MySpace considers taking on the iPod

Posted by Al Warmington on Fri 7 Nov 2008

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MySpace... MySpace... anyone remember MySpace? Oh yeah, it was that site we used to ignore before Facebook came along. And it turns out MySpace is still alive, and has some kind of business plan.

Speaking at the Web 2.0 summit in San Francisco, co-founder and chief executive Chris DeWolfe has revealed that MySpace is considering releasing its very own portable media player. One that could take on the iPod. And then fade into insignificance, just like so many other iPod wannabes.

Although MySpace has a good reputation for finding new music from up-and-coming artists and bands, it has more than just brand image to bring to the table. MySpace Music launched in September, giving a redesigned section for musicians to promote their wares.

DeWolfe pointed out that people use MySpace Music to find music and videos for their iPods. “If anything, we'll be accretive to iPod sales,” he said, adding “Unless we develop a device."

So, the MyPod it is then – an idea which has ‘bad’ written all over it in big bold letters. Here are some reasons why:

There are over 150 million iPods in the world. People who are buying a media player have pretty much already done so. And they bought an iPod.

The average MySpace user doesn’t have a lot of disposable income. That’s because they like bands called Scouting for Girls and have already spent all their pocket money on bribing bigger kids to buy them GTA IV.

Personal media players are on their way out. The battle is turning to mobile phones, basically because Apple can’t seem to be beaten on the player front.

It will look like something the Ministry Of Sound hi-fi product range barfed on. Anyone with yoof cultural leanings shouldn’t be allowed near product design.

Two thirds of all players would be fake, and exist only to peddle some kind of dubious product. Probably viagra.
It would take four straight hours to set up. Even then you’ve have rendered the menu font near invisible in your garish choice of background and the track list would be scaled to suit a screen the size of a barn door.

You'd constantly see emo boys on the train adjusting their asymmetrical hair using the MyPod's mirrored-back.

It would require specially manufactured ultra-low quality earphones and components, otherwise MySpace users wouldn’t believe the music sounded authentic.

Complete randoms, who are most likely sex pests, will be able to come in, inspect your music collection, steal photos of you and then flood your device with spam.

Oh, yeah, we’re being a little unfair. A MyPod could bring some very good things to the table if designed carefully. Maybe.

For example: MySpace has always been about sharing and we’d like to see more players following the Zune’s lead with some kind of useable, legit over-the-air sharing facility.

And although mobiles are easing further and further in media player space with each passing hour, they haven’t taken over yet. There’s still scope for a device that bridges the gap between the two, a little like 3 Mobile’s new INQ Facebook handset. That’s a web 2.0 device which is stands out for being cheap as chips, and has the potential to be extremely handy.

If a MyPod had a smattering (say 16GB) of storage and an always-on 3G connection to let you browse MySpace Music wherever you are, we’d definitely give it a second glance.

MySpace (via TechRadar)