Apple cracks open the iPod, slightly
The iPod, which turned two years old this month, spent its first months focused on doing one thing–playing music. Apple added other features, such as address and calendar information, the ability to store notes and a couple of games. Now, the computer maker is starting to let other companies join the act.
While stopping short of opening up the iPod’s operating system or freely offering a developer’s kit, the Mac maker has quietly been working with a number of other companies to boost the number of add-ons that attach to the iconic white player.
“There’s things that we’ve done to help other people bring the iPod into other markets and other uses,” Apple Senior Vice President Phil Schiller said last week.
By opening up the iPod, Apple is gaining a new weapon as it tries to fend off increased competition. For years, the iPod has been one of the only players built around a 1.8-inch hard drive, but others are coming into that market, including low-cost leader Dell, as more drive makers offer drives that size, and even smaller ones.
The iPod has been critical to Apple’s profits of late. The company has sold record numbers of the players in the last two quarters, helping it beat analysts’ expectations in both periods.
Tim Deal, an analyst with Technology Business Research, said that Apple is trying to strike a balance by opening the iPod to some developers but not making it an open platform.
“I think by offering a (developer) kit they would expand their opportunity for innovation, and thus multiply their organic development efforts,” Deal said. “However, by being selective, they are maintaining a conservative approach, which will help them avoid becoming entangled in a quagmire of whimsical yet useless ideas.”
Related Posts
- Mac fans buzzing about expected Apple “iPhone”
- Zune Player Enters iPod Market
- “iPod Jon” cracks iPod and iTunes
- Apple Buying TiVo?
- Apple Ships New iPod mini
Loading ...
