After reading this review over at MobileBurn, I am left to wonder if advanced music wireless phones will ever be able to steadily challenge the de-facto music player, the Apple iPod. Many -- including me -- argue that the iPod is not a single product. Its integration with the iTunes movie and music store and the sheer ease-of-use makes the iPod ecosystem hard to resist for many consumers.With the Nokia N91 featuring a nice color screen, a Symbian interface and OS, and a 4GB capacity for music, can it compete with the iPod? For a certain customer segment like the early adopter and tech-saavy, sure it can. For the normal customer, I think it still would be a confusing ordeal -- if the unit is not compatible with the "PlaysForSure" or iTunes platforms, part of that all-important ecosystem is missing.
1. I think they can compete. I have a Sony Ericsson w810i with a 2GB stick and I love it. I didn't want a dedicated mp3 player because I wouldn't always have it with me. I always have my cell phone on me, so I've always got my music. Most of the music on my phone are CD's that I've purchased, so the iTunes part isn't a factor.
Posted at 7:14PM on Aug 10th 2006 by Belcho