Apple lacks "economic ecosystem" for iPod

I guess all of the speakers, cases, rechargers, remote controls, car accessories and cables you can get for the iPod don't count then?

I've brought this up a few times over the months and have taken a lot of heat for it but I think most people are starting to agree. Even fanatic Apple users (of which I'm a proud member). Unless Apple updates the iPod, the competition is going to catch up. In some ways the other players have already passed the iPod. I can only imaging this thread is going to be filled by loyal users defending Apple, but the author makes an important point. I have already decided that my next music player will not be an iPod unless there is a major update.

None of those things count if you're promoting an agenda. Imagine that, journalistic bias.

More bullsh_t, nothing short of loose and runny, piled high and waiting for the ?who? to step in. No one will bite on this stuff, look at the competition as Apple sells more and more because of the iPod link. PC iPoders have finally been exposed to what they are missing; the Apple experience. No one wants the homogenous PC experience, it is too bland. Who in PC land will build the edgey stuff? Sony?

…and "no one can improve on an iPod except Apple."

No body can improve on Windows either and they had 95% of the market for the past 10 years!!

But updates have been made. Just a few weeks ago they released color displays for all the iPods and lowered the prices on some. There are so many 3rd party upgrades that one can add as well. How many car adapters are being put into BMW's for those other players. 0,zilch,nada,zip, not going to happen. The iPod has been upgraded and Apple is not standing still with more plans ahead. They sold 6.1 million of them during this past quarter. I hardly call that doom and gloom. And I still have not seen a player that is any better or easier to use either. Oh and that also works with MAC & PC using the same software and store. You know why? Cause there are none that's why. This guy has no facts and no proof and I don't see a player out there that comes close to the iPod.

And Microsofts Vista will be a complete failure. Men from Mars will show up at your door step. Maybe not today,or tomorrow but sometime. Anyone can write a story with no facts behind it. This story sounds just like it. So watch out when you open your door tonight.

Little green men might be there...

The iPod has not changed in 4 years? What do you call the color screen, the integration ability with iPhoto, the NEW iPod Shuffle? And as someone else mentioned, all the third party accessories for the iPod. Someone could almost create and run a store with JUST all iPod stuff and make a living. The Ipod has created it's own economic ecosystem - any idiot could see that by stepping into any store that sells the iPod and it's accessories. In a few stores, it has it's own area already.

it's kind of a moot point to say the ipod is doomed. . . in 2 years isn't it? they make a huge assumption that the ipod won't undergo any changes in the next two years and that's why it's gonna fail.

fact is, other competitors have long surpassed the ipod in features, battery life, etc. and other music stores sell songs for cheaper, let you rent music, etc. but the ipod has the right combination of all those features for the general public.

the "ecosystem" may not support apple directly but apple is free to pick and choose from the features it sees the public wanting. apple can always watch as other features rise or fail in the competing ecosystem and implement them just right 6 months later.

1) The iPod has been refined several times over its life time. For example it physical UI has changed from a mechanical wheel and a row of buttons, to a solid state wheel with row of buttons, to a solid state wheel with buttons. This has improved user experience and durability. Also the switch to a standardized base connector with power, outputs, control, etc. Lets not forget the addition of software level features and color/photo support. In other words Apple has been innovating and will like continue to do so until the next big thing comes along which may replace the iPod (may come from Apple, may not).

2) The iPod product lineup has also grown to address all of the major market segments with the iPod shuffle, iPod mini, and iPod. This line up has allowed it to dominate the major market segments. In other words Apple has been responding to the customer environment.

3) The iPod and really only the iPod has a large, healthy, and growing ecosystem of 3rd part devices that add to the value of the iPod. This is a huge win for Apple in many ways, branding, market advertising, and the fact that a majority use Apple's iPod standard connector (iPod lock-in).

4) A major aspect of the iPod is the solution... iTunes, iPod, iPod standardized connector, and for some iTMS. This is one of the major selling points... consistent, simple, and usable. It is hard for multiple company, who are competing with each other, to achieve the same level of solution.