Wired News: Inside Look at Birth of the IPod
Knauss said Jobs' influence was sometimes idiosyncratic. For example, the iPod is louder than most MP3 players because Jobs is partly deaf, he said. "They drove the sound up so he could hear it," Knauss said.
Its funny how Steve Jobs' genius can shine through, even in the most accidental ways. Because of his partial deafness (no doubt due to listening to loud music in his acid-dropping days) the iPod is probably one of the few mp3 players that is perfectly audible on a very loud subway train. This fact, combined with the very conspicuous earphones and overall design, leads to a very powerful advertisement when you see 4 or 5 people on a given subway car all listening to their iPods.
Unfortunately, the conspicuous headphones have actually made people targets for mugging in cities. Advertising that you have a $200 to $400 device in your pocket is not always the best idea...
Bah! I think that's a bit of an urban legend. I remember reading a while back that a cop said not to wear the headphones, but I don't think there's been much of a problem, at least, it certainly hasn't been one in Boston.
I mean, that's like telling people not to drive pimped out cars *ahem* because it makes them the target of break-ins. Sure, that might be true in some places, but most places you'll be just fine.
Is dropping that much acid compatible with being a genius? Is that true or surmise?
Dude.. If anyone's car is pimped it's mine! :^P Besides, Mike goes from suburbia to a high security parking lot at 90 mph... I don't think he's got too much to worry about there. URI on the other hand.. heh.
L.