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From TR-1 to iPod mini

Posted by Hemos on from the the-more-things-change dept.

karvind writes "BBC is running an interesting scoop on first transistor radio which has fair resemblance to iPod mini. The Regency TR-1 transistor radio, made in 1954, had a decent claim to be a genuine piece of innovation, however. It was, by popular agreement, the world's first commercially sold transistor pocket radio. Incidently technology watcher John Ousby realised the modern day parallels and matched photos of the transistor with photos of the iPod mini. The similarity between the two has 'created quite a stir' particularly in the Mac community."

2 of 195 comments (clear)

  1. I contest this assertion by Xavier+CMU · · Score: 4, Interesting

    While the two products may resemble each other, this is analagous to saying the PC is really a duplicate product of the typewriter and that the PC is not really an innovative product because the typewriter came before it. Ok, nobody is denying that the two products have a similar look or are capable of doing the same types of things, but the approach taken is so drastically different that saying that apple is lacking in innovation by producing the iPod is ridiculous. The key difference in the product is that they have taken something that was previously an analog interface and without making any changes to our physical interaction with it, converted it to a digital controller to meet the same end.

  2. TR-1 to Walkman to iPod by zarmanto · · Score: 5, Interesting
    Personally, I think that the TR-1 / iPod comparison is a bit weak... but if we're going to do this, we may as well do it right. Have a look at this link: Walkman History 101

    You mean, Apple might have copied the aesthetic design of an old Walkman, and the functionality of an ancient transistor radio?? Could this possibly be an image of the long sought after missing link, between the TR-1 and the iPod?!? Oh no! Technological evolution!! Say it isn't so!!

    Honestly! If Apple's aesthetic design team hadn't researched successful designs of years gone by, I would be absolutely astonished! The innovation here wasn't in the physical appearances of the iPod, (as shown by these images of the TR-1 and that random Walkman on the link above) or in the functionality of the iPod (MP3 players already existed from other companies) or even in the interface design (as indicated by recent patent issues brought up by Creative Technology). Apple's innovation here was the integration of all these distinct elements into a single elegantly designed device: the iPod -- which as everyone knows by now, caused the fledgling MP3 market to finally take root! Simply put, Apple did what others had already been trying to do... but they did it right.

    (Oh yeah... and I guess the iTunes Music Store may have had something to do with it too.)