RSSIt's the end of the iPod as we know it
By Carmi Levy | Published September 8, 2009, 10:24 AM
The big news this week promises to be Apple's annual September product launch on Wednesday. Of course, the famously secretive company won't confirm anything before then, but if the rumors are to be believed, Apple is about to release another generation of refreshed iPods on a drooling world.
Which begs the question: Does the world even need a new iPod? Or, viewed another way, have the old iPods run their course? Or another, does anyone buy single-function music players anymore, or has the world moved on to multifunction devices?
The classic has had its day
The cynic in me believes the Day the iPod Died was when Apple shifted away from its hard drive-based iPod classic, and moved toward the flash-based iPod touch. Indeed, the touch -- either the model Apple is selling now, or the one that'll be on sale following this week's announcement -- has infinitely more in common with the iPhone than it ever had with the original iPod. Which means it isn't really much of an iPod at all. Which, from where I sit, means the iPod, as a brand, refers to yesterday's technology.
So why does Apple insist on maintaining a brand that, to most consumers, connotes a device that only plays music?
Of the four basic types of iPods -- shuffle, nano, touch and classic -- only the touch is sufficiently differentiated from anything else currently on the market. The other three are basic variations on the same old theme (stylish music player) that's been around since 2001. While they differ in physical size, screen and storage capacity, we use them to play music, and as our eyes permit, videos.
Apple keeps four differentiated types of iPods around because the basic engineering on at least two of these lines (classic and nano) hasn't fundamentally changed in years. While the classic's been in freefall for some time and will either die this week or soldier on for another year or so before quietly fading into history, the margins and sales numbers for the nano make this unassuming, no-longer-leading-edge media player the backbone of the franchise. While axing the nano would be a dramatic move that would likely garner breathless international headlines well beyond the tech pages, it wouldn't do much for Apple's bottom line. Expect the nano to hang around for a while.
So has the shuffle
The shuffle was Apple's first truly mass market iPod, and when the first chewing gum-sized model was released in 2005, the price of admission for everyday music listeners into the Legion of Apple was driven low enough that fans who didn't care about the lack of a screen or severely limited capacity bought in anyway, no questions asked. They valued the cachet of being part of iPod Nation. (I say "they" -- my own shuffle is still kicking around in my car.)
But that first shuffle was a brilliantly simple and robust design compared to today's over-engineered, undersized generation. The only worry with my old one was where to keep the cap when charging it through the built-in USB connector. These days, shuffle owners have to carry around their cables with them, and hope they don't lose them before their battery dies. And using it in the car? Forget it: The minimalist design that led to all the controls being cattle-prodded onto Apple's innovative (and fussy...and expensive-to-replace) headphones also now prevents you from simply jacking it into your car stereo's audio port. Well, okay, you sort of can, but don't expect to be able to change tunes on the fly. Needless to say, I won't shed a tear when this one's discontinued. It won't be for a while, of course, but let the record show I'm no fan of proprietary designs that limit a device's use.
So we're left with the touch -- pretty much the only iPod worth buying anymore, and the only device in the line that's really not an iPod at all. As you can tell even from a distance, the touch is not so much a music and video player as part of a full-on platform that's redefining the concept of tablets and webpads in ways we're only beginning to understand. Apple's masterstroke in bringing it to market was leveraging its iPhone development process into a device that delivers the complete iPhone application experience for folks who'd rather not have the phone as well (or who would rather not have AT&T). In so doing, Apple accelerated the rate at which it could recoup its fundamental research and development costs for the platform -- a trick which allows it to make more money for a longer period on each premium-priced touch than would otherwise be the case.
Wants, not needs
So the answers to my questions from way back in the second paragraph become plainly apparent: No; no one really needs an iPod. It was, and always has been, an aspirational purchase, one that typically costs more than competing devices, offers relatively fewer features for a given price paid (I'm still waiting for voice recording capability, Mr. Jobs), and locks owners into an iTunes universe that isn't everyone's cup of tea.
Despite all this, carrying an iPod -- from the humble shuffle all the way up to the innovative touch -- still brings with it a personal sense of inclusion in a not altogether exclusive, but still desirable, club. No one brags about his Creative Sansa; and whether tomorrow's iPod bears any resemblance to the iPod that first bowed in 2001, is virtually meaningless in the context of everyday conversation. We may not be able to buy music-only iPods for too much longer, but buyers won't really care either way. They've become comfortable with the brand, whatever it signifies, and look forward to someday getting touch-level capability at a shuffle/nano price point.
And that comfort level almost guarantees that, as of this Wednesday, enough people will want the new devices with the word "iPod" on them that it won't matter that they're being sold under a brand that's increasingly irrelevant to consumers, in a world that increasingly sees single function devices as commoditized and ultimately forgettable. Wherever the iPod presently stands on its maturity curve, the brand will continue to lead the market, prompting us to replace our old ones, just because, for some time to come. The devices may be marketed as "new," but nothing's really going to change for a while.
Carmi Levy is a Canadian-based independent technology analyst and journalist still trying to live down his past life leading help desks and managing projects for large financial services organizations. He comments extensively in a wide range of media, and works closely with clients to help them leverage technology and social media tools and processes to drive their business.
The iphone does what the ipod does and more, however, not everyone has an iphone. There's no monthly fee to have an ipod, and that's why there will always be that need to fill.
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|From a software point of view, which you'd think would be Apple's forte, the iPod is absolutely worthless.
It seems that all of the brainpower spent on the iPod went into the hardware and the firmware was a irritating afterthought that was phoned in a couple days before manufacturing began.
Also, iTunes is the result of a group of angry developers using their software to get revenge on the world through constant irritation and lost time. And, it's like they intentionally sabotaged it to run slow on Windows. Apps that maybe should be a little sluggish sometimes like Photoshop CSx or Google Earth run circles around iTunes (basically a simple media library/player).
Apple as a company is more evil than Microsoft and the Chinese Government put together. From their fight with Psystar to their battles to keep users from interacting with the songs they load on their iPod, to their dealings with iPhone apps developers, and the plethora of other examples.
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|i had believed that the ipod or mp3 player in general to be something that wouldnt go away. Untill i got a iphone. Not only does it play music that i store on the device plus video. But I have access to hundreds of apps that have thousands of streaming radio stations. Like Pandora i can also create my own stations. It's to good to be true. And if you complain about storage space on the iphone. The app Simplify streams all you audio files and pictures to you iphone from your pc or mac no matter where you are. So storage space just became a thing of the past. Why have a phone and a mp3 player, just have one that does both. For those who just dont see why the iphone is so good. You really just need to open your eyes.
And to why apple still makes ipods. Cause the world is slow to realize the future. Not just the iphone, but one day when all smartphones have similar capabilites.
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|The only problem with your thought process is to assume that what your needs and desires are the same as everyone.
"Why have a phone and a mp3 player, just have one that does both"
I have a separate my3 player for the activities I do where I don't want to risk breaking my iPhone from being dropped or exposed to water. Until they make an iPhone that is just a durable as the iPod, people are going to have both.
Secondly, the iPhone exceeds what we actually need. If all you use your cell phone for is to make phone calls, why pay the high price of a phone and a service plan that exceeds what you actually need? I don't have an iPhone or a smartphone because I only use my phone to make calls and that's about it.
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|iPod is still an important part of my life, music cannot be gone!
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|Whether or not the IPod has run its course is a much different question than whether or not apple is going to continue the line and given the announcement today that Apple is cutting the price on their line of IPods, I would say that, in apple's mind, the IPod still has a long life.
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|"So why does Apple insist on maintaining a brand that, to most consumers, connotes a device that only plays music?"
Because there will always be consumers out there who will want this and it makes business sense. For people who just want a no frils music player, the iPod makes sense with the backend of iTunes. If the iPod stopped production tomorrow people wouldn't just replace it with the iTouch to retain access to iTunes, they'd just go and buy another mp3 player as they'll just rip their CDs to it.
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|Exactly!
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|I'll go further, with the release of the iPod Nano with radio and pedometer, I'll buy one for the radio element, my wife'd buy one for the pedometer element. There is life in the old dog yet.
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|This article was excellent and concise. iPod's growth and longevity have been greatly due to style and social participation.
They've never been the cheapest, most open, most innovative, or most functional device to do the same thing. They have always been the most well crafted and stylish, though.
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|Have you been paid to say that?
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|you guys are killing this website
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|The gullible iTards will line up to sink thier money into the new models even if they have a perfectly working one now.
By the way, I can talk any way I want about the iPod and thier cultish followers, I have two of them. So my comments arent out of jealousy, only contempt for the internetworld7's. Any MP3 player will do, unless you want to direct connect it to your car stereo. Man, I hate Apple.
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|Interesting point. Why can't I connect *any* MP3 player to an iPod dock or device? Shouldn't Apple be supporting a standard *all* players can make use of instead of a proprietary, patent-encumbered, iPod-only interface?
(the correct answer is: "Sure, they should, but it makes bad business sense"...the question is posed merely to point out the hypocrisy of certain Mac fanboys here)
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|I hate certain things about Apple but if you're a company owner there's a whole ****-load you can learn from them about making your business work, even if it is in an eccentric way.
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|Not all car stereos have an6y form of input other than the outside antennae. But even that doesn't matter. I see no reason why you can't direct connect any MP3 player into any properly equipt car stereo. All you really need is one 1/4" input plug.
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|prndll,
The iPod is controllable directly through the touch screen and hides away, you only have one choice of brand if you want to use this feature. Using the aux input and a double ended cable kind of sucks because it diesnt charge and you have to be looking at it to find songs.
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|hey, I never said that it would give you all the latest features (or even give the best sound quality)...I just said that it can be done.
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|There IS no "correct" answer. And there's no such thing as "should", either. Like any other publicly traded consumer products company, Apple seeks profit. Everything they do supports the process of achieving that, and in doing so maximizing shareholder value.
If you disagree with what a firm in this position is doing, you simply don't buy their stuff. "Should" or "shouldn't" has precious little to do with it. Obvious, no?
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|Riiight.
There's no argument to be made about whether standards support "should" or "shouldn't" trump exclusivity, contracts, ya know...The Business, folks. Carmi says it is so, so no further discussion is necessary.
Funny how in one comment-thread you praise discussion, and in the next "if you disagree, you have nothing to offer". Nice catch-22.
You do realize that's a very common troll-tactic, right?
Anyone who disagrees with me is obviously a moron. ;)
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|many car stereos are now supporting the use of any USB drive to directly connect. A certain Kenwood I found, which seems to cost anywhere from $80 to $120 supports control of the iPod OR reads the contents of a mass storage drive via a single USB port and it has an AUX input
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|PC_Tool:
Carmi's stance reminds me a great deal of the following clip from family guy:
http://www.liveleak.com/...=11c_1234826756&c=1
Check it out at about 0:15
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|This website is awash in poor journalism and sub-par writers, and has been doing downhill for some time. With big titles and no substance, it looks like you guys (Carmi Levy, in particular) are really trolling for hits. This s*** is sad, stop posting your useless garbage. kthxbai
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|"it looks like you guys (Carmi Levy, in particular) are really trolling for hits."
Because the entire point of publishing is having people read what's been published. Whether you agree or disagree is beside the point. What matters is you're involved in a discussion.
No "hits", then no venue. Your position, seen from that perspective, gave me a nice chuckle. Thanks for that.
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|"Because the entire point of publishing is having people read what's been published. Whether you agree or disagree is beside the point. What matters is you're involved in a discussion."
But you miss the point. We're *not* discussing the article.
Perhaps there's something to be learned from that?
Oh, wait... No learning here, you and Scott would rather defend this crap than actually write something we'd *want* to discuss.
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|Yup, agreed with PC_Tool.
These articles are really starting to suck.
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|You would think these two would get the point especially since they spend more time defending themselves on the blogs. I don't see this happenening with other Betanews writers... you think they would get the point!
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|ok..... this thing cut my post off and has TeeShirt has a bad word >.
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|No, you just spelt it T-Sh1t.
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|Been there done that got the T-s***
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|"... locks owners into an iTunes universe that isn't everyone's cup of tea."
Thats a laughable comment. With all the alternatives that exist for Windows & Linux users in regards to syncing their music to their device that point is a waste of breathe. All a user needs to do is a single search and viola you are no longer "locked" to iTunes or it's DRM downloads.
As far as the iPod line goes. It's either going to be the shuffle or the nano that gets kicked out. More than likely the shuffle but thats pure opinion (it's a sucky device now because of those "special" headphones). I'm not sure if Apple is ready to ditch the Classic line though. Some users love having a 160GB storage capacity, so unless the iPod Touch storage goes up to 128GB the classic will continue on.
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|and yet if you want songs only available on iTunes, you're stuck ;) and must install iTunes... its called a monopoly and you're locked In or Out. your choice is something... or nothing
or pirating ;)
but then you're the 'criminal' so...
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|I love how you wave the word "monopoly" like some little boy who found his daddy's pistol. iTunes is hardly a monopoly, as you are well aware. Nice try Microsoft boy.
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|Yes iTunes is hardly a monopoly, although it's still considered the biggest, especially when there are quite a few legal alternatives that offer no DRM and a nice list of songs to download. Amazon and Lala comes to mind.
Love how you automatically assume i'm a criminal because i choose NOT to get my music through iTunes.
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|artists offers up download on iTunes, because their label tells them so
you're left with iTunes or nothing
nobody said you're a criminal if you don't use iTunes, but you sure as hell aren't going to find that exclusive track anywhere else because of an iTunes/Label deal, because of market dominance ;)
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|@artfuldodga - so exclusive means monopoly. Ok. So by your definition, the Microsoft XBox 360 is a monopoly, the Sony PS3 is a monopoly, and the Nintendo Wii is a monopoly. So all three current gen consoles are monopolies. Sure, that makes sense. ROFL.... Keep making yourself look stupid.
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|artfuldodga: "and yet if you want [insert] only available on [insert], you're stuck ;) and must install [insert]... it's called a monopoly..."
It's called a business. And business has little to do with anything other than personal gain - by definition and by law. Zealots believe that selfish motivation somehow benefits us and is a virtue. However, the results speak for themselves.
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|Yet we see this occurs with stores all the time in regards to movies & albums. So if we go by your logic: K-Mart gets a special bonus edition of the Green Day album that Wal-Mart and Target don't get. So in that case K-mart is a Monopoly. I believe those are referred to as exclusive agreements (can't recall the exact term)
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|i shouldn't of said monopoly in this case, i should of left it at 'locked' in to using somethnig, or nothing ;)
fixed.
that said, iTunes does have a strangle hold on digital content as opposed to anyone else
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|My choice is SharePod and standard MP3 format whether ripped from CD or pirated, you can transfer both ways and the program sits on the iPod itself. Plug it into anyones USB and share one or all your songs with anybody. You can't ask for easier.
Apple hasn't made a dime off me with iTunes and never will.
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|"All a user needs to do is a single search..."
If every user were comfortable enough in doing this very simple act, no one at all would be using Internet Explorer and the XP desktops of tens of millions of users still wouldn't have the Teletubbies green grass-covered landscape on them. You greatly overestimate the general public's willingness and ability to make even simple changes to their machine's config aftet they bring it home from Best Buy.
What's the market share of the most popular Linux-based music management software, anyway?
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|You're obviously not a Radiohead fan, then.
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|"If every user were comfortable enough in doing this very simple act, no one at all would be using Internet Explorer and the XP desktops of tens of millions of users still wouldn't have the Teletubbies green grass-covered landscape on them." - Doesn't matter comfortable or not some users CHOOSE to stick with what came with their desktops. Some people CHOOSE simplicity. They are happy enough with what they get by default, IE, WMP, default theme, whatever. You assume too much that everyone in the general public is too afraid to look for alternatives.
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|no i'm not. Although I have the Kid-A album
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|See its your comments about IE and XP and other stuff that annoy people and that you fail to see the bigger picture. There are people out there who have no problem changing their configuration to do multiboot between Windows and Linux and yet at the end of the day, that same person still uses IE and Windows Media Player because to them, there is no reason to install other software like Chrome or Firefox or Slimbrowser because IE works just fine at the end of the day for them.
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|Apparently, Carmi has a reputation for promising much with big headlines, then woefully underdelivering. He definitely did that here. I won't bother reading his articles again. A total waste of time. Publishers should protect their readers better from time-wasters.
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|Yes, Apple should dump a hugely successful brand name that still sells them millions of products.
That makes a lot of sense.
Also, I hear hell has frozen over, and animals of the Suidae family have evolved aeronautic flotation devices within the last half-hour.
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|Ugh, I started reading this, then I saw your picture Carmi and realized this story was going to be bunk just like your last one I read. So far looking at the comments, looks like I was right.
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|You know, I'm starting to wonder whether some folks are taking issue with Carmi today because he was the same guy who had the unmitigated gall to argue that Windows 7 would not be the savior of all humankind, or whether they actually take issue with the notion that the MP3 player as a standalone device has seen its day. Are folks just taking issue with Carmi because, at least around these parts, it's become the popular or even the _safe_ thing to do (to be seen hanging around with the loudest and most popular-looking crowd)?
Or would anyone like to demonstrate the g***ds necessary to step up to the plate and argue the actual contrary position to Carmi's essay, if anyone would care to read it first: essentially, to argue the point that Apple can continue to deliver an MP3-only player under the iPod brand for an infinite period of time, simply because it's Apple and because its faithful followers will buy anything with an Apple on it because they're indoctrinated and it's too late to change their minds. Because if I had penned an essay saying exactly that point -- that you could wrap a shiny Apple logo around a pigeon turd and people would buy it -- then I would expect some of these exact same readers would come back with something on the order of, "I should have known it would be Scott Fulton pontificating before I clicked the link."
In short, be men and women, or at least claim whatever native species you are, and stand up for what you believe.
-SF "Reserves the Right to Pontificate At Any Moment" 3
Score: -3
|"Because if I had penned an essay saying exactly that point -- that you could wrap a shiny Apple logo around a pigeon turd and people would buy it -- "
Would you have done so?
Therein lies the rub.
Carmi now has the inglorious reputation of posting opinion pieces that state the obvious, usually wrapped in a nice big blanket of highly flammable BS.
I believe people who don't want to install *any* OS shouldn't install Windows 7. (Shocking, isn't it?)
I believe that some people buy Apple products because there's an Apple Logo on them. (Another shocking insight, right?)
It's not that we disagree with him. Personally, I agree with both statements above. I just don't see the need to wrap them in 2 1/2 pages of flame-bait.
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|Funny....edit function is down to 10 seconds now? Cute...
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|I do take issue with the statement that MP3 players as a standalone device has seen its day. I use a Creative Zen purely as a standalone device for working out at the gym, for running, for about any activity where I want to listen to music. Why would I risk using a device like the iPhone where I risk breaking it, dropping it, etc... I know I can drop my Zen (as I have done) multiple times now and it is still working. If it breaks, I can get a new one for under $200. Now if I break my iPhone or similiar device that I already shelled out a lot of money for, I now have to purchase that same device at the full retail cost unless my 2 year contract with the cell phone company is up.
Furthermore, there is a large population in this world that purely uses their cell phone for making phone calls/text messaging. This segment of the population doesn't feel the need to check their e-mail whenever they want nor do they feel the need to surf the internet whenever they want. Because of this, they are not going to pay a lot of money for a device that can do everything and instead are going to seek the cheaper options that they meets their individual needs like the iPod Nano does.
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|People's reaction to Carmi on here are based on how he writes his articles. People feel that they are poorly written and that they are bad examples of journalism.
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|So let me get this straight: Your beef (now) is that Carmi wrote, and that we published, an essay that makes a point with which you would _agree_, wrapped in the intriguing but, alas, unsatisfying guise of something that would have given you an opportunity to disagree?
I must say, there are days when I feel as though Barney Frank and I are among a handful of people left on this planet.
-SF3
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|Either way, you better find out why quickly because I can't imagine the hit rate (and by that I don't mean one time people who are laughing at articles) of this site has gone up recently.
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|The only think Carmi and I agree on is his last paragraph about the iPod's being overpriced. But that opinion will differ from person to person. I'm not sure where I agree with him...
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|Having a reputation, in any form, is pretty much the point.
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|"I do take issue with the statement that MP3 players as a standalone device has seen its day. I use a Creative Zen purely as a standalone device for..."
Your anecdotal experience clearly reflects the prevailing market trends. I guess I stand corrected, then.
"Now if I break my iPhone or similiar device that I already shelled out a lot of money for, I now have to purchase that same device at the full retail cost unless my 2 year contract with the cell phone company is up."
Last I checked, the touch didn't require a contract.
"There is a large population in this world that purely uses their cell phone for making phone calls/text messaging."
The basic cell phone market has peaked and is shrinking. Smartphones are the only mobile segment showing any growth, and will ultimately take over from basic phones. The large population you refer to reflects the installed base - yesterday's consumers. Looking ahead gives you a bit of a different perspective.
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|"People's reaction to Carmi on here are based on how he writes his articles. People feel that they are poorly written and that they are bad examples of journalism."
People in glass houses...
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|Why are they people in glass houses? It's like Scott's Speed articles that compare the supposed speed of different browsers against each other. The whole title of the article and the premise of the article is misleading because once you read the "disclaimer", you learn that 25% of the metrics for determining the "fastest" browser has nothing to do with speed.
This is poor journalism as a reader should not have to go to another webpage to read a disclaimer to find out that the "speed test" is not 100% test. Because the author decided that browsers follow standards better they should be rewarded with a higher speed score, you have introduced bias into the results to favor a particular browser.
Maybe journalist should take to heart the feedback they are receiving from the users instead of just saying "People in glass houses...". There is a reason why the majority of people don't trust journalists...
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|Maybe you should consider the fact that other Betanews writers such as Tim Conneally don't seem to get all the negative feedback and postings that you do...
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|@scott:
Always a wordsmith.... You make it sound so...benign.
Say it: Obvious. Troll.
Look at the original article again. He states several times in the comments that his main reasoning is that his daughter isn't interested, that she wouldn't do it *regardless* of feature or function. How is it insightful that someone with such an attitude won't be one of the first in line to upgrade? It's not. It's a statement of the obvious worded in such a way as to spark a flame-war.
Sadly (or perhaps rightly) in this case, the flames were directed at the author. You don't think there's any hint of a valid reason for that? You think that *everyone* here "got it wrong"??
Well, if good old Barney can't tell the difference between a troll and an opinion piece, I would have to agree with you but for one minor change: You have *plenty* of company.
@carmi: "People in glass houses"
heh... That would apply if we were all "journalists". Thankfully, we know better than to make the attempt. So again...your excuse would be what?
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|i've noticed that lately too
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|of course but what kind of reputation do you want, or want to be proud of? (just asking a simple question, nothing more)
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|carmilevy: "Having a reputation, in any form, is pretty much the point."
That's very wise. Did you consider that a bad reputation is easier to get than a good one, and that most people try to avoid the people that posses them?
People seeking a reputation just for reputations sake always get a bad reputation, deservedly.
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|are you seriously asking, why they haven't dismantled a brand that has become successful for Apple, its common sense isnt it? what would you want them to call it, iTouch Myself...
granted it would more accurately describe the userbase ;)
iPod Touch is fine, this is a non issue...
oh and im getting a ZuneHD when its avail in my market ;P thought i'd throw that in there, would anyone be so kind as to toss one over the boarder to this lowly canadian?
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|Microsoft will have a ton of Zune HD's to toss in the garbage when they don't sell. Why buy a Microsoft Zune HD when you can get an iPod Touch which has over 65,000 apps, and iTunes. Makes no sense. The Micrsoft Zune HD is dead on arrival, just like the other Zunes Microsoft finally killed after they failed to sell to anyone but clueless Microsoft employees.
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|i don't personally care about Apps, i do however want browsing... thats it andd the ability to hook my device up to HDTV
regardless, Marketplace will have Apps, sure not as many as the App Store, but the device isn't even released yet, what do you expect?
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|Dude, you have a score of -12. The is a Windows enthusiast site what's a matter with you?!!
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|I still find the single-purpose player to be highly relevant. Part of this reasoning is because I don't use an Ipod; my DAP provides a reasonable amount of storage for my music, and here's the kicker, lets me record with its internal mic and/or line-in jack. I guess the mainstream market might find the classic Ipod to be overkill, but I absolutely must have a device that plays my music and permits me to record lectures, meetings, gigs around town, and so forth. My cell phone will never influence, limit, or otherwise impact the features I've come to depend on with my particular device. The Iphone craze is doing just that-- whether the duped consumer realizes it or not.
There really is such a thing as too much technological convergence.
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|I have found my iPod touch to be the best PDA I have had in years and I have a phone that is a phone.. Being able to play music is nice but for me a minor function. No matter what they offer as updates I won't be buying.
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|Carmi Levy again... big title... no real story... y did i even bother
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|You bothered out of "Morbid Curiosity".
You'll likely return to read the comments section throughout the day due to "schadenfreude".
That concludes the vocabulary portion of today's lessons. :p
...still wishing there was a way to "mod" articles.
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|Now you know very well that 98% of the goobers on this site have no idea what the term "schadenfreude" means.
And, as you know, being an afficiando of classical music, (which is almost totally non-existent on the web because there's no money in it) I have never owned an "i-anything".
But I must say that I do agree with those who opine that many of the articles here recently are similar to those of local sports writers who make their living on the idea of "controversy" because it helps to sell their newspapers.
Unfortunately - it doesn't work so well with folks who are interested in the latest in tech news. BTW...What ever happened to Angela Gunn ? Haven't seen an article by her in over a month.
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|AG has resigned from Betanews. She has a twitter feed and has alluded to perhaps posting the juicy details in some future tweet.
I was very sad to see her go as not only were her articles interesting, but generally void of the "viewpoint" muck we now seem to be wallowing in.
Oh, and the great thing about teh intarwebz is that you can double-click on a word you don't understand and google it. :p
Score: -2
|Thanks for the update. I'm sorry to hear about AG's departure. I don't twitter, but if you do, please pass on my best wishes. I'll miss her - especially since she actually lived here in NYC at one time and went to Colony Records to buy her vinyl (disks).
Oh..and...erm...what's a "double-click" ? ":D
Score: -1
|fatty.. you don't know what you talking about,
Zune > iPod why? because zune software is much easier and the interface is way better than iTunes bloated junk, zune is much easier to use. Apple has not made a game console so you shouldn't even be talking about the xbox 360 and more people use Microsoft Windows than mac What has Apple done better than Microsoft? nothing.
Score: 0
|"...still wishing there was a way to 'mod' articles."
There is. It generally involves writing them yourself. Then submitting them somewhere. Under your actual name.
Imagine that.
Score: 0
|I love the attitude you have towards the people that are reading your articles. It's a really brilliant way to win people over to reading your articles isn't it.
Score: 1
|@carmi:
*laughing*
The difference there, is that I *know* no-one would want to read them. What's your excuse?
Score: 0
|Oh c'mon tool give it a shot ;)
i'm morbidly curious!
Score: -1
|You can also right click on it and bing it in IE8 :-)
Score: -1
|Tool should do it, at least he has the best thought out comments in the comment section. I'm sure tool could put together a good article for Betanews that everyone won't complain about.
Score: -1
|@drac & indie
Heh... Someone already beat me to it. If I were to write, I'm pretty certain it would turn out a lot like "The Best Page in the Universe"...
...and there would be no comments section. Who would disagree with *me*? :p
(and you could probably replace "Best Page" with "Biggest Jerk"...or well, use your imagination)
Score: -3
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