Holy crap! Microsoft has an event worth reporting on? I am an Apple fanboy who has traditionally atleast respected Microsoft for it's products (even if I personally felt Apple was better), but this video is sub-par for any corporation. PLEASE tell me this is not an official Microsoft video.
It looked like Microsoft gave a handycam to a local middle schooler! The photoshoot was pointless, the "action shots" of people playing with their Zunes came off as forced and unrealistic (and the lag between the sharing was evident), the pictures of the accessories looked like they were lit with a flashlight while being shot in a closet, but the very last part was the one that amazed me... I can plug this radio into my car and use it? really?? a radio... IN my car? BRILLIANT! The video did NOTHING to get me excited about why I should consider a Zune over the far more popular and proven iPod. The radio is a welcome addition (I wish my iPod had it!) but showing it being used while in your car is lamer than lame, and doesn't give it the emphasis it needs. Overall, this looks like a homemade movie done for YouTube, and even if that was the point (which is very possible), it fails to sell me on the product by a LONG shot.
And btw... if this feature will be available in starbucks, why wouldn't they incorporate it into Apple stores as well? Walk into an Apple store and be able to download whatever's playing on the in store system? why the hell not!
How can the starbucks feature even factor into the review when none of the starbucks are even equipped with the ability to integrate yet? Did PC mag get a fake Starbucks transmitter or something like the one they used to simulate a starbucks on stage at Moscone West?
While the starbucks feature is really cool feature to brag about and show off, practicality is pretty slim... I can't imagine there is a substantial number of people who are chillin in starbucks eager to wirelessly download a song, but who knows? it's never been done like this before... maybe making it this easy to buy the track you're listening to instead of asking an employee who it is, and then seeing if they have the CD and then buying the whole CD will generate some sales. The other thing is the target audience... I find the Starbucks playlist is targeted towards the 30-50 year old (excuse the generalization but less tech savvy) easier listening crowd, but the iPod touch is probably targeted towards a slightly younger and more tech involved crowd... Remember this feature is ONLY available on the touch, which means Joe user who is happy with just their iPod "classic" won't be doing this, and I highly doubt that any substantial number of the 30-50 year old demographic will spring for the "cool new iPod touch".
It would've been cooler and probably better for business overall if Apple released it's own In Store Media center that any retailer could buy to work with the iPod touch and the iPhone... then, ANY store you walk into that has one of their media players would allow you to shop for and download whatever you're listening to, regardless of which store it is.
Anyone know if THIS headphone jack is recessed as well? that'd be a real kick in the pants! And I said that it was only available on the touch, but I could be wrong... will starbucks be available on the iPhone?
Either they replaced this page since you posted it, or you're finding something I'm not... the iPhone icon is gone, and it says iPhone nowhere on the page.
I would agree 100%. I am a UI designer myself (who would love to work for Apple someday Steve Jobs if you're reading this gimme a ring), and there is no logic to putting that all the way on the right, especially when all the initial iPhone shots before they added YouTube had the bottom 3 icons left justified. I agree that iChat could be coming, but what are the others? a few more widgets?
By the same logic, it was obvious they would add apps from day 1 just by the homepage design... again as a UI designer, it would make no sense to leave a blank row if that was all you planned on putting in there. And a company that prides itself on usability and such, they wouldn't just up and make a mistake like that.
WiFi iTunes has been in the works for a long time... they said they'd been working with Starbucks for 2 YEARS on this idea... kinda makes you wonder what they're coming up with now that will be released in 2 years...
However, if they left off YouTube while making everything look final (left justified), why wouldn't they go to the effort of making this look left justified too? It's a simple photoshop job... unless they consider it part of the bottom menu items in which case they are adding it in the right place in my opinion.
Yeah but what's your salary like in a year? If you make something similar to someone in the states doing the same job only in EURO, then it all evens out. Not to mention is an American based company (albeit producing products in places like Taiwan... but who isn't?), wouldn't it be expected that having to ship something across the pond would raise your price? Don't get me wrong... I'm not justifying an extra $100 per item, but there are a number of factors that don't make it SO unacceptable.
I'm hoping by some miracle that it will be possible to open this 16GB 3G version up to the states... I still have to stick with AT&T, but it's still better than the version available today.
Yeah it may not be Beatles albums, but isn't "The BEAT goes on" some kind of hint?
The nano flower is a fake... Not only does it look too clumsy for an Apple design, but am I the only one who notices that the graphic is the same as the iLife and iWork boxes? Pretty convenient to organize "new" square nanos in the same way that are on the covers of products Apple just released...
I would guess they were prototypes at one point... and as for Sept 5th? iPhone-like iPod line up with flash memory (maybe wifi for ITMS downloads?), Beatles on iTunes, maybe a software update for iPhone, and an update on when to officially expect Leopard.
This would be awesome especially if they FINALLY added the ability to shop and download music from the iTunes Music Store! Come out with an iPod that can do what the Zune uses to differentiate itself, and watch the Zune sales PLUMMET! hahaha
I have worked at several retail outlets, and as far as I know the full CC number gets printed on copies meant for internal use, and the customer copy only gets printed with the last 4. If I had to venture a guess, when two slips got printed up (which doesn't always have to happen), the people who are filing the suit got the wrong copy back, and cried foul thinking that Apple prints CC info on everyone's receipts. I could be wrong, but that's what I've always seen from my retail experience.
And the blinking lights... While I understand that by law this guy could have a case, I equate it to the lawsuits of "my coffee was too hot"... I mean, maybe I should copyright a button that opens up a laptop and demand payment from anyone who uses it! I think it would be easier for us to understand if this guy had a real case or not if we knew a little background... did he really invent the idea of putting lights on batteries? Or did he just notice it wasn't patented yet and figured he'd make a quick buck? I have far less sympathy if it's the latter.
"All of these new nettops have me intrigued. I'm looking for a small, quiet and cheap PC to replace my aging tower in my home office, and all it really needs to do is load Microsoft Office, check email and surf the web. Is there a particular nettop that's better (or a better value) than another? I know it's a rather new segment, but hopefully someone has taken a chance on one already. Thanks!"
The most commented posts on Engadget over the past 24 hours.
Now that we've thrown 'em off the trail, use the form below to get in touch with the people at Engadget. Please fill in all of the required fields because they're required.
It looked like Microsoft gave a handycam to a local middle schooler! The photoshoot was pointless, the "action shots" of people playing with their Zunes came off as forced and unrealistic (and the lag between the sharing was evident), the pictures of the accessories looked like they were lit with a flashlight while being shot in a closet, but the very last part was the one that amazed me... I can plug this radio into my car and use it? really?? a radio... IN my car? BRILLIANT! The video did NOTHING to get me excited about why I should consider a Zune over the far more popular and proven iPod. The radio is a welcome addition (I wish my iPod had it!) but showing it being used while in your car is lamer than lame, and doesn't give it the emphasis it needs. Overall, this looks like a homemade movie done for YouTube, and even if that was the point (which is very possible), it fails to sell me on the product by a LONG shot.