Darnit...where's my widescreen video iPod?

April 12, 2007 1:54 PM

Are there any flash-based, widescreen, Mac compatible, personal media players that might be available by the end of the year?

Looking for at least 4 or 8Gb of flash memory. with a minimum of a 480x272 display that can play H.264, Divx/Xvid, H.264 or QuickTime. Something like an iPhone, without the phone or WiFi. Something like a Sansa View but not tied to the MTP protocol to talk to the computer.

posted by jaimev to Technology (4 answers total)

I think your list of codec demands is going to limit you.

Take a look at this. It's Linux based and very hackable. You might have to DIY to get the features you want, but at least it's possible.

As for Mac compatible, I'm guessing it mounts as a removable storage device, although I've never used one so don't know.
posted by humblepigeon at 2:39 PM on April 12, 2007

I don't think anyone has ruled out the possibility that Apple may create an uber-iPod based on the iPhone design. It seems like a logical progression once the kinks in the iPhone software have been worked out and the production costs for the touchscreen have decreased.
posted by junesix at 2:39 PM on April 12, 2007

Some analyst claims that the widescreen ipod is just waiting until after the iPhone's release, so as not to cannibalize iPhone sales. So, September is the guesstimate.

doesn't solve your codec problems, but it answers your titular question (which is what I saw in my feed reader:) )
posted by misterbrandt at 2:59 PM on April 12, 2007

Nokia N800. Mostly intended as an Internet pad, but has pretty good playback capabilities, apparently. Takes 2x2 GB memory cards, so it's a little low, but workable.
posted by adamrice at 4:21 PM on April 12, 2007