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Thoughts on the iPod Photo
People have been asking me what I think of the new iPod Photo. At first I was hesitant, but now I am certain: it is brilliant.
A natural evolution of the iPod
One of the things that made the original iPod so successful was that it was a very natural extension of things people were already doing. By 2001, lots of people had big music libraries on their computers. Portable music had been around for decades, and even MP3 players were gaining popularity.
The iPod didn’t break any new ground. It just pushed the envelope.
Now, the iPod Photo is pushing a little more. Again, this product is a natural extension for most people — folks have been carrying photos in their pockets and wallets since photography was invented! Digital cameras are wildly successful, which means amateur photographers everywhere have hundreds or thousands of digital photos on their home computers. And who doesn’t like to show off their pictures?
I can envision a couple of prototypical iPod Photo users: * Parents who carry photos of their kids in a wallet or purse. Why limit yourself to Suzy’s third grade portrait when you can carry every photo you have ever taken of her? * Young people who take a lot of pictures with friends. Showing off last night’s photos on the digital camera is commonplace now. But the iPod is a better viewer, with lots of drive space and a bright 2” screen. College kids in particular take their iPods everywhere anyway, so this is a natural fit for sharing pics with friends.
Apple has taken something people love — sharing photos — and integrated into a product that people love to have with them. As long as the price (starting at $500) does not scare people off, Apple is going to sell a bunch of these.
Extending the iPod Photo
Carrying photos around to show people is cool and all, but this is only the beginning. Thanks to an A/V output that allows you to connect to television and stereo, the iPod Photo opens the door to some tremendous possibilities. A few ideas: * Give a presentation. After creating the slides in Keynote or *cough* Powerpoint, save them as TIFs and load them to your iPod. Leave the laptop at home, and carry your presentation in your pocket. Just hook up to the projector when you are ready to talk and you will be the coolest kid on the block. * Put your portfolio or pitch on your iPod. Same idea as above, but with a slightly different purpose. Instead of carrying a pile of printed materials around, use your iPod to seal the deal. * Make a digital flip book. David Pogue reports the new iPod “can page through full-screen photos astonishingly quickly and smoothly. They flicker past almost as though they’re frames of film.” Frames of film, you say? Try stringing together a series of drawings, then spin the wheel to show off your animation.
People are acting underwhelmed, but I am excited. It might be time for an upgrade…
Update: John Gruber’s most recent piece, iPod Mania, talks in much more detail about why the photo edition is a good idea and why it will sell. It’s Daring Fireball at its best.