T17 Group 3: Andrey, Warren, Minh, Tina, Matthew

Contents

 * 1 Group Name
 * 2 Group Members
 * 3 Initial Project Statement
 * 4 Introduction
 * 5 Advantages
 * 6 Disadvantages
 * 7 Uniqueness
 * 8 Conclusion
 * 9 References

Group Name
Ipod Group

Group Members
Andrey Kim Minh Nguyen Tina Nguyen Warren Lam

Initial Project Statement
In today's world we see a lot of advancements in our technology. We are exploring the hand-held device that grows in popularity throughout the world. The Ipod, is a palm sized device that most people use as a music player. There are many different types of Ipods that have different storage sizes, there are ones big enough to even store movies or T.V. shows on it. The Apple corporation plays an important role in making the Ipod more and more advanced. From generations to the next, we see steps forward in technology. There are advantages and disadvantages with the Ipod that we are going to explore. And there will be more information on how Ipods are unique compared to other music players.

Introduction
Almost everybody these days knows what iPod is; the palm sized Personal Pocket Computer, which contains different kinds of applications and functions in many interesting ways. But not all of us know the history of iPod. The first iPod was brought to the market on 23 of October by Apple Inc, which is the biggest supplier these days. However Apple Inc. does not only supply the iPods as we all know, it is also popular for Macintosh and iPhones. The company itself was established on the 1st of April, 1976 and incorporated on the 3rd of January, 1977 as “Apple Computer Inc.” and became “Apple Inc.” only in the late 2007. It gives a job opportunity for more than 35000 employees around the globe and has about $30 billion dollars from its annual sales. These days we can clearly see that an iPod is not a big surprise for a society. Almost every second person in Canada can afford him/herself an iPod today. For its reasonable prices which vary from $80-$300, demand for iPods is very high worldwide. For this price nowadays you can get a multitasking device, which not only plays music, but also shows the video formats, allows you to browse net through it and other useful applications. One more valuable thing about Apple Inc. is the availability of store and marketplaces around the world. There are more than 200 Apple Stores around and it is said that one more store is opened every 3 weeks. All of these facts make Apple iPods a preferable choice by people around the world.

Advantages
In the market, one of the strongest selling factors of the Ipod is its appearance. The innovative idea that Apple has planned was to design a portable device that boasts simple yet, sleek and futuristic designs—a characteristic that was aimed to attract the youth of the public. Another characteristic, that is also incorporated, is versatility; mostly to fit the needs of the general public and their everyday schedules. Since its launch in 2001, the models that have entered the market are: the Ipod classic, Ipod mini, Ipod nano, Ipod shuffle (a more simplistic and lighter design aimed for people on the go) and the Ipod touch (for the more tech savvy).

As the Ipod models progress, so does its features. These expand from basic functions to more intricate features. Firstly, the consumer has the basic option of creating playlists where they can enjoy favorite songs without having to search through the individual albums or artists. For further convenience, the “on-the-go” feature allows the consumers to create a brand new playlist immediately and independently from an “itunes” source using the music that exists on the Ipod. It can also be connected to a computer to be updated (if new playlists are created without the computer source, Itunes will update itself and vice versa). In some more recent models, such as the Ipod Touch, the consumer has the option to purchase music from the Itunes store, through Wifi, without having to connect to an external source. In the newer models, such as the Touch or Nano, it can also carry and play movie files. This marketing idea was aimed to allow consumers the option of watching movies at any time to their own convenience. It can also be noted that the Touch model allows the public to store and view photos and images. Some newer features, especially in the Touch, allow the consumers to access the Internet through Wifi. As mentioned above, consumers can participate in functions such as: purchasing music directly from the Itunes store, accessing “Youtube” (by link on the main menu), discerning the weather, or surfing the net in general. Games and applications have been created that can be purchased from Itunes as well. These features are necessary points that help to achieve the goal of creating a portable device that encapsulates the performance of multiple tasks into the palms of consumer’s hands.

Disadvantages
One of the biggest disadvantages of the iPod is that it does not allow users to decide which software they would like to use when uploading music to their iPod. iTunes is the only software users can use, it can be downloaded for free from the Apple website, but users may have trouble using it or learning to use it because many users have grown up with Microsoft Windows. iPods have internal rechargeable batteries; these batteries will one day stop functioning. Users must send their iPod to Apple for a replacement battery. If they do not have the warranty it will cost $100, or they can buy a new iPod. There is also no FM radio on the iPod and user can only listen to the songs they have uploaded. This is a disadvantage because most other mp3 players that are the same price as an iPod have an FM radio. Thus iPods can be seen as overpriced as there are many other products on the market that don’t have the aforementioned disadvantages, but cost the same amount of money or are cheaper. Each of the different iPods has some type of disadvantage. These are the newest generations. The iPod Shuffle has no screen so users cannot see what song is playing. The battery also takes 4 hours to charge fully. The new iPod Nano requires iTunes 8 so you must upgrade your software. The round screen also creates glare and sound is only average. The iPod Classic also requires updated software and the plastic screen may also scratch. The iPod Touch have so many features that people may want something a little simpler for their money. Audio is average and it also requires updated software.

Uniqueness
The iPod is unique because it has become a fashion statement. Users can get many different accessories such as stickers or covers to put on their iPod to reflect their own individual style. There are also other accessories such as special holders and cases. The interface of the iPod is one that no other mp3 player has. There is also the quick wheel which allows users to spin the wheel to navigate through songs and playlists, iPod have no buttons. The iPod design and style is iconic, it can be identified instantly.

Conclusion
Technological advancement within society has grown exponentially. One of which caught the attention of the majority was an entertainment device that allowed music or videos to be portable. Apple invented an Impressive Piece Of Design named the IPOD, which quickly became one of the most admired portable music and video player amongst all generations of people. The Ipod served, not only as a portable music and video player, but also served as a carrier of picture, document and game files. This portable device was also made with a very attractive, modern, but simple appearance and is affordable. Although, it had attempted to satisfy all of the requirements in functions that the consumers have deemed as a necessity, Ipods have still been critiqued upon certain ‘missing’ features. However, even with its flaws, the Ipod family has established a status of a device with modern technology which allowed its instant fame worldwide.