New IPods: Exclusive Non-Review!
Posted by Harry McCracken | Tuesday, July 20, 2004 8:54 PM PT
If you're the least bit into digital music, I'm guessing that you've already heard that
Apple is releasing some new IPods. I haven't gotten my hands on one yet, so the following comments are, well, a non-review.
First, a word about why I haven't bought an IPod yet. (I am, however, a big ITunes fan--I use the software on both PCs and a Mac Powerbook.) I've held off in part because Apple's MP3 players have been woefully lacking in what--to me at least--is an absolutely essential feature: The ability to create and save playlists on the fly, using the device itself. No playlist creation, no deal.
The new IPods appear to fix that, and they're said to have 50% more battery life (12 hours on a charge). And they're a hundred bucks cheaper than their predecessors. Combined with the many things that were already top-notch about the product--form factor, simplicity of UI, integration with Apple's ITunes software and ITunes Music Store service--it sounds like a pretty compelling package. I might take the plunge.
But I'll still look at my other options, including Rio's Karma (a favorite around the PC World offices, and the winner of our 2004 World Class Award for digital audio players) and Creative's upcoming Zen Touch (an IPodesque player which claims an amazing 24-hour battery life). IPod may lead the marketing wars by a country mile, and its market share is apparently on the rise--but even the new IPods face actual competition from some pretty cool products.
That's my take, anyhow, and it's why I gnashed my teeth a little at
Newsweek's current cover story on IPod, which dismisses the Karma and the Zen Touch as "imitators [that] can't duplicate the IPod's appeal." I gnashed despite the fact that I revere Steve Levy, the story's author (who, to be fair, may not have written those specific words--anybody who's ever written for a magazine can tell you that authors aren't necessarily responsible for the words that appear in captions. as these ones did).
The Zen Touch and the Rio Karma may show IPod influence--okay, of course they do--but Apple didn't invent the audio player.
Rio did that. (I had one of its first players, with an, um, modest 32MB of memory.) As for Creative, I also owned its Nomad Jukebox, the first major drive-based player; it preceded the IPod and did some nifty things that IPods are only now getting around to...such as letting you create playlists on the fly.
All of this seems to follow the pattern that Apple products have ever since the day of the Apple II: Apple makes a terrific, but imperfect and not-quite-revolutionary, product, and then Steve Jobs' reality-distortion field causes folks to forget that A) Apple didn't
invent the category that the product falls into; and B) the product isn't necessarily the best in its class simply because it hails from Cupertino.
I'll report back if and when I become an IPod owner...
While you're right that Apple didn't invent the digital player ( I bought a Creative Nomad II at Macworld years ago), they sure gave it a push. Without the iPod, the whole category would still be dragging along.
Believe me, it isn't just Steve, that's an easy target for you to zip up your column with. If the device didn't meet at least most of the hype, people would have already moved on to something else.
Truthfully, both the Zen Touch and the Rio Karma lack the "feel" and the personality (if a device can be said have one) that the iPod has. When you hold the iPod it just feels right. None of the others do.
The fact that so many other manufacturers are making accessories for them helps too. It gives one the feeling that it will stay around.
Who cares who invented it? The first isn't always the best.
The fact is, the Karma and Zen Touch *can't* duplicate the IPod's appeal. Once you've used them, you quickly see that they don't match the iPod's ease of use and design. But more to the point, the numbers don't lie: the sales numbers and market share numbers clearly show the iPod's dominance. If people aren't buying other models, that's a compelling an argument as any that they can't duplicate the iPod's appeal.
Is there some conspiracy that means compact flash cant be used in music players ?
Compact flash is now generally available in 2GB formats I have loads of these cards for various players. All the disk players skip and they all break if you abuse them. Or is it the music company enforcers preventing memory cards being used because you can move them between systems (i have noticed all the HD systems dont allow any media swapping)
Spill the dirt PC world
Ur a sick author. so what if u dont iPod..who cares. how can u write something u never tried???
If Creative;s upcoming player is not magnitudes better than its current offerinf, then lol.as the current 4 gb model is, to be kind, garbage. It feels cheap, is about as well constructed as a $5 radio, and its navigation is even worse. so they have along way to go to even be mentioned at this time.
The ability to create a playlist "on the Go" has been a feature for as long as the 3G iPod has been out. Albeit you could only have 1 at a time, But I've never needed more then that.
reply to Smug SG:
To put a 2GB Flash card in a media player would cost $175 to $350 for just the media according to the google search I just did (http://www.google.com/search?ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=2Gb%20Flash%20Drive%20%2Bprice).
People Balked at the price of an iPod mini when they came out ad ~$250 for 4GB. Do you really think people would pay that much more for less? An I have many friends that jog and run with their iPods or minis and I've not heard a single complaint about them skipping from them.
The Rio Karma has the advantage of playlists-on-the-fly, it handles WMA, Ogg Vorbis and FLAC files, and offers Windows 98SE compatibility - things the current Ipods lack. The Karma's menu system is intuitive, an advantage Ipod shares. Karma's smaller than Ipod, but Ipod gets the nod for robustness and form factor - Karma's scroll wheel has been known to have troubles. Both are hard-disk players and suffer from the fragility of that technology. I occasionally have to whack my Karma hard to boot up successfully. Ipod owners have reported similar problems. If someone could come out with a 5Gb flash unit, I'd jump on it in a second.
The iPOD caused me to buy a Mac and now I am very, very happy. Think one wheel one thumb for all controls. Just holding the mini iPOD makes you feel important. It is just right dude.
James, the 4 GB Microdrive CF card that the iPod Mini users retails for $500. And the iPod Mini costs $250. So Apple's probably getting them for a fair bit less than "normal wholesale."
As such, they could probably get a similar 50% to 60% discount off of wholesale on real CF cards, as well.
I'd wager a 2 GB CF card would cost about the same as a 4 GB Microdrive-based CF card.
Apple didn't invent the MP3 player, but it was the first company to get it right. I quickly dumped my Creative Nomad as soon as the iPod debuted.
-this author is a fool. you can do on-the-go playlists on 15gb ipod.
-please do a proper article next time...not this half-assed, did-not-buy-ipod shit.
-ipod still could be better in that once you drop, you must fork out more cash
Say WHATEVER you want, but apple is the domination of portable music devices. No matter how many sh*tty articles that you write, the iPod will reign.
I have been a pc world subscriber for over 3 years now and this is the first article I have EVER disagreed with.
Say WHATEVER you want, but apple is the domination of portable music devices. No matter how many sh*tty articles that you write, the iPod will reign.
I have been a pc world subscriber for over 3 years now and this is the first article I have EVER disagreed with.
-this author is a fool. you can do on-the-go playlists on 15gb ipod.
-please do a proper article next time...not this half-assed, did-not-buy-ipod shit.
-ipod still could be better in that once you drop, you must fork out more cash
This article is lack of facts. What are you blundering about? On-the-go playlist has been in since the 3rd Generation iPod and it's the 4th G already.
What's the "the product isn't necessarily the best in its class simply because it hails from Cupertino. " means in this case? the ipod is hails by millions of people who owns it, it's success is not because Apple say it's good, it's because people buy it, people likes it. What a loser the author is, disagreeing the Newsweek article but offers no original arguement and insight to the subject.
This article is lack of facts. What are you blundering about? On-the-go playlist has been in since the 3rd Generation iPod and it's the 4th G already.
What's the "the product isn't necessarily the best in its class simply because it hails from Cupertino. " means in this case? the ipod is hails by millions of people who owns it, it's success is not because Apple say it's good, it's because people buy it, people likes it. What a loser the author is, disagreeing the Newsweek article but offers no original arguement and insight to the subject.
As stated, this author is a FOOL.
YOU HAVENT EVEN TRIED AN IPOD
YOU CAN CREATE ON THE GO PLAYLISTS ON THE 3G, OUT A WHILE NOW, WAKE UP!?
DONT CRITISIZE WHAT YOU HAVENT TRIED
SURE ITS WELL MARKETED, BUT SO IS BIG BROTHER, AND NOT EVERYONE LIKES THAT. EVERYONE LIKES THE IPOD. WELL, EVERYONE WHO HAS ACTUALLY TRIED IT.
WHO HIRED YOU? YOU ARE REALLY A FOOL AND UNPROFFESIONAL YOU KNOW...
YOU HAVE NO ARGUMENTS BUT TO SAY STEVE DIDNT CREATE THE TREND THAT IS DIGITAL PORTABLE AUDIO/MP3s...SO WHAT HE DOES IT BETTER THAN ANYONE ELSE.
ENGLAND OR CHINA MAY HAVE INVENTED FOOTBALL. DOES THAT MEAN THEY ARE THE BEST?
HELL NO.
pathetic, pointless article. You are afraid of Apple products evidently.
pathetic, pointless article. You are afraid of Apple products evidently.
My apologies to all the nice people at PC World for having to wade through all these rude messages from (I would guess) Mac users.
Ease up on Harry. He's a good guy -- and he uses a 12-inch PowerBook too.
-Jason @ Macworld
I do not understand the elitest attiude of people who use apple products. My first computer was a Macintosh Performa, and since switching to a PC i've never looked back. What Apple must realize is that innovation is only half the equation. Sure, all new apple products look cool, hell, i'm guilty of attending MacWorld myself and watching the new products in awe. But once that initial awe wears off, you see that the thing may look pretty, but try doing what you really want with it. Case and point with the iPod. I own a Nex II mp3 player, which I sometimes use to transport files and as well as having portable music. Now, with that said, the iPod is NOT a drag and drop device. You need Musicmatch or iTunes to send files to the damned thing, which I find incredibly stupid. After all, it IS a hdd at heart, yet try using it for that function. All in all, i've used an iPod as well as many other players, and iPod isn't all it's cracked up to be. I'd rather stick with my NexII than to have to cower to the might of iTunes, which happens to disable any other program to sync with the iPod.
Jason Snell, your a dumb ass
To the person who has a Nex II but no clues:
iPod IS a HARD DRIVE, and as such a DRAG And DROP device.
To synchronise music, you need (and actually want) to use iTunes, as it saves you any hassles from drag and dropping 1000's of songs to the right place. iTunes just synchs everyhting magically.
But YOU CAN mount the iPod as a drive, and drag and drp any file you want / need to carry around. Hell, you can even "show invisible files" and see the music on the disc.
The only thing that you cannot do is use another programme than iTunes to synch your music.
But isn't it the same with lots of other crappy players? iRiver, Sony come to mind.
And iTunes is so efficient at managing your music, that I see no issue with being stuck with it. And don't get me started on DRM, the only one you get is the one you WANT, that is if you buy off the iTunes Music Store.
(how many times do you want to drag and drop 4000 songs to a folder, or delete some if you lack space, or realise that the playlist you want is not there? YOU NEED a tool to manage so much music, and iTunes is amazing)
Otherwise, all your music is MP3 or DRM-free AAC, or even wav or AIFF.
You want support for Windows 98SE? What about Windows 3.1 or DOS. Get out of the stone age and quit typing on your Comodore 64.
Ipod mini rules!
Beware the Nomad! I loved my Nomad Xtra 30 gig unit until the hard drive gave out at 7 months. The warranty only lasts for 3. Creative wants me to pay $40 just to have them look at it. Other owners with similar problems (there are many, just look at amazon) tell me the cheapest repair they have heard costs $80, most report payin gover $100! What a scam!
[[The Karma's menu system is intuitive]]
Compared to the mess that is Creative's UI, but it's still not up to the iPod's level.
[[Karma's smaller than Ipod]]
Not really:
Rio Karma 20: 2.7? X 3.0? X 1.1? = 8.91 cu.in.
iPod 20GB: 4.1" x 2.4" x 0.57" = 5.61 cu.in.
The iPod is significantly smaller; the Karma just looks smaller because it's square. But it's almost twice as thick, which makes it much bulkier -- whereas the iPod can slide in your pocket comfortably, the Karma is like a brick ;-)
[[the iPod is NOT a drag and drop device. You need Musicmatch or iTunes to send files to the damned thing, which I find incredibly stupid.]]
What you call "stupid," I call "much easier to use." Why should I have to bother with dragging files and folders back and forth when I can just plug my iPod in and have all my music files -- properly tagged, at that -- automatically synchronized. I hear this argument from people all the time, but no one has ever been able to explain what the *advantage* is to drag-and-drop song loading over automatic syncing.
Finally, to all the jerks personally insulting the writer, get a clue. I disagree with him, as well, but by insulting him you're making yourselves look like idiots.
>
Read the comment again. What he's talking about is drag-and-drop for stuff _other than_ music files.
Some of the comments here say iPod can't handle anything other than music, others say it can. Here's a quote from the Apple iPod website: "Use as a portable hard drive ? take your files with you"
It doesn't mention drag-and-drop, but does say it can handle files other than music.
hey guyz. cmon. im a mac maniac and i certainly agree with u, but we got to ease up on it. although the writers points are said with a lack of good research and evidence, others know better. apple and steve jobs have pioneered the computer and music industry, and just because they have doesnt mean that we need to prove it to others less, um, informed than us. on the go is one of the best features on the ipod, and i use it all the time to make my own playlists. everyone should lay off it, ppl are getting negative opinions on macs because of what ppl are saying. u never know how many pc users will switch when we act like happy mac users. :)
hey guyz. cmon. im a mac maniac and i certainly agree with u, but we got to ease up on it. although the writers points are said with a lack of good research and evidence, others know better. apple and steve jobs have pioneered the computer and music industry, and just because they have doesnt mean that we need to prove it to others less, um, informed than us. on the go is one of the best features on the ipod, and i use it all the time to make my own playlists. everyone should lay off it, ppl are getting negative opinions on macs because of what ppl are saying. u never know how many pc users will switch when we act like happy mac users. :)
this guy is a @$$, I-POD is the revolution ( I have a 15 gig )
hey guyz. cmon. im a mac maniac and i certainly agree with u, but we got to ease up on it. although the writers points are said with a lack of good research and evidence, others know better. apple and steve jobs have pioneered the computer and music industry, and just because they have doesnt mean that we need to prove it to others less, um, informed than us. on the go is one of the best features on the ipod, and i use it all the time to make my own playlists. everyone should lay off it, ppl are getting negative opinions on macs because of what ppl are saying. u never know how many pc users will switch when we act like happy mac users. :)
it acts as a hard drive it shows up in my computer as a removable hard drive, then drag and drop the files into it and you can carry files along with you and then transfer to other computers.
I think that if you dont agree with an opinion, then dont listen to it. If you wanna counter their point, do so logically and intelligently, without blindly burning opinions without reasoning, or at least not a reasoning you exclude from your posts. People are calling the author an idiot, but stupid people do not get jobs writing articles. I have been a proud user of apple products since the Apple II, and I still shake my head at PC users. I think that unless you're a gamer, the Mac is just a superior machine. Thats my opinion, and I respect those that disagree. But I strongly believe that you dont have a right to review products, good or bad, unless you have used the technology. The individual with the Nex II wrote that "My first computer was a Macintosh Performa, and since switching to a PC i've never looked back. What Apple must realize is that innovation is only half the equation. Sure, all new apple products look cool, hell, i'm guilty of attending MacWorld myself and watching the new products in awe. But once that initial awe wears off, you see that the thing may look pretty, but try doing what you really want with it." By his own admission, he's never touched macs since that Performa, so how can he really make the claim that Macs are all fluff, and they cannot get a job done? I'm sure that he's been on a mac for an hour or so, but can you really make an evaluation of such a complex machine within so little time? But once again, that's just what I think.
I think that if you dont agree with an opinion, then dont listen to it. If you wanna counter their point, do so logically and intelligently, without blindly burning opinions without reasoning, or at least not a reasoning you exclude from your posts. People are calling the author an idiot, but stupid people do not get jobs writing articles. I have been a proud user of apple products since the Apple II, and I still shake my head at PC users. I think that unless you're a gamer, the Mac is just a superior machine. Thats my opinion, and I respect those that disagree. But I strongly believe that you dont have a right to review products, good or bad, unless you have used the technology. The individual with the Nex II wrote that "My first computer was a Macintosh Performa, and since switching to a PC i've never looked back. What Apple must realize is that innovation is only half the equation. Sure, all new apple products look cool, hell, i'm guilty of attending MacWorld myself and watching the new products in awe. But once that initial awe wears off, you see that the thing may look pretty, but try doing what you really want with it." By his own admission, he's never touched macs since that Performa, so how can he really make the claim that Macs are all fluff, and they cannot get a job done? I'm sure that he's been on a mac for an hour or so, but can you really make an evaluation of such a complex machine within so little time? But once again, that's just what I think.
you guys have way to much time on ur hands
ur an idiot the ipod rules u cant say anything when u havent tried it the 3g ipods were still good but the new ipods are the best on the market a true reporter cant repot on something if u havent tried it what ur doing is reporting on other peoples articles not on the ipod
I personally like the iPod, reading the features and all. I agree with you in all aspects except when you mentioned the playlists. So what? You really don't need one.
I personally like the iPod, reading the features and all. I agree with you in all aspects except when you mentioned the playlists. So what? You really don't need one.
ur an idiot the ipod rules u cant say anything when u havent tried it the 3g ipods were still good but the new ipods are the best on the market a reporter cant repot on something if u havent tried it what ur doing is reporting on other peoples articles not on the ipod
well i just got the new i pod and its cool
ohh fuck all of ya u fucken shitheads dont now what the fuck ur thinking off u need to fucken grow up and grow some god damn balls u fucken dickheads mp3 suck fucken buy a cd u dumb shits FUCK YOU
I had sex with an Ipod
IPODS ARE SIPPLY THE BEST!! TO ALL FUCKIN IMITATORS
I dont have an iPOD, but my cousin does and it's really cool!....You can put game on it like Breakout...He got his iPOD fixed for $10.
I dont have an iPOD, but my cousin does and it's really cool!....You can put game on it like Breakout...He got his iPOD fixed for $10.
The only reason that The IPod makers have come out with a new IPod is because the IPod Minis were not manufactured well AT ALL.( to be straight, they were crap) I own one of the 3700 song IPods now.And I love it to death. I agree with mostly everything posted above. Jason Snell is probably a nice guy but come on dude, do a little more "reaserch" before you write up and article on this or any other technological article. Try a little harder next time.
I'm sure that the Zen Touch and Rio Karma are kick ass products, so stop crying about the iPOD being better. The two might lack in certain areas, but overall they sound much better than the iPOD. All of you think iPODS are better because that's the only one with ridiculous advertising. So sure enough like typical Americans you buy-in on all the superficial shit, and that's the truth.
Until reading the recent NEWSWEEK article about the IPOD last week I wasn't even aware of the IPOD competitors such as the Zen Touch and Rio Karma. All of you computer geniuses/mP3 wizzes are probably appauled at my lack of tecnology prowess, but the fact of the matter is that i'm an average consumer and I own an IPOD - not a Zen Touch or a Rio Karma. Whether the IPOD is a better product is irrelevent, because Apple has marketed it in a way that makes it appear as the perfect (and to some, the only) option for the common shopper. I know nothing about the IPOD's hi-tech capabilities compaired to its competitors', but what i do know is if the makers of Zen Touch and Rio Karma want to sell their product they're going to need to make sure that consumers know more about it than the negative things major publications like NEWSWEEK had to say about it.
I will like iPod if u can drag and drop ur files to it. Cuz I will NOT purchase without that feature. iTunes is not my thing
gosh its just an iPod ppl calm down
you're a dumbass
iPod sucks. Period. Get a Nomad Zen. It's the best!
God Can We Get Some Pics Of The New IPod
Hey John Kerry Dont Be A Pussy And Leave Your Real Name!
Damn Sensors Wont Let Us Say F***ing Cus Words Like F*** And S***, D***, B**** I Bet They Dont Know About Mecrob...
YES!
Damn Sensors Wont Let Us Say F***ing Cus Words Like F*** And S***, D***, B**** I Bet They Dont Know About Mecrob...
YES!
hey all u guyz out there the iPodsr tight u need 2 go cop u 1 of den badd bois well i'm out holla atur gurl 3~1ne