Apple has had tremendous success with the iPod, with the technology itself becoming a virtual synonym for being "cool" in the digital age. Steve Jobs is to be envied for having the foresight to invest the effort to create the device at a time when the future of digital music on-line was unclear...or at least heavily litigated.
However, in this age when having it all doesn't leave you feeling satisfied there is always the pressure to try to squeeze even more blood out of the rock. iPodders take note...I fear this is what is happening with the iPod brand.
My gut tells me that we are only inches away from iPod cross-branding, perhaps an iPod shirt to go with your iPod would make you the king of the uber geeks?
The worse idea that I've heard of so far in regards to efforts to squeeze blood from the stone is the make-believe hype over the fact that the NFL had signed a deal with audbile.com to "podcast" the playoffs and then the full season next year. For only $4.95 a game you could download the call by a local announcer and listen to the game. Pause...scratch head...breathe...HUH?
Why in the world would anyone in their right mind want to listen to an NFL game after is has been played? While the iPod is the cat pjs when it comes to on-line music the achilles heal of the device is that it is basically a digital tape recorder. That is, there isn't any way for the iPod to pull access anything in "real time".
Do you hide your head in the sand during game day so you can pay $5.00 to listen to the game on your iPod the next day. Can friends ruin your purchasing pleasure by leaving the sports page (highlighted box scores) on your desk in the morning?
Really...what are they thinking...after all it isn't like you can go back and change the game. Actually, if Apple could make one of these I'm sure Bill Cowers would love to have it. Then again, would he get tired of rewinding after every interception?