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March 1, 2005
Why I don't have an IPod
Ok, I am going to be the last guy at Ignition to own an IPod. Maybe I will never buy one. I know Rich and the other guys are in love with theirs, but here is why I haven't bought one yet and may never buy one.
1. Proprietary AAC format. Buying into the iPod ties you to the iTunes software on your desktop for playing all your songs. And eventually video. I know you can just move your MP3 files over and it does play AIFF which is the lossless format I use, but at every turn they try to convert your songs to AAC. For example if iTunes finds any .WMA files (windows media), they will automatically convert them to the "import" format you have specified in iTunes (default AAC). This is just the ongoing "ownership" battle between Microsoft/Real/Apple for the music file format. As a consumer I don't want to be "owned" by anyone. I want one archive format and I want to trade out my playing software/hardware as it improves over time. Don't lock me in!
2. Apple uses the inferior CDDB for data lookup. When I was running Loudeye, I looked at all the metadata providers in the industry. Since CDDB was mostly user generated, they could not and did not enforce any data entry standards. That meant poor data quality and inconsistency. For example some people would put the artist name in the title and some wouldn't, some would capitalize words while others wouldn't. Now I know CDDB (now Gracenote) got a pile of venture money and tried to clean up their database, but it is still the worst in the industry. Microsoft licenses the far superior AMG database. Since data quality is key to a good user experience, I can't convince myself to use a set of tools and hardware I know are built on the cheapest dirtiest database on the planet.
3. Apple is screwing up the iPod as a hardware platform. Remember the bad old days of proprietary plugs and hardware interfaces? When IBM could charge you 10x what they should for disk drives because they owned the hardware interface. You thought all that went away with industry standard interfaces didn't you? Well you would be WRONG with the iPod. With the first iPod Apple did a truly remarkable job of building an ecosystem of vendors around their one simple form factor. You can now buy hundreds of add-ons like microphones, cases, speakers, even whole cars! But with the latest versions, the Mini and the Shuffle (and somewhat the Photo) they have blown all those vendors out the window. The plug spacing is different on each one. Even though the plugs themselves may be standard (but the Apple proprietary plug changes on each one), the space between them and the attachment to the case changes so all the hardware guys need to make a new device. Now what if I have an iPod Mini and buy the photo and want to have a voice recorder? I need TWO different ones. Why can't I buy one and use it on either iPod. Now Apple, the whole idea of a platform is compatibility and portability of applications and devices. The iPod is NO LONGER an adequate hardware platform. May be iTunes will be an interesting software platform (i am importing my whole collection now and benchmarking it against Microsoft Windows Media Player), but that is yet to be seen. Maybe Apple's strategy is to design in hardware obselence to force hardware upgrades. As a consumer I HATE that and recognize it for the crass greed that it is.
4. No removable battery or battery upgrade options.
5. Proprietary charging interface. And of course different between each model so you can't use the same periferals. Do I really want a different charger for my shuffle than my photo? Hey Apple, can you spell USB? It does charging and syncing AND audio out just fine thanks! Learn something from Blackberry that dumped their proprietary charge/sync interface in favor of USB.
6. No removable memory. I want SD please
7. No direct photo load to the iPod Photo. Why can't I plug my camera into my ipod photo? two reasons, 1. proprietary hardware interface and 2. proprietary data format (iPhoto has to convert your files probably). Silly. Hey guys it is just a big hard drive. Again, can you spell USB?
8. No video support. I had a long talk with Mike Slade (on apple's board) about this and he had some very eloquent reasons why video doesn't make sense. But I don't care. I want it! Yes even on that little screen (although I would prefer a larger one, hey my Blackberry 7100t has a larger screen!). That would be one less thing I had to carry on a trip to entertain my daughter (I now carry a portable DVD player).
So Apple, just fix those few little things and I will be a customer...
Posted by Martin at March 1, 2005 10:18 PM
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Comments
Very valid list of complaints (4 and 8 would be my choice picks). Out of curiosity, is there a mobile media platform avaliable today that meets this criteria? And if not, do you see one in the pipeline or are freedom loving customers such as yourself going to be left out cold in a landscape of proprietory formats, DRM battles and varying distribution channels. Personally, I'm still waiting for my 3g based mobile phone streaming "celestial jukebox".
Posted by: Toby 
at March 2, 2005 12:42 AM
i don't see anything in the pipeline unfortunately. I keep hoping browbeating Apple will make them do video. All the video players I have seen so far from Creative, iRiver, etc. suck.
Posted by: ministeroforder at March 2, 2005 12:46 AM
Apple's approach to video is a bit confusing. Why the Mac Mini doesn't have svideo/component video out built in I'll never know. Seems to me they should also have some sort of slick iTunes like PVR software and an Apple Movie Store.
I'd also like to see a video out jack on the iPod. I think that might make even more sense than watching the video on the iPod it's self. Bring your vPod over to your friend's house and show off both your movie collection and gadget buying prowess at the same time!
Posted by: Toby at March 2, 2005 12:54 AM
Ipods are the AOL of the 20 aught decade. It'll take time, but people will want to break out of this cage too.
Posted by: Andy Nardone at March 2, 2005 6:19 AM
The only thing is that Internet access is a commodity. Music is not since people are locked in via DRM to their collection, so as long as Apple keeps their platform closed, customers will hesitate to ditch their "investment" for an alternative.
Posted by: Toby at March 2, 2005 12:32 PM
My son recently bought one, and I must say, it is a great "end to end" experience. Granted they own the platform, the store and everything, but from a customer point of view they have made it an excellent customer experience. I've even thought about buying a iPod Shuffle for my wife for mother's day. We can quibble about what it does not offer, but for the most part they are doing a great job at meeting their customers needs. Isn't that what it is all about ultimately? I think it is really a stretch to say "The iPod is NO LONGER an adequate hardware platform." Based on what? I know you love Microsoft's superior Windows Media Player technology, but to say that the iPod is not an adequate platform is not supportable if you look at who is buying the iPod and how they are using it. For 90%+ of those customers, the iPod more than meets there needs, and is far ahead of most MP3 players. Microsoft is going to have to work with their partners to create a much better end to experience starting with box it is packed in and going all the way through to the buyer purchasing the music and putting it on the device.
I like your blog as you offer a unique perspective on lots of different things. Keep up the great work!
(And yes, this is from the guy who remembers when you came home from Buccaneer Pizza. I miss that place! That was pretty good pizza!)
Posted by: Robert Johnson at March 3, 2005 12:46 AM
Toby, first you get what you pay for. Those making massive investments in iTunes/iPod should realize just how captive they are. Second, innovation dictates that Apple will not be able to keep this genie in a bottle. Innovation and creative destruction dictates a level playing field will be built. In this day and age of open source everything and the rapid pace of innovation, building that field will happen a lot quicker than in years past. Some say we'll see as much innovation in the next 20 years as we did in the last 100. Given that backdrop, I don't see Apple sewing this up. Quite the contrary. Finally, there are already legal means to capture your iTunes material and use it on any hardware format. Just do some research. And make sure it's personal use.
Posted by: Andy Nardone at March 3, 2005 8:12 AM
Andy, you are right! My point is not that the iPod is useful or that it is not useful for non-technical users. It is. But for ME. The tech geek. The lover of a platform. A guy who realizes that technology changes and I want PORTABILITY, their tie-in strategy is BAD BAD BAD. Apple is attempting lock-in. As a savy consumer I don't like lock-in.
Do you?
Posted by: ministeroforder at March 3, 2005 11:04 AM
Andy, I do agree that Apple is in for the fight of their life (ok, maybe the second fight of their life), if they want to make this work. But, as Robert mentioned there is no competition right now. They are 3 years into their digital music strategy and no one has stepped up to the plate to compete. Until someone else builds a stack as nice as Apple's, they (Apple) will continue to build momentum towards a monopoly type situation.
In some ways they are in a similar position to Microsoft's early years of Office dominince. The proprietory file format really does have the lock-in effect for the average consumer. Minorty ubergeeks are of course not tricked, but may have to suffer with substandard useability and support if they want to keep their freedom.
If Apple can keep their position of dominance with music and leverage it to dominate video, I think they could be on the cutting edge of that uprecedented 20 year innovation that you speak of. The stock market certianly seems to be betting on them ;).
Posted by: Toby at March 3, 2005 1:15 PM
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