More talk of iPods... and folk dance


Despite its price, iPods keep falling off shelves...(into hungry hands and ears!)

Found a great article backgrounding how Apple worked with its various suppliers and designers to come up with the original iPod design, and how it insisted on only using a no-compromise approach to its construction. Published in the ElectronicsDesignChain magazine, it's a quite detailed article by Eric Sherman worthy of a read if you want to know more about the iPod.
Speaking of which, another Melbourne dance group has commenced using the iPod. Nirkoda is adding to its minidisc-based equipment with iPods so its many teachers don't need to shlep discs and equipment to their classes. Just get a couple of 20GB iPods (I suggested waiting until the iPodmini comes out as 4GB should be enough for most IFD uses), and use one master library of mp3s or mp4s on a Mac or PC with iTunes and you're in business.

On Sunday, Nirkoda entertained local Caulfield citizens in the nearby park, and all they needed to do was give the organisers the iPod to link to the PA system - or the Tannoys as my UK friends would say!


Update: Nirkoda's newsletter announced it has now also purchased a Powerbook during a time when Apple retailers were ridding themselves of End of life stock (I think) with the added incentive of offering 20GB iPods for $99 with each purchase. That's a saving of several hundred dollars! Downside is that Powerbook prices have already dropped more than the saving and been incrementally improved speed-wise for less money.

Regardless, it will change for the better the way Nirkoda programs its classes, and means the vast majority of computers used in Melbourne's highly competitive and influential (!) folk dance scene is powered by Apple products. See, cream does rise to the top!

Now if only I could locate one of those "moving signs" to link via USB with the iTunes playlist to display current and upcoming dance names!

Posted: Mon - March 8, 2004 at 11:53 PM         |

©