Apple gears up to launch 'true video iPod'

Time to drool, iPod fans. Apple is preparing the long-anticipated video-specific iPod, complete with a 3.5in, colour touch-sensitive display that covers the entire front face of the device and sporting a virtual clickwheel, according to a report posted on the web today.

At this stage, it's not clear how much storage capacity the device will offer, Think Secret claims, but the site's sources maintain the video iPod will not feature either Bluetooth or Wi-Fi technology. It can be connected to a TV, however.

Rumours of an iPod video player surfaced last Summer, only to be dampened somewhat by the launch of the fifth-generation iPod and its support for video playback in October 2005. At the time, however, Think Secret maintained that the rumoured device was still in the works with a view to a release further down the line.

Earlier this week, Apple said it had sold 12m video downloads since adding the facility to the audio iPod, so it may well feel the time is right to exploit this demand further with an iPod that's a video player first, music device second. Apparently, it's looking to a Spring launch, maybe late March or early April. Saturday, 1 April marks Apple's 30th birthday, but that's clearly a very loaded date for other reasons. ®