iTunes Image Files Suggest Video Store

[Jeremy Charette]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.betanews.com/article/iTunes_Image_Files_Suggest_Video_Store/1126585367' target='_blank'>http://www.betanews.com/article/iTunes_Image_Files_Suggest_Video_Store/1126585367</a><br /><br /></div><i>"Bloggers have discovered an image resource within iTunes 5 that suggests Apple has future plans for a video store. Three buttons with the terms "Gift Video," "Buy Video," and "Add Video" were found along with references to a "protected MPEG-4 video file" within text strings in the code of iTunes 5. Rumors have been circulating around the Internet in recent months saying Apple had plans for some kind of video store, as well as a video-enabled iPod. Apple started selling music videos with some of its music tracks in May, and the Wall Street Journal reported that Apple had mentioned a video iPod to music labels back in July."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/indextop20040719.gif" /> <br /><br />The strength of the iPod has been it's simplicity. It just plays music, not much else. Despite cries for greater file format support, or an FM tuner, Apple has stayed the course, with a small side diversion of photo support. I'm not sure how great the appeal of video is. Most iPod users I know leave the them in their bags or pockets, and rarely if ever look at the screen. Even MTV has moved almost completely away from Music Videos. Might this be a mis-step by Apple, or a last ditch attempt at ratcheting up market share and increasing revenue to keep the investors happy?