A Blog About Making Culture
Dos and Don'ts for Beating the iPod (and iTunes)
January 5, 2006
Lots of people in both the music/media and technology businesses are obsessed with beating Apple's work on the iPod and iTunes. With the CES show being this week, that obsession will reach its annual peak, so I figured I'd take the time to post a list I'd made some time ago. Herewith, a list of the key dos and don'ts for beating Apple's iPod and iTunes, in no particular order.
- Do: Be Rock and Roll. Have an attitude, be All About The Music, and express yourself. Now, that doesn't mean you have to have faux-edgy marketing copy for your service or device, but just that you should make decisions for your products based on what a music fan would want.
- Don't: Try to teach kids about DRM. Now, if and when iTunes eventually loses in the market, it will be because of DRM. And you can get significant advantages by just embracing unprotected MP3s, since that's what most people want and they work with everything. But the thing is, DRM is boring. Teaching consumers about DRM is like giving your cat a bath: You're only going to piss her off, and she'd do a better job of it on her own anyway. Explain your lack of DRM in terms of user benefits instead of technology, and you'll avoid disgruntled customer testimonials.
- Do: Make something that breaks in, instead of breaking down. The iPod's greatest flaw is that it's designed to inspire reverence and requires being coddled. Remember being rock and roll? Rock is about leather and denim, which wear with time and get more personality as they're used. Kind of like a good guitar. And being able to drop an MP3 player in a crowded high school cafeteria without everyone laughing that your expensive device is destroyed is a killer app.
- Don't: Forget about the rest of the world. The iTunes store neglected most countries in the world for most of its history, and is only just starting to remedy the problem years later. And the store's library offers an abysmal selection of international songs. Even here in the U.S., one quarter of Americans are either immigrants or have an immigrant family member, which connects them to the international community. Their music and videos are pretty much invisible in Apple's world -- sounds like an opportunity to me.
- Do: Let people make their own music. Apple lets people make music with GarageBand, and lets people buy music with iTunes, but doesn't let people sell or distribute their own songs. That means companies who make music-making tools ranging from Acid to ProTools don't have an easy venue to get their music in front of an audience. And most of them don't want to make money, they just want people to hear their songs. "I can get my boyfriend's band's music" is a great way to combat an iTunes exclusive track.
- Don't: Try to fit in. Everyone's gone from making super-ugly MP3 players to coming as close to cloning the iPod as possible without getting sued. What about headphones with an LED built in, if you're insistent on calling attention to yourself? What about wireless headphones, to neutralize the cool factor of the white cord in the iPod ads? And why aren't you selling "the music player for the rest of us"? Now that the iPod is downright ubiquitous, you can play up the subversive angle of not wearing the white earphones: Trying not to wear the same thing as everyone else is exactly what rock and roll is about. Tell kids they deserve a music player as unique as they are, and remind everyone that white is the color of sheep.
- Do: Make friends with Radio and TV. No, no, not in the old-fashioned Clear Channel way. For this audience, XM, Sirius, Netflix and Tivo define radio and television, and that content should be natively made part of their experience. Not just that I can copy a show from my Tivo to my device, but that my XM account is integrated and automatically syncing up to my player. A discount on the songs that I've listened to on Sirius radio. In short, a real connection to the other media I'm consuming.
- Don't: Forget about the geeks. Hackers will make the features that aren't economical for you to create, that are too far-out for you to think of, and that are so personal and unique that they really draw people into forming a personal connection with your product or service. Right now, the iPod tries desperately to block any creative hacking that people do with the device. Sure, there's no mass market for a Beowulf cluster powered by MP3 players, but there may be a lucrative long tail of buyers who want little applets or hardware hacks for the hard drives they're carrying around everywhere.
- Do: Invest in the experience. The thing Apple has shown with the iPod's success is that people are willing to spend a premium for a good experience, even at the expense of features, freedom, or flexibility. If you can offer a distinctive experience that exceeds what Apple can do in any of these regards, there's the potential for a big win. Creative wasted millions on a misbegotten campaign to have their Zen players take on the iPod, but for the $300 million dollars they blew on billboards or bus stop ads, they could have paid Kanye or Coldplay to play a gig in the living room of some music fan. People want a connection to the music and musicians they care about, and they want to take part in experiences that are beyond the reach of their connections or wallets. Give them the chance to really meet (or be) a rock star, and you'll have something better than just another MP3 player.
Previously: What's Good Lately
Next: Bill, Meet Justin
kottke.org remaindered links
Anil Dash offers a list of dos and don'ts for beating the iPod and iTunes: http://www.dashes.com/anil/2006/01/05/dos_and_donts_... read more »FencingGeek
How to Beat the iPod and iTunes: How to Beat the iPod and iTunes Anil Dash seems to be one of the few people who have realized the weaknesses of these two champions. Too bad no one listens to bloggers… ... read more »Wade
Great article. You are exactly right. I already want one of the devices you describe. :)
Jonathan Bruder
This list represents some of the most lucid thinking on digital media players I’ve ever seen. Don’t be surprised if this goes from commentary to a reference document :)
Nicole Simon
It is not only about the music. With podcasting, an MP3 player has become a work tool for me - as it has for so many different people. I do consider to perhaps buy an ipod because of one feature: working bookmarking with playlists. Because I need to keep track about so many different podcasts.
But what I really want is just workable intelligent playlist, different speed for play (some podcast you want to enjoy, others just to consume at your speed level of hearing ability), and some pda features.
The ipod so far comes closes to this which - but afaik at the cost of having to have an itunes account and some other downsides of the software. Plus DRM. Plus whatever they think they want to dumb down else.
Not working for me, not working at all. And I am not alone, there are a lot of people out there who also have the same need as I do.
Selling hardware to this market is so much easier because you don’t need to sell overpriced music with DRM to them, you can feed of the ground of podcasts and videocast.
Especially when you live outside the typical itunes countries. I was tempted to buy an ipod video for downloading shows - until I noticed that in Germany I will not be able to watch them … well, lost oportunity.
Speaking of podcast and videocast: Do produce a hardware which can play video and audio. But even more important: Give me a version with which I can record in decent quality!
Don’t: make me buy an expensive ipod and charge me extra for something to record on that thing.
Andrew
You might also like BBC Radio’s Dan Hill’s recent paper on “New Musical Experiences” which expands on some of these ideas, and is an amazingly thorough look at the state of digital music.
These are all good ideas, and some of them seem so obvious to me that they must be obvious to the music product industry. Is the fear of losing control and the threat of copyright lawsuits so severe that these kinds of ideas never leave the drawing-board?
pwb
DRM is not going away. As long as it’s reasonable, most consumers won’t know the difference.
The biggest issue I’ve seen with iTunes competitors is that none support Mac. Apple has demonstrated that when it somes to things like digital music, the 5% marketshare thing is an utter myth.
Over time, the more open Windows platform will definitely win out over Apple’s closed system (as it always does). The interesting thing will be if Apple combats that by taking a more open approach.
Nivi
Check out Songbird
http://songbirdnest.com
Think “Netscape for Media”
Josh
I am in general agreement with the list, but sadly the only two companies that seem to be doing any innovative thinking are Google and Apple. All Sony has is PS3, Samsung has televisions, Microsoft has OS (though by default). None of these companies has that daydreamy quality about their products or services.
Apple is by no means perfect and their closed system is annoying at times, but they seem to make products that operate with the most sense, not the most feature always. You have to remember most of us are stupid in one way or another and regardless of how revolutionary HP’s VIIV or Microsoft’s Vista is it will still take a number of years to educate the consumers on why the computer will become the media center of your home.
Most companies try to leap across the creek, while Apple prefers to step on the stones. Expontential growth patterns are anomalies. Which is ironic as to why companies reach for that but know so well that steady growth is just as powerful.
But what would i know, i went to art school.
David Harrell
RE: Let people make their own music.
Apple obviously doesn’t what the hassle of selling GarageBand tracks, but it’s REALLY easy for anyone to have music sold in iTunes (and all of the other online stores). For $35, CD Baby will distribute any indie release. As far as I know there’s no approval/audition process, just sign up and send them a couple CD-Rs. (Really, they’ll take anything — I bet you could even sell your phone messages as a “spoken word” release.) In a few months, your tracks will be available in iTunes, eMusic, Napster, etc. Even at Wal-Mart’s online music store, believe it or not. I’m an indie musician with digital distribution via CD Baby and am quite happy with their service…
Jay Fienberg
I never got an iPod because I’ve always needed a portable player that worked 100% as a recording device (that I can use to record music).
My uses probably aren’t common, but I think something exciting would be a device that has more music creation / publishing features, e.g., recording, playlist sharing, ability to play and modify music loops, ability to create mashups, etc.
This might also be thought of as: creating music on a computer is like playing a computer game, and your music player could also be a “music game” system (and if it’s “multiplayer”, so much the better).
Also, perahps of interest, my future of music playback ideas.
SiriusA
Decent set of thoughts here. I’d like to add a few (I’m an owner of an iRiver, which I think is superior to iPod quality-wise, but lacking in a few other respects).
1) include radio. sure, MP3s and playlists, but there are plenty of times when the radio is a nice thing to have — and how hard is that?
2) podcast simplicity. make it easy to dock and recieve updates to favorite podcasts, and easy to listen to them (perhaps a different folder structure for such?)
3) aftermarket add-ons. look at all the stuff you can get for an iPod then try to find any of it for other devices (hardly). set up deals with other companies to produce all the little things that really squeeze value out of the jukebox like gear to help you wear your can at the gym or when you’re cycling, etc.
4) firmware add-ins. hey, if I’m willing to pay $40 for an armstrap so I canwear the thing at the gym (for example), why wouldn’t I want to buy $5 upgrades to the firmware/OS? give me little helper apps to choose from online like customizing splash splash screens and feedback tones.
5) make the gui and the buttons killer. the worst thing about my iRiver is the physical interface blows. I can’t run through folders fast enough (if I’m in the ‘B’s and want to hear something in the ‘R’s it’s a pain in the ass). Perhaps I should be able to make some choices as to how the buttons work from a setup screen? Frankly, I think cellphones have a lot of good GUI tricks. I’m not sure that the best button pad isn’t the one the have. When I have a 40GB drive and want to get to a specific song (because I do), it wouldn’t suck to be able to type in the name (or partial). Not to mention building and naming playlists on the can itself.
nate
Great insights, but “Let people make their own music?” How is Apple not the king of this?
Especially in light of your DRM comments, the “boyfriend’s band” should probably be releasing their songs as MP3s on myspace, not through an Apple- or other-branded storefront.
I really like the “Make something that breaks in, instead of breaking down,” though. Does anybody have examples of tech products that fit this idea?
I'M STUNNED
—>pwb ” the more open Windows platform” ha, ha, ha! Dude you talk sweet, but only crap comes out. To make such a statement you really know very little. Windows is all about monopoly, ripping off and than breaking standards. Bill has the market because the world is full of ignorant creatures. You and alike led him to the top. Strange how the girl here wants to teach us a lesson about taking down the iPod because it irritates with the slick design, ergonomics and technology (like all apple products, but especially since 1996), but would probably feel pretty comfortable with the ugly, simple mammoth that is Windows. Yes, as I said the pretty irritates. If we paint everything dull as Windows than nobody raises against it!
Eric 
Reminds me of a similar list of ideas I came up with a few years ago. The one I’d really love to see implemented is when two MP3 players are within WiFi range of each other they should automatically compare playlists/genres and send each other new music. Somehow I feel the RIAA would frown upon this though. But that is what makes it so Rock and Roll, no?
Steve Rhodes
While Apple should make it easier for people to sell their music through iTunes, they do have an application individual artists can use
https://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZLabel.woa/wa/apply
CDbaby and some other places will distribute music to iTunes and other download services
http://cdbaby.net/dd
If they just want their music to be heard, they can make it available for free through a podcast.
Brad Root
I have to disagree with everyone on this list, if only because the majority of list sounds like exactly what a silly grown up thinks kids would want. “We think teenagers think this is cool, so let’s do it!”
I’m sorry, but for the vast majority of iPod owners, I would go as far to say as none of these things relate to them at all. I don’t own an iPod because I want to be a rock star, I don’t own an iPod because I think it has some symbolic connection with the music. I own an iPod because it’s a joy to use and I have no problems with it.
Instead of thinking of “super awesome” ways to market a music player, maybe people should start thinking of ways to make a “super awesome” music player. Having a band play in some kids house isn’t going to sell an mp3 player. Having a rough design swathed in leather isn’t going to sell an mp3 player. Hell, having connectivity with other expensive geeky devices isn’t going to sell an mp3 player.
What sells an mp3 player is a well made device and word of mouth. All the geek or teen “cool” you can shove into a device or a campaign does nothing more than alienate users by pointing out what you think they think is cool. Nothing is less cool than big business telling you what you should like.
And on that note, the iPod has never said “You should like me, because I appeal to you because of all these nifty reasons.”
It said, “Hey, look at me, I think I’m pretty cool, but see for yourself.”
And everyone did. And, hey, it’s pretty cool.
JCRogers
You just outlined all the reasons I refuse to buy an iPod.
Can’t wait till someone catches on and follows at least some of your guidlines.
davidwb
I think the biggest problem with taking on the iPod is that few companies are capable of melding consumer electronics and modern computer technology. Apple can and so can TiVo. Sony probably could if it weren’t tied down by its content division.
An mp3 player is a consumer electronics device - an appliance. It needs to be simple to use; obvious in its use. Of course an mp3 player must be tied to computer technology so the computer side must be as simple to use as possible. Apple has achieved this. So far no one else has.
The iPod isn’t about cool. Oh, it has that cachet, but cool doesn’t last for more than two years without there being substance behind it. Remember Pet Rocks? Remember Cabbage Patch Dolls? Remember Touch Me Elmo? They were cool - they didn’t last. The iPod has and will continue to because cool isn’t what’s driving it.
Led by Microsoft, computer and software companies think in terms of features. Apple and TiVo sweat the details and add features only when they’ve perfected how it will work. Adding FM radio, digital recording, and other features to an mp3 player wind up making the device less usable and less appealing. Not more. Remember, this is a consumer electronics device for the masses, not a toy for the geek boys.
Many look at the iPod and call it a closed economy. We can argue that, I’d claim it ultimately isn’t. But let’s say it is. What we lose by having a closed economy we can in ease of use and stability. PlaysForSure would be best named PlaysMaybe but it isn’t solely Microsoft’s fault. The PlaysForSure experience isn’t controlled by one company but several. This leads to buck passing and business politics. The PlaysForSure experience will never be as seamless as the iPod experience - at least not until Microsoft gives in and builds its own player.
DRM? Absolutely right - everyone needs to embrace it - kiss it goodbye and hold its funeral. Yeah, Sony and Warner and BMG and all the rest will agree to that.
davidwb
I think the biggest problem with taking on the iPod is that few companies are capable of melding consumer electronics and modern computer technology. Apple can and so can TiVo. Sony probably could if it weren’t tied down by its content division.
An mp3 player is a consumer electronics device - an appliance. It needs to be simple to use; obvious in its use. Of course an mp3 player must be tied to computer technology so the computer side must be as simple to use as possible. Apple has achieved this. So far no one else has.
The iPod isn’t about cool. Oh, it has that cachet, but cool doesn’t last for more than two years without there being substance behind it. Remember Pet Rocks? Remember Cabbage Patch Dolls? Remember Touch Me Elmo? They were cool - they didn’t last. The iPod has and will continue to because cool isn’t what’s driving it.
Led by Microsoft, computer and software companies think in terms of features. Apple and TiVo sweat the details and add a feature only when they’ve perfected how it will work. Adding FM radio, digital recording, and other features to an mp3 player wind up making the device less usable and less appealing. Not more. Remember, this is a consumer electronics device for the masses, not a toy for the geek boys.
Many look at the iPod and call it a closed economy. We can argue that, I’d claim it ultimately isn’t. But let’s say it is. What we lose by having a closed economy we gain in ease of use and stability. PlaysForSure would be best named PlaysMaybe but it isn’t solely Microsoft’s fault. The PlaysForSure experience isn’t controlled by one company but several. This leads to buck passing and business politics. The PlaysForSure experience will never be as seamless as the iPod experience - at least not until Microsoft gives in and builds its own player.
DRM? Absolutely right - everyone needs to embrace it - kiss it goodbye and hold its funeral. Yeah, Sony and Warner and BMG and all the rest will agree to that.
Apple probably can’t sustain its commanding lead but don’t look for anyone to make a huge dent in the short term. Apple has shown it can innovate quickly to bring new products to market. And it will.
davidwb
I think the biggest problem with taking on the iPod is that few companies are capable of melding consumer electronics and modern computer technology. Apple can and so can TiVo. Sony probably could if it weren’t tied down by its content division.
An mp3 player is a consumer electronics device - an appliance. It needs to be simple to use; obvious in its use. Of course an mp3 player must be tied to computer technology so the computer side must be as simple to use as possible. Apple has achieved this. So far no one else has.
The iPod isn’t about cool. Oh, it has that cachet, but cool doesn’t last for more than two years without there being substance behind it. Remember Pet Rocks? Remember Cabbage Patch Dolls? Remember Touch Me Elmo? They were cool - they didn’t last. The iPod has and will continue to because cool isn’t what’s driving it.
Led by Microsoft, computer and software companies think in terms of features. Apple and TiVo sweat the details and add a feature only when they’ve perfected how it will work. Adding FM radio, digital recording, and other features to an mp3 player wind up making the device less usable and less appealing. Not more. Remember, this is a consumer electronics device for the masses, not a toy for the geek boys.
Many look at the iPod and call it a closed economy. We can argue that, I’d claim it ultimately isn’t. But let’s say it is. What we lose by having a closed economy we gain in ease of use and stability. PlaysForSure would be best named PlaysMaybe but it isn’t solely Microsoft’s fault. The PlaysForSure experience isn’t controlled by one company but several. This leads to buck passing and business politics. The PlaysForSure experience will never be as seamless as the iPod experience - at least not until Microsoft gives in and builds its own player.
DRM? Absolutely right - everyone needs to embrace it - kiss it goodbye and hold its funeral. Yeah, Sony and Warner and BMG and all the rest will agree to that.
Apple probably can’t sustain its commanding lead but don’t look for anyone to make a huge dent in the short term. Apple has shown it can innovate quickly to bring new products to market. And it will.
Ankush
Indeed, the white earbuds are cliche, But the dancing silhouettes in the commercial are faceless, colorless, and to some extent formless. Now when I walk thru the subway train and every other person is sporting those white earbuds but this time they all have different faces, colors, and forms. They ARE unique. The Caucasian man in the suit is tapping to some hip-hop, the Asian chick next to me is digging some butt-scratchin’ bluegrass, and the brotha from Bed-stuy is chillin’ to Chopin. Now I go out and buy my iPod and the experience from the Apple Store, to opening the box, installing the software, buying the songs, syncing them onto my iPod, and getting back on that subway train is simple and pure as snow. And hey, now I’m jamming to P-funk. And I know I’m different than the 12 people next to me because I’ve got MY MUSIC and it is unique. Skins, accessories, and iPod engraving will further differentiate me from the putz next to me.
You know - the beauty of the iPod commercials is that they reinforce current marketing and advertising philosophy. “Have the consumer convince himself that he is unique and that by purchasing your product he further enhances his identity.” Mass market consumers, by their very definition are sheep. That dancing figure is ME.
v-twin
“Tell kids they deserve a music player as unique as they are…”
This should be a DON’T in itself… That you recommend that shows that you don’t understand the iPod phenomenon.
You know what make every iPod unique as the person who owns it? It’s content!
Once you put your favorite music on your iPod, it becomes adapted to your personality, it becomes a reflection of you. The iPod design itself symbolize that, it’s like a clean empty wall that you can decorate with your favorite pictures. Other players are usually too visually crowded and things get in the way of this clean-slate principle.
People can also bring uniqueness to their iPods using cases and stickers, and there are hundreds of those already available.
But you’ll say, it’s not really unique to have the same interface configuration as everyone else? (scrollwheel etc.)
Well guess what, people want to be unique, but at the same time want to find common ground on things that matter, like the interface.
One of the biggest reason why Windows dominate the OS market is that people want to use the interface that everyone uses. They want to be able to share tips and tricks, and have support from friends etc.
”, and remind everyone that white is the color of sheep.”
Insulting 80% of digital music player users is not a good strategy, it may bring some little more business, but it won’t help a company “beat” the iPod…
Even if your list got some good points, there is something bigger going on with the iPod anyway, and its too late for competitors.
Unless some company develops some exclusive tech that Apple cannot access that for example woud enables 1000x the storage at the same price , the iPod will continue to be a success.
Mac Diva
I agree with some of what Anil has said, but I also think that Ankush and V-twin have provided good insights. Anil is correct mainly in his assertion that value added is one way to compete with the iPod. I have purchased the usual extras, but look back fondly on the days when at least an adapter was included with an iPod. The commenters who disagree are correct that Anil has not zeroed in on what most makes the iPod popular with users. Ankush and V-twin realize that the individuality is the key. Despite their ubiquitous until recently whiteness, each iPod is different because each has a different user and reflects his or her tastes. Now that video is a hit, the types of content on iPods will be even more diverse.
I do not have a plan that would allow competitors to best the iPod or iTMS. I suspect that there may not be one. Incremental gains, say a percentage point or two each year for the next five years may be the most competitors can hope for.
sam
I agree with everything you’ve said here but I think the real key to taking over this market is beating the iTunes software itself (not just the store and I don’t even think the iPod is all that important). What apple has with the iTunes app is a good, easy to use mp3 organization tool that ONLY works with the iPod. If someone were to create an even better program for organizing media (and, sure, for buying media too) that would sync up with most PMPs and gave that away free, they’d be well on their way to taking over this market. I think a lot of folks start by first using iTunes, then realize that they could have a portable version if they bought an iPod. iTunes is in no way perfect - there’s lots of room for improvment - once someone creates a real iTunes alternative, then the iPod alternative will be right around the corner.
Franz Kafka
dear latest batch of commenters:
you people are stupid. stop being loyal to a brand that just wants your money. can’t you see that you aren’t actually thinking critically about the original subject, but are just trying to justify the decision you’ve made to support apple?
morons.
Ben
One feature in a lower-priced music player I am still waiting for is stereo recording direct to WAV file via a line-in or mic-in jack. I want to be able to record a band practice by just hitting the record button and leaving the thing running for two hours. Roland makes a product that does this but its expensive.
Keep it simple.
Robotperson
- DONT: allow your player to insert gaps between each track.
- DO: Ensure your player faithfully reproduces the music as it can be heard in the source, i.e. continuous live albums, classical music, DJ mixes etc.
SpiderMonkey
The tips for beating an iPod are the same as they are for succeeding in any business.
Create a new niche, and own that niche (you don’t have to be first but you have to be the first to do it right). Solve a problem for people in a way that it hasn’t been done before. Differentiate from the competition. Etc.
There will not be an iPod beater, in the same way that there has never been a Coca Cola beater and there was never a Walkman beater (digital music players are a separate niche from hauling around tapes/CDs).
There will however be portable audio players that solve some of the remaining problems, and they will be massive (but if I knew what those problems were, I’d be off making them, rather than posting here). Find the problem, identify and build the solution and big sales will be yours.
Also, @ franz kafka, whether you feel they are arguing without all the facts, you can’t deny that those commenters had genuinely worthwhile and interesting points to make.
curious george
Seriously-great ideas! I started thinking my iPod was amazing less and less the more I read. Now I want what you are talking about!
Aby
All I want is iPods, cellphones, iPaqs and all of these other fancy toys looking like those fancy SWATCH watches where you can see the insides because the outside is transparent.
And, please make the transparent outside of some kinda see-through rubber so that these toys bounce if and when they hit the ground …..
And so kids can write stuff on the toys …. like they do on plaster casts ….
I have been thinking of this FOREVER ….. but I figured maybe I am too clumsy …. but I hope this catches on …..
Josh
DONT’T: Make it a computer. They are not intuitive. Any personal music device that uses computer navigation metaphors is doomed to failure.
Darkshado
I’ve had a Diamond Rio back in the day. (One of the first, if not THE first portable mp3 player on the market.) 32 megs, with a parallel port connection (yeah, the printer one) and no ID3 tag or playlist support. (Not that it really mattered with the amount of songs that fit on the thing.) Would have kept it were it not for it’s anemic capacity and the fact it broke quite easily. (There were two other ones in the family and they also had very short life spans for the price of the thing). The buttons were well positionned and the interface good.
My next music player was an MP3 Sony discman, that was a nightmare interface-wise. Getting to a particular song was very difficult, playlist support was ackward. Going to the previous song played while in shuffle was impossible. But the CD-R capacity was good, and as I used shuffle 99% of the time I managed.
Then came a 256 megs RCA Lyra. Only problem IMO is that it’s too small making the interface a bit clumsy to use.
I now have a 5G iPod and I must say its the first player I’ve seen do so many things RIGHT.
The clickwheel is genius, it looks good, capacity is plentiful. The ergonomics and interface are excellent.
Now, there are some things I would do differently, but by far not as many as with my previous players. And those things are not major ones like for the other players I’ve talked about.
Without necessarily having an integrated music store and DRM-extravaganza, be sure to have an intuitive and capable music management software. Ideally one that won’t screw up previous setups by forcing use of a given directory or by doing massive ID3 rewritings.
So no matter what you do, future music player maker of the future, be sure to do plenty of R&D as well as plenty of testing with “typical” customers. And when you’ve thought you’ve done enough testing with your users out in the wild, do some more.
Getting good feedback and paying attention to it should allow you to have a polished, user-friendly and ultra-customizable product. It might not let you beat the iPod, but odds are you’ll have a decent contender able to get some respectable marketshares.
Don’t skimp on customer service either. I just hate speaking to some clueless idiot telling me to try basic procedures I’ve already attempted to no avail when the problem lies in the software or hardware. Such as an actual repeatable bug. Having tech support half-way around the world from where the product was developped doesn’t help in spotting those issues.
Goodbye,
Darkshado
Thommes
I mean the Sandisk Sansa E series are easily better in most ways than the iPod Nano series. The top option is a 6GB flash player, with UMS, removable battery, MicroSD expansion slot (up to 2GB extra storage), colour screen, plays video, photos, etc, has a touch sensitive wheel, a bigger screen, more solid casing, and a much better battery life.
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