The iPod Thread

My main reason for disliking the iPod is Apple's DRM lock in. I love to buy online music, and have spent thousands of dollars doing so. However, Apple's DRM locks me into one device choice and one alone. It also locks me into one music store to choose from for my iPod. No subscription music options, no choice, it all leads to a big thumbs down from me. Contrast this with services like Napster to Go, Yahoo Music, Virgin's new service, etc. They use a DRM that can be used on a wide variety of devices, except of course, again, the iPod. Not only does Apple lock out their music from playing on anyone else's machine, they lock out the DRMed music of anyone else's service from playing on their machine. Sorry, that is just not appealing to me - I prefer choice, and the iPod does not offer it.

Christiano, I have an iPod with over 8,500 songs. Not a single one has DRM. You are not "forced" to use Apple's DRM if you have an iPod. You are forced to use it if you buy your music through iTunes, though. The iPod itself doesn't enforce the DRM, it's iTunes.

It's those services you mentioned like Yahoo, AOL, etc that are making the mistake by not supporting the #1 most used music player.

I do think iPod needs to support those other services, and if you are a user of those services, maybe iPod isn't for you.

A lot of people I know have huge music collections offline and the iPod works perfect for people like that, and me.

It's true the iTunes music store is a DRM beast but the ipod plays MP3's. So go to your favorite russian mp3 site buy all the music your heart desires and the iPod will still play it.

I don't see how having your choice of DRM makes it any better.

Ohhhh yeah. Me love them long time.

Mine is the new 30 gig that plays video, photos etc. Love it, I connect it to the 42 inch plasma tv and watch video and slideshows. Amazing piece of technology.

You can hack into an iPod using terminal and get the tunes off for use in other devices.

They dont tell you that of course.

It makes it better because I choose to support the particular artist, not download from some bootleg Russian site. Having a choice of which music store I buy from, the flexibility of music subscriptions, and a choice of many different devices (not just 1 brand) to play the music on is very appealing to me. The Apple lock-in is not.

Ah it is the service's fault for choosing a platform that can be played across multiple devices instead of just the lock-in to one device from one company? Yeah, how stupid of them. I forgot.

I have a huge music collection from CDs as well, but I continue to buy music online all the time. Why should I have to choose? I prefer to use a device and service that allows me more flexibility than the iPod offers. There is no way to justify the lock-in that Apple has done with their music store/iPod.

Point taken... personally I support musicians through the iTunes music store, cause it's just so damn easy. If I wanted to use another service that had it's own DRM, maybe the ipod wouldn't be a good choice. But really I prefer when artist like Harvey Danger put the complete album on Bittorrent and trust fans to donate if they like* the album.

* the new album is really good, downloaded on bittorrent, donated $15, then ordered the CD online for good measure.

i-qaeda

Well I am a huge fan of Napster to Go's music service. I love having access to nearly 2 million songs. It's not always stuff I would buy, but great to listen to in the moment, and to explore. It is how I have discovered all kinds of new artists. Also, iTunes does not have the exact same catalog that other music stores do - there are holes in the catalogs of all the services. I have bought a lot of stuff from iTunes, actually - and stripped off the DRM from it.

One more thing on Aaron's point about it being the fault of the other services for not supporting Apple. That is just stupid. Apple WON'T LICENSE FAIRPLAY FOR ANY OTHER SERVICE. They want only music from their store to play on the devices if it has DRM on it. Napster, Yahoo Music, Rhapshody, Virgin and AOL all compete on the merits of their services, not on simply locking you in to one device and only their store.

So it's either choose Microsoft's DRM which will play on 15-20% of the devices, or Apple's DRM, which will play on 80% of them.

I don't like Apple's DRM, and don't even use iTunes to manage my iPod. So I don't really even think about DRM because I think it is the main area Apple has really got it wrong. That being said, the thread was about the IPOD, not Apple's copy protection or any other music source. The iPod (hardware and interface) has the competition beat pretty much hands-down.

Actually, it is choose the best music service, regardless of DRM. Apple's iTunes store is not it. Additionally, take a look at the following site:

http://www.playsforsure.com/

Microsoft's DRM platform is at least about choice of device and store.

The thread is about why you like or dislike THE IPOD. I am sorry you can't take any criticism about the device apparently, but its lack of DRM support for anything other than Apple is a problem to me and why I would not buy one. It's fine for you to gush about it but I am not allowed to post my opinion of it? What music can play on the device is very much a feature of that device.

Ok first of all to nobody in particular lets not get hostile here. It would be nice to have a thread for once where the majority of posts are calm, collected, and factual. If you really want to participate in an ipod vs. X DAP player thread full of personal attacks and namecalling, just head to google, you can't miss em. Lets face it this is a preference thing. I mean, now, the world don't move to the beat of just one drum, what might be right for you, may not be right for some... =P

Again, thats not directed at anybody, more of a pre-emptive strike...


Moving on, I appreciate the opinions pro and con regarding DRM, but for some odd reason I'm not too concerned with DRM services. Don't ask me why. No seriously, don't =P. In all seriousness though I'm a RL dj so my usual mode if I like something enough it is to pick it up on vinyl, and lets put it this way, I don't like to pay for things twice.

Oh, and I'm still waiting on the iriver/etc supporters from earlier to fill me on on what specific player would be better than a 5g 30gb ipod for $270. And no, thats not a "prove it" type hostile challenge, I'm genuinely interested in all options here. Yes, its true, theres someone left online who isn't completely polarized on the DAP issue =P

Carry on...

I got a new Ipod U2 autographed signed for my birthday I love it

I know not owning an ipod isn't fashionable.

But, I do like my creative muvo n200. I got the 1GB model a while ago, and it kept me entertained on the flight to London and back to Chicago, multiple airport xrays, being dropped countless times (flash memory, no drive) and runs off of a single AAA battery for a good number of hours.

I also use it when I workout, which is nice. One thing I've noticed at the gym is that the girls with the ipods always manage to knock them off the elliptical or treadmill machines. I don't know why, headphone cord length?

Anyway, I do like apple's aesthetic sense, even if I don't buy their products.

well, so far I'm not too impressed with the iriver, etc, if the response to "why is it better?" is dead silence...

Choice is in the eye of the beholder. iTunes is both Mac and Windows compatible. Is Napster? Nope. How about Musicmatch? Nope.

Actually I own an IPod and DO NOT use ITunes. I use it if they hand out freebies but until a new regulated system is made I will not use ITunes or Npaster as I see them both as ripoffs from what I have seen so far.

Hi, Sorry I don't recheck threads I've posted on like I should..

Ok, I'm from the UK, so my prices will be in pounds..

As far as I can see the Ipod Mini has faded into nothingness, so my comparison will be between the Ipod Nani 4GB.. And the IRiver H10 6GB..

Price..

Ipod Nano = £174.98
IRiver H10 = £159.99

Storage...

Ipod Nano = 4GB
IRiver H10 = 6GB

Additional Features...

Ipod Nano: Photos and Calender (add more if you know them)

IRiver H10: Photos, FM Tuner (Radio), Build In Mic


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The best comparison would probably have been between the mini, but they seem to have vanished..

I personally wouldn't use a calender, I've got it in my Cell Phone if I need it, and I don't use that..

As far as I can see, they have models matching all the Ipods, usually for a better price..

Finally most of my friends who have Ipods, have had problems with it, either the battery, or not working after a few months, or spontainiously turning itself off.. And their customer service has left a bit to be desired... To be fair, not as many of my friends have IRivers as Ipods, but I haven't heard any complaints..

I'm sure I made more points in my Ipod VS IRiver thread that I posted the link to.. But thats all I can remember for now..

Edit: And I've only done research on lower end players, as that is all I'd buy.. But I'm checking some others now..

Hmm let's see - two computer platforms, one device, one music vendor vs one computer platform, about 50+ devices now from a variety of vendors, and about 20 different online music/video services supporting it. Yeah, choice is in the eye of the beholder.

yesterday i listened to maxx cast on my ipod nano. fun stuff.

Ok my prices are from the UK, so they might be off.. Theres no 30GB IRiver.. Theres a 20GB for less than what I can find for an Ipod 30GB. Or a 40GB for more than a Ipod 30GB..

But if you've found a special offer for the Ipod, like I think you said in your comparison post, it probably won't match it..

My main problem with the ipod is the array of problems my friends have had with them.

The main thing I like about the IRiver is the Mic and FM Radio.. And it had JPG viewing before the Ipod Nano came out, and I was comparing it with the Ipod Mini, and it was still cheaper..

But I would only use 6 GB of space at most really.. And for the lower end players, IRiver seems to have the best deal..

Sigh.

Once again I've been sucked in by an iPod upgrade.

I ordered a 60gb video iPod today. It arrives tomorrow.

Anybody wanna buy an iPod photo?

We need to get SL Machinima onto those bad boys...
is there a video equivalent of a podcast specifically for the video iPod's?