Inside Hardware Design - Competing Against the iPod

ihatewinXP writes "FastCompany.com has a behind the scenes article detailing Rio's (and others) attempts to differentiate hardware and compete in the digital music market against the iPod juggernaught. From the article: "We decided that we had to be radically different from Apple. Where Apple was sort of the ivory tower, we were going to be the dark rebel. Where Apple was very geometric, we were going to be smooth and curvy. Apple was so enamored with absolute pure, minimalist design that some designers may argue that ergonomics were compromised.""

Comments

You'll know they've got it wrong when...

[ackthpt]

"We decided that we had to be radically different from Apple. Where Apple was sort of the ivory tower, we were going to be the dark rebel. Where Apple was very geometric, we were going to be smooth and curvy. Apple was so enamored with absolute pure, minimalist design that some designers may argue that ergonomics were compromised."

You'll know they've got it wrong when...

• They silhouette the player instead of the dancer.
• They mix metaphors like 'ivory tower' and 'dark rebel'
• They use words like 'synergy', 'user experience', 'radical' or 'extreme' to describe features.
• It's got a remote control.
• The player, software and services are heartily endorsed by the RIAA
• They actually make a better product and price it competitively.
• It doesn't look like a piece of tacky plastic jewelry.

Re:Ergonomics?

[Paradox]

Apple was so enamored with absolute pure, minimalist design that some designers may argue that ergonomics were compromised.

I'm sure the head of the iPod department will really give two shits about ergonomics when he goes for his daily swim in his pool filled with crisp $100 bills...

Common misconception, "More Features Means More Value." Maybe one day people will crave a PDA that is also a phone and an MP3 player. That day has yet to come.

The iPod is so popular in part because it is a simple, no-frills solution. For most people, the world of players is confusing, riddled with complex features that they don't understand or need. Apple realized this, simpified the approach, and people love it. They then went on to simplify the whole music acquisition process. iTMS is so good that it competes with illegal downloads.

It may not be very geeky, but it's this kind of clarity that the vast majority of novice computer users appreciate. Customization is something experience and confident users will do, and the simple truth is that the vast majority of modern computer users never reach that level of confidence and knowledge.

Re:Its all about the marketing.

[pootypeople]

Actually, I've used other players alot because friends think I'm stupid for having spent so much on my iPod; that is, until they use the iPod next to their player. I think the best example is the Creative Zen Micro. I cannot figure out how to use the darn thing. It's got touch-sensitive controls, but the buttons don't click- it's like tapping a mouse pad, which I never did to begin with. There's some good features with the zen (a removable batter cover would be nice on a ipod, but would screw up the whole "look" of the player) but the usability makes it just plain unfun. Most of the other players remind of me of this. The click wheel is *the big feature* of the iPod. It's a great interface for scrolling through long lists, and it's so easy to use that ANYBODY (and I mean anybody - my grandfather included) can just pick up an iPod and get down. That's user-friendly, and that's Apple. Until somebody else comes up with a better idea (and so far, no luck), the iPod is going to continue its dominance.
James

Sour Grapes

[wedding]

Every one of the interview subjects sounded like a mouthful of sour grapes. Why is it so hard to admit that you got your ass kicked, and are noew attempting to do something to come back?

Every single one of them had some dig at the iPod, and then a marketing spiel about their own POS product that's in the clearance bin at Sam's. Tell us something NEW and we'll consider your product.

Compromised Ergonomics?

[joelsanda]

Apple was so enamored with absolute pure, minimalist design that some designers may argue that ergonomics were compromised.

How in the world can anyone claim this?

I can perform the following actions with one hand holding the iPod and my thumb controlling it:

• Turn on/off
• Select a playlist/composer/performer
• Adjust volume
• Read notes
• View my calendar
• Fast forward/rewind/pause

And that's compromising ergonomics? The iPod probably makes the fewest ergonomic assumptions than any other product I own/have owned.

Well, alright, it assumes you are a homo sapien with at least one opposable thumb on one hand. But even with that assumption anyone belonging to the homo genus can use the iPod.