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Posted October 5, 2007 at 08:30 GMT
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The Torben Ballegaard Sørensen Interview..
28 replies
Oh wow that would have been adrenalin plus for you wow!! Great reading, i was surprised as to how short it was but sharp and shiny with plenty of good information yay!
I MUST say this, i do not care what even the CEO says, the new mp3 player is a lousy design (visually). Look at the
Great question & interview Lee. Very enlightening!
Sal,
I agree with you - Mr. TBS has put too much faith in Microsoft as a company and in Windows as an OS. If we are to learn anything from history, these are misplaced faiths (witness the Zune versus the "Plays For Sure" crowd). I also thought the Windows is a "safer technology platform" quote humorous though somewhat scary.
Regarding, B&O looking to "free the consumer", B&O must realize that it is Apple that is leading the fight to bring about the gradual diminuation of DRM - at least as it pertains to music. Whether you consider Steve Job's "open letter regarding DRM" as the motivating factor or (more likely) the music labels conspiring to decrease the influence of iTunes by offering DRM-free mp3s on Amazon, you have to admit that Apple has brought about this recent trend of decreasing DRM in the internet audio arena. Apple is so good at building software and hardware that (contrary to popular belief) they aren't worried about the media they sell being "unlocked". B&O would be wise to consider cooperating with Apple if for no other reason than to follow a business organization that has proven itself adept at navigating the digital media market.
One other thing: I can see downloaded music generally becoming DRM-free, but I think the movie studios are scared that what has happened to the music labels will eventually happen to their industry. Thus, I think it unlikely that movies will be downloaded without DRM. Wouldn't B&O be wise to hitch their wagon to a company that will most likely deliver downloaded movies in an easy, consumer-friendly fashion? Does B&O plan on having a store within their software to purchase this media? If not, will their software tie in to other online media stores? And, if so, how will they know who's store will prove the most "future proof"?
The cheese is being moved, and I want B&O to position themself where the hockey puck will be rather than where it is (please excuse the liberal use of American lingo and sayings). Apple, in collaboration with Google, will, in my humble opinion, prove most adept in these regards. These two companies are a couple of chess moves further down the road than most other American companies.
I truly hope that I'm wrong (as I want B&O to succeed), but I think B&O's loyalty to Windows will prove to be a mistake and I think the digital market place may be much less forgiving of "niche players" (like B&O) than the analogue market place was. I also hope that the BeoSound 5 blows me away in terms of hardware, software and integration. If the future proves B&O to have chosen wisely in these regards, I'll be the first to admit that I was wrong. In fact, I want to be wrong as I love B&O (otherwise I wouldn't bother to write these lengthy diatribes). But, I'm tired of all the "work arounds" (to which Sal alluded) that must be employed to get my B&O equipment to integrate with the ubiquitous digital media vendor.
Just my .02,
Mark
I think what TBS meant about Windows being a more "stable" platform referred to the annoying fact that Windows has about a 93.00 share of the desktop computer market. I don't think he was referring to the software's actual operating characteristics. Although I don't care for Windows very much, hardly at all, in business and many areas of computers it's almost impossible to avoid it as a software operating system, but that's what one gets when a true monopoly exists without being challenged. A number of years ago the US Department of Justice tried, but when elections brought a new administration, the antitrust case was ceremoniously abandoned, despite what others may believe. The antitrust case appears to have turned out differently in the European Union though, which might provide some balance of power measure sorely needed in the desktop software market.
Given that, thanks for posting the interview. It was very interesting, informative and insightful to know where the captain of the ship would like to sail! Thank you.
Charles
I don't care for Windows either but I accept that B&O will be doing most future development on the Windows platform. I like iTunes and Macs. I have been ripping music and sometimes adding video using iTunes to a 2 terabyte ethernet hard disk. I use an Airport Express connected to a high quality DAC which in turn is connected to the Aux port on a Beocenter 2. It works well and sounds wonderful.
I have a Beomedia 1 and have tried to use it for digital music but it was too cumbersome. I do like the n.radio function for internet radio and will continue to use it for internet radio. TBS said that B&O will be more software oriented. I hope he means that B&O will do much better than they have in the past.
For future audio and video products, B&O may well consider that not everyone will use their digital offerings. They should have more HDMI and Aux connections.
Bill
Mark D:
Great use of metaphors...
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