Thoughts on PC World’s “Five iPod ‘Let’s Rock’ Updates That Should Have Been”
PC World’s Brennon Slattery weighed in yesterday about “Five iPod ‘Let’s Rock’ Updates That Should Have Been”. My thoughts on his thoughts:
1. Wireless iPods That Sync Directly to iTunes
I agree with Slattery here, but only to a point.
The iPhone and iPod Touch already have WiFi and already can use it to purchase music and applications from the iTunes Store. So, adding the ability to sync audio, apps, and photos via WiFi between iTunes on a Mac/PC and the iPhone/Touch wirelessly is a logical next step. I hope Apple takes it.
To protect battery life, syncs should still be manual and there should be limits on the number or size of new items that can be synced wirelessly. Given the large file sizes of videos, video syncing would likely have to still require a cable.
Where I part company with Slattery is adding wireless and wireless syncing to the Nano or the Classic.
The Nano is smaller, thinner, lighter, and cheaper than the iPhone or the Touch. Adding WiFi will increase the size of the Nano and drain its small battery much faster. Enhancing the Nano’s battery will further increase size. And, adding WiFi or an enhanced battery will increase cost.
The Nano starts at $149 and Apple would be unwise to move up from that price point. As WiFi hardware gets smaller, more energy efficient, and cheaper, maybe it can come to the Nano. But, we’re not there yet.
The iPod Classic is a relic on its way to the graveyard. Apple keeps it around because for no extra R&D they can sell the Classic to a few people who think they simply must have 120GB of digital media with them at all times. Apple shouldn’t invest any in additional R&D on the Classic and I doubt it will. As Marco noted, as soon as larger-capacity flash memory is available at a reasonable cost, the Classic will likely be retired.
2. Anything to do with the iPod Classic
Ugh. See paragraph above.
3. Radio Tuner
Meh. I’m not against having a radio tuner in iPods or the iPhone. And, it could probably be done without a lot of added weigh, thickness, or cost. But, do users really want a radio in their iPod? I’m guessing not.
Reception on small, portable radios is often poor. And, many people get an iPod so they can avoid advertising and exercise direct control of what music they listen to and when.
Those that want radio badly can already buy the external radio remote from Apple. And, there are alternatives to an actual radio on the iPod.
You can subscribe to podcasts from many radio stations, including podcasts for many NPR shows that Slattery and I love. (Admittedly, there are often time delays between a radio broadcast and the availability of a podcast of it.) And, if you have an iPhone or an iPod Touch with a wireless connection, you can use streaming audio applications that give you radio content. (Admittedly, the particular station you love may not be available in a streaming audio app.)
4. iTunes Subscription Service
Sorry to be repetitive, but meh. I’m not against having an iTunes subscription service either. But, I like to own my music content. And, I spend less on buying content of all types in an average month than other existing services would charge me for a monthly subscription. So, I probably won’t use an iTunes subscription service even if it comes.
The lack of a subscription service hasn’t seemed to hinder iPod sales or iTunes Store sales. Perhaps this just isn’t that big of a deal for most people.
5. The Beatles
Oh, please. Get over it. Steve Jobs has said Apple is ready when The Beatles are ready. It’ll happen when it happens. Haven’t you already bought the CDs and ripped them anyway? If so, what will The Beatles coming to the iTunes Store really get you? A nice digital booklet?
