Filed under: Hardware, iPod Family, iTS, Software, iTunes
PodBuffet - an iTunes Kiosk on its way?
How many times have you found yourself out and about somewhere when 'the iTMS itch' strikes? You know, that catchy song playing over the mall speakers, or a kid's headphones at the airport blaring loud enough for you to jam along. But how are you supposed to scratch that itch if your computer and iTMS account are sitting at home?Fortunately, 22Moo, an Australian hardware and software company, hopes to lend you a hand with the PodBuffet, an iTunes Kiosk they're developing that is powered by a Mac mini with a 15" touch-screen LCD and a "customised application for timed access to iTunes". Their press release doesn't reveal much more information, so we're assuming they're working out a method for allowing those itchin' for a fixin' to purchase music and load up their iPod on the go, without having to deal with any of that library-linking silliness. 22Moo's site isn't very forthcoming either, so here's hoping these kiosks don't join the ranks of countless other vaporware.
[via MacMinute]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
jbelkin said 1:55PM on 7-26-2006
I think the kiosk has to be sanctioned by Apple - otherwise, who would want to key in their account info to some Unknown company?
The other key problem is not the loading portion at the kiosk since the ipod will load anything if auto sync is off but for most people who have auto-sync on at home - when they go home, the file they bought will get wiped out. Even with auto sync off, there's no way to drag off that file (without a third party utility & another extra step).
Too much work - only Apple can do it.
Only Apple can "sanction" an ipod kiosk and add software to an ipod that it is indeed docked into the mothership and approved home dock.
Then if there are additional files added at an Apple store, at nike stores, at the airport, at starbucks, that file is backed up/copied to the library or a new playlist as "Kiosk" files before any further syncing is done.
So, while the idea is good - it would require a workaround that would foul up the ease of use of an ipod. It's up to Apple.
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spil said 3:19PM on 7-26-2006
I agree, jbelkin, with the idea that Apple would have to carry this out. What would be A good idea would be (since you gave it your account information) for the kiosk to download it to your library on your HDD the next time you go to the iTMS. The best place for this would be an airport, because all of your other ideas, people would be near their homes, they wouldn't be going on a trip for a week without their computer.
Apple would have to make a stripped version of OS X so people wouldn't get on and start using the computer instead of just putting music/movies onto their iPod. Another problem is that they would have to have a version of iTunes that works on both windows and mac formatted iPods. Or they could just have one mac Mini running windows, one runnning OS X.
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David Chartier said 5:57PM on 7-26-2006
Who says they are or aren't working with Apple on this? More than likely, these 22Moo guys have at least half a head on their shoulders (though, with a name like '22Moo', I'd understand if you questioned that assumption) and they've foreseen these complications. They aren't the first company to talk about or offer a kiosk service like this, so I would imagine Apple has some kind of software/plugin/API-type measure in place to allow products and services like this.
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Raz 4 life said 12:07AM on 7-27-2006
spil, They wouldn't need a Windows Mac Mini, since OS X can read windows formatted drives natively. I have my iPod formatted for windows, but I use it with my MacBook, and it works without a hitch! It's nice if you need to move a file around onto a windows pc from your mac... don't mean to sound snooty, just boasting another great thing about Os X :-)
One thing they could do would be to copy the file into your iPod's library (somehow...) and copy the same song onto the "hard disc" area, then you could just drag your song out of there when you get home. Still would be a hassle though (and no, I wouldn't give my log-in info to this if Apple wasn't working with them, and would you need to authorize that computer for playback of your purchased song?)
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Diggler Downunder said 11:59PM on 7-30-2006
podBuffet is an applet that facilitates free public access to the iTunes Music Store, for any internet point of presence prepared to offer bandwidth in exchange for iPod customer traffic.
The business purpose is to attract customers in-store, (maybe view some ads) not enhanced iTunes application.
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