“In the longstanding tradition of the Mac, Apple has done an absolutely brilliant job demystifying what is otherwise a complex technical process [with iPod+iTunes]. It is only in recent years that some of the competing products have managed to catch up to the usability of the iTunes/iPod duo. But, by the time they did, it was basically too late. Apple controls 70 percent of the portable digital audio player market and, in the US, 88 percent of sales of downloadable music. Not only that, Apple has successfully bridged a usability story into a fashion story which has taken the attraction to the iPod to an entirely different level that no other technology vendor will be able to duplicate,” David Berlind blogs for ZDNet.
Berlind writes, “Recently, at Gartner Symposium, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer talked about Microsoft’s stick-to-it-iveness with the message that once his company commits, it has the resources to keep at it until it wins. Only, in the portable digital audio space, the company didn’t stick to it. Instead, after it’s PlaysForSure ecosystem barely made a dent in Apple’s momentum, it went back to square one with a brand called Zune that, except for a few minor details, will pretty much mirror Apple’s strategy (where the content comes from the same source as the hardware does). When Microsoft about faces, this is a sign that Apple is in charge.”
Berlind writes, “And just when all of Apple’s competitors are turning to plan B, and just when a few cell phone vendors are getting hip to the idea of including iPod-like functionality in a mobile phone (something that no smartphone maker has quite figured out how to do very gracefully), Apple is about to swoop in and show them all how its done because you know that Steve Jobs would never let an iPhone see the light of day unless it’s absolutely perfect. Nokia, Ericcson, Sony, Samsung, Motorola and the rest of the lot of them (as well as Microsoft and the other portable audio manufacturers) will be left so stunned by Apple’s entry into the market that it will feel as though a supertrain with a wild party on it just left the train station while they were left standing on the platform say ‘But,…but…'”
Berlind writes, “Here’s a good question. With Apple Mac sales going up (on the coattails of iPod sales), what happens when Apple decides not to make a Windows version of iTunes?”
More in the full article, including Berlind’s prediction that eventually some government somewhere will force Apple’s hand under antitrust law and how Apple will profit immensely regardless here.
This is an excellent article — even if the concept of Apple pulling the Windows version of iTunes is way out there — that’s full of interesting points and ideas; highly recommended.
Related articles:
RUMOR: Apple iPhone features leaked – October 19, 2006
Zune: Apple cannot lose. Microsoft cannot win. – July 26, 2006
More blood on Apple iTunes Store’s play button: Tower Records liquidated – October 09, 2006
More blood on Apple iPod’s Click Wheel: Dell’s ‘DJ Ditty’ flash-based MP3 player is dead – August 22, 2006
More blood on Apple iTunes Music Store’s play button: MyCokeMusic is dead – June 20, 2006
More blood on Apple iPod’s Click Wheel: iRiver gives up on digital media player market – May 23, 2006
More blood on Apple iPod’s Click Wheel: Sony’s Walkman Bean is cooked – February 13, 2006
More blood on Apple iPod’s Click Wheel: Dell dumps ‘DJ’ hard-drive MP3 player line – February 04, 2006
More blood on Apple iPod’s Click Wheel: iRiver pulling out of Europe? – February 01, 2006
More blood on Apple iPod’s Click Wheel: Thomson gives up on MP3 player, CE markets – December 12, 2005
More blood on Apple iPod’s Click Wheel: BenQ withdraws from MP3 player markets – November 28, 2005
More blood on Apple iPod’s Click Wheel: Olympus halts production of portable digital music players – November 09, 2005
More blood on Apple iPod’s Click Wheel: Rio is dead – August 26, 2005
Apple’s iPod has blood on its Click Wheel: Virgin Electronics is dead – March 08, 2005
Apple’s iTunes Music Store has blood on its play button: BuyMusic.com is dead – March 28, 2004
Arnold Ziffel failed to ask the pig to proofread his post.
That simple step would have avoided the now required floggings & beatings.
When people start dressing up as Zunes then they’ve reached an important level of mass accepatance:
http://www.engadget.com/2005/11/03/a-ridiculous-number-of-ipod-costumes/
cool sells, no formula, iPod hit it, Zune will miss it.
I look forward to the iPhone and seeing Big Foot.
I can’t predict which of these will happen first.
No way they will dump windows itunes. Its a huge foot in the door. Plus you piss off both mac and pc users. Sorry to break it to you but most people want to use both platforms and by killing the windows version you lop off a huge section of customers. Fact is more Ipod owners run windoze than osx
By the way, did I tell you that Im getting a RAGING CLUE right now?
” … with a brand called Zune that, except for a few minor details, will pretty much mirror Apple’s strategy” …
Not so much mirror, more like the Picture of Dorian Gray.
well it’s not like m$ makes an media player for the mac anymore, they outsource it to someone else as a plugin for quicktime
it’s more like this:
Apple: Think Different
Microsoft: Think just like Think Different
Hq Wells,
You are so right! I got Mr. Ive’s name confused with a French friend’s name (Yves), and the rest is history. In the instant I typed the unneeded “s” at the end of Mr. Ive’s name a typo was born (via cesarean delivery). I have now learnt my lesson.
I hope Steve Job is reading this–nudge nudge wink wink.
Apple will always make a Windoze version of iTunes. It is their road into the Windoze market – make a few free, Windoze-compatible programs to whet their appetite and entice them to switch to the Macintosh platform.
I’d be looking for Apple to come out with a Windoze version of Safari soo. “Look, we feel your pain that IE7 is such a piece of shit, so here we come to the rescue again like we did with iTunes for Windoze Media Player.”
There’s only one fact missing from this article: Apple started out way behind in the mp3 player market. Other vendors had a huge headstart over Apple, and they had a 0% market share when they released the iPod. Apple’s superior design and “stick-to-it-iveness” won the market. I laugh at Microsoft’s declaration that they can beat Apple at this game, they just don’t have what it takes.
@ Wreck who wrote:
<i> After all, today Apple bothers to produce iTunes for a little used OS called Mac OS X which has about 2.8% market share<>
Dude… what the HELL are you talking about?? Go read up on some latest market share figures. And why in God’s green name (as a friend of mine once mispoke) does every moron who wants to make himself feel better (or in denial of Apple’s success) keep bringing up market share???
Apple is riding high. Get used to it!
He still blows it with his assessment of the DRM. iPods do not engender iTunes Store purchases, they only encourage it. And, no, that content is not irrevocably locked to the iPod- CD’s can be burned and the resulting songs ripped into any MP3 device, at any time.
Even the best often get this one wrong.
“Go read up on some latest market share figures. “
Stop thinking that US market share equates to worldwide market share. The worldwide number is 2.8% even on the latest figures.
“That accident was the result of it slamming into a utility vehicle and had nothing to do with maglev per se. The accident happened at “normal” train speeds (106 mph). That better safety standards need to be developed is a given, particularly if top speeds are 280 mph. Human error, by the way, was the fault of that accident.”
The more interesting parallel was that there’s a piece of technology that people claim is “superior” but isn’t gaining any traction in the real world for a number of reasons and eventually ended up horribly.
Hence the super train analogy. “Old Fashioned” conventional trains have already reached 320mph.
i cant wait, im so happy im gonna hug myself
Rather than punishing PC users for using Windows by dropping iTunes for Windows (bad idea), why doesn’t Apple institute a program like the Back to School offers?
That is, bring us your old PC (or Mac) and you can buy any new Mac, and we’ll throw in a rebate for a free iPod and printer! Plus, Apple could charge a nominal fee (like $25 or $50) to transfer all the data from that old PC to your new Mac, removing yet another barrier to switching.
Gotta admit the iTunes store has been running like crap for the past 2 days. Cannot access, stops in the middle of downloads. Apple support forum has a thousand views on the topic- so it’s not isolated. Figure is the support articles have a thousand views, likely multiple that by 10 to get an idea of how many are affected. And Apple says nothing- not a word of encouragement like, “experiencing growing pains- will be back up very soon. . . Not going to pick up any converts with this performance!!
“Hence the super train analogy. “Old Fashioned” conventional trains have already reached 320mp”
Well, 186 mph in commercial use. But yeah, the shit moves. 😀
It’s been a pleasure talking trains and being gloriously off topic. Good day, sir.
Your media isn’t limited to the iPod – that’s one gross error. And why would Apple stop making iTunes for Windows? It’s nonsensical; completely illogical.
As for antitrust, the issue comes back to the requirements of the copyrightholders, which Apple must agree to in order to distribute digital media.
The article looks too far ahead and dabbles in fantasy. A more interesting topic would have been how the DRM-free model that is being discussed elsewhere could change things.
Somewhat interesting article for the community, perhaps, but “highly recommended”? Only if you’ve had a bit too much vino!
Following up on Charles‘ point – when it comes to leveraging the functionality of personal computers, and extending it outside the box, Steve Jobs is second to none. When it comes to designing OSes and application interfaces, Steve Jobs is second to none. Steve is an artist – in a big way. The title “Chief Software Architect” – you know who – is perfect for a “little” person. And the difference shows. Oh, how it shows!
NewType:
Apple could also include a coupon on every iPod box good towards the purchase of a new Mac.
For example, buy a Shuffle get a $50 off a new Mac, buy a Nano get $100 off a new Mac or buy an iPod and get $150 off a new Mac.