Will Convergence Kill the iPod?

[jsaure]

A blogger has some interesting points on how the iPod may someday be impacted by tech convergence.

With iTunes DRM in Motorola phones, how long before we see an iPhone? (www.iphone.org) taking over the iPod's throne.

One gadget to rule them all, and in the geekiness bind them.

[berniej]

I think that's an invevitability that we must all look forward to. It may not happen in the next few years but it *will* happen. I myself am looking forward to slowly converging my geek toys and hopefully, there will come a time when the "gadget macarena" will be a thing of the past.

NOTE: The "gadget macarena" is the term I use whenever I have to grope around all my pockets and around my belt to make sure that I have all my geek gear in place. (the iPod in one pocket, wallet on the back pocket, cellphone on my belt holster, PDA on my other pocket, car keys on my "sinturera", etc.).

[winZu]

Nobody gets it right (that's why). I used to think that I just need my Tungsten T (or Treo 600) to play my music and that was it. But, the sound quality and ease of use that I get from my iPod does it like no other converge device do. Until then, converge everything except my music... okay?

W

[Eric]

Convergence will probably happen when the phone/PDA manufacturers include those new high capacity 1.8 inch hard disks on their devices.

[Myles]

I'm not a fan of convergence. Convergence sounds good (especially in the corporate world) but in reality it destroys a brand. It blurs a well focused brand/product and strips it off of its identity.

Specialization still rules. I'd rather listen to my mp3 using an mp3 player (iPod in my case), than use a cellphone which can only hold a few songs, has lousy interface and crappy sound.

I don't believe convergence will kill iPod. It will take a lot more than combining functions and features and putting 'em in a single product to kill iPod.

Convergence = jack of all trades, master of none.

[jorweeck]

Not really... Convergence is a nice thing to have on a PDA wwith a phone or the other way around. As for music, you have a load of factors to put into the equation: Battery life, Performance, Storage capacity... you can't put all these into a phone. Heck! The 3rd Gen iPod's battery isn't all that already and so's the SE K700i (I soon found out).

convergence Phone/music player... nah...

[jepaz]

Originally posted by jorweeck
Not really... Convergence is a nice thing to have on a PDA wwith a phone ....The 3rd Gen iPod's battery isn't all that already and so's the SE K700i (I soon found out).

convergence Phone/music player... nah...

OT: That is the reason why SE is coming up of a firmware upgrade to resolve the battery life issue. Nonetheless, we found out that a 3rd party battery (BST-25 770mAh) resolves the problem. ;-)

[Edited on 8-5-2004 by jepaz]

[winZu]

Converge phone + music player - try searching for a song with a few taps or clicks.

W

[Myles]

and then you'll have lots of features "spread thinly" on your phone/pda/music player with a cumbersome interface..

unless they can come up with a "converged" product that plays mp3s (or even video) that is at par or can exceed the style, intuitiveness, ease of use and storage capability of the iPod, iPod will still be THE mp3 player.

BUT there are a few (and far between) converged products that made it, like the camera cellphone, simply because it offers real convenience. Still if you consider the quality of the photos it takes, I don't think it's that good. I'm sure the SE phone owners agree.

my 2 centavos

[Edited on 8-5-2004 by Myles]

[Jughead]

Well, convergence is in fact killing the PDA (if it hasn't done so yet) as we originally know it but I don't think it's gonna kill the iPod. What will probably kill the iPod is the competition--assuming it finally gets it right (and I'm not betting that it won't) and most especially if the SRP is truly easy on the pocket. Apple's pricing strategy, which needs a lot of rethinking, may also be a factor in the eventual demise of the iPod, if it does actually happen. It's also important that Apple keeps marketing the iPod as an excellent music device--all its other features should be just gravy. :2cents: