The End of iPod?

A few weeks back Apple announced its new line of iPods which were basically souped up versions of the existing fifth generation ones. The launch didnt ‘wow’ me as much as it did a year ago when I decided to get myself one. Now I’ve stopped using it as much as I did back then. For the most part its in my car where I listen to it through the radio using Belkins excellent TuneCast FM transmitter. The iPod has become so ubiquitous that its no more that cool thing one could own. I despise lugging it around wherever I go – be it shopping or even walks.

The iPod’s success came from its form factor. When it was launched, no one imagined being able to carry so much of music in a device about the size of a cigarette packet. Thats what Apple got right. Later revisions saw incremental advancements in software and form factor but very little in innovation. Probably Apple is getting a little complacent because of iPod’s success. Its not about just music anymore. Its about being connected. Microsoft’s yet-to-lauch Zune (( Engadget has a nice writeup on the Zune )) is a step in this direction. With built in WiFi, it allows you to share your music/data with your friends. For all the arguments on having seperate music players from phones, the rising sales of made-for-music mobile phones should be a indication. It was just because, back then, the interface on phones used to suck when they tried to put in lot of features without a sizeable screen or useable keyboard – thats not the case anymore.

Sony’s MYLO is an interesting little device incorporating much of what I’ve been getting at. This little device allows you surf the web, listen to music, watch videos and even make internet phone calls. Although the design may not appeal to many, it does allow you to do a lot more than just listen to music. Apple can probably lift a cue from such devices and come up with something really innovative the way they did way back with the iPod.