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According to AppleInsider’s sources, Apple has three new iPod models on their roadmap for 2007.  Details are skimpy at this time, but they’re reporting that one of the new models will likely be the FULL video iPod.  Until now, Steve Jobs “has so far been unwilling to commit the marketing and other resources necessary to bring the device to market.” Others are saying Steve just wants to get a better feeling for how popular the new iTV and iTunes Movie Store will be before dumping millions into the product.  We all know he’ll eventually come around.  No info yet on what the other two iPods could be, but I’m sure we’ll catch word soon.

The market for video eyewear is standing at the point of being fully weightless. Now that the newest generation of video eyewear no longer weighs more than a pair of sunglasses, it seems that the last barrier for large-scale mobile use has been removed. Just like video phones, portable video eyewear also seemed like a failed technology of the past, or only one that lived in the movies. But now seeing is believing.

The new generation video eye-wear has a number of other important advantages aside from being much lighter. The virtual screen has increased in size. The viewer now sees a screen of almost 1.5 meters at a distance of two meters—creating a mobile movie screen experience for your favorite music video, TV shows, films, and video pod casts while on the move.

If there is one thing which has increased over the last few years, it is the availability of mobile audiovisual content. Many people have already purchased a MP4 video player, such as the iPod Video, and filled it up with movies and video fragments but are busy squinting at a 3.5 inch screen. New technology is also coming out, “...the mobile telephone which you buy in 2007 will certainly have a TV-out function, such as the new Nokia N93. Now you just have to plug in your lightweight video eye-wear and your mobile movie theater is ready for use.”

The relaxView 4.0 offers consumers a feather-light pair (less then 80 grams). Add on simple nose support adjustments and you have one very comfortable mobile cinema. Your surroundings continue to be perceptible by focusing your eyes above and below the video screen, thereby stopping you from bumping into Bubba on the street.

relaxView “test drives” are now possible for everyone. And each purchased pair of video glasses (€ 449,00) comes with a money-back guarantee if returned within 14 days. Go on, check it out. Oh and by the way, welcome to the future.

Read [Relax View]

Media research company Nielsen spent October 1-27 studying the habits of iPod users.  Their study concluded that video use on iPods is very low.  ArsTechnica has the run-down for us.

Only 1 percent of the content items played on either an iPod or iTunes by iPod users was video content, with that number only growing to 2.2 percent among video iPod users. It appears that during the other 97.8 percent of the time, video iPod users are still just listening to audio content such as music and audio podcasts.

This really isn’t surprising to me at all.  People would rather watch videos on a big screen than on their small iPod.  Plus, as long as you watch TV shows on time, don’t watch music videos, and don’t like Disney movies, you have no use for the video section of the iTunes Store.  If they were to study the usage of iTunes Store, that would be an interesting statistic.  Just because people are not watching the videos on their iPods, this surely does not mean they don’t download videos for viewing on their computer.

Read [ArsTechnica]

If you’ve ever been on an airplane with your iPod, you know just as well as I do that it’s a pretty miserable experience.  First, you either have to hold up the device so you can see it, or prop it up against the seat in front of you.  You’ll be happy to hear...that day has ended.  Apple has announced they have partnered up with Air France, Continental, Delta, Emirates, KLM and United for in-flight iPod integration.  What is meant by that?  The companies are working to provide passengers with cables to connect up your iPod for charging, and even to play videos on the screen on the seat in front of you.  It has not yet been announced whether this will be available to coach passengers, or just first class.

According to MacRumors, Reuters is reporting that Air France “is, at least partially denying Apple’s announcement.

Apple is a partner of Air France but it is completely premature on this date of speaking about such a project

I wonder if the airplanes will say “Made for iPod” on the side of them.

Read [Apple] Via [MacRumors]

Has the click wheel seen the end of it’s days? Has Apple gotten so tired of companies ripping off their idea of putting a direction mouse pad on their DAP for navigational purposes, that they are pulling it off? Is a touch bezel the only solution that will allow for a 4” video iPod? Or is this just another crazy iPod rumor?

My guess is that what you see above is a combination of all four. What? I can’t accept all four rumored ideas? Why not I created them…

It appears that Apple found that putting the touch control on the edges of the screen is a lot more feasible than putting the touch sensors under a video screen. They also give the ability of more control, now that you can essentially offer more options for users to select.

Read [HRMPF] Via [CrunchGear]

As always, the rumor mill is just getting started for Apple’s press event to be held on September 12th.  According to ThinkSecret, Apple will use the event to update the iPod nano, iPod with video, and the iMac.  The nano is expected to be updated to larger capacity flash drives, maybe 4GB and 8GB?  This will be the second generation of the player.  The iPod with video is likely to receive an upgrade in capacity as well - prices as always are expected to remain the same.

Finally, the iMac is rumored to be jacked up to a Core 2 Duo, and possibly get a new friend - the 23-inch iMac.  Currently, Apple only makes 17 and 20-inch models for $1,299 and $1,699 respectively.

Read [ThinkSecret]

It seems like nobody has their rumors straight. One minute the 6G video iPod is being released back in May and the next it is going to hold off until December or so. Now Think Secret has learned that CEO Steve Jobs will use his keynote address to announce the debut of movie rentals through the iTunes Music Store, the #1 major barrier before releasing a video iPod--content. It may be that Apple offers movies before a video iPod, for people to watch on their computer and/or a 5G iPod, but this means the next gen version is coming sooner than we think.

Apple is said to have agreements with Walt Disney, Universal Studios, Paramount Pictures, and Warner Bros., and is currently in talks with other major movie studios as well. It’s unknown to what extent content will be available come the August 7 announcement, or whether Apple will announce all of its studio deals at that time. Movies will be rented, not sold at this time, a major disappointment for consumers everywhere (even if the price is so unbelievable). This will lead to wasted rental fees more often than not, as things come up prior to the rental due date. I expect that files will be time-dated and will “lock-up” after a certain time.

Do you think you would rent a movie from iTunes for, lets say, $2.99 for 3 days or 2 views?

Read [Think Secret]

After their big event on Wednesday, Apple has announced they will be releasing a video capable iPod next week.  Now when you’re riding the bus to class or taking a road trip (with someone else driving), you can watch TV shows or music videos in the palm of your hands.

iTunes will now sell over 2000 music videos and all of ABC’s TV shows for $1.99 each.  There’s word that NBC will take part as well.

To see the new iPod and get iTunes 6.0, visit apple.com.