Quote:
Originally Posted by Vincent Ferrari
If it were, there are plenty of devices that supported the Plays for Sure DRM that should've soared. The hardware wasn't that poor compared to the iPod. If people wanted subs, they would've bought any device they could get them on.
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I can't believe I'm saying this, but I don't think you're giving Apple enough credit with the iPod.
The reason the iPod has been so successful, in my opinion is the combination of hardware and software that they simply "got right" far better than anyone else. Sure, you had early players like the Rio Karma with great hardware, but the software experience? Pretty ugly. iTunes + iPod was a massively better sync/user experience than PlaysForSure MP3 Player + Windows Media Player.
That's the biggest reason why Microsoft came out with the Zune - only tight integration of both hardware and software would allow them to compete with what the iPod offers. And, despite all the mockery in this forum of the Zune, it really is a great user sync experience. Most people that have spent time with both pieces of software say that the Zune desktop software is better than iTunes. I know for me it is (speaking as an iPod Touch and Zune owner).
Subscription music is a tough sell because most people don't understand it - and they can't really appreciate it until they try it...and because we live in an iPod world, they can't try it. It will remain a "quirky" option for consuming music until either the iPod is replaced by something else in the market, or Apple offers a subscription music plan.