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No, the iPod took what was a technically good-enough product category and slapped on a UI that didn't suck. UI is often the most important part of a product, an
by tormeh 10y ago
No, the iPod took what was a technically good-enough product category and slapped on a UI that didn't suck. UI is often the most important part of a product, and basically only Apple really got it when it came to MP3-players.
- izacus 10y agoAnd it got really successful only on second or third iteration, when it got rid of silly stuff like Mac-only compatibility.
- untog 10y agoBut the first device still had huge weaknesses. Firewire-only, Mac-only, and small storage compared to the competition. Not only that, the first iPod wasn't a success, it took a few iterations for Apple to get it right. My point is that this initial criticism of the iPod was not wrong. It was a flawed device. It was eventually improved into a successful device, but using that logic to shut down any criticism of future products is just silly.
- rospaya 10y agoExcept Apple nicked the UI from Creative Labs. https://www.cnet.com/news/apple-settles-with-creative-for-100-million-1/ https://www.cnet.com/news/apple-settles-with-creative-for-10...
- ascagnel_ 10y ago> The patent covers an interface that lets users navigate through a tree of expanding options, such as selecting an artist, then a particular album by that artist, then a specific song from that album, said Phil O'Shaughnessy, a Creative spokesman. The software UI (especially as described by that spokesman) is somewhat obvious. That said, the hardware UI of the iPod (click-wheel) was miles ahead of what Creative and others were offering (D-pads).