Related link: http://www.musicgremlin.com/
The MusicGremlin moves us closer to the celestial jukebox: it's a portable music player that downloads and shares music wirelessly, with no computer stuck in the middle of the process. It could be the next iPod--unless the next iPod is essentially a MusicGremlin.
Here's how MusicGremlin Inc describes it:
...a WiFi digital audio player pre-loaded with an embedded direct-to-device content service. The first of its kind, MusicGremlin's integrated offering allows a user to acquire and wirelessly share digital music from the palm of their hand. Users will be able to download music from a catalog over two million available songs over-the-air and on-demand.
Sounds great, and like the logical next step. You'd have to assume that Apple is already thinking along these lines, though. AppleInsider had this item a year ago:
A patent application submitted to the United States Patent and Trademark Office, and recently obtained by AppleInsider, appears to portray an Apple iPod with wireless capabilities, including the ability to broadcast music to other devices...
And then there's Apple's recent acquisition of PortalPlayer. From the AP report:
PortalPlayer Inc. shares jumped in trading on Thursday [Dec 8, 2005] after an analyst upgraded the stock, and speculated that the company may be involved in the release of wireless iPods in 2006...
In which case, good luck MusicGremlin...
But whoever takes this to market, they'll have big obstacles to overcome. Rafe Needleman at Release 1.0 (free membership required for full text) highlights those obstacles, including getting onto non-open or non-free wireless networks (such as at Starbucks), and getting enough players to consumers to achieve critical mass:
...the real, crushing, No. 1 challenge for this company: Apple. IPods account for 75 to 90 percent of all MP3 players sold, depending on which research you believe. It is the company that defines the agenda for media players.
Of course, as Needleman points out, Apple could just buy MusicGremlin.
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Audio
Comments (2)
Read More Entries by Spencer Critchley.
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Tao ≥ MusicGremlin?
Interesting. The Tao Wireless Media Player (http://www.taolife.com/wmp_prod.htm) is another entry in this category, and includes a mechanism for compensating copyright owners when listeners transfer songs between devices. (I got a demo on December 5; see http://www.oreillynet.com/pub/wlg/8673.)
I couldn’t tell from the MusicGremlin site if the product actually exists or is just a reference design, but I was told the Tao would ship this month.
However, I wonder if these Wi-Fi Walkmen will soon be eclipsed by cell phones that download music or function as high-quality radios, getting music through built-in satellite/HD radio receivers or listener-friendly subscription services. Managing a music library on a compact device is a pain, and building one by browsing and downloading would be even harder. —David