The fact that there aren't any real alternatives to the iPod right now is really sad considering how many years the iPod has been out there. It really hasn't changed very much since it's release. It still has a wheel based interface, plays music and can store contact and appointment info. It has the same basic shape and size (except the mini which is just that, a smaller version of the same thing) only changing capacity.

In reality, Apple have only made one real innovation in the iPod space since they launched it several years ago and that's the photo iPod. It's success remains to be seen. Since Apple have been pretty much a stationary target for others to aim at, it's really, really sad that not one of them has been able to get close to producing something that can compete.

Everything that has competitive features is big and ugly with a horrible interface. Prices are pretty close, never off by more than $50 and no one has a seamless integration with player software like iTunes (also at the absolute top of it's game) let alone an online music store. This doesn't even take into account the fact that iTMS has the biggest selection and some of the most relaxed DRM rules around.

People keep saying that Apple's going to get overtaken in the iPod market because they won't license fairplay. If the competition is doing such a dismal job, why should they? Why would you give the keys to a Ferrari to someone who can't even reverse park a hatch back? Maybe if Apple could see something resembling competition out there rather than the Keystone Cops, they might feel more like playing ball.

Steve "The Crazed Monkey" Balmer should be very worried.