iPod video download service

Apple's introduction of a video playing iPod and a video download service is a smart move, according to industry experts polled by vnunet.com.

"This will offer Apple a way to test the waters for non-music video content, " said Susan Kevorkian, senior research analyst for consumer markets at IDC.

The company also won praise for offering over 2,000 music videos for sale through its iTunes music store.

At $1.99 per video, consumers will be inclined to buy the video instead of just the song, in order to have the option to watch the video, Kevorkian predicted. This should make them more accustomed with the iPod's video features.

Julie Ask, research director for telecoms and automotive at Jupiter Research, said: "It's still a great audio device and 'by the way, it does video too'. Even if people don't play video, Apple still wins. It still has 80 per cent market share in media devices."

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