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Just because someone is at the top of their field (consumer electronics) doesn't mean that they know anything about other, non-related fields (music). I was act

Just because someone is at the top of their field (consumer electronics) doesn't mean that they know anything about other, non-related fields (music). I was actually at this event and I remember rolling my eyes so hard they almost fell out of their sockets as this was the most trite, baby boomer-centric music selection I'd ever seen. Not to mention the cringe worthy Bono/Jobs relationship: https://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2011/10/07/bono-calls-steve-jobs-the-hardware-software-elvis/ https://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2011/10/07/bono-calls-steve-...

roryrjb 7y ago
I thought the same thing when I saw the title of this, but rolling your eyes at Glenn Gould playing Bach, Bob Marley, Nirvana or the Beatles? Come on! This is some of the most influential and culturally important music there is. This isn't just popular it's good. Of course it'd be more interesting if they chose Gamelan, late John Coltrane, Jordi Savall, Karlheinz Stockhausen or Merzbow, but seriously what else would you expect?
- malvosenior 7y ago
  > Glenn Gould playing Bach, Bob Marley, Nirvana or the Beatles One of these things is not like the others :) Yes, there's some great music included but it's a very cliche and unsurprising collection. Certainly not "think different" style.
  - icebraining 7y ago
    That's a feature, not a bug - they could more easily compare the sound quality of the iPod to other devices.
AdmiralAsshat 7y ago
> Not to mention the cringe worthy Bono/Jobs relationship: The more interesting relationship, IMO, was the Joan Baez/Jobs relationship.
8draco8 7y ago
A lot of music on that list is not specific for baby boomers. Even those baby boomer era artists like Bob Dylan and The Beatles are regarded as very important and influential figures in popular music. Not to mention that Mozart, Nirvana, Faith Hill and Bach are definitely not baby boomers era artists
- malvosenior 7y ago
  > Bob Dylan and The Beatles are regarded as very important and influential figures in popular music This was the assumption through the later half of the 20th century, but I don't think it's the case at this point. I haven't even heard The Beatles in a commercial context in about a decade (something unthinkable as early as 2000). Hip hop clearly had a large influence on the pop culture of today and (totally unrepresented in this collection). Plus there's really no excuse for including The Dave Matthews Band :P
  - 8draco8 7y ago
    In late 90s early 2000s hip hop was still regarded are something new and a bit controversial. I think, sort of, like mumble rap this days. Of course hip hop started in 20th century but it's biggest influence we was on the beginning of 21st century.
    - malvosenior 7y ago
      I think it was fairly well established at this point (Jay Z, Outkast...). My somewhat snarky point though was that the iPod was obviously a very forward thinking and revolutionary device that was the direct predecessor the iPhone. Jobs had great vision and could practically "see the future" of consumer electronics, yet this music collection is like the most generic suburban backyard bbq playlist for middle age people. If Jobs had the same insight into music as he had into tech, we'd see way more hip hop, electronic. Hell, even yacht rock has comeback in a way that The Dave Matthews Band or Faith Hill never will. This is to be expected of course, I just think it's humorous.
      - 7y ago
johnnycab 7y ago
>Just because someone is at the top of their field (consumer electronics) doesn't mean that they know anything about other, non-related fields (music) Apple was not exactly at the top of their field before betting on the iPod. The curated collection was not only personal, it was also as iconic as the device it was meant to show off. You would probably balk at the idea of Karlheinz Brandenburg's choice of Tom's Diner too.
duxup 7y ago
>Just because someone is at the top of their field (consumer electronics) doesn't mean that they know anything about other, non-related fields (music). So? I think the article is just a geewiz kinda article that looks back and lists the CDs. It's interesting, I don't think it is declaring Jobs or anyone else some sort of status as defining music in anyway. Most of that music is highly thought of by lots of people anyway. The rest of your post I think says more about your preferences than anything else.
m463 7y ago
You're not the target market. As a matter of fact, that's how just about everything apple works. They are "for the rest of us" and they don't pander to professionals (no matter if they name their products "pro")
scarface74 7y ago
Just because someone is at the top of their field (consumer electronics) doesn't mean that they know anything about other, non-related fields (music). Ed Colligan former CEO of Palm in 2006 on rumors that Apple was releasing a phone. “We've learned and struggled for a few years here figuring out how to make a decent phone, PC guys are not going to just figure this out. They're not going to just walk in.“

roryrjb 7y ago

I thought the same thing when I saw the title of this, but rolling your eyes at Glenn Gould playing Bach, Bob Marley, Nirvana or the Beatles? Come on! This is some of the most influential and culturally important music there is. This isn't just popular it's good. Of course it'd be more interesting if they chose Gamelan, late John Coltrane, Jordi Savall, Karlheinz Stockhausen or Merzbow, but seriously what else would you expect?

malvosenior 7y ago
> Glenn Gould playing Bach, Bob Marley, Nirvana or the Beatles One of these things is not like the others :) Yes, there's some great music included but it's a very cliche and unsurprising collection. Certainly not "think different" style.
- icebraining 7y ago
  That's a feature, not a bug - they could more easily compare the sound quality of the iPod to other devices.

AdmiralAsshat 7y ago

> Not to mention the cringe worthy Bono/Jobs relationship: The more interesting relationship, IMO, was the Joan Baez/Jobs relationship.

8draco8 7y ago

A lot of music on that list is not specific for baby boomers. Even those baby boomer era artists like Bob Dylan and The Beatles are regarded as very important and influential figures in popular music. Not to mention that Mozart, Nirvana, Faith Hill and Bach are definitely not baby boomers era artists

malvosenior 7y ago
> Bob Dylan and The Beatles are regarded as very important and influential figures in popular music This was the assumption through the later half of the 20th century, but I don't think it's the case at this point. I haven't even heard The Beatles in a commercial context in about a decade (something unthinkable as early as 2000). Hip hop clearly had a large influence on the pop culture of today and (totally unrepresented in this collection). Plus there's really no excuse for including The Dave Matthews Band :P
- 8draco8 7y ago
  In late 90s early 2000s hip hop was still regarded are something new and a bit controversial. I think, sort of, like mumble rap this days. Of course hip hop started in 20th century but it's biggest influence we was on the beginning of 21st century.
  - malvosenior 7y ago
    I think it was fairly well established at this point (Jay Z, Outkast...). My somewhat snarky point though was that the iPod was obviously a very forward thinking and revolutionary device that was the direct predecessor the iPhone. Jobs had great vision and could practically "see the future" of consumer electronics, yet this music collection is like the most generic suburban backyard bbq playlist for middle age people. If Jobs had the same insight into music as he had into tech, we'd see way more hip hop, electronic. Hell, even yacht rock has comeback in a way that The Dave Matthews Band or Faith Hill never will. This is to be expected of course, I just think it's humorous.
    - 7y ago

johnnycab 7y ago

>Just because someone is at the top of their field (consumer electronics) doesn't mean that they know anything about other, non-related fields (music) Apple was not exactly at the top of their field before betting on the iPod. The curated collection was not only personal, it was also as iconic as the device it was meant to show off. You would probably balk at the idea of Karlheinz Brandenburg's choice of Tom's Diner too.

duxup 7y ago

>Just because someone is at the top of their field (consumer electronics) doesn't mean that they know anything about other, non-related fields (music). So? I think the article is just a geewiz kinda article that looks back and lists the CDs. It's interesting, I don't think it is declaring Jobs or anyone else some sort of status as defining music in anyway. Most of that music is highly thought of by lots of people anyway. The rest of your post I think says more about your preferences than anything else.

m463 7y ago

You're not the target market. As a matter of fact, that's how just about everything apple works. They are "for the rest of us" and they don't pander to professionals (no matter if they name their products "pro")

scarface74 7y ago

Just because someone is at the top of their field (consumer electronics) doesn't mean that they know anything about other, non-related fields (music). Ed Colligan former CEO of Palm in 2006 on rumors that Apple was releasing a phone. “We've learned and struggled for a few years here figuring out how to make a decent phone, PC guys are not going to just figure this out. They're not going to just walk in.“