Since its launch, the iPod has become one of Apple’s major products and sources of income. It has, arguably, been one of Steve Jobs’s biggest successes after his return to Apple.
At the Macworld Expo keynote speech on January 10, 2006, Steve Jobs reported sales of over 42 million iPods in all, and 14 million in the first quarter of 2006. The iPod’s market share accounts for about 75% of the mp3 player market. Calling it a runaway success wouldn’t be too far from the truth.
All this may soon change, as the iPod is bound to take a hit in sales, unless it evolves with the changing needs of consumers.
The day consumers saw the entry of mobile phones with inbuilt mp3 players, all standalone mp3 players were issued a warning of things to come in the future. However, they still faced no real threat as these mobile-phone-cum-mp3 players just couldn’t match the capability of a standard mp3 player. Sound quality wasn’t as good, storage space was limited, and they were too expensive to realistically affect the mp3 player market.
But now, with hard-disk based phone-cum-mp3-players invading world markets, they may ring a death knell for iPods and the like. Soon, within the next year, if not today.
These so-called convergence devices not only have mp3 players, they also come equipped with digital cameras of fairly decent merit, some PDA functionality, 3G/EDGE, WiFi, etc. making these packages increasingly attractive to consumers.
Although these devices are right now rather expensive, costing about $600-$800 a piece for a (unlocked) 4GB hard-disk based version, they also have a slew of features missing in standalone mp3 players like the iPod. Most come equipped with integrated digital cameras (>2.0 megapixels in most cases), PIM facilities and 3G/EDGE (service provider dependent), and of course mp3 players running off of a hard disk. With dipping technology prices, these devices will become increasingly more affordable to consumers throughout the world, hence eating into the iPods pie, particularly damaging the Nano’s marketshare.
Another advantage that these devices have over standalone devices is their single-package form factor, which enables users to carry a combination of 3 devices while populating just 1 pocket. And you only need to charge one devices instead of hooking up 3 devices to the power supply. Neat. All this makes it much more convenient for users to effectively utilize the vast range of functions present in these devices.
How often have you thought that you’d like to click a pic, but couldn’t merely because you weren’t carrying a camera? Haven’t you found yourself wanting to listen to a particular song, but, once again, couldn’t because you weren’t carrying your mp3 player? All these problems will be things of the past with these convergence phones: this problem will vaporize as these phones are bound to be in your pocket at nearly all times (after all, how many of us would leave our homes without a mobile phone?). What this means is that you have all your coolest devices built into one, with you, at nearly all times, allowing you to use all these features whenever you want, wherever you want. Neat, once again.
Phones like the upcoming Sony-Ericsson W950 and the Nokia N91 are examples of such devices.
The Nokia N91 comes equipped with a 4GB HDD, 2MP camera, Symbian OS 9.1 and a slew of PIM features. It can be purchased for about $650 (unlocked). It’s (and other similar devices’) main advantage over the iPod is its vast range of functions, as well as the previously mentioned single-package form factor.
The moment devices like the N91 are available between $400-$450, they’re bound to eat in to the market of standalone mp3 players, in particular the iPod Nano. At present, the 4GB iPod nano costs a cool $250. A lot of people wouldn’t mind paying an additional 150 dollars to get these convergence devices, with a whole range of other features.
I’m not saying that the iPod will die – I’m saying it’s going to be hit hard by such devices, some time next year – but it will eventually die unless it evolves (the concept of survival of the fittest). These new convergence phones just make much more sense than standalone mp3 players.
But, as seen in the past, Apple is a particularly robust and sound company, with strong fundamentals. It might quite easily be able to steer the iPod clear of any danger by releasing such a device of its own - that would be a coup of its own.
However, partnerships like the Motorola-Apple partnership yielded nothing, and had a minimal impact on the music player industry. Apple has to take this up more seriously, and, hopefully, independently. Maybe the Apple-Softbank collaboration will yield better results in making a proper mp3-player-phone.
And I’m also not saying that the iPod alone will be hit. All standalone mp3 players await the same fate. That of a shrinking market.
In any case, the iPod either needs to evolve, incorporating other features like a camera/phone, or face a shrinking market for stand-alone mp3 players and eventually die. Only the fittest will survive in this world of cut-throat competition. It remains to be seen whether the iPod is fit enough.
http://www.ipodresourcecenter.com/Reasons_Why_the_iPod_Needs_to_Evolve_-_or_Die.html
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Protecting the Screens of iPods and other Small Portable Electronic Devices
No matter how careful you are, without dependable protection the screens on all portable electronic devices will get scratched. The fact that we use the devices in our active daily lives puts them in constant danger of being scratched.
One of the best ways to protect them is now available through a company named Clear View Skins the skins that they offer are nearly invisible and they will provide your portable electronic devices with an unbeatable amount of protection against scratches without changing their size, shape or appearance.
The film that the Clear View Skins screen protectors are made from was originally developed to protect the leading edges of military helicopter blades.
The quality of the film that is used to produce the Clear View Skins and the fact every Clear View Skins screen protector is specifically designed to fit the individual electronic device makes them the perfect screen protector for all of your portable electronic devices.
The Clear View Skins screen protectors will fit in most carrying cases, providing an extra measure of protection while allowing you to remove the device from the carrying case to charge it in a dock or play it through a home speaker system.
If you are looking for dependable protection for your portable electronic device at an affordable price check them out at: (http://www.clearviewskins.com).
...
http://www.ipodresourcecenter.com/Protecting_the_Screens_of_iPods_and_other_Small_Po.html
One of the best ways to protect them is now available through a company named Clear View Skins the skins that they offer are nearly invisible and they will provide your portable electronic devices with an unbeatable amount of protection against scratches without changing their size, shape or appearance.
The film that the Clear View Skins screen protectors are made from was originally developed to protect the leading edges of military helicopter blades.
The quality of the film that is used to produce the Clear View Skins and the fact every Clear View Skins screen protector is specifically designed to fit the individual electronic device makes them the perfect screen protector for all of your portable electronic devices.
The Clear View Skins screen protectors will fit in most carrying cases, providing an extra measure of protection while allowing you to remove the device from the carrying case to charge it in a dock or play it through a home speaker system.
If you are looking for dependable protection for your portable electronic device at an affordable price check them out at: (http://www.clearviewskins.com).
...
http://www.ipodresourcecenter.com/Protecting_the_Screens_of_iPods_and_other_Small_Po.html
Picking the Best iPod Skins
iPods have had an amazing rise to stardom that started back when they were first introduced in 2001. In a very short time these have set the standard for digital audio players. This market has been so large that everyone and their brother now have an iPod.
One of the best parts about iPods is the plethora or wide range of aftermarket products. You can now customize, tweak and trick out your iPod to your hearts desires. You might go with something simple to something very wild but no matter what you choice are there will be a product to your liking.
An iPod skin is often seen as one of the most important accessories and aftermarket products out there. There are many manufactures that will offer a wide variety of iPods skins for every make and model of the iPod including the iPod Mini, iPod Shuffle, and iPod Nano. No matter what the skin looks like or the model that you have the skin has one main purpose. The main purpose other then being stylish is to protect your iPod from wear and tear including scratches and drops.
So which is the best iPod skin for your particular needs? Well, it largely depends on your tastes, style and desires. You can get a completely custom and wild look using a custom printable iPod skin also known as iPod Tattoos. If you are looking for something a little more sedate or subdued with classic style then you might want a leather skin or case.
Silicone iPod Skins
These are great little skins that offer tremendous protection and durability. They are made from silicone and thin vinyl. They are great for a variety of reasons. The silicone insulates the iPod from battery heat and keeps the iPod much cooler. These carrying cases often feel soft and rubbery or almost sticky to the touch which is great because you can get a good grip on them. Even if you hands are sweating or moist you can grab your iPod to switch to the next tune or adjust the volume without worrying about dropping it.
Typically silicone types of skins will run anywhere between $20 to $30 dollars. You can get a wide variety everything from glow in the dark to simple solid colors.
Hard Plastic iPod Skins
The skins in this category often run around $8 to $15 dollars depending on the make and model. You can also get them in a wide variety of colors and styles. You can easily find models with lanyards or belt clips to attach your iPod to which is a handy feature.
The only problem that has been noted by many hard case users is the case being made of plastic tend to be more slippery when wet then the silicone models. So you will want to be careful when holding the iPod in a hard plastic case so you don’t drop the unit.
Leather iPod Skins
These are the cream of the crop for iPod users and many of the older generation of iPod users favor the classic styling of leather and the look and feel over the squishy silicone variety. These can really range in price between $20 all the way up to $200. Kate Spade has a line of leather iPod skins which is very classy and stylish.
You will want to try the iPod skin on if at all possible to get used to the look and feel of it. Make sure that you can access all of the features on the iPod unit itself as you do not want anything covered up. For example if you want access to the jack port and docking connector without having to remove the skin. The most important thing is to try a few different skins out in the store or read reviews if you are shopping online before making a purchase. Find something that fits with your own style.
http://www.ipodresourcecenter.com/Picking_the_Best_iPod_Skins.html
One of the best parts about iPods is the plethora or wide range of aftermarket products. You can now customize, tweak and trick out your iPod to your hearts desires. You might go with something simple to something very wild but no matter what you choice are there will be a product to your liking.
An iPod skin is often seen as one of the most important accessories and aftermarket products out there. There are many manufactures that will offer a wide variety of iPods skins for every make and model of the iPod including the iPod Mini, iPod Shuffle, and iPod Nano. No matter what the skin looks like or the model that you have the skin has one main purpose. The main purpose other then being stylish is to protect your iPod from wear and tear including scratches and drops.
So which is the best iPod skin for your particular needs? Well, it largely depends on your tastes, style and desires. You can get a completely custom and wild look using a custom printable iPod skin also known as iPod Tattoos. If you are looking for something a little more sedate or subdued with classic style then you might want a leather skin or case.
Silicone iPod Skins
These are great little skins that offer tremendous protection and durability. They are made from silicone and thin vinyl. They are great for a variety of reasons. The silicone insulates the iPod from battery heat and keeps the iPod much cooler. These carrying cases often feel soft and rubbery or almost sticky to the touch which is great because you can get a good grip on them. Even if you hands are sweating or moist you can grab your iPod to switch to the next tune or adjust the volume without worrying about dropping it.
Typically silicone types of skins will run anywhere between $20 to $30 dollars. You can get a wide variety everything from glow in the dark to simple solid colors.
Hard Plastic iPod Skins
The skins in this category often run around $8 to $15 dollars depending on the make and model. You can also get them in a wide variety of colors and styles. You can easily find models with lanyards or belt clips to attach your iPod to which is a handy feature.
The only problem that has been noted by many hard case users is the case being made of plastic tend to be more slippery when wet then the silicone models. So you will want to be careful when holding the iPod in a hard plastic case so you don’t drop the unit.
Leather iPod Skins
These are the cream of the crop for iPod users and many of the older generation of iPod users favor the classic styling of leather and the look and feel over the squishy silicone variety. These can really range in price between $20 all the way up to $200. Kate Spade has a line of leather iPod skins which is very classy and stylish.
You will want to try the iPod skin on if at all possible to get used to the look and feel of it. Make sure that you can access all of the features on the iPod unit itself as you do not want anything covered up. For example if you want access to the jack port and docking connector without having to remove the skin. The most important thing is to try a few different skins out in the store or read reviews if you are shopping online before making a purchase. Find something that fits with your own style.
http://www.ipodresourcecenter.com/Picking_the_Best_iPod_Skins.html
The Affair of the Vanishing Content
"Digitized information, especially on the Internet, has such rapid turnover these days that total loss is the norm. Civilization is developing severe amnesia as a result; indeed it may have become too amnesiac already to notice the problem properly."
(Stewart Brand, President, The Long Now Foundation )
Thousands of articles and essays posted by hundreds of authors were lost forever when themestream.com surprisingly shut its virtual gates. A sizable portion of the 1960 census, recorded on UNIVAC II-A tapes, is now inaccessible. Web hosts crash daily, erasing in the process valuable content. Access to web sites is often suspended - or blocked altogether - because of a real (or imagined) violation by the webmaster of the host's Terms of Service (TOS). Millions of other web sites - the results of collective, multi-annual, transcontinental efforts - contain unique stores of information in the form of databases, articles, discussion threads, and links to other web sites. Consider "Central Europe Review". Its archives comprise more than 2500 articles and essays about every conceivable aspect of Central and Eastern Europe and the Balkan. It is one of countless such collections.
Similar and much larger treasures have perished since the dawn of the digital age in the 1920's. Very few early radio and TV programs have survived, for instance. The current "digital dark age" can be compared only to the one which followed the torching of the Library of Alexandria. The more accessible and abundant the information available to us - the more devalued and common it becomes and the less institutional and cultural memory we seem to possess. In the battle between paper and screen, the former has won formidably. Newspaper archives, dating back to the 1700's are now being digitized - testifying to the endurance, resilience, and longevity of paper.
Enter the "Internet Libraries", or Digital Archival Repositories (DAR). These are libraries that provide free access to digital materials replicated across multiple servers ("safety in redundancy"). They contain Web pages, television programming, films, e-books, archives of discussion lists, etc. Such materials can help linguists trace the development of language, journalists conduct research, scholars compare notes, students learn, and teachers teach. The Internet's evolution mirrors closely the social and cultural history of North America at the end of the 20th century. If not preserved, our understanding of who we are and where we are going will be severely hampered. The clues to our future lie ensconced in our past. It is the only guarantee against repeating the mistakes of our predecessors. Long gone Web pages cached by the likes of Google and Alexa constitute the first tier of such archival undertaking.
The Stanford Archival Vault (SAV) in Stanford University assigns a numerical handle to every digital "object" (record) in a repository. The handle is the clever numerical result of a mathematical formula whose input is the number of information bits in the original object being deposited. This allows to track and uniquely identify records across multiple repositories. It also prevents tampering. SAV also offers application layers. These allow programmers to develop digital archive software and permit users to change the "view" (the interface) of an archive and thus to mine data. Its "reliability layer" verifies the completeness and accuracy of digital repositories.
The Internet Archive, a leading digital depository, in its own words:
"...is working to prevent the Internet — a new medium with major historical significance — and other "born-digital" materials from disappearing into the past. Collaborating with institutions including the Library of Congress and the Smithsonian, we are working to permanently preserve a record of public material."
Data storage is the first phase. It is not as simple as it sounds. The proliferation of formats of digital content has made it necessary to develop a standard for archiving Internet objects. The size of the digitized collections must pose a serious challenge as far as timely retrieval is concerned. Interoperability issues (numerous formats and readers) probably requires software and hardware plug-ins to render a smooth and transparent user interface.
Moreover, as time passes, digital data, stored on magnetic media, tend to deteriorate. It must be copied to newer media every 10 years or so ("migration"). Advances in hardware and software applications render many of the digital records indecipherable (try reading your word processing files from 1981, stored on 5.25" floppies!). Special emulators of older hardware and software must be used to decode ancient data files. And, to ameliorate the impact of inevitable natural disasters, accidents, bankruptcies of publishers, and politically motivated destruction of data - multiple copies and redundant systems and archives must be maintained. As time passes, data formatting "dictionaries" will be needed. Data preservation is hardly useful if the data cannot be searched, retrieved, extracted, and researched. And, as "The Economist" put it ("The Economist Technology Quarterly, September 22nd, 2001), without a "Rosetta Stone" of data formats, future deciphering of stored the data might prove to be an insurmountable obstacle.
Last, but by no means least, Internet libraries are Internet based. They themselves are as ephemeral as the historical record they aim to preserve. This tenuous cyber existence goes a long way towards explaining why our paperless offices consume much more paper than ever before.
About the Author
Sam Vaknin is the author of Malignant Self Love - Narcissism Revisited and After the Rain - How the West Lost the East. He is a columnist for Central Europe Review, United Press International (UPI) and eBookWeb and the editor of mental health and Central East Europe categories in The Open Directory, Suite101 and searcheurope.com.
(Stewart Brand, President, The Long Now Foundation )
Thousands of articles and essays posted by hundreds of authors were lost forever when themestream.com surprisingly shut its virtual gates. A sizable portion of the 1960 census, recorded on UNIVAC II-A tapes, is now inaccessible. Web hosts crash daily, erasing in the process valuable content. Access to web sites is often suspended - or blocked altogether - because of a real (or imagined) violation by the webmaster of the host's Terms of Service (TOS). Millions of other web sites - the results of collective, multi-annual, transcontinental efforts - contain unique stores of information in the form of databases, articles, discussion threads, and links to other web sites. Consider "Central Europe Review". Its archives comprise more than 2500 articles and essays about every conceivable aspect of Central and Eastern Europe and the Balkan. It is one of countless such collections.
Similar and much larger treasures have perished since the dawn of the digital age in the 1920's. Very few early radio and TV programs have survived, for instance. The current "digital dark age" can be compared only to the one which followed the torching of the Library of Alexandria. The more accessible and abundant the information available to us - the more devalued and common it becomes and the less institutional and cultural memory we seem to possess. In the battle between paper and screen, the former has won formidably. Newspaper archives, dating back to the 1700's are now being digitized - testifying to the endurance, resilience, and longevity of paper.
Enter the "Internet Libraries", or Digital Archival Repositories (DAR). These are libraries that provide free access to digital materials replicated across multiple servers ("safety in redundancy"). They contain Web pages, television programming, films, e-books, archives of discussion lists, etc. Such materials can help linguists trace the development of language, journalists conduct research, scholars compare notes, students learn, and teachers teach. The Internet's evolution mirrors closely the social and cultural history of North America at the end of the 20th century. If not preserved, our understanding of who we are and where we are going will be severely hampered. The clues to our future lie ensconced in our past. It is the only guarantee against repeating the mistakes of our predecessors. Long gone Web pages cached by the likes of Google and Alexa constitute the first tier of such archival undertaking.
The Stanford Archival Vault (SAV) in Stanford University assigns a numerical handle to every digital "object" (record) in a repository. The handle is the clever numerical result of a mathematical formula whose input is the number of information bits in the original object being deposited. This allows to track and uniquely identify records across multiple repositories. It also prevents tampering. SAV also offers application layers. These allow programmers to develop digital archive software and permit users to change the "view" (the interface) of an archive and thus to mine data. Its "reliability layer" verifies the completeness and accuracy of digital repositories.
The Internet Archive, a leading digital depository, in its own words:
"...is working to prevent the Internet — a new medium with major historical significance — and other "born-digital" materials from disappearing into the past. Collaborating with institutions including the Library of Congress and the Smithsonian, we are working to permanently preserve a record of public material."
Data storage is the first phase. It is not as simple as it sounds. The proliferation of formats of digital content has made it necessary to develop a standard for archiving Internet objects. The size of the digitized collections must pose a serious challenge as far as timely retrieval is concerned. Interoperability issues (numerous formats and readers) probably requires software and hardware plug-ins to render a smooth and transparent user interface.
Moreover, as time passes, digital data, stored on magnetic media, tend to deteriorate. It must be copied to newer media every 10 years or so ("migration"). Advances in hardware and software applications render many of the digital records indecipherable (try reading your word processing files from 1981, stored on 5.25" floppies!). Special emulators of older hardware and software must be used to decode ancient data files. And, to ameliorate the impact of inevitable natural disasters, accidents, bankruptcies of publishers, and politically motivated destruction of data - multiple copies and redundant systems and archives must be maintained. As time passes, data formatting "dictionaries" will be needed. Data preservation is hardly useful if the data cannot be searched, retrieved, extracted, and researched. And, as "The Economist" put it ("The Economist Technology Quarterly, September 22nd, 2001), without a "Rosetta Stone" of data formats, future deciphering of stored the data might prove to be an insurmountable obstacle.
Last, but by no means least, Internet libraries are Internet based. They themselves are as ephemeral as the historical record they aim to preserve. This tenuous cyber existence goes a long way towards explaining why our paperless offices consume much more paper than ever before.
About the Author
Sam Vaknin is the author of Malignant Self Love - Narcissism Revisited and After the Rain - How the West Lost the East. He is a columnist for Central Europe Review, United Press International (UPI) and eBookWeb and the editor of mental health and Central East Europe categories in The Open Directory, Suite101 and searcheurope.com.
The Apple iPod is a Great Learning and Resource Tool as Well!
Using the iPod to gain knowledge quickly and effectively!
There is no doubt that the Apple iPod has become a common item amongst today's youth as a great music player. But is the iPod more than just a music player?
In fact, the iPod is more than a music player. It is also a great teaching and learning tool as well. And it is guaranteed to help you learn fast.
Audio Books
Besides music, the iPod also plays audio books. These are essentially books that has been converted into a audio format and saved as a MP3 file. From a technical angle, there is no difference in the file format between a music or a book and you can download and play the same audio book off your computer or your iPod.
This opens you to a whole library of 'books' for your iPod. These can include many great books found in public domains and downloaded for free. There are also many good commercial 'books' that you can purchase for a small price. These audio books are great as you can play them over and over again in the car, on the train or even on the plane. It's a good way to kill time and gain knowledge at the same time.
The best thing about audio books is that you do not need to read. Let the book read to you and this can be a great enhancement for learning while driving or while sitting in a shaky bus or train.
Podcasting
Have you also heard of podcasting? If you have not, these are simply audio files published by individuals or companies covering interest topics ranging from music, technology, current affairs, news, politics, cars, sales and marketing, electronics, fashion to many other interesting niche areas.
They then put up these audio files in certain podcast stations on the internet.
Most podcast are free and you can download and treat them just like audio books. Similarly, you can subscribe and organize these podcast on your computer iTunes and then synchronize them to your iPod. It's also a great way to gain knowledge while driving or taking transport to school or work.
What is gaining fast popularity today is video podcast. Video podcast are essentially video files that can be downloaded and again, it covers a great genre of subject. (As a matter of fact, I am learning about designing my own podcast by watching a video podcast of this subject.)
However, you can only watch a video podcast on your computer or on the latest iPod video model. All earlier models of iPod will not be capable of playing video. With the iPod video, you can also output the video signal to a normal TV and watch the entire podcast on TV as well.
What's more, you can watch them, stop them, rewind them or repeat these audio or video podcasts as often as you like. What better way to learn?
So who says that iPods are meant for music only?
http://www.ipodresourcecenter.com/The_Apple_iPod_is_a_Great_Learning_and_Resource_.html
There is no doubt that the Apple iPod has become a common item amongst today's youth as a great music player. But is the iPod more than just a music player?
In fact, the iPod is more than a music player. It is also a great teaching and learning tool as well. And it is guaranteed to help you learn fast.
Audio Books
Besides music, the iPod also plays audio books. These are essentially books that has been converted into a audio format and saved as a MP3 file. From a technical angle, there is no difference in the file format between a music or a book and you can download and play the same audio book off your computer or your iPod.
This opens you to a whole library of 'books' for your iPod. These can include many great books found in public domains and downloaded for free. There are also many good commercial 'books' that you can purchase for a small price. These audio books are great as you can play them over and over again in the car, on the train or even on the plane. It's a good way to kill time and gain knowledge at the same time.
The best thing about audio books is that you do not need to read. Let the book read to you and this can be a great enhancement for learning while driving or while sitting in a shaky bus or train.
Podcasting
Have you also heard of podcasting? If you have not, these are simply audio files published by individuals or companies covering interest topics ranging from music, technology, current affairs, news, politics, cars, sales and marketing, electronics, fashion to many other interesting niche areas.
They then put up these audio files in certain podcast stations on the internet.
Most podcast are free and you can download and treat them just like audio books. Similarly, you can subscribe and organize these podcast on your computer iTunes and then synchronize them to your iPod. It's also a great way to gain knowledge while driving or taking transport to school or work.
What is gaining fast popularity today is video podcast. Video podcast are essentially video files that can be downloaded and again, it covers a great genre of subject. (As a matter of fact, I am learning about designing my own podcast by watching a video podcast of this subject.)
However, you can only watch a video podcast on your computer or on the latest iPod video model. All earlier models of iPod will not be capable of playing video. With the iPod video, you can also output the video signal to a normal TV and watch the entire podcast on TV as well.
What's more, you can watch them, stop them, rewind them or repeat these audio or video podcasts as often as you like. What better way to learn?
So who says that iPods are meant for music only?
http://www.ipodresourcecenter.com/The_Apple_iPod_is_a_Great_Learning_and_Resource_.html
The Future of The iPod Movement
Everyone is buying iPods these days and all the retail stores are out of stock. Many parents had to buy gift certificates for their children for Christmas having missed getting into those stores early enough to get them an iPod. This is one massive consumer movement; can you believe it? Do you have an iPod yet?
But what will the future of the iPod craze look like in years to come? We already have the iPod Nano and at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas we saw the announcement of the Eyebud, which is a tiny head and eye mounted unit allowing you to watch music videos or Pod Casting with full motion video.
Well with all this technology, how can it advance any more? Well, glad you asked and here are some ideas regarding the future of the iPod and iPod Nano. I believe that the iPod device will eventually end up with several variations such as a wrist watch with a voice activated feature and become a holographic entertainment center and communication device (3G Video Cell phone too). It will be able to run whole seminars and University Classes on the table at Starbucks by simply laying it on the table and turning on the holographic professor.
All these technologies are moving forward now and soon we will see them all integrated into the newest versions of the iPod for your viewing pleasure. Isn’t technology great? Stay tuned to the iPod saga as the story will be even better than this with future renditions. Think on this in 2006.
http://www.ipodresourcecenter.com/The_Future_of_The_iPod_Movement.html
But what will the future of the iPod craze look like in years to come? We already have the iPod Nano and at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas we saw the announcement of the Eyebud, which is a tiny head and eye mounted unit allowing you to watch music videos or Pod Casting with full motion video.
Well with all this technology, how can it advance any more? Well, glad you asked and here are some ideas regarding the future of the iPod and iPod Nano. I believe that the iPod device will eventually end up with several variations such as a wrist watch with a voice activated feature and become a holographic entertainment center and communication device (3G Video Cell phone too). It will be able to run whole seminars and University Classes on the table at Starbucks by simply laying it on the table and turning on the holographic professor.
All these technologies are moving forward now and soon we will see them all integrated into the newest versions of the iPod for your viewing pleasure. Isn’t technology great? Stay tuned to the iPod saga as the story will be even better than this with future renditions. Think on this in 2006.
http://www.ipodresourcecenter.com/The_Future_of_The_iPod_Movement.html
The Future "Mobile Me" iPod from Apple and Intel
I was reading an article today and my light bulb finally went on - Blam! I really got how cool the Apple and Intel deal is
I spend a fair amount of my time working with startups and I am convinced that 95% of innovation occurs in small companies. Only a small percentage of these fledgling companies beat the odds and makes their cool” idea into a reality. They used to go public but now they mostly get snapped up by bigger companies that are higher up the food chain.
Large companies spend a lot less on research than they did in years past. What little they do invest, they spend on making incremental improvements to existing products. They spend very little on research that is capable of producing major breakthrough results.
I almost forgot that big companies can still put together smart deals that can rock our world. I think that Apple and Intel did just that two years ago.
The breakthrough is not the recently released Mac that now has Intel inside”, it is the next generation iPod.
The devices that are going to rock your world are the Mobile Me” devices from Apple. Mobile Me” is a new trademark that I think, Apple will use to describe new handheld devices that give you almost everything you want, all the time, wherever you want it.
I know what you want is a lot! And Apple is going to give it to you. When they do, I think you will reward Apple with even bigger buckets of your dollars. Why not? If they deliver you a phone music email video browsing fast broadband that is easy to use and easy to update; and all for under $500.
Lets look at what Apple and Intel have accomplished:
Music Player: very well done.
Video Player: good start, needs more pixels
Player Content: iTunes is well done, just needs a subscription plan
Cell Phone: weak start, Apple not committed yet, but Intel has can change that
Browsing/Email: not yet an iPod feature, but consider the Intel influence.
Mobile Broadband: Intel is betting the ranch on Wi-Fi and WiMAX
Intel is clearly betting it’s future growth on wireless networking. It blew billions on phone chips with little to show for it, then turned to wireless networking with a passion. A few months ago Intel launched a it’s Digital Communities Initiative, to help cities across the globe build their own wireless broadband networks. Intel is investing money and energy to encourage the spread of Wi-Fi and WiMAX.
While city-wide hotspots are a nice idea for laptop users, their real appeal is to users of a new generation of wireless device users. But wireless networking is based on open standard that is a direct competitor to proprietary cell phone networks. Who is going to build the cool new devices that need the wireless network? Why Apple, of course.
The chip maker can forget about Motorola, Samsung, Erickson, and Nokia competing with their own cell phones. That made Apple look awful good; a perfect choice for building device that really takes advantage of the new WiMAX features.
With the next-gen iPod, you will be able to move away from the download model and subscribe to real time media and entertainment. Forget satellite radio, take your iPod to the park and watch a movie, or listen to music feeds.
Since you are plugged into the net, place all the calls that you like call – after all it’s free. It’s all part of the basic service. If you feel creative, use the integrated camera to video conference with a friend or capture some scenes while you are on vacation to share with your family back home. Hey honey, look where I did today.... nah, I’m alright, really”.
If you think text blogs are cool, you will love the new generation of real time video iPod blogs. When news breaks you’ll have lots of on scene video blog to choose from to track the breaking news.
Apple Intel may be big but Mobile Me” will be truly cool and very disruptive. I know they can make the technology work, lets see if they start spending to defeat the cell phone lobby and get politicians to back municipal WiMAX networks.
http://www.ipodresourcecenter.com/The_Future_Mobile_Me_iPod_from_Apple_and_Intel.html
I spend a fair amount of my time working with startups and I am convinced that 95% of innovation occurs in small companies. Only a small percentage of these fledgling companies beat the odds and makes their cool” idea into a reality. They used to go public but now they mostly get snapped up by bigger companies that are higher up the food chain.
Large companies spend a lot less on research than they did in years past. What little they do invest, they spend on making incremental improvements to existing products. They spend very little on research that is capable of producing major breakthrough results.
I almost forgot that big companies can still put together smart deals that can rock our world. I think that Apple and Intel did just that two years ago.
The breakthrough is not the recently released Mac that now has Intel inside”, it is the next generation iPod.
The devices that are going to rock your world are the Mobile Me” devices from Apple. Mobile Me” is a new trademark that I think, Apple will use to describe new handheld devices that give you almost everything you want, all the time, wherever you want it.
I know what you want is a lot! And Apple is going to give it to you. When they do, I think you will reward Apple with even bigger buckets of your dollars. Why not? If they deliver you a phone music email video browsing fast broadband that is easy to use and easy to update; and all for under $500.
Lets look at what Apple and Intel have accomplished:
Music Player: very well done.
Video Player: good start, needs more pixels
Player Content: iTunes is well done, just needs a subscription plan
Cell Phone: weak start, Apple not committed yet, but Intel has can change that
Browsing/Email: not yet an iPod feature, but consider the Intel influence.
Mobile Broadband: Intel is betting the ranch on Wi-Fi and WiMAX
Intel is clearly betting it’s future growth on wireless networking. It blew billions on phone chips with little to show for it, then turned to wireless networking with a passion. A few months ago Intel launched a it’s Digital Communities Initiative, to help cities across the globe build their own wireless broadband networks. Intel is investing money and energy to encourage the spread of Wi-Fi and WiMAX.
While city-wide hotspots are a nice idea for laptop users, their real appeal is to users of a new generation of wireless device users. But wireless networking is based on open standard that is a direct competitor to proprietary cell phone networks. Who is going to build the cool new devices that need the wireless network? Why Apple, of course.
The chip maker can forget about Motorola, Samsung, Erickson, and Nokia competing with their own cell phones. That made Apple look awful good; a perfect choice for building device that really takes advantage of the new WiMAX features.
With the next-gen iPod, you will be able to move away from the download model and subscribe to real time media and entertainment. Forget satellite radio, take your iPod to the park and watch a movie, or listen to music feeds.
Since you are plugged into the net, place all the calls that you like call – after all it’s free. It’s all part of the basic service. If you feel creative, use the integrated camera to video conference with a friend or capture some scenes while you are on vacation to share with your family back home. Hey honey, look where I did today.... nah, I’m alright, really”.
If you think text blogs are cool, you will love the new generation of real time video iPod blogs. When news breaks you’ll have lots of on scene video blog to choose from to track the breaking news.
Apple Intel may be big but Mobile Me” will be truly cool and very disruptive. I know they can make the technology work, lets see if they start spending to defeat the cell phone lobby and get politicians to back municipal WiMAX networks.
http://www.ipodresourcecenter.com/The_Future_Mobile_Me_iPod_from_Apple_and_Intel.html
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