Earlier this week, I wrote about digital Swiss Army knives. Today, Nora talked to researchers Bill Buxton and Jared Spool about the relative merits of single-purpose and multi-function devices. A shorter version of this discussion will air on Spark 98, but you can hear the full, uncut interview below, or download the MP3. [runs 38:34]
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This is getting a bit more subjective, but I much prefer the Zune Marketplace. The interface is colorful, has more flair, and some cool features like ‘Mixview’ that let you quickly see related albums, songs, or other users related to what you’re listening to. Clicking on one of those will center on that item, and another set of “neighbors” will come into view, allowing you to navigate around exploring by similar artists, songs, or users. Speaking of users, the Zune “Social” is also great fun, letting you find others with shared tastes and becoming friends with them. You then can listen to a playlist created based on an amalgamation of what all your friends are listening to, which is also enjoyable. Those concerned with privacy will be relieved to know you can prevent the public from seeing your personal listening habits if you so choose. Naruto Shippuden
The Zune concentrates on being a Portable Media Player. Not a web browser. Not a game machine. Maybe in the future it’ll do even better in those areas, but for now it’s a fantastic way to organize and listen to your music and videos, and is without peer in that regard. The iPod’s strengths are its web browsing and apps. If those sound more compelling, perhaps it is your best choice. Naruto Shippuden
Great interview Nora. Love it and keep up the good work.
Bill Buxton is a great guy, that was a great interview!