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Put It Away: iPods Are So Yesterday

By Neal Colgrass, Newser Staff

Posted Oct 20, 2008 6:38 PM CDT

(Newser) – Soon iPods will seem as outdated as Walkmans—the only question is whether iTunes goes out the door with them, Kevin Maney writes in Portfolio. Consider how old-fashioned the iPod already is: You pay for downloads, fill up a hard drive with them, and cart them around, "like keeping a cow so you can eat your favorite cheese." Now consider the alternative.

"The cloud" is tech terminology for anywhere on the Internet that provides good content. That's where ahead-of-their-time players like Microsoft's Zune and Nokia's Comes With Music will access tunes you want for a monthly subscription. Apple, which commands 72% of the music-player market, hasn't caught on yet. But "tech superstars inevitably fall," Maney writes. "Remember when AOL was king of the internet?"

In this image provided by Microsoft Corp, the Zune 16 media player is shown. (AP Photo/Microsoft)

Apple CEO Steve Jobs introduces the new Apple iPod Touch in San Francisco, in this Sept. 5, 2007, file photo. (AP Photo)

Julia Park Tracey holds an iPod holder she crocheted Tuesday, July 15, 2008, in Alameda, Calif. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

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New Zune HD Scores, but Lags on Content

Microsoft player is best yet, but purchasing media is a drag

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Apple, Microsoft take page from Pandora's book in broadening users' horizons

Apple Is Unlikely to Offer Unlimited Music, But If It Did...

Competitors cry monopoly, but consumers seem enthusiastic

Shoppers Swoon for Zunes

Thanksgiving shoppers on the hunt for 'iPod killers'

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Company aims to have service up before iTunes Match

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

music downloads • iPod • digital music • Zune

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

New Zune HD Scores, but Lags on Content

Microsoft player is best yet, but purchasing media is a drag

Zune's Music Discovery System Tops iTunes

Apple, Microsoft take page from Pandora's book in broadening users' horizons

Apple Is Unlikely to Offer Unlimited Music, But If It Did...

Competitors cry monopoly, but consumers seem enthusiastic

Shoppers Swoon for Zunes

Thanksgiving shoppers on the hunt for 'iPod killers'

Google Planning Music Store

Company aims to have service up before iTunes Match

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