Contributed by Eugene Liu | osViews This article was syndicated under osViews' Open Content License. October 28, 2004 2:00 PM

Earlier this week, Apple announced new products, partnerships and initiatives all of which related back to the company's iPod. Eugene Liu submitted the following editorial to osOpinion/osViews, which analyses both what was announced and what was not announced at the Apple news event.
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Steve Jobs unveiled more exciting Apple products--particularly in music--on Tuesday to a crowd of lucky journalists and VIPs. Among the announcements were that the iTunes Music Store is expanding to nine more European nations, and a Canada store is coming next month. Also announced was the first “digital box set” from U2--400 songs downloadable with one “Buy” click. The shiny black iPod with a red scroll wheel and band members' laser-engraved signatures. Then there's the color iPod Photo, the next generation iPod that synchronizes your music library and photo library.

I know many fans are probably disappointed--where's the video iPod? Video seems to be the natural evolution of Apple's best-selling iPod. How dare Jobs say that video is not the way to go!

Well, that is the reality today. There is no viable video content for a video iPod. Apple engineers could have easily created the video iPod. It's no big deal to those gurus. However, we have our video collection on VHS, VCD, and DVD, and to convert or rip them would take too much time, effort, and storage. Even to download a full-length feature film over broadband would take quite some time. Then there are the legal negotiations to be conducted with the studios. If you think it was a miracle for Apple to convince all the major music labels to jump in on iTunes Music Store, imagine what Apple would be up against with the movie houses.

A video iPod at this point in time would likely face the fate of the famous Newton: amazing technology, lousy timing.

Jobs proclaims “photos!” as the next big thing. He's indeed a great salesperson. In our daily lives right now, we feel closer and more intimate with music and photographs than with movies. And with the iPod, it's all about technology that touches the heart. It's about the little white gem we can carry with us everywhere and indulge in its offerings, like how the popular “Silhouette” ads capture the energy flowing from listening on an iPod. Similarly, the iPod Photo demonstrates the intimacy of viewing your family pictures or the joy from sharing them with others.

Also, as Jobs mentioned, there's no copyright issues with your own photos. And everyone has a digital camera these days. Even cell phones have built-in cameras.

The day everybody has a small camcorder in their pocket or purse is the day a video iPod may become a reality--it would be cool to watch “Star Wars” on an iPod, but the experience of watching a home movie of your baby's first step anywhere would be what Apple is after.