New models and new lower pricing drove me to finally get an iPod today. My OBE (Out of Box Experience) overall was good, but I wouldn’t rate it more than a B+. Here’s why:

1) The iPod photo with accessories at my local Apple store is priced at $150 more boxed than the iPod photo without accessories. The extra accessories MSRP on the apple.com store are only ~$80. It’s a nice convienience to have them all in one package, but not a $70 one.
2) Entering the serial number is required when installing the included software. The serial number is in about a 6pt font on the back of the iPod. HORRIBLE usability for sight reduced people. This is far from what I’d expect from Apple.
3) Why is there a “cutout” on the power adaptor by the folding plug? what does it do? I’m thinking it might rotate to accomodate different plug positions, but if so it is very stiff and I’m afraid to tweak it too hard. Why isn’t this in my instruction book? Another thought is that maybe I can pop the US plug out and insert a bought one for another country? Again though, this should be explained in the instruction book.

I’m not going to totally dis them though, some immediate pros:
1) WMP 10-esque auto playlists. THANK YOU! I can set up a smart playlist that contains files of genre podcast added in the past day. VERY handy!
2) Incredibly sleek packaging. Nicely presented.
3) Two words – Click Wheel. No less than a WOW!
4) I like that the USB cable cap has a cord tamer built in. Nice touch.

Random notes:
1) I LOVE the little wrapper that comes around the iPod that has hilited for those who didn’t know: “Don’t Steal Music” – in four languages no less!
2) It’d be cool if they threw in a little iPod cleaning cloth (akin to a lens clenaer) with each iPod so we could keep the metal shimmery.
3) iTunes for Windows doesn’t auto update the library when new subfolders are added to your default folder. This may be a technological hurdle for them. What isn’t is a menu option that allows you to do this without having to drag the folder into your library every time you add a new folder due to moving files from multiple locations, MP3 CDs, etc… I setup my default music folder, why can’t I just choose a menu option that says “search for new music” or what not that goes through that folder lookng for new folders/files when activated? Once a subfolder has been added to the library, it DOES recognize new content in it. Not sure why the subfolder wasn’t recognized until I dragged it into the library, but content added to it later was… Maybe I was just too impatient and it was taking a while due to the amount of content in the new folder I moved into the default folder?? If so, a message in the UI would be nice to see.

I know that business and tech oriented magazines have already started spreading the word about podcasting, but you know something is really on the move to the mainstream when Readers Digest features it in a snippet.

The March 2005 issue has a quick paragraph or two on it on page 22, (for those who just want to scan at the newsstand) and although the explanation leaves a bit to be desired, it does point to ipodder.org.

I think this is bigger news than podcasting hitting another magazine due to the sheer breadth and depth of RD’s readership. Granted, some are technical, but I’d say that by far the majority are not. This is incredible exposure for a freshly spawned technology!

Not really on track with what I usually post, but I just found this incredibly hilarious. And remember before you think I’m judging that I’m a smoker too (just not a stupid one…)

From SF Gate:

…
The 20-year-old San Francisco resident was rolling across the upper deck of the Bay Bridge at 10:40 a.m., smoking a cigarette. When he got to Harrison Street, he rolled down the window of his white 2004 Ford Expedition SUV and tossed out the butt.

Instead of bounding along the pavement, however, the still-lit cigarette blew back in and set the interior of his $30,000 SUV ablaze.
…

How sad. I will not be signing up any time soon. Yeah, they give a bit more per photo than iStockPhoto, but their integrety is so much lower, and that’s not the kind of company with which I do business.

A comment on my post RE: ShutterStock a while back says:

Check out Big Stock Photo. Traffic & sales are doubling every 2 weeks and we pay commissions at $30. Great site, people and photos!

Had Dawn contacted me off site in email, I would have been happy to check them out and give them a fair shake. Too late. You lost my first impression, and I’m a talker.

When will companies learn that spam just does not work, whether via email or my comment system? At least she tried to be transparent (well maybe not, cause it was a REALLY bad attempt…) and posted only on a post that was relevant; however, spam is still spam.

I’d normally delete the comment, but since it’s just one, and without any Google juice, I’ll leave it there as an embarrasment to their site and company…