3. Music Playback Made Simple

Aside from the proprietary/closed design of iTunes, its power and ease of use are awesome. Apple really does make music playing simple. What I find profound about iTunes and the iPod is the "My Rating" feature.

It is time for a trip somewhere so you pack up your ThinkPad and iPod into the briefcase. You settle into your seat in the airplane, put on your noise-canceling headphones, and begin listening to one or more playlists that you have brought from iTunes. If you encounter a song that you don't like, you press the center button of the iPod and five stars appear. You move your finger over the surface of the iPod to light up the number of stars you want to assign - this is "My Rating". When you return home or to a hotel, you place your iPod in the docking station. It automatically starts iTunes. If one of the parameters you have set for your playlist is "My Rating is not *", all of the songs on the iPod that you rated as a one-star are replaced with new songs from your library. Every time you go through this process, your playlist gets better. Says who? Says you.

For years technologies have been available to make book or music suggestions to you based on sophisticated algorithms. "If you liked this song, then you will probably like the following songs". iTunes has taken this concept to a new level. The algorithm requires no higher math. It is you pushing a button. In effect, you interject yourself into the media. No one knows better than you what you like or don't like!

Copying Music

Finally, there is the issue of copying music. I copied mp3 music tracks from the iPod mini to the Harley-Davidson MP3 music player. Is that stealing? I don't think so. I purchased the original CDs and ripped them into MP3 files that I play through a digital audio system in my home using iTunes. If I am on an airplane or train, I play them on the iPod mini, or if on the trike, play them on the H-D MP3 player. I consider this "fair use". I purchased the music, royalties were paid to the appropriate parties, and the music is used strictly for my own enjoyment (or for guests).

I have heard speeches from music industry executives saying that it is not legal for me to do what I am doing. They want the right to grant permission, "protect" their music, and charge extra fees for extra use. Ultimately, the resolution will be determined in court. Meanwhile, I have not bought a CD for years but I do buy music from the iTunes Music Store. So do many others. The issue isn't about "stealing". People are showing they are willing to pay for music and now there is finally a way to do so in an attractive way. Too bad for the music industry that they didn't figure this out.