Apple introduced its much awaited video iPod today, ending months of speculation that the company was developing a video iPod. At an invitation only event held at the California Theater in San Jose, Apple Chief Executive Steve Jobs showed off the new video iPod, which will be offered as a 30GB model for $299 and a 60GB version for $399. Apple was so secretive about their new iPod that I heard they banned cellphones to prevent the news from leaking out before the news was official. No cellphones? I can't help but picture those old TV shows where the reporters all run outside the courtroom and try and squeeze into the phone booth to report the news to their editor - except in this case the reports are all running out the theater door to use their cell phones!

Simply called iPod and not video iPod, the device will be 30 percent thinner than Apple's current iPod models. The new iPod will also feature a 2.5-inch display, and an onboard iSight digital camera that can capture both images and video( this was the new iMac not iPod). Jobs also previewed a small remote control for the new iPod on which he played both music and a video by the Black Eyed Peas.

Apple will offer both music videos and TV shows for download at $1.99. The vidoes are only in QVGA (320x240) resolution, which if fine for this small screen, but this resolution really sucks if you want to upload the video to your PC/Mac and watch it. No doubt this limitation was to keep the RIAA or TV industry happy. Apple is expected to have 2,000 music videos available for download as part of this launch. Now if only they add VoIP capability, a SIP client, a Bluetooth microphone, and a thumb keyboard and we'd be all set!