As with the Mac, “Apple is once again trying to create a totally controlled, self-contained environment–this time not for computers, but for music and entertainment. However, the market served with Apple’s iPod devices is far more digitally sophisticated than those early computer users. And today’s legions of tech-savvy music listeners are not likely to accept the company’s shackles for long,” Alan McGlade writes for CNET.
MacDailyNews Take: What shackles? Apple’s iTunes Store offers the world’s largest DRM-free music library. Apple’s iPod does not require use of the iTunes Music Store. The iTunes Music Store does not require use of an iPod. There is no lock-in; there are no shackles.
McGlade continues, “But even as consumers have purchased Apple’s devices in droves, they’ve come to realize that there’s more to digital music than what’s contained in the little white box. Other, arguably superior devices are now on the market; more are being introduced regularly. These players offer features that will become the sustaining elements of the digital entertainment revolution–they will be smart devices with IP connectivity and increased onboard storage.”
MacDailyNews Take: You mean like the iPod touch and the 160GB iPod classic, Davey? We won’t hold our breath waiting for someone other than Apple to eclipse the iPod touch.
McGlade continues, “The greatest objective for today’s music listeners–what they regard as their inalienable right–is absolute portability: music that can be accessed anywhere, at anytime. Today’s consumers want their music immediately available at home, in their car, at work, on their phones, at a party, or while working out at the gym, without the hassle of using multiple devices that are each tethered to different services.”
MacDailyNews Take: Again, Apple’s iTunes Store offers the world’s largest DRM-free music library. Apple’s iPod does not require use of the iTunes Music Store. The iTunes Music Store does not require use of an iPod. There is no lock-in; there are no tethers.
McGlade continues, “In such an open-source world of unfettered digital entertainment, the device is a means, not an end, to set listeners free. Why then, in the long term, would anyone accept the limitations of the proprietary lockout of the iPod and iTunes?”
MacDailyNews Take: Uh, Alan, because there is no “proprietary lockout” with iPod and iTunes.
Full article, Think Before You Click™, here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Spark” for the heads up.]
You might be asking, as did we initially, “Why is Alan so dense?” Well, he’s not. As CNET indicates below this load of garbage, without explanation, Alan McGlade is president and CEO of MediaNet Digital. MediaNet Digital just so happens to sell content and technologies used to create music and video download and subscription services. MediaNet Digital’s partners list reads like a Who’s Who of Apple iTunes Store also-rans, including MTV Urge, the now-defunct Virgin Digital (you might want to update your partners list, Alan), and a bunch of other no-names. Business not going so well, Alan?
So, McGlade has a big fat agenda and CNET has no problem publishing it. Color us unsurprised on both counts.
