Differences in our environment
Over here, LOTS of folks have and use them.
Some figures from research we use ( we're a telecomms test company )
"36% were interested in making / receiving video calls"
I guess this is a Different Environment, the London Train bombings showed just how useful this Video technology can be, but, whether it's my personal preferance or the actual trend in Australia, Video Capability is still far to expensive.
But the UK has pretty much led the world in using mobile devices ( except Japan - a world to themself ). As some places are just getting used to being able to SMS to anyone else in a mobile, the UK is now about 25% of all traffic is MMS ( ie pics or video ). ( likely includes the Amaryllo army vid )
I haven't had any experiance in this area (i'm battling a Tech, for god sakes 
) so I'll take your word for it. I would guess that it's probably only 5-10%of Traffic in Australia.
The issues is "substantial" It was the mix that Apple got right first time around ( IMHO ).
The size wasn't the smallest, the disc space in the size WAS though. Other large storage were bigger. The original mechanical wheel though sucked
"Innovation" as I said was where Apple continue to do it by "prodcut design" and PR. The electronics are all someone elses - Wolfson ( an EDINBURGH company ), PortalPlayer and Toshiba. The Operating System too. The mechanical wheel had been used for decades for menu selection. The "touch" one though was NICE improvement - but again NOT Apples, that's Synaptics
It's I guess a Personal preferance that I find An iPod easier to use than other devices, and your very correct in saying the Apple got the Mix right.
Don't think I'm an Apple Fanboy (I have to use them for school, the most annoying Computer. Ever.) but it is the Mp3 Player that broke the market basically and set what people expect. The benchmark, if you will, that others have since surpassed.
erm, said this at the beginning THIS is where Apple lost track of the market. The phone companies have been doing it for ages. NOT using hard drives, but using plug in cards. Also video. Apple are late realising that the world has moved on and mobile phones and PDAs are fast becoming THE "one device" to carry. Bluetooth headest, blutooth control and the electronics stays in your pocket out of the way until you want to see a picture or video
I'd love to be able to do this, but I had enough problems Getting my Sony Ericsson T630 (How behind the times am i ) for a good price. My Mate tried to do this Card trick with his brand new Sony Ericsson Z800 or something, The phone had problems reading the card because it was so big and he'd stuffed it with stuff. Theres a way to go before the Technology becomes good AND affordable.
I'm sure the Apple devotees will wait till Apple do it before it is considered "cool" !!!
No arguments here. I know too many people happy to sing the praises of Apples. I CAN'T USE THEM?!
Yep, but when someone owns SO MUCH market share it becomes very easy to stop listening as hard to the market needs and get overtaken - which has happened already !!
THAT was the point I was raising WAY AT THE START. There are currently "better" solutions out there for less money offering more features.
But as with the PC v Apple debate it wont' matter to some buyers ( and even to some techies - until Apple annouces they're switching to Intel and suddenly the Intel procesors are OK, "cool" )
I'm not getting into the Apple/PC debate because I know nothing about it but I've yet to find a good solution from the Local stores which I can actually Afford (My iPod cost me $579 au, The best I can get for that Now ATM is an iRiver Video Ugly Thing (Don't know designation, sorry) with only 20Gb.
Lawsuits for warranty and patents are two different things.
IF they lose ( unliekly though ) then the patent holder can request payment from REVENUES.
Patent lawyers are a different bread from ambulance-chasers. MUCH more highly paid and MUCH nastier
I'll take your word for it, Speaking from experiance it seems.
On "quality" I asked around. I'm an engineer, so wanted som eFACTS and not just the "Apple sounds best", "Sony is better bass", but FIGURES> I was SHOCKED to find some .......
Harmonic Distortion on the iPod was MEASURED by a German firm at 0.46%. The same test on the iRiver was 0.04%. 10 TIMES BETTER.
They also showed that the iRiver had a MUCH flatter frequency response than the iPod which drops bass quickly.
Stop baffling me with figures! But you can't argue with numbers, thats why I've changed Headphones to my old Sony Ones, they work so much better.
Now I'm not saying the iPod sounds terrible as it doesn't.
I'm only providing facts showing that it's engineering is NOT the best around and for the price it does NOT command the "quality sound" ground
It's also comparing a two year old product with a brand new one.there are bound to be improvements and gains in that time.
SO if someone is asking about which player to use, let me recap...
Think what you want it for. Does pictures and video appeal ?
HOW will you use it, where ?
COMPARE other products and dont' take sales volume or market share as a measure of "quality".
TRY to get the best for your money -- it wont' always come from the most expensive or the one with the largets marketing budget
Be careful on warranty. Make sure if it goes wrong then you KNOW it wil be repaired at no cost.
This is a gospel. I've got a Warranty for my iPod and it'll come in handy if i Ever drop it down stairs again.
You might chose Apple, you might not, but at least it's informed
Originally Posted by IBrake4Rainbows
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