Review of the past few weeks

I haven’t written for a while due to school, netflix, tivo, and reptile conventions.  However, this does not mean that I have been neglecting my blogs.  I’ve kept up, of a fashion, but just haven’t quite felt as if anything that interesting has happened to require a post.

Okay, okay, the new ipod nano, I got it.

To recap the last few weeks:

Apple’s going to kick ass no matter what.
There’s a new nano, I hate it less, but at least no one can sue due to the lack of shinyness.  The only exception: 8GB in a few mm?  Props.
Sandisk is going to own like whoa at second place.
Creative is going to fall, although I don’t see how they could get any worse at this point.
Samsung…well…you still suck.
Dell and HP are whores, but we knew this long ago.
The PS3 will be expensive, but what isn’t?
Grandmothers across the country will be confused as to their grandchildrens’ requests to urinate for Christmas.
OMG of the thousands they’ve sold your laptop is defective?  Ya, welcome to technology, get over it.
If you own a laptop, you might want to donate some sperm because your laptop will most likely fry your manhood.
Speaking of which, of all the reports of blowing up batteries, how come everyone’s lucked out and not received fried genitalia?
If myspace was a bar, you’d….well, insert something vulgar about molasses.
Facebook is becoming big brother, again, we knew this long ago.
OMG people can readz your infoz onlinez!!!  Excuse me, but may I slap you upside the head for not understanding that which is reality?  Get over it.
Zune dropped like a bomb because it sucked, not that Apple somehow has the hand of death up its ass.  It sucked.  Get over it.

More updates soon, I promise!

Zune?

Microsoft has a new product to pull out of its ass, and one that will drop like a rock like the rest of its buddies.  Zune, the apparent name, seems original enough, even though the promo website (is it really official?) needs to be shot.

The only way I can see them beating the iPod is with accessories and price.  The Vision:M is doing well because you can get it crazy cheaper than the iPod 5G, plus it isn’t as picky abut video formats (.avi like whoa).  Right now you are kind of really boned if you want to integrate a non-ipod into your car.  Granted you can use an Aux port connection to connect anything with a headphone jack, but that is a sound only method leaving the controls to the device.  I’ve used this method on my previous car and liked it, but trying to poke at the ipod while going 80mph doesn’t exactly compute.

Engadget has a good run down of the specs so far.

Things that might help them along: 

-Microsoft with comp you the music you purchased from iTunes.  This, my friends, is how you get people to switch.  Seriously.  If they can pull it off the iPod might just be in trouble.
-There will be decent accessories available at the release date.  Good for Microsoft, great for retailers.
-in theory a Christmas release.  Thank god I won’t be in retail anymore in two weeks.  Thank god.

Things they better be able to pull off:

-Wifi.  I can only imagine this killing your battery life.  It would be nice to see music recommendations on the player and downloading them directly.  However, if they can’t pull off WPA I see this feature as completely useless.  P.S. Microsoft, I’m not buying a dedicated wifi stick just for your flipping player.
-Decent freaking battery life.  Samsung has been able to make neat looking players, usable, but with the worst average battery life I’ve seen. 
-The Zune version of playsforsure.  Hopefully existing users can easily switch over their purchased music or subscriptions over, else they’re going to lose the only people willing to not get an iPod and still pay for your crap.

Good luck Microsoft.

Nano vs. Team Samsung

SuperSmash Brothers?  No!  CNet!  The battle:  Nano vs. Samsung’s new flash DAP.  I’ve not had the chance to play with the Samsung, so I’ll be mainly commenting on their iPod opinions.

Navi:

I agree with Justin, I love the fact that on the iPods the faster you go on the clickwheel the faster it goes down the list.  I only have 10GBs of music and without that I don’t know how I’d find anything in my artist list.  Somewhat like Jasmine said, I don’t like the click wheel on the nano, but mainly because it just doesn’t feel right. My opinion about the iPod navi:  I love it, but I would like Apple to get over themselves and give us some programmable buttons.  Upon using the Samsung navi, I refuse to even consider anything else about it.  Completely useless.

Look

The Nano, buttons and actual usage aside, hands down will always win in a looks battle. Ok, well, maybe.  While the brushed metal look is certainly appreciated, out of the box the Nano takes the prize for sleek.  On the plus side for the Samsung, the big screen beats the snot out of the Nano’s little peep hole.

Software

Ahh, the real question, when you get your baby home will your computer crap itself?  Will you be able to do everything you wanted to?  There are trees of questions to ask that limit your search for things, and iTunes/buying music VS. WMP/subscription/buying music is a big one. While I’d like to see a subscription service and more open compatibility for the iPod and/or iTunes and/or Fair Play DRM. 

Major minus points for Samsung for no Mac users, but being open to WMA subscription services seems to require some very odd firmware.

Pretty much any player you see will win over the iPods on the compatibility war, but not necessarily software.  Personally, I love iTunes (but could love it more with some tweaks), but when it comes to WMP I don’t even try. 

Sound + Etc.

I’m with Justin.  C’mon Apple, give us some love here.  Podcasts are neat, but why do you refuse to put the radio in?!  I’m thinking consumers can forgive that extra millimeter it would take to offer it, and–oh I don’t know–FIREWIRE!

Built in features/battery life/EQ:  ::gives Apple the finger::
Software features/GUI:  The extras are nice on the iPod, but I’m still unimpressed. 

Price 

Handsdown anything will beat an iPod for price.  When you get an iPod you aren’t getting it for the price.  They have a premium price, get over it.  There are many things in life that have a premium, that’s why they’re called luxury items.

Overall

There are certain deciding questions that take primacy over any feature or value concerns.  I’d still make the call that the Nano and the Samsung are equals, just for different people. 

Due to the navi issues on the Samsung I declare the Nano as winner by default.

Another for the “Do we care?” trash can, and rand(appledrama)

Apple announced today that they are still materialistic sluts (but did we ever think otherwise?) by releasing the new 5G 30GB U2 iPod.  It only comes in 30gb though, that's a nice compliment towards U2 fans.

In other news with Apple, because we all know half their advertising is via the drama they excrete every business day, at least they can, like others, admit their mistakes.  Leaving a piece of plastic on an obscure area of a laptop, I can grant them that if only because they're only a few weeks old.

Meanwhile, are you really this bored?  This is one of those rumors that is so freaking out there that you have to believe it because you can't see someone being able to publish stuff he randomly cooked up.  All I can say is at least they denied to comment. 

Apple, you are such a drama queen.

Apple, you are a harsh mistress.

http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/05/31/apple_samsung_sigmatel/

Poor Samsung, but I guess that'll learn 'em to not dish when you're working with one of the most uptight companies in the world.