Yesterday Apple Computers announced its new line of iPods. While this isn't a shock (September is always new iPod month) there were a couple of announcements that made even the most diehard Zune user take notice: The introduction of the iPod Touch and the price drop on the iPhone.
Okay, so the iPod Touch is basically an iPhone without the phone part, but what makes this product (and the iPhone, for that matter) so exciting is the increased functionality of the Internet browser. Yes, there are other handhelds that get online, but it's the synchronicity of applications like Google Maps and YouTube that make these products stand out. And with the upcoming iTunes WiFi Music Store it will soon be possible to download music, movies, games and TV shows from anywhere.
That feature alone could usher in a new era for digital distribution and direct-to-user downloading. PC and home gaming consoles already offer purchasable games and bonus content, but WiFi-enabled handheld gaming systems could follow suit, if Apple's venture proves successful.
The iPhone and iPod Touch also bring up some interesting marketing tie-ins. Both products will connect to the wireless networks inside Starbucks. The last ten songs played in the store stream directly to either product and can be purchased directly from the iTunes WiFi Store.
Again, there are a lot of possibilities here if the service becomes popular. Advertisers could broadcast deals or specials directly to your iPhone or iPod Touch or you could access music and video from retail stores, clothing chains and even small, independents and it would be the most accurate advertising possible, presenting it directly to the user.
It will be interesting to see how all of this pans out for Apple. Is instant Internet access and an all-in-one music/video/Web browser/camera/text messenger that important? The company anticipates the sale of its one-millionth iPhone by the end of this month, so it must be to some people.
While this technology is fascinating, it's also a little scary, especially the iPhone considering it puts all of your digital eggs in one collective basket. Before if someone stole your iPod you could at least call the cops or if your phone got stolen you could always listen to your favorite music to cheer yourself up. Now if you lose your iPhone, you're completely screwed.
As for me, I use my phone as an alarm clock and usually sleep with it under my pillow, a practice that is probably giving me brain cancer. I would not dream of doing this with an iPhone. Not because I would be scared of breaking it, but because I'm afraid I would wake up the next morning to discover that the item had permanently grafted itself to my brain and replaced important things like childhood memories and fine motor skills with MP3s, YouTube videos of funny cats and Facebook pictures.
A friend of mine has a theory that both of these products are from the future and after watching a video of some idiot kids smash one with a hammer, and seeing the six slivers of moon metal come out, maybe he's right. For now, I'm not taking any chances.
Comments (2)
The one thing that puts me a little on edge about the Starbucks deal is how far this could be potentially taken. If they can broadcast all this information directly to your iPhone as you walk by the store then what’s stopping them from sending other things? Yeah I know, encryption, blah blah, but I could definitely see this as a new form of advertising that becomes almost inescapable. Pop-ups on the computer are bad enough, but imagine you’re finding directions to the hospital where your mother is deathly sick and suddenly your screen is occluded by a monster ad. That would definitely be off putting.
The technology of the whole phone is great and I can’t wait to see what they develop for it in the future, but it’s also getting more dangerous when you rely on one piece of hardware for all your needs.
Posted by Nick Finnegan | September 8, 2007 1:59 PM
Posted on September 8, 2007 13:59
I think iPods may be becoming the symbol. For. Everything.
Period.
They are the symbol of the way producing economies are intertwined: The idea for the chips that make iPods work came from India, and the chips/brains are still produced in India. iPods are primarily assembled in China. The branding and intilectual property rigamarole are all handled by Apple (obviously), an American entity--which also claims the lion's share of the proffits.
They are a symbol of Sloanism--planned obscelescence. Not through decrepitude of the equipment, but through the perceived need of ever-more-current design. I've still got an iPod that was given to me by my wife in 2001 or '02 that works fine... but it's all black-and-whitey and no-video-ey and no-phoney and no-web-browsey. You think anybody wants to be seen with that thing? Might as well roll in your parents' woodey station wagon through Raytown, dork.
They are a symbol of consumerist culture. The pursuit of happiness through acquisition. The commodification of all applicable experience and emotion. To my great shame, even my wife and I, the Goodwill-shoppin', Wal-Mart-scornin', use-everything-till-the-wheels-fall-offin' luddite couple everybody loves to roll their eyes about... even we have four of the goddamm things. FOUR. As previously mention, iPod #1 still works.
And, you know... buncha other stuff...
At any rate, I really dug the writing here. This is a good, concise review from a consumer standpoint--the reader gets the drift without being bogged down by the worst of the technical details, which they could get from Apple's site if they cared too. Good use of humor, without going overboard with the need to "impress the reader" with wittyness.
Posted by Ryan McG | September 10, 2007 4:08 AM
Posted on September 10, 2007 04:08