How iPod Touch will help Apple win new platform war
I got an iPod Touch for Christmas. And not any iPod Touch, mind you, but the 32GB model.
After playing with it for several days now, I’ve finally experienced first-hand the huge leap this device (along with its more advanced cousin, the iPhone) represents over any previous iPod.
With Wi-Fi available both at home and at work, the Touch truly is a computer in my pocket, giving me the ability to check e-mail, the weather, and the stock market as well as browse the Web.
But that’s nothing compared to the game-changing power of the iTunes App Store. Although I have noted often in this blog that Apple’s aim is to create a new platform with the iPod Touch and iPhone, I still was wowed by the variety, utility, ingenuity and polish of the apps available.
And it’s oh-so-dangerous to your wallet. With predominantly low prices – many apps go for as little as 99 cents -- and purchasing as easy as a mouse-click, you can quickly find yourself scooping up apps like so many holiday M&Ms.
Like the iPod/iTunes ecosystem before it, the iPhone/iPod Touch/App Store ecosystem will grow into a monster that will leave competitors eating Apple’s dust for years. Yes, I know Research in Motion plans to launch a BlackBerry Application Store in March and Google’s Android Market opened a few months ago.
But this is Apple’s strength. It will emerge as the leader in the new “pocket pc” platform race because it knows how to build and perfect an integrated ecosystem better than anyone else.
As with the Mac and iTunes/iPod ecosystems, Apple controls all the elements in the iPhone-iPod Touch/App Store universe, giving it an advantage in avoiding incompatibilities and other user-offending glitches.
The contribution of the iPod Touch can’t be overestimated. The Touch brings in millions of customers Apple’s phone-making competitors can’t reach – people like myself who want many of the capabilities of a smartphone without the steep monthly fees. (My cheap, pay-as-you-go T-Mobile phone suits me fine for my limited cell phone needs.)
Already the iPhone/iPod Touch ecosystem shows signs of explosive growth, with Apple reporting more than 300 million downloads since the App Store’s inception in July. That’s an astounding feat for an entity less than five months old.
I can attest to the lure of the App Store. In less than a week I’ve downloaded 10 apps myself.
According to a story in today’s Washington Post, iPhone/iPod Touch app developers are making more money than they dreamed possible. Long-time Mac developer Brian Greenstone of Pangea Software told the Post the new platform would generate $5 million for him this year.
The holiday shopping season added more momentum, with various models of first and second-generation iPod Touches consistently among the top-selling electronic devices at Amazon.
All those new Touch owners now join the 5 million-plus new iPhone owners as well as the millions of people who already had bought one of the devices. The race to establish the dominant mobile computing platform may be over before it started.
I’ll have more thoughts on the iPod Touch as I continue to play with it. Which reminds me … it should be fully recharged by now.
Comments
I such much agree. I was an Apple developer in the 90's through around 2001. It was more a hobby of mine than a job or even an avocation. I wansn't in it for the money at the time; I was curious and just wanted to learn something new.
I was never big on portable music players: I used Sony's Walkman to listen to music while I skated and never bought any version of the iPod for myself. Just never liked being tethered to a portable music player. Never had a portable CD player or an MP3 player.
Well, my girlfriend -- insistent that the best gifts are those that one won't buy for himself -- got me an iPod Touch for Christmas. It's explosive, and not in a Dell laptop battery way. Even when you're not playing with it -- and please, don't misinterpret the word 'playing'. This machine is a powerful device: gaming, Internet and, yes business. It is, in fact, a PC in your pocket. Nothing else like it. I suppose that's why so many people hate it?
I guess that people who don't want or can never have one will always hate it. So many people hate the things they can't or won't have. It's a shame.
But if and when you do touch the Touch for any extended period of time? You're going to fall in love.
Another thing about human nature...so many people avoid falling in love, if only because they're so afraid of being hurt. They're loss.
Enjoy your Touch.
Posted by: SkateNY | December 30, 2008 3:54 PM
It is a cool device and great little internet surfer. It's also a crippled internet surfer and a disappointment. Flash apps aren't supported meaning many (most?) of the videos on the net can't be viewed and internet radio is problematic. If your fav station is in the catalog of one of the many apps, that's great. But if it's not, good luck in getting it to play through your iPod Touch.
Apple has lots of work to do before the Touch is a good internet tool (in fact, they had to retract a commercial implying otherwise in the UK). I hope they do that work.
Posted by: john | December 30, 2008 5:16 PM
I also got a Touch for Christmas, and while I'm very happy with it, I'm afraid Apple will be disappointed in me as a consumer. I sold most of my CD collection on eBay after a little iPod Shuffle made CDs seem cumbersome and obsolete. I made enough $ to pay for my Touch and several family Christmas gifts, so the Touch is basically replacing my old CD collection and allowing me to wi-fi on the go. I have absolutely no intention of EVER downloading an application and I'm utterly baffled as to why people are so eager to be nickled-and-dimed over this stuff.
Posted by: Sergio | December 30, 2008 10:37 PM
I agree, with the combination of the App Store along with it's huge and growing software library, there's absolutely nothing that can 'touch,' the Touch!
It's simply the best dang device of it's kind - period!
Posted by: don | December 30, 2008 11:17 PM
as the market says ipod touch had the booming sell on this xmas.the most favourite gift for loved one.well prefer to go for some nice ipod accessories to protect it and enhance its features.
Posted by: lindsay | December 31, 2008 2:00 AM
"... and purchasing as easy as a mouse-click", ahem, you mean "purchasing as easy as a FINGER TAP". That's the iPod Touch way!
Posted by: Walter | December 31, 2008 7:37 AM
@ Walter:
You're right! Although I bought some of the apps using iTunes on my Mac, I also downloaded several directly to the Touch. Which makes buying apps even more tempting, of course...
Posted by: Dave Zeiler | December 31, 2008 11:20 AM
Yep, I got one for Xmas too. To me the best value is not having to update podcasts against my desktop. Just download latest episodes via WiFi. I rarely have to dock/synch with iTunes...except to recharge, I'm down to once daily on that.
Posted by: Everard | December 31, 2008 3:19 PM
I got a Touch for my kids at Christmas and it has been a big success. They also have PSP and PS3 so it was fascinating to see that the touch competing for their attention.
Firstly, while I thought it would be just about games I was wrong. They used movies, music and other utility applications as well as games with the difference that with music etc the touch is easier to use/download/organise/purchase than the Sony ecosystem meaning that the Touch was preferred for "other" activities other than games
Second The sheer number and low cost of games meant that they soon had 3 times or more the number of games on the Touch than the other devices. The variety of the games is also better. While PSP has excellent graphics they are dominated by action games while the app store is strong in word games, puzzles etc as well as action games. Their favorite game over Christmas turned out to be Wurdle on the touch - a big surprise - they loved it.
Thirdly cost is a big deal here for me. The games on the Touch are so cheap it is possible to have a hundred games or more for not much more than the cost of a couple of games on the Sony devices. I also discovered that anything I had already purchased for my iPhone was able to be loaded on the Touch for free (apps can go on up to 5 devices at the same time legally) The low prices means more games which means more choices and enjoyment on the Touch
Kids love the accelerometer and find the touch controls intuitive - no complaints from them about a lack of buttons. They also love the variety and liked challenging games like Rolando that are designed purely with the Touch in mind and were less impressed by games that were just scaled down versions of Playstation games.
Over all I thought the Touch was my best value for money purchase this Christmas.
Posted by: Tony | December 31, 2008 10:47 PM
The Archos 5 is an amazing wide-screen touchscreen alternative with massive capacity, internet with Flash capable and web radio and TV.
Posted by: Paul | December 31, 2008 11:40 PM
The iPod touch is a great little device to carry around in one's pocket. Some cool games on the App store for very little money.
Posted by: Partners in Grime | January 1, 2009 2:48 AM
My husband gave me an iPod Touch this fall. I wasn't sure what I'd do with it. I have a little iPod shuffle that I like taking to the gym (cheap enough that I don't worry about losing it, clips right onto clothing), but he insisted, and he was right. This thing is awesome. With a wireless router at home, I can check e-mail, FaceBook, etc. even before I get out of bed in the morning, if I'm so inclined. The range of apps is amazing. I even found an app that lets me track diet and exercise on the go, and an app with guided meditations to help with falling asleep. I still haven't used it much for music, although that's likely to change. My husband gave me an iPod clock radio for Christmas!
Posted by: Barbara | January 1, 2009 12:39 PM
Absolutely love my iPod Touch, Apps and all! I no longer bring my Bible to church since its one of my Apps. I downloaded the Biblescope App which has NIV and Message version of the Bible without needing wifi. Grocery shopping list is a great tool as well! Weather Channel, Lab Timer, Presidents & Country facts...Hope the next one has a 10 megapixel camera built in! That would be the ultimate. I am a 47 year old iPod Addict!
Posted by: jerrilyn stover | January 1, 2009 3:19 PM
Check out the Green Apps! "Go Green" is a great freebie, lots of MPG trackers and our app: MeterRead (Go Green!)
Just search "Go Green"
It's not spam if it's good for the environment... right?
PS, we're not going to make 5 million on this one ($5k if we're lucky), but it is fun to have an app out!
Peace!
Posted by: zerogate | January 1, 2009 10:02 PM
iphones are the best
Posted by: joseph | January 2, 2009 8:15 AM
For all of you who love the app store and have some favorite apps....The first ever 2008 Best App ever awards are going on now. There are 34 categories and the winners will be announced at MacWorld Expo next week. You only have until Jan. 6th to cast your vote.
I voted for my son's favorite app, Preschool Pals - Henry & Hailey in the Best Kid distraction category.
Posted by: happy mom | January 2, 2009 11:28 PM
A larger yet pocketable iPod Touch can be a huge hit. No tablets or laptops or netbooks. I want a wallet Mac that I have with me all the time, everywhere I go.
Also, no one should have to buy more than one Mac. So the “MacTROU” (for The Rest of Us) must be untethered, like the Kindle, using EVDO. And a hundred times better than the Kindle, this gizmo connects to ALL your files on MobileMe.
Apple can charge whatever it needs to for the mobile Mac, for the connectivity, and for a subscription to MobileMe. And it can collect for purchases of software, books, audio, video, whatever, which can then reside on MobileMe, always available to the MacTROU user.
Imagine what an anywhere, anytime Mac can feature as services! And all of these revenue flows can go directly to Apple
It’s all about selling solutions, not simply gizmos. If Apple plays its cards right, it can replace the wallet and the credit cards in it.
Posted by: stefn | January 5, 2009 3:53 PM
It's worth adding that if your iPod refuses to go into Disk Mode and you hear a noticeable clicking sound, it's likely a faulty hard drive. If the unit is a Fourth Gen, however, the problem might just be corrosion on the HDD cable and will need cleaned periodically. Good luck & I hope this helps.
ipod help
Posted by: ipod help | March 14, 2009 4:16 AM