CartPodcasts and Videos for MP3 Players?
The answer is obvious - video! In fact, it is already here. Many MP3 players have video capability, the next new wave of portable devices are built around video storage and playback.
The Apple iPod is one of the leaders of the MP3/video hybrids, although there are several other MP3 players that are built for video. Because of the popularity of the iPod, however, it is seen as the leader in this field. The fifth generation iPod is fully integrated with video and video content can be purchased from the iTunes Music Store.
Just as with audio, video content is available for download from many sources. The big difference, of course, is the size of most video files. Even though video can be compressed (similar to MP3 or WMA) the file size of a 90 minute movie can be in the range of 700 MB. That means that video playback is better suited for hard drive MP3 players than flash memory players.
Of course, not all video content is feature films. TV shows, animations and home videos are all suitable for viewing on MP3 players. There's also a particular type of video practically designed for portable audio players - podcasts.
Podcasts can be either audio or video - they are like radio or TV broadcasts except that they are available for viewing or listening anytime. You can subscribe to podcasts so that they are automatically downloaded to your computer when a new one is produced. From the computer, it can be transferred to your MP3 player.
Podcasts are often amateur productions with a wide range of subject matter. Users of Apple iTunes can browse through podcasts to select which ones to subscribe to, and they are automatically transferred to the iPod when it is connected to the computer.
Even though the name 'podcasting' is a hybrid of 'iPod' and 'broadcasting,' podcasts can be viewed on any MP3 player that supports video and of course audio podcasts can be heard on virtually any MP3 player. The 'broadcasting' part of podcasting is also a misnomer - rather than being streamed in real-time, podcasts are archived and can be viewed any time.
Is Video a Bad Idea?
Adding video capabilities to MP3 players seems like a good idea, but think for a minute how you are going to use it. If you use your MP3 player while driving the car, for example, how practical can video be? Similarly, if you have a portable audio player for jogging, you can't watch videos and run at the same time.
On the other hand, if you spend a lot of time commuting in buses or trains, a video player can be a great way to pass the time. Just remember that video takes a lot more battery power than audio, so you will need to recharge your batteries more often. Frequent recharges also means shorter battery life, so using your MP3 player for video playback will be more expensive than audio.
