As always, Steve Job's announcement today of the new line of iPods sent chills up and down my spine and formed a small puddle of drool on my desk. All their products are so amazing and so revolutionary, I always love watching his media events. But this one was even more interesting for me because of how much I love music and because I have been wanting a new iPod for some time. After watching wave after wave of new, sleek, cooler iPods come rolling off the line, I am finding it hard to fight back the urge for much longer. And today's presentation made it even worse.
A couple comments on the new line of iPods:
- The Ringtone Creator option is way overdue. However, it should work with any song in my iTunes library, not just specific songs that you say are ok. You shouldn't tell me what I can and can't use for my ringtone. Give me the freedom to use any song in my Library.
- The new iPod Nano looks weird to me. It is short, squatty, and the clickwheel now looks out of place, as if you didn't know what else to put there (or hadn't come up with a better option) so you just stuck it back on there.
- I like the new color options and the all-metal casings. I don't know if you should discontinue the old colors completely though. Think how popular those were. Are you expecting people to come in and get a new iPod just so they can have a different color that will accessorize better? Maybe there is a reason the original colors did so well.
- I think that Apple having (PRODUCT) RED options for the Shuffle and the Nano is great. I think it shouldn't just stop there. And I think that Apple can afford to give more than just 50% of that profit. What an opportunity to make a difference, Steve. Come on, Think Different...
- This new line sure does make the iPhone look more appealing, which I am sure was part of the reasoning behind it. I am sure Apple execs could sense the public's hesitation to jump to the iPhone. It is just like the whole Switch campaign they ran a while ago trying to convince people how easy it is to go from PC to Mac. Well, for a lot of different reasons, people are holding out and not snatching up the iPhone, like Jobs had hoped. Those who have bought one love it, but how to get everyone else in on it? Hmm, well Steve drops the price of the phone by $200 effective immediately. That is sure to raise some eyebrows. What about AT&T as the only service provider? No answer. But with rumors of hacks and ways around the monopolistic stranglehold, Apple better come up with an answer to appease the masses soon, if they want this gadget to sell. The customer is always right. Listen to them, ya know, like you used to.
- As far as the new iPod Touch goes, it is basically what people were expecting. But, put it side-by-side with the iPhone and you scratch your head and wonder, why not just get the iPhone? The iPod Touch looks like the younger, smaller, less-gifted, red-headed stepbrother of the iPhone. Yet, it still looks taller than it needs to be. What is that extra space up at the top for? Just so there will be an extra half inch sticking out the top of the carrying case or stuck in my pocket? Maybe I am picky, but the iPod Touch seems overpriced for what it offers, especially standing right next to the iPhone, which is only $100 more (8GB). Maybe that is the whole point behind this. Use the appearance of introducing a new, exciting product that caters to the crowd not looking for a new "smart phone," but really all you are trying to do is to get someone to look at this lineup and say, "Well, why not just buy an iPhone, then?" And if so, then congrats, you got me.
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