do you think i-pods will contribute to the distribution of "decent" music????

glasshouse

ultraviolet77 wrote:

My iPod's battery has never let me down, either.

i second that. none whatsoever. all in all i kind of love my i-pod

dunkman

I BrisK I wrote:

yes im saying it to be cool..... idiot...

I have owned one and took it back

This is what i think

Longevity problems, dare I mention the battery issues that have plagued the iPod, batteries in a device with this kind of price should not fail or lose a significant amount of charge for years - months and weeks is simply not acceptable, what's more if (or when) the battery fails this actually requires Apple to sort it because the batteries aren't removable, a critical flaw in the design. Apple don't cover this in their warrantee, so that's hundreds of pounds down the drain.

Poor sound quality. I don't know what Apple can get away with among it's Mac OS users but Windows users are used to far better sound quality. Virtually every portable media player (even bargain basement players) I've listened to has exceeded the iPod in sound quality, this is one area where Apple need to do a lot of work to catch up, I'm not saying they'll ever be able to match what Creative have with their Zen players, but for a several hundred pound device not to compete with a £60 device in this department certainly raises a few eyebrows.

Poor control system - yes I'll admit the wheel looks like a good idea, and it's easy to control if you've got it out in front of you, but what about in your pocket? Where these players are suppose to be? It's virtually impossible to control, another gimmick feature out of Apple.

Poor compatibility - this is probably the iPod's worst defeat. Zero support for Windows Media Audio, the best lossy codec there is today and no support for Ogg Vorbis, an open source ultra-high quality codec that enjoys mass support from Linux fans (and myself) and then it lacks support for lossless formats like, WMA-lossless and Monkey's audio both very popular among audiophiles. Apple are bent on using the fringe format AAC, with their own copy protection bolted on the side for the iPod, a format that has almost zero support, a format that requires lots of unstable plug-ins on other players to actually work.

No support for Windows Media Player - the most popular media player in the market by far. Over 70 devices support the latest version of Windows Media Player (version 10) these you simply plug them in and WMP will auto-sync, transfer media the lot - all automatically if you want, you don't need to install any software you just plug them in - simple, how things should be. Not the iPod. Apple want you to install their own software called "iTunes" which like a lot of Apple software, is slow, it's buggy it's glitchy it just isn't very well thought out. It places icons on your desktop, start menu and quick launch all without asking, it installs several other applications that you never asked to be install and secretly boots them with Windows. Forcing users to install your own software and having the software do things behind your back is not on at all, you could quite easily compare that to the behaviour of a virus.

No support for 3rd party music stores. Thinking about using your iPod with many of the other music stores, Napster, MSN Music and the many others? Think again Apple force you to use their own music store linked via the before mentioned virus known as iTunes. The music you download from this store has extremely restrictive rights, you will only ever be able to play the AAC files you download on your iPod and on your computer, thinking about transferring some songs to your new player at some point in the future? Dream on, you'll have to buy it all again, and most likely from another store anyway. Apple are deliberately trying to trap users into their own media empire, a very shady business activity indeed, but then for a company that's been declining for over a decade what can you expect? I only hope people wake up and realise this before they have several hundred (or thousand) pounds worth of music that suddenly becomes totally worthless when Apple find themselves being squashed out of the market, by all their competitors that do offer choice.

iPod symbolizes lack of choice. In this day and age this is unacceptable. If you go for any Windows Media Player there are over 100 of them ranging for double digit costs and up, you can use them with virtually any online stores (except iTunes - cheer!) you'll have the choice over which licenses to go for, which prices you like and other packages that are suitable for your needs. Something that iPod users will critically lack, and something they will in the end suffer for. With Windows Media players you can just plug it in to your PC and let it fly, no installing complicated software that does things behind your back.

The choice is clear - don't go for an iPod. It's an evil hugely over-priced, parasitic device with virus like software that attempts to trap you and limit your options.

dude... you should quote your sources when you're copying and pasting from review sites


what gave you away was the correct spelling and the use of 'z' instead of 's' in words like 'symbolizes'... thats american talk dude


edit: here is where you got your 'thoughts' from.. when did you move to Vancouver

tybird

glasshouse wrote:

as for sound quality - get some decent headphones and you can't complain (at all) as far as I’m concerned - and i feel it important to state that sound quality is of utmost importance to me.

The $50 buck iPod In-ear Headphones are a major leap from the ear buds.

cornnifer

Jeremy1012 wrote:

I have been using my 30gb video iPod since december 2005. I have had no major problems with it and it is without doubt the easiest to use and the best looking mp3 player.

i enjoyed the heck out of my 30gb ipod video for about a month until my wife accidentally dropped it in the lake. dried out, but didn't really work right after that. i called apple and the very next day had a box delivered to my doorstep with shipping instructions. i sent it off and six days later recieved, again at my doorstep a brand spankin' new one. i was pretty impressed and have been enjoying it ever since.

i admit, i am a bit concerned about not being able to change out the battery when it wears out. My only real concern.

Brisk.

dunkman wrote:

dude... you should quote your sources when you're copying and pasting from review sites


what gave you away was the correct spelling and the use of 'z' instead of 's' in words like 'symbolizes'... thats american talk dude


edit: here is where you got your 'thoughts' from.. when did you move to Vancouver

its like the only time i have quoted here so i forgot...

http://www.dasmirnov.net/blog/2004/11/21/why_the_ipod_sucks

this guy explains it better than me ;p

fanch75

I BrisK I wrote:

Longevity problems, dare I mention the battery issues that have plagued the iPod, batteries in a device with this kind of price should not fail or lose a significant amount of charge for years - months and weeks is simply not acceptable, what's more if (or when) the battery fails this actually requires Apple to sort it because the batteries aren't removable, a critical flaw in the design. Apple don't cover this in their warrantee, so that's hundreds of pounds down the drain.

Poor sound quality. I don't know what Apple can get away with among it's Mac OS users but Windows users are used to far better sound quality. Virtually every portable media player (even bargain basement players) I've listened to has exceeded the iPod in sound quality, this is one area where Apple need to do a lot of work to catch up, I'm not saying they'll ever be able to match what Creative have with their Zen players, but for a several hundred pound device not to compete with a £60 device in this department certainly raises a few eyebrows.

Poor control system - yes I'll admit the wheel looks like a good idea, and it's easy to control if you've got it out in front of you, but what about in your pocket? Where these players are suppose to be? It's virtually impossible to control, another gimmick feature out of Apple.

Poor compatibility - this is probably the iPod's worst defeat. Zero support for Windows Media Audio, the best lossy codec there is today and no support for Ogg Vorbis, an open source ultra-high quality codec that enjoys mass support from Linux fans (and myself) and then it lacks support for lossless formats like, WMA-lossless and Monkey's audio both very popular among audiophiles. Apple are bent on using the fringe format AAC, with their own copy protection bolted on the side for the iPod, a format that has almost zero support, a format that requires lots of unstable plug-ins on other players to actually work.

No support for Windows Media Player - the most popular media player in the market by far. Over 70 devices support the latest version of Windows Media Player (version 10) these you simply plug them in and WMP will auto-sync, transfer media the lot - all automatically if you want, you don't need to install any software you just plug them in - simple, how things should be. Not the iPod. Apple want you to install their own software called "iTunes" which like a lot of Apple software, is slow, it's buggy it's glitchy it just isn't very well thought out. It places icons on your desktop, start menu and quick launch all without asking, it installs several other applications that you never asked to be install and secretly boots them with Windows. Forcing users to install your own software and having the software do things behind your back is not on at all, you could quite easily compare that to the behaviour of a virus.

No support for 3rd party music stores. Thinking about using your iPod with many of the other music stores, Napster, MSN Music and the many others? Think again Apple force you to use their own music store linked via the before mentioned virus known as iTunes. The music you download from this store has extremely restrictive rights, you will only ever be able to play the AAC files you download on your iPod and on your computer, thinking about transferring some songs to your new player at some point in the future? Dream on, you'll have to buy it all again, and most likely from another store anyway. Apple are deliberately trying to trap users into their own media empire, a very shady business activity indeed, but then for a company that's been declining for over a decade what can you expect? I only hope people wake up and realise this before they have several hundred (or thousand) pounds worth of music that suddenly becomes totally worthless when Apple find themselves being squashed out of the market, by all their competitors that do offer choice.

iPod symbolizes lack of choice. In this day and age this is unacceptable. If you go for any Windows Media Player there are over 100 of them ranging for double digit costs and up, you can use them with virtually any online stores (except iTunes - cheer!) you'll have the choice over which licenses to go for, which prices you like and other packages that are suitable for your needs. Something that iPod users will critically lack, and something they will in the end suffer for. With Windows Media players you can just plug it in to your PC and let it fly, no installing complicated software that does things behind your back.

The choice is clear - don't go for an iPod. It's an evil hugely over-priced, parasitic device with virus like software that attempts to trap you and limit your options.

The average iPod listener probably wouldn't give a fuck about any of that stuff, truthfully.

I have an 80gb and am thrilled to put my whole collection on there. I paid $350 for mine and I considered that a fine price for what I was getting. It literally changed the way I listen to music. Maybe there are other ones that are better for the reasons cited above, but I'm fine with what I have.

The battery issue sucks, though.

even flow?

glasshouse wrote:

as for sound quality - get some decent headphones and you can't complain (at all) as far as I’m concerned - and i feel it important to state that sound quality is of utmost importance to me.

You roll your eyes about compressed music and then go and say that headphones will make a difference. What ever floats your boat.

Jeremy1012

I BrisK I wrote:

yes im saying it to be cool..... idiot...

I know your post was long, and probably well thought out (or at least your lifting of the text from tech websites was) but I stopped really paying attention after the first line, when you made yourself out to be an arse.

cbbjr

I BrisK I, I'm with you on some points, but like others have said, most people don't care about technical specs. I bought my first iPod in 2003 and before that had a couple other players by Samsung and Creative. When it came out, the iPod and its proprietary software was far easier to use than the other machines that had a basic directory setup.

Also, Apple is improving many of the flaws, like compression by allowing 256kbps downloads. Also, lossless transferring is available if you have enough space to handle it.

Sure there may be a player or two with slightly better sound, EQ, radio, recording options, etc., but I don't think any one player is significantly better than the iPod and iTunes. And regardless, for the 5% of us who are Mac users, we don't have an alternative.

cbbjr

Back to the original question, I think the prevalence of digital music, not iPods, will allow everyone to listen to a greater variety of music. Hopefully better variety will lead to better music, whatever that means. You now longer have to take a big risk by throwing down $15 for a CD for a band that may be great or may be bad. Today you can find at least samples for free online and download songs at minimal cost. It is take chances on new bands now. This wasn't true that long ago.

tybird

cbbjr wrote:

Back to the original question, I think the prevalence of digital music, not iPods, will allow everyone to listen to a greater variety of music. Hopefully better variety will lead to better music, whatever that means. You now longer have to take a big risk by throwing down $15 for a CD for a band that may be great or may be bad. Today you can find at least samples for free online and download songs at minimal cost. It is take chances on new bands now. This wasn't true that long ago.

Digital music+satellite radio=a good thing for the consumer......yes, I believe that it means that you may no longer be stuck with 15 less dollars and an album that has one track that you find to be listenable.

Anon

do you think i-pods will contribute to the distribution of "decent" music????


no i think most people listen to crap anyway. and i don't. haha, what an arrogant thing to say!!

glasshouse

some interesting views.

i still feel the fact that music these days are accessible through more than 2 mediums (MTV/radio) via portable/"easy-to-use" devices such as i-pods will contribute to less-commercial music being introduced to the general listening public more frequently than in the past.

soclose

I woke up this morning and turned on my computer only to find that my iTunes suddenly detected a shared library (must be a neighbor's) containing such bands as My Chemical Romance, Good Charlotte and P. Diddy. I'm not so sure about the transmital of good music! I quickly unchecked the "look for shared libraries" option and made sure my music isn't shared. I'm sure the Good Charlotte listener would love access to my Uncle Tupelo collection . . .

I love my iPod. It's easy to use, highly portable (I have a nano) and simply convenient. I'm also glad to support Apple products. Coming from a family loyal to Gateway computers, it's a big deal that I bought my first iMac a few weeks ago. I'm glad to leave Mircrosoft in the past. Maybe I'm just becoming a MAC snob (god I hope NOT), but when you use one of these things there really is a feeling that you're using a quality product.

glasshouse

soclose wrote:

I love my iPod. It's easy to use, highly portable (I have a nano) and simply convenient. .

this i second. i've got a 8 gig nano - all thrills no fuss

JaneNY

ultraviolet77 wrote:

I used to be an avid Windows Media user. That software is far from perfect. Microsoft is FAR from perfect.

Far from perfect is being kind. I totally agree. I used WMP for while with my work (I teach fitness classes set to music) - if you buy music from itunes, if you want to put it in your Windows Media Player folders, you must BURN the music to a CD and re-rip it into WMP, and they have you using this crappy search that sometimes recognizes the song and sometimes it doesn't. Now that I have an ipod, I buy the music, make a playlist, and synch it to the Ipod. I'm very happy with it for work.

The only drawback is since I use it for personal too, there isn't a way to make a separation on the ipod for work vs. personal so I could set it to shuffle for personal only because when I'm not working I don't want to listen to the work music.

Get_Right

1. yes it already has contributed to the expansion of musical tastes
-people load up the Ipod with other music they wouldnt normally buy because they can

2. The IPOD
yes they have some problems
yes there are cheaper models that do pretty much the same thing
yes the AAC format is the lowest quality digital file


but
I dont buy downloaded music so format is not an issue
the great customer service makes up for most of the glitches
as far as easily putting my entire music collection in a small package, along with a computer enviornment thats easy to navigate, nothing else even comes close. Greatest invention since the CD IMHO.

If I want high fidelity, Ill turn on the home unit and actually play a CD.

Ive had my 20gb for three years and no problems at all! (Knocking on wood)

smithnic

I have the 60 gb ipod and I am in mad love with it!! It's the greatest thing ever invented!! I can carry my entire music collection on the train everyday!!
I am so sick of hearing how the ipod is ruining the music. It's creating the best thing ever for music. Downloading is the revolutionary act of sharing artistic expression and not doing it just for the money. If you need to make a living out of music you do it for the music not the money. Because of all the downloading it's slowly getting rid of people just doing it for the money. If you want to make a living, tour. Touring still brings in a ton of money.

glasshouse

i will grow a beard

glasshouse

release of IN RAINBOWS kind of fits perfectly into my original argument. All hail
the possibilities of anti - corporate distribution of music.