Ryan WestWorm in the Apple- A Comment on Steve Jobs and the iPod/Gadget Industry
Apple CEO Steve Jobs seems, to me, to harbour a pathological need for excessive facelifts.
Every Apple IPod, while enjoying a few brief months in the limelight, is quickly dethroned by the release or even the rumour of release of their successor. It’s like the technological embodiment of Channels Nine and Seven. The company trusts that as long as they constantly reinvent it, their product will keep them on top. Which is, I grant, a reasonably
Now, who does that smell of, I wonder?
Yes, the icon of all things fluoro and fishnet, Madonna.
Mrs Ritchie could rave about "what's on her 'Pod" at her massive concerts, could release mindless singles only for i-Tunes listeners, and who knows, we may even get the superb pleasure of seeing an 'M-Pod', of her own particular design, with a cover that instantly transforms itself automatically, depending on the most popular patterns...
My opinion is that eventually Apple and Madonna will realise that they are meant to be together, and until that day comes, we can all be left in comparable peace.
Don't get me wrong- My i-pod and I are pretty much inseperable. And to some extent, these upgrades can serve a decent purpose. Constantly improving a product ensures we the consumer receiving their money's worth. But, it does annoy me that the frequency of release encourages excess in a society that is already clogged up with its own financial gluttony.
I must admit, when I bought my iPod, I felt a little bit lavish, because I knew that until I could get the movie transfer software up and going, I was going to have a huge amount of unused space on it. But the point is that I've got the intention...as soon as I can figure out how to darn well do it right, that 80 gigabytes will be holding all my favourite movies.. For instant viewing, whenever it strikes my fancy..goodbye boring cityrail, hello Back To The Future.
But what about the people who buy these iPods with no intention at all to fill the whole thing up, but just because they're the latest fad?
I reckon they fill the mould created by comedian Arj Barker: "I just got a new iPod. It's got 80 gigabytes. Because I like to jog for three weeks at a time, and I do not want to hear the same song twice."
Haha..
Even more, sometimes I feel that we’re living in a battery operated society…
Every one of us, me included, can't survive without some sort of pocket gadget. Cameras, phones, iPods, Blackberries, Blueberries... whatever. We've become very technologically dependent. Of course it has its upsides, with easier access to what we need, connection with all our family and friends, etc, but I wonder what it would be like to live outside of that techno-sphere, beyond the reach of Telstra super-fast broadband™ and the crazy city reciting guy?
In the heart of a Ye Olde Italian village for example? A place that’s a bit more natural, where endless technology is not necessary to get through life. Where a life fully lived needs only pasta and football to pass the time.
It’d definitely be an interesting experience, and I think, in the end a positive one. That's why
over stressed corporate slaves (you know the kind- the ones on hands free who look like they’re constantly muttering to themselves in the streets) are sent to such remote destinations. There, they can hope to finally escape the chaos of their over-electrified work life.
And the revenue generated by the industry!
The sales of the iPod alone would dwarf the fortunes of a small country…say… The Solomon Islands. For the sake of metaphorical effect, I wouldn’t go and check that. I’m probably wrong. But that said, at least the socially switched on amongst us can rest happily in the knowledge that with i-Tunes, our needy children will never be deprived of The Pussycat Doll's latest hit single.
In the end, though, this person's opinion is that while techno gadgets like iPods are quite the fun, even Steve Careers himself must take a break from all the craziness once in a while. How else could he possibly keep up his busy scheduling of holding up i-pods on stages two times a year and bragging to people?
Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go charge my iPod.
.....What??!
Disclaimer: - Please note that the author does not endorse, buy, or if she can possibly help it, be within a 20 km radius of The Pussycat Dolls' music.
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I think Steve Jobs is an interesting, and very smart guy. He knows what actually works in the world of selling to a fickle public.
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