No iTunes Support in Motorola ROKR E2

MacRumors · Jan 2, 2006

According to The New York Times, Motorola's upcoming revision to the ROKR E1 will not include Apple iTunes Music Stores support. Instead, the ROKR E2 will support a new subscription music service from Motorola called iRadio.

The iRadio service, will include 435 commercial-free radio channels, including genres such as Heavy Metal, Rockin' Cowboys and Angry Women. Its satellite rivals also provide specialized music channels, often without ads.

The Motorola ROKR E1 was the first cell phone to provide support for Apple's iTunes Music Store. The phone, however, was met with poor reviews. Last we heard, Motorola was revamping the ROKR to address these shortcomings. Apple iTunes support, however, appears to have been dropped with the revamp.

Motorola, however, still offers iTunes support in their recently announced RAZR V3i phone.

swingerofbirch · Jan 2, 2006

the motorola apple love hate relationship continues

Tcnorman · Jan 2, 2006

Foolish

The ROKR E1 with iTunes support was going to be so much better. Another cell phone disappointment from Moto.

the.snitch · Jan 2, 2006

Motorola Sucks. Screw them with their crappy interfaces, ugly designs, slow ex. powerpc processor manufacturing, lame advertising, and stupid management.

There, I said it. No one here really cares about this. You all knew ROKR e2 was going to be just as crap as the e1.

Daveway · Jan 2, 2006

Something is cooking in the kitchen....and it doesn't smell good.

WildCowboy · Jan 2, 2006

Bad news IMO...even though the original ROKR was pretty pathetic, discontinuing iTunes support is a step backwards. Would like to see iTunes on mobile phones gaining more traction, not less...

Doctor Q · Jan 2, 2006

It's too soon to give up after only the first version of an iTunes-enabled phone. But it certainly sounds like Motorola is hedging its bets.

narco · Jan 2, 2006

Good. If the leaked E2 photos are real, then it's a good thing Apple's name isn't attached to it.

I'll stick with my handy Treo 650.

Fishes,
narco.

Lacero · Jan 2, 2006

Screw the ROKR E1.

Here's to the Crazy Ones

wattage · Jan 2, 2006

All together now....."Who Cares!"

redAPPLE · Jan 2, 2006

what's that again? rockin' cowboys?

what they called? broken back mountain?

nsjoker · Jan 2, 2006

rawr

swingerofbirch said:
the motorola apple love hate relationship continues

well... it was love hate, but this just sounds like hate hate. they're completely scrapping iTunes, yikes. and the worst part is this iRadio. i hate to think that companies believe they can harness apple's image by adding a lowercase "i" next to any crap they churn out and believe it well be a hit

apple is probably making a phone anyhow. screw you motorola, nokia rocks you.

the.snitch · Jan 2, 2006

Im going to rate this positive. I bet Apple ditched moto, not the other way around. I think SJ has other cellphone plans up his sleeve. You could tell from the moment it was introduced, that he _hated_ the ROKR.

EricNau · Jan 2, 2006

Well, this might be good for Apple.

Is moto dropping support of iTunes entirely? So the new ROKR won't be able to sync with iTunes?

odedia · Jan 2, 2006

This furthers my suspision of a new Apple-Branded cell phone. With iTunes ofcourse. Apple style. Apple interface.

pknz · Jan 2, 2006

When the hell did Angry Women become a genre? Sheesh, next the thing will be yodelling I tell ya.

bousozoku · Jan 2, 2006

the.snitch said:
Im going to rate this positive. I bet Apple ditched moto, not the other way around. I think SJ has other cellphone plans up his sleeve. You could tell from the moment it was introduced, that he _hated_ the ROKR.

I doubt they cared to put their name on the ROKR, given the circumstances. It may just be that there isn't enough room to work and perhaps, the RAZR is more capable but I think Apple wanted to ditch ROKR any way they could.

As for other plans, I doubt it, unless they put effort into a Treo 650-type phone. After all, Palm is obviously open to new things since they allowed a Windows version of the phone.

redAPPLE · Jan 2, 2006

the.snitch said:
Im going to rate this positive. I bet Apple ditched moto, not the other way around. I think SJ has other cellphone plans up his sleeve. You could tell from the moment it was introduced, that he _hated_ the ROKR.

if ben hated the rokr. why create a special event and all the woo hoo all around?

moto could have created the event and invite sj. but again, that would hurt his ego really bad.

840quadra · Jan 2, 2006

Love(d) Motorola, and the phones I have and had. It is sad that their CEO and management is so Petty about this iTunes relationship.

Good riddance, I would much more prefer to listen to music on my Nano, 3G, or 5G ipod then my phone. When I listen to music I don't want anything emitting RF near me (well besides the small amount all electronic MP3 players emit) , nor do I want to be interrupted.

::EDIT::

While looking for a picture on google of the Motorola guy dancing I found out that he was Ron Garriques who is the president of the mobile division

iMeowbot · Jan 2, 2006

Mobile carriers weren't too happy with iTunes from the start. They are the ones who decide on the fixed song limits -- it's been 100 so far, but Moto leave this decision to each carrier.

iRadio puts subscription fees into carriers' pockets. iTunes doesn't do that. That's all this is really about, Moto wanted a phone that more networks would be willing to sell.

gekko513 · Jan 2, 2006

Please let this be because Apple decided that Nokia would be a better partner.

aswitcher · Jan 2, 2006

Well thats one less phone to worry about when I go to finally decide what to replace mine with next week.

840quadra · Jan 2, 2006

LMAO!!!!

Apple Edited the Keynote video, and cut the section were Ron was dancing to that stupid song on his ROKR!

I was going to make a JPG picture to post on here with the image of his face, and his strange dance, but I can't because Apple killed it !

k2director · Jan 3, 2006

the.snitch said:
Im going to rate this positive. I bet Apple ditched moto, not the other way around. I think SJ has other cellphone plans up his sleeve. You could tell from the moment it was introduced, that he _hated_ the ROKR.

I agree. Motorola would not have given up iTunes compatibilitiy unless Apple made it onerous or impossible for them. If Apple did so, there's a good chance it's because it has its own phone in the wings. Jobs made a passing reference to the ROKR being a learning experience, and in my mind, that suggested that Apple would make a phone at some point. Hope it comes during next week's Expo...

sPAULj · Jan 3, 2006

I can understand why. Motorola thinks the problem with the phone's popularity was that iTunes couldn't sell on a phone. Well, the problem was that Motorola doesn't give a **** about developing someone that people will buy. Hell, the RAZR is pretty and small too, but what the hell is up with the low feature spec on that phone? And dropping it one destroys the thing.

Good riddance for bad rubbage.

No iTunes Support in Motorola ROKR E2

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