Geekfoolery

Earlier this month, I began Zunewatch 2007, based on the idea that if I wish to use the social aspect of the Zune–you know, “Welcome to the Social“–then I would want to see what kind of people are buying and using the Zune “in the wild.” Although the Zune was released to the public in November 2006, out of consideration for the holidays, my Zunewatch countdown didn’t start until January 1, 2007. Here now is my update as of March 1, 2007, or Day 60:

Zero Zunes.

There are still tons of iPods out there. My gym is pretty much an all-iPod shop. Everyone I know at work has an iPod. And people I talk to who aren’t technophiles or tech blog readers still have no idea when you ask them if they would buy a Zune.

iPod is basically on the verge of becoming a generic synonym for MP3 player, in the way Frito almost eclipses the word corn chip and Xerox and Hoover were verbs to many people who wanted to copy or vacuum things.

But if you want your tunes and for some reason, don’t want your player to have an Apple logo, here is one alternative that you probably have not heard of: Daisy, the Open Source MP3 Kit.

By all accounts, the kit is simple, though probably not something you would want to try if you’ve never picked up a soldering iron before. And at $115, the fact is you can get cheaper factory-made players down at Target or Frye’s. But if you have a bit of know-how, the advantage of the Daisy Open Source MP3 kit is that you can easily integrate the project into other artistic or electronic projects you may be working on.

A popular Daisy build option is the Altoids Tin MP3 player, but other ideas include hooking it up to clock, using it as the voice for a robot, or adding an infrared receiver as part of motion detector alarm, or if you’re feeling silly, an electronic whoopee cushion.

Next Zunewatch update is schedule for April 1st, 2007, or … as they say on TV… when Zunewatch news breaks!

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