Apple continues to prove itself a leader, not resting on its current success, and quick to adapt to a changing entertainment landscape. As consumers seek a purchase once, play everywhere (POPE) model, businesses have been pushing to centralize content to achieve a successful model. And while Google and others have announced such intentions, Apple seems nimble enough to actually move ahead of them. "Apple Inc has completed work on an online music storage service and is set to launch it ahead of Google Inc, whose own music efforts have stalled, according to several people familiar with both companies' plans."
Obviously the challenge of centralized content is that when the system is down, there is no access. Of course the same holds true when one's own iPod stops working, too. The question is, which model is sturdier and likely to withstand constant use. A centralized approach has perhaps an easier ability to backup and protect it's content and to have secondary means to keep the systems working. "Apple, Amazon and Google are battling for control of new digital media platforms through which everyday users will access their music and videos." It also pushes hard though the WIFI and cellular systems that connect content to device. Apple and others have no control on that piece of the communication puzzle.
But who knows; perhaps, that is the next step in the Apple world. To own a communication company that makes those connections. These vertical businesses are happening in cable. Comcast owning NBC Universal being the latest example. What is stopping Apple from doing the same.
Andy, I couldn't agree more. Some interesting notes, which I'm sure you've mentioned here in bygone posts. First, Apple deftly removed the term "computer" from its mark and changed its corporate name. This post-PC branding truly impressed me. It may prove apocalyptic for some as Apple continues to press deeper into the American, nay International, communications infrastructure. Second, Apple, as a full integrated producer of technology devices and applications, appeals to me personally, as I'm sure it does to others, because they see the "being" part of technology all the way through, front to back. That's powerful. Finally, Apple is voraciously competitive. There is a great deal of room in the cloud, but without a competitive streak, there is a great deal of air beneath through which one might fall, and fall hard, back to reality.
ReplyDelete