Et tu, video iPod?

Then there's the issue of how the video gets on the iPod to begin with. Maybe the computer model made sense for music, since most of us had to digitize our collections anyway. But TV? Aren't many of us already getting a digital TV signal?

I believe a portable media device needs to be able to gather video without being attached to a computer. The people at Archos have been making devices like that for years. 

Yes, Apple’s styling beats everything else on the market — but the Archos devices plug right into your cable or satellite box and record programs directly from there. Consider it a mobile DVR.

I’ve been playing with a new Archos AV 500 for the past few days. The Archos secret is that their devices don’t record digital feeds. They allow you to make analog recordings from your cable/satellite box or DVD player, etc. —  like using a VCR — via the composite or S-video outputs these devices already have. And because the recordings are analog, there's no pesky digital rights management software to get in the way. Video iPods and Windows portable media centers such as Creative's Zen can’t do that.

Archos The AV 500 is barely larger than its color screen.

Archos devices can also plug into your computer via USB 2.0, and store music and photo files. You can even hook up the Archos to your TV and use it as a playback device. The AV 500 is remarkably small for what it does, but still larger than any iPod.  It sports a very watchable 4-inch screen. It comes in 30 GB (up to 130 hours of video for $499.95) and a 100 GB (up to 400 hours for $699.95) models. There’s even a video camera attachment ($199.95) so you can make your own movies. Archos also markets the AV700 with a 7-inch diagonal widescreen screen.

Of course, Archos doesn't have anywhere near the buzz of Apple. And, as I've said, I'm not convinced how big the market is for portable video to begin with.

Apple The new iMac G5 comes with a beautiful, little remote control.

Which brings me to what I think was Apple's more interesting announcement: The new iMac comes with a remote control — and the ability to let you control what you’re listening or watching to from across the room. I think that’s the next step for home computers.

I’ve been testing a Mac mini as part of a top-of-the-line music reproduction system. It revolves around an amazing little box that lets you plug your computer into your hi-fi and let you throw away your CDs. More about that next week.

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