Just a Thought - iPod Killer?
by
- June 2nd, 2006You know, one thing that irks me to no end is when news people, when writing about a new technology that could compete with existing technology, call the new technology 'a _____-Killer'.
A while back every new word processor was labeled a Microsoft Word-Killer, every new OS (especially Linux) a Windows-Killer, every PDA a Palm-Killer, every non-Microsoft based computer a PC-Killer, and now, every digital music player an iPod-Killer and every music service an iTunes Music Store-Killer. I'm just wondering why it's got to be that way. Why can't products exist and survive on their own merits?
I think it is another unfortunate legacy of the OS and office product wars. You remember, back when Microsoft was striving to become the non-monopolistic gentle giant it is today. It was the 80's and early 90's and the only battles being fought were those in the corporate trenches. People weren't dying, but products by the hundreds where invaded, overrun, conquered, destroyed or otherwise killed. Change is hard, and it's tough for media types to change their lexicons, besides, headlines that read, "New Product is Well Designed" probably won't catch most people's eyes like ones that hint at death and destruction.
Product don't even have to resemble an existing product, it just needs to sport one feature that is similar for it to be labeled a killer. Look at the iPod/PSP comparison for example; at the time when the PSP was introduced the iPod could not play videos, had rudimentary games, and had a grey scale screen (except for the color iPod, of course). The PSP could do all the above. The only thing the iPod and PSP did similarly was play music, but comparing the two was like comparing a formula one racer to an SUV, both have wheels and you can drive them, but one takes driving to the extreme while the other is extremely useful for hauling stuff.
So, why bother killing this or that or the other? Companies aiming to 'dispose' of another product often fail, just talk to Sony and Rio. Products that aren't created to deep-six one another, but instead are created to attract customers because it has something interesting to offer are the ones that survive.
Take the latest "iPod Killer"; the Clix music player from iRiver, Microsoft's Windows Media Player 11, and the Urge media store from MTV/Microsoft. By published accounts, this combination of service and players is good enough for consumer to take a serious look. I've seen the Clix player and I have to admit, iRiver appears to have done their homework, the player is pretty nice. If the Urge service is as good as reviewers say it is, then it will survive and earn a profit where others have failed.
Will iRiver player and Urge become more popular than the iPod and the iTunes Music Store? It's possible, but, realistically, do you care?
If you own an iPod and enjoy the service iTMS provides, would you switch? It's likely that, as long as Apple provides comparable service at a competitive price, you wouldn't bother jumping ship.
Potential iPod owners, on the other hand, would have a real choice, which, in my humble estimation, is always a good thing. If Apple has to share its growth with another, so what? As long as Apple keeps making a good product and offer solid service, they have little to worry about.
Also, we're talking about Apple here. These guys know how to create products, not just to compete, but products that define a genre. The iPod is a prime example; it was not the first music player, but it defined what a music player should be like. And that definition keeps changing, keeps getting better with each iteration.
So, enough with the _____-killers, already. There's enough market out there for anyone with a good product or service to sell.
In the immortal words of Rodney King, "Can't we all... just... get along?"
is a writer who currently lives in Orlando, FL. He's been a Mac fan since Atari Computers folded, but has worked with computers of nearly every type for 20 years.
You can send your comments directly to me, or you can also post your comments below.
Most Recent Columns From Just A Thought
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The Just A Thought Archives
Observer Comments
I agree with the column but I would extend it. There is a degree of violence in the language of the computer industry that I've always found distasteful. Why does equipment die, apps crash, threads get killed, cards fry, etc. Though they may in some minds make the descriptions more interesting, this terminology is imprecise in the same way as saying X system is an iPod killer is imprecise.
Quotegeoduck wrote:
I agree with the column but I would extend it. There is a degree of violence in the language of the computer industry that I've always found distasteful. Why does equipment die, apps crash, threads get killed, cards fry, etc. Though they may in some minds make the descriptions more interesting, this terminology is imprecise in the same way as saying X system is an iPod killer is imprecise.
Computers that sound like Roman tyrants such as Quadra and Pentium
Quotegeoduck wrote:
I agree with the column but I would extend it. There is a degree of violence in the language of the computer industry that I've always found distasteful. Why does equipment die, apps crash, threads get killed, cards fry, etc. Though they may in some minds make the descriptions more interesting, this terminology is imprecise in the same way as saying X system is an iPod killer is imprecise.
Check out this link it will a lot about technologists and software developers and their fascination with violence. Well it least I found it interesting and funny.
http://www.malevole.com/mv/misc/killerquiz
QuoteComputers that sound like Roman tyrants such as Quadra and Pentium
Hail good Pentium What news from the front
Not good my dear Athelon. Our forces are routed.
And what of the king?
I'm afraid that Lord Quadra was captured. I myself saw Duron, the captain of the royal guards fall at his feet.
(from Shakespears tragedy "Bandwidth and Clockspeed")
I took a look at the Urge site, to see what it had to say about it's product. And I noticed that it only works on Window XP. For all the complaints about iPod/iTMS being a "closed" system, it still runs on Windows as well as Macs. So how much choice does it give me if I cannot run Urge or Windows Media 11 on my Mac? I cannot run iRiver's Clix on my Mac, I need Windows XP. To me this sounds more like a closed system and gives me no choice but to stick with my iPod and iTMS. So where are the critics crying "closed system!" about Urge, Windows Media, and iRiver's Clix? I guess they are all hypocrits
Fri Jun 02, 2006 5:58 pm Subject: Too late. We are all pro choice now.
This column would have been right on target yesterday, as we were all fed up with iPod killing. But today, after thinking about it, we have decided that we are pro choice. We don't support iPod killing, but we think it's everyone's Constitutionally guaranteed choice if they want to kill their iPod. Our iPods, our choice. Get the government out of our iPod cases, TYVM. And we will not tolerate anti-killing terrorists who would deny us our choice, made the law of the land by the 2002 Supreme Court decision Play v. Stop.
Fri Jun 02, 2006 7:16 pm Subject: No I don't really care because I will continue to use
No I don't really care because I will continue to use the best player out there which is the iPod. It's not all about the player either, it's about how it interfaces with the music store and I care more about that than I do the player. So far the iPod and iTunes music store just make it so easy that it's a no brainer. The problem for everyone else including MTV is they don't have both pieces of the pie like Apple does. So long live the iPod and iTunes!
Fri Jun 02, 2006 8:39 pm Subject: Enough with the "Can't we all... just... get along?&quo
Sat Jun 03, 2006 12:54 am Subject: Re: No more "get along"
QuoteGuest wrote:
I agree with everything. Except, I am so tired of hearing "Can't we all... just... get along?". Can we possibly get there from here without the words of That Guy?
Normally, I'd agree with you and was close to not including Mr. King's infamous quote, but I decided to include it for the very reason you think it shouldn't be included; it's an old, tired quote, which relates directly to my feelings towards the subject of the column; some phrases are old and tired, and should be put out to pasture.
Vern Seward
Sun Jun 04, 2006 6:59 am Subject: Re: Does this mean Hillary will be...
Hi Geoduck,
"There is a degree of violence in the language of the computer industry that I've always found distasteful. Why does equipment die, apps crash, threads get killed, cards fry, etc"
For a very simple reason. Techs view a piece of equipment as being a living thing, much the way sailors regard a ship as a (female) living thing.
The terminology follows naturely from that.
As for "cards fry", it's actually quite literal. 
Roger Plowman (who's account seems to have mysteriously vanished--again)
Mon Jun 05, 2006 12:01 pm Subject: Re: Geoduck & Terminology
QuoteAnonymous wrote:
For a very simple reason. Techs view a piece of equipment as being a living thing, much the way sailors regard a ship as a (female) living thing.
That could be. Given the (not altogether undeserved) reputation for geeks to be social maladroits that could very well be the root. Personification of inanimate objects is commonplace among not only sailors but car guys, pilots, and such as well. I wonder if anyone knows if this is more frequent among men than women? I know that my Cooper Mini is "Katie Grundholm" and my wife's Prius is "The Prius".
Oh and I forgot one. Formatting the drive and reinstalling the system and all applications is commonly known as "Nuke & Pave", at least around here. This leads me to think that some of it might be verbal shorthand that is easier to say. Along those lines, a card will stop working due to component failure, often caused by a lighting strike or some other transient phenomena. It's much easier to say "It Fried".
Mon Jun 05, 2006 1:46 pm Subject: RE: Geoduck & Terminology
Quotegeoduck wrote:QuoteAnonymous wrote:
For a very simple reason. Techs view a piece of equipment as being a living thing, much the way sailors regard a ship as a (female) living thing.
That could be. Given the (not altogether undeserved) reputation for geeks to be social maladroits that could very well be the root. Personification of inanimate objects is commonplace among not only sailors but car guys, pilots, and such as well. I wonder if anyone knows if this is more frequent among men than women? I know that my Cooper Mini is "Katie Grundholm" and my wife's Prius is "The Prius".
Oh and I forgot one. Formatting the drive and reinstalling the system and all applications is commonly known as "Nuke & Pave", at least around here. This leads me to think that some of it might be verbal shorthand that is easier to say. Along those lines, a card will stop working due to component failure, often caused by a lighting strike or some other transient phenomena. It's much easier to say "It Fried".
I think women are equally disposed to naming stuff, but maybe for different reasons. Cars seem to get named if they have a "personality", thus VW Bugs may get a name while VW Jettas may not. Guys may notname things for sentimental reasons whereas women might, I believe.
Guys will name cars 'Blue Crooser' and 'Big Foot' after heavy mods, girls will name cars 'Gretta' or 'Sweet Pea' if the car has been 'in the family' for a bit and they have 'share experiences' together.
At least, that's been my observation.
Vern Seward
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