Harry Chen Thinks Aloud

We all know iPod is for music and entertainment. Few years ago, no one would ever guess that iPod could also be used for education. There is a growing number of “iTunes U” in the US. These universities explore the use podcasts and iPods to encourage students to learn.

Here are some real uses of iPods and podcasts:

• A history professor asks students to download 39 films to their video-capable iPods so she doesn’t have to spend class time screening the movies.
• A psychology professor has found a new-age answer to office hours: a podcast of the week’s most asked questions.
• Foreign language students use iPods to immerse themselves in coursework.
• University administrators want to use podcasts to recruit high schoolers to the 3,000-student campus.

Source: Rural college push iPod use for lectures, CNN, March 20, 2006

Technology evolution is a strange thing. Sometimes it’s extremely difficult to predict how a new technology will use when it gets into the hands of general population. The use of iPod is a good example.

Apple is pushing iTunes and Podcasts to a new level. ABC News reports that Apple Computer Inc. has introduced “iTunes U,” a nationwide expansion of a service that makes course lectures and other educational materials accessible via Apple’s iTunes software.

Apple’s service offers universities a customized version of the iTunes software, allowing schools to post podcasts, audio books or video content on their iTunes-affiliated Web sites. The iTunes-based material will be accessible on Windows-based or Macintosh computers and transferable to portable devices, including Apple’s iPods.

Stanford University, which joined the pilot program last fall, gives the public free access not only to some lectures but also audio broadcasts of sporting events through its iTunes-affiliated site.

Schools and universities have historically been major contributors to Apple’s computer sales. With iTunes U, Apple “is leveraging the ubiquity that we’ve established on campuses with iPods and iTunes,” said Chris Bell, Apple’s director of product marketing for iTunes.

If we consider that online universities didn’t really work out for many higher education institutions, it’s possible that iTunes U may just be another hype. However, if you consider the following, Apple may just have a shot pushing iTunes and Podcasts to a next new level:

Our students are digital natives.

Source: Apple Offers College Lectures Via Podcasts, ABC2 News, January 30th, 2006.

Nothing can be perfect in this world. This includes iPod Video. While it’s easy to upload paid videos from the iTune Music Store, but it has proven to be difficult if you want to upload videos that you have recorded on your own.

Declan McCullagh at CNet News.Com writes an interesting article that talks about his experience with iPod Video. Some problems that he has faced include (1) difficult to convert a recorded high-solution video into a low-solution video that works best on a iPod video, (2) copyright issues associated with uploading DVD movies onto a iPod Video.

I see iPod Video is still a relatively new technology. Many end user issues are waiting to be addressed.

Just a quick thought. Perhaps it’s a good idea for Apple to team up with TiVo. Maybe they can build a new framework that enables all TiVo recorded shows to be automatically converted to the right solution and obtain the appropriate copyright license keys. A sync in the iTune will upload all my selected TiVo shows onto my iPod.

At CES 2006, Google announced its new video cotent service, which will allow content owners to set their own prices. It’s a clear sign that Google tries to ride the new wave that is created by Apple’s iTune and iPod video.

This could confirm the speculation of some experts: video will be the hottest thing on the Web in 2006.