“It’s a lousy iPod,” Allard explains. “You can’t skip a track without looking at it. You can’t go running with the thing.”

You tool… you just press the button on the headphone cable to skip a track.

Link

And as for the Zune, you can’t be seen in public with it. 

...especially the baby diarrhoea one.

J summarizes the state of the Zune very succinctly right here:

We didn’t create the Zune because we were dying to get into the hardware business and take inventory risk. We felt we had to do it. It’s tough from a P&L point of view.

But hey, who cares. Just legally change your name to something pretentious and dress like a hipster and you’ll still be a rock star among the MS crowd. Right J?

WTF?

I mean, it’s a total non-sequitur. Don’t buy an iPhone because it’s a lousy iPod?

Hello? I suppose I shouldn’t buy an iPod because it’s a lousy phone? I should buy a Zune instead? Moron. 

Dawn, I think all are missing the point here. He compares it to an ipod and not another mp3 player. The fact he did not compare it to another manufacturer is huge. I was entertained at the poker table tonight when I pulled out my iphone after the girl next to me pulled hers out, of course the guy across from us had his Zune and was defiant saying that there was not much difference between the two and that his had a radio. I did not have to say anything, someone else who does not even own an iphone put him in his place. I won’t say all that was said, but I assure you it was quite entertaining.      Yes I am home early, bad night at the poker table.

[quote author=“mbeauch”] I was entertained at the poker table tonight when I pulled out my iphone after the girl next to me pulled hers out, of course the guy across from us had his Zune and was defiant saying that there was not much difference between the two and that his had a radio. I did not have to say anything, someone else who does not even own an iphone put him in his place. I won’t say all that was said, but I assure you it was quite entertaining.      Yes I am home early, bad night at the poker table.

I’d like to know what was said. 

When was the last time any of us bought a personal electronics item because it had an FM radio?

I bought an iPod because I didn’t want to listen to FM radio…

I think Allard’s right though.  My ipod plugs into a mini rca cable on my dash which feeds the radio.  I can skip forward, pause etc. without having to take my eyes off the road.  I don’t much care for Apples ear buds so I needed an adaptor to fit my regular ear phones which lost me the ability to skip etc. when I was staining the steps last summer.  Not a big deal and I’m certainly not giving up the iPhone but it is why I don’t believe that the iPhone is going to materially impact iPod sales. As long as Apple makes the best iPods (and related software), I don’t believe there is much to worry about.

[quote author=“BillH”]  Not a big deal and I’m certainly not giving up the iPhone but it is why I don’t believe that the iPhone is going to materially impact iPod sales. As long as Apple makes the best iPods (and related software), I don’t believe there is much to worry about.

I view the iPhone as a phone and handheld Internet access device that also functions as an iPod. I don’t think the iPhone popularity will impact iPod sales at all.

[quote author=“mbeauch”]Dawn, I think all are missing the point here. He compares it to an ipod and not another mp3 player. The fact he did not compare it to another manufacturer is huge. I was entertained at the poker table tonight when I pulled out my iphone after the girl next to me pulled hers out, of course the guy across from us had his Zune and was defiant saying that there was not much difference between the two and that his had a radio. I did not have to say anything, someone else who does not even own an iphone put him in his place. I won’t say all that was said, but I assure you it was quite entertaining.      Yes I am home early, bad night at the poker table.

Actually, the iPhone DOES do radio.  More and more stations are making their Web sites iPhone compatible, taking advantage of the fact that we have really USEFUL Wi-Fi.  There’s a link from the Apple site to “iRadio”, which is currently no. 9 on the iPhone Web App list:

http://www.apple.com/webapps/entertainment/iradioapp.html

[quote author=“Slyboots”]Actually, the iPhone DOES do radio.  More and more stations are making their Web sites iPhone compatible, taking advantage of the fact that we have really USEFUL Wi-Fi.  There’s a link from the Apple site to “iRadio”, which is currently no. 9 on the iPhone Web App list:

http://www.apple.com/webapps/entertainment/iradioapp.html

Good point.

[quote author=“DawnTreader”][quote author=“BillH”]  Not a big deal and I’m certainly not giving up the iPhone but it is why I don’t believe that the iPhone is going to materially impact iPod sales. As long as Apple makes the best iPods (and related software), I don’t believe there is much to worry about.

I view the iPhone as a phone and handheld Internet access device that also functions as an iPod. I don’t think the iPhone popularity will impact iPod sales at all.

Bingo

The only time I use my iPod feature on the iPhone is when I show someone that it plays my music.  Moving through my albums via cover flow with my finger just amazes people.

Not to get off subject but a recent piece on Appleinsider regarding upcoming newer iPHone in May has an interesting tit bit.  Apparently Portugal did not want the first generation of iPHones partially because they could not have enough.  It looks like Apple is selling the iPhone as fast as they can make it.  Within a year of launch I think they will increase manufacturing capacity to meet accelerated demand once they come out with better versions and maybe a less expensive model.

09 will be the year to watch aapl really take off.

I personally hope the iphone does have an impact on ipod sales. About 2.5 mil would be nice for the qtr (U.S.). Would gladly take the long term revenue stream. As far as the iphone itself I would like to see the phone become the size of the ipod touch. I don’t understand those of you who say the iphone does not need GPS or F.M. radio. Portable GPS devices are a hot item in the U.S. along with F.M. signals for sporting events. There are icons that I do not use, but would never suggest that they remove them because I don’t use them. The problem will soon be a full face of icons. What to do then? I do see icons like the clock, calculator and calendar being put into one icon. JMO