In the digital age, the acceptance of iPods and other music players as part of mainstream culture has ignited a phonetic fire that spread across OU's campus. Is this fire a sign of civilization and progress? Or is it here to engulf music as we know it?

Josh Heimbach, architecture sophomore, said both.

"They are a revolution, of course," Heimbach said. "But they could destroy the music industry [through the downloading of] songs."

Protection with style

If you want to protect your precious Pod from nature's indifferent fury -- but like a little style with your substance -- it might be time to pick up an iPod body mask. Different companies across the Web offer different body masks and silicone skins so you can pick and choose what's best for you.



Tripp'n

Short range FM transmitters, like Griffin's iTrip, are for people who want to share their music with others, freeing their tunes from the confines of headphones. With the combination of an FM radio, an iPod and an iTrip accessory, you'll be on your way to having a portable, personalized jukebox via the airwaves.

Matt Wright, University College freshman, said he uses his iPod when he walks to and from class.

"It's a good thing," he said. "It makes it easier to carry your music with you all of the time."

Tyler Metcalfe, University College freshman, said all 800 songs on his Creative Zen MP3 player were taken from CDs that he personally owned.

"It's definitely not supporting the industry," Metcalfe said.

Grant Campbell, letters sophomore, said he thinks iPods have become synonymous with the word "MP3 player" because of their popularity.

"It's more popular to have an iPod than it is to have something else," Campbell said.

Metcalfe said the popularity of iPods contributed to his decision to purchase a different brand of music player.

"Everybody had [an iPod], so I didn't want to go that direction," he said. "And I think [the Zen] is a lot cooler."

Heimbach said he did not like how iPods force users to convert their song files into the iPod-specific format.

Heimbach said that even though he doesn't like iPods, he is impressed with the new iPod Nano, a smaller version of a standard iPod.

Campbell said that with the arrival of iPod Photo, an iPod with a color screen that can digitally present music album art, CDs are becoming obsolete.

Allison Schmoll, journalism junior, said that even though she is impressed by the advancements that iPods bring, she thinks there are some things about CDs that can't be digitally reproduced.

"I'd rather hold the (real) thing," she said.
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