Bigger isn’t always better.
In fact, in today’s tech-frenzied world, in which the complete Rolling Stones song catalog can fit into one’s palm, iPods play feature length films, and GPS systems no bigger than a pocket-sized atlas direct us where to turn, the “bigger is better” mantra continues falling victim to a revolution of pint-sized gadgets keeping us updated, connected, informed, entertained, and easily accessed. To be certain, small is the new big.
“Everything is moving toward a smaller, more portable item,” reports Karrie Ann Peters, a digital entertainment architect at Oak Brook-based Tweeter. “People want the convenience of portability these days so they’re not lugging large items around.”
Tech companies, meanwhile, have responded to consumer demands for portable, lightweight items. From the Apple’s iconic iPod to the Blackberry PDA units, Silicon Valley and its global cohorts have moved toward rewarding consumers with their every imaginable desire—music, video, e-mail, photos, Internet access—and doing it in a package smaller than a juice box.
Such is the wave of the present and the future, one in which college student Nathan Kennedy slides his iPod into his left hip pocket and a cell phone into his right as he steps into class. Yet, dismiss the idea that the high-tech buzz has only affected teens and young adults, fittingly labeled iGen; indeed, technology has captured baby boomers in its web of wonderment as well, aided in large part by the industry’s renewed focus on consumer ease-of-use and technological marvel.
As the holiday season rolls around and tech-heavy conversations take the stage, a few pocket-sized items demand immediate attention for their innovation and ability.
iPod: Apple Video iPod
The iPod has achieved an envious status among corporate America—instant brand recognition and adoption into the American lexicon. Since its 2000 release, the iPod has revolutionized our listening habits—on the go, in the car, or on the run (see sidebar). With its hip marketing, portable style, and dazzling capabilities, the iPod has found its way into the hands of over 60 million Americans.
In its latest incarnation, the Video iPod, released in late-October, Apple delivers much the same features consumers have come to expect from the chic digital media player. The 30 gig memory Video iPod ($249) can hold 7,500 songs and 2-3 feature length films; its 80 gig sibling ($349), meanwhile, boasts the ability to store 20,000 songs, 100 hours of video, and 25,000 photos.
While many will continue to enjoy the portability of the Video iPod much the same as its predecessors, Apple’s continued focus on accessories lends the Video an even greater degree of versatility: speaker ports to play music at home; a firewire cable to transport video from the unit onto a bigger screen; and a car port to stream the variety of iPod programs into the car.
M3 Players: Creative Zen Microphoto
With the market dominance of the iPod, MP3 players, once the promise-holders of the tech world, have been relegated to near second-class status. MP3 manufacturers, fighting to break through the iPod hold, are making headway by offering much the same features as their popular brethren, but arriving on store shelves at a more competitive price point.
Among MP3 players reaching to secure a slice of praise stands the Creative Zen Microphoto. Though holding less memory than the iPod series, the 8 Gig Microphoto still possesses the ability to store as many as 4,000 songs and 1,000 photos and does so under $200. The Microphoto also boasts the ability to record meetings, memos and notes as well as work alongside Microsoft Works programs to organize a calendar and tasks.
Says Tweeter’s Karrie Peters, “Everybody has a choice: it’s either the iPod or an MP3 player. The MP3 players are a great option for those people who don’t want to go full out, but still want to tap into the technology that’s out there.”
Personal Digital Assistants (PDA): Blackberry 7130e
A one-stop shop for e-mail, phone, Internet access, and networking, PDAs have emerged among the most popular items for those seeking one high-tech item integrating a wide range of features.
The new Blackberry 7130e provides high-speed data in the palm of your hand. With the ability to access e-mail, make phone calls, browse the web, and organize the day’s agenda, the Blackberry 7130e meets much of the day’s expectations in a PDA device—doing so in a pocket-sized, elegant unit. Other features include Bluetooth technology (the cordless ear piece), a wide color display panel, speakerphone, and laptop compatibility with the use of a single USB cable. To be used, however, the 7130e must be paired with a plan from a registered local provider such as Verizon or Sprint.
Satellite Radio: Pioneer INNO
The FCC has issued but two licenses to deliver satellite radio programming—one to Sirius and the other to XM Radio. The continuing battle between the two heavyweights shapes up much the same as a championship boxing match: Sirius hits with an all Elvis station followed by the landing of shock jock Howard Stern while XM counters as the exclusive station for Major League Baseball and a partnership with Napster to cultivate digital music downloading.
The reality: the two providers share much the same promises, including commercial free programming and top-notch clarity, features that have enticed the American public and brought millions of users on board. While each provider requires a monthly subscription fee ranging from $10-14, one must first select a compatible radio unit amid the myriad of choices.
The Pioneer INNO, weighing in at less than 5 ounces, is one of two portable receivers available from XM Radio. An easy-to-use unit, the INNO allows users to record songs and create play lists within its 1GB of storage and arrives with a home docking station to connect with your home radio. This, of course, all pales to its primary function: clear sound and exclusive programming free of commercials.
Navigation Systems: Alpine PMDB100 Blackbird GPS System
The days of poster-sized fold-up maps have disappeared in the wake of Internet mapping programs and, now, GPS systems guided by space-hosted satellites. North America’s streets are, in fact, contained in GPS units little bigger than a deck of cards.
But sometimes the GPS system alone isn’t enough.
Ringing in at $600, the Alpine Blackbird merges GPS navigation technology with a dash of entertainment allure. The Blackbird’s hard drive includes a music player, FM modulator, and traffic receiver. The 8-ounce system claims the preloaded maps typical of GPS systems combined with over 6 million points of interest from golf courses to hospitals. A short battery life, however, means you’ll want to keep that trusty paper map in the car.
Technology on the Run: Nike+
In July, Nike and Apple merged a pair of American passions—athletics and music. The debut of the Nike+ system, a collaborative venture between the two corporate giants, created a whirlwind of chatter upon its release and the buzz has yet to settle.
A nickel-sized sensor ($30) placed under the insole of the designated Nike shoe allows the individual to track the distance walked or ran and thereafter communicate such information through the iPod Nano in a wireless-frenzied awe. During Bruce Springsteen’s “Born to Run,” for instance, the Nano will interject to inform that you’ve just completed one mile while providing your time for that distance. Athletic greats such as Lance Armstrong may later congratulate you on completing your longest run to date. Users can also create custom play lists and workouts as well as record and track their progress.
Though Nike’s shoe selection for the Nike+ system is currently limited to a handful of models ($85-130), the company has plans to extend its use to the bulk of its running shoe line. All signs indicate, however, that the Nano will continue to be the only compatible iPod unit for the Nike+ system.
