Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

PC iPod and Digital Devices

Originally posted by cryptochrome
The caveat is that your data wallet should be able to talk to any machine you want to use that data on. The catch is that there is no official windows software for the music aspect of the ipod, and firewire is not all that common on PCs.

The point? They should make iTunes for windows - because the best mp3 player on the market will help push the adoption of firewire as a common high-speed data port on PCs, possibly even as a standard.
Click to expand...
Well. first, theres the issue of formats. HFS+ talking to NTFS and FAT 16/32? That would require more than just a simple iTunes look alike, that would require something like MacDrive. Seems tom me, without something shoirt of a miracle (which Apple is sometimes good at), the iPod is not going to be cross platfrom— just a monogamous relationship with one OS.

I would not cry if Windows got iPod in fact, I might be glad that people can experince some of the joy that I have. Your right, eye', nothing's perfect. :) Take the punches and roll with 'em.
 
More Devices!

I honestly think that Apple can show Windows users that the grass IS greener on this side of the fence. By continuing to develop more devices that can all comunicate with eachother, I think Apple can show a Windows user everything works with each other.... I think if they do this, they can get Windows users to migrate over to the Mac universe gradually.

One way to do this, I think, is by leveraging AirPort a lot more, and I think with the introduction of Rendezvous, we're going to start to see this.

Something that's been on my mind for a while is an Apple car stereo. Think about it... as long as your car is within range of the base station, with rendezvous, it would just show up in iTunes - just like an iPod. You could create and manage playlists, add and delete songs. Sweet Jesus, that would be awesome. Add a firewire port in the front of the stereo, and now you can update and transfer music or files to and from your iPod.

Then we've got QuickTime 6. Now I haven't used the beta yet, but from what I've heard, it rocks. Think of the possibilities with some sort of set-top box. You could have your entire mp3's library streamed from your Mac. You could record live TV, and then save the recordings to you Mac. Hell, you could then send those videos to someone, or post them online via your iTools account.

Devices like this are what I think Apple should be focusing on. "Non-computer" devices that really make the Mac the center of your digital lifestyle.

Edit: Let me clarify a bit more...

The stereo would have an interal hard drive... just like the iPod. Ideally it would have a radio, equalizer controls, a large screen, an intiative interface, and all of the standard features found on other mid-to-high range car stereos. I'd like to have a firewire port in the front of the unit so I can plug in my iPod and sync with it, or transfer files to and from it (so I can take a playlist with me while I'm shopping or something like that). I'm guessing that the unit would have to be removable so people could plug it into their Mac and upload and manage music on it... but idealy, you would have to do this, and it could all be done wirelessly.
 
the whole mac does windoze thing.......

My iPod IS perfect. Thats it - no argument please. Its mine, I paid for it, I love it, I get to say if its perfect or not.

If your iPod isnt perfect, tough.

I LIKE being part of a 5% market share company - Apple is v.cool, like Leica cameras, like old Volvos, like good books, like not watching TV.

I dont want Apple to be doing stuff to attract PC people - if they had any sense they would use an Apple without having to be sold on the idea.
A lot of people do use both platforms, and some of us use more than two.

Mac OS 9 is still the most secure html server platform, even if it isnt super-fast, its still fast enough. And for all practical purposes, it becomes more and more unhackable.
Linux is still the best option for low-cost, people intensive development.
And also the best option for custom firewalls, mail servers, etc.

OS X is the king OS of the future. And the future is only a moment away.

Who cares about M$ windose?

Apple can survive and prosper without becoming like M$. In fact, if they did all this porting everything to Wintel, then what would be the point of Apple at all?

As I said, my iPod IS perfect. If yours aint, thats too bad for you.

And if they do iTunes for Windows, they will LOSE market share, not gain it.
 
best of both worlds

Yes the iPod should be Windows-compatible, so that Apples sells more of them and to use it to spread the Word.

But also yes to those who say the iPod should serve as an incentive for the Windows people to switch over.

How do we do this? My solution would be to add more functionality to the iPod, like adding photo/video storage and playback, but then limit the functionality on the PC side.

It's a common strategy by developers who write software for both Mac and PC. Often the PC versions have more functionality.

So make the iPod officially windows-compatible and maybe write an iPod Lite for those users. But for the Mac version, make it work with Quicktime 6, Mail/Address, iChat, Sherlock 2, etc. and make it so that it syncs seemlessly with all this just like with iTunes.

"Yes, you can buy an iPod for your PC, but if you buy a Mac, you'll get so much more than just a nifty little mp3 player."
 
Re: best of both worlds

Originally posted by dongmin
So make the iPod officially windows-compatible and maybe write an iPod Lite for those users. But for the Mac version, make it work with Quicktime 6, Mail/Address, iChat, Sherlock 2, etc. and make it so that it syncs seemlessly with all this just like with iTunes.
Click to expand...

I would imagine that doing this would only cost Apple more money then it's worth to make work...

just stick to the basics...make it cross-compatible with Mac & PC....simplicity...the best cure for some problems... ;)
 
pc ipods

sure Apple will have increased sales...

sure pc users will be more likely to try out the mac platform

sure it's better in the long run...but i am gonna miss the feeling of satisfaction that i had when looking at a peecee user drowning in his drool for the ipod finally being able to get one.....:(
 
Since the iPod is already unofficially PC compatible by means of a variety of hacks and free apps it seems that Apple introducing a PC only version would be silly.
If the ultimate goal is to get more mac users, then a PC version should be avoided.
"Why not make a PC one with less functionality?" Who want's it, and duh, it already exists as a standard iPod. On a PC the iPod doesn't auto synch to iTunes since there is no iTunes, and as far as I know there is no contacts import available either.
Apple should continue selling the iPod as is to continue gaining converts to the Mac, and should at least acknowledge that there is limited functionality for the PC, although not wholeheartedly endorsed.
PC users who really want one will buy one, and once they have one, who knows maybe they'll get a Mac too.
 
Originally posted by Macmaniac
I would like to see a PC version but it should still be mac compatible, I think of the iPod as a gateway to the mac world. Maybe with each PC iPod should come with a note saying how there is much more in the apple world than iPod and that they shoudl consider buying a mac:)
Click to expand...
maybe a handwritten note from Steve?
 
PC - Mac different products?

I have a couple of comments:

(1)
I honestly hope the ThinkSecret article is baseless, because even considering marketing a PC-only iPod that didn't work on Macs is completely idiotic.

Then, you're telling users, "Get a Mac and your iPod works better. Except, you have to buy another iPod, too." Talk about guaranteeing people WON'T switch to Macs. Just the fact that they even thought that was a good idea is scary.

(2)
To everyone in this forum who is advocating making a Windows iPod: you're completely neglecting the costs! Do you really want Apple wasting its money on developing Apps for Windows?! It just takes time away from being able to create great Mac apps.

I, for one, would rather that Apple leave the device as something to be coveted by Windows users, rather than waste development time on making great stuff for Windows.
 
Re: PC - Mac different products?

Originally posted by suzerain
I have a couple of comments:

To everyone in this forum who is advocating making a Windows iPod: you're completely neglecting the costs! Do you really want Apple wasting its money on developing Apps for Windows?! It just takes time away from being able to create great Mac apps.
Click to expand...

The idea is that Apple would make its money back, and then some, from increased sales. If they do it right, they could hit the motherload. Microsoft has sold something like 3-4 million Xboxes; Sony 30 mil P. A couple mil ipods worldwide doesn't seem far-fetched. You could probably get that many in Asia alone.
 
I don't think that the iPod, despite it's hefty pricetag, is a huge profit source for Apple. I'm sure they're making money on it, by I've heard reports here before that the markup is low. The iPod does have a lot of value however as a symbol of Apple's coolness and proof that the Mac is a better platform than the PC. I doubt that Apple would make the kind of money from the PC side that you think considering that firewire isn't a major part of the wintel world and there is a lot of competition from cheaper although lesser quality MP3 players.
BTW, Xbox and PS2 have ridiculously slim margins and have recently been discounted to help win platform share...perhaps relegating them to "loss leader" status in hopes of making future profits on software sales.
 
Re: PC - Mac different products?

Originally posted by suzerain
To everyone in this forum who is advocating making a Windows iPod: you're completely neglecting the costs! Do you really want Apple wasting its money on developing Apps for Windows?! It just takes time away from being able to create great Mac apps.
Click to expand...

You mean like Quicktime? It was the first desktop video, and the best architecture - but lack of a good windows version (and of streaming capabilities and codecs) nearly resigned it to obscurity.

Apple stands to benefit a great deal from being able to use the same peripherals, protocols, and even software as windows machines - because it makes migrating to macs that much cheaper and easier. Being so separate from the windows world may have helped Apple hold its marketshare, but it also kept it from growing. Beyond that, Apple is not just macs anymore. Apple's in a good place right now with OS X, high-value machinery, and a good design. They should take advantage of it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back