“Technophiles in the UK could be bitterly disappointed this Christmas as companies are warning of a possible gadget shortage for British consumers. The most popular ‘must-have’ item this year appears to be Apple computer’s iPod, which is low in stock at both online and offline retailers,” Contractor UK writes. “Analysts say the PC maker has seriously underestimated demand for its 20GB device that stores up to 5,000 songs, and pulls in more seasonal good will than its scaled down rival, iPod Mini.”
“Retail site Amazon says the sought after 20GB model will be ‘in stock soon,’ while online at the iPod store, the pledge of delivery within three business days is being reassured,” Contractor UK writes.
“However, shoppers are being warned that the hottest gadget for iPod users this Christmas, the iTrip, may be tempting but is considered illegal, under UK wireless & telephony laws. The device lets an iPod user attach it to the player so their favourite tracks can be broadcast through FM radio,’ Contractor UK writes. “Although over 10,000 of the add-ons have been sold, regulator Ofcom has condemned the device as being identical to a pirate radio station, and said they will act if they receive broadcasting complaints.”
“Legal add-ons from Apple, proving just as popular this Christmas, include a widget to turn iPod into voice recorder, as well as the group’s Air Port Express. This popular little device resembles a large plug that allows users to extend the range of their musical network, so melodies being played in the mull wine cellar can be sent along to the study,” Contractor UK writes.
Full article here.
… guess they were listening to the analysts that predicted that the iPod was going to lose market share to cheaper rivals. Analysts suck
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The iTrip is identical to a pirate radio station – with the range from your car’s driver’s seat… to the front antannae (forget it if the wire is in the back).
Get a life!
The Brit regulation of “wireless” is a charming idiosyncracy to anyone not living there.
There are stupid laws that are stupid laws all around the world.
You couldn’t wear hemp fabric in the USA, for example, because that would be a federal offence. Even though your hemp shirt would have no psychotropic properties, may have been made from a hemp variety that had no smokin’ value at all and even though hemp grows wild on the roadside in much of the USA anyway.
If you got busted three times, once for wearing a hemp shirt, once for hemp trousers and once for hemp socks, that could potentially get you life in a federal prison, banged up with murderers and rapists.
Apple made sure U.S. customers got first dibs on iPods, all varieties. That’s the way it is. Sounds more like sour grapes then anything. (Or spoiled – spoilt- egg nog to me). Happy Holidays.
If only I had read the above post 20 years ago.
I will be up for parole in 10 more years though.
Apple made sure U.S. customers got first dibs on iPods, all varieties. That’s the way it is. Sounds more like sour grapes then anything. (Or spoiled – spoilt- egg nog to me). Happy Holidays.
—
Look at the Apple Stores.. the point is propping up the Mac line.. and face it.. US Marketshare matters more than anything else.. If tomorrow you read that Apple now had 10% of sales for the quarter in the US.. everyone around the world in IT would say, “Something’s going on.. Apple is back.” .. Better focus energy on the big advertising nation than.. say.. Ireland etc
Yeah, I think Apple having 10 percent of the US market would mean more to the IT world in general than having 90 of the Irish Market. Although it would probably be mentioned a lot….. Do you think Apple COULD capture 90% of the Irish market????……….. Nevermind, I think I have been wearing too many hemp shirts.
I wonder how many analysts can point to a specific prediction they have made that specifically identified the 20GB model as being the most in demand model. Nothing more that wasted press space. We would almost be better off reading fiction these days than listening to any press outlet.
You sure can tell who has a life and who doesn’t by who is posting and who isn’t on Christmas Eve.
Oops.
“…regulator Ofcom has condemned the device as being identical to a pirate radio station, and said they will act if they receive broadcasting complaints.”
…I didn’t know that a 40ft broadcasting range (if you’re lucky) was so bad. What is that, like 1/100th of a watt? What about toy Walkie Talkies? Sheesh…
Underestimate like a fox… “Gee, no 20GB? Oh well, let’s have a look at that 40GB.”
But they overstocked the cube…
Hywel,
Go smoke your sox tool boy. The topic’s about dumb British laws you commie.
theloniusMac,
“… like a fox” is right! US $300 for a 20GB model, throw in a free-standing dock connector for another $40 — wait, for another $60 you can have double the capacity AND the dock thrown in, too!
Al
Another reason why statistics can be flawed. You discounted the possiblitiy that there might be people of other religions in your world.
The reason that the iTrip contravenes British law is that it is broadcast on a frequency that has been reserved for use or sale (probably to mobile phone companies) by the British Govt. Those frequencies obviously are different to those freely available in the States and as such chosen by an American biased company using those frequencies available in the States without, it seems any consideration for other countries use of those frequencies. International bodies need to choose these frequencies I suggest. Sensibly the British Govt should probably now however free up those frequencies for those specific uses but it is hardly a stupid law with no logical reason as some ill informed people suggest. The problem is that if non US agencies/Govt bodies simply allow American companies to dictate what frequencies (indeed any techical standards) they want to impose this infinges the rights, freedoms and responsibilities of foreign (to the US) and international authorities and indeed could affect competition. So far this is a right that only Microsoft has been given without fear of repraisal of course.
I have trouble getting iTrip to have a clear reception in my car… funny it’s considered “pirate radio” in the UK.
pieinthesky
All we are saying to you and the rest of the world is check with us before you assign frequecies to yourself. You should know by now that you must live by our rules.
the magic word is “enough”
frogger’s vituperative reaction to Hywel’s perfectly reasonable post tells us all we want or need to know about frogger…
At least he got his own name right … ‘frogger’ … nomen est omen!
There were still plenty of iPods at my local Apple Store at 5:30 p.m. Christmas eve. The only model I didn’t see out on the sales floor was the green iPod mini.
I think it’s the retail resellers who seriously underestimated the iPods popularity – they should have ordered more!
The reason that the iTrip contravenes British law is that it is broadcast on a frequency that has been reserved for use or sale (probably to mobile phone companies) by the British Govt.
Um, it is broadcast on the FM band. What do commercial radio stations broadcast on in the U.K.? Shortwave? Or are there any commercial radio stations? (Is it “owned” by the Beeb Beeb Ceeb?)
You tell ’em, bud.
Had to look up vituperative
“Using, containing, or marked by harshly abusive censure.”
syn: scathing, blistering, scalding.
Thanks charko, learned a new word today.
Uncle Fester and others:
Actually, the reason that the iTrip is illegal is because its operation has not received standards certification to say that it [B]won’t[/B] interfere with other frequencies and bands operated by the military and emergency services.
As far as I understand it, Griffin (or their distributors) are trying to get the iTrip put through the whole certification process, which is no different to acquiring FCC certification for a piece of consumer electronics that has the potential (realistic or theroretical) to emit disruptive electro-magnetic or electronic interference.
These discussions are wholly seperate from the policing of spectrum, which – as the UK becomes digital using unoccupied high-end spectrum (for television [DVB-T], radio [DAB] and telephony [3G]) at a greater pace than most other countries, [I]including the USA[/I] � will become far more self-regulated and market-driven than is the case at this time.