In the past few years the world of music, tv and film has been shaken up. Companies that allow the little people to get heard in a big way are getting bought for billions of dollars (see Doc article on Google/YouTube). We no longer consider our TV or stereo system the place to convene for good wholesome family entertainment. Now we use video game systems to play dvds. We use our computer for the latest information from CNN. We DJ parties with an iPod and a laptop. Who knew that a little music program called iTunes would change the face of media as we know it. First music. Then podcasts. Now TV and movies. And who do we have to thank for that… cult icon Steve Freakin Jobs. Production studios from coast to coast harp on every keynote he gives. He’s not just a man, Jobs is a visionary. And if the Bag Man may be so bold as to say, the coolest person with a corporate job.
Steve Jobs gets fired from the company he helped create, Apple. Then after internal turmoil, Apple runs back to Mr. Jobs on its hands and knees and begs him to return. Steve’s reply is simple. No I don’t want any salary. Just give me a dollar a year and my own jet. The minute he lands on Apple’s campus, Steve galvanizes the company; giving the old computers a new face and new ambitions. Nearly a decade later Jobs has changed everything from Apple’s look and feel to Apple’s market. He started simply with bright-colorful-eye-catching computers. Then iTunes and the iPod, came in with the music revolution. But he didn’t stop there. No, Jobs went on to make iTunes a marketplace for music, TV, podcasts, films and more. And where better to view your favorite genre of entertainment than Apple’s iPod.
But Steve in no way owns TV. Just a few months later and networks are making sure to cash in on the action. Thanks to the wonders of that magical thing called the Internet and its nephew broadband we can now watch tv on demand wherever you can find a high speed internet connection. This fall, networks like ABC and NBC have made their popular shows available for viewing through their websites, that includes anything from Desperate House Wives to NBC’s newest hit HEROES. That means you need not have Tivo or Digital Cable or a legacy VCR to catch your favorite shows. Sure you’ll catch a quick thirty second commercial, but who cares. Now you don’t have to worry about some blabber mouth spoiling your favorite show for you before you get a chance to watch it. No longer will you have to worry over family members and friends egregiously forgetting to record your favorite show after you called them over and over again. You can now sit comfortably at work and stay up to date on the latest water cooler tv gossip. One only hopes Fox jumps on board for 24.
So thank you Steve. Thank you for changing the game and giving the Bag Man something else to do while killing time at work.
Yeah, I’ve always got my iPod with me. I think that Tower Records just went out of business this week. Even though I like iTunes, I’m going to miss just going to the store and browsing around for new albums. It’s just not the same on the net.