“To longtime tech watchers, Apple Computer’s dilemma over whether to “open up” its wildly successful iPod/iTunes strategy has an amusingly familiar ring. Having devised the must-have gadget of the early 21st century, Apple now faces intense pressure to allow the iPod to work with multiple music services beyond iTunes,” Paul Andrews writes for The Seattle Times.
“RealNetworks Chief Executive Rob Glaser seems to be leading the charge with a recent offer to Apple co-founder Steve Jobs. Let iPod users play music from RealNetworks, Glaser proposed, and Real in turn will tailor its music service to promote the iPod as its player of choice,” Andrews writes.
“Nearly two decades ago, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and executive Jeff Raikes made a similar suggestion to Apple regarding its then-new Macintosh. Why don’t you license Mac technology to other vendors and build in compatibility with Microsoft’s DOS operating system, Microsoft suggested. In return, Microsoft would help promote the Macintosh,” Andrews writes. “Suspicious that Microsoft had ulterior motives, including using Macintosh technology for the still-unreleased Windows, Apple rejected the idea. Technology historians have long noted the blown opportunity in explaining why Apple, with a huge chronological lead in the graphical-user interface, nevertheless became marginalized by Windows in the PC revolution.”
“Did Apple learn its lesson? While there are seductive similarities in the two scenarios, it seems unlikely that Jobs is in any hurry to ‘open up’ the iPod,” Andrews writes.
Andrews concludes, “If Apple wants to maintain the iPod’s hegemony, all it may really have to do is keep lowering the price. Once the ‘mini’ burns through early adopters, its price is sure to fall. And the ‘papa’ iPod should cost less in the future, even as its capacity expands. Either that, or Apple faces getting lowballed into oblivion once again.”
Full article here.
I still think they need to expand the iPod range to include an in-car player and maybe something that is permanently part of a stereo.
AFAIK, the t players that hook into iTunes can’t play protected AAC. That wouldn’t be a problem for me, but it would for some I guess.
So while maybe Apple should sit on Fairplay for the iPod, maybe they should license it for other products that complement the mac and thi iPod rather than compete with it.
So true, Hywel. Most of my iPod music usage would be in a car.
I definitely want a car stereo that i can attach my iPod to, using a tape adapter is not satisfactory.
A better analogy of Apple’s “dilemna” (if there even is one) would be Sony’s BetaMax and VHS. Sony kept Beta to itself and never licensed it. It was far superior to VHS quality, and was really the best product out there for home viewing and recording. VHS did finally win out because a full of cheap systems came in when ppl didn’t care about quality, but only about pricing (also Sony being a Japanese company in the 80’s kinda hurt its position).
however, though it lost out on Beta, Sony kept innovating and created the CD, walkman, participated in the creation of the DVD, etc. Sony’s now a jugernaut and Apple’s not in bad shape even if fairplay goes the way of Beta.
I would agree. A car stereo that just accepted the iPod as a dock and gave me controls and a display more suited to a car environment would be a no-brainer as far as a purchase goes.
MDN’s August 07, 2003 article:
“Apple request: we need the Apple ‘iBox’ and ‘iPodCar’ products now”
Alpine has a unit coming this summer that will interface with the iPod
The problem with the Sony Beta and early Mac OS comparisons is those where physical media (tapes & software) that required extra effort to make the product available in multiple formats as well as additional shelf space in physical retail stores.
With digital music the rules are completely different – the same song is easily available from numerous stores and various formats/DRM. An artist isn’t have to choose if they are going to sell their new single in AAC or WMA – they can make it available to everyone and let market forces determine which sells more.
I love having the iPod/iTrip in the car. I thought I saw online some Asian car that was iPod ready? It wasn’t something available in the US – I think just Japan? My stereo (Audi) picks up the radio station info, artist and song name if the station broadcasts it. I’d love to have an iPod dock in my car and have this info shown on the radio. Album artwork on a DVD/navigation screen would be icing on the cake.
Hey focker… re: “(Beta) was far superior to VHS quality, and was really the best product out there for home viewing…”
Yes, Beta had better quality – more lines per inch resolution, and faster tape speed which provided fewer dropouts and higher quality sound – but one of the BIG reasons it failed was its low capacity. It took two tapes to hold a normal feature movie – unlike VHS which could hold a normal movie on one tape. That combined with the cost of the Sony-only equipment was a killer.
But… even if Sony had of licensed the technology, VHS would have triumphed at the end because the cost of media was half that of Beta, even on a level playing field.
Bottom line for Apple – Sony vs VHS means nothing to Apple, because Apple’s technology is (for now) so superior, AND it is cross platform. MicroSoft’s codec means nothing when your iPod will play MP3’s and you can purchase any music you want with Fairplay technology.
Now, if Apple would only include an integral microphone and voice recording capability, everyone in the office would be happy, because the boss has promised to purchase us all new digital voice recorders so we can dump these tapes – but we are waiting for Apple. Hey Mr. Jobs… are you listening yet?
I always thought that iPod docks should be cheap and could be installed wherever you need music. However, Apple does change iPod design occasionally and that may make designing iPod docks for cars a bit harder. What if the next generation iPod is slimmer? Or the position of the buttons is obscured by the dock? Etc.
Apple has to be willing to have future iPod designs constrained by whatever docks they produce now.
These people are kidding right?
ipod’s ugly sister
I want one! </sarcasm>
there goes Glick7 again…. click the above link and buy that one if you can’t wait….
on a side not, please go buy music on iTunes… we need to make sure we get close to the 100mil goal. I bought 20 this week!!
Glick, I was kidding, don’t you dare buy that fugly player…
I believe we’ll see an expansion of the iPod line in the coming days if not weeks.
I, for one, would like to state that I am using Mozilla’s flash blocker, and I am GRATEFUL. The flash ad above was replaced with a button so I can look at it if I choose, and I choose not to.
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“Most of my iPod music usage would be in a car.”
“I definitely want a car stereo that i can attach my iPod to, using a tape adapter is not satisfactory.”
“A car stereo that just accepted the iPod as a dock and gave me controls and a display more suited to a car environment would be a no-brainer as far as a purchase goes.”
…then check out IceLink. It works very well.
Regarding iPod use in a car: At this point, it is unlikely that any car manufacturer would include an adapter that would work with just an iPod. Although Apple is currently the number 1 Digital Music Player, no one can guarantee that even Apple itself will continue with the same dock connector (remember the Dock Connector didn’t come out until the 3rd generation and just look at what they did with the FireWire 800 connector – USB 2 didn’t require a different connector).
My suggestion is that we start pushing the car maunfacturers to include a standard audio input jack (and leave the customized setups to third parties). I’ve been attempting to do this and the car dealers are all saying “No one’s ever asked for this before”. The really funny thing is with Scion, a car that is marketed to the youth culture. They PROUDLY proclaim on their website that a Cassette Player isn’t even an option (I’m assuming because they feel it’s antiquated), but they don’t include an Audio Input Jack with any of the stereo options.
The Audio Input Jack is offered on some after market third party car stereos (in fact, they are just about standard with Aiwas).
Of course, another solution might be Bluetooth (unless it has the same kind of problems as an FM transmitter).
Just my thoughts (and so I don’t get slammed for “currently the #1”. I love the iPod (I currently have 3 and have purchased 4). It’s up to Apple whether they blow their lead this time or not (and not opening FairPlay or folding it into the AAC standard might be a major mistake – they might actually be able to kill WMA, if they did).
Apple should eventually license out AAC/Fairplay and make it the de facto standard and make sure they are involved and getting paid no matter who is making a player or opening an online store.
jack A.. whatever they do won’t be as good as itunes.. that’s why they’re not doing it..
brand dilution