Written by James Fohl

With the announcement of the new iPod with video playing capabilities, a lot of people have been discussing the fact that a new media revolution in going to occur. This media revolution refers to the fact that in the very near future we are going to be seeing a lot of people carrying around devices that allow them to watch their favorite television shows and movies.

Unfortunately, devices have existed for a long time, but the only people you had seen using such devices were nerds. I mean, pocket television sets have existed for quite some time now, but you still don't see everyone walking down the street carrying one and watching their favorite television shows.

Portable DVD players are another example. Although they are a little bigger, you still don't see a lot of people riding buses or on airplanes with these things. These things are pretty cheap too, and offer the user a library of thousands upon thousands of movies, cartoons, and television shows.

Lots and lots of other handheld media players have also existed, and pretty much failed. There were the Video Now players for children, and of course the new PSP handheld gaming unit by Sony that allows people to watch movies on the go.

Now all the sudden, people think that just because Apple, makers of the popular iPod music player have placed video playing capabilities into their product, the whole media world is going to be turned upside down.

While it sounds like a great business venture, it does not really have much of a chance at taking off. Music players are successful, because you do not have to devote one hundred percent of your attention to listen to the music. You can listen to the music in your car, while jogging, or even while shopping.


Portable video players have failed because well, you have to give them your full attention. You can not watch a movie while you are driving or going for a jog through the park unless you are extremely talented. Instead you have to sit down and devote your attention to the little tiny screen of the iPod.

If watching something on your iPod is going to require your complete attention, then why not give your complete attention to a television set? I mean, a TV screen is a lot bigger than a little three inch display of an iPod, and you will be able to actually see what is going on.

So really, will the new iPod video make a revolution in the media world? Probably not, considering that the iPod as a music player has been a revolution since it initially came out in 2001. People will purchase the new iPod for its music playing abilities, and probably will only ever use the video feature a couple of times to show their friends. In the end, its just a novelty feature that delivers more attention to Apple and their impressive line of digital music players; which is exactly what they want.