Jobs on iPod, iTunes and Zune

[jettredmont]

Before getting slapped... I guess if youre a billionaire you can shove earbuds into a strangers ear, but here in Real World USA the results would not be pretty. Do that with your girlfriend, I dont think ANYONE would want a stranger theyve known for 1 minute coming up to them and putting crap into their ear.

If you're unable to walk up to a girl and ask her if she wants to listen to a cool song, but more than ready to semi-anonymously ask the same thing by connecting to her music player ... well, I guess the Zune might have a market with the socially inept looking for others who are socially inept.

But, in my opinion, if I were to ask someone to listen to a cool song, I'd want to strike up a conversation first, maybe introduce the song, etc. Sending a message like "Someone wants you to listen to something. Accept?" just soounds creepy.

And, no, if asked to listen to something by someone unwilling to identify themselves, my answer would be "no", period. That kind of person is too likely to send me heavy breathing or a breathless rant on global consumerism spliced into the middle of a Britney Spears track (the rant might be okay by itself, but ...)

So, no, I see no advantage in that scenario at all.

 

[Doctor Q]

Is there any medical concern with sharing earbuds?

 

[motulist]

Can you imagine what this wireless zuneing feature will be like in the real world? I bet they haven't come up with a way to make the wireless feature only try talking to the zune you want it to, so it'll try talking to any other zune within the proximity of the wireless transmission capability.

You'll be walking down a crowded street in a hurry trying to get your music playing when all of a sudden a box will pop up over your interface "User s8trBoi wants to send you the song "Skate or Die" by "The Snotty Adolescent Band." Do you want to accept?" You think wtf? Then suddenly it disappears and a new box pops up that says "Connection Lost, would you like to try again? [retry] [cancel] [stop] [close zuneing port]" After this keeps happening you click [close zuneing port], which turns off the wireless capability on your zune. Then you can't share songs anymore, and the pref to turn it back on will be buried under a complex interface. So the wireless capability will be used for all of a week for most people.

Then maybe spammers will realize that this is a whole new fertile ground for their sludge. So you'll be walking down the street and suddenly a box will pop up over your interface that says "User "*BUY CHEAP VIAGRA*" wants to send you the song "ONLY 5 DOLLARS PER BOTTLE!!!" by "WWW.WE-R-SPAM.COM" Do you want to accept?"

Zune sounds like a great new world. Thanks Microsoft.

 

[jettredmont]

We heard something really similar to that when every other company released video-playing mp3 players before Apple did, and Jobs said he didn't see anybody wanting to have portable video. Well, Apple bit its tongue and released it, calling it "innovation".

I'm a big iPod fan (i've purchased 3) but wireless capabilities is the way of the future. I don't see ourselves in 10 years still being limited by wired headphones and such. Maybe it'll be easier than the Zune (haven't seen the demo) but the idea of beaming a song for somebody else to download/hear is pretty cool to me.

I agree. But, I don't think the "social networking" aspect will fly, when combined with a restrictive DRM scheme. I too like the idea of being able to sample a friend's musical library, but there is too much fine print with the Zune implementation. As for the specific "it will get you dates" selling point, as Steve said, that's pure crap.

IMHO, Steve is really good at deconstructing the bad approaches to cool technology others promote. As with video, prior to the iPod with video (and even after) I saw several ads showing people out on a busy city street watching videos on their no-name video player. It was, and continues to be, a stupid idea for a way to use a portable video device, yet since that's what's being marketed it gives Steve a nice target for mockery.

 

[Mr. DG]

I'm sure the iPod will have sharing capabilities eventually. But the technology isn't there for quick enough transfers yet. When it becomes a non-geek activity that's when it'll be in the iPod, i.e. when it's as easy as sending an SMS message. In fact, sharing seems like an activity more suited to phones than iPods at the moment.

 

[nagromme]

I can't agree with Jobs on this one.

In this era of WTDs (wax-tramsitted diseases), there will be no sharing of my earbuds!

But if the person has a player, Zune or anything, then they also have their OWN earphones

 

[spicyapple]

Is there any medical concern with sharing earbuds?

No more than sucking on someone's tongue.

 

[jettredmont]

I can't agree with Jobs on this one.

In this era of WTDs (wax-tramsitted diseases), there will be no sharing of my earbuds!

But if the person has a player, Zune or anything, then they also have their OWN earphones

Okay, if you're hitting on girls who you believe might possibly be carrying exotic diseases in their ear wax ...

On the other hand, maybe someone should start selling "earbud condoms". Yeah, the sound is muffled and less than satisfying, but at least you won't get a WTD!

 

[Mr. DG]

Another point - is that article cut down from a larger piece? The interviewer did a really bad job of following up the tough questions - he just let Jobs spin the answer (very skilfully, granted) into an Apple advert. No pushing for answers, just a change of topic.

 

[RichP]

Steve is smooth, and he gets the point.

There is nothing more to ruin the moment, whether it be with a pretty girl, or with someone you are having a friendly convesation with, than to start fumbling with MENUS. The spontanity is lost once 2 people need to remove their Zunes from their pockets, go through a few menus, and then send a song over wireless. THEN listen to it. ALONE.

Wireless will come on iPod when its good and ready. It isnt right now.

motulist: you are right on cue. You just described what will be the real Zune experience.

 

[Some_Big_Spoon]

There's been a debate for years over the differences in users between Mac & PC. One postulation is that Mac people are more savvy and personable, and will do something like walk over to a girl and offer up an ear bud, while the PC person would be too socially awkward to do that. Hence the difference in Jobs' idea of "sharing" vs. Bill Gates' version. One is social, the other mechanical.

Whether it's a true stereotype is up for grabs, but I can't help thinking that Billy hates Steve for being the "cool kid" even after becoming the richest person in the world.

Haha, that's the best part. And it's so true! Walk your ass over to that girl and sit next to her and share your music with her. Screw this "beaming it over" nonsense.

 

[puckhead193]

HAHAHA, i'm guessing Gates never had his way with the ladies
"NOOO I don't want to talk to that girl and ask for her phone number... instead i'll beam over mine number to her"

No more than sucking on someone's tongue.

hahahahahahahaha

 

[Lixivial]

Aww... love this quote:

Music is so deep within all of us, but it's easy to go for a day or a week or a month or a year without really listening to music. And the iPod has changed that for tens of millions of people, and that makes me really happy, because I think music is good for the soul.

What a nice interview.

 

[Jetson]

When you look at Steve Job's odyssey from being Apple's CEO, bringing in Sculley, getting stabbed in the back and booted from his own company.

Jobs goes off on his own, founds Next computer, develops innovative hardware, makes alliances with the likes of George Lucas, founds Pixar and comes up with hit movie after hit movie.

Meanwhile Apple goes through the dark ages, predictions of Apple going belly up, they beg Steve Jobs to come back to the helm.

Jobs returns to Apple, gets to work and turns the company around with some of the most inspiring products (iMac) and great market presence.

Then his team comes up with the marvelous iPod. The Macintosh lineup is arguable the best in the PC world.

Things would have been much less interesting if Steve didn't have to make this difficult trek. Sometimes what looks bad can be the beginning of something great if you don't give up.

 

[oingoboingo]

Before getting slapped... I guess if youre a billionaire you can shove earbuds into a strangers ear, but here in Real World USA the results would not be pretty. Do that with your girlfriend, I dont think ANYONE would want a stranger theyve known for 1 minute coming up to them and putting crap into their ear.

Yes, it would be rare for two people who hardly know each other to go start sticking icky things into icky parts of each other's bodies

 

[the-fish]

i guess Steve is getting past making apple the trendiest company on the planet... now he's working on being the most smooth.

I lol'd at that

 

[Detlev_73]

Bottom line

Microsoft has never, does not, and will never make a product with nearly a quarter of the 'cool' factor that Apple does. Microsoft may be the empresarios' top choice, but is dated, dull, dumb. Apple is innovative, young, and sexy.

"We are Apple. We have great products that work out of the box. Our technological distinctiveness will be adopted free of will by all. Resistance is not necessary: you're amazed at us."

 

[BoyBach]

I like the "Job's Pulling Technique" - whip out iPod, insert ear-buds into lasses ear, adopt hopeful grin and hope she doesn't slap you!

Sounds like a typical weekend night-out in a valley's town. Sans iPod, of course.

 

[clintob]

No more than sucking on someone's tongue.

I'm sorry... somebody had to ask this eventually. About how many times a day do you get an instant message or email from this forum with some kind of innane pickup line?

.
.
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...by the way, my number is 555-21... (couldn't resist)

 

[stainlessliquid]

So how many people here have actually gone up to a girl youve never met and asked if she wants to share your sweaty earbuds? My guess is nobody, because its creepy as hell, its like holding hands with someone you just met that is neither your friend nor your date. It was just a PR response to a competitors product, I doubt jobs was being serious thinking people with ipods actually do stuff like that on a regular basis.

The Zune isnt really a way to pick up chicks either, I think it was more designed for friends to share music. Even having the debate is pretty pointless, its all marketting mumbo jumbo. Plus last time I checked you can share headphones with a Zune too.

 

[clintob]

HAHAHA, i'm guessing Gates never had his way with the ladies

I have the sneaking suspicion Gates didn't have much trouble with the ladies... considering while most people were offering drinks, he was offering weekend trysts to remote islands off the cost of Fiji.

Or better yet, he could just offer the entire island.

 

[monke]

So how many people here have actually gone up to a girl youve never met and asked if she wants to share your sweaty earbuds? My guess is nobody, because its creepy as hell, its like holding hands with someone you just met. It was just a PR response to a competitors product, I doubt jobs was being serious thinking people with ipods actually do stuff like that on a regular basis.

The Zune isnt really a way to pick up chicks either, I think it was more designed for friends to share music. Even having the debate is pretty pointless, its all marketting mumbo jumbo. Plus last time I checked you can share headphones with a Zune too.

That's almost exactly his point, why would you need to send music to someone when you could just share headphones? MS is jusking asking for virus problems here.

 

[Konfabulation]

When you look at Steve Job's odyssey from being Apple's CEO, bringing in Sculley, getting stabbed in the back and booted from his own company.

Jobs goes off on his own, founds Next computer, develops innovative hardware, makes alliances with the likes of George Lucas, founds Pixar and comes up with hit movie after hit movie.

Meanwhile Apple goes through the dark ages, predictions of Apple going belly up, they beg Steve Jobs to come back to the helm.

Jobs returns to Apple, gets to work and turns the company around with some of the most inspiring products (iMac) and great market presence.

Then his team comes up with the marvelous iPod. The Macintosh lineup is arguable the best in the PC world.

Things would have been much less interesting if Steve didn't have to make this difficult trek. Sometimes what looks bad can be the beginning of something great if you don't give up.

That is sooooo true. Without Jobs, apple would be in the *******.

 

[Bonte]

Yes, it would be rare for two people who hardly know each other to go start sticking icky things into icky parts of each other's bodies

If they both need a Zune to share the music i'm sure both have there own earbuds, the girl or boy can use there own earbuds so there's no body fluids being shared and it works between an iPod and a Zune and all the rest. Wifi sharing is useless.

 

[Shotglass]

We heard something really similar to that when every other company released video-playing mp3 players before Apple did, and Jobs said he didn't see anybody wanting to have portable video. Well, Apple bit its tongue and released it, calling it "innovation".

I'm a big iPod fan (i've purchased 3) but wireless capabilities is the way of the future. I don't see ourselves in 10 years still being limited by wired headphones and such. Maybe it'll be easier than the Zune (haven't seen the demo) but the idea of beaming a song for somebody else to download/hear is pretty cool to me.

Bear in mind, Jobs is making fun of wireless capacities today. Apple probably waited for the right time to release the "video" iPod (IMHO they could've waited for at least 640x480), so it's not as bad as you describe it.