The Death of Planned ObsolescenceWhy today's gadgets keep getting better. (At least until the battery dies.)
Posted Monday, Aug. 11, 2008, at 3:28 PM ET
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StumbleUponThe decline of planned obsolescence is a special boon for start-up companies that aim to break into the market with an entirely new kind of product. A couple of weeks ago, I raved about the Dash GPS navigator, which uses an Internet connection to produce "crowd-sourced" traffic forecasts along your drive. According to the forums on the company's site, there's a lot about the Dash device that people don't like, in particular that its interface is a bit homely, and its traffic detection fails on some roads. But Dash has made its flexibility a key part of its sales pitch: If you're on the fence about the device—if it lacks certain capabilities that you wish it had—the company points out that you won't miss anything by buying now. Your device will eventually get any new functions that are rolled out in new versions.
Of course, there are some features that you can't get through software updates. Because our gadgets are now much like computers, the specs that matter are the same ones we pay attention to when buying PCs—disk space, processor speed, and networking capabilities. For instance, you can expect all future iPods to carry more disk capacity than the one you own today. In the same way, next-generation video game systems will run on much faster processors than are found in today's consoles, and the cell phones of tomorrow will surely include faster wireless Internet speeds than cell phones of today. And one more thing: Eventually the battery in your current phone or PDA or music player will die, and if your device is made by Apple, replacing the battery will be enough of a pain to prompt you to buy something new.
Still, it's surprising how many features can be added to a device without upgrading its hardware. Last month, Apple released the 3G iPhone, which includes faster Internet access than its predecessor, plus GPS access. People who bought the first iPhone can't get those benefits, but they did get what's arguably the best thing in the new iPhone—a software update that allows the device to run third-party applications.
One of these apps magically turns your iPhone into a remote control for iTunes on your computer. I couldn't help thinking of that app as I played around with the fantastic Sonos unit that the company sent me two weeks ago. I fell for the Sonos instantly—the ability to call up any song in any room of your house is hard not to love. But as I played around with the device, I kept thinking of new features I'd like. I want the Sonos to be able to play NPR's Web streams (which can be paused, unlike the Sonos' Internet radio version of NPR). I'd like the Sonos to act like a DVR, recording certain radio stations at certain times. Mainly, though, I want to be able to control the Sonos through my iPhone, which is much smaller and lighter than the device's own remote.
In an interview, Phil Abram, the company's COO, wouldn't tell me the specific features the Sonos plans to add to its units. But lots of people are asking for an iPhone interface. If the company wants to make its customers happy, it will build one soon—and when that does happen, people who own today's model won't be left out in the cold.
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Remarks from the Fray:
What Sonos continues to update is not quality of sound reproduction but access to music. While that may fit into the realm of customer service what is its true value? How much music do you need instant access to? How many people require a library of 60,000 songs to meet their daily music interests? It is nice but hardly spectacular and when it comes to music reproduction, who cares?
When it comes to audio reproduction many find that older equipments really do create the best quality reproduction. You can spew signal throughout your home but if it sounds tinny and lifeless why bother. An instrument produces music in a spatial orientation that faces the listener, not in surround sound. An orchestra is a collection of instruments and a solo vocal is the finest of all the instruments. Vintage stereo gear is some of the best ever designed or constructed. McIntosh, Scott, Fisher, Klipsch, JBL, Tannoy to name but a few whose devices are considered timeless. The beauty of the application of vacuum tube valves has been rediscovered in modern devices as well.
Audio reproduction is one technical arena that has evolved away from a purist analog pinnacle using digitally canned methods that focus on quantity, not quality. There are companies that seek to apply new materials and design to high caliber reproduction. Sadly the prices of their products are far beyond what is easily accessible. A little knowledge, a little money and a little effort will allow a person to cobble together the best of the old and the new into some truly spectacular set ups.
--Scoot'r-d
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Mr. Farhad Manjoo mentioned that although we are departing from Planned Obsolescence, HW upgrades such as more disk space on computers, will eventually render our gadgets obsolete. I would argue that with emergence of cloud computing we are even moving away from HW obsolescence. In a not so distant future you'll be able to host your personal info on clouds, getting a virtual disk space upgrade if you will. It's not too hard to imagine virtual apps that process certain activities for you as well - giving your mobile phone or computer more processing power.
It's an interesting thought, especially when we talk about sustainability and green production. Less obsolescence built into our devices means there is room for a new model where manufacturers can make money on improving their devices and the world benefits from less waste.
--MKettler
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IMHO, the iPhone remote is an absolute Sonos killer. I have been on the fence since the Sonos came out about buying it, because of the price to outfit my sprawling house.
No more. With the iPhone Remote app, I have a much better system for a far lower price.
1) Each room costs < $200 to add. Any old Airport Express (buy the previous gen on eBay) + a good set of powered speakers is all I need to add another room.
2) It's already sync'd with my master music library, which is sync'd with all my iPods and my Apple TV. No setup, no issues.
3) It supports purchased iTunes music.
There are certainly some things Sonos does better, but I either don't care (Rhapsody) or I'm willing to live with it (more complex volume level balancing/power-on power-off).
I don't think it's an accident that Sonos has had a flurry of promotions since the Apple iPhone Remote arrived.
--markgo
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