09-05-2007, 10:29 PM
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Neophyte
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 4
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Did you see the wifi functionality at Starbucks!
Wow! Zune is in big trouble. How could they launch anything right now, unless it is comparable, it is going to seem silly.
The biggest announcement is they totally one up-ed MS on their Wifi with the announcement at starbucks. I guess the only way they can come back is with positioning their zune somewhere above the iPod classic, but below the iPod touch. Thats to show that they have more features than the classic, while maybe not the awesome features of the touch, but with more hard drive capacity. Then price it right.
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09-05-2007, 10:57 PM
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Executive Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 29,160
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mgullotta
The biggest announcement is they totally one up-ed MS on their Wifi with the announcement at starbucks.
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Yeah, you think so? I think that feature is "neat", but I don't think it's anywhere near as killer as the WiFi iTunes store. The Starbucks rollout is REALLY slow...they're going to have it in a couple of cities by the end of 2007, and a few more in 2008, but it doesn't appear to be going wide-spread very quickly (which is puzzling).
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09-05-2007, 11:07 PM
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Contributing Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,291
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And suddenly I have buyers remorse regarding my Zune.
I'm thinking like Rocco, the touch could finally be the small but usable browser you can carry in your pocket.
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09-05-2007, 11:34 PM
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Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 15,171
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jason Dunn
Yeah, you think so? I think that feature is "neat", but I don't think it's anywhere near as killer as the WiFi iTunes store. The Starbucks rollout is REALLY slow...they're going to have it in a couple of cities by the end of 2007, and a few more in 2008, but it doesn't appear to be going wide-spread very quickly (which is puzzling).
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It occurred to me that this might be the tip of the iceberg. What if other retailers come to Apple and try to strike the same deal? Apple tends to be closed, so maybe I'm just thinking too far ahead, but it could be big. (Also, I'm guessing Apple/Starbucks need to install special computers/software in the stores to coordinate the music playback.)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris Gohlke
I'm thinking like Rocco, the touch could finally be the small but usable browser you can carry in your pocket.
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As an iPhone owner, I can tell you, Safari is an excellent browser. It's the first browser I have bothered to use extensively on a mobile device.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sage
I was actually kinda disappointed with the iPod refresh. I was hoping for a device with the capacity of the new iPod classic (160GB is awesome!) with the features and screen of the iPod touch. If they ever make such a device, I'll buy it without hesitation.
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Well, as always, Apple left a few holes open. There are quite a few people desiring of an iPod touch-esque device with a hard disk. I suspect the iPod touch/iPhone platform will never go there, as Apple seems to have settled on flash memory for their OS X-based platform. My concern is that Microsoft never quite capitalized on the holes Apple left in their previous lineup, and now Apple has closed a bunch of them, and I don't know if they'll capitalize the few that are left.
Quite frankly, what I don't get is why didn't Microsoft release a Wi-Fi store before now? This is nothing unique nor innovative, but everyone except Sandisk seems to be hanging around waiting for Apple to do it. Why why why? 
--janak
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09-06-2007, 12:00 AM
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Neophyte
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Janak Parekh
It occurred to me that this might be the tip of the iceberg. What if other retailers come to Apple and try to strike the same deal? Apple tends to be closed, so maybe I'm just thinking too far ahead, but it could be big. (Also, I'm guessing Apple/Starbucks need to install special computers/software in the stores to coordinate the music playback.)
--janak
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I am not sure how hard this will be. I believe all the Starbucks just play the Sirrius/XM "Starbucks" channel..so all they would need to do is get the playlist and have it syncronized, right?
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09-06-2007, 12:10 AM
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Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 15,171
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ZappCatt
I am not sure how hard this will be. I believe all the Starbucks just play the Sirrius/XM "Starbucks" channel..so all they would need to do is get the playlist and have it syncronized, right?
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No clue - but why would they take so long otherwise?
--janak
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09-06-2007, 12:18 AM
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Contributing Editor
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 519
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Typically I'm quite worried when Apple announces this many new products. But even Gizmodo (known for their fanboyism) had to admit that they were basically just updates (and that the iPod Classic is basically a bigger Nano with a hard drive). I don't see anything too killer that they didn't have before, like the Touch is basically the iPhone without the phone.
Sure, pretty much everything was leaked beforehand (Apple's success is catching up to them), but I just felt that this didn't have the flair of other Stevenotes.
But yes, I am in agreement with the rest of the commenters here that the Zune has to get moving, and fast. I can only hope and pray that the reason we haven't been getting real firmware updates has to do with some incredible killer feature, but even I'm skeptical that this is the case. I hope MS proves me wrong (I wasn't a fan of the original Xbox, but I think the 360 is just amazing), and completely one-ups Apple, with wireless downloading, PC sync, etc.
It's funny to think how Steve Jobs made fun of Microsoft's "many flavors of Vista" (the "business", "home", and "ultimate" versions of OSX were all the same thing), while he is now putting out four new versions of his flagship product.
Please, Microsoft, prove me wrong. Show me amazing things that you can do with software on your current player, and have the second model be a mere upgraded hardware. Either that, or give me my money back.
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09-06-2007, 12:42 AM
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Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,432
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Janak Parekh
As an iPhone owner, I can tell you, Safari is an excellent browser. It's the first browser I have bothered to use extensively on a mobile device.
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I prefer the Nokia Internet Tablets for mobile browsing (Opera browser and ridiculous 800ishx480ish screen res), but this is only because I find myself constantly rewriting code to get it to work in Safari. 
Quote:
Originally Posted by mysekurity
Typically I'm quite worried when Apple announces this many new products. But even Gizmodo (known for their fanboyism) had to admit that they were basically just updates (and that the iPod Classic is basically a bigger Nano with a hard drive). I don't see anything too killer that they didn't have before, like the Touch is basically the iPhone without the phone.
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Yeah, I was a little disappointed to see that the new touch device looked EXACTLY like the iPhone. If I was an iPhone user, I would be ticked off as the device looks great for tablet use but shady for phone use (though I'm interested to hear what you think of the phone functions Janak!)
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09-06-2007, 01:00 AM
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Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 15,171
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rocco Augusto
I prefer the Nokia Internet Tablets for mobile browsing (Opera browser and ridiculous 800ishx480ish screen res), but this is only because I find myself constantly rewriting code to get it to work in Safari. |
Except the Nokia Internet Tablets aren't really pocketable. I like how I can sit down on a couch, pull the device out and start using it. That, and the touch+zoom interface is far superior for scrolling/browsing. (At least, IMHO.) Re constantly rewriting code: I'll take your word for it, but Safari is at least decently standards compliant. Compare that to coding for PIE. 
Quote:
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Yeah, I was a little disappointed to see that the new touch device looked EXACTLY like the iPhone. If I was an iPhone user, I would be ticked off as the device looks great for tablet use but shady for phone use (though I'm interested to hear what you think of the phone functions Janak!)
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Re looking the same: Apple prides itself on its brand and its iconic design. In media/portable devices, Apple has two iconic designs: the click wheel and the iPhone/iPod touch multitouch device. It doesn't particularly bother me, although I think Apple should eventually introduce some color into the form factor.
Re the phone functions of the iPhone: this probably isn't the best place in the world to discuss it, but briefly, the iPhone's phone interface lies somewhere between the Smartphone and the Pocket PC Phone in functionality, ease-of-use, and experience. Its biggest problems, by far, are the inability to do freeform searches (you must scroll/jump the list in the order it is listed) and the questionable ergonomics (earpiece is flat, no tactile feedback). Apart from those two, I find the in-call interface far superior to any phone I've ever used (including the Treo), syncing with Macs is simple and reliable, visual voicemail is very handy, and the device is surprisingly one-handable (although you must be looking at it). Feel free to ask if you want more detail.
--janak
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09-06-2007, 08:33 AM
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Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,432
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Janak Parekh
Except the Nokia Internet Tablets aren't really pocketable. I like how I can sit down on a couch, pull the device out and start using it. That, and the touch+zoom interface is far superior for scrolling/browsing. (At least, IMHO.) Re constantly rewriting code: I'll take your word for it, but Safari is at least decently standards compliant. Compare that to coding for PIE. |
I hate writing code for PIE as well. I am glad that Safari can render a standards compliant page with the best of them, but I am spending way to much time rewriting older clients javascript code at work as everyone is hoping on the "most have a working iphone optimized site" bandwagon.
As for the touch interface, I just can't do it. I am constantly cleaning my current handset because I can't stand smudging and fingerprints, it is like nails on a chalkboard to me. The thought of owning one of those device and not using something to prevent all of that smudging makes me shudder. This is why I love my Nokia tablet for browsing, I don't have to touch the screen with my finger 
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