iTMS kiosks?
<disclaimer>Not really future *hardware*, but future idea...</disclaimer>
With the installed base of iPod users, and the new video service, it occurred to me someone (maybe Apple, or maybe a licensing entrepeneur) might be able to make a profitable service by setting up iPod kiosks in places people might want to download some new music or TV episodes, when away from home for a while.
eg: Airports, train stations, cafes, etc...
Given that the iPod is effectively a removable hard drive, the machine would have to have very limited security-conscious functionality to avoid hacking and virus proliferation.
But seems like there's a market for the ability to download new music and keep up with TV addictions while travelling.
Thoughts?
With the installed base of iPod users, and the new video service, it occurred to me someone (maybe Apple, or maybe a licensing entrepeneur) might be able to make a profitable service by setting up iPod kiosks in places people might want to download some new music or TV episodes, when away from home for a while.
eg: Airports, train stations, cafes, etc...
Given that the iPod is effectively a removable hard drive, the machine would have to have very limited security-conscious functionality to avoid hacking and virus proliferation.
But seems like there's a market for the ability to download new music and keep up with TV addictions while travelling.
Thoughts?
Comments
Everybody has a computer, and if they have an ipod they obviously have access to a computer to download their music.
kiosk is retarded
if they have an ipod they obviously have access to a computer to download their music.
did you just miss the whole point that was mentioned?
The idea was for when people arnt near their computer ie at the airport about to get on a 4 hour flight or something.
If apple did it it would be cool, as theycould put some very powerful machines in the kioks, with all the content on, so that the download time is taken out.
As to it wiping out oyur current collection, i am sure apple could work it so it could be added, then uploaded to you computer when you get back.
stu
Originally posted by stustanley
The idea was for when people arnt near their computer ie at the airport about to get on a 4 hour flight or something.
Exactly. Would be great to load up with new entertainment in general while traveling.
The idea came to me re: the TV download paradigm. I've gotten a wee addicted to the TV series, Lost, one of the featured iTMS video properties.
Also allows lighter travelling in general. vis: I'm thinking of wandering around Europe again next spring. I'll almost certainly bring a laptop, but will probably leave it in my apt in Innsbruck while wandering elsewhere.
But with a decent net-savvy cell phone and an iPodv, I could keep up with email and Lost without needing to lug the laptop. Of course, I'll be stuck watching Lost on the iPod screen, but so goes.
The key question is how many folks would chose this option, vs toting a full laptop. That market is probably a small number, making the idea infeasible.
Just musing...
it would be interesting to see where it is implemented, in airports, apple stores, main stations, malls, that kind of thing.
One thing i think would help sell it (which i mentioned briefly before) is if the kiosk machine has a copy of everything already (or the most popular stuff) so that the transfer is almost instantaneous (ie just the time taken to transfer the media to the ipod as opposed to the time taken to downlaoad the song from the internet and then transfer it to the ipod) this would encourage people who have slow internet connections and people downlaoding the larger files (such as tv shows) to use the kiosks, i would use a kiosk if it was near me to buy a tv show (which would normally take say 20 mins to download) is it took just 1 min to transfere as long as i could then upload it to itunes from my ipod..
One thing that ties into this is the ability to re-download songs that you have once downloaded from itunes, cos then uploading songs bought with your account from a kiosk to your itunes is almost the same thing as re-downloading them.
that make sense?
stu
Originally posted by webmail
why is this a good idea? Who the hell's going to stand in line for music? Virgin, and about 20 other companies that planned to do this all abandoned plans.
Everybody has a computer, and if they have an ipod they obviously have access to a computer to download their music.
kiosk is retarded
man stop being so negative... the idea of a kiosk is in a way childish and hopeless, but its also pretty cool. its not like ppl would be like crowding around a kiosk... a bit more relaxed that that... just a bit
Quote from I, Cringely
There's an outfit called DVDstation that puts video distribution kiosks in stores and malls. As its name implies, you go to the DVDstation to pick out a movie and burn it on a DVD right there. Well, DVDstation just announced that you can plug your video-enabled iPod into their kiosk and download an HD movie in 90 seconds or less.
The iPod is just a transportation device to carry the HD movie.
It would not take anything more than a small tweak to the DRM handling on the iPod plus a iTMS-only program with perhaps preview (not the full iTunes library experience). Put it on the computers already present in lounges. Use your own log in for the iTMS. Give it a couple of month and if succesfull make a dedicated kiosk solution.