Think of a number: 82%. What does that number mean to you? How about Apple’s share of the MP3 player market?

And believe it or not, that’s up from 64% a year ago. This level of dominance is comparable to the stranglehold that Microsoft has on the OS market.

Read about it at: iPod Market Share: 82%.

That sort of comparison puts the facts in an interesting light: Who thinks Microsoft will be losing its OS market share anytime soon? Come on, even the most die-hard Apple fans have to acknowledge that Microsoft can simply go on autopilot to maintain its share in the near future and that only its distant future can even begin to be questioned.

Granted, Microsoft’s dominance is in a market that is settled and mature, whereas the digital music market is volatile and still developing. Nevertheless, if Apple can hold on a little while longer, the naysayers will be at a loss as Apple’s relentless hold on the market grows increasingly apparent.

When you were growing up, did you ever have to deal with The Jealous Kid? It didn’t matter how good he was at something; it wasn’t good enough unless he was better than you at whatever you were good at. It didn’t matter what cool toys he had; they weren’t good enough unless he had the better version of your toys. And what good did The Jealous Kid ever do for anybody? He had no creativity because he just stole whatever the other children wanted or had, so he did nothing but wreak agitation and malcontent. That may seem like harsh language, but think about it: Doesn’t that sound a bit like Microsoft’s business strategy?

For the most part, I readily include myself in the group of people who are sick of hearing people complain about Microsoft. As if any of it is breaking news. Nevertheless, I was just flabbergasted by Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer’s latest statement.

I read about it at MacWorld: Ballmer: ‘No way’ Apple will win digital media war. He said, “There is no way you can get there with Apple,” and proceeded to explain why Microsoft would beat Apple, Sony, and others in the digital media war.

Granted, I understand that there is big money in the digital media revolution, and leadership in this arena is important for any large computer/software company. But I am seriously growing tired of Microsoft chasing after the other children, trying to steal their toys because it has tired of its own. Among others, Microsoft has done this in the operating system, productivity suite, web browser, and game console arenas. You can even see Microsoft metaphorically dropping its toy in stagnant indifference as it stalks its latest target: For instance, Microsoft has let its operating system and web browser projects slip while it divides its focus yet again by pursuing the digital media crowd. Sure, Microsoft has vowed to work on improving these different systems as needed, but results have been scant. If you consider the Jealous Kid business strategy, it really is no amazing coincidence that Microsoft isn’t seeing significant results in improving the arenas that it has already comprehensively clinched (consider the operating system, web browser, or productivity suite arenas), whereas the arenas that it has not yet done so experienced amazing output (consider the XBox). This fact is further fueled by Microsoft’s renewed zeal to improve Internet Explorer, something in which Microsoft had expressed very little interest before IE’s market share began seriously dropping due to consumer discontent.

How very business-like; how very detrimental to the industry. Just like The Jealous Kid.

While many Apple fans have rejoiced over Apple’s smashing success with the iPod, many of us have been worried. As unbelievable as it may have seemed to suggest, some of us just couldn’t keep the nagging concern down: Is Apple becoming an entertainment company, rather than a computer company? Fortunately, recent developments have quieted these concerns.

First, and least impressive (but still impressive nonetheless), is the release of Apple’s new iMac G5. Think about the evolution of the iMac. It changes processors and styles as frequently as Madonna’s music style changes, and just like Madonna, it seems to be successful every time it does so. From the original pod-like iMac G3, which was the catalyst to Apple’s renaissance, to the awesome LCD iMac G4, to the new, still flat, iMac G5, the iMac has experienced big changes, inside and out. The iMac G5 is no exception; like their website says, “Where did the computer go?” Indeed, now the entire computer is wrapped up in the monitor, making it practically a tablet made for the desktop. It is very reassuring to see that Apple’s innovation still exists in the Mac division.

Meanwhile, and more importantly, it is very encouraging to see that the iPod is actually helping Mac sales, especially iBook sales. How is that? Please take note of the USA Today article: Students crazy about iPod follow the music to Apple laptops. The article reports that many college campus stores have found that the success of the iPod has led many students to the Mac as their laptop of choice for the new school year. This brand recognition is exactly what we hope to see when a company so diverse in innovation as Apple has success in a new industry, even though we fear it will not happen. Because the potential is always there for the up-and-coming to kill the older, less exciting product line. So really all Apple fans can now rejoice as we see the brand recognition beginning to reap the dividends.

The snare that Apple still should astutely avoid is that of distraction and division from multiple focuses. It hurt Apple back in the day of the Newton MessagePad, but of course, that was without Apple’s wonderboy, Steve Jobs. Yet, Steve Jobs himself has acknowledged that his focus is sometimes split due to his heavy involvement with Pixar. Let’s hope Steve et al can multitask as well as Panther can. ;-D

I feel that Apple’s AirPort Express with AirTunes is one of the coolest things since sliced bread, despite the fact that I don’t even own one yet; over time I could see myself eventually owning numerous AirPort Expresses serving multiple purposes. But as I express my uber-excitement over this product, some people have voiced some concerns. In an attempt to avoid partiality caused by my own excitement, I’ve tried to answer these concerns from authoritative sources.

I’m sure some people out there may have some of the same concerns and aren’t quite sure where to get the answers to these concerns, so I’d like to share some of my findings. One blog at MacWorld had just the authoritative source I wanted, and actually answers many of the concerns: How AirTunes Works. Let’s consider some of the concerns people have expressed to me.

1. The sound quality of AirTunes will be poor. Wireless audio is always poorer quality.

It is true that wireless audio is poorer quality than wired audio. However, AirTunes isn’t transmitting audio wirelessly. It is transmitting the audio data wirelessly, decodes it, and then transmits the high-quality audio via analog audio wire, or even an optical audio wire, to your stereo or receiver. This is an important point to understand. The AirPort Express with AirTunes is a network device, not a wireless audio receiver. Indeed, if you’ve ever looked at such devices (for instance, check out the RCA® Lyra™ Wireless Audio Sender/Receiver from Radio Shack), you’ll notice they always require two components: a transmitter and a receiver. The reason AirTunes only needs the one receiving component is because it is receiving data transmitted by an existing computer on an existing wireless network. No transmission of actual audio ever occurs.

2. You can only use the AirPort Express with AirTunes if you have an AirPort Base Station or a computer with AirPort Extreme.

This is simply incorrect. According to the article linked above, which refers to the words of Greg Joswiak, Apple’s Vice President of Hardware Product Marketing, AirTunes does not require any AirPort technology, although it naturally works with those devices. A non-Apple 802.11b or 802.11g access point will suffice.

Sometimes a person might develop this concern by means of a lack of understanding as to how networking functions. For instance, a person might suppose that a wireless laptop and a wireless AirTunes will communicate directly when transmitting data. Although this very well may be possible, according to my understanding, it is not necessary. In theory, even a computer that has a WIRED connection to a wireless access point (such as a wireless router) can then communicate with the AirTunes through it’s connection to the wireless router. That’s just how networking works. Wireless devices don’t talk directly to each other, they all talk to the router or access point, and thus can speak to each other “vicariously” through their mutual connection to the wireless router. This “theory” is further solidified by the fact that any non-Apple 802.11b or 802.11g access point will allow such functionality.

Thus, if I’ve got an iMac (with no wireless functionality) physically plugged into my home network, it should be able to transmit music to my AirTunes just as well as my 802.11g wireless Gateway laptop, which should do just as well as a AirPort-enabled PowerBook.

Especially considering how obsessed Apple has been over proprietorship lately, I took this concern seriously. I was very worried that Apple would attempt to make AirTunes compatible only with an AirPort access point, which would have been very disappointing. But that just isn’t so.

3. One concern that I do have–and it’s really more of a disappointment in a missing feature–is that this device doesn’t support streaming of video as well. Before you think to criticize me for asking too much, please recognize that a device like this is already in existence! Please take a look at Elgato Systems’ EyeHome. This device is all the audio functionality of the AirTunes and much more. Really, though, the two devices are apples and oranges. Whereas EyeHome also has a user interface over the television and also allows you to display pictures, video, and browse the web from your TV, it does not provide a wireless bridge or printer sharing like the AirPort Express does. In short, the devices are very different. But the EyeHome is proof that streaming video to a network device is certainly feasible, and Elgato says the EyeHome even works wirelessly (whether that be by an AirPort Express or any other wireless access point). So apparently 802.11 provides enough bandwidth to transmit video.

Now, you get me an AirPort Express with AirMedia, and you’ve really got my attention!