Why the iPod is losing its cool (Sales Declining Alarmingly)

[RamboLiberal]

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,1869042,00.html

The Mermaid, Puddle Dock, is not the first place you might go in search of the cool and cutting edge. That will not stop an expectant crowd gathering at the conference centre in London's Blackfriars this week for a live satellite broadcast from San Francisco that could make or break one of the consumer icons of the Western world.

The iPod, the digital music player beloved of everyone from Coldplay's Chris Martin to President George Bush, is in danger of losing its sheen. Sales are declining at an unprecedented rate. Industry experts talk of a 'backlash' and of the iPod 'wilting away before our eyes'. Most disastrously, Apple's signature pocket device with white earphones may simply have become too common to be cool.

On Tuesday the eyes of iPod-lovers the world over will be on Steve Jobs, the co-founder and chief executive of Apple, when he seeks to allay fears that it could follow Sony's tape-playing Walkman into the recycling bin of history.

Jobs is widely expected to announce the most ambitious iPod service yet - the sale of feature-length films via the internet for viewing on the devices, which may receive an expanded 'widescreen' and improved storage capacity. If downloading movies from a computer to an iPod proves even half as revolutionary as it did for music, the multibillion-pound DVD industry could be quaking. There are rumours that Jobs will also announce a long expected 'iPhone', combining the music function and sleek style of an iPod with a mobile phone.

[REP]

1. Actually, Sales Not "Declining Alarmingly"

But it is an editorial, and that may be their opinion. It's just not the truth.

[carlvs]

6. What makes you think this was an editorial

Especially since it ran in the Observer's UK's News "Tech" section... though this may be concerning just that market.

[Norrin Radd]

2. I prefer the IAudio.

I accidentally sent my girlfriend's IAudio U2 through a cycle in the washing machine, and, a week later, after the water had evaporated, it came back to life, as if nothing had happened.

http://www.anythingbutipod.com/

[lolly]

3. Um, newsflash, Ipod

It's. Very. Expensive.

Everyone who can afford one already has one. In fact, people who can afford one have probably bought 2 or 3, since they're so damn easy to lose or steal.

The rest of us have bought cheaper MP3 players to use. I don't need all the bells and whistles and videocamera options to slog through a 45 minute workout to music.

[HughBeaumont]

17. Got me a 20gb Creative Zen Sleek Photo . . .

With delivery costs - $208.00

iPod 4gb nano - $249 from the Apple store.

Ridiculous. Macs are decent computers (even though my preference remains NewEgg-assembled PCs) but as far as the iPod goes, didn't buy into the legend then and still don't.

[MADem]

4. Well, they are a target of a potential boycott, so they might want to get

used to some hobo hard times:

Please help us plan Stage II: The attack on Disney/ABC starting on Tuesday Sept 12
by John in DC - 9/09/2006 06:27:00 PM


I've talked with some of the other organizers of the anti-Disney/ABC campaign, and we've decided, quite rightly, that if Disney/ABC runs this defamatory show tomorrow night, we are launching an all-out war against both companies. I'd like to start the discussion going, with your input, as to what the next steps should be, possible actions, etc.

Some thoughts:

1. Legal component.

Clearly Bill Clinton, Sandy Berger, Madeleine Albright and American Airlines have good cause to sue Disney/ABC, the BBC, Australian and New Zealand television, and any local affiliate that broadcasts the show. How can we further help their lawsuit? I think a first step is paying close attention in each country to how the show is being marketed. Get us copies of ads, promotions, etc. that show local broadcasters and others promoting the show as true and non-fiction. How else can we help their suit?

2. Legislative.

Clearly Disney/ABC has a lot of legislation before congress that they care about. I already know of one telecom bill by Senator McCain that they're mortified of - the Consumers Having Options in Cable Entertainment (CHOICE) Act of 2006. I propose that we start a nationwide grassroots campaign to get that bill passed. What other legislation can we push to ensure that companies like Disney/ABC never again try to unethically influence an American election?

3. File broadcast standards complaints.

We can do this in New Zealand and any other country that has such a broadcast standards board (and which airs the show - Canada? Australia? UK?) Basically, they have a board that ensure that TV broadcasts are fair, balanced, and accurate.

4. The Mouse.

The mouse won't know what hit it. What else can we do to highlight Disney and ABC's complicity and duplicity in blackening the names of 3,000 dead Americans? For example, Disney's involvement with war propaganda during World War II. Uncle Remus. Other things? Disney is insane about protecting their brand. How do we make clear to America that the Disney brand is unpatriotic and an affront to the memories of those who died on September 11?

5. Public actions.

What kind of grassroots targets and steps (protests, etc.) can and should we organize to embarrass Disney and ABC and to keep the story alive? I'm thinking multiple events/protests at Disney theme parks in the US and abroad (Paris) educating the public to the fact that Disney has no respect for September 11. Remember, the more embarrassing the event for Disney the better.

6. Shareholder action/lawsuit.

What are the elements, and how do we initiate it?

7. Other options for targeting Disney/ABC stock, financial holdings?

What other options do we have for targeting their stock, mutual funds that hold Disney stock, etc?

8. Steve Jobs and Apple

If iTunes goes ahead and lets Disney/ABC offer this show for free via iTunes, then Apple and Steve Jobs, the largest shareholder in Disney, need to be taught a lesson about defaming September 11 and using their companies to illegally and unfairly influence the US elections for the Republicans. What more can we do to show Steve Jobs and Apple that we won't tolerate them turning Apple into a far-right Republican shill?

9. Live-blogging event during the broadcast.

Certainly we're going to be live-blogging the show, Sunday and Monday. I'd appreciate those of you in Australia and New Zealand, if the show does air there shortly, please give us feedback as to what they cut and what's still in the show? It will give us a window as to what defamatory material Disney/ABC insisted on keeping in the show, which will help the lawsuits and our organizing.

Secondly, when the show airs in the US, if Disney/ABC still run it, I want to be sure a number of us are live-blogging it to list the defamation and the errors. If Disney/ABC insist on making a cartoon out one of the blackest days in America history, then we will hold them responsible.

10. Others who have sold us out?

We never heard boo from Senator George Mitchell, who is the chair of Disney's board. And where is Lee Hamilton, the Democratic co-chair of the 9/11 Commission? He conveniently stayed out of the entire discussion this week. Who else sold America out this week and how can we hold them accountable?

11. Miscellaneous

What else are we missing? Use of YouTube and video blogs? Audio blogs? Other media?

http://americablog.blogspot.com/2006/09/please-help-us-plan-stage-ii-attack-on.html

[ShortnFiery]

23. Good, I've never been one to succumb to such trendy bullshit as the iPods

:-) Its time to break up the monopolies within entertainment as well as the M$M and Big Oil. :thumbsup:

[tomreedtoon]

5. iPod is a rich person's toy.

And do you know the most important factor about rich people's toys? They don't work all that well.

There are plenty of good MP3 players out there. If you don't mind size, and are going to be listening someplace (instead of jogging around) you can get a CD player that also plays MP3's burned to disk. You can get something like 12 - 14 hours of audio as MP3 files on a single disk.

(Not that I know anyone who would dare to pirate audio books from the world's most wealthy author, but the spoken word version of "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" fits onto two CD's burned as MP3's, with at least a couple of hours of music.)

And if you have a pre-programmed list of music, you can get a memory-based MP3 player that's about as big as your thumb, runs on a single AAA battery for about six hours, and costs about $45 for a 2 gig memory version.

If you wanted to spend as much as an iPod, for the same money you could buy an iRiver, a hard-drive-based player that also lets you record high-quality audio (something iPod does poorly if it does it at all).

[RamboLiberal]

7. What's the story on the IPod Battery - is it true it can't be replaced?

Or has a cottage industry sprung up around it? I take it it's rechargable but how long does the battery last before it can no longer be recharged?

[LunaSea]

8. No.

Google up "Ipod hacks" and be amazed at the sort of things you can do with an Ipod.
Batteries can be replaced with a bit of skill, and a guitar pick.

[tomreedtoon]

12. Yes, this was an Apple scandal.

Basically, the battery couldn't be replaced by anyone but Apple, it had a lifespan of about a year, and the Apple tech replacement cost was murderous.

It got to the point where someone was going around urban areas spraypainting signs about how the iPod battery couldn't be replaced...and posted pictures and video of his graffiti on the Web.

This is another good reason for not buying an iPod. If Apple, a company with a rep for warm and cozy customer relations (despite the cost of their products) screws the consumer over in this fashion, they don't deserve your patronage.

This guide from eBay tells how to replace the battery, but more important, it explains the Draconian repair policy Apple has about their units, the risk in replacing one yourself and screwing up your iPod - and why you shouldn't buy an iPod.

http://reviews.ebay.com/How-to-Replace-Your-iPod-apos-s-Dead-Battery_W0QQugidZ10000000000749950

[Zorro]

24. Replaced batteries in both our iPods

Gen 3 versions, did it about 2 1/2 years after getting them (time was down to ~2 hours or less per full charge).

Batteries were ~$10 each, and it's a pretty straightforward exercise to replace them. The most time-consuming part is separating the faceplate from the stainless steel back.

[TommyO]

20. I'm hardly rich and my iPod is going strong

after more than two years. It has completely changed the way I listen to music both at home, in the car, and at work. iTunes works on my Mac and my PC (shared music library) and I have a large subset of my music, as well as the ten most recent Howard Stern shows available wherever I go.

I've also listened to legal copies of J.K. Rowling's books on my iPod - bought the CDs and ripped them on my own. When I gave the CDs to somebody else, I deleted the copies in iTunes.

[orwell]

9. It's too expensive...

...as are most Apple products...

[KitSileya]

10. I am actually in the market for an mp3-player,

and I wished for, and got, money for my birthday earlier this week. Does anyone have a recommendation as far as a simple, relatively cheap mp3-player goes? To be honest, I was thinking the iPod was a bit expensive.

[alarimer]

11. Well I bought an Iriver almost a year ago

It's an H10 but they make other models that might be cheaper. I paid $300 for it, but that was a year ago so prices may have dropped.

I bought this one rather than an Ipod because it is compatible with the various music services. Like Napster (I use Mapster-to-Go).

[KitSileya]

15. I just want something small I can download my mp3s on,

and with which I don't need to lug my cds around to listen. I still haven't learned to rip my cds, so I've mainly downloaded mp3s from the net - first Napster, now Limewire. I'm not too choosy when it comes to the quality of sound - I am an utter plebe when it comes to sound. Everyone complains I keep the volume down too much anyway (I guess I haven't destroyed my hearing with head phones and high volume.) As for memory, I would want enough to put audiobooks on it as well as music.

[alarimer]

16. There are a lot of flash-based players

in the neighborhood of 1 GB or so (probably 500 songs or so). Ripping CDs is not hard. You can do it in Windows Media Player (or in any media player like WinAmp). Usually all you need to do is put the cd in, open your media player and look for the menu item that says "rip" or copy.

In my experience, the sound in those small players is not bad at all. It all depends on what speed the file is recorded at. Anything about 128 is good enough for me. You get up near 192 and the files start getting too big.

[KitSileya]

18. Thank you.

I use winamp as my mp3 player on my computer - I thought you needed a special program to rip cds because of the copyright protections.

Yeah, 500 songs is more than enough - I tend to like only certain songs on cds, which means I usually only download a couple mp3s from any cd that I have. The biggest problem with having an mp3-player will be that I am in the habit of singing along to songs I'm listening to!

[tomreedtoon]

13. Depends on your Geek Level/Inconvenience Level.

If you don't mind a player without all the shuffle, if you just want something to listen to, that doesn't have all the automatic stuff that iPod and iRiver has, you could get one of these...

http://cgi.ebay.com/FOR-USB-2GB-2G-MP3-WMA-Player-PEN-DRIVE-FLASH-MEMORY_W0QQitemZ300026337157QQihZ020QQcategoryZ73839QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

This player requires a bit of work - basically you move MP3 files from your computer into this with the USB port. Its order is kind of weird, it doesn't do "automatic" stuff like iTunes and Napster, but it works. And for a player no bigger than a human thumb, running off a single AAA battery, it does the job.

Note: this particular player from this particular eBay guy (colordrives) is HONEST. There are some of the same model of this player sold that are advertised as 2 GB, but are actually 128 MB in memory - they are "hacked" to show fake memory readings by their overseas seller. I got stuck with one of these before. But this guy is honest about his memory. (Not a plug or an ad, just personal advice.)

[Kire]

14. I haven't used my iPod since I got Satellite Radio

OK, well, I used it once, for about an hour

[Anakin Skywalker]

19. Whatever Happened to Using Something Because It WORKS?

[winston61]

21. I would never consider buying an ipod

Did anyone else see the article regarding the conditions and pay for ipod factory workers? Before you ask, I'm looking for the link.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/15/AR2006061501898.html

here it is

[Simeon Salus]

22. HorseHockey! I don't know about UK, but in NYC, iPod sales are brisk!

I know several Apple retailers here in the city and aside from not already having the newly announced product, there's no shortage of supply or demand here.

I suspect the adjective "alarmingly" is intended to frighten investors and influence stock price. iPods around here still sell like pancakes at iHop.