchs with video iPod only in MPEG-4 format, only in one resolution that is good for video iPod.

b) The same, but in a resolution that is also good for playback on a TV. (Video iPod with video out.)

c) Video iPod can also act as a video recorder. Give it a signal and it can record MPEG-4 directly... Watch it on the video iPod or synch it with your Mac to watch it there. Or use video out to watch on a TV set or other projection device.

My theory is more or less d), where video iPod not only acts as a player but also a receiver and recorder. I.e.: Watch TV on your Mac, if the vPod is connected. Record to your Mac or vPod, work on the files on the Mac, synch them back to vPod, watch on Mac, vPod, TV set. A _complete_ solution, I think, is the only way to go for Apple. And while people might find a way to bring DivX files to the vPod (by converting to MPEG-4, probably), Apple will not propagate such use. Apple will propagate to use this for TV and for your 'Desktop Movies'.

[mr. k]

I'll make sure I don't buy any pants with small pockets - because this thing is gonna be giant! I wonder what the timeframe will look like?

[Arden]

Ah nuts, the perfect job for me: programming applied to video.

I'd go for Fryke's option D, unless Apple starts licensing TV shows like they do with songs through the iTMS.

[Giaguara]

... "watching tv without licence brings bad karma" - steve, after introducing the vpod (alternative d of fryke's specualtions) ?