The iPod Chasers

It must be frustrating to try and make a formula that beats the iPod. In order to do it you have to manufacture slick hardware with exceptional quality control, design an interface that keeps the important things up front without a bunch of clutter, deploy multi-platform synchronization, organization, and encoding software (and through in an e-commerce application that works with mafia-style wholesalers), and cover the world in an iconic ad campaign. Fast Company's article "Apple in Their Eyes" gives a little peak into the minds of people who are trying to beat Apple at the iPod game. Each one covers a slightly different aspect of how Apple is winning for now.