Flash-Drive MP3 Players Get Interesting

WPW_Feedbot · #1 (**permalink**) 08-19-2005, 06:00 AM

It looks like Sony and Samsung have been taking notes at the Apple iPod Masterclass. Check the beauty shots and the details: Samsung. Sony.

Lesson one: industrial design matters. Both Sony and Samsung seem to have finally learned that lesson, though I'd say Sony learned it better. The Sony device is organic and cool, and I'd actually want to be seen carrying it around (the black or white ones, anyway). Though I do wish the screen was on the side of the Sony player rather than on the curved back. The Samsung device is just a Shuffle with an LED screen. But hey, people clearly like the Shuffle design, and not even Apple really believes that consumers don't want an LED on there. 

Lesson two: naming matters. Sony learned that lesson very well -- "Sony Bean" is unique and memorable, and even has a (small) hint of cool about it. (I still, though, don't love their continue reliance on the Walkman brand that has no currency for today's teens.) Samsung clearly wasn't paying attention during this class -- how else do you explain calling a perfectly nice device the "YP-U1"? That kind of name will force people to call it the "Samsung Shuffle-kinda-thingy," and that's not the way to break the Apple stronghold. C'mon, marketing geeks, give us something catchy.

The next lesson, hopefully, will be that software matters. If Sony, Samsung, et al can learn that lesson, maybe this market will get competitive again. (You know, like it was way back before Apple introduced the iPod.) But at this point, there's finally some promise on the horizon for the iPod-wannabes.

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