[GHERDEZ]

Why the iPod is doomed

By Portfolio.com
Take a deep breath, Macaholics. Think different.

The more a company succeeds with a business model, the harder it is to anticipate its successor. And Apple has been reluctant to move its digital music franchise to 'the cloud.'

Apple (AAPL, news, msgs) might be the envy of the technology world, yet in its core business of music -- iTunes and those beloved iPods -- the company is veering toward trouble.

Sooner than you think, the iPod as we know it will seem as nutty as a no-down-payment balloon mortgage.

For generations, consumers have wanted to own their music -- vinyl, cassettes, CDs and 99-cent downloads. But today, the economy seems stuck in a death spiral, just in time for a sure-to-be-dismal holiday shopping season, and that malaise will nudge consumers toward a massive shift in mind-set.

MSN Tech & Gadgets: First look: Apple's new laptops
Hauling around thousands of songs on a handheld device or computer hard drive just so you can listen to your favorites will soon feel overly extravagant and cumbersome, like keeping a cow so you can eat your favorite cheese.

Instead, we'll get music from "the cloud" -- technically, "somewhere on the Internet, but who cares where, as long as it shows up when I press this button."

We'll have access to a service that holds every song ever recorded, letting us listen to anything, anytime, from any device. Pocket-size gadgets will connect to high-speed cellular, WiFi and satellites linking to the cloud -- to your music -- at home, at work, on overseas flights. "

For more about this article:

Why the iPod is doomed - MSN Money

[Ashleyj]

Originally Posted by GHERDEZ

Why the iPod is doomed

By Portfolio.com
Take a deep breath, Macaholics. Think different.

The more a company succeeds with a business model, the harder it is to anticipate its successor. And Apple has been reluctant to move its digital music franchise to 'the cloud.'

Apple (AAPL, news, msgs) might be the envy of the technology world, yet in its core business of music -- iTunes and those beloved iPods -- the company is veering toward trouble.

Sooner than you think, the iPod as we know it will seem as nutty as a no-down-payment balloon mortgage.

For generations, consumers have wanted to own their music -- vinyl, cassettes, CDs and 99-cent downloads. But today, the economy seems stuck in a death spiral, just in time for a sure-to-be-dismal holiday shopping season, and that malaise will nudge consumers toward a massive shift in mind-set.

MSN Tech & Gadgets: First look: Apple's new laptops
Hauling around thousands of songs on a handheld device or computer hard drive just so you can listen to your favorites will soon feel overly extravagant and cumbersome, like keeping a cow so you can eat your favorite cheese.

Instead, we'll get music from "the cloud" -- technically, "somewhere on the Internet, but who cares where, as long as it shows up when I press this button."

We'll have access to a service that holds every song ever recorded, letting us listen to anything, anytime, from any device. Pocket-size gadgets will connect to high-speed cellular, WiFi and satellites linking to the cloud -- to your music -- at home, at work, on overseas flights. "

For more about this article:

Why the iPod is doomed - MSN Money

Very interesting, thanks GERDHEZ.

I have no doubt it will come it time, after all who would have predicted what we have now only 10 years ago.

[Martinman]

Interesting article, GERDEHZ. Maybe that's why I've never rushed out and bought in iPod or MP3 player. That and I don't need to have little buds stuck in my ears all the time with music. I save that for those grueling flights between Vancouver and Perth, Australia (21 hours in the air!)

Got music in my home and music in my car; I'm right.

Martinman

[Dave C]

Interesting, but basically flawed argument as it assumes people want 'the cloud model'. I have no interest in having every song ever penned available to me (I have enough trouble choosing what to listen as it is) and there is no way I will ever chose a subscription service. Once I have paid out some money for something I expect it to be mine forever

[Nightfly]

Originally Posted by Dave C

Interesting, but basically flawed argument as it assumes people want 'the cloud model'. I have no interest in having every song ever penned available to me (I have enough trouble choosing what to listen as it is) and there is no way I will ever chose a subscription service. Once I have paid out some money for something I expect it to be mine forever

I agree with Dave I don't go in for the "cloud model".I used to belong to Rhapsody in it's infancy I paid only 7$ ,but I didn't like it. If I wasn't at my computer the music was useless to me and the selection was voluminous mainstream music which is not my thing.I understand this new model is wi-fi and is portable.
But I want To Own my music when I spend my money.Nothing else will do
for me....

Thank you Gherdez for your excellent post.....

[Ashleyj]

Originally Posted by Dave C

Interesting, but basically flawed argument as it assumes people want 'the cloud model'. I have no interest in having every song ever penned available to me (I have enough trouble choosing what to listen as it is) and there is no way I will ever chose a subscription service. Once I have paid out some money for something I expect it to be mine forever

I think that is going to be the problem.

People like us are happy to pay for music as long as we have something tangible at the end to do with whatever we want.

How's your weekend at work going? 50% done already.

[Dave C]

Originally Posted by Ashleyj

How's your weekend at work going? 50% done already.

Today was pretty easy, only in from 10 - 3. Tomorrow is going to be a whole lot worse; probably 8am - ~10pm. Fortunately I have the internet though, so I will probably be on a lot tomorrow and the clocks go back tonight so getting up at 7am on a Sunday won't feel quite as bad as it should

[shadman]

i recommend the iphone it is the best deivce that i have ever used. if you can get a chance to check one out i highly recommend it.

i think the i pod will be phased out with the i touch or i phone.

cr

[GHERDEZ]

Originally Posted by shadman

i recommend the iphone it is the best deivce that i have ever used. if you can get a chance to check one out i highly recommend it.

i think the i pod will be phased out with the i touch or i phone.

cr

Hello Shadman,

Without a doubt, the Iphone is probably one of the best devices out there, and a viable candidate to replace any Ipod with a device with far more functionality. My only objection is the carriers that Apple chose. They should have gone with as many as possible. Now, the Chinese are selling 2 types of dual sim card kits, should you ever want to switch carriers.
Yet, the Iphone is only item I would buy, even when I am not an Ipod fan.

If I ever buy one, and need tips, I know whom to ask....

GHERDEZ

[Ashleyj]

Originally Posted by Dave C

Today was pretty easy, only in from 10 - 3. Tomorrow is going to be a whole lot worse; probably 8am - ~10pm. Fortunately I have the internet though, so I will probably be on a lot tomorrow and the clocks go back tonight so getting up at 7am on a Sunday won't feel quite as bad as it should

At least that's a bonus so we should see you here all day today then.

I still running on Summer Time.