Small hard drive with music on it, add interface, headphones and that’s it, or what?
And the files format is even proprietary, right?
So, what’s so special with ipods? Isn’t there already a dozen other similar products, able to deal with all the mp3 and ogg and stuff? Isn’t simple ram bar able to do 80% of what an ipod does?
Next one’s an implant. Your parents decide at birth what kind of music you should hear and have it inserted. Eventually, this progresses to the entire Western Canon, and schools are abolished.
In my very early days of blogging, I remember reading a first-person account of a game accessory being used in this way. Of course, I neglected to bookmark it.
The appeal of iPods is partly brand fetish, partly it was the first such item to be done ” right” (large capacity, innovative industrial design) if expensively. It plays the most universal file format, mp3, however the itunes store sells tracks in the Mp4 format with a DRM that limits where they can be played.
Yes, I think it’s the first of its capacity that makes it a superior product. Most of the iPod naysayers have opinions based on inaccurate rumor, in my experience: for example, the idea that it only plays a proprietary format.
Although the fact that it doesn’t play .ogg files is ridiculous–except, of course, for the fact that you can, as I have, install Linux on your iPod and play all the .ogg files you want.
{ 8 comments }
Gaspar de Guzmán y Pimentel 07.15.05 at 7:02 pm
Most of the women I know will be more interested in the next one down the list.
vivian 07.15.05 at 8:00 pm
(need we choose, gaspar?)
yabonn 07.16.05 at 6:35 am
I don’t get the thing with ipods.
Small hard drive with music on it, add interface, headphones and that’s it, or what?
And the files format is even proprietary, right?
So, what’s so special with ipods? Isn’t there already a dozen other similar products, able to deal with all the mp3 and ogg and stuff? Isn’t simple ram bar able to do 80% of what an ipod does?
Jay Conner 07.16.05 at 10:41 am
Next one’s an implant. Your parents decide at birth what kind of music you should hear and have it inserted. Eventually, this progresses to the entire Western Canon, and schools are abolished.
John Quiggin 07.16.05 at 6:47 pm
“the next one down the list”
In my very early days of blogging, I remember reading a first-person account of a game accessory being used in this way. Of course, I neglected to bookmark it.
Gray 07.16.05 at 6:59 pm
The appeal of iPods is partly brand fetish, partly it was the first such item to be done ” right” (large capacity, innovative industrial design) if expensively. It plays the most universal file format, mp3, however the itunes store sells tracks in the Mp4 format with a DRM that limits where they can be played.
duus 07.17.05 at 11:29 am
Yes, I think it’s the first of its capacity that makes it a superior product. Most of the iPod naysayers have opinions based on inaccurate rumor, in my experience: for example, the idea that it only plays a proprietary format.
Although the fact that it doesn’t play .ogg files is ridiculous–except, of course, for the fact that you can, as I have, install Linux on your iPod and play all the .ogg files you want.
Gaspar de Guzmán y Pimentel 07.18.05 at 10:35 am
The cheddar’s yours to spend Viv, if you got it.
Me I gotta save up for the birthday presents.
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