iPod iBored

TECH.BLORGE UK correspondent James Cornelius rages against the Apple iPod, which he describes as the most boring gadget of all time.He argues that it is the embodiment of the triumphof style over substance.

The iPod product line are the most boring, tedious gadgets ever invented. I mean, really, what are they good for? All they do is play media content (most of them just audio), and look good. That hardly justifies all the hoopla surrounding the iPod brand.

Forgive me for having to point out the elephant in the room. The iPod is not such a big deal, in fact it’s completely unimportant.

First of all, Apple Apple did not invent the mp3 player, contrary to what many people seem to think. Ever heard of a company called SaeHan Information Systems? No, of course not. Well way back in 1999, SaeHan Informations Systems released the MPMan F10 digital audio player, ie the first MP3 player. The first iPod was released in 2001.

The fascination with the iPod is obscene. It’s just an entertainment product after all. It doesn’t contribute to the social good of the world; all it does is to cause�deafness and car�accidents. If I had a dollar for every teenager run over by a bus because they�were too engrossed�in their�iPod, I’d have at least several dollars. (Reminder to self: must send Apple an email imploring them to include safety warning with every iPod sold.)

So what’s innovative about iPod?

Not much. Well the only thing I can think, other than its admittedly pleasing design (which helps�nerds look cooler), is that the iPod products have a scroll wheel. That’s not such a bad thing, but it hardly justifies the worldwide obsession with the iPod product line.

The�iPod is the embodiment of the triumph of style over substance. Everyone is so enamored by the look of iPod, that they forget that the underlying technology is no big deal, no big deal whatsoever.

And why does this outrage me? Well, because there are a lot of other�products have made significant contribution to the progress, but arecompletely forgotten, because�they don’t have some marketing department telling the world how great they are.

In my next post, I’m going outline the forgotten technologies and innovations�that really�have changed the world.

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• 2009 iPod lineup announced, the iPod Nano comes out the big winner
• Apple to kill off iPod classic in favor of iPod touch future?
• iPod makes a name for Apple while reaching sales milestone
• The new iPod Nano squares up and plays video?
• Apple’s new iPod: The iPod Touch?