Apple has launched the fifth generation of iPod nano in US market with FM tuner in it. Excited? Wait the best is still to come, you can pause, rewind and play while switching to different FM stations. They have also introduced a platform in US market that is “Buy from FM” where you can even buy music you like.
It also has the added feature that is camera with video recorder facility, which does not sound that surprising compared to the first feature as cameras are done to death in almost every gadgets. The camera feature was forecasted to be the next added feature in iPod but FM surely came as a surprise.
The obvious question that you all must be wandering about, when this intriguing gadget is going to hit the Indian market. So here comes the good news. “It is expected to reach Indian market in the beginning of October itself,” answers Apurva Purohit, CEO, Radio City & President, AROI. She expects it will do well in market as she reveals, “It will be introduced with reduced prices and would have advanced features like increased memory and camera with video recording and FM tuner which would allow users to save the music.” Supporting the thought Nabhojit Kuila, National Sales Director, Radio Indigo says, “The quality of music that comes on an iPod is far superior to a mobile phone or a MP3 player, so with addition of radio, I think iPod usage will increase.”
iPod being a premium product, it has a fan following specially in the higher income category in India who are believed to have quite different taste as far as music is concerned, which is mostly English. So can we expect some revision of the content of FM channels? “iPod will definitely increase the high end radio listening population not necessarily the lower end, but big players know where this number is coming from and so I think they won’t be bothered about tweaking the content. However, if any station is trying to target this TG, they might experiment with content.” explains Kuila.
Radio, more than 80 year old industry was stirred in mid 90’s when the government opened the gate for private players. Now, when the radio industry is keenly eyeing at the awaited phase III reforms to bring something good for the industry, can iPod’s radio launch help revitalize the industry? “It will definitely help but if you look at the iPod usage vis-à-vis the number of radio listeners, number is pretty small. People who can afford a 10 – 12 thousand gadget will be up market kids or people who are earning good hence it will help but I don’t think it will revolutionize the industry” describes Kuila.
Prediction apart the benefits that radio industry will get by this gizmo will get clarified only after the launch.
So, what are you waiting for, if you are a fan of this gadget and still don’t own one, this is the best time to own the new avtaar with two added feature.
