Gateway Says MOOve over iPod

[Kent Pribbernow]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://news.com.com/Gateway+to+tap+out+photo%2C+MP3+player+beat/2100-1041_3-5429674.html?tag=nefd.top' target='_blank'>http://news.com.com/Gateway+to+tap+out+photo%2C+MP3+player+beat/2100-1041_3-5429674.html?tag=nefd.top</a><br /><br /></div>Sorry, I couldn't resist using a shameless cow pun. :wink: Coming just on the heels of Apple's new iPod Photo launch, Gateway is announcing its own color screened MP3 player; the MP3 Photo Jukebox. Offering 4GB of storage and priced at $249, Gateway is targeting the iPod Mini here, with a new twist: a 1.6-inch, 128 x 128 pixel color display over the Mini's old school monochrome display. Looking slightly similar to the iPod with measurements of 3.8 x 2.3 x 0.7 inches at 3.4 ounces, the MP3 Photo Jukebox sports a bright colorful display for viewing photos and album art. <br /><br />Overall there isn't much that would lure an iPod Mini user away from his tiny tunes, except for that nice little color display. And the Gateway brand name just speaks of excellence and brand recognition. :roll: <br /><br /><img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/mp3jukebox.JPG" />

[Jason Dunn]

Overall there isn't much that would lure an iPod Mini user away from his tiny tunes, except for that nice little color display. And the Gateway brand name just speaks of excellence and brand recognition. :roll:

Dude...take off the white-rimmed soft plastic iPod glasses! :lol: For the *same* MSRP as the iPod mini, you get things that the iPod can't do:

- WMA playback (HUGE for those of us who have our entire music collections in WMA)
- a colour screen
- Janus DRM compatibility for music subscription services
- it can connect directly to digital cameras (USB To Go perhaps?) which opens up a LOT of interesting possibilities

The iPod may be the king of the hill right now, but that doesn't automatically make everything else complete crap if it doesn't have a white shell and the name "Apple" on it. :?

[Kent Pribbernow]

White rimmed iPod glasses? How dare you sir! I'll have you know my glasses are silver rimmed, and have no Apple affiliation whatsoever. But enough about my eyewear. :lol:

The thing is I actually do like some of the Windows based offerings out there, some of which have potential (like the Creative Zen Micro), but in the end they just don't have what it takes to challenge Apple. There is absolutely no question that at some point in the future other vendors will overtake iPod, which could even fade into obscurity if market forces change. But all of the competing products I've looked at so far are just nameless faces in a crowd. They don't speak to me in the same manner as the iPod. Apple has done a brilliant job of building a cult of "cool" around its media player and branding. Despite the labyrinth array of media players on the market, iPod is the player consumers want to own. While Microsoft may be coming on strong with its new "Plays For Sure" campaign, don't forget that moniker has no awareness and will not resonate with consumers for some time to come. Everyone knows what the "Intel Inside" label means, but Microsoft is a long way from establishing itself to that level of product awareness.

That said, iPod is pioneering product. And as is often said, pioneers are usually the ones left laying face down in the prairie with arrows in their backs. If it is iPod's fate to fall to the wayside, that day will be a long time coming. It will take the death of a million pin pricks to kill Apple's dominance in the digital media space. Just as it took Microsoft years to unseat Palm from the mobile device market, even then helped along by Palm's own fumblings and mismanagement. But until that day comes you can count on iPod to remain king of the hill as you put it. Get used to staring up for the foreseeable future.

[Mojo Jojo]

I actually like the look of the machine, it is probably my art background but this device has a unique flow to it the way they outline the curve and buttons. I think they over used the amount of color in their screen which over powers their simple clean lines and neutral silver tones.

I wonder about static buttons though for scrolling large music searches. I admit I am very used to the iPod scroll wheel technique as it allows for varible rate scrolling based on unconcious use of your thumb versus a programmable scroll rate that you have to adjust your actions too... but I suppose that is personal preference.

While it is nice to see posts about new devices, has their been any reviews of the device?

[Felix Torres]

- Janus DRM compatibility for music subscription services



More, it comes with a 30-day free subscription to NAPSTER-to-go.
5Gb worth of free d/ls means a whole week of 24x7 non-stop, non-repeating, music.
More realistically, two weeks worth of 12 hour days.
So an enterprising listener could easily sample 10,000 new songs in that month.

It'll be real interesting to see what percentage of folks like the idea of infinite downloads with their jukebox enough to stay with the Napster subscription past the free 30 days.

Nothing like putting business models to the test, eh?

[Suhit Gupta]

It looks like a nice enough device, what I don't understand is that curve at bottom left corner. It makes the device look odd. :? No?

Suhit

[Mojo Jojo]

It looks like a nice enough device, what I don't understand is that curve at bottom left corner. It makes the device look odd. :? No?

Suhit

Odd? Perhaps, I would say different. An effort to set itself apart from the box look more common in other players. In addition I would venture a guess that if you placed this device in your left hand that curve would give it a very nice feeling in the center of your palm.

The iPod Mini that I have has a hard edge on the bottom corner, and while that is not an earth shattering point against it, I would say its about as comfortable as a metal folding chair versus a something with padding.

[Felix Torres]

http://accessories.gateway.com/AccessoryStore/Consumer+Electronics_381930/Audio_381931/MP3+Players_316716/MP3+Players_316717/1533266_ProdDetail

It supports AAC songs but not Fairplay.
And it prominently features Plays For Sure.

A sign of things to come if nothing else...

[Suhit Gupta]

Odd? Perhaps, I would say different. An effort to set itself apart from the box look more common in other players. In addition I would venture a guess that if you placed this device in your left hand that curve would give it a very nice feeling in the center of your palm.

The iPod Mini that I have has a hard edge on the bottom corner, and while that is not an earth shattering point against it, I would say its about as comfortable as a metal folding chair versus a something with padding.
Ok, point taken. But then why not make is symmetrical? There are enough left handed people out there.

Suhit

[Jason Dunn]

Ok, point taken. But then why not make is symmetrical? There are enough left handed people out there.

It's just the design - there doesn't have to be a logical explanation for it beyond "We didn't want our device to be a square box like every other player on the market."

[Mojo Jojo]

Ok, point taken. But then why not make is symmetrical? There are enough left handed people out there.

Suhit

If I would venture a guess or opinion here, and truely that is all it is :) , is that the curve is there for its subconscious shock value. In the visual arts one of the things taught is that people in general preffer symmetrical things and their calming nature. People generally rate people with more symmetrical features as more attractive and such...

So lets say I create two paintings of the same subject matter and each are nearly identical. One is symmetrical and the other has one small element that is not. I place these items up on a wall for people to look at. While people may like the symmetrical painting, the one with the slightly different element will attract more attention.

Subconsciously your mind will pick up the difference even if you can't pick it out right away. This difference is picked up in the brain in a very similar manner to excitment or danger and has an effect on the body. It has been theorized that its a latent hardwired response when visual cues helped determine survivial.

Anyways... moving forward here, total symmetry also creates a bland effect, or one can say too calm of a reaction. Compound that with symmetry-like effects where comptetitors products also are symmetrical and you have an effect where products may look different they also all take on a single persona.

So in a row of silver devices, all with their own symmetrical designs, begin to look alike. Place a slightly non-symmetrical device in that line up and the subsconcious will immeditealy draw your attention to it. A bonus in marketing, to make your device standout.

Now... further inspection of the device shows that while the single rounded corner is not symmetrical to the other corners, it does however begin to become symmetrical in relation to the buttons of the device. So it strikes a fine line between balance and symmetry, excitment and calm grace.

Or.....

Its just a rounded corner. Someone liked it. all depends on what side of the brain you think. :)

[Felix Torres]

Odd? Perhaps, I would say different. An effort to set itself apart from the box look more common in other players. In addition I would venture a guess that if you placed this device in your left hand that curve would give it a very nice feeling in the center of your palm.

The iPod Mini that I have has a hard edge on the bottom corner, and while that is not an earth shattering point against it, I would say its about as comfortable as a metal folding chair versus a something with padding.
Ok, point taken. But then why not make is symmetrical? There are enough left handed people out there.

Suhit

If you find this odd, then the Rio flash players must drive you nuts! :twisted:

http://www.digitalnetworksna.com/shop/_templates/cat_list_Rio.asp?cat=73

Not a shred of symmetry anywhere! ;-)

[James Fee]

Those Rio players are so unbalanced....

Seems to fit my personallity....

[Darius Wey]

Those Rio players are so unbalanced....

Seems to fit my personallity....

Oh yeah...because you're an acrobat (http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=6767&start=10) aren't you? ;)

I actually like the design of those Rio players too. The Gateway doesn't really appeal to me though. I thought Gateway were well and truly dead until I saw this article. :P

[James Fee]

Well I still think they will be. When buying eMachines is seen as a way to improve your business, you know there is no hope.

[Felix Torres]

Well I still think they will be. When buying eMachines is seen as a way to improve your business, you know there is no hope.

Except that they just turned their first quarterly profit in three years.
(or seriously reduced their losses, depending on which set of books you look at)
http://news.com.com/Gateway+trims+loss+in+third+quarter/2100-1042_3-5431248.html?tag=cd.top

Honest! 8)

And, more realistically, emachines took over Gateway; that's why their managers are running the show now.

[James Fee]

Except that they just turned their first quarterly profit in three years.
Honest! 8) And Apple is profitable too. I guess they might have a future after all.... ;)

[Felix Torres]

Except that they just turned their first quarterly profit in three years.
Honest! 8) And Apple is profitable too. I guess they might have a future after all.... ;)

The company, maybe.
The stock (at $50?) no way!!!
Talk about cruisin' for a brusin' that's a p/e of 100 or so! :wink: