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http://www.rogueamoeba.com/airfoil/mac/

https://www.ohloh.net/p/axStream

http://nanocr.eu/software/justeport/

http://raop-play.sourceforge.net/

First two should do the trick for Mac and Windows. The third is DVD Jon's reference implementation. The last one looks like it can pretend to be a second sound card on Linux.

That is Apple's biggest innovation with the iPhone, and they know it (see Mac App Store). The App Store is why the iPod touch has such high appeal, why people put up with AT&T's horrible service with the iPhone, and why the iPad is so versatile.

On the flip side, Android Market is crippled by the requirement for 3G service devices (ie, no Android iPod Touch competitor any time soon), a drive to push free/ad-driven sales model and a lack of curation (see DVD Jon's appeal to Google to put some quality/curation into the Android Market). As a consequence numerous other Android app markets are cropping up, adding confusion and complexity to the act of developing and buying apps for that platform.

It was a natural evolution of the Newton, if it comes to that.

I fervently disagree. It's nothing like the Newton, almost no philosophy of thew Newton lives on in the iPhone - not handwriting centric, the document model totally different - except for a touch screen, I can't really say anything about it is an evolution. The Newton was the dead-end path that told them handwriting was a fruitless path, so the only affect it had on the iPhone was telling them one path not to follow... but there were many other paths they could take, it's not like that was the only fork.

People waffle about how many iPhone apps there are, but quantity is not quality.

Yes, Sturgeon's Law applies as it does pretty much anywhere. WHich is why a vast quantity is such a good thing to have, so you have many thousands of excellent applications for a few hundred thousand apps and not just a hundred or two. Have you looked at the OTHER app market issues?

And people like to tout the number of Android apps growing... but if you think about it, the fact that in sheer raw numbers the iPhone apps are still growing faster AND Apple has to approve the ones that goes in the store means a LOT in terms of overall quality on the iPhone. I do applaud Android for allowing apps to be installed from other locations but they seriously need to stop being so permissive on the Android app store.

I think MS has quite a good plan and the resources to execute, you disagree.

Actually I don't disagree with either statement. I just don't know if it's actually possible for them to succeed at this point (read: at the point they actually launch) despite everything you say being true.

Half a dozen UI innovations and endorsement from the SOS (style over substance) crowd

There is no such crowd and the secret behind the iPhone is it's never been about style over substance.

Rock-solid substance is an important aspect of substance too.

A counterargument has just come to me. A plausible reason for failure of the Zune was the simple fact that it was branded Microsoft.

It was because they were always a step behind Apple in terms of devices delivered, the ones the shipped ended up looking like the last gen iPod (or iPod Touch) models.

The Zune was actually also pretty well made but I think WIndows 7 may well end up in the same boat, or a slightly different one - technologically behind Android, no inroad with businesses due to Blackberry, and getting hammered on the developer front from Apple.

Better than the Wild West free-for-all that is the Android marketplace.

Just block the damn device. When iSync my Gen 4 iPod iTunes knows it's a Gen 4 iPod. When I sync my shuffle, it knows it's a shuffle.

DVD Jon agrees with your appraisal of the situation.

Well if other stores were selling a track DRM-free that Apple was selling with DRM, would that change your position? Perhaps you should read this: http://nanocr.eu/2007/01/13/ihandcuffs/

"How long before Apple unlocks the iPhone?"

Not long now.... DVD Jon already cracked the phone so it can be used to play music.

http://nanocr.eu/2007/07/03/iphone-without-att/

With enough time someone will figure out how to unlock the iphone I promise.

dave

Naw, DVD Jon's busy playing with the iPhone so it might be three weeks.