Apple expands music market

iRiver, a manufacturer of MP3 players, is far from bitter about the iPod's overwhelming success, according to the company's spokesperson who said that . "In a lot of ways, we have to say thank you to Apple. They have generated so much interest in this category. As the saying goes: 'A rising tide lifts all boats.'" Copley News Service says that the iPod phenomenon has taken on a life of its own: "Whether it's lack of competition, Apple's marketing hip-notism or something about the look and feel of the iconic little gizmo, it's hard to pinpoint precisely why such devotion is showered on the iPod. Danika Cleary, a senior marketing manager for Apple, guesses it has to do with 'the iPod being so small -- hand-held. And it has rounded edges and circles. [Users] kind of covet it, in a way. We've seen people caress them." The article also notes that users have gone so far as to give their iPods names as well.

by MacNN Staff