Apple’s video iPod

Confirming the inevitable, Apple yesterday announced a new iPod (including a stunning all-black model) capable of playing video and a new version iTunes that sells episodes of Desparate Housewives and Lost for $1.99 a day after they air. While it’s great that Apple is bringing a portable video the masses, there’s more to the annoucement that we like than having to pay for TV shows we can watch for free at home.

The new iPods can play any MPEG-4 file on its 320×240 screen, so you’re not limited to just what iTunes offers. Think video podcasts and the ability to rip your own content and take it with you. Meaning you can also just capture the same shows iTunes offers with a video capture card, encode them and transfer them to your device for free. Some think the resolution is too crappy, but that’s what you get with most Web video so it’s not that big a deal and will only get better as codecs improve.

The new iPods come in two models: 30GB for $299 and 60GB for $399.