ATO (Advanced Technology Office) is at this week's Macworld Conference & Expo to display its new iSee 360i video recorder/player for the iPod, but iPod Observer was able to catch up with Howard Wing, the company's Director of Sales, during last week's Consumer Electronics Show. The US$249 iSee provides not only a 3.6-inch screen that's 91% larger than the one on the iPod video, as well as a replaceable Lithium Ion battery that offers four to six hours of extra viewing time, but it also records straight from any analog source.

The iSee is compatible with the iPod nano, the iPod mini and any 4G or 5G iPod, except for the 60GB iPod video and the 60GB iPod photo, both of which are too large for the slot on the back of the unit. Both the nano and the mini require an adapter, priced at $19.95. "In future designs, we'll take a look at [the 60GB iPod incompatibility]," Mr. Wing told iPod Observer.

Like the iPod video, the iSee offers 320 x 240 resolution, and it features a 2mm glass overlay on the screen. "People are sensitive to scratches and things like that," pointed out Mr. Wing, who was perhaps thinking about the problems Apple has had with complaints of easily-scratched iPod nanos.

With the nano still selling well, however, Mr. Wing noted that "looking at photos on a 1.5-inch screen isn't necessarily desirable." The iSee can not only display photos but it can also play slideshows complete with musical accompaniment, despite the inability of the black-and-white iPod and iPod mini to perform either task.

The front of the iSee and its main menu

Video Recording, Playback is Key

"To a large extent, we've turned into a disposable society," said Mr. Wing. "The iSee extends the life of older iPods." To that end, he highlighted the iSee's most important ability: to record and play back video. The iSee comes with a dock that can connect to a TV, camcorder, satellite box or other analog source, enabling it to record from that device and store the resulting file on the iPod. It automatically turns the video into MPEG4 content.

>"The fundamental premise is to extend the functionality of the iPod install base out there," pointed out Mr. Wing. He noted that a user could potentially fit five full-length movies on an iPod nano.

The back of the iSee. Note the iPod nano and adapter.

The iSee relies on accompanying software called VidiScape, which manages video content and transcodes it into the proper format for playback. The hardware will still play back any DRM-protected video purchased through iTunes, however. VidiScape currently works only on Windows, but ATO expects to have a Mac OS X version ready in the second quarter.

VidiScape also allows users to associate artwork with video files, much the same way iTunes puts album covers with music, and include that on the iPod for the iSee's use when navigating content. The hardware also pulls album covers off the iPod and displays them. If the user records video and then wants to play it back right away, the iSee simply uses a generic icon for that file.

While the iSee currently only manually records video, Mr. Wing said that ATO is looking to release an intelligent dock that will allow scheduled recordings. It would be a separate accessory, however, so that current owners don't have to buy the device again. "We want to preserve the install base," said Mr. Wing. He revealed that the company is also talking to eBay about offering a discount on an iSee to anyone who buys a used iPod through the auction site.

ATO will ship the iSee at the beginning of March. It will come with a protective sleeve, two audio/video cables, an AC adapter and a rechargeable battery. Additional batteries are $29.95 each, and ATO will also offer a deluxe carrying case for $49.95.