Many of you may not know that you could soon be exposed to A.E.W. — Acute Ear Watching.
I doubt I’m the only one checking out the ears of people on the bus or those who are running next to me on the treadmill at the gym.
I find myself caught up in the esthetic appeal of the IPod frenzy. I can scan a group of twenty to thirty people around me and realize all I’m looking for is one thing – tiny white earphones attached to a white cord.
It’s almost as if Apple has created a social status in music listening where the haves own an IPod with white earphones and the have-nots don’t. There is an almost instantaneous preconception brought forth when you notice someone with white earphones – an immediate sense of envy that the person beside you could afford an IPod.
And if you already own one, you immediately want reassurance that the other person’s IPod is an earlier model, so you can feel a sense of music listening superiority.
Why do people buy IPods?
The answer is posted all over Apple’s website regarding their newest edition to their family – the IPod video.
This new IPod has the capability of holding 15,000 songs, 25,000 photos and 150 hours of video.
How many of people can truly say they listen to 15,000 songs in a day, week or even a month?
Why would anyone want to take 25,000 pictures in the first place, and then decide to store them on a small screen?
How many people get excited about inviting their friends over to watch music videos or ABC television shows on a 2.5 inch colour display screen?
When you actually look at what you’re buying, it doesn’t sound so appealing.
The IPod essentially does what any other MP3 or mini-disc player will do, except it isn’t affordable (and doesn’t have a cool remote control unless you buy one separately).
You’re able to store more songs in a portable music device then ever before, but it doesn’t mean that you’ll actually listen to all 15,000 songs any time soon.
Apple is not selling you music technology, but rather social exclusivity, and they’re doing a pretty darn good job of it too.
If we allow the insurgence of the IPod technologies to continue we are opening the door to future editions of the “family.” What we really get from purchasing an IPod is membership in an exclusive, elite family who were duped into buying something just because our friends had one.
Come on, admit it. You want an IPod because you want to say you own one, not because they serve any real musical purpose, other than storage.
Until the next fad in music listening comes along, I’ll still be watching the ears of the person next to me and getting angry with those who decide to use different earphones with their IPods.
They really mess up my system.
But until then, I can’t wait to download episodes of Lost.