As you ’ve undoubtedly take heed , Motorola ’s CEO , Ed Zander , had some pitiless words for Apple ’s iPod nano . Surely you ’ve seen the most infamous quotation mark :
“ Screw the nano . What the hell does the nano do ? Who listens to 1,000 song ? ”
But Zander goes on to say :
“ the great unwashed are croak to require devices that do more than just toy euphony , something that can be seen in many other countries with more advanced mobile earpiece internet and savvy users . ”
glum grape aside at having hispoorly received Rokr phoneovershadowed by the sleek and aphrodisiac nano during a recent Apple music event , Zander is n’t saying anything that has n’t been splatter across business journals during the past three years . The rule sapience is that when we don the silvery jumpsuits and hop into our flying cars , wewillpack a individual , multifunction twist rather than a bandolier of gear . In this mankind , devices like the Rokr make sense . The iPod nano does not .
give that , I can understand Zander ’s frustration — though I ’ll grant you that there are well ways to shore up a commercial enterprise relationship than slagging your partner ’s product ; particularly when you failed to deliver the goods .
So where does that leave us ? I think Zander is right — and I think Apple thinks Zander is right . A quick glance at Apple ’s digital hub scheme makes it clear that Apple buy into convergence ( though it currently practices it in its computer , operating arrangement , and iLife multimedia system rooms rather than a hand-held machine ) . What is less clear is who will lead us to that Golden Age of Convergence .
Microsoft , in league with a host of mobile phone manufacturer , would dear love to own this space , but Microsoft ’s faint medicine efforts prove that might does n’t always make right-hand . With its readable savvy of what make devices just exercise , Apple could have a shot , but it needs supportive ( and supportable ) partners and the commitment necessary to say :
“ Screw the nano . What the hell does the nano do ? Who listens to 10,000 songs on a gadget thatonlyplays music ! ? ”
