Device convergence might be finished. From a manufacturer’s viewpoint, adding more and more features to a given platform makes economic sense – hence we see things like hyper-converged cell phones that have a built-in camera, GPS, TV, a music player, a glucometer, a toaster, can play games, and can manage your office documents. Apple seems to have resisted the trend, but yielded a while back by adding video capability to the iPod.
There are indications, however, that end users of such all-in-one, kitchen-sink devices are mostly indifferent to these fancy features and prefer simpler devices instead. Hollywood Reporter is reporting that a mere 2.2% of owners of video-capable iPods have actually played videos on their devices and spend most of their time just listening to music. And an earlier similar study in Information Week, entitled Users Don’t Really Want Device Convergence, says the same thing about the assimilation of the PDA into the cell phone…only about 10% of users use the PDA functions built into their phones.
What does this all mean? …in general, we lean towards the Jack of all Trades explanation. In the case of the video iPod, we like what Michael Bull had to say in The Meaning of iPod, which posits that users just want a respite from the intrusiveness of the external world. And finally, who really wants to watch video on such a small screen (see pic attached) ?
Study: iPod video yet to play big – Hollywood Reporter, Nov 20, 2006
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I think people are getting to the point now where they don’t even notice how small a screen is.
I don’t think device convergence is a problem if said device is intuitive and designed as simply as possible.