Why are you so hung up on this innovation/risk thing? There is no such thing as a brand new idea in the corporate market! Companies like Apple (you mention Sony) don't want to take too many risks as they have a responsibility to their share holders. Who cares if what Apple brings to the world is distillation and refinement of ideas that are already out there. They do it better than anybody else and that is still innovation! The iTunes store was the first big corporate attempt at DRM in music downloads... That's innovative. Everybody else has been able to ride on the back of the ground work Apple laid in this area. The iPod was the first heavy duty media player on the market. That's innovative. Mac OSX was the first consumer operating system on the market to be based on the power of Unix. That's innovative. There as so many small innovations in apple products that the sum of the parts make a greater whole. Apple just make computers and media players, but they are better than anything else out there! Somehow I don't think I will convince you, as you seem to see arguments/conflict where they don't exist. Essentially, why do you own an ipod touch if its not the best, "newest" (the most innovative) out there?
if you guys think Apple invented the multi touch style interface, your wrong. The pinch resize and all the feature you see on the iphone/touch. I saw them over 4 years ago at a students demonstration, when I 1st saw the iPhone and that MS touch surface (don't know the actual name). I thought wow I hope they're paying the guy for using his idea. There was a video link on the web somewhere of this students lecture/demonstration this was a working demonstration too, not just an idea. I'll post the link if I can find it after all these years.
I don't see conflicts where they do not exist. And I was not saying Apple is a terrible company or makes a bad product. But you have several things confused if you think the iPod was the first heavy duty Mp3 player on the market. Linux has also been used for ages as a server OS, and where Windows based systems would not work. There are many successful distro's of Unix based OS's as well. Apple isn't better than anything else out there. They simply have well designed products that they charge accordingly more for and then market to make you think there is no option to their product. If you want to know why I have an iPod touch, I'll explain. I was debating on getting an eeePC for mobile wi-fi, but I realized I didn't need a laptop. And I would prefer keeping my device in my pocket. This reduced the options extensively, more so as I wanted an Mp3/video player as well. The Archos 604 Wi-Fi was an appealing option, but it was a bit heavier and any decent capacity model used a HDD instead of flash, and I've made a point to never buy an HDD based product. The touch was a compromise to use iTunes and deal with the lack of SD card support and limited formats for the slimmer form factor and easier to use web browser. As a result, I only recommend the touch to those needing a device to fill a very small niche; otherwise I suggest a Creative Zen or the Arhcos 604, or even an eeePC depending on what they are looking for and their use for it. Jeff Han... the TED demo is here.
I quite clearly stated consumer products - as is for every day Joes like me. But I think you knew that's what I meant and were clutching at straws a bit. I agree that the Archos stuff is very nice if a bit bulky... but the Zen? Piece of crap... I've had one. eeePc looks a good product (my Father-in-law is looking at one) but its only available with a Linux OS at the moment isn't it (windows on its way...)? Plus its huge compared to the ipod. And you are stretching credibility by calling the ipod a "niche" product. How many do they need to sell for you?! I still have an original 1st Gen 5GB ipod. Its amazing how quickly the tech has moved on over the years. Still works perfectly though. That Ted Han video is amazing
I personally like the other phones that are like the iphone better. My sister had one, and the quality of the phone call was complete sh*t.
I think freely available for anyone to use is a consumer product, yes. The current Zen is a nice option to the Nano, I would say. It is huge compared to an iPod, that is correct. Like I stated, if you had read what I said, I wanted wifi to be with me. Thats the only appeal to the touch for me. And the fact that the prices are similar makes it a valid comparison if someone is looking at a device for mobile web use. Further, you can install your own copy of Windows on the machine if you so want, it just cut the cost of the price by using a freely available source code instead of paying MS for licenses to Windows. Again, read what I said. The iPod touch is a niche product, not the iPod itself. The actual iPod range is quite a wide appeal product. The touch for all intents and purposes is a PDA/PMP, and not so much an iPod. Apple just sold it as an iPod because of name recognition. Yeah, the rate of development is impressive. I still have my Nike Rio player that had 32 megs of memory installed and an ancient SD slot for expansion, which I put a another 32 megs into. All in all, about 80 dollars for a 64 meg player. Though, it beat the hell out of taking a portable CD-play up the ski mountain at the time.
There is no way this is gonna "kill" the iPhone.. The only thing that I've seen get close is the Voyager..
I used to love those Rio mp3 players they were awesome at the time. It was real unforetunate when they went out of business. They had a great product, remeber the Rio karma that was cool. (hmm going off topic now lol)
The main company able to get close to Apple is Cowon, their iAudio has the most amazing sound ever, Mach3bass and BBE, soooooooo much better than iPod, whose Equalizier is so bad! I had the x5, too bad its battery, now lasts 30 minutes!
