What makes the iPod so successful?
As I was driving in the car this weekend, I realized what makes the iPod so superior to other portable music players - the software solution. I chose my 5-star rated playlist and realized this was a huge advantage over other players. Whenever I’m listening to my music I try to put ratings of 1-5 on as many of my songs as possible. This way I can listen to my favorites whenever I want. Quickly and easily. If I’m listening at my computer, or on my iPod, the ratings are synchronized the next time my iPod is in the dock. The fact that the software matches the controls of the iPod make it much more useful than other players.
Before this, I had a Sony miniDisc player. The software was terrible. I mean terrible. Slow, crashed a lot and I had to use 3 different programs just to load the music on the player. Too much effort to actually put music on the player. I don’t have experience with other players, but I believe they’re most likely folder/file based systems to organize your music. By either copying files directly onto the player or onto a memory card and putting that in the player, you load your music. Most owners of flash based players likely rely on MusicMatch, Windows Media Player or even iTunes to organize their library. But they can’t harness the power that iPod+iTunes has. Smart playlists, rating systems, music metrics (last played, most played, last time played, etc).
I think if anyone wants to seriously challenge Apple’s iPod market share, they need to develop a great piece of software to go with the hardware.
November 1st, 2006 at 3:10 pm
Can not agree more
November 17th, 2006 at 4:02 pm
Hello,
What do I have to do, to make an audiobook file appear on the audiobook folder on my iPod?
I didn't get it how does it work.
Is there a special extension for audiobooks, because I've tried to convert to ACC (tutorial on this forum) but it didn't work.
Please, help me.
Thanks
November 18th, 2006 at 8:18 am
Hi everyone.
What's a good alternative to the IPOD?
I'm wondering if any of you can recommend a good MP3 player that is comparable to the IPod but WITHOUT they hype and price tabe to go with it.
I was at the apple store a few days ago, and really liked the new 40GB or 80GB IPods that also show video, but was wondering if I could get the same kind of funcationality without that heftly price tag.
December 5th, 2006 at 1:17 pm
Check out the iaudio from Cowon. I just bought the X5 and it rocks. Not only can you play mp3s, but you can also record mp3s real time through a microphone or line level input at up to 320kbps, listen to fm radio, and loads of other stuff. The software for it only works on PC, but if you plug it into a mac, you can read and write to it just like a hard drive. Its like an ipod but the sound goes both ways, plus its also really easy to use. Awesome.
December 5th, 2006 at 1:25 pm
I think its generally acknowledged that the main reason the ipod is so successful is that the system is a single proprietory solution from beginning to end. You buy the ipod, you install itunes, which has the music shop built in to it, so you buy the music from the same people who built the software and the hardware. No need to go anywhere else. Because the files are copyright protected, its a very secure way for the music industry to enter the online marketplace, which ultimately means there will be more choice for the legal consumer than with any other mp3 set up, as record labels are more likely to sign up to a secure service. Apart from that I agree the ipod is pretty cool in the way it works, but I wouldn’t say that’s the reason its so successful.