Nyko iPod MoviePlayer — Vaporware?

When I first saw a picture and read a description of what this cool device ($200–$250 estimated street price) does, I was astounded.

Unveiled in Las Vegas this past January at the Consumer Electronics Show, the Nyko MoviePlayer lets you store tons of movies on your iPod, then watch them whenever you like on its 3.5", 16-bit, 65,000-color TFT screen.

It's got built-in stereo speakers, and no doubt a headphone jack, along with a rechargeable lithium battery Nyko says will let you watch "several full-length movies on one charge."

The clamshell lid folds down to protect the screen.

You just slip your iPod into the player via the dock connector and you're all set.

The included software, compatible with both Windows and Mac OS X, converts any audio, video or image file into a format compatible with the MoviePlayer.

When I read about it in January, it was slated for release in "spring 2005."

Then I saw it in last week's New York Times Magazine, this time "available by late summer."

Why do I think I'll never, ever see one?

Because when I looked around online, and visited the company's website, there was a section headed "Future Nyko Products," and another headed "Nyko Products."

But the MoviePlayer didn't appear in either one.

Not a good sign, in my experience.